In this review, I will take a look at the Gaggia Brera Fully Automatic Bean to Cup Espresso Coffee Machine. This is a bean to cup machine, meaning that you can purchase whole coffee beans to use. The Gaggia machines are known for their reliability, with people using them for years before needing to replace them. They also have several exclusive features, including an integrated coffee grinder, milk frother, and removable tank.
Gaggia Brera Review
This particular coffee machine comes with several integrated features. Here I will discuss why these are beneficial to you and your coffee making.
Integrated Coffee Grinder
This particular feature is what makes the Gaggia Brera a ‘bean-to-cup’ machine. The coffee grinding is part of the coffee-making process, meaning that as a user, you simply top up the device with whole coffee beans. This is beneficial for a number of reasons.
Firstly, it saves you time. Nobody wants to get up for their morning coffee and start grinding up coffee beans. You won’t need any kind of extra equipment to make your coffee, because the one machine does all of the components for you.
Being able to use whole beans will also save you many. In my experience, buying bags of whole coffee beans are often much cheaper than buying pre-ground coffee. There is also a much greater range for you to choose from, even in your local supermarket.
There are so many different options for strength and flavour when buying whole beans. If you fancy yourself a bit of a coffee connoisseur, then you could even venture to a more upmarket coffee shop where you can buy fresh coffee beans with lots of different flavours to choose from.
Milk Frother
Another benefit of the Gaggia Brera coffee machine is that it has a built-in milk frother. This means that if you don’t want an espresso, you can prepare the milk for your cappuccino or latte at the same time. Again, it means that you don’t need to go and purchase extra gadgets. You can make everything you need for your coffee just with this one machine.
This will help you to save up a bit of extra cash. Invest in a reusable coffee cup and take your morning coffee with you, instead of stopping off at a coffee shop every morning. You’ll be surprised at how much you can save just by making your own coffee each day.
Removable Tank
There are several benefits to having a coffee machine with a removable tank. The main perk is that it makes the device much easier to clean. If you leave mildew or damp to build up in the water reservoir, you may start to notice an unpleasant taste to your coffee. If you can remove the tank, this is easily rectified by cleaning it with some vinegar and water. This will efficiently remove any build-up of minerals or organisms.
A removable tank also allows you to be more economical with your use of water. Most tanks do not come with any kind of markings to suggest how much water to use. However, if you have a removable tank, it’s much easier to get a better idea of your water usage per cup of coffee. This way, you won’t be wasting as much water as you can fill up the tank with the amount that you need and not pour away lots of excess water.
One final point is that being able to remove the tank makes overspill less likely. You can remove the container and fill it at the sink, rather than having the risk of it overflowing while you are trying to add water into the machine. It also removes the risk of any coffee grounds getting mixed in with the water.
Pros
- Integrated coffee grinder allows you to put whole beans straight into the machine
- Milk frother means that you don’t require any further tools to make your cup of coffee the way you like it
- The removable tank allows for easy cleaning and less water wasted
- These coffee machines are notably long-lasting, with reviewers stating they have been in use for several years
- Different settings for size and strength of coffee allow you to further personalise your cup to your particular taste
- Self-cleaning and descaling options make maintaining the machine even easier
Cons
- Customer service and help with machine problems received very low reviews
- Is a slightly pricey option in comparison to some other machines
- Appears to be an inconsistency with quality control, as some users received brand new machines that had various faults
Conclusion
From my research, the Gaggia Brera coffee machine seems to do pretty well. Although it may be more expensive than other options, it does seem to be a good investment due to the number of people who have used their machines for several years. When considering cost, you should also factor in the benefits of the included features, which means that you don’t need to spend extra money on things like coffee grinders or milk frothers. This really is an all-in-one machine, and therefore seems to be good quality and great value for money.