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Saeco Aroma vs. Gaggia Classic: Which of These a Better Choice For You?

Gaggia, Saeco Jan 25, 2021

Saeco’s Aroma and Gaggia’s Classic both make a great choice for a compact and traditional-style espresso makers. They’re both manual espresso machines, yet they’re very beginner friendly and easy to use. In this post, we’ll look at the differences between the Saeco Aroma and Gaggia Classic to help you decide which one is best for you.

Features of Gaggia Classic:

Gaggia 14101 Classic Espresso Machine
  • 17 1/2 bar pump pressure with high voltage boiler.
  • Frothing wand that also doubles as a hot water dispenser.
  • 72-ounce removable water tank.
  • Stainless steel housing.
  • Portafilter with brass group head for temperature stability.
  • Includes single and double shot baskets, coffee scoop/measure and a tamper.
  • Ability to brew using ground coffee or E.S.E pods.
  • Measures 14-1/4 by 8 by 9-1/2 inches

Click here to learn more about Gaggia Classic, read the customer reviews and buy it.

Features of Saeco Aroma:

Philips Saeco RI9376_04 Aroma Espresso Machine
  • 15-bar pump pressure, stainless steel boiler.
  • Frothing wand with hot water dispenser.
  • 85 ounce removable water tank.
  • Portafilter with single/double baskets and E.S.E pod adapter.
  • Full stainless steel housing.
  • Measures 8 by 10 by 11-3/4 inches

Click here to learn more about Saeco Aroma, read the customer reviews and buy it.

What Is The Difference Between Gaggia Classic and Saeco Aroma?

As you can see by reading the features of Gaggia Classic and Saeco Aroma, both machines are almost the same. The differences are very small:

  • The Gaggia has a higher pump pressure, 17 1/2 bar vs. 15 bar for the Saeco Aroma. But this isn’t a huge deal really.
  • The Saeco Aroma has a larger water reservoir with 85 oz capacity while the Gaggia Classic has 72 ounce.
  • The Saeco Aroma is smaller in size, if that’s a priority for you.

If there’s one thing that we personally believe to make a difference it’s:

  • The Gaggia Classic’s grouphead on the portafilter is made of metal entirely, this gives you better temperature stability when brewing and results in better espresso extraction.
  • The Saeco Aroma has metal baskets but the grouphead is plastic like the handle of the portafilter, which is fine in general, but isn’t as good as the Gaggia Classic.

Which One To Buy?

Gaggia Classic 2

We would recommend the Gaggia Classic simply for its superior grouphead/portafitler, which means a hotter and better espresso shot.

Click here to learn more about Gaggia Classic, read the customer reviews and buy it.

Video Reviews:

How To Install and Use Gaggia Classic:

Review of Saeco Aroma:

Common Questions:

– Is there  wait time between brewing coffee and frothing milk?

Yes, like any single-boiler espresso machine, you’ll have to wait between the two tasks. For the Gaggia Classic, it’s about 60 seconds.

– Can I Use Pre-packaged E.S.E pods?

Yes, E.S.E Pods work with both the Gaggia Classic and Saeco Aroma

-What Do I need to buy with my espresso maker?

The Gaggia already includes a coffee scoop and a tamper, so you’ll only have to include a frothing jug. As for the Saeco Aroma, no tamper is needed as the portafilter is pressurized, but you’ll still need a frothing jug. We recommend this one by Update International which will cost you less than $10.

-Do I need a coffee grinder?

A freshly ground coffee is one of the most important factor in espresso brewing. If you don’t have a grinder yet, have a look at our recommended conical burr grinders here.