Gaggia Brera Bean to Cup Coffee Machine

Product Information

I have plenty of depth to play with on my kitchen worktops, but there's a real struggle for horizontal space, and also vertical space due to the cupboards above, so I found the Brera to be a slightly better fit in terms of space for my kitchen.

Like most bean-to-cup machines, the Brera takes both beans and ground coffee. If you enjoy decaf coffee, this feature is vital. The grinder has a knob for adjusting coarseness, and you can also adjust the espresso strength using a button on the front of the machine (3 options). Additionally, there is a button to choose between long coffee and espresso. Talking about speed, the standby mode is fantastic. It automatically comes on after an hour, saving energy and thus money, whilst keeping the machine ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. It’s relatively easy to clean. This is important, as it needs cleaning regularly to stay in top condition. It’s not often that I can tag a machine as one of the best budget friendly super automatics and a great entry level super automatic. Yet, as my Gaggia Brera review proves, here we are!There are fewer buttons & dials on the front of the Brera than there are on the ESAM, and the Brera has an LED display.

Unlike other super automatic espresso machines, you have to descale this machine manually. Although, it does warn you when it’s time to. Still, maintaining this machine is very practical and easy. While it doesn’t come with one, the Intenza water filter will fit in the tank, which we recommend (or using pre-filtered water) to minimize limescale buildup and ensure you get the best-tasting espresso. ( 4) Value For Money – 5/5 I’m no scientist, but that seems a little fishy to me. Who knows, perhaps Gaggia has just used very low-grade metal or something. Anyway, the only stainless steel part I could identify with certainty was the drip tray grille.

DESIGN

Gaggia hasn’t made the leap to smartphone compatibility or apps yet, and the user interface completes the retro vibe this machine is striving for. It’s not as high-tech as some of the display interfaces I’ve seen on other Gaggia machines. However, it’s also not hard to operate either. For one of the best entry level super automatics, I really can’t ask for more. For those times when you need an extra caffeine boost, the Brera has an option for double shots. Instead of just forcing double the water through the ground coffee, however, the machine actually grinds a second load of beans. This maintains the taste and aroma of the coffee. Fill ground coffee (finely ground) in filter basket and fit to machine and brew coffee. [on manual machines] The Gaggia Brera achieves this variation in large part through its inbuilt ceramic burr grinder. Grinders like these are known for allowing the ground coffee to retain a lot more of the bean’s aroma and, thus, flavor.

I’ve got more to say about caring for the brew group, but that’s for later on in my Gaggia Brera review. Boiler During the testing phase of my Gaggia Brera review I’d say the machine pretty much met my expectations while rarely exceeding them. Gaggia Brera is equipped with a steam wand (Panarello) that allows you to froth the milk in an optimal way and thus obtain delicious cappuccinos. The steam wand, with Rapid Steam technology, can also be used for the preparation of hot drinks. Gaggia Brera is also equipped with an Optiaroma functionality that offers you the possibility to customize and program the intensity of the aroma on three levels: light, medium and strong. The programming of the drinks can be carried out simply by holding the corresponding button for a few seconds. Gaggia Brera is equipped with a coffee grinder with ceramic grinders to guarantee the consistency of the grind and reduce the overheating of the coffee beans, obtaining a tasty and aromatic coffee. The ceramic ensures long-lasting performance and an optimal result in terms of the quality of the drink. The coffee grinding function allows five levels of adjustment from the finest levels, ideal for a coffee with a strong taste, at coarser levels for lighter coffees.After priming the machine, feel free to customize your espresso settings. The indicator light will flash red once it’s done preheating, and if you want to make changes to aroma intensity, now’s the time. You can use the coffee bean button to cycle through three brew strengths, and the machine will automatically store that preference for next time. However, the espresso it gives isn’t quite up to the standard of more advanced, more expensive machines. If you’re a real coffee snob then you should save up and go for the bigger guns. You need to be prepared when using the Gaggia Brera, as whenever you turn it on it flushes the system, so you’ll need to have a waste water mug under the spout. Consumables go in the same place as on the Saeco Xsmall, with water on the left of the spout, waste coffee grounds on the right and roasted coffee beans in the top. You might be able to just about fit two fine porcelain cups underneath the nozzle at one time, but there’s certainly not room for chunky earthenware.