Gaggia Brera Espresso Machine in Silver

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
mariacalgirl

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Love my Gaggia Brera

I just love this little machine. I have had it for about 6 weeks now, and have had NO problems with it. First thing in the morning i have is a long coffee . Sooo good. I make about 3-4 long coffees, and 2 cappuccinos a day. In between i also make espressos . Still trying different coffees.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Coffees, cappuccinos and espressos are so very good. Love the crema on top. Still trying out other drinks

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Follow all the instructions carefully. Descaled it once and it worked fine.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Still trying different ones, but so far like the more medium ones.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Material is a bit flimsy, like plastic parts etc. Brewing unit a bit sensitive and difficult to reinsert. Handle with care:-)

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
3ShotChuck

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Bella Italia

A little background. Used to own a Saeco Incanto Deluxe that I liked a lot, but it gave up the ghost on me (would grind beans and then just dump them without brewing). Replaced in with a Jura Capressa ENA 4. Loved the espresso but hated the steam wand. Started blowing off all the time not matter what and Whole Latte Love graciously accepted my return. Enter the Gaggia Brera. Reminds me a lot of my Incanto but with a more compact footprint (we don't have a lot of counter space so a real plus). Programmable enough for me. Basically make a couple of triple shot lattes to go in the morning before work. More relaxing ones at home on the weekends. Makes very good espresso. The Brera is a simple machine to use. I like that the water reservoir is accesible from the front -- smaller than the Incanto but bigger than the ENA 4 ... kinda Goldilocks "just right." The only thing I'm not really fond of is the turbo Pannarello frothing wand. IMHO it makes too much foam too fast. I'd prefer something less "fancy" and more "straightforward." The wand/sleeve on my Incanto was much better (I closed off the little pinhole on it so that it more just a "regular" steaming wand). When the steam wand stayed on (which it wouldn't after a while) on the ENA 4, it produced great steamed milk for lattes. I know some of it is a function of technique, it's also a function of design. The wand/sleeve on the Brera is just designed to froth up milk with more foam easier. Otherwise, I like everything else about the Brera and it's pretty close to "perfect" for a no fuss superauto for daily use.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

Easy to use and program. Compact footprint. Front access water reservoir.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Read the instructions and you shouldn't have any problems.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

No brand in particular. I use a mix of dark and medium roast beans.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

I wish they would give you different options for the steam wand/sleeve.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Gaggia Classic, Breville Cafe Roma, Saeco Incanto Deluxe, Jura Capressa ENA 4

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
nostrils

I've had mine a year now, having taken advantage of a WLL refurbished machine. It's been a solid performer over the past year, knocking out 10 to 20 double shots every day without a hitch. The only complaints about the machine is the size of the water reservoir which could be bigger and the "metal effect" covering on the wand where it joins the machine is coming away, revealing the plastic beneath. Overall however I'd definitely recommend it.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Blondie

I have had my Brera for about 2 years now...love love love it! I needed a super automatic with a smaller foot print for my condo and this has worked great. Love the frothing wand and it makes a really nice shot of espresso. I usually make decaf americanos so having the ground coffee by pass dispenser is invaluable. Also it dispenses fairly hot water for tea too. I hope everyone knows to run a decalcifier through their machine at least every 3 months. This will keep the machine in great working condition.

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Sean Sauber

I have had this machine for about 2 months now. Pros - great shots. Consistently brews great shots with good crema. I roast my own beans and was never able to get the consistency in brewing with an Expobar semi auto. So I realized I was not the barista I wanted to be and moved to the Brera. Great shots with my different roasts. Also very quick. Warms up very fast and have multiple shots in very few minutes. Size - small footprint and fits under cabinets in corner of kitchen. Easy to use - good button layout and easy to change settings. Cons - not the most convenient machine to use if you brew a lot of shots. I make a double shot cappuccino for myself and wife in the morning. And during the day we have at least another couple of shots each. I have to fill the water and empty the puck collector at least once a day. And the bean hopper runs out as well. I have it set on the 2 Bean strength - which is Medium - around 8.5 grams of coffee per shot. I notice when I clean it that there is a LOT of ground coffee that seems to go loose inside the machine. I brush out a lot of coffee every Sunday when I clean the machine. So the small footprint that makes it convenient also keeps the water reservoir small, the puck collector small, and bean hopper small. Also since the warm up cycle and cleaning cycle each time you put the machine into standby uses a lot of water - you have to refill often and empty the catch tray quite often. Do I love this machine - no. I admit I am used to the convenience of an Expobar with a very large water tank and large drip tray. Do I love the shots from this machine - Yes. So it is a trade off like anything else. Small, nicely made, looks good, great shots. But if you plan on brewing a lot of shots I would look elsewhere on WLL for a higher volume machine.

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
John M Borzillo Jr

I wanted to write a follow up to my original review from 5/30/12. The Brera has been great but I started having problems with frothing milk. After many calls and internet research, I discovered that it was the milk I was using (Horizon 2% Organic). This milk brand was frothing well until the warm/dry weather hit. Then it wouldn't froth at all. I thought it was the machine (if you keep the frothing wand and air hole clean, it's the milk). I tried a different 2% milk and it worked great. Why did the Horizon milk stop frothing all of the sudden? Cow's diets change and so does the milk. Still loving my Brera!

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
John M Borzillo Jr

I usually don't write reviews but this machine warranted one. I've had this machine for two weeks now and overall I like it. Previously, I had a grinder/maker drip machine and wanted to upgrade. After a lot of research I chose the Gaggia Brera. The online videos and reviews were very helpful and so were the WLL staff. This machine makes great espresso especially with the Lavazza Super Crema beans. But the machine isn't perfect. It can be finicky. But, all the answers are in the manual and the online videos. Once you get used to it, the machine produces a beautiful crema and great lattes. I use less coffee with this machine, with better results, than any machine I've owned.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Jon Baughman

This was our first ever automatic espresso maker having used Bodum presses or coffee makers for about 10 years. We drink mostly Cafe Longo style drinks but have found that cappuccino making is pretty easy. Our only critiques are the smallish size of the water reservoir (minor inconvenience but ensures fresh water!) and the sometimes problematic removal and reinstallation of the brew group for cleaning. However, this product produces consitently excellent coffee drinks!

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Carol Willoughby

This is my first superautomatic. I feel like I have died and gone to heaven. They don't make them any better at the barrista's! This machine is so amazingly easy to set up and use - trust me - I typically can function with no more than 3 instructions - one SHORT sentence each. There may be a little more to the set up than that - but not much. It is so amazingly easy to use and clean - very stylish appearing - I'm feeling italian come from my lips yet I've never studied it. I'll NEVER GO BACK!

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Mike Perola

I’ve tried them all…Jura, Saeco, Delonghi. Decided with all the great sales on Gaggia I’d have to give them a try. Hands down the Gaggia Brera makes the best espresso that I’ve had out of any super-automatic I’ve owned. From what I understand about the Brera is that it has a superior grinder (ceramic burrs, self adjusting) then most of brands which apparently makes a big difference in the quality of your espresso. I can tell you one thing…the grinder is definitely much more quite then my Delonghi machine. Quite honestly the Delonghi I sounded like a jet airplane starting up every time the grinder ran. I would certainly recommend the Brera to anyone looking for a reasonably priced super automatic that makes great espresso.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Ed Tasker

When the Brera first arrived I opened the box to find it professionally packaged. I make a note of this because this is frequently a problem I have with internet companies - Amazon included occasionally. The manufacturers box was in perfect condition indicating that it wasn't an "open box" like a returned item selling as new, or damaged in handling. That is a pet peeve of mine because at least at a store I can pick the one I want so trust is an important factor. Taking the Brera out of the box was uneventful as hoped. All the parts appeared to be well stored and were accounted for. Anxious to get this beauty brewing I went with intuition and filled the water tank and bean hopper, plugged it is and a pushed the on button. I was really simple to get it started and I was able to avoid the instructions and still get a my cup of espresso in a couple minutes. I will get to steaming latter. The first cup was not good, but I was not surprised. The espresso was flowing very fast which was an obvious sign that the grind was not fine enough. I noticed the grinder adjustment knob when I poured the beans in so I adjusted it to a finer grind and WOW what a difference. Since then I have found out that different espresso beans will do better with different grinds so this features works supreme for me. Mostly because I know better, I would not be surprised that others users would not think to try different settings. We all get our kicks in different ways, but I really like the steamer on the Brera. It just works so fast and produces such a silky froth, with literally no technique. I am amused when I read reviews about other machines where they spend gallons of milk learning how to froth. My morning ritual is to steam my milk directly in my cup, 15 seconds maybe, then brew my double espresso, Drizzle some caramel syrup on top. Fall into my cushy couch. Get back up again to retrieve the newspaper. Fall back down and sip my way to the bottom thinking "yummy" for the next 5 mins. What could be better? I highly recommend the Gaggia Brera and kudos to the Whole Latte Love sales crew for helping me get exactly what I hoped for!

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Janet Mutolo

One thing I learned on my trip to Italy is that Gaggia is pretty much a household name over there. Not being a huge fan of espresso and cappuccinos before my trip, I had the revelation while I was there that we as Americans are really missing the boat when it comes to drinking our good old drip coffee. That said, I knew nothing about making espresso and thought that I would have to become a trained barista and purchase a $3000 machine to make espresso that came even close to what I was getting in Italy. Being that I had a budget of less then $1000 dollars and my 55 hour a week work schedule kind of put a halt on me becoming a barista I decided to take my chance with the Brera. I can say with all honestly that the Brera makes as good, if not better, espresso then I was getting in Italy and believe it or not it literally is as easy as the press of a button. I’m extremely happy with my purchase and I’m now addicted to cappuccinos and haven’t had drip coffee at my house in the six months that I’ve owned this machine.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
jerrid kruse

I have really enjoyed the Brera over the last 6 months. Having owned super automatic machines for 10 years I experienced the vast improvement in quality over time. With the Brera the advancements are definitely in the quality of the coffee. My old Saeco Magic Delux was a really trooper but the in cup flavor was always not quite what I hoped for. The convenience is always appreciated first thing in the morning for sure and the Brera starts up very fast compared to my previous equipment. I didn't use to do that much milk steaming due to the long heat up time for the steam pressure, but that has changed immeasurably now. Super fast milk steaming has made this my all time favorite kitchen appliance. I highly recommend this to all those who are looking for their first super automatic but were afraid that they could be disappointed. No gimmicks. Just straight out of the box enjoyment. All you need coffee and your good to go.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Justin Smart

I am writing this review for my mother. It was a Christmas gift, so at this time it has been in operation for 10 months. The Brera is working perfectly and she uses it a few times everyday. The forther works great and the espresso is rich. Whole Latte Love recommended that we set the grinder to the finest setting and I would agree. I purchased it for her because of the lower profile and because the water reservoir comes out from the front. She put it under a lower than normal kitchen cabinet and it fits perfectly. We both highly recommend it.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Kriss G

I purchased the Gaggia Brera from Whole Latte Love based on the positive reviews and great videos they produce. Having owned several super automatic espresso makers over the years I knew what I liked and what I didn't. What I like is simplicity and speed vs the early morning agony that the semi automatics force me to endure. Agony to me is: 1. waiting for the machine to heat up 2. grinding coffee and then cleaning up the grinds on the counter. 3. finding out my first shot is better for my garden, dumping the grounds and re-grinding and cleaning again. 4. changing the temperature to steam and waiting, then purging the water in the wand 5 my espresso is getting cold... I know that some semi autos have fast heat up times, but that is not enough to entice me away from my sweet baby Brera. What I like is making different drinks for my friends, trying out all kinds of espresso based recipes and drinking my masterpieces in a peaceful state of mind. How does the Brera allow me to do this so successfully? In general because it takes care of the problems that can frequently occur so you don't even have to think about them. Such as temperature. It was not unusual with my past machines to not brew hot enough. I would have to preheat my cups in those cases. The Brera brews plenty hot so those thoughts are not even in my head. Other problems that the Brera avoids is heat up time for brewing and steaming. The key here is if the time is so long that I find something else to do, like empty the dish washer, feed the dogs etc. I don't even think of moving away from the machine. I push or turn a button or knob and it responds immediately. No downside, just anticipation. The interface is very intuitive and allows you to reprogram the brew setting if you want. I did and it was easy. Maintenance is straight forward like emptying the drip tray, used coffee grinds and rinsing the brew group. This is pretty much the routine with my past machines and takes a minute to do. I have no issues here. The construction is a very solid steel body with a stainless steel front plate. The esthetics are very clean crisp lines that do not overstate it's presence. It is a compact machine and can fit pretty much any where your toaster will. That about all you need to know if your looking for a super automatic espresso machine. I got mine on sale so I hope you can too.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Bob Gates

I purchased this machine about 8 months ago and it has working flawlessly for me. The reason that I choose this machine was based on the Whole Latte Love sales support crew that really understood what I was looking for before I did. I say that because they asked about what I had used before, what I liked and didn't like about it. We narrowed it down pretty quickly to a compact super automatic that was priced within my budget and was a top performer in it's price class. Finding a machine with stainless steel anything is a treat even though that does not make the coffee taste better, it just makes the product more appealing. I use the Gaggia Brera for Cafe Americano, which it so delicious I put my coffee maker in storage. I only break that out when I have alot of friends and family over. However, they usually crowd around the Brera anyways - pushing buttons and asking where I got this. I buy all my coffee and equipment from Whole Latte Love and have done so for years. They are an awesome company with experience that you don't find anymore. Gotta reward any company that can pull that off these days. I don't like long reviews where people try to sound like creative experts so I will close with this. The Gaggia Brera and Whole Latte Love make a great pair, give them a shot if your in the market.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Sean Owens

Pros - good espresso, easy to use & refill, great value, quiet Cons - steam wand location & durability, small water & bean bins Overall - very satisfied with this machine. Bought as replacement for Gaggia Synchrony Compact. This is my second super-auto, first lasted 5 yrs brewing avg of 15 shots/day (underwent a few repairs for wear & tear with my high use). I have had the machine for 6 weeks under the same usage and hope to get the same long-term use from the Brera. It is much quieter than the synchrony and the water bin in front is nice, especially since I'm filling it often. The poewr stand-by is a nice feature. Brera brews a very good shot and is very easy to program. The steam system is very fast and makes it a breeze to froth milk. With the exception of the steam wand, the build quality is pretty good. The wand location in fron of the water bin is a bit of a hassle. The wand itself doesn't feel all that sturdy, especially when removing the rubber grommet for cleaning (we'll see how it goes, but so far so good). I have yet to descale the machine and opted not to use the water filter (the tank is small enough as is). I removed the plastic safety cover in the bean bin (over the grinder feed) to allow for more beans and this works well. At this point I am relly impressed with the machine. It is a major upgrade from the synchrony (no more "bonk"..."bonk" tamping noise for double shots. Good quality, easy to use and quiet. Time will tell on build quality, but my past experience w/ Gaggia has been good. As always, WLL staff were very helpful in the selection process and know their stuff. Hope this helps!

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Karina Davis

Ordered this model because of limited under-cabinet space. The tank has to be filled often, but this is not burdensome as it is so easy to fill from the front. I tried out quite a few other models at my local store and they all had either tanks in the back or on the side, which required moving the machine to fill. I also tested auto milk frothers on the lower-end models... what they do not tell you is that the milk doesn't get very hot. After testing those models I realized it's not difficult at all to manually steam milk, and you can control the temperature all the way. I like my latte HOT and don't miss an auto frother. The Brera isn't as programmable as other models, which is not an issue for us. There are only three strength settings, one two or three beans, which controls the amount of ground coffee in the chute. The lungo button, while you can program the amount, has a maximum programmability of 8oz per cup. For a big cup of american coffee my husband runs two cycles for a total of 16oz. Again, not a lot of flexibility here but perfect for our household of 2 coffee drinkers. If you have more people in your house and more countertop space I would go with a different model and you won't have to fill tank as often. But for us the simplicity of the machine and it's very small footprint outweighed everything else....it is perfect for us.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Slowoldman1

This is our first "real" machine, and I purchased it after seeing the video and talking with WLL's representatives. Operation is truly almost as simple as on the video. We mostly make cafe crema, and the Brera does a fine job with this, as well as espresso. The overall size is great. We love that the water reservoir and dregdrawer are easily accessible from the front--a major design advantage over many other machines. Cleaning is also easy. After 2 months, we're definitely glad we bought the Brera.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
mjackson ♦

Just got this machine after using pods for a long time. I was tired of being limited and did not think it was very cost effective. I have been really impressed with the quality of the espresso. I have read reviews on a lot of machines along with the Brera. Now that I have used the Brera, I agree with them, I have been impressed as well. I also like the way everything is set up - easy to get the beans in, the display is easy and functional, I can get to the water tank easily and it is easy to fill. I really did not like steaming with my past machines, this one makes it easy to enjoy a cappuccino. I am really surprised by the quality for the price. Mark helped me choose a machine and I need to give them a thank you as well.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Samual Kayea

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Beginner

Great Coffee

I finally bit the bullet and bought my first real Espresso maker. It gets a lot of use in my college apartment and we all love it. The stainless steel front gives it an awesome look and it brews a very good cup. I have steamed a few times and it has been very easy to use, now I have to learn a little more about what to put in a Latte.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Easy to use and the espresso is great.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Set the grinder the finest grind and keep some already ground decaf around just in case you end up drinking to much.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Beginner

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Gaggia, Lavazza

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

It works just fine the way it is.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

First machine

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
JillyC

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Great Choice

I choose this machine because of of its size and looks. The video by Tracy and Todd helped me with deciding which one to buy. I have used it for about 5 weeks now and it has worked perfectly. It fits under my kitchen cabinets and I like the way the water tank and used coffee box come out the front. Espresso is very good and frothing is easy and consistent.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Easy to learn, use and is not to tall

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Like all machines keep the frother clean.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Have used many different coffee's. Vivace, Whole Latte Love, Lavazza and others.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

?

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Delonghi, Saeco, Gaggia