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
​

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.
​
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

STORE COFFEE IN A COOL DARK PLACE
Our coffees have a best before date on the bag, usually they have best before date of about 18 months after production date. Once opened, the coffee will deteriorate rapidly, unless you keep it air tight and in a cool dark place. My advice is to keep it in the bag it came in.  Take out the air, by tightly squeezing the air out, and then keep it tightly wrapped with a rubber band.
 
You can also get resealable bags which have a valve. The advantage with the valve is that, it lets gasses out but does not allow air to enter. The original bags, the coffee comes in, has that valve for that purpose.

 STORING COFFEE IN A REFRIGERATOR ?
In my opinion, storing coffee in the refrigerator is not a good idea, because, it can absorb smells from other food items in the fridge and also give out coffee odour for other food products in the fridge. If you are keeping it in the fridge, make sure that you wrap the airtight bag in more wrappings before you put it in.

STORING COFFEE IN A FREEZER ?
If you are going away for a long period of time, it might be worth putting used beans in an airtight bag, with plenty of wrapping and leaving it in the freezer. Once you take it out, you need to dry it, of any moisture before using it. You can also leave un-opened bags of coffee this way.
 
STORING COFFEE IN A TIN ?
Leaving coffee in tins is not a good idea either, as there is an amount of air in the tin that you cannot take out. It is the air that does most of the damage and therefore the following advice is a good starting point :
 
1.          Buy only what you need for the month or two. If you do not need too much, you can buy them in small pack sizes. Eg 500g instead of 1kg.
2.          Store the unopened or opened coffee in a cook dark place.
3.        Un-used coffee beans should be in a bag [ preferably with a valve], with air squeezed out of the bag and wrapped with a rubber band
4.          Keep as little coffee in the bean hopper as possible
5.         Ground coffee once opened should be used within about 7 days. Always keep it airtight.

CONTINUOUSLY EVOLVING TRADITION
Gaggia continuously evolves their production and assembly processes while improving the quality of products.

The Gaggia Classic 2019 is considered one of best coffee machine in its class and has won accolades and positive reviews  from Expert Review, Kevin from Coffee Blog, James Hoffman and other important experts in the field of Coffee. Gaggia Classic has been around for over 30 years and, largely, the external parts and accessories and the internal boiler have remained the same. 

The 2023 model retains the best features of the 2019 model and makes it fit for the next 30 years by improving the model further.

The main external parts that you see are the Stainless Steel Body, the Filter Holder and the Brew Head. The Filter Holder [portafilter] and the Brew Head were made out of brass and chrome plated externally on the older model. on the 2023 Evo model this has been changed.

The Filter Holder on the 2023 Evo model is now made out of Stainless Steel, similar to the metal used in the Ash handled filter holder, we introduced a couple of years ago and is of professional filter holder quality.  The weight and the heat profiles remain the same and is  lot more pleasing than the one we had before.

Chrome Plating has been around for a very long time and although the end products are perfectly safe and compliant, manufacturers are going away from plating, as the process involved in chrome plating can be harmful for those involved in the process. Gaggia has taken the decision to change some of the parts to more modern and safer alternatives.
 
The Brew Head is also going to be Brass (CW510-Lead free brass*) *Compliant to Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
 
The Boiler inside is the same traditional boiler but coated with non stick coating, rather than the previous polished non-coated aluminium.

The Pro Steam wand, that was introduced in 2019 model, is the same on the new model.
 
CARE FOR PEOPLE
The new pump and heating system pre-assembled and the simpler wiring connection make the production more ergonomic for workers, and any intervention on the machine is easier and quicker.
​
CONSCIOUS AND COMPLIANT
The company adopts a conscious and responsible approach to develop products that are fully compliant with the new rules, and to guarantee sustainable processes.

As coffee gains favour worldwide, its consumption is only ever-growing. The Perfect Daily Grind's report on coffee consumption found that the global market was expected to total 170.3 million 60kg bags in 2022, with Europe and North America accounting for half of the total use. In particular, people passionate about coffee are considering speciality-grade coffee, also known as "gourmet" coffee.

The Specialty Coffee Association's grading scale highlights how this coffee is grown in optimal conditions and cared for by farmers to be sold at a premium price. For quality coffee, indigenous communities are becoming reliable sources— allowing people worldwide to have sustainable options and support local farmers. Listed below are four indigenous coffee products you have to try that are available in the UK.

Yemen arabica

The origins of commercialized arabica coffee can be traced back to Yemen as early as the 15th century when most trades passed through the port of Mokha. As the beginnings of coffee, it has also become the namesake of different inventions such as mocha, chocolate-flavoured coffee, and the Moka pot. Depending on the time of day, Yemen drinks coffee in several ways, such as the kisher or qishr, less caffeinated coffee, or ginger coffee mixed with cinnamon and other spices.

In recent years, Yemeni-American coffee entrepreneur Mokhtar Alkhanshali organized the National Yemen Coffee Auction in London. This event supported Yemen farmers in connecting with coffee connoisseurs and businesses, enabling them to set higher prices than on a traditional market. This also allows them to earn without growing khat— a narcotic that would have otherwise been their cash crop.

Benguet Arabica

Benguet coffee originates from the northern part of the Philippines. For over 80 years, the indigenous community of Igorot people has cultivated the Typica variety from the Arabica species. Depending on your preferences, Benguet coffee can come in medium and dark roasts as well as a selection of flavour blends like vanilla and caramel. These are often sold through drip coffee bags or single-single pour-over coffee— making them a simple but affordable way to enjoy a freshly brewed cup without needing a coffee machine or elaborate equipment. In London, Muni Coffee Company has integrated Benguet coffee as a critical part of their menu to support indigenous farmers.

Vietnamese Robusta

Vietnam is the world's biggest producer of Robusta coffee, producing nearly $31.1 billion worth of coffee exports in the first nine months of 2022. This has continued to supply the European market, which consumes coffee at a 39% rate worldwide. In particular, the European market drinks coffee at a 39% rate worldwide. The UK is its fifth-largest coffee consumer, seeing as much as a 13.6% increase in coffee imports from 2021 to 2022.

However, compared to well-liked arabica coffee, robusta produces a smoky, bitter taste when brewed. To make up for the flavour, the Vietnamese have taken unique approaches to their coffee-drinking culture, with many adding sweetened condensed milk and other ingredients such as egg yolks. In most cases internationally, robusta is used to make instant coffee. On the other hand, brands like Black Insomnia and Death Wish are taking advantage of the coffee's high-caffeine content as part of their business.
Peru Arabica

While fair-trade coffee has become the standard for supporting farming families, mass farming can make it challenging to improve environmental sustainability efforts. But in the case of the indigenous Mayni community in Peru, they are able to cultivate organic, shade-grown coffee within the Amazon rainforest without clearing the land. Rather than maximizing yields and income, Peruvian farmers work hand-in-hand with UK coffee roaster Easy Jose Coffee Roasters to produce coffee in the most sustainable way. Given the rising interest in speciality coffee, these smaller-scale productions also have become economically sustainable– providing the farmers with a viable way of life.

If you're interested in learning more about coffee, make sure to visit James Hoffman and Professor Tim Spector's discussion on its implications on health and nutrition.

Written by Aleah Kristen Caple
Exclusive for gaggiadirect.com

This play list was created by Gaggia for Mothers Day 2020. We are thinking of all mothers at this difficult time when their sons and daughters are fighting for freedom. 
​
Coffee is an experience made up of aromas, scents, sensations, emotions and sounds. And that’s exactly through music that we want to give something special to all moms, signed by Gaggia Milano. 

Coffee Strength and Taste
In this blog I would like to share my thoughts about the strength, body and taste of coffee that you can produce using a bean to cup machine. I am confining myself  to the Gaggia bean to cup machines but you may find it useful to apply these to other brands as well.

Grind settings
All our models of bean to cup machines are fitted with ceramic grinders for grinding the beans. The number of grind settings vary from 5 to 18 settings. If you look at the 5 setting grinder, '5' will be the coarsest setting and '1' will be the finest setting. On a 18 setting grinder, '18' will be the coarsest and '1' will be the finest. Usually the factory setting will be '3' on a 5 setting grinder and '6-8' on a 18 setting grinder.

Depending on the coffee you use, you can adjust the grind setting to suit the fineness you want. Finer the grind the slower the flow. This is because, the water will have to wet more particles of coffee and infuse the coffee for a longer time. If the grind is coarser the water will flow quickly through the coffee. This in turn will weaken the coffee that is produced.

The coffee strength can also be affected by the type of roast that you select. A darker roast produces a stronger coffee than a light or medium roast.

You can also vary the strength, taste and body of the coffee by selecting a blend that produces more body and strength. The mix of blend, depending on how much Arabica and Robusta coffees are in the bag of coffee, will have an influence on the strength, taste and body. Robusta coffees have more caffeine, earthy qualities and bittnerness. Arabicas have more sweetness and acid depending on where it is grown and how it is roasted.

Strength Setting
Some of our machines have a 3 strength setting [ Naviglio, Brera, Accademia]  and others have 5 strength settings.

Depending on the strength you select, the machine will grind an amount of coffee :
3 Strength setting Machines
[1 bean]               6.5g-7g of coffee
[2beans]              8.5g-9g of coffee
[3 beans]             10.5g-11g of coffee
 
5 Strength setting Machines
[1 bean]               6.5g-7g of coffee
[2beans]              7.5g-8g of coffee
[3 beans]             8.5g-9g of coffee
[4 beans]             9.5g-10g of coffee
[5 beans]             10.5g-11g of coffee

Please note that Gaggia machines have an 'opti-dose' system which measures the pressure it applies to the grind and the revolution of grinder and adjusts itself using an algorithm. This can therefore take a few coffees to get to the optimum dose needed.

Water Flow
The amount of water and the quality of water used in a drink can also have an influence on the taste of the coffee. The quantity of water in the cup can be about 10% lower than the amount the machine dispenses because some of the water is retained in the coffee puck. For example, on the Gaggia Magenta and Gaggia Cadorna, the screen says 40cc but you will get only about 36cc in the cup.

Temperature
Another variable to watch is the temperature of the coffee. This can be adjusted on some of the models.