Gaggia Classic Pro E24 (RI9380/46)

Should you buy the Gaggia Classic Pro E24?

The Classic Pro is for the home barista who wants a commercial-style machine to learn on and modify for years. It's bare, Italian-made, built around a 58 mm group, and it rewards skill rather than hiding the process. Bring your own grinder.

Where it earns its score

• 58 mm commercial portafilter. Standard baskets, tampers and distribution tools all fit. That's a real advantage over 54 mm and 51 mm home machines.
• 3-way solenoid valve. Releases pressure after the shot so the puck knocks out dry and clean. Cheap machines skip this.
• Commercial-style steam wand. More steam power than the Breville and De'Longhi wands, which is why milk-drink fans prefer it.
• The mod platform. PID kits, pressure gauges and OPV adjustments are well documented; it grows with you.
• Value score 88. At $449 it's the cheapest 58 mm machine we scored.

What to know first

• No grinder. Add $200–400 for a proper espresso grinder, which brings the total close to a Barista Express.
• No PID out of the box. Temperature surfing (timing your shot after the heating light cycles) is part of the learning curve until you add a PID.
• Warranty score 52. The lowest in the category. Gaggia's US coverage is short and support is through the importer.

Questions buyers ask