Review of the Gaggia Evolution Espresso Machine
We all love that seductively rich coffee smell that makes you melt when you walk into the local coffee shop. And now you can fill your home full of coffee-induced seduction, thanks to the Italian company Gaggia and their great Evolution Espresso machine. Design |
| We must start by saying that this Gaggia Evolution Espresso Machine doesn’t look like as expensive as it was to buy. The model we used was black and silver, and looked overall a bit cheap and tacky. It is available in silver, black, grey and red. Starting at the top there are three buttons that press in and remain in until you press them again to release them. From left to right you’ll find power, coffee, and steam. Two power-indicating lights divide the buttons. The power cable goes into the port at the top right hand side at the back, and on the right side of the machine you’ll find the steam controller. Below the buttons is the imitation chrome plastic section, on this section there is the Gaggia logo and the words Evolution Espresso. Set-back underneath this section is the chrome plated bronze coffee capsule holder, or ground coffee filter port (where the water comes out). The capsule holder’s handle is black and comfortable to hold. To the right of this is the steam control knob. The water jug is curved and slides out to the left side, it has a maximum fill mark on the left-hand side. We like this as you can see the water level easily. Two clear tubes hang down into on the left side. The cup sits on the metal tray at the bottom, which also filters water into the removable tray; this carries about a mug full of water before you’ll need to empty it. |
| Features |
| Espresso machines just make coffee, so we can’t expect to see a huge spec that would come with a TV for example. The pump pressure can reach up to 15 bars which is powerful enough, making it quick to fill the cup. The Gaggia Evolution Espresso Machine comes with a single cup capsule holder, however a double one is available, but you’ll have to pay extra. The cup tray at the bottom features a cup-warming surface to improve the whole experience. The water tank can hold up to 1.25 litres of water. The available pods come in four espresso flavours Prezioso, Intenso, Corposo and Delicato, and the capsules are just a full-bodied espresso. The coffee pods or capsules can be bought from http://www.caffitaly.com/en/index.asp, but we had trouble finding a price. |
| Performance |
| From plugging the Gaggia Evolution Espresso Machine in we had to wait for 7-minutes before it was ready to make us a cuppa. We filled the water tank up to the maximum line, popped in a Corposo pod to the capsule holder and screwed it in. Once it was in, it felt safe, but it was a bit of a struggle getting it in. We pressed the coffee button and it reacted immediately and gave us what looked like a great espresso. With rich colour and perfect consistency we were happy. It tasted slightly on the bitter side, but there were still three other flavours to try. Next up we checked out the steam function by making a cappuccino. On turning the steam on we had to wait for 40-seconds while clearing itself of water. Once it had finished spitting at us, we shifted the knob to its highest capacity and got a lovely amount of powerful steam. It heated a cup full of milk in 36 seconds, and gave us a nice froth when manipulated. We didn’t like the angle of the steam pipe as it didn’t give us much leeway for movement. For the cappuccino we used the Delicato, which was heavenly. We were very impressed with the colour, and so aptly named, tasty delicate flavour. We stupidly tried to remove the used pods from the holder and burnt our hands, so if you have any sense, you simply turn the pod holder over above the bin and it will fall out without any injuries. After making a few coffees the machine looked very messy. The badly designed cup tray holds a lot of liquid rather than it draining through the filters, which would annoy the boots off me personally. The chrome plated bronze steam pipe has a removable black end which also collected a lot of milk residue so you’ll need to repeatedly wipe it to keep it looking good. Cleaning the machine was easy enough, all you need is a wet cloth and a dry cloth to remove water marks. All other parts that need cleaning are removable. |
| What's In The Box? |
| · Espresso machine · Water container · AC power lead · Measuring spoon |
| Overall Opinion |
| Producing espresso that tastes this good, the Gaggia Evolution Espresso Machine can look as cheap as it wants. It professional performance was efficient and powerful, and could do everything we expected it to do. Its design is easy to clean and use, and in our opinion, looks durable and long lasting. We were slightly confused by the Ecaffe capsule and pod website as we couldn’t find any prices or places to buy, so you may have some trouble there. Due to this we would probably suggest using the Gaggia EE with your own choice of ground coffee, rather than the capsules. |
| By Lisa Malyon |
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Pros + Efficient and easy-to-use + Four tasty pods and capsules + Visible water level |
Cons - Cheap design - Slightly expensive |
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Overall Rating 
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By Lisa Malyon
27/10/2006 at 3:55:48pm
27/10/2006 at 3:55:48pm
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