If you’re on the lookout for an entry-level espresso machine, allow me to introduce two of my top picks: the Gaggia Carezza Deluxe and the Gaggia Classic Pro. Both models bring something unique to the table, but after a deep dive into their features, pros, and cons, I can confidently declare the Gaggia Classic Pro the standout winner.
The Gaggia Classic Pro shines brightly with its robust stainless-steel construction, ample water tank capacity, professional-grade steam wand, and superior espresso extraction performance. These features make it a top choice for anyone looking to replicate café-quality coffee at home.
That said, don’t overlook the Gaggia Carezza Deluxe. While it takes the second spot, this machine offers plenty to love. Its retro-inspired design, intuitive controls, and rapid heating capabilities make it an excellent option, particularly for beginners who want reliability without breaking the bank. If you’re venturing into the world of home espresso, this model deserves your attention for its simplicity and budget-friendly appeal.
Gaggia Carezza Deluxe vs Classic Pro: Comparison
The Gaggia Classic Pro RI9380/46 and the Gaggia Carezza Deluxe RI8525/01 are two standout entry-level espresso machines, each offering unique features to cater to different preferences. The Classic Pro boasts dimensions of 9.5 x 8 x 14.2 inches, while the Carezza Deluxe is slightly more compact at 11 x 8.3 x 11.8 inches. Built with stainless steel, the Classic Pro is a durable option, contrasting with the lightweight plastic construction of the Carezza Deluxe.
When it comes to capacity, the Classic Pro features a generous 2.1-liter water tank, compared to the 1.3 liters offered by the Carezza Deluxe. The Classic Pro also has a brushed stainless-steel finish, while the Carezza Deluxe sports a sleek silver design. Weighing 20 pounds, the Classic Pro feels sturdy and substantial, whereas the 13.2-pound Carezza Deluxe is lighter and more portable.
The Classic Pro operates at 1425W on 110V-120V, while the Carezza Deluxe functions at 1300W with the same voltage range. Impressively, the Classic Pro heats up in just 30 seconds, outperforming the Carezza Deluxe, which takes about 1 minute. While the Classic Pro offers an optional bottomless portafilter and features two steam tip holes for better control, the Carezza Deluxe lacks these advanced features, coming with a single steam tip hole.
In terms of frothing, the Classic Pro is equipped with a commercial steam wand for superior microfoam, while the Carezza Deluxe utilizes a Pannarello wand that simplifies milk frothing for beginners. The control interface on the Classic Pro includes new rocker buttons with indicator lights, offering a modern touch, whereas the Carezza Deluxe relies on an analogic push-button setup. Both machines use a single-boiler, dual-use configuration and provide a consistent 15-bar pump pressure, ensuring quality espresso shots.
The Classic Pro stands out for its heavy-duty build, smooth manual control, and versatility with both pressurized and non-pressurized portafilter baskets. It delivers a convenient setup, excellent brewing performance, and optimal temperature settings without bitterness or watery results. Priced at $453.31, it’s a robust investment for espresso enthusiasts. On the other hand, the Carezza Deluxe, at $299.00, offers rapid heating, reliable performance, and balanced espresso extraction in a more budget-friendly package, making it a great choice for newcomers to the espresso world.
Gaggia Carezza Deluxe vs Classic Pro: Differences
After carefully analyzing all the features, it’s clear that the Gaggia Classic Pro takes the spotlight with its superior design, larger capacity, exceptional brewing performance, and the standout addition of a commercial-grade steam wand. Let me walk you through the key factors that secured the Classic Pro’s undeniable 3-0 win over the Carezza Deluxe.
COFFEE FLAVOR & BREWING SYSTEM
The Winner: Gaggia Classic Pro
Neither the Gaggia Carezza Deluxe nor the Classic Pro falls into the “bean-to-cup” category. Instead, they require a more hands-on approach to brewing, which involves grinding, dosing, and tamping your coffee grounds. While this might seem daunting for beginners, I assure you that the effort is well worth it. These machines deliver exceptional espresso that can rival your favorite café, offering a rich and satisfying coffee experience.
One key aspect to note is that neither machine comes equipped with a built-in grinder, so you’ll need to invest in one separately. For me, this is a small price to pay for quality, as the grind plays a crucial role in determining the flavor and consistency of your espresso. If you’re in the market for a grinder, I recommend two excellent options: the Breville Smart Grinder Pro, which offers great value for budget-conscious buyers, and the Baratza Sette 270, a top-tier choice for more serious coffee enthusiasts.
If purchasing a grinder isn’t ideal for you or you simply need a quick caffeine fix during busy mornings, both the Gaggia Carezza Deluxe and Classic Pro are compatible with pre-ground coffee or ESE pods. This makes them versatile options, allowing you to enjoy a convenient and hassle-free coffee-making experience tailored to your schedule and preferences.
PORTAFILTER AND FILTER BASKET
When it comes to the portafilter, the Gaggia Carezza Deluxe and the Gaggia Classic Pro take noticeably different approaches. The Carezza Deluxe uses a 53mm pressurized portafilter made of stainless steel with some plastic components. While it gets the job done, it feels a bit lightweight and not as premium. In contrast, the Classic Pro features a 58mm chrome-plated brass portafilter that exudes quality. It feels solid and well-crafted, making it a pleasure to use.
Both machines are equipped with pressurized filter baskets, which are perfect for beginners. These baskets simplify the brewing process by eliminating the need for precise tamping and are more forgiving of inconsistent grind sizes. They’re a great starting point for anyone just diving into the world of espresso. However, from my experience, even small efforts like a light tamp and a consistent grind can make a noticeable difference in the quality of the coffee.
A Closer Look at the Gaggia Carezza Deluxe
- The Carezza Deluxe’s pressurized filter basket has an interesting design. It resembles a standard commercial-style basket with multiple holes in its walls, which makes it easy to use but limits the level of control for advanced users.
Why the Classic Pro Stands Out
- The Classic Pro steps up by offering more versatility. In addition to the pressurized basket, it includes a standard non-pressurized filter basket, often used by professionals. This option gives you the ability to fine-tune your espresso, adjusting factors like grind size and tamp pressure to extract the perfect shot.
With the non-pressurized basket, a good grinder, and a little practice, the Classic Pro allows you to craft café-quality espresso at home. This level of control and flexibility is something the Carezza Deluxe simply doesn’t offer. From my personal experience, the Classic Pro consistently delivers better espresso, making it the clear winner for anyone who wants to hone their barista skills.
BOILER
Considering these are entry-level espresso machines, I wasn’t expecting them to feature dual boilers. As anticipated, both rely on a single boiler, which means you can’t brew espresso and froth milk simultaneously. Instead, the machine needs to heat up to steam temperature after brewing, a process that takes under a minute.
The Gaggia Classic Pro claims a brewing warm-up time of just 5 minutes, which is impressive for a machine that doesn’t use thermocoil or thermoblock technology. However, in practice, I’ve found that giving it about 10 minutes to warm up yields the best results. While its aluminum boiler is efficient, it’s worth noting that it can be prone to corrosion over time.
In contrast, the Gaggia Carezza Deluxe heats up faster, taking around 40 seconds to a minute to prepare for brewing and an additional 30 seconds to reach steaming temperature. Its aluminum boiler is lined with stainless steel, which not only speeds up the heating process but also offers better resistance to corrosion. I’ve found this quicker warm-up time particularly useful for streamlining my morning routine, as I can grind and tamp the coffee while waiting for the machine to heat up.
PRE-INFUSION
One feature that caught my attention is the pre-infusion capability of the Gaggia Carezza Deluxe. Typically reserved for higher-end machines, pre-infusion gently wets the coffee grounds before brewing, resulting in a richer and more balanced flavor. Seeing this feature in an entry-level model is genuinely impressive.
Unfortunately, the Gaggia Classic Pro doesn’t include a built-in pre-infusion function. While some enthusiasts go as far as modifying their machines to add this feature, that’s a step I’m not comfortable taking.
However, I’ve discovered a clever workaround for pre-infusion on the Classic Pro. Here’s what I do:
- Place an empty cup under the steam wand and ensure the portafilter is locked in place.
- Slightly open the steam knob and quickly press the brew switch.
- This allows water to flow through the grounds for about 5 seconds.
- Close the steam knob to proceed with the normal extraction.
This simple trick mimics the pre-infusion process and significantly improves the flavor of the espresso without the need for machine modifications.
DESIGN & USABILITY
The Winner: Gaggia Classic Pro
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT & BUILD QUALITY
- Gaggia Carezza Deluxe: 11 x 12.75 x 12.5 inches, 13.2 lbs
- Gaggia Classic Pro: 8 x 14.2 x 9.5 inches, 20 lbs
Both machines are compact enough to fit comfortably under most kitchen cabinets, making them ideal for small spaces. Their light weight makes them easy to move, but they’re likely to stay in one spot on your countertop.
The Carezza Deluxe stands out with its retro Italian-inspired design, giving it a charming and nostalgic vibe. However, its build is predominantly plastic, which contributes to its lighter weight. While this is convenient, I occasionally had to steady the machine when attaching or removing the portafilter—a minor drawback for an otherwise appealing design.
The Classic Pro, on the other hand, balances modern minimalism with a nod to classic Italian design. Its all-metal housing feels sturdy and durable, giving it a more premium and long-lasting appeal. The additional weight compared to the Carezza is a worthwhile trade-off for its superior build quality.
WATER TANK
The Carezza Deluxe has a 1.4-liter water tank, which is sufficient for light usage but can feel limiting in a two-person household with multiple cups brewed daily. The auto-rinse feature and warming blank shots further deplete the tank, leading to frequent refills. Although the tank slides out from the front for easy access, you’ll often need to remove the drip tray to refill it. The clear window for checking the water level is a nice touch, but it’s tricky to see unless the machine is in a well-lit area.
In contrast, the Classic Pro boasts a larger 2.1-liter water tank, meaning fewer refills and a more convenient coffee-making routine. Refilling is simple and flexible—you can remove the drip tray or lift the lid to top it off. However, while the tank is clear plastic, its tinted design and placement behind the brew group make it harder to gauge the water level at a glance.
MILK SYSTEM
The winner: Gaggia Classic Pro
Both machines come equipped with milk frothers, making them excellent choices for cappuccino or latte lovers.
The Carezza Deluxe features a Pannarello steam wand, known for its ease of use. It’s perfect for beginners, allowing you to create smooth, consistent milk foam without much effort. While it won’t give you barista-level microfoam, it’s a solid choice for casual milk-based drinks.
The Classic Pro steps it up with a commercial-grade steam wand. While it comes with a steeper learning curve, it offers much more control over steaming and frothing. Once you’ve mastered it, the wand produces velvety microfoam ideal for latte art and high-quality drinks. For those willing to put in a bit of practice, the results are well worth the effort, making the Classic Pro the clear winner for milk-based beverages.
Quick Overview Of The Gaggia Classic Pro
Gaggia RI9380/46 Classic Evo Pro, Small, Brushed Stainless Steel
Features:
- Build Material: Solid steel housing for durability
- Espresso Pressure: Extracts at 9 bars, ensuring authentic espresso quality
- Portafilter: 58mm stainless steel commercial portafilter for consistent extraction
- Steam Wand: Commercial-grade steam wand for professional-level milk frothing
- Water Tank: Large 72 oz (2.1 liters) capacity minimizes refilling needs
- Solenoid Valve: Three-way valve ensures dry coffee pucks for easy disposal
- Design: Compact, minimalist Italian style with a professional finish
- Manual Control: Offers hands-on brewing experience
Pros:
- Durable, high-quality construction
- Professional steam wand for microfoam and latte art
- Large water reservoir for convenience
- Easy puck disposal with the solenoid valve
- Upgraded boiler for smoother operation
Cons:
- No automatic shut-off feature
Price $453.31
Quick Rundown Of The Gaggia Carezza Deluxe
Gaggia Carezza Deluxe Espresso Machine, 47oz, Silver
Features:
- Build Material: Plastic with steel accents for lightweight portability
- Espresso Pressure: Maintains industry-standard pressure for balanced espresso
- Portafilter: Pressurized portafilter compatible with ground coffee and ESE pods
- Steam Wand: Pannarello wand for frothing milk, also doubles as a hot water dispenser
- Water Tank: 47 oz (1.4 liters), front-loaded for easy access and refill
- Pre-Infusion: Wets coffee grounds before brewing for enhanced flavor extraction
- Auto Shut-Off: Automatically powers down after 9 minutes of inactivity to save energy
- Compact Design: Space-saving size perfect for smaller kitchens
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable design
- Quick heating time for convenience
- Balanced and consistent espresso extraction
- Energy-saving auto shut-off feature
- Crema Perfetta portafilter ensures optimal brewing
Cons:
- Heavy use of plastic materials
- Smaller water tank requires more frequent refills
Price: $299.00
Conclusion
Both the Gaggia Carezza Deluxe and the Gaggia Classic Pro bring their own strengths to the table, catering to different types of coffee enthusiasts. If you’re a beginner looking for a user-friendly machine with a sleek design, the Carezza Deluxe is an excellent choice. Its quick heat-up time, pressurized portafilter, and automatic shut-off make it perfect for those who value convenience without sacrificing decent espresso quality.
However, if you’re serious about elevating your espresso game and prefer a more hands-on approach, the Gaggia Classic Pro is the clear winner. Its durable steel construction, commercial-grade steam wand, and non-pressurized filter basket offer the flexibility and precision needed to craft barista-quality coffee. While it demands a bit more effort and learning, the results are well worth it for coffee enthusiasts who crave control and customization.
In the end, your choice boils down to your priorities: ease of use and affordability with the Carezza Deluxe, or professional features and long-term durability with the Classic Pro. Either way, you’re investing in a quality machine that embodies Gaggia’s legacy of exceptional espresso-making.