Gaggia Brera Bean to Cup Coffee Machine

Product Information

The Magnifica ESAM 4200 is a couple of cm taller (just under 36cm), slightly wider at 28cm wide, and 38cm deep (so 4.5c less depth with the ESAM 4200). Now, about that brew group I mentioned earlier in my Gaggia Brera review. Since it’s removable, that means you will need to clean it. You won’t be able to rely on a cleaning program to take care of it like you would with a Jura coffee machine. It's an Ulka Model E Type EP5GW. Not the exact one, but as close as I could get. (The 'G' stands for Gaggia apparently) We would like to give the option to the customer as, [1] , internal filters can be more expensive than the regular filters that you use in filter jugs and [2], you know the water in your water best and you already may have a method of filtering and purifying your water. As you’d expect, the Gaggia Brera has a height-adjustable dispensing spout. That’s especially handy when you’re making straight espresso, because bringing the spout closer to your espresso cup helps preserve crema and reduce pesky splashes.

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. 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. If there’s one thing that most espresso drinkers can agree on, it’s that pre-infusion is an essential part of the extraction process. By dampening the coffee grounds before you brew, you’re releasing carbon dioxide from the beans (and ensuring better extraction). As long as you want consistent, better-tasting espresso, pre-infusion is crucial.The Gaggia Brera bean-to-cup coffee machine allows you to prepare delicious and aromatic tailored coffees at home, taking your barista skills to the next level as you create your homemade espresso, cappuccino, latte and more. We’ve found the Gaggia Brera to be one of the most versatile automatic bean-to-cup machines, second only to manual espresso makers. The Brera allows you to customize your espresso, and the Pannarello wand allows you to craft lattes and cappuccinos. Rao, S. (2016, October 27). Prewetting: When To Do It, When Not To. Retrieved from https://www.scottrao.com/blog/prewetting-when-to-do-it-when-not-to

Bad news: it is hard to find espresso machines with a built-in grinder that are also versatile, good value for money, and let you enjoy delicious espresso shots as well as frothy milk-based drinks. I replaced the pump (twice), three way selector valve, pipes to and from the boiler, and from the brew unit to the spouts. I don’t want to bore you to sleep with the scientific jargon. So I’ll just say less heat buildup preserves the quality of your beans while they’re being ground. As a result, you’re getting more consistent, flavorful espresso.Press and hold the button you wish to program (in this case, the small button), until the cup icon blinks on the screen-release the button.