Update: the Gaggia Classic Evo falls further due to "boilergate". The interior coating of the GCP Evo boiler *seems* to chip and get into your drink. Gaggia says they'll deal with each case and it's not a health issue, but it's certainly unpleasant! It makes me lean even more strongly to the Bambino. btw, I used an older modded GCP in the video. More detail on boilergate: tomscoffeecorner.com/boilergate-gcp-evo/ Reddit boilergate: www.reddit.com/r/espresso/comments/197xmm9/gcp_boilergate_the_hive_had_its_chance_and_blew_it/
@@craftcoffeespotgood question. I guess it depends on the country you live. In The Netherlands I can buy the Gaggia between €450 and €500. The Lelit Anna with PID sells for €499 and without PID €429. For me it's an easy pick if you just want fantastic espresso and latte drinks out of the box. Steaming on the Lelit is definitely out of the box much better. If one would be planning to invest more in modding from the beginning perhaps the Gaggia is a better deal 😊 However, if one would plan modding from the beginning I personally would pick a higher grade machine for the money.
Fwiw the base bambino is a solid option for both espresso and milk frothing (and for its price the steam wand is probably its best feature). As my first espresso machine, I've been able to pull velvety and smooth frothed milk and get clear latte art. On espresso itself, unless the portafilter and basket are preheated, the temperature is quite low, it comes out at 57°C/135°F which for milk based drinks (with milk at 60°C) makes the drink feel lukewarm. Otherwise, really decent machine for the price point. The PID in the bambino plus is definitely an upgrade (although with some more manual effort you can get great results in the base bambino).
Agree, the base Bambino is excellent. Also agree, you must pre heat it. However, the Bambino does have a PID. The temperature stability it the same as the Bambino Plus, and the Bambino runs a little hotter and better than Plus, imo.
I agree with you with regular bambino. It’s underrated. I’ve made great espresso and lattes with it granted you have a good grinder and I have the eureka mignon specialita.
To anybody on the fence over the Gaggia Classic Evo vs the Bambino Plus, Evos are no longer shipping with the coated boiler. There might be existing inventory, you can check the numbers on the bottom to see manufacture date and get it replaced accordingly. I know that process sucks, definitely not discounting it but you will always be supported. Whole Latte Love also sells refurbished Evos that ALL have replaced, non-teflon boilers, I was told this by two support agents and one on the phone. Ultimately, I would never recommend the Bambino long term for the simple fact the machine will not last 3-5+ years and will go into landfill. It’s not a question of if but when the machine dies on you. It’s impossible to just make espresso and not want to eventually upgrade and when that time comes, your 54mm accessories on the Bambino Plus will become obsolete as you upgrade to a 58mm machine. I still think everyone needs a good introduction to a new hobby and the Bambino Plus is an AMAZING introductory machine. It’s going to be great but great for a limited amount of time. If you jump into a hobby, struggle, experience frustration and drop it, then nothing really matters so the Bambino Plus is a fine machine to start with. I actually got a used one on Amazon for $325 + tax, sold my beloved GCP Evo (with a non-coated boiler) and am now on the hunt for a more expensive machine since I’m still relatively new to espresso. If you buy a Bambino Plus, you’re definitely not making a horrible purchase just try to keep potential upgrade paths in the back of your mind and try to take care of the machine so it stays working as long as it possibly can. Also, if you sell it, you can feel happy knowing someone’s getting something with a bit of life and good use left in it. Awesome video, I will always love the Gaggia for the amazing ceiling it has in terms of modding, longevity and value.
The gaggia EVO has issues with the boiler. I wrote about this on another comment on "boilergate". this definitely makes the Bambino preferred here, or get an old GCP.
Hey .. awesome video as always.. I have a gaggia carezza and looking yo get a bottomless portafilter for the machine .. could you pls suggest a couple of options which I can buy online ?? Thanks
Very nice and informative video. I still cant decide between those two machines. (i was sure about the GCP but now with the boilergate, im not sure again). I love this hobby, im using a dedica with unpressurized basket and modded steam wand for 3 years. I take my time with making every drink and after covid destroyed my taste, i cant drink straight espresso, so i drink milk drinks only. Do you think the bambino would be a better choice for me ? And is it capable of holding up for 3-5 years ? Thank you
Given your situation and just doing milk drinks, Bambino or Bambino Plus is better. The milk quality is so similar and easier on the Bambino. GCP is for espresso purists who want “the best” - maybe that’s you though. Also, my Bambino is 2 yrs strong (with poor maintenance 😝). Bambino Plus was actually bought used and no issues.
I’m like you and drink milk drinks only. My Bambino has lasted me 3+ years and is beginner friendly. My one gripe is my steam wand discharges a ton of water during my milk frothing leading to watered down lattes. I’m leaning my next machine being the GCP
showing bambino plus as a worse machine for steaming than gaggia classic pro is a bit funny ^^ Milk frothing is incredible with bambino plus and it is one of the winning points. Not sure how did you managed to get that hube bubles with it, even with auto steaming it does a better job that that.
I’m the only person who doesn’t like the Bambino Plus steam a wand. Mostly don’t like the aggressive auto purge. I almost never get a thin micro foam. Maybe bc I typically use oat milk. To be clear, Bambino is still way, way easier than the Gaggia.
Great comparison! Do you know whether the brew temperature on the Bambino Plus (or the base Bambino) can be adjusted? And does the Bambino Plus have an insulated steam wand?
Bambino is quicker in the morning it has aids to speed things up . And makes good espresso or drinks you like. The Gaggia is a real machine handmaid it's not a appliance. Built like a tank last forever if you descale and take care of it. And you can make Great espresso and drinks. It's just all Manuel. I have the time I'm not in a hurry anymore. Gaggia is quality.
@@swissworldwatches yes 54mm is good for a large cup. I’ll look into the Carezza - didn’t like it earlier though. Seemed worse than both Bambino and GCP. Stick with Bambino.
Yes no frills succinct review - i have outgrown my Bambino plus and looking at Gaggia Evo with 9bar, PUD and dimmer modification installed into a new machine ...
Several: 1) pre-set volume button on Bambino, so you get the same amount of water per shot. 2) pre-infusion on Bambino, this saturate coffee before full pressure and makes shots more consistent, and 3) heating/PID on Bambino, which regulates temperature more. Gaggia gets to boiling temp if you leave it on too long, and too cold if you don't wait, so need to eyeball right temp, and 4) design: the Gaggia has very little space between spout and cup, which makes it annoying to use. Pro for Gaggia is bigger portafilter and heating system is great if you learn it well. If you get everything right (manual button press, and perfect grind) it will taste better.
To say it again, everything on gaggia is manual, including temperature and shot time. Bambino is pre-set volume and heat, so press a button and it works the same every time.
@@paul-erikhansen5769 There is a sensor (called PID) that regulates the temperature. Meanwhile, Gaggia is a boiler. So it just gets hotter as you leave it on. After you purge water, it refills and gets cooler. The Bambino is way more consistent on temperature. I discuss this in the video - please watch the espresso section.
I've had in the past a couple of expresso machines by Delonghi but was never impressed with them. The stot's quality was always questionable, watery tasting, and almost always bitter. So I bought a Gaggia and Rancilio Silvia (both from new) but after a few years of use I've got fed up with them for a large variety of reasons such as they had both very noisy pumps that do your head after a while, too much waiting time between shots, really inconsistent results, rudimentary water tanks with no empty sensors, no PID controller, extremely heavy if you need to move them, the steam tap started to squick on both machines after less than 1 year of use, the cheap plastic material used, The build quality inside is an absolute mess (is like a rats nest in there) no logic or tidiness whatsoever. So, I got rid of them both (no regrets), and guess what? I purchased a Breville Bambino Plus and boy...what a nice difference. Bambino is light years better than those. More consistent and far better-tasting stots that's a fact. So, I said to myself. I would never buy any Italian-made machines ever again. The only thing I'm not sure of is how long would the machine last. The time will tell.
Thanks for sharing. Always like having another perspective on here. Personally, I like the Rancilio. The espresso was excellent and loved the portafilter. But it’s big and takes awhile to heat up.
Yes, I need to make an update about “boilergate” - it seems the interior coating will chip on the Evo boiler. Note, I used a regular classic in this video that’s been modified to nine bars. If the new Evo does have this problem, it’d make me favor the Bambino even more.
![CAMPปลิ้น | EP.83[1/2] เปิดแคมป์หลอนต้อนรับ 2 ตัวพ่อแห่งวงการผี!](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2uPuHYHgwiI/mqdefault.jpg)
Update: the Gaggia Classic Evo falls further due to "boilergate". The interior coating of the GCP Evo boiler *seems* to chip and get into your drink. Gaggia says they'll deal with each case and it's not a health issue, but it's certainly unpleasant! It makes me lean even more strongly to the Bambino. btw, I used an older modded GCP in the video.
More detail on boilergate: tomscoffeecorner.com/boilergate-gcp-evo/
Reddit boilergate: www.reddit.com/r/espresso/comments/197xmm9/gcp_boilergate_the_hive_had_its_chance_and_blew_it/
How about a Lelit Anna with PID at 9 bar? I think it will perform better out of the box compared to the Gaggia and Bambino.
@@weesmild likely but much more expensive, right?
@@craftcoffeespotgood question. I guess it depends on the country you live. In The Netherlands I can buy the Gaggia between €450 and €500. The Lelit Anna with PID sells for €499 and without PID €429.
For me it's an easy pick if you just want fantastic espresso and latte drinks out of the box. Steaming on the Lelit is definitely out of the box much better. If one would be planning to invest more in modding from the beginning perhaps the Gaggia is a better deal 😊 However, if one would plan modding from the beginning I personally would pick a higher grade machine for the money.
Fwiw the base bambino is a solid option for both espresso and milk frothing (and for its price the steam wand is probably its best feature). As my first espresso machine, I've been able to pull velvety and smooth frothed milk and get clear latte art. On espresso itself, unless the portafilter and basket are preheated, the temperature is quite low, it comes out at 57°C/135°F which for milk based drinks (with milk at 60°C) makes the drink feel lukewarm. Otherwise, really decent machine for the price point. The PID in the bambino plus is definitely an upgrade (although with some more manual effort you can get great results in the base bambino).
Agree, the base Bambino is excellent. Also agree, you must pre heat it. However, the Bambino does have a PID. The temperature stability it the same as the Bambino Plus, and the Bambino runs a little hotter and better than Plus, imo.
I agree with you with regular bambino. It’s underrated. I’ve made great espresso and lattes with it granted you have a good grinder and I have the eureka mignon specialita.
To anybody on the fence over the Gaggia Classic Evo vs the Bambino Plus, Evos are no longer shipping with the coated boiler. There might be existing inventory, you can check the numbers on the bottom to see manufacture date and get it replaced accordingly. I know that process sucks, definitely not discounting it but you will always be supported. Whole Latte Love also sells refurbished Evos that ALL have replaced, non-teflon boilers, I was told this by two support agents and one on the phone. Ultimately, I would never recommend the Bambino long term for the simple fact the machine will not last 3-5+ years and will go into landfill. It’s not a question of if but when the machine dies on you. It’s impossible to just make espresso and not want to eventually upgrade and when that time comes, your 54mm accessories on the Bambino Plus will become obsolete as you upgrade to a 58mm machine. I still think everyone needs a good introduction to a new hobby and the Bambino Plus is an AMAZING introductory machine. It’s going to be great but great for a limited amount of time. If you jump into a hobby, struggle, experience frustration and drop it, then nothing really matters so the Bambino Plus is a fine machine to start with. I actually got a used one on Amazon for $325 + tax, sold my beloved GCP Evo (with a non-coated boiler) and am now on the hunt for a more expensive machine since I’m still relatively new to espresso. If you buy a Bambino Plus, you’re definitely not making a horrible purchase just try to keep potential upgrade paths in the back of your mind and try to take care of the machine so it stays working as long as it possibly can. Also, if you sell it, you can feel happy knowing someone’s getting something with a bit of life and good use left in it. Awesome video, I will always love the Gaggia for the amazing ceiling it has in terms of modding, longevity and value.
The gaggia EVO has issues with the boiler. I wrote about this on another comment on "boilergate". this definitely makes the Bambino preferred here, or get an old GCP.
Kudos for this review! The best yet
Bambino plus needs less time to be ready (ca 8 seconds). This translates to the energy saving. And time.
Yes, I talk about that in the video. Coffee Kev measured the electricity use for each one and found the difference was minimal though.
Hey .. awesome video as always.. I have a gaggia carezza and looking yo get a bottomless portafilter for the machine .. could you pls suggest a couple of options which I can buy online ?? Thanks
That's a 53mm portafilter - never used that size and hard to find accessories for it.
I had the Bambino (not plus), and now I have a Gaggia classic with a PID. The Gaggia classic is orders of magnitude better than the Bambino.
“With a PID” -> very important qualifier here. That removes a lot of variability with GCP.
Very nice and informative video. I still cant decide between those two machines. (i was sure about the GCP but now with the boilergate, im not sure again). I love this hobby, im using a dedica with unpressurized basket and modded steam wand for 3 years. I take my time with making every drink and after covid destroyed my taste, i cant drink straight espresso, so i drink milk drinks only. Do you think the bambino would be a better choice for me ? And is it capable of holding up for 3-5 years ? Thank you
Given your situation and just doing milk drinks, Bambino or Bambino Plus is better. The milk quality is so similar and easier on the Bambino. GCP is for espresso purists who want “the best” - maybe that’s you though.
Also, my Bambino is 2 yrs strong (with poor maintenance 😝). Bambino Plus was actually bought used and no issues.
Gaggia boilergate on the Evo changes everything imo, I can't imagine getting one now until that's completely resolved.
I’m like you and drink milk drinks only. My Bambino has lasted me 3+ years and is beginner friendly. My one gripe is my steam wand discharges a ton of water during my milk frothing leading to watered down lattes. I’m leaning my next machine being the GCP
showing bambino plus as a worse machine for steaming than gaggia classic pro is a bit funny ^^ Milk frothing is incredible with bambino plus and it is one of the winning points. Not sure how did you managed to get that hube bubles with it, even with auto steaming it does a better job that that.
I’m the only person who doesn’t like the Bambino Plus steam a wand. Mostly don’t like the aggressive auto purge. I almost never get a thin micro foam. Maybe bc I typically use oat milk.
To be clear, Bambino is still way, way easier than the Gaggia.
Great comparison!
Do you know whether the brew temperature on the Bambino Plus (or the base Bambino) can be adjusted?
And does the Bambino Plus have an insulated steam wand?
No and No. you can’t adjust temperature and steam wand is not insulated. Temp mod would be really nice.
Thanks for confirming. Definitely would be nice.
Gaggia classic pro is for a ser coffee drinker the other is for a coffee lover who's in a hurry. I'm retired and have the time. I love my gaggia.
Great summary 👍
Care to elaborate? Deciding between a bambino and something in that range
Bambino is quicker in the morning it has aids to speed things up . And makes good espresso or drinks you like. The Gaggia is a real machine handmaid it's not a appliance. Built like a tank last forever if you descale and take care of it. And you can make Great espresso and drinks. It's just all Manuel. I have the time I'm not in a hurry anymore. Gaggia is quality.
Yes sir@@jamesmclaughlin3460
Is 54mm basket ok for a large cup? Could you do Bambino v Gaggia Carezza please?
@@swissworldwatches yes 54mm is good for a large cup. I’ll look into the Carezza - didn’t like it earlier though. Seemed worse than both Bambino and GCP. Stick with Bambino.
Yes no frills succinct review - i have outgrown my Bambino plus and looking at Gaggia Evo with 9bar, PUD and dimmer modification installed into a new machine ...
Let me know how the mod is - thinking about more mods myself for a GCP.
But why is the Bambino easier to use when brewing espresso?..... what is it specifically in the brewing process that is easier than on the Gaggia?
Several: 1) pre-set volume button on Bambino, so you get the same amount of water per shot. 2) pre-infusion on Bambino, this saturate coffee before full pressure and makes shots more consistent, and 3) heating/PID on Bambino, which regulates temperature more. Gaggia gets to boiling temp if you leave it on too long, and too cold if you don't wait, so need to eyeball right temp, and 4) design: the Gaggia has very little space between spout and cup, which makes it annoying to use.
Pro for Gaggia is bigger portafilter and heating system is great if you learn it well. If you get everything right (manual button press, and perfect grind) it will taste better.
To say it again, everything on gaggia is manual, including temperature and shot time. Bambino is pre-set volume and heat, so press a button and it works the same every time.
@@craftcoffeespot So you can actually set the temperature of your espresso shot on the Bambino?.....
@@paul-erikhansen5769 There is a sensor (called PID) that regulates the temperature. Meanwhile, Gaggia is a boiler. So it just gets hotter as you leave it on. After you purge water, it refills and gets cooler. The Bambino is way more consistent on temperature. I discuss this in the video - please watch the espresso section.
Which of this company has better customer support?
@@josemanuel2244 breville
thanks, very useful video.
Boilergate makes the Evo impossible to recommend over the Bambino now imo.
Agree. I’m going to make a pinned comment about this.
nice gaggia sells 11 bar evo on ialy I dont understand why they dont sell it with 9 bar pump
It’s a very easy modification. You can buy the spring for $5, just need a wrench and 10 minutes to fix. Highly recommend.
I've had in the past a couple of expresso machines by Delonghi but was never impressed with them. The stot's quality was always questionable, watery tasting, and almost always bitter. So I bought a Gaggia and Rancilio Silvia (both from new) but after a few years of use I've got fed up with them for a large variety of reasons such as they had both very noisy pumps that do your head after a while, too much waiting time between shots, really inconsistent results, rudimentary water tanks with no empty sensors, no PID controller, extremely heavy if you need to move them, the steam tap started to squick on both machines after less than 1 year of use, the cheap plastic material used, The build quality inside is an absolute mess (is like a rats nest in there) no logic or tidiness whatsoever. So, I got rid of them both (no regrets), and guess what? I purchased a Breville Bambino Plus and boy...what a nice difference. Bambino is light years better than those. More consistent and far better-tasting stots that's a fact. So, I said to myself. I would never buy any Italian-made machines ever again. The only thing I'm not sure of is how long would the machine last. The time will tell.
Thanks for sharing. Always like having another perspective on here.
Personally, I like the Rancilio. The espresso was excellent and loved the portafilter. But it’s big and takes awhile to heat up.
The gaggia classic has a boiler problems
Yes, I need to make an update about “boilergate” - it seems the interior coating will chip on the Evo boiler. Note, I used a regular classic in this video that’s been modified to nine bars. If the new Evo does have this problem, it’d make me favor the Bambino even more.