MochaJoe Senior Member Joined: 31 Oct 2012 Posts: 66 Location: Omaha, NE Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Baratza Preciso
Posted Thu Nov 1, 2012, 12:38pm Subject: Comparing Gaggia's Yet Again
Hi all,
I'm new to the board and wanted to get some help on finalizing my first home espresso set up. I have read almost every post regarding the Gaggia Baby Class and Classic. I've emailed WLL and got there take on both, and all together came to these conclusions.
Both Baby Class and Classic have same internals and 3-way valve. Classic has rotating steam wand joint, Baby Class has ball joint. Classic has more metal to it, while the Baby Class looks a bit more modern. Classic has OPV, Baby Class does not.
My question to you all is, will I ever use the OPV? I'm not one to randomly open up my machine, and am not really a tinkerer. The only thing I think I might do is replace the panarello to the Saeco for more length, as I do mainly drink Mochas and Cappas.
To those who have either used both, or have experience...is there a reason to get the Classic over the Baby Class? Assuming I purchase a quality grinder, will one machine perform better, or be easier to use than the other?
The OPV adjustment is very easy. You can find info, including Youtube that make it easy. Not necessary, but you may eventually may want to do that. Some with Baby Class have added OPV to adjust. The Silvia wand is commonly used and to me was about the same degree of difficulty to replace as OPV adjustment.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,731 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Thu Nov 1, 2012, 1:42pm Subject: Re: Comparing Gaggia's Yet Again
It's been a few years since I bought anything from WHL, but in the past I was always a very well satisfied customer of thiers. It's not that anything has happened over the years...more just that I've been buying mostly from Chris Coffee Service or Espresso Parts, for one reason or another.
There was a thread a couple of months ago where someone asked for reviews of the various online retailers in the espresso/coffee world. WHL got a lot of good publicity there as well.
toyman Senior Member Joined: 30 Oct 2012 Posts: 25 Location: PA Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Delonghi EC155, Gaggia... Grinder: Baratza Preciso on the way Drip: Cuisinart
Posted Thu Nov 1, 2012, 1:47pm Subject: Re: Comparing Gaggia's Yet Again
I'm a newby here, but I just ordered a Gaggia Classic and Baratza Preciso pacakge from Whole Latte Coffee on Tuesday and it arrived at my door at 2:00 today. That's a good sign to me. The price was substantially less that Amazon's prices for the package also. I'll let you know how it all goes after I get it unpacked and steaming.
I guess that you have to answer that for yourself. I am not so sure about the better looks. We can talk about reliability and resale in a couple of years.
MochaJoe Senior Member Joined: 31 Oct 2012 Posts: 66 Location: Omaha, NE Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Baratza Preciso
Posted Thu Nov 1, 2012, 6:40pm Subject: Re: Comparing Gaggia's Yet Again
Thanks guys!
Toyman I would for sure appreciate your experiences regarding the Classic.
Emradguy, Ill check out the other places you mentioned as well. I've just never made any large purchases online before so Im a bit wary.
Being a college student I cant afford to get screwed over.
Which is why a friend of mine suggested I get a set up from Seattle Coffee gear to try out the whole "Espresso Culture"
So, new machine in the mix: What is your opinion on purchasing a Refurb Saeco for $150 and a non-pressurized pf for $60 and upgrading later? Would using such "low end" equipment sour me on the whole process, or would this be a good option?
MochaJoe Senior Member Joined: 31 Oct 2012 Posts: 66 Location: Omaha, NE Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Baratza Preciso
Posted Thu Nov 1, 2012, 6:44pm Subject: Re: Comparing Gaggia's Yet Again
D4F; To me the ball joint on the Baby Class would be nice, as I plan to use the machine for milk based drink primarily. But i can definitely live with it. As you eluded, finding out reliability info on the Baby Class is spotty. Classic, not so much. It's praised as a good entry level home machine. If I plunk down 300+ dollars, I want to be happy for at least a few years.
qualin Senior Member Joined: 30 Jun 2012 Posts: 464 Location: Calgary, AB Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto 3 Grinder: Mazzer Mini Elect. Type A Vac Pot: Looking to buy Drip: Manual Roaster: Considering?
Posted Thu Nov 1, 2012, 7:08pm Subject: Re: Comparing Gaggia's Yet Again
MochaJoe Said:
What is your opinion on purchasing a Refurb Saeco for $150 and a non-pressurized pf for $60 and upgrading later? Would using such "low end" equipment sour me on the whole process, or would this be a good option?
Pressurized portafilters are designed to get around the limitations of cheap coffee grinders. That's why a lot of lower end machines have them, because the user generally either buys pre-ground or they have a low quality grinder.
You need a decent espresso capable grinder to grind coffee fine enough and consistently enough to take advantage of a non-pressurized portafilter.
In your situation, I would consider saving your pennies a little bit and consider buying a used grinder and possibly a machine from the Buy & Sell forum on here or in the classifieds. You can save a bit of money by going with a hand grinder over a powered grinder, but it can get tedious if you make shots for more than just yourself. That's something for the grinders forum.
There are a lot of favorable reviews about those Gaggia machines on here. Read the reviews about those Gaggia's and the Saeco which you are thinking about buying. Good luck!
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