In a Nutshell:
The Gaggia Brera Superautomatic is straightforward to use and features cutting-edge brew/steam technology at a surprisingly affordable price. We recommend this for first-time espresso makers and those who want a good deal on a quality superautomatic.
Brew Quality
Customization options
Ease of Use
Durability
Overall Rating
4.6/5
Benefits
Drawbacks
Recommended For: First-time espresso makers and those who want a good deal on a quality superautomatic.
Are those daily latte runs starting to add up? You might be better off splurging on a superautomatic to make delicious coffee drinks at home. The thing is, they usually cost an arm and a leg.
Thankfully, the highly respected Italian brand Gaggia Brera has gifted us with an affordable, high-performance espresso maker that is a pure delight for beginners to use. Our Gaggia Brera espresso machine review breaks down its features!
Gaggia Brera Super Automatic Espresso Machine Design Overview
Gaggia Brera already has a reputation for excellence, honed from decades of Italian innovation and a no-nonsense espresso culture. You can already count on quality with their superautomatic.
The Brera is a popular model, and for a good reason. It’s affordable, convenient, attractive, and easy to clean. Best of all, it’s incredibly user-friendly.
That’s why this superautomatic is the perfect starting point for rookie espresso dabblers, who want to learn the ropes, but don’t want to dish out thousands or struggle through a complicated process.
You might be wondering why this superautomatic is so dang cheap, and we’ll go ahead and say here in our Gaggia Brera Espresso Machine review that the design materials play a huge role. You’ll find a good amount of plastic parts that, while lowers the price, also lower the machine’s lifespan.
Plastic just doesn’t hold up over the years like stainless steel, so you may have to deal with more maintenance than you’d prefer.
There are a handful of stainless steel parts on this machine as well, so you still get that sleek, luxurious “I just stepped into an Italian cafe” look.
Dimensions
Plastic has other perks besides the price. This superautomatic weighs only 18 pounds! The machine’s dimensions are 10 x 15.5 x 11.5 inches, so you get a slim and compact design that’s easy to carry and maneuver.
For small apartments with limited counter space and kitchens with low-hanging cabinets, here is the answer to your espresso-making dreams.
Convenience
Before we get into the features, it’s also important to note that convenience was a focus of this machine (but then again, that’s the main draw of superautomatics in general).
You’ll find that the parts are removable for easy cleaning, and the water reservoir and grounds compartment are front-loading for easy access.
An integrated grinder, bean hopper, and steam wand make it even easier to brew a coffee drink in minutes, and everything can be controlled by the push of a button from the simple digital interface located on the front of the machine.
Coffee Drink Options
The Gaggia Brera Super Automatic makes the following coffee drinks:
Brera Gaggia Espresso Machine Features
The Gaggia Brera automatic espresso machine offers just enough features to give the user plenty of customization options without overwhelming them at the same time. That’s what makes it a winner for novices!
Each of the main features is meticulously designed using cutting-edge technology that culminates in a near-perfect cup of espresso every time.
40oz Water Reservoir
We know what you’re thinking- that’s a small water tank. Unfortunately, the size is one of the flaws of this design.
While the water tank is easily accessible, it only holds enough water to produce 4-5 drinks at a time. That means frequent refills, which is a tiny annoyance, but not a deal-breaker.
With everything else the Brera does automatically, you can pour some water into the tank now and then, right?
Bean Hopper & Bypass Doser
Located on top of the machine, the airtight bean hopper holds 8.8 oz of your favorite whole roast beans. Just pour them in, and they go straight to the grinder. It doesn’t get any fresher than that!
There’s also a bypass doser where you can scoop in ground coffee. Since you have both the hopper and the doser, you don’t have to switch back and forth.
For example, if you want to use coffee beans and your friend wants decaf, instead of cleaning out the bean hopper in preparation for the decaf coffee, you can go directly to the bypass doser, saving time and energy.
Gaggia Brera Fully Automatic Bean to Cup
One of the highlights of the Brera Gaggia espresso machine is its “bean to cup” technology. As soon as you pour your fresh coffee beans into the hopper, it goes straight to the built-in ceramic burr grinder.
The built-in grinder is one of our favorite features in a superautomatic because you don’t have to spend $100 or more buying it separately, like with most semi-automatics.
The espresso maker has a ceramic burr grinder, which is arguably top-of-the-line. This type doesn’t overheat and burns the beans like a metal grinder.
There are 5 grind settings to give you flexibility with the texture of your coffee. Honestly, you’ll find more grind settings offered with other high-end superautomatics, but this is a good starting point for the price.
Gaggia does include their Smart System, which takes all of the guesswork out of finding the best grind speed and time. All you have to do is input your roast type, and the machine will automatically adjust the settings for you.
You can use the Optidose function to choose from three different coffee aroma strengths, and there’s a volume function to choose espresso or Lungo, according to your preferences.
Stainless Steel Pannarello
For milk steaming and frothing, Gaggia Brera boasts a Pannarello wand with Rapid Steam Technology.
This is important because the machine has a single-boiler system. Usually, a single boiler is a hassle because you must heat the machine to a certain temperature to brew, then cool it down and heat it to a different temperature to steam the milk.
With Rapid Steam Technology, it takes the wand from cold to steam-ready in about 9 seconds.
The wand is also easy to maneuver and pivot, making it another good starting point for beginners to experiment with frothing. It also doubles as a hot water dispenser when you want tea or Americano.
Bear in mind; this isn’t a professional steam wand. Some Gaggia Brera reviews have described it as a rinky-dink because it was manufactured out of plastic and encased in stainless steel. If you’re passionate about your latte microfoam art, then this steam system may disappoint.
Color Digital Display
Beginners will love the Brera because there are no knobs and levers in sight. Instead, you can control everything right from the high-tech digital display.
You can save your coffee preferences, set the clock and timer, and the machine will even alert you when the water is low or it’s time to descale. There’s also an automatic shut-off for when the machine has been idle for too long.
Cup Warming Tray
Place your cups on the tray while you prepare the machine for brewing; then, when the shot is pulled, it will drip into a warm cup.
This is a small detail but highly useful in ensuring your espresso is nice and hot. If you use a cold cup, it will rapidly decrease the temperature.
Drink temperature is preferential, but espresso newbies often complain that their drinks aren’t hot enough, and it’s the machine’s fault when really the culprit is a cold cup.
Gaggia Brera Superautomatic Setup & Operation
Remember that this superautomatic was designed to be fast and easy to use, so you’ll be enjoying your favorite coffee drink in no time. Here’s a quick run-through of how to operate the Gaggia Brera automatic espresso machine.
1. Fill the Tank With Water
Make sure that you use fresh water and do not exceed the MAX fill line.
2. Load the Hopper With Your Favorite Coffee Beans
Choose your grind setting and let er’ rip. If you want to use ground coffee, load the bypass doser instead.
3. Power Up the Machine
This is where you’ll be able to choose your coffee settings via the digital interface and save them for next time.
Use the one-touch features as indicated in the Gaggia Brera manual to follow the brewing procedure from start to finish.
The machine has a pre-infusion function, which uses the portafilter to automatically soak the coffee grounds before brewing begins. This saves you the time to pre-infuse manually, and it ensures that your coffee has the most consistency and flavor.
Use a cup between 3.1” to 4.5” in height to correspond with the machine’s dimensions.
4. Steam Your Milk
After brewing, the Rapid Steam technology will heat the milk steam/froth system quickly. Remember, frothing is manual, so you’ll need to go through trial and error when learning how to use the steam wand.
5. Drink Up That Deliciousness!
See how easy that was? The Gaggia Brera coffee machine is designed to be a hands-free operation. Just push the right button, and you’re kicking back with a cup of perfection in minutes- no barista necessary!
Gaggia Brera Fully Automatic Cleaning Process
Maintaining this superautomatic is also a breeze, which is one of the reasons why users love it.
The parts can be removed for fast rinsing in the sink– even the brew head is removable. There is a self-cleaning feature that is automatically initiated when the machine is turned ON or OFF.
You do have to descale the system by hand, but the machine will send you an alert via the digital display when it’s time to do so, usually once a month.
You can also cut down on descaling by installing a water filter. You’ll have to buy this separately, so that extra cost isn’t fun.
It’s recommended to use the Intenza Water Filter for best results. Not only does a water filter remove impurities and cut down on descaling, but it improves the overall taste of the espresso.
Brera Gaggia Coffee Machine Pros vs. Cons
PROS
CONS
There’s a lot to love about the Brera espresso machine. It’s fast, easy, and reliable for beginners to learn while delivering high-quality coffee drinks customized to your liking.
The price is hard to beat. For a superautomatic, it’s highly affordable, especially coming from a brand that is respected worldwide for its coffee machines.
Granted, many of the parts are plastic, which lends to the low price. Plastic is less durable than stainless steel, but if you’re just getting started at learning espresso, this is still the perfect stepping-stone to a complex machine.
The integrated ceramic burr grinder is the best on the market, with enough customizable settings that let you experiment. You can even save your preferences for later.
The slim, light size of the Gaggia Brera means you can slide this baby anywhere and not worry about losing too much space.
This is a simple machine. We recommend it for beginners wanting to learn espresso or for a fast, easy option for good coffee in the mornings.
If you are a seasoned espresso aficionado who likes to tinker with your settings manually, this may not be the best choice for you.
As well, the milk steam wand isn’t the highest quality, so if foam art is your thing or you love lattes, this may not give you the power and flexibility you crave with your froth.
Brera Machine Warranty
Gaggia issues a 1-year warranty with the purchase of their superautomatic.
Gaggia Brera Espresso Machine Review Conclusion
Gaggia Brera delivers on quality like they always do by reminding us that simplicity is a beautiful thing. A superautomatic doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive to do it all.
That’s exactly what you get with the Gaggia Brera Superautomatic. Built-in features, a clever design, cutting-edge brew/steam technology, and automatic cleaning make this a winner. And the price is just too good to pass up.
To conclude this Gaggia Brera espresso machine review, we feel that you get your value for the price ten-fold. It’s the perfect starting point for a novice wanting to learn how to brew espresso without paying too much or becoming overwhelmed. The coffee is consistent, and the brewing capabilities are top-notch.
References & Resources:
- Gaggia, Official Brand Website.
- Gaggia Brera Espresso Machine User Manual.
- Coffee Making Equipment, Recipetips.com.
- Benefits of Having a Coffee Machine at the Office, Newbusiness.co.uk.
- Every Office Deserves a Good Coffee Machine, Morgan Lovell.