Gaggia Classic Pro vs Breville Barista Express 

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Ive had my gaggia for over 2 years. the Solid build and 58mm portafilter for the vast assortment of possible tools of the gaggia were what sold me when I first bought it. I've been a barista for a few years and think the breville would be very limiting, particularly with the grinder. I used to have the breville smart grinder pro but outgrew it and upgraded to a Eureka mignon since its stepless. I think the gaggia is a better choice for people that want more room to grow in the future but don't necessarily want to spend thousands on a machine. The gaggia is a very capable machine when paired with a great grinder.

Hey Joe, thanks for this comparison. After a couple of years researching I got my new Gaggia Classic Pro in January. Very happy with my purchase. There is nothing at this price point with the Classic's potential. I found that Gaggia made some compromises but there is a dedicated owner community for mods and tips. The machine is practably rebuildable. The Breville seems to be disposable. Machine vs appliance. I bought most of the accessories before I got my machine. First mod was a "tune up" kit. It has a brass shower plate, presision shower screen and a silicone group gasket Next I shortened the OPV spring to get the pressure down to around 9 bars. There's a guy named Andy who has a channel here who explains how to fine tune the temperature using the steam switch. Using a temperature gage on the boiler and the group head enabling him to tweak the temperature a degree or two. I just ordered a dual probe temperature gage with timer and a bottomless portafilter. With a small investment I'll have a machine that competes with those costing twice as much or more. I'll check back when I get everything together. I subscribed to your channel and will look forward to more great content.

Dude, I’ve seen several comparisons and yours is the best. Easy, direct and to the point. I didn’t feel like I needed to fast forward because it was way too wordy as some are. Great vid and review. Thanks for sharing.

Much has been written about the Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine but no one I know has seriously questioned the non-stick coating inside the boiler. Gaggia uses Exelia 3010-B242. Exelia is used in the cooking and baking industry. The Food & Drug Administration has also approved the use of Exelia 3010-B242. Does it matter? The FDA also approved the use of Teflon and which has been proven to cause cancer. Boiling water is not as hot oven temperatures but it does not mean using Exelia 3010-B242 is safe either. Fluctuating water temperature, from refrigerated to near boiling, sits inside the boiler for multiple hours, days, and weeks, nor is there long term durability testing on the use of Exelia. Can the Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine cause cancer? Where is the data proving that Exelia 3010-B242 is safe? What is the list of chemicals in Exelia 3010-B242? Why isn't the list of chemicals used in Exelia publicly available? How are the chemicals bonded together? How is Exelia 3010-B242 bonded to the aluminum boiler? If Gaggia used Exelia 3010-B242 to save costs then is the cost savings at the expense of the consumer? Finally, why doesn't Gaggia simply use a stainless steel boiler? Stainless steel would put this issue to rest and buyers would gladly pay the increase in material costs for this iconic machine.

i do understand from the upgrade perspective or parts replacement Gaggia is good, but don't forget that you can control dose by Breville, which is a big plus. Moreover, as the beginner, you don't have to buy grinder separately, it grinds sufficiently to pull out good espresso. i'm planning to buy Niche grinder as upgrade :)

I purchased the Gaggia in November and am SO glad I did. I love that it's more manual as I enjoy the tinkering and the process. I do wish that the steam wand angled out a bit so it was easier to get the frothing pitcher out. I also wish the steam knob was more of a toggle handle like the Breville has. But those are more wants than complaints. The best comparison I've ever heard was Breville is an appliance, whereas Gaggia is a machine. You made the right choice 😀

I've had my gaggia for around 2 months now, and I'm absolutely in love with it. I've only ever used the stovetop mocca pots in the past (or one of those awful crappy drip filter machines) but this has really opened my eyes to what I've been missing out on. As you say, not everything is perfect, but for me, it's a wonderful machine and so quick (2-3 minutes for a flat white and that include cleaning).

This was super helpful in my decision to pick between the two. Thank you so much for being so thorough!

Great comparison man! Have you made a review on the Lelit Anna? I think it would be interesting to compare the Gaggia Classic and the Lelit Anna :)

I still prefer the Breville barista express if your machine is going to be used by someone other than yourself. both myself and my best friend are professional baristas but the Gaggia has a steeper learning curve because it doesn't have a PID controller or programmable shot buttons. The Gaggia definitely needs its upgrades to make it a great espresso machine but a programmable shot button mod would definitely take it to the next level especially if you don't want to be the one to make everyone's coffee at home.

A barista named Joe! ☕️ The parallels are perfect ha ha! I wish you could/would compare the GCP to the Rancilio Silva sometime 🤷🏻‍♂️

Great review...As always...I have Barista Express at home and just bought the Gaggia Classic for my office. I paid a little extra for an upgraded wooden handle portafilter and tamper. I also bought the Breville Smart Grinder Pro. I've only had them for two days but I love the purchase and the price I paid for both. I find the Gaggia to be an upgrade to the Breville as I have more control plus the small footprint of the machine and grinder are perfect for my office.

Hey man! Great explanation! Got a question: 1. You pull a shot 2. You steam milk 3. You want to pull a shot Between 2. and 3., how long before you can pull your next shot? Noone talks about this. Hope you can help Im in between these 2 machines. Cheers from Croatia!

Sorry for all the questions, you mentioned that there are "better steps up", wou,d you share which machines you think might be a bit better step up? Any of them under $1000? Thanks

I'm just starting to look at a home espresso machine. My sister has a Breville. I want to buy an ECM Synchronika, but don't want to spend over 3k right now. My plan is to buy the Gaggia for now and sell it in a year or 2. I think it will hold more value over time vs. the Breville because it can be repaired. The Breville looks like an appliance and it seems like trying to resell it would be pointless.

After doing a lot of research I am thinking of getting the sette 270 grinder and breville infuser. Also confused if flair with pressure gauge will get better espresso and also bit more control. Soooo confusing. How is your experience with temp control on the gagia- that’s the only point why I am not considering the gaggia

As for me, i like gaggia minimalism, including cheap handle and knob. For me it feels natural for this minimalist model. Most important that it's well built and has good ergonomics.

I do not understand why Gaggia, as well as Rancilio with their Silvia single boiler, simply don't have a version of their coffee makers with PID out of the box. For example lacking PID is one of the main reason why I didn't go with the Classic Pro, nor Silvia. If it was equipped with PID for a few hundred dollars more, I most probably would have purchased it. Yes, mods can be done, but that voids the warranty. Have it available with it already installed. The Classic Pro and Silvia are for coffee hobbyists and Breville coffee makers are for the rest of us..

Thank you for a great review Joe. Could you please let me know how long it takes before you can pull your 1st shot after switch-on on the Gaggia. Is it possible within 5 minutes, if you flush the grouphead?

Lots of technical talk but how is the espresso tasting. Not a word about that.

Would you say the coffee from the Breville is good enough? Although I'd love to geek out learning all things coffee related I also want my wife to be able to make a coffee. I also like the idea of being able to leave it to pull my shot and come back to it if I'm busy getting ready in the morning etc. The Gaggia with a decent grinder seems the better option for the best coffee but I just wonder how much more convenient the Breville is?

Gaggia Classic Pro with 9 bar and a Baratza Sette 270 and you are making quality espresso. And for less than $1000 you'd be hard pressed to tell it apart from a Linea Mini.

FYI the GCP portafilter is not stainless steel, it's chrome-plated brass.

I think gaggia is the machine for me in my budget. I’d like a Rancilio Silvia V6 but it’s really out of my budget.

Is it the v6 which would you get and does the water leak on its own?Does your portafilter stick is it tight hard to put in? How long have you had it .? Is it hard to use without a pid How does the coffee turn sour. Thankyou

The burrs of the Breville smart grinder and the built-in grinder are not the same.

I can't believe I watched this whole video and the guy doesn't even mention the most important thing: espresso flavor ! Go figure.

Not sure if you've done a comparison of the la specialista by delonghi vs the breville express ? Also, the breville has temp control. So you can raise the temperature of the water to get a hotter espresso

I've owned & used a Breville Barista Express since 2015. Has built in 16 step stainless steel burr grinder (& the grinder can be adjusted internally for finer or coarser grind .. & no separate electric cord for electric grinder), water pressure gauge & steamer. The machine can be operated manually wrt pre-infusion & infusion times. Also features a sealed bean hopper, drip tray with float & water tank has a filter feature. It is easy to remove water tank & fill. Breville has very good support for descaling & cleaning products. 54mm portafilter is what it is - but seriously 4mm diameter difference to 58mm is not significant. The Breville steam wand also has a ball joint & can be disassembled to clean thoroughly. Milk caking has never been issue if you clean it after steaming - as you should. After-market 3rd party options are good - bottomless portafilter, better baskets & steamer lever. My household has 2 pro-trained café experienced baristas, (my son & myself), one aspiring home barista, & a casual user. I can set coffee bean grind size, basket dose, adjust temp, manually time & pull shots, steam milk & Breville also has hot water dispenser. The portafilter, tamper, basket depth tool & cleaning kit make the Breville Barista a very good semi-auto espresso machine for the price range. Do I want a Gaggia? Yes. I like the idea of tearing down, modding & paring it with better espresso grinder. But for very good, all-round household espresso machine - Breville is hard to beat. Also - members of household only drink coffee morning, lunch & late afternoon so there is no need for always on function of Gaggia. Gaggia is behind-times romantic espresso machine but value for money for serious coffee afficionados - get manual coffee bean grinder & Flair 58, or pour over filter like Hario V60. If you want high end machine espresso - go to café with $30K classico espresso machine & super modella barista. But do not wear beanie hat.

I’ve had both and by far prefer the Barista Express. It’s not even close. Few mods like single dose zero retention hopper, new steam/hot water switch and some ims gear and you’re on a winner for the price.

One thing I dont like about the breville is the portafilter size. Ur absolutely right. The frustration with this. I had no idea before I bought it. I was a noob and now I kinda regret it

This one is easy, THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IS THE GRINDER!! That junk on top of the Breville says it all.

What's a recommended grinder? Thinking about getting the Breville Bambino Plus as a newcomer to espresso.

Thank you for the video and great content. Can you advise how the Breville Barista Express compares to a superautomatic? I purchased a superautomatic but had to return it because I was not happy with the espresso shots.

How about the PID on the Breville Barista Express vs no PID and uncertain temperature on the Gaggia? How have you found that?

Love your content. Keep up the good work!!!

So frustrating that the Gaggia Classic Pro EU version which also ships to AU, turns itself off after 20 mins or so. So annoying. But there is a jumper wire hack to stop it

At a 600 price range, I have been considering both of thse machines. Since you have scored both of these machines at a 7, are there other machines you would reccomend buying over these two at the price range I am looking at?

Hi, what would you recommend the next step up from the gaggia classic pro would be? Thanks!

Thanks for the great review. Which produces better tasting espresso/latte?

Okay the beanie and pink shirt is a serve

My breville is same one did not come with the level warning

Fantastic video! Very helpful.

Which one pulls better shots?? Had to be a winner

I can't even get a decent tasting cup of espresso out of the Gaggia. I've installed the 9 bar spring, bottomless portafilter with a IMS 22g nanocoated basket, PID controller and using fresh local roaster espresso coffee beans. I'm ready to just find someone who I can bring the machine to that knows what there doing to help me figure this thing out.

I have been using my Gaggia (Model 9304), since 2015. I bought it with missing parts and sourced them myself. I paid not very much for a new machine. Between all these newer Gaggia classic releases many changes were made. Some models have an automatic shut off feature was not required by law in Europe before 2017 or so. The aluminium boiler was also replaced to a stainless steel boiler and then back to aluminium. Anyway, the Gaggia is more solid machine. The coffee is great. The Breville is just crap. To many computers in that Breville. Maintenance is required on both machines. Daily/Weekly cleaning, replacing seals and o-rings or a valve. The Gaggia can be modded and repaired very easily. After 6 years of use I have changed the seals, the valve, both thermostats. Those repairs were not very expensive but required, maybe 50 bucks. I did some mods: I replaced the steam wand with one of the Rancillio Silvia (If you have the money, this is is also a very nice machine) The porta filter, got a lower drip tray, so I can use the Gaggia with a scale, extended release tube, a better shower screen... maybe something else....?

Still undecided just trying to get the same flavor of Cuban coffee that I get from my family's Cuban bakery at a fraction of the cost lol anyone use this for cafecito? If so let me know which one to buy

I was searching 🔍 a lot on RU-vid for this comparison Which makes better espresso, using Breville two machine grinder?

which is better for cafe use for fast brew and steam ?

Thanks for a good content !

Made in ITALY (Gaggia Classic Pro) vs Made in CHINA (Breville Barista Express). Does it not mean something? Everyone loves having choices and dislikes monopoly. Try buying something that is not made-in-China and one will quickly realise that his choices have become so limited. Isn't that another form of "monopoly"? We can make a difference by making conscious purchase. 😊 I love my Gaggia Classic Pro by the way. A solid espresso coffee machine made in Italy without breaking the bank. 💖

I just bought the gaggia classic pro!

Awesome video thank you. I was this close in getting the Breville express but I will give the Gaggia a try.

I can see the problem with quality.but overall they are nice. Which one do you prefer?

any cheaper ones for a beginner

bro you just blew my fukin mind... I mean I never thought about it before lol, but that "milk build up" on the breville wand being due to longer steam times! I never thought about it like that! as a side note, on freakin christmas day my breville got destroyed, had it for almost 6 years and used multiple times every day. So now time to upgrade I suppose (I say while my wallet weeps)

The Gaggia is 15 bar pressure if I recall? I have a Mr coffee Cafe baristA (don't hate on me lol- I've never had a good 'espresso' from this machine, and even the froth is kinda awful too, but 'acceptable' I guess for lattes. Wannabuy a Mr coffee? Lol), and it's 15 bar too, and I can't run it with a non pressurized mod on the portafilter basket (basket is In 3 pieces, which can be disassembled so that it is no longer a pressurized filter), and due to the high pressure the water just flies through the portafilter way too quick. I know the Gaggia can be molded for lower pressure, b8ut that supposedly voids the warrenty? Also would like to see a copper boiler, not crazy Bout aluminum that is constantly heated up. Wish they'd create a version with copper boiler, and pid, and timer for shots, as well as an easy way to adjust bar pressure without having to buy a kit- i wou,d happily pay another hundred or 2, maybe even 3 for those great additions on the Gaggia. Would make for such an awesome upgrade I think if they created such a beast.

Excellent review.

Oh, and per usual, I'm a day late and dollar short, missed the contest, can you rerun it just for me 😆

Which machine would you give a 10/10?

If you're geting water inside the Gaggia, you need to work on your aim Joe ;)

You are my favorite hat wearing barista. I know precisely one.

The most successful thing Breville did was marketing so that consumers believe their machine that is only expected to last 2-3 years with very little replaceable parts is a better value than machines that are made to last upward 10 years or more and easy to fix. Not saying Breville is a bad product, because in exchange for durability they offer consumers a lot of features that you won't be able to get at the same price point such as a barely serviceable grinder (that isn't even stepless) and temperature control from the cheaper built thermal block. It's just that people really should know what they are buying into. You buy the Breville for the a few years experience and then they expect you to just buy a new Breville after that once you got sick of things not working, because truth is these things really don't last very long.

Does it say how many grams you get with the Gaggia

Wear can n I get my Caggia fixed?

love this video!!!

that plastic portafilter feels much better to hold than wood ones tbh

You forgot to mention the gauge.

I don't have time in the morning .. LOL I'm not at home all day either. I have a Breville Barista Touch it's hot in 3 seconds, I can run water to really heat my cup and bottomless portafilter which loses nearly no heat add to that it automatically froths my milk. Cost difference $300. I've looked at $2,000 and $3,000+ espresso machines with a $1,000 grinder and so on .. I don't need a new hobby.

You didn't even make coffee? Silly Billy!

You forgot the most important difference, The boiler!!!! More consistence water, better temperature and better steaming. The breville...... entry appliance for make coffe Gaggia...... high entry level expresó Machine

عمل مميز

Coffee beans in a clear jar? Not good mate.

Ok.

for me, this was the most useless comparison. I say this because why are you not also comparing the espresso shots ...i think this would be the most essential aspect of these machines.

Haha so funny. Only idiot judges machine based on low quality portafilter handle😂😂😂

Brevillle Barista Pro.

Just get a bottomless portafilter for gaggia

Is there Gaggia Classic amater ?