Review on ☕ Gaggia Anima Prestige Automatic Coffee Machine: Super Automatic Frothing for Barista-Quality Latte, Macchiato, Cappuccino, and Espresso Drinks with Programmable Options by Michael Powell

Just got this car this week. About 7 years ago I had several cars ranging from some of the smaller models to the Saeco Incanto Sirius. The Saeco works almost perfectly and has been used quite a bit over the years (at least 5-6 tractors a day). Recently, my wife decided to go decaf, so we looked for a decent decaf espresso. I found a few but honestly nothing could compare to my favorite bean (Lavazza Super Crema). I tried using the bypass dispenser for regular coffee but honestly got a little tired. So I decided to buy another machine for my leaded gas and keep Saeco going for their unleaded gas. Been looking quite a bit and stopped on this machine. I gave my sister and son a Gaggia Brera and for a super machine worth $400-450 I was honestly amazed at the quality of the coffee this little machine produced. However, it's a small machine perfect for a small household, but the small water tank and bean hopper made it unsuitable for my home (my friends love coffee too). I was a bit concerned about the lack of a manual frothing option (panello stick etc.) on this Gaggia, but the reviews I read indicated that this wasn't a problem as the frothing system was perfectly acceptable. I got the car and set it up to see what I was getting myself into. Set the grind to the finest and allow the first shot. Bitter. The water temperature was fine and there was no over-extraction, so I figured it was either the machine or the grind size. Went back to medium and tried again. Nirvana. Good foam, good temperature, smooth, rich taste. Then I decided to try the one-touch cappuccino and latte features. We started with 1% milk. Both experiments were a great success. The convenience of a detachable milk carafe is a joy. Froth the milk and put the carafe back in the fridge. My new favorite is latte macchiato. Thick milk froth, double shot of mild espresso. Perfect. I've never owned a $5,000 supermachine and probably never will. It's not so much the cost of the car as the legal fees I would incur fighting my wife's filing. It's not a cheap car - $1,300 is no small thing. But for what you get, IMHO it's very reasonable. Good drink selection, good temperature, smooth shot and easy foaming. What else can you ask? I can't say anything about durability, but Gaggia and Saeco are sister companies (the brewing groups seem almost identical to me). If this impression is correct, this machine should last for many years. If I could change one thing, I would give the cup a little more room to catch foam and coffee. After frothing the milk, you need to push the cup/mug back a bit to take a picture. But once you've spilled that first small sip of coffee and understood the need for "movement," it really isn't a problem. Also, the very first flow of milk from the frother is a bit explosive, but just enough to prevent a mess. After that no problem. In short, I am very happy with this Gaggia: much more than I thought. Highly recommended.