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354 of 357 people found the following review helpful:
The product that does the job beware of cheap substitutes, 27 Feb 2003
There are two kinds of cappuccino machines in domestic use. There are premium quality Italian machines, like this Gaggia, which produce first rate espresso and rich, thick frothed milk for capuccino. And there are cheap espresso machines, between £50 and £100, which make espresso which tastes like mud and create a thin, foamy milk for cappuccino. Like most people, my first espresso machine was one of the cheap kind. We rarely used it, and it was always a disappointment. When we bought the Gaggia (having wondered for a long time about _why_ they were so much more expensive) we were instantly knocked over. So instantly that we went out and bought another one (the first one was to give to someone else, although we decided to 'test' it first). There is quite literally a day and night difference. However, it is quite a lot of money, so the following may help you make a decision. Pros:
Gaggias are built to last, and you can still get parts long after they are discontinued Outstanding espresso, with just the right 'crema'
Outstanding frothed - milk, but see below Cons:
You have to take care of it. You need to clean the spout after each milk frothing. You also need to clean the coffee basket regularly if you want to keep the taste pure.
If you grind your own beans (recommended) you'll need to invest in a _burr_ grinder, as _blade_ type grinders are completely unsuitable for espresso.
Frothed milk isn't instant - even though it's a lot quicker than the cheap machines - it takes a couple of minutes to heat from espresso setting to frothing setting, and then you'll be a minute frothing. Alternatives:
You can make reasonable cappuccino with a domestic coffee machine and a special kind of whisk, available at coffee shops. To do this, put in your usual amount of coffee but only about half the quantity of water. While it brews, heat milk either on a stove or a microwave, but don't let it boil.
Take your cappuccino whisk and swizzle it in the milk until frothy. Add the milk to the coffee. It won't taste quite the same, and the milk will be hot not cold, but it's still a lot better than the cheap espresso machines. Recommendation: if you love coffee, you'll love this, but don't think of it as a 'switch on and forget' appliance. Love and care are still required.
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