If you’re looking for a high quality super automatic espresso machine, you probably already know that there are hundreds of products out there. How do you know which one is for you?
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It’s going to take a bit of research, but we’re here to help you narrow it down. If you want to use your own choice coffee beans, but you’re still looking for hands-off convenience and the ability to prepare a wide variety of coffee drinks then you just may want to check out the Gaggia Anima Prestige super automatic espresso machine. It’s a great espresso machine that’s loaded with features. Let’s dive in.
Features
Ease of Use
Making coffee should never be a chore. The Gaggia Anima Prestige features dedicated buttons for six different coffee drinks so that you can prepare whichever your heart desires with ease. If you prefer to make your own custom drinks you can use the LCD screen to program them to your liking.
Brew With What You Have
Whether you’re working with whole-bean coffee or pre-ground beans you’ll be in good shape with the Gaggia Anima Prestige. In the case of whole-bean, just load up the hopper and the Prestige will prepare a fresh, even grind with the onboard ceramic burr grinder just before dosing. With pre-ground beans simply load them right to the bypass doser.
Frothing Done For You
One of the key components for delicious lattes and Cappuccinos is rich milk froth. This can be very difficult to get right for inexperienced baristas when done manually. The Prestige will prepare an excellent milk froth for you, and dispense it directly into your cup. When you’re done, simply remove the carafe and place it in the refrigerator for later use.
Adaptive Grinding
It seems all of the products that we buy these days are smart. The Gaggia Anima Prestige has a bit of intelligence of its own. The Prestige’s adaptive system allows it to adjust the grinder’s operation to prepare the perfect grind based on your preferred coffee bean. No more stressing about particle size on your part.
You’re In Control
Nobody likes to take a sip of a scalding-hot drink. It’s almost as unpleasant as taking a drink of a freshly brewed espresso that’s simply not hot enough. Gaggia planned for the fact that the perfect serving temperature depends quite a bit on the preferences of the person drinking the coffee. Choose from three temperature settings to optimize for your preferences.
Easy Access
If you’re making a lot of coffee you’re going to go through quite a bit of beans and water. With some machines it can be a bit of a pain to load the coffee bean hopper and the water reservoir, especially if the orientation conflicts with your counter space. Gaggia thought this through, and they’ve designed the Anima Prestige for easy access of the hopper and the reservoir.
Simple Maintenance
To keep your machine running in tip-top shape it’s important to conduct regular rinsing and maintenance of the brewing components. Luckily the Gaggia Anima Prestige features a removable brew group so it’s easy and convenient to remove it for cleanup. When you’re done just reinstall the brew group and you’re good to go.
Energy Saving Mode
Sometimes we want to have our espresso machines at the ready so that we can prepare a fresh brew on demand. This means keeping the machine on so that it maintains operating temperature. Luckily, with the Anima Prestige you don’t have be that person who uses more than their required share of electricity. After an hour of inactivity it will go to standby mode, reducing its electricity consumption but staying prepared for the next brew.
Pros
- Automatic milk frothing eliminates the need to do it manually. This is one of the most difficult techniques to get right for a budding barista, and it makes a world of a difference for your cappuccinos and lattes.
- Adaptive coffee bean grinding allows the machine to automatically adjust to your favorite choice of raw materials, so you can get the perfect grind without needing to figure it out yourself.
- Three coffee temperature settings allow you to make sure your fresh brew is just right for your liking. There’s no need to burn your tongue every time you go for a sip.
- The straightforward interface takes the complexity out of making sophisticated coffee drinks. Just press one of six preset buttons and you’ll be good to go.
- Routine maintenance is as easy as can be. Just remove the brew group for cleaning and rinsing and put it back when you’re done.
Cons
- While the Prestige provides you with more than enough functionality to make a variety of delicious coffee drinks, it simply does not have the ability to customize to the extent that other Gaggia products do.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy This Model
This Gaggia Anima Prestige espresso machine is a great fit for people who want a bit of control over the essentials, but mostly want the convenience that an automatic espresso machine has to offer. The machine takes care of everything, from grinding whole-bean coffee, to dosing the grinds and tamping them, to performing the extraction, and even preparing a delicious milk froth.
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Where this machine is somewhat lacking compared to other options in Gaggia’s product line is in customization. You won’t have precision control over all of the brewing parameters like you will with more sophisticated models. This may or may not be a problem for you, mostly it depends on how avid of a coffee enthusiast you are and how much effort you want to put into concocting a perfect cup of espresso.
However, if you’re looking for a machine that takes care of the hard work for you the Gaggia Anima Prestige is definitely a model worth considering. It allows you to prepare a wide variety of coffee drinks with minimal effort, and there is a bit of customization available in the areas where it’s most important. For the price, it’s probably one of the top contenders you’ll be able to find in terms of simplicity and functionality.
