Review on ☕ Black Gaggia Brera Super Automatic Espresso Machine with Pannarello Wand for Latte and Cappuccino Drinks. Enjoy Espresso using Pre-Ground or Whole Bean Coffee. by Keith Barra

After using semi-automatic coffee machines for a few decades, I entered the world of fully automatic coffee machines with the Gaggia Brera. Pros: Great value, same price as the Gaggia Classic Pro (to be fair it's about $100-$150 cheaper as you need to buy a grinder and rammer/leveler to make it comparable ); everything in one place allows for a tidy countertop; Easy programming of the portion size. Now for the cons, and there are many: Small water tank (40 ounces vs. 72 ounces for the Classic Pro); small container for coffee grounds (5 packs to be emptied before next brewing). The freeness cannot be reduced sufficiently; The earlier model had more customization options, the current batch has an auto mode with minimal customization (basically we know which mode is best). Unreliable/well made, plastic part broke off after a few weeks of use (see picture above, fell out somewhere inside when opening to clean the brew group). The pictures were too watered down, there wasn't enough cream. In conclusion, I bought this device for use in our small office. We make about 4-5 double servings every morning. For small water and garbage tanks, we would have to pause once or twice to fill or empty these items. Also, due to the lack of an option to reduce the grind, I often had to take extra sips to get the right flavor. In this respect, too, the single-shot function rarely provided a decent shot. Finally, my main goal was to save me and/or my employees time to prepare a good morning coffee; To this end, the Brera did not function properly. Who would it be good for? Anyone who doesn't want to grapple with the art/ritual/satisfaction of making a decent shot of espresso. However, I don't seem to belong to that group at all; I ended up returning this Gaggia Brera and got another Gaggia Classic Pro semi-automatic grinder, a custom grinder and a tamper/leveler.