José Andrade wrote: to maximise your Crema.

No crema usually means bad espresso.
Lots of crema does not necessarily mean good espresso. Focus on flavor, using crema as an indicator, not a goal.

I won't be trying anything. This is the second machine that has broken in less than two weeks.

The 330 started leaking. The filter basket in the ECO310 has a large tear in the rubber.

I am back off to the store tomorrow. Hopefully it is open, and demanding my money back. While I understand you get what you pay for, I didn't expect them to have a 4 day life span!

Now if I can't get my money back they will give me store credit, which I do not want. Leaving me with the only choice of upgrading to the bean to cup version from DeLonghi... Magnifica ESAM 4200.S

Considering my issues with DeLonghi so far, I don't think ill be upgrading.

If we get our money back we will be looking to buy another espresso machine. Could you please recommend one of the following as the best entry level machine. We are on a budget, but if none are really worth it then please do say so.

Gaggia Ivory

Gaggia Black

Gaggia Classic

Gaggia Cubika Plus

Gaggia Espresso Color

Or are there any other you can recommend?

I see Gaggia Classic with Baratza Preciso grinder often recommended here as a good budget option for home espresso

I have the option of buying either a Gaggia Classic which is the more expensive or a Gaggia New Baby Class which is cheaper. The Baby Class is on offer.

Help!?

I reviewed the Gagga New Baby for WIRED magazine last year here; it's a price performer. The Gaggia Classic has a fancier casing, but to the best of my knowledge, the internals are identical. The stock steam arm was hard to work with; I replaced it with this so-called latte art pannarello.

With the caveat that I'm not versed on all the minor differences among the Gaggia models, I believe the salient difference between the "new" Baby and the original is the former has a 3-way valve to release brew pressure immediate after the extraction. That's an option worth having.

Just bought the Baby Class.

It came with two Crema Perfetta filter baskets. With one tiny hole on the bottom of the filter. Will have to buy another filter basket now.

One thing I have noticed is how heavy it is compared to DeLonghi's.