It may be beautiful on the inside, but it's a mess otherwise. Find another Gaggia with better ergonomics.
Positive Product Points
Professional size and quality brewhead and portafilter, proper boiler temperature, and great froth.
Negative Product Points
Ergonomically a disaster, in every respect: adding water, placing cups, making froth, emptying the drip dray--all are messy and clumsy undertakings.
Detailed Commentary
I must agree completely with the review by Strommer on this product, which I bought for the same reason he did: the great reviews. I grant all the positive reviewers their points on quality for the inside components and portafilter. But what is the point of any of this inner beauty when housed in such a thoughtless, user-unfriendly design? Everything is a messy hassle. The tank has to be tilted to be removed, so you spill water and the tubes splash it everywhere. The machine drips plenty, so a decent drip tray should be essential, and this one has a joke of a drip tray--too shallow to be useful, awkwardly shaped, and topped by a flimsy metal tray that gets in the way. The frother looks like an afterthought. It makes great froth, really, but there is no way to get the frother out of the pitcher, or even a cup, without spillage. Fortunately you've probably spilled enough water to make cleaning the milk up a little easier. Similar issue with the portafilter spouts--not enough room underneath for even my slightly taller than average espresso cups. Some machines without the big plastic spouts have solved this problem. All in all, the buyer would be better off getting these components in one of Gaggia's older, simpler designs. Perhaps at home, where there's room and a sink for the clean-up, this is fine. For the office, forget it.
