{"product_id":"gaggia-classic-e24-home-espresso-machine","title":"Gaggia Classic E24 Home Espresso Machine","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Gaggia Classic is truly deserving of its name. It was first released in 1991 and quickly became one of the most popular domestic espresso options just before the turn of the century. It went through many iterations over the years, some that were popular, and others less so, but with the release of the 'Pro' version in 2019, Gaggia re-established this little beauty as one of the top choices for aspiring home baristas on a tight budget. Then, in 2023, Gaggia released the new 'Evo Pro', adding some subtle but significant upgrades to the already excellent Gaggia Classic Pro. Now, we have the even newer E24 version, released in 2024. All versions share much of the aesthetic of the original Gaggia Classic but with lots of minor cosmetic improvements, and some pretty significant feature upgrades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Gaggia Classic home espresso machine\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough Gaggia has named some recent versions 'Pro', this is a bit of a misnomer. The Gaggia Classic is squarely aimed at the home barista. However, it does offer some pretty serious features when compared to other machines in its price bracket.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmong these important features is a 3-way solenoid valve which helps to release pressure from the group head after pulling a shot. This is something that all higher end and commercial espresso machines have, but many entry level home machines lack. Lack of a solenoid valve can lead to sloppy pucks and lots of cleanup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe biggest upgrade that the Pro version of the Classic received was an improved steam wand with a two hole tip. We can vouch for the fact that it provides pretty decent pressure for such a small machine, definitely enough to practice some latte art at home. Previous versions of the Classic were quite underpowered when it comes to steam, this makes a world of difference for the aspiring home barista. The new E24 version offers \u003cem\u003eeven more steam pressure\u003c\/em\u003e (more on that below).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith these important features, the new versions of the Gaggia Classic also sport a brushed stainless steel finish (also available painted in other colours), while still retaining the compact and recognisable aesthetic of its predecessors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the new E24 version of the Gaggia Classic\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo what's the difference between the new Gaggia Classic E24 and the Gaggia Classic \u003cem\u003eEvo, \u003c\/em\u003eor the \u003cem\u003ePro\u003c\/em\u003e for that matter, you might ask. Well, it boils down (you'll appreciate this pun in a moment) to a few invisible, but important differences, which mostly have to do with improved materials. Since the launch of the Evo version of the Classic, the portafilter head is stainless steel instead of chrome-plated. The grouphead, similarly, has a stainless steel exterior, but has also been upgraded to brass inside, for better temperature stability. The E24 builds on this with one really important upgrade: \u003cstrong\u003ethe boiler is now made of brass\u003c\/strong\u003e. This may not sound like a big deal, but it actually is quite an important change. Brass is the material of choice on higher-end espresso machines because it provides much more temperature stability. It has also allowed Gaggia to provide better steam pressure with this latest version of Classic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese upgrades mean that the E24 is the same Gaggia Classic that has taken the world (and South Africa) by storm with some significant upgrades from the manufacturers that should make it even more consistent and reliable. We reckon it offers even better value for money on the entry-level end of the espresso spectrum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho is the Gaggia Classic for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe recommend the Gaggia Classic for aspiring home baristas on a relatively tight budget. The market is full of cheap kitchenware pseudo espresso machines, and many people regret purchasing them, because they just cannot produce real espresso-based beverages. The Gaggia Classic currently represents the most affordable way to make the \"real deal\" at home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause it has a three way solenoid valve and proper steam wand, you can make espresso-based drinks on the Gaggia Classic like you would on a higher end machine, including cappuccinos, flat whites and many others. Perhaps most importantly, the Gaggia Classic has a 58mm group head, like higher end and commercial machines. Not only does this mean that you can use readily available accessories like tampers and filter baskets on this machine, it also means that the dynamics of extraction are pretty similar to what you would get on other models.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDon't give into the pressure\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the quirky things about the Gaggia Classic is that it comes both with pressurised portafilter baskets, like lower end machines, but also with a \"proper\" espresso basket that does not add pressure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pressurised baskets are designed to help you produce crema with pre-ground, stale, or too coarsely ground coffee. They allow you to skimp on the all important \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/capecoffeebeans.co.za\/collections\/espresso-grinders\" title=\"See our espresso grinders\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eespresso grinder\u003c\/a\u003e companion for your machine. We would recommend you put them in a drawer and forget you ever saw them. If you're contemplating doing espresso without a proper espresso grinder, then espresso may not be for you.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLuckily, Gaggia also provides a proper espresso basket with the Classic and, because of the 58mm group head, you can purchase many other professional baskets that will fit with the machine. These baskets require you to use a proper espresso grinder and dial in your grind properly, but that is exactly what you should want to do if you want to drink proper espresso or espresso-based beverages!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIf you're going to go the proper espresso route, you may also want to consider the \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"buy an OPV mod\" href=\"https:\/\/capecoffeebeans.co.za\/collections\/gaggia\/products\/gaggia-classic-9-bar-opv-spring\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eOPV upgrade\u003c\/a\u003e which lowers the grouphead pressure from 15-bar to the commercial standard 9-bar.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tfpsZ6Qjfhg?si=jl9NeywNI8_gGTH2\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" style=\"display: block; margin: 30px auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLearn from the Classics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you're ready to invest the time and energy into learning proper barista skills, but you need to be careful about how much you spend, then the Gaggia Classic may well be the machine for you. It will allow you to make great espresso and espresso-based beverages with practice, provided you also invest in a good \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/capecoffeebeans.co.za\/collections\/espresso-grinders\" title=\"Pick an espresso grinder\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eespresso grinder\u003c\/a\u003e and good, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/capecoffeebeans.co.za\/collections\/all-coffees\" title=\"Buy coffee beans\" target=\"_blank\"\u003efresh coffee beans\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you need advice on any of these items, or just want to chat about your options, please don't hesitate to \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/capecoffeebeans.co.za\/pages\/contact-us\" title=\"Contact us here\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ereach out to us\u003c\/a\u003e. We're here to help you pick your ideal home setup!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGaggia Classic E24 espresso machine features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDesigned \u0026amp; made in Italy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProfessional-style 58mm group head and portafilter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh pressure 2-hole steam wand\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e3-way solenoid valve\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEasy to use retro rocker buttons\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIndicator lights for each function\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes standard and pressurised portafilter baskets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStainless steel cup warmer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSuper compact design\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGaggia Classic E24 espresso machine specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e15-bar pump\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2.1L water tank\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrush stainless steel body (or painted if choosing a colour)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSteel \u0026amp; plastic portafilter included\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSteel \u0026amp; brass upgraded grouphead\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSingle, lead-free brass boiler\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlastic \u0026amp; steel drip tray with extra capacity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnboxed weight: 8.1kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDimensions: 23 X 38 X 24 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVoltage: 220-240V\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePower: 1100-1200W\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWe recommend using filtered (but not distilled) water in your Gaggia Classic (or any other) espresso machine. This will make sure that you're coffee tastes great and your machine lasts a long time by avoiding the buildup of limescale and sediment.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"display: none;\" id=\"zShareTpcCheck\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gaggia","offers":[{"title":"Steel","offer_id":45943978066106,"sku":"GCE24SS","price":11595.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black","offer_id":45943978098874,"sku":"GCE24CB","price":11995.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true},{"title":"White","offer_id":45943978131642,"sku":"GCE24CW","price":11995.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Red","offer_id":45943978164410,"sku":"GCE24CR","price":11995.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Grey","offer_id":45943978197178,"sku":"GCE24CG","price":11995.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0764\/5754\/1818\/files\/Gaggia-Classic-Pro-White_43a635a0-48c5-4611-8360-901407a753e9.jpg?v=1780482682","url":"https:\/\/game-online.shop\/products\/gaggia-classic-e24-home-espresso-machine","provider":"Game Online Shopping | We Beat Any Price","version":"1.0","type":"link"}