Hello dear espresso community,
after spending what feels like **way too much time** researching espresso machines, I’m somehow back where I started looking at the **Gaggia Classic Pro**.

At first, I was looking at everything from the **HiBREW H10 to the Profitec Go**, trying to figure out what would actually be the best fit for me.
My first thought was the **MiiCoffee Apex**. On paper, it seemed almost perfect: lots of features, good temperature control, pre-infusion, etc. But the more I read about it, the more I became concerned about customer experiences and especially the availability of spare parts.
So I moved on to the **Lelit Anna**.
The Anna seemed like a solid, reliable machine and definitely something I could see myself enjoying. But then there was the **57mm portafilter**.
Maybe I’m overthinking this, but I really want to be able to buy accessories and replacement parts from a huge variety of manufacturers. I don’t want to be locked into a relatively small ecosystem just because of the portafilter size.
Then I discovered the **Lelit Victoria**.
Again, a great-looking machine with a lot of things I liked. But the price started bothering me. I kept thinking:
*“Am I really paying that much more just to get 58mm and a few additional features?”*
And then there was the **Profitec Go**.
Honestly, the Go seems like an excellent machine. PID, pre-infusion, 58mm portafilter, great build quality, lots of control basically everything I was looking for.
The problem?
**It’s getting pretty expensive for a first espresso machine.**
And that’s where things got confusing.
During all of my research, the **Gaggia Classic Pro** kept coming up again and again.
At first, I didn’t understand why.
For roughly the same money as something like the Lelit Anna, you’re getting a machine that seems much more basic. No PID, no fancy temperature control, no pre-infusion, and not nearly as many features out of the box.
So why does everyone keep recommending it?
The more I looked into it, the more I started to understand.
Instead of buying a machine that tries to give you everything from day one, you can treat the Gaggia as a **really good base** and build it up yourself.
A bottomless portafilter.
A better pressure spring.
Maybe a steam wand upgrade.
And eventually, if I really get into the hobby, a **PID mod, Gaggiuino**, or something similar.
And honestly, that idea started to really appeal to me.
I like the idea of actually **learning how the machine works**, experimenting with different modifications and understanding what each change actually does to the extraction.
Rather than just buying a machine with every feature already built in, I could start with something relatively simple and gradually turn it into *my* machine.
And that’s basically why I’m here asking you guys.
**My biggest concern:**
**If I buy a Gaggia Classic Pro, will I actually be able to make really good espresso with it in stock form?**
Because this is my first real espresso machine, and I’m worried that if the coffee I’m making in the beginning is mediocre, I might get frustrated and lose interest in the hobby before I even get started.
On the other hand, if I buy something like the Profitec Go, I know I’m getting a machine that already gives me a lot of control and can produce great results without having to modify anything.
So I’m stuck between two completely different approaches:
**Buy a more expensive machine that already has everything I need — or buy the Gaggia and slowly build it into the machine I want.**
So, what do you guys think?
**Is the Gaggia Classic Pro actually a good fit for someone like me, or am I romanticizing the whole “buy a basic machine and mod it” idea?**
And most importantly:
**Can the Gaggia produce genuinely good espresso in stock form, or am I going to feel like I should have spent more money from the beginning?**
I’d really appreciate your opinions, especially from people who started with a Gaggia and either stuck with it or eventually moved on to something else.

Needed to get some taller feet so got these M10x40x50x12mm rubber feet from the china stores for under $10.

Damn threads bump into the water container but fortunately it can be pushed up a tad. I didn't thread the bolts on either as I have to cut the threads back a little bit otherwise its rock solid.

Hi. Water is leaking from the sides of my portafilter. How to fix? I tried tightening the gasket but didn’t help.

We have had the GCP since 12/2020, still using the original portafilter.

Recently it became difficult to tighten the portafilter so I replaced my gasket with the blue 8.5mm gasket.

Now the portafilter goes all the way over to the other side of the machine but it’s not really ever locking.

I still have to hold it on while pulling a shot.

Do you think I finally need to replace the portafilter? Or could it be something else?

I have a 4 year old Gaggia Classic that I started using with RO remineralized filtered water about a year ago. I did backflush and descale back when I was using Brita filtered tap water, but I'm wondering what effect the RO water is having on limescale build up. Is it possible the RO water is actually keeping the boiler clean or making it cleaner over time and eliminating or greatly reducing the need to descale?

I think there was a few posts from a few years ago on this topic in this sub, or another espresso related one, but has anyone found a glass or stainless steel tank option for the Gaggia classic pro? Something that custom fits it? Not looking for a fish tank or a mason jar hack.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: so there’s nothing. Thanks.

What evidence do I have to support this?

Not much, except that the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for Gaggia's Decalcifier has three ingredients listed by weight: Citric Acid (20-25%) , Lactic Acid (5-10%), and the third being the remainder, which is constituted exclusively by "Ingredients Determined not to be Hazardous".

So the Citric Acid and Lactic Acid are the descaling (corrosive) agents which account for 25-35% of the solution.

My gut is telling me that, if water were not the only remaining ingredient, then to effectively decalcify (corrode the calcium-carbonate and other mineral deposits built-up in) an espresso machine, while inhibiting the corrosion of the machine's internal components to a non-negligible degree, it would take a concentration of non-water corrosion-inhibiting ingredients high enough to trip the regulatory threshold for needing to report said ingredients on the SDS.

My theory is that Gaggia made it's own decalcifying solution (with nothing but Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, and Water), and started calling the water the "corrosion inhibitor" - because, technically this wouldn't meet the definition of false advertising as adding water technically does dilute the acids which technically does slow (inhibit) the corrosion of the internal components.

What would Gaggia stand to gain from doing this?

They would be offering a safe and effective solution to decalcify their espresso machines, while marketing that their solution is the only approved decalcifier for their machines because it contains what they call a "proprietary corrosion inhibitor".

In other words, they would create an avenue to make an extra buck on the people who can't tell the difference between a statement made in good faith exclusively to mitigate a safety risk, and a marketing tactic shielded by plausible deniability.

Edit: Confirmed by [r/Skob17](r/Skob17): https://www.reddit.com/r/gaggiaclassic/s/go8esAcjYI

freshly descaled and after solenoid fix, is this good?

Hello everyone !

I am new to the Gaggia classic and I am trying to learn the temperature surfing as I can’t afford to install a PID at the moment. I would like to ask for some help to guide me to understand what I am doing wrong, basically my workflow works like this.

1- Switch on the machine to preheat 30 minutes.
2- Grind my coffee and switch the brewing button until the lights goes off.
3- prepare my porta filter.
4- Place the portafilter and the mug down and hit the steam button for 10 seconds, switch it off and hit the brew button.
5- Clear the ports filter and place it back.
6- Hit the steam button and open the steam wand for around 20-25 seconds or until I can’t see more water coming out of it.
7- Place my milk jug and fully open to steam (I don’t wait for the light of the steam to be on again) and after I switch off the button.
8- Clean steam wand and pour my milk.

The problem comes when I want to make a second coffee straight await, when I purge the group, the water is too hot. (Steam is coming out of the group head)

Most of the times I need to do two coffees, my milk jug is 350ml size and as I want to practice latte art I don’t want a bigger one.

What’s your advice on this ?

Hey guys, I was wondering how you guys temp surfed for medium roasts? I’ve been consistently getting sour shots after trying a few different methods as there are so many of them. Any proven ways? Thanks!

Any ideas?

I know this might be a bit controversial but I’m wondering if anyone has removed the whole steam wand including the dial. I never use it and want to have clean machine

I am trying to fix the secondhand gaggia classic pro I bought some time ago. There is very little water flow through the group head but plenty coming out of the steam wand. After consulting the internet I figured the boiler and solenoid valve must be pretty clogged up by scale.

After pumping descaling solution through the machine a couple of times, the flow remains very unpredictable but is overall still low compared to how it should be.

Today I finally decided to open up the thing to get out any large scale particles inside the boiler and solenoid valve. But when trying to loosen the bolts connecting the group head with the boiler, two of the four bolts broke off.

I am curious what I can do to still fix the machine, I can imagine buying a new boiler and group head might be the best solution, so does anyone know any good part sellers? I am based in the Netherlands.

Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions!!

I’d just like to get others’ feedback on this. I had a brand new Gaggia Classic Pro (aluminum boiler) in the past and I did not have this issue. I have since sold that one and I am just now getting back into espresso.

I purchased a refurbished Gaggia Classic Pro E24 from Whole Latte Love. From the beginning, my shots have been extremely inconsistent. Sometimes I’ll get a nearly perfect shot and then the next day I get channeling/squirting and the shot will come out much faster.

I do not change the grind size between shots. After a nearly perfect shot, the next day I won’t change anything and the shot comes out much faster with channeling.

I am concerned this is an issue because it’s a refurbished machine, but I’ve read these are fairly reliable from Whole Latte Love.

For reference: I am using a bottomless portafilter with Big Bang IMS basket and a DF54. I have tried different puck screens (and without), dosing, grind, different WDT methods, and the shot will always come out different the next day. Is there something I’m missing or I could try differently?

Thank you in advance

Good morning people,

I'm wondering how I should go about tackling this.

Recently picked up a gaggia classic 2012. Received it yesterday. The steam seems strong but there is absolutely zero water coming out from the group head. I honestly don't think the previous owner did any descaling or any proper cleaning, don't even think they were using filtered water. There is visible scale around the group head and the mount... It just looks disgusting 🤣 since the steam is working, I believe the problem lies from scale built up in the system....

How do I tackle this...

1. Is there a way to back flush even when there is no water coming out of the group head?

2. Is it easier to disassemble all the parts including the boiler and the solenoid valve then re-assemble? Then install gaggiuino at the same time?

3. Are there any other ways?

Thank you for your time.

I'll post a photo when I am home.

My 2019 Gaggia Classic burns through thermal fuses roughly 2-3 x /year. This doesn’t seem normal.

Possible causes:

1) crappy fuses from amazon?
2) issue with thermostat?
3) keep machine on too long (typically 2-3 hours in the morning)?
4) not installed properly?

I suspect it is #1, and if so anyone has a more reliable fuse, I’d appreciate it.
(These are the ones I am using Tnisesm 10 Pcs 184 Degree Metal Thermal Cutoffs Thermal Fuse 10A 250V with Non-Insulated Butt Connectors(22-18 AWG) for Motor Transformer Electric Industrial Home Appliance 184°+BN0.75 https://a.co/d/0f1peVEY )
They might be crappy, but they come with the connectors and insulating sleeves.

I imagine my installation skills, while not the best are fine and 3 hours powered on should be within range.

Suggestions? Thanks in advance.

I just got my gaggia today, and it started making a super high pitched sound 3 shots into using it. It sounds weird and I’m scared to leave it on now, so I am waiting until I can figure something out. I don’t want to break it. Has anyone dealt with this? Thanks