Hello,

Could you pros and semi pros give me an opinion? I'm stuck with this thought for days...

I actually have an Electrolux espresso machine. As far as I know its quality is similar to Krups machines. I even suspect that both brands share the same machine under different names.

Well, since I bought it I made two important adjustments on it: bought a decent tamper (threw away the plastic one) and took off the second bottom wall of baskets, turning it in commercial style baskets (no more pressurizing stuff).

Actually I use this machine together with a modded Breville burr grinder, that now is capable of grinding fine enough for espresso (stock model can't as you probably know).

This setup actually satisfies me partially. I can pull some good shots but eventually something goes wrong, so I was thinking in upgrading my grinder and machine when possible.

Well, I really can't spend much at this time, so as a new machine I thought in a Gaggia Classic. It would cost me 400,00 FOB USA, but how I live in Brazil I would pay nearly 750,00 with s&h plus taxes.

My Electrolux has cost me 170,00 in brazil and with the
modding and new tamper is performing well, so I finally ask you? What Gaggia has to offer beyond my actual machine that justify spending 750,00 to upgrade? Despite the 58mm group, this machine is substantially different from mine? Do you think these differences worth the price?

Thanks for opinions.

Well, maybe if I post some pictures you can have a better overall idea of machine:



That's a 51mm filter basket (inside diameter):

leopm wrote:Hello,

Could you pros and semi pros give me an opinion? I'm stuck with this thought for days...

My Electrolux has cost me 170,00 in brazil and with the
modding and new tamper is performing well, so I finally ask you? What Gaggia has to offer beyond my actual machine that justify spending 750,00 to upgrade? Despite the 58mm group, this machine is substantially different from mine? Do you think these differences worth the price?

Thanks for opinions.

Cannot compare or assign a value, because I know nothing about your Electrolux (in the US they are know for vacuum cleaners). My daughter has a Gaggia Classic which she and I have both used. With a PID it makes very good espresso although it takes some "playing around" with it to get there. The full upgrade would require an upgrade of the grinder as well in all probability. My guess is that you would get better espresso. The cost equation is something that only you can judge by the money available and the importance of espresso in your life.

Well, thanks for opinion. I'll certainly change my grinder too, I'll try to get a Vario. At this moment I think that a grinder upgrade will allow me to stay with the actual machine for a least the next month.

Good to know that Gaggia has a PID solution too.

There's a good Gaggia group on Yahoo which has lots of information on Gaggia Classics and Gaggia mods. For not too much money there are 3 or 4 mods that improve its capabilities considerably.

Thanks!

I'll search as it interests me a lot...