43 facts in comparison
Gaggia Classic vs La Marzocco GS3
Gaggia Classic
La Marzocco GS3
Why is Gaggia Classic better than La Marzocco GS3?
- Has a 58mm portafilter?
- Has dry puck feature?
- Has a 3-way valve?
- Water tank is transparent?
- 24.04kg lighter?
9.07kgvs33.11kg - 1 years more years under manufacturer's warranty?
2 yearsvs1 years - Has a removable water tank?
- 292.1mm thinner?
241.3mmvs533.4mm
Why is La Marzocco GS3 better than Gaggia Classic?
- Has a pressure gauge?
- Has PID controller?
- Has a pre-infusion function?
- Has direct water connection?
- Can brew and steam simultaneously?
- Has a display?
- Has sleep mode?
- Has a shot timer?
Price comparison
Gaggia Classic
| Product | Store | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaggia RI9380/46 Classic Pro Espresso Ma...Gaggia RI9380/46 Classic Pro Espresso Machine, Solid, Brushed Stainless Steel | $457 | ||
| Gaggia RI9380/52 Classic Pro 30th Annive...Gaggia RI9380/52 Classic Pro 30th Anniversary Special Edition Espresso Machine, Limited Edition | $558 | ||
| Gaggia Classic Portafilter Filterholder ...Gaggia Classic Portafilter Filterholder with double 14g. pressurized basket (21000491) & Spout | $49 | ||
| Gaggia Classic Steam Valve | $55 | ||
La Marzocco GS3
| Product | Store | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genericed 58MM Portafilter Wood Coffee M...Genericed 58MM Portafilter Wood Coffee Machine Bottomless Filter Holder Portafilter for La Marzocco GS3 FB70 FB80 GB5 | $29 | ||
| De'Longhi La Specialista Espresso Machin...De'Longhi La Specialista Espresso Machine with Sensor Grinder, Dual Heating System, Advanced Latte System & Hot Water Spout for Americano Coffee or Tea, Stainless Steel, EC9335M | $900 | ||
| Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espres...Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel | $700 | ||
| De'Longhi EC9665M La Specialista Maestro...De'Longhi EC9665M La Specialista Maestro Espresso Machine, Stainless Steel | $1,300 | ||
General info
We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry. A lower weight is also an advantage for home appliances, as it makes transportation easier, and for many other types of products.
When covered under the manufacturer’s warranty it is possible to get a replacement in the case of a malfunction.
We consider a thinner chassis better because it makes the product more compact and portable. Thinness is a feature highlighted by many manufacturers of mobile devices, but it is essential for a wide range of products.
Generally, a larger capacity boiler with a higher wattage will be able to recover and replenish quicker. This is useful if making many coffees at once.
The height represents the vertical dimension of the product. We consider a smaller height better because it assures easy maneuverability.
Volume is the quantity of three-dimensional space enclosed by the product's chassis or, in simpler terms, the space the product occupies.
The width represents the horizontal dimension of the product. We consider a smaller width better because it assures easy maneuverability.
Ground coffee, especially if freshly roasted and ground, results in much better quality coffee than the kind of results you get with pods or capsules.
Components
One of the most important aspects to pulling a great espresso is the amount of pressure used. Aspects such as how tightly tamped the portafilter is can affect the pressure and therefore the overall quality of the extraction. A pressure gauge helps you to adjust your process to achieve a perfect 9 bar of pressure.
A 58mm portafilter is the most common size in the industry, offering a greater range of accessories to purchase such as portafilter baskets and tampers.
It has a steam wand, which allows you to make steamed/frothed milk to create other drinks from an espresso base.
It comes with a commercial style steam wand as opposed to a pannarello steam wand. These are harder to master but can allow you to produce better, richer milk froth.
The E61 brew group is the industry standard brew group for espresso machines, which delivers consistent, stable heat in order to help pull the perfect espresso.
An E61 group head provides excellent temperature stability, a key aspect of producing great espresso. It also has the benefit of a passive pre-infusion feature.
The espresso machine has an integrated grinder so that you don’t have to buy a separate one.
8.bean hopper capacity
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Gaggia Classic)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (La Marzocco GS3)
A bigger bean hopper means that you have to refill it less often.
The device has an electronic display to present information to the user.
Water source
With a transparent water tank you can easily see when it needs to be filled up. This is important as attempting to make an espresso with an empty tank can damage the machine.
A PID controller controls the temperature of the boiler electronically. It offers a far greater degree of accuracy and consistency than a regular, mechanical thermostat used to control temperature. This is very important as a temperature of around 92°C to 96°C is key to pulling the perfect espresso.
The water tank is removable, making it easier to refill.
An integrated water filter produces cleaner water for brewing espresso. It also helps to prevent the build up of limescale.
The coffee machine can connect directly to the water supply. This ensures you never have to refill the machine with water.
A hot water outlet is useful as it can be used to heat cups, as well as making americanos, long blacks and teas.
With a larger water tank you don’t have to refill it as often.
A higher capacity boiler means that you don’t have to refill it as often.
Maintenance
At the end of the extraction process, all moisture is removed from the puck. This allows you to easily tap out the coffee from the portafilter afterwards, reducing mess and the need to clean it as often.
The machine alerts you when it requires cleaning.
With a drip tray indicator the machine informs you of when you need to empty the tray.
After a certain period of being idle, the device will switch to a sleep mode to conserve power.
It has an internal fuse/thermal sensors which prevents the machine from overheating.
Features
A 3-way solenoid valve relieves the portafilter of pressure and moisture after the extraction. This produces a dry puck which can easily be removed afterwards. It also means that you don’t have to wait for the pressure to equalise, so that you can make back-to-back coffees.
With a pre-infusion function you get a low pressure of water before it ramps up to around 9 bar of pressure. This gently expands the grinds to get a smooth extraction and to help prevent channeling in the cake.
With a double boiler or heat exchanger system, you can brew and steam milk at the same time. This has an advantage over single boiler machines where you have to wait between brewing and steaming for the temperature to adjust.
These buttons can be programmed for different types of coffee such as an espresso, doppio or ristretto. This means once you have mastered a particular style of coffee, you can get it the same every time.
The time taken to pull an espresso shot is one of four key elements, and should be around 19-22 seconds. Once you have the grind, dose and tamp correct, you can use the shot clock to time the pull perfectly.
6.number of grind settings
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Gaggia Classic)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (La Marzocco GS3)
A higher number of grind settings gives you more flexibility when choosing the fineness of your ground coffee. The particle size is important as a grind which is too coarse can produce weak tasting espresso, whereas a grind which is too fine can lead to a bitter taste.
Price comparison
Gaggia Classic
| Product | Store | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaggia RI9380/46 Classic Pro Espresso Ma...Gaggia RI9380/46 Classic Pro Espresso Machine, Solid, Brushed Stainless Steel | $457 | ||
| Gaggia RI9380/52 Classic Pro 30th Annive...Gaggia RI9380/52 Classic Pro 30th Anniversary Special Edition Espresso Machine, Limited Edition | $558 | ||
| Gaggia Classic Portafilter Filterholder ...Gaggia Classic Portafilter Filterholder with double 14g. pressurized basket (21000491) & Spout | $49 | ||
| Gaggia Classic Steam Valve | $55 | ||
La Marzocco GS3
| Product | Store | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genericed 58MM Portafilter Wood Coffee M...Genericed 58MM Portafilter Wood Coffee Machine Bottomless Filter Holder Portafilter for La Marzocco GS3 FB70 FB80 GB5 | $29 | ||
| De'Longhi La Specialista Espresso Machin...De'Longhi La Specialista Espresso Machine with Sensor Grinder, Dual Heating System, Advanced Latte System & Hot Water Spout for Americano Coffee or Tea, Stainless Steel, EC9335M | $900 | ||
| Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espres...Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel | $700 | ||
| De'Longhi EC9665M La Specialista Maestro...De'Longhi EC9665M La Specialista Maestro Espresso Machine, Stainless Steel | $1,300 | ||
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