Product Review: Gaggia Brera

The Gaggia Brera is a super-automatic coffee and espresso machine that takes up just a modicum of space in your kitchen. Fully capable of brewing and preparing anything from a simple cappuccino to an expertly prepared espresso. It lets you steam your milk for a silky smooth topping for your favorite cafe americano or latte.

Product Basics: Gaggia Brera

The Brera comes from one of the most respected names in countertop espresso mastery. The Gaggia Brera makes use of the Lampo device, invented by the company’s founder, to create the perfect espresso crema without the use of steam in the brewing process. This allows for a much more compact yet robust espresso machine. At just under 12.5”, the Brera can fit just about anywhere.

The construction is nothing like you see in many other models and features a stainless steel front panel that gives not only a professional appearance but a solid quality and easy to clean surface. This is a welcome change of pace from the usual black or gray plastic that, even when durable, always manages to look relatively cheap.

Using the Gaggia Brera is much simpler than many other types of espresso machines, and only utilizes a total of 4 buttons. The rest of the user interface is contained in the touchscreen on the front. Filing the water reservoir and emptying the dregs is as easy as pulling out the respective hopper, both of which are front-loading. Even the brew group can be removed via the front for easy access and cleaning.

Gaggia Brera Pros

• Front-loading water reservoir and dreg box are both extremely easy to fill, empty, and clean
• Pannarello steam wand gives a direct hot air injection to the milk making the foam thick and rich
• Small enough to be an under-counter coffee and espresso machine
• The adaptive system learns from your brews, adjusting to better suit your tastes
• Use ground or whole bean coffee in the hopper or bypass doser

Gaggia Anima

The Gaggia Anima succeeds in a few places where we felt the Brera fell a little short, particularly in the cup size restriction and the water reservoir size, though the plastic housing instead of the stainless is a detraction.

The hopper is the same size as the Brera at 8.8oz., but the 60oz. reservoir allows for a significant increase in brewing abilities before refilling is needed.

Nearly 6” allowance for cups gives a much more versatile functionality than the Brera, at the expense of ABS housing.

Phillips 3200 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

Simple and intuitive touch screen interface lets anyone make coffee, espresso, espresso lungo, or americano in just moments, with the ability to adjust the aroma strength and quantity.

12 grind variations let you pick the exact level of coarseness that you want for your cup.

The classic Pannarello steam wand lets you steam your milk without having several parts that need to be cleaned afterward.