All espresso machines must be “DESCALED” regularly. Filtered water or bottled water is free from chemical odours but not free from minerals. Using a water softener is the best option for mineral free water. If a water softener is not installed, then the best option is to descale the machine at least every 2-months. Gaggia spa recommends using the Gaggia Descaler for descaling your machine. Do not rely on the machine to remind you when descaling is due. When available, this feature is programmed by the number of espresso's served. The machine cannot sense the variable hardness of water from one part of the country to another. Follow a definite schedule for descaling every two months. Please DO NOT use vinegar or lemon juice for descaling as a residue will remain on the inside of the boiler which will be hard to get rid off and your coffee will end up with a taste of vinegar or lemon. I dutifully left the grinder alone for a while and started making espresso with the factory-set length. However, I know from experience that if there are only three strength levels to choose from, having all three coffee beans lit up is the only way to go.

Kilbride, D. (2017, June 8). How Does Pressure Affect Espresso Quality? Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2017/06/how-does-pressure-affect-espresso-quality/ Setting up the Gaggia Brera was a piece of cake, and I was off to the races within minutes. Plus, I barely had to open the user manual – the machine is as intuitive as you could want. The product arrived on time and 1st impressions on using it are that it’s very straightforward and produces a really nice cup of coffeeThe display is LED push-button, with illuminated icons to make it easy to choose between different options.

Here’s one thing you don’t want to skimp on: cleaning and descaling your Gaggia Brera. While I’m confident in the durability of Gaggia machines, nothing wears your espresso machine down like neglect. I’ve reviewed plenty of compact automatics lately, but I think the Gaggia Brera might just take home the trophy here. At just over 12 inches (30 centimeters) tall and weighing less than 20 pounds (8 kilograms), you’d be hard-pressed to find a smaller competitor. This is part of the magic of bean to cup machines. Though you may sacrifice a little of the quality – and a lot of the theater – found with a barista espresso maker, they are just far too easy to not love.DO NOT LEAVE THE MACHINE WITH DESCALING SOLUTION FOR MORE THAN THE TIME SPECIFIED ABOVE AS THIS CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE BOILER] In terms of output, the Gaggia Brera gives you a few different options for customizing your coffee. Philips owns both Saeco and Gaggia, but the Gaggia Brera beans-to-cup machine looks significantly different to the retro hi-fi-style Saeco Xsmall. The Brera is plastic on the sides and top, but metal panels on the front lend it a classier air. We’re not so keen on the plastic main control knob, though, which feels cheap. Though it looks beautiful, there is a sense that Gaggia have let down the quality of the build. The front is stainless steel, but pretty much all of the rest of the frame is made from plastic, as are the controls. This makes it feel a little cheaper than a machine like this – with this kind of price tag – should.