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(More customer reviews)Baby Gaggia Twin
I am on my third Baby Gaggia Twin since February and the third one does seem to be the charm. The first machine had an impotent steamer and was sent back, the second, the steam wand came off entirely.I did notice that happened to another reviewer but went with this machine as it was in my price range and I felt lucky.
The first one was purchased through Essential Espresso (avoid at all costs) who when I called to address the problem were very "We don't want to hear it, talk to the manufacturer" even though their site boasts a 30 day no hassle return. I wish I read the reviews on them before purchase. I won't go into every detail but dealing with them was so unpleasant and they took so long to do anything that I decided that I would get my replacement from BBandBeyond, where I learned they would price-match even with a 300 dollar difference and free shipping!!
So, BBandBeyond gave me a truly hassle free exchange for the second machine and it's faulty steam wand and now I am reasonably happy with the machine. The customer service there is among the best I have experienced.
The steamer takes a little getting used to. You need to purge it of water till the lights flash, turn it off and then back on again, keeping the wand out of your milk until it is up to "full steam" then turn it off again and put it in your milk pitcher. It sounds more painful than it is and all happens in about a minute and change.Pros: Looks great, seems sturdy, is easy to use and clean, heats up quickly, makes very good espresso
The steamer takes a little getting used to. You need to purge it of water till the lights flash, turn it off and then back on again, keeping the wand out of your milk until it is up to "full steam" then turn it off again and put it in your milk pitcher. It sounds more painful than it is and all happens in about a minute and change.
Cons: There is a smell from the steam wand, it gets less over time and I am told that running descaler through it will eliminate it. (Why couldn't they do that?) The group head is configured in such a way that you cannot really fill the portafilter full of coffee and have to leave a bit of room at the top. This is a slight bummer for me as I like my morning coffee a nice long pull and with our former machine could get enough coffee for 2 such pulls at one time for both me and the hubby. True, it is noGreek tragedy to pull 2 shots but just not as convenient. If you are pulling for one, there is no problem.
However, Gaggia itself and its U.S. representative,[...]are lacking in customer service in my opinion.
After receiving my third machine, I sent an email asking about a pressurized portafilter for the machine. I also added that it would be nice of them to offer some discount on same taking into to consideration the inconvenience I had been through having 2 defective machines.
Both Importika in the U.S. and Gaggia in Italy totally ignored this. I would not buy from them again for that reason. To me, it would be a no brainer to comp a relatively inexpensive item to compensate for the inconvenience and leave the customer feeling that you value their business and regret the inconvenience. They obviously don't.
It does take away some of the enjoyment of owning it
UPDATE
I no longer own this machine, it started leaking around the grouphead and after replacing the gasket and the filter basket to no avail, I returned it and went with another model. Various forums have given consistently good reviews to the Classic which is not a "snazzy" looking or programmable to your preferred size of shot. So far I am happy with it. You can tell right away that the steamer is better the crema is a litle thicker (probably because whatever was causing the leaking was not providing the proper pressure for "expression" of flavor. We decided to get a grinder also as this machine likes a finer grind than I can get in some places. After a few weeks, I will write a separate review for it but after 3 Baby Twins in 5 months, I can not recommend them from anything but a decorative standpoint.
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Gaggia 12500 Baby Twin Espresso Machine with Dual Heating System, Stainless SteelProduct Description: Equipped with a high-power 15-bar pump and commercial-grade components, this high-end espresso machine makes it easy to enjoy consistent, great-tasting espresso or cappuccino from the comfort of home. The unit provides a chrome-plated brass brew group and portafilter for excellent temperature stability, as well as a dual heating system, one boiler for brewing and a Thermoblock for steaming. Its user-friendly electronic touch-ring control panel with green buttons includes two programmable brewing selections for consistent espresso shots, time after time. The machine also offers a preinfusion function, which allows for adjusting the dosage settings so that the water produced for the coffee dose gets preceded by a pre-infusion step.
For added convenience, the espresso machine accommodates ESE coffee pods, can make two cups simultaneously, and sports a built-to-last three-way solenoid valve that gives the in-house barista a nice, dry espresso puck after brewing--meaning less mess and a quicker, easy clean up. The unit comes with a 60-ounce removable reservoir and a 180-degree swivel steamer that produces hot water for tea, coffee, or soup, and makes quick work of frothing milk, for hassle-free cappuccino and lattes even a novice barista could master. Other highlights include a cup-warming plate; a Rapid Steam function, which eliminates the waiting time between making espresso and producing a thick foamy crema; and brushed stainless-steel housing that will look great on any kitchen counter. Accessories include a single-shot, a double-shot, and an E.S.E. filter basket; a coffee tamper; and a coffee scoop. Designed in Italy by Gaggia, one of the most respected names in the industry, the 1425-watt espresso machine measures 10-2/5 by 9-3/5 by 15-2/3 inches.
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