Gaggia Classic

What you actually have

The Classic has a 58 mm portafilter, the same size as the machines in cafés. That is why 58 mm accessories fit it: precision baskets, tampers, dosing rings and puck screens.

1. Basket

The Classic Evo / E24 comes with the pressurised “crema perfetta” basket already in the portafilter, and there are two traditional ones in the box as well. Gaggia advises starting with the pressurised one, then moving to the traditional ones. The Classic UP and GT come only with traditional baskets and a blind filter. A precision basket is the next step after the traditional one.

2. Tamper

The Classic Evo / E24 comes with a plastic tamper. The UP has a tamper with a 58 mm steel base.

3. WDT and a level surface

WDT needles down to the bottom of the basket, and the portafilter resting flat on a corner tamping mat, help the puck come out level and even.

4. Temperature

The Classic, Pro and Evo have no PID, only temperature lights. According to Gaggia's manual, wait for the coffee temperature light to come on and then start the shot. The UP and GT have PID control.

5. Pressure

Gaggia states a nominal pump pressure of 15 bar for the Classic E24. The Classic UP is factory-set to 9 bar during extraction, and the GT has an adjustable pressure valve.

6. Milk on a single boiler

The Classic, Pro, Evo and UP have one boiler for coffee and steam. After steaming, run a cup of water through the group head, without the portafilter, so the boiler cools down before the next coffee. That is what Gaggia's manual says. Steaming for too long can empty the boiler, and then it has to be refilled as the manual describes. The GT has two boilers and two circuits.

7. Bottomless portafilter

Once your preparation settles, a bottomless portafilter shows you everything else. For the Evo Pro / E24, sources disagree on whether portafilters from older models fit, so check for your model before buying. For the UP, the Whole Latte Love review states that existing Gaggia portafilters work.

Maintenance

The Classic has a three-way valve. In the manual for the Classic E24, Gaggia states cleaning the group head with a tablet and a blind filter once a month, and descaling every two months, with its own descaler. If the portafilter handle goes past six o'clock or it leaks at the sides, it is time for a new gasket.

Try it in the LabStarting recipe