The new Gaggia Classic GT is here … and coffee experts and coffee lovers are raving about it.

This is the first time Gaggia has included two boilers in its domestic coffee machines, instantly putting it at the top of the prosumer pecking order.

The dual boiler – one is brass and the other stainless steel just for steam and hot water - means you can be making your coffee and frothing your milk or dispensing hot water at the same time with the latest PIDs to control your water temperature to within just 1°C … that’s literally fine-tuning it to the nth degree.

By the way, if you want to know what PID stands for on coffee machines it’s Proportional Integral Derivative (of course) which means the water temperature is constantly monitoring the small adjustments made to keep it at the set temperature. 

The Classic GT also has a fancy programmable digital display screen and even has its own dial to show the brew pressure. The stainless steel wand means you can let your latte art run riot.

This machine heats up really quickly to get you brew-ready in just five minutes, full steam power in seven and it takes just 20 seconds to heat 5oz of milk to 140°F.

It has automatic and manual pre-infusion and there is room on the warming plate for six expresso cups so, well, why not have a select coffee party to celebrate getting one.

The Classic GT even has a hot water dispenser for teas, herbal infusions or American coffees.

The machine has five toggle switches to control the main power, manual pre-infusion, brewing, hot water and steam and the style flows through even to the tamper which comes complete with a black wooden handle complete with the Gaggia logo. 

You can preset the volume dispensed for your expresso so once you’ve perfected it, set the dial and it’ll be exactly the same every time.

It also has a timer so the coffee machine will be all ready for you when you get up in the morning.

Here at Gaggia we can fully demonstrate the machine to you live if you contact us on Zoom at https://www.gaggiadirect.com/meet-us-live.html.

Alternatively, coffee bloggers have been giving the machine thorough test runs, showing you all the Classic’s amazing features.

A great British one is Coffee Kev which you can watch on  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQLgSfOxpjc&t=355s and he’s also written an incredibly in-depth review too at https://coffeeblog.co.uk/gaggia-classic-gt-dual-boiler-review

While from the USA we have Wholelattelove which you can watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eTlnWctCTA&t=10s or read at https://www.wholelattelove.com/products/gaggia-classic-gt

Wholelattelove says: “Despite being one of the easiest-to-use prosumers out there, the Gaggia GT delivers precision, power and features enough to satisfy even hardcore espresso enthusiasts.

“The Gaggia Classic GT offers a unique feature set with the brand’s legendary build quality and a price point that simply can’t be beat. The precise PID-regulated boilers, low-flow pre-infusion, and intuitive display make producing cafe-quality beverages on the GT easier than on just about any other prosumer out there.”

One customer, Mark W from Carlisle, who has already got his machine from Gaggia UK says: “This Gaggia GT machine is everything it claims to be and so much more. You can use this machine to consistently pull espresso after espresso that is rich, full bodied and perfectly extracted. The machine is easy and intuitive to use and easy to clean. The Gaggia GT provides coffee that would tax the abilities of many professional machines.”
So why brand it the Classic GT?

Well, the GT tag on cars is well-known with these vehicles having extra style and power … just like the Gaggia Classic GT. It even has a ‘go faster’ red stripe running along the bottom of the machine.

The GT marque originates from Italy and stands for gran turismo (grand touring) to bridge a sports car with a luxury one so it should have a big engine, a comfortable ride, a luxurious interior and elegant bodywork but be able to handle like a sports car when needed.

So you can see why the technology, design and performance on the new Gaggia Classic GT are all so outstanding, taking the art of coffee-making to the next level of luxury.
The new Gaggia Classic GT delivers exactly what it promises … performance with panache and all for £1,699.

If you want to upgrade your Gaggia Classic or any other model please email us for a quote at [email protected]

​For more information and to order from Gaggia UK go to https://www.gaggiadirect.com
Or simply call us direct on 01422 766972 or check out our virtual assistant.

Gaggia UK first to support national charity’s grand idea for 1,000 people to support it every month

There is strength in numbers and the same goes for fundraising which is why a charity has set up a scheme to sign up 1,000 people and businesses to donate regularly … and Gaggia UK is leading the way by being the first business to make a donation every month.

My Mito Mission has established Project 1000 Strong and its first corporate sign-up has been Gaggia UK which has supported the charity for a few years.

The charity operates nationwide but is based in Elland, West Yorkshire, very near to the headquarters for Gaggia UK. 

My Mito Mission is an all-encompassing charity that provides nationwide awareness and support while promoting research into mitochondrial disease. It fundraises for all these three aims.

Mitochondrial disease is a devastating diagnosis - it’s progressive and life-limiting with no treatments or cure.

Gaggia UK managing director Raj Beadle has a strong track record of helping charities and has supported My Mito Mission in the past by providing free coffee and machines for coffee mornings, making donations and providing coffee machines as raffle prizes.

He says: “When we learned My Mito Mission had set up Project 1000 Strong it was the logical step for us to take that support to another level by making a regular £50 a month donation.

“Times are tough for charities to fundraise or apply for grants so regular giving helps them to budget for the months and years ahead, knowing what’s coming in and what they can then afford to do to help support people with mitochondrial disease or to put into medical research.”

My Mito Mission co-founder and chair of trustees Christine Beal adds: “Regular donations are the most powerful way to support our vital work, allowing us as a small, high-energy charity to plan and build from a strong foundation.

“We need a 1000 strong team of amazing people to donate any amount from just £2 a month. Yes, 1000 is a lot but, one by one, we know we can reach it and strengthen the future of Mito awareness, support and research.

“Gaggia UK’s monthly donation is very generous, especially as this amount covers vital counselling appointments for someone impacted by mitochondrial disease.”

Mitochondrial disease is a complex condition but, essentially, mitochondrial are like little battery packs inside almost every cell in the body converting food and oxygen into energy and if they don’t work properly they can have a major impact anywhere in the body, especially people’s major organs (which need the most energy) and general health.

Medical experts agree that mitochondrial dysfunction is the root causes of many other well-known conditions and these include obesity, hepatitis, dementia, heart disease, cancer, sepsis, autism, epilepsy, stroke, diabetes, motor neurone disease, lupus, migraine, bipolar disorder, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s, fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis.

This is why research into mitochondrial disease is so critical as it can help in the treatment and research for many other conditions.

Christine says: “We now say that mitochondrial research matters to millions. Our slogan is Mito Matters To Me as it really does matter to everyone. How well our mitochondria work dictates our general wellbeing and vitality and how well we age so it really is important to us all which is why need so many people to support Project 1000 Strong.”
​
My Mito Mission is a unique charity in that it has a central office but people around the country with mitochondrial disease set up their own Mito Missions, in effect mini charities within the charity, but all the money comes back to My Mito Mission.

Their missions focus on them as individuals, raising awareness in the areas they live about mitochondrial disease and its implications, not only for them but also for the wider population.

To find out more and to sign up go to:
 https://www.mymitomission.uk/project-1000-strong
​
To read more about Gaggia UK’s charity work go to https://www.gaggiadirect.com/supporting-charities.html

​Coffee pioneer James Hoffmann is now arguably the best-known expert worldwide when it comes to all things coffee … and it all started at Gaggia UK.

For James’ first role in the coffee industry was selling Gaggia coffee machines at top London Oxford Street store House of Fraser in the early 2000s and it began his lifelong obsession with coffee.

It also turned out to be a thorough grounding for what was to come which ultimately led to James being UK Barista Champion in 2006 and 2007 and World Barista champion in 2007.

One of his early inspirations was Raj Beadle who is still managing director of Gaggia UK and renowned for his support for charities. Raj did several events and workshops with James at Oxford Street stores.

James said: “I had a great working relationship with Raj, how could you not? He’s always been an incredibly kind, generous and very thoughtful person who has been a pleasure to work with and I’m a big fan.

“It was an amazing start. It was a great way into coffee that showed me there were pathways forward in the industry, there were career opportunities.

“I could have my interests fed and stoked and then turned into something useful. It wasn’t just knowledge for knowledge’s sake, I could turn what I was learning back into value for the people I was working with so it was a great place to start. I was fully obsessed.

“Working with Gaggia opened up a whole new world of knowledge for me and I quickly realised there’s so much to learn about coffee that you never stop learning.

“They gave me the ‘help’ emails to answer and that was an incredible education for me as it showed me in 2003 and 2004 what people were thinking, what they were expecting, what frustrated them and all that was very useful for me in my career going forwards.

“I did that for a couple of years and it was a great opportunity to learn. At one point Gaggia was involved with the Prince’s Trust and that was a real trial by fire for me as I was given these kids who were not traditional coffee interested people. I had to teach them and really enjoyed the challenge and seeing how they responded to it.

“That set me down the path of coffee education which has been a weird constant in my varied coffee career over the last 20 years.

“That thirst for knowledge keeps me in coffee. There’s a lifetime of stuff to learn here – you can go into history, culture and coffee production. It’s so global, it’s so intwined in many cultures in many different ways. It’s such a massive industry and all of it contributes in one way or another to this final experience you have when you drink a cup of coffee in the morning.

“Pretty early on I thought coffee was this hidden world that was amazing but no-one really knew about it and certainly people who drank coffee didn’t know about it. I think that was a big impetus for me to do what I do.”

James says the 2020 pandemic saw a massive growth in the number of people buying home coffee machines.

“Home coffee machines had already been growing in a steady line,” he said. “Coffee was getting better and better, there were more and more businesses encouraging your interest in coffee, not just more coffee shops, there were more coffee roasting companies and everyone was trying to get you to drink and enjoy coffee more and it was working.

“But the pandemic super-charged coffee at home. We had got used to nice coffee being part of our lives in nice cafes and we weren’t willing to just let it go. Suddenly we were stuck at home and occasionally just needed to do something else and coffee fitted that niche nicely.

“People thought ‘I’m not going to work and just have some time to myself to make a coffee and indulge in the process of making a coffee. Oh, it’s a bit tricky so maybe I’ll learn something.’ Learning is always satisfying so that was the big sharp uptick which was huge.”

Although he’s been a world champion, James’ tastes when it comes to coffee are very traditional.

“My go to default most days is filter coffee because I’m a slow person and I need a little bit more time,” he said. “I don’t drink milk or milk alternatives so I’m either expresso or black coffee.”

But does it keep him awake?

“I have a 2pm cut-off now for my final cup,” he said. “I feel as if that cut-off is getting earlier and earlier as I get older and older as I do value my sleep quite a lot.”
But would he ever drink a cup of instant coffee?

“I don’t choose it but I do drink it so if I’m at someone’s house and that’s all they have and they offer me a coffee then I’ll drink it,” he said. “Also, if it’s 6am and I’m desperate. I won’t enjoy it, it’s a functional beverage rather than a pleasurable one. It’s a different drink to me but it’s still out there and a part of life.”

James revealed he originally didn’t like coffee but quickly grew to like it during his Gaggia days.

“Acquired tastes are quite literal,” he said. “The science says if you try to like something and you taste it with a positive mindset seven to eight times your brain eventually just accepts that you want to like it and you like it. Most of us go through this with things like beer as adolescents when the first sip of beer is not a good time but you want to like it and so eventually you do.

“And it’s the same with coffee. I really wanted to like it so I kept going back tasting and wanting to like it and I knew it was interesting. I’d already been captured in my head by it. I’d read enough and seen enough and thought this is really interesting. I wish I liked it and then I did and I remember drinking my first expresso, enjoying it and thinking ‘I’ve done it, I like this now.’
​
That like quickly turned into his life’s passion.

Based on an interview with James Hoffmann by Andrew Hirst

We decided to put artificial intelligence through its paces by asking our loyal customers and followers to thoroughly test it.

We wanted to make sure the answers our AI gives are accurate and the results certainly surprised us, especially as we’ve been shortlisted for a major customer care award and wanted to add AI to the many ways we help our customers.

And who best to check it out and put AI through its paces but our customers themselves and we’ve had more than 2,000 questions which is absolutely staggering.

Gaggia UK managing director Raj Beadle explains: “We know AI can be a force for good but with the underlying concern that not everything on it is correct. We believe it’s important to embrace AI so customers can ask probing questions at any time of the day or night but we don’t want to leave anything to chance.

“So we set it up and then sent an email to customers on our database inviting them to ask our AI anything about coffee and hundreds responded with a question which shows that the interest in AI is overwhelming.

“They’ve certainly tested it to the extreme, asking everything from how to enhance the crema on top of coffee through to what you’d do if you felt your wife was paying more attention to your Gaggia coffee machine than you.

“People have asked questions I’ve never heard before and thrown up information I didn’t know so AI is a great way to learn and stretch both yourself and your business too.”

Raj has sifted through every answer and corrected anything that was not quite right and the AI seems to update itself so picks up the amended answer next time someone asks the question.

“It’s a phenomenally powerful way to help customers,” adds Raj. “But we see it as an important addition and in no way replaces our preferred way to speak to customers which is on Zoom, over the phone or in person.”

The AI we use is our virtual assistant robot which we’ve initially named VAR. Perhaps we could have used a little more imagination so if anyone has a better idea for a name then please let us know.

Gaggia UK has been shortlisted for the Customer Focus Award in the 2025 Institute of Customer Service awards for its unique ‘forever customer care’ policy and we’ll find out if we’ve won at the awards in London on March 4.

People who contact us for help or advice speak immediately to someone from the business and they can do that either on the phone, instantly by video on Zoom or a live chat.
We can now provide a sign language expert so deaf people can contact us on Zoom for help.

Here are a few of the questions Gaggia’s customers asked of VAR, including the dafter ones!

Question: I think my wife is cheating on me with my coffee maker. How should I respond?
Can I sue Gaggia for alienation of affection?
VAR: If you have any questions about your coffee maker or need assistance with it, feel free to ask. For personal matters, it might be helpful to have an open and honest conversation with your wife. If you have legal concerns, consulting with a legal professional would be the best course of action.

Question: Do you know any coffee related jokes?
VAR: Sure, why did the coffee file a police report? It got mugged! I hope that brought a smile to your face (blush).

Question: How much ground coffee should I use in the basket for each shot?
VAR: The amount of ground coffee you should use can vary depending on your machine and personal preference. Generally, for a single shot of espresso you would use about 7 to 9 grams of coffee. If you prefer a stronger shot, you might use up to 11 grams.
Question: Which grind setting makes a great tasting coffee?
VAR: If you prefer a stronger, more intense flavour you might want to try a finer grind. Conversely, a coarser grind will produce a milder taste. It’s a good idea to make small adjustments and taste the coffee after each change to find the perfect setting for you.

Question: How often should I clean my machine?
VAR: To keep your coffee machine in top condition it’s important to follow a regular cleaning schedule:
1. Descaling: This should be done at least once every two months using the Gaggia descaler. This helps prevent mineral build-up from affecting your machine’s performance.
2. Backflushing: If your machine supports it, backflushing can be done to maintain the cleanliness of the brew group and solenoid valve. Use a backflush detergent specifically designed for espresso machines.
3. Daily cleaning: Wipe down the machine, including the group head, and flush the system with hot water regularly.
4. Steam Wand: Clean the steam wand after each use to remove milk residue.
5. Lubrication: Lubricate the brew group seals and moving parts every six months or after 500 coffees.
To use VAR go to https://www.gaggiadirect.com/gaggia-virtual-assistant.html

This is what the Telegraph said about the Gaggia Magenta Plus being the Best Automatic Bean-To-Cup Coffee Machine, scoring it 9 out of 10 and praising its “consistently good quality results.”

“Adjustable ceramic grinders offer five settings from fine to coarse and allow you to modify the amount of coffee used in each brew. There’s also an option to use coffee grounds – useful if you’re out of beans.

“An LED touch screen offers a choice of four coffee styles - espresso, espresso lungo, coffee and Americano - with options to vary size, temperature and strength and it’s very simple to navigate. The base plate can be raised up and the dispenser can be lowered too so a wide range of cup sizes can easily be accommodated.

“The espresso created was smooth and rounded with an excellent crema.”

This is such an easy-to-do tip yet can turn a cup of already great coffee made with your Gaggia coffee machine into something truly spectacular.

The ingredient is so simple … a Lindt Lindor chocolate ball popped into your coffee – or two if you’re feeling really indulgent.

Gaggia managing director Raj Beadle said: “I’d never heard of it before until someone mentioned in passing they loved Lindt chocolate as much as their coffee so thought they’d combine the two.

“They’ve not looked back and with such a wide range of Lindor to go at, everyone can discover their own favourite flavour.”

Lindors are individually wrapped chocolate balls so the drink can be made in seconds as the chocolate quickly dissolves in hot coffee. Simply make your coffee, leave some room, unwrap your Lindor, pop it in and there you go. You’ve lavished up your latte or expressed yourself magnificently with an expresso that dares to be different.

No doubt millions of boxes of Lindt Lindor will be sold this Christmas so it can be the ultimate festive coffee treat.

Here’s just some of the flavours they do – mint, salted caramel, sea salt, almond, hazelnut, stracciatella (cookies and cream), strawberry, orange, citrus, mango and cream.
And don’t forget the standard milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white chocolate too.
There’s also a coffee one but perhaps coffee on coffee would be a tad too much coffee … but then again.

Lindt and Gaggia’s histories are strikingly similar.

Gaggia coffee machines were first invented in Milan in the late 1930s, revolutionising the way coffee was made and setting new stylish standards worldwide. In 1947 the invention moved to a  lever-piston brewing mechanism after Gaggia’s inventor, Achille Gaggia, saw how an American jeep’s piston engine worked.

Also shortly after the Second World War, Switzerland-based Lindt’s master chocolatiers were tasked with inventing a delicious new recipe unlike anything tasted before and the result was the Lindor in 1949, making chocolate taste like liquid gold.
​
That’s where the Lindor name comes from, combining the French word for gold  - or - with Lindt. It began as a small bar but that all changed in 1969 with the round truffles in red wrapper to resemble Christmas baubles and they’re now on sale all year round due to the high demand. 

So it can be Christmas every day thanks to Gaggia and Lindt.

We are proud to announce that Gaggia UK has been shortlisted for the Customer Focus Award in the Institute of Customer Service awards for its unique ‘forever customer care’ policy. 

We view these awards as the best in Britain for customer service so we are delighted to be shortlisted, especially as we are up against some big names.

These include top quality bathroom equipment company Geberit, online printer inks and toner sales business Cartridge People and the Registry Trust which maintains the official statutory Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for England & Wales on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Our concept is simple yet highly effective, using Zoom to provide quick and efficient customer care which we call 'Forever Customer Care' as it continues even after the warranty ends.

If the member of staff can’t resolve the problem straightaway then the customer is immediately referred to an engineer who will join the Zoom or phone call.

This means that if they have a problem with a coffee machine they can show us the problem and we can give instant advice there and then and guide them on how to fix it as many of the issues can be quickly solved. For instance, many will say part of the machine is clogged but all it needs is a flush through and we can talk them through how to do that over Zoom and then give them on advice on how to care for their machine so it doesn’t happen again.

It also saves the time, effort, money and the environment of needlessly sending a machine  back to us when it can be quickly sorted online. If a part needs replacing we can get it ordered and delivered straight to the customer and then talk them through how to fit it. 

Gaggia’s design means the same internal workings such as boilers fit most of the makes and models and are easy to replace.

The number of coffee machines sent back to us for repairs, servicing or upgrades has halved since we introduced Zoom into our customer service which is a big saving on the environment, as well as for the customer.

The Gaggia UK Trust Pilot reviews are outstanding such as this one from Aaron Dawson who wrote: “Absolutely outstanding customer service. Bought a machine from them a few years back, had an issue today with the steamer not working correctly. Called them up and within a minute I was on a Zoom call with two amazing guys who talked me through how to fix it and within five minutes it was working again. Absolute five star service and I’d go on to say the best customer service I’ve ever experienced.”

Another reviewer, Gary Clarkson, added: “Great company and the UK office is one of the best after care services by any company in the world.”

See more reviews: https://www.gaggiadirect.com/trustpilot.html

 
When you’re searching for a new coffee machine you’re hardly spoilt for choice … so let’s make it easy for you.

The only one to look at is a Gaggia because this iconic brand matches exactly what customers want when looking for a new barista standard coffee machine for home.

In short, Gaggia UK is a family businesses selling top quality coffee machines that’ll last decades while providing the kind of customer service most of our rivals could only dream about … and that’s in their wildest dreams too.

Customer service is king and with Gaggia that’s taken to a whole new level, way beyond most customers’ expectations which is why we are shortlisted in the Institute Of Customer Service Awards 2025. https://www.instituteofcustomerservice.com/events/uk-customer-satisfaction-awards

Naturally, our machines come with warranties but when you buy them from Gaggia UK Direct they also come with what we call ‘forever customer service.’ This means that no matter how long you’ve had your Gaggia, contact us at any time for support and advice if you’ve any questions or problems at all.

We can do that on the phone but prefer Zoom so you can show us the fault there and then and we can give advice and even watch and guide you while you’re sorting it out. A lot of problems are often minor which can be quickly solved which saves the hassle and expense of sending the machine back to us for maintenance and repair … and means you won’t even miss that next all important cup of coffee. We’ll even talk through handy tips about general maintenance and how to clean and degrease your Gaggia so it’ll always be in tip top condition.

Gaggia UK has a virtually 100% five-star rating on Trustpilot and here’s just one review on Trustpilot in November 2024: “This is without doubt the best place to buy your coffee machine. It’s not only a family run business with people who care, but also the best customer service and back up for technical issues from any company I’ve experienced so far in my life (and I’m old). If you have a technical issue you can immediately Zoom with experts who will give you helpful, practical and honest guidance. Honestly, you almost want your machine to go wrong so you can contact them!”

Steady on there. We don’t want anyone’s coffee machine to go wrong but, rest assured, we are here for you if it does. And you won’t be subjected to some dreadful automated click this, that and the other button before you’re put on hold waiting ‘for the next agent’ who then can’t really help you as it’s a technical question.

With Gaggia UK you’ll be talking straight to a person – yes, an actual human being (I know, it blows the mind, doesn’t it) – who can help solve the problem immediately. If they can’t, they know a man who can as you’ll be then put through to one of our engineers and there’s nothing repairable they can’t fix.

Gaggia has a proud Italian heritage stretching back 80 years with a reputation for making stylish, precisely engineered yet robust coffee machines that would grace any kitchen. That ethos has never changed which is why we regularly give advice to people with Gaggia machines that are more than a quarter of a century old. The first Gaggia coffee machine for home was brought out back in 1977 and was orange to fit in with the psychedelic – some would say zany – colour schemes at the time.

Gaggia coffee machines are designed to be easily repaired or for replacement parts to be effortlessly fitted and we can sort out any parts you need, quickly and with no fuss.
Take the Gaggia filter holder where you put the coffee in to start making your perfect cuppa. Every filter holder - called a portafilter in Italy - are 58mm in diameter which means they can fit any Gaggia machine stretching back to the 1940s. That dimension has never changed which makes the machines so universal. No fiddling about … it’s sorted out.

It means Gaggia UK is the ultimate coffee machine one-stop shop.
The Gaggia range is always evolving with new machines being brought out such as the limited edition moonlight grey Cadorna Prestige and the Magenta Prestige to mark 25 years since Gaggia brough out its first domestic automatic coffee machine and, coincidentally, 55 years since humans first landed on the moon. They also herald the new generation of Gaggia coffee machines that will all have an iced coffee making function as well as the traditional hot one.

So, now we’re agreed it’s got to be Gaggia, let’s go get one. All you need to think about is do you want a manual or an automatic machine?

Oh, and then there’s quite a stylish range to look at too so hop over to this other blog to help you choose the coffee machine that’s perfect for you.

https://www.gaggiadirect.com/blog/what-to-look-for-when-choosing-a-coffee-machine
And if you’ve any questions at all before you make your final choice – or you even want to pop over to Elland near Halifax in West Yorkshire and see our machines for yourself – phone us on 01422 766972 or email [email protected]

Coffee expert James Hoffmann started his career with Gaggia … so we’re giving away one of his best-selling books with some of our machines
 
The UK’s best known coffee expert started his career with iconic Italian coffee machine brand Gaggia.

Now Gaggia UK is giving one of James Hoffmann’s books away free with certain machines and also has another for sale on its website.

James Hoffmann is an entrepreneur, social media influencer and international name in coffee who combines expert-level knowledge with a natural ability to communicate it in his books and on his YouTube and Instagram channels.

Two of James’ books now featured on the Gaggia UK website are How To Make The Best Coffee At Home, which became a Sunday Times bestseller, and The World Atlas Of Coffee (From Beans To Brewing, Coffees Explored, Explained and Enjoyed).

James won the World Barista Championship in 2007 after clinching the UK Barista Championship titles in 2006 and 2007.

He has more than 2 million subscribers on YouTube and has made well over 350 videos. He also has 689,000 followers on his Instagram feed, @jimseven.

One of James’ first jobs after joining the coffee industry in the early 2000s was working as a trainee barista/demonstrator and later was managing the concession and the Gaggia Caffe Academy  for Gaggia, in the high-end department store House of Fraser in Oxford Street.

Gaggia UK managing director Raj Beadle said: “I remember James so well from his time with us and they were great days demonstrating and selling Gaggia machines to the public in such a landmark London venue.

“We’ve followed his amazing career ever since and as he is the voice and face of coffee on the internet we thought it would be a nice gesture to help pass his immense knowledge on to our customers.”

The World Atlas Of Coffee will be sent to people who buy some Gaggia models – especially    the Gaggia Classic 2023 Evo PRO Gold - and Gaggia is also selling How To Make The Best Coffee At Home on its website.

James’s view is that coffee is central to many lives, writing: “A cup of coffee can be many things: a jolt of caffeine, fuel for our work, a social lubricant, a necessity or a luxury. It can be surprising, delightful and delicious and it can transport you around the world. It can also be a lot of fun.”

How To Make The Best Coffee At Home reveals everything people need to know to make barista standard coffee in their own kitchens, including the ideal equipment to buy, how to grind coffee, the basics of brewing for all major equipment from cafetieres to stovetop and understanding coffee from the perfect espresso to latte.

To watch James Hoffmann’s YouTube videos go to James Hoffmann - YouTube
For James Hoffmann’s Instagram feed it’s https://www.instagram.com/jimseven
To see James’ books on the Gaggia UK website go to https://www.gaggiadirect.com/barista-accessories
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Once you’re all set up with your Gaggia coffee machine you’ll soon master exactly how it works so you can make your perfect cup of coffee every time.

Here are the tips of the barista trade to make that magic happen in your own home.

Firstly, you’ll always need a very finely ground coffee for your Gaggia coffee machine. The holes are tiny in the filter holder so the finer the grind, the more flavour and crema you’ll get as the hot water flows through the coffee. We do our own top quality Gaggia brand ideal for our machines which you can get direct from our website at https://www.gaggiadirect.com/coffee1.html

When making your coffee always heat the filter holder up first – you can run some hot water through your machine over the holder and into the drip tray to do this - and do the same with your cup.

Hot water is dispensed from a coffee machine at 80°C to 90°C and if it hits a cold cup that temperature will quickly come tumbling down. Many Gaggia coffee machines even have cup warmers on the top of the machine so you don’t have to run hot water over them.

If it’s manual, pour your coffee into the filter holder (called a portafilter in Italy), level it off and then push it down with a little weight called a tamp so it’s nice and condensed. This will get you more flavour out of your coffee as the water will seep through it evenly.

If there isn’t enough coffee in there or it’s not been pushed down sufficiently the water would go through unevenly and too quickly, leaving your coffee taste falling short of what should now be high expectations.

The hot water will come through at a set pace on the vast majority of Gaggia machines so you need to get your coffee amount just right to make the most of that water flow. Don’t worry, you’ll quickly learn what’s right for you.

The first 20 seconds of the hot water flowing through the coffee gets the best flavour so don’t keep running it through the machine to try to fill an americano. Use an expresso or two and then add some hot water from the machine. Think of it like a teabag – you wouldn’t use it twice and, likewise, the coffee residue will deteriorate after that initial 20 seconds.

Don’t have the water too hot as it will burn the coffee – that’s why it’s vital to warm the cup first.

Don’t overheat your milk as you’ll caramelise it and it’ll taste bitter.

All Gaggia coffee machines come with their own inbuilt milk frothers so you can do just what you want with your milk – air it, warm it or froth it big-style. And it gives you that great authentic barista sound!

That’s also how you sort out your cappuccino and your lattes – you’ll quickly get to know how much milk to put in and how much frothing you want.

You also get your hot water from here in case you just wanted to make yourself a cup of tea but, come on, get a grip. This is coffee talk, not tea talk.

Top of the range Gaggia automatic coffee makers have digital displays showing images of the drinks, several milk frothing options and you can even set up your own profile to save the perfect settings for your individual taste, from the strength of the coffee to the heat of the water.

Yes, Gaggia is your ultimate coffee gadget.

So it’s goodbye café society and your fiver a cuppa. Hello to top quality coffee, made to perfection to your own personal preference and in the comfort of your own home for 15p.
That’s some difference.

By the way, if you ever get stuck working out your machine or making your ideal cup of coffee than you can contact us directly in seconds on Zoom and we’ll talk you through it.
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Read more about that at https://www.gaggiadirect.com/blog/why-gaggia-uk-directs-forever-customer-care-service-is-the-best-in-the-coffee-business