Gaggia Anima Coffee and Espresso Machine Review

Gaggia’s Best-in-Class Model

Being a coffee lover, I know how hard it is to resist the smell and taste of the coffee. Like many people, I have tried a lot of different coffee-based drinks from many cafés and coffee bars but I have never quite felt like I found the right flavor. Queue in the Gaggia Anima Espresso Machine, can this machine be the answer to all my questions?

One buys a coffee machine because you want to create your very own coffee and refuse to keep buying from your favorite coffee shop and save yourself quite a lot of money along the way. However, there are a lot of things that one needs to consider before choosing the right coffee maker such as its features, design, price, operation, and maintenance. Getting the right coffee is a journey, at times frustrating, and requires a fair bit of trial and error. Having tested the Gaggia Anima in detail, we know that producing bar-quality coffee, consistently and in no time, to suit your taste is now a tangible possibility.

Overview

The Italian company Gaggia was the brainchild of the modern espresso machine. They patented a steam-driven expressing device back in the day that quickly made them one of the best automatic espresso machine manufacturers. Their goal is to bring innovation and design excellence while maintaining a simple and functional operation. These days Gaggia is owned by the espresso machine division of Dutch multinational company, Philips.

Gaggia Anima is an automatic coffee machine that brews espresso and lungo with just the push of a button. What makes it special and stand out from the competition is that its milk frothing process is done through the Pannarello steam wand. This is a ground-breaking system that uses a mechanism to automatically mix air into the steam at the right levels and pressure. What is so cool about it is that you don’t have to worry about the precise positioning and steam pressure as this is no longer an issue. You can’t help it but be excited at what kind of coffee the machine will produce when you first install it.

You get a super easy programming menu that can make coffee instantly. It will give you the freedom to customize your drinks, from its temperature, grind size, and coffee strength. Even if you want your coffee decaffeinated, the Gaggia Anima has an integrated bypass dozer that offers pre-ground coffee to create decaf coffee. We are really impressed by how versatile this coffee machine is. It also helps the fact that we didn’t have to buy a separate grinding machine because it has built-in ceramic burrs and their very own adapting system. That is the reason behind the rich coffee flavor it produces.

To top it all off, you don’t have to worry about its maintenance because it comes with an automated descaling cycle. This really is great because we know how the filth and dirt accumulated in the machine can seriously affect the coffee’s taste and the machine’s life span. We can confidently say that the Anima coffee machine is very made and provides great features for making creamy and luscious coffees.

Key Specifications

• 15-bar pressure pump
• Built-in conical grinder with 5 grind size settings
• Removable brew unit for easy cleaning
• Automatically switch to standby mode after 1 hour of inactivity
• 8.8-ounce bean hopper capacity
• 60-once removable water tank with water filter
• Accommodate tall cups or mugs up to 6 inches
• Digital display

Design

When it comes to the exterior, There is absolutely no doubt that Gaggia did a great job with the Anima coffee machine. The combination of the black and silver exterior gives it an elegant and sleek look. Its design is the opposite of the traditional bulky-type coffee machine that most companies manufacture. It is compact and light which means that it will easily blend in the surroundings. Since most kitchens are not as big as we would wish them to be, it is the perfect size to place on the countertop.

In terms of the layout, it is all very well thought out, from the digital display screen all the way up to the buttons. The adjustable spout is perfect as it can fit all glass sizes, perfect for handling any cup or mug size. And with a large water tank, you won’t need to refill it regularly. Just fill it up to the maximum line and if you get quite a few servings out of it. It is definitely one of the nicest-looking coffee makers we have seen in the market.

Features

Brewing System

Anima offers fives settings for coffee strength, between 7 to 11 grams. You can easily adjust the settings and program the system by just pressing the “Aroma Strength”. We experimented and tried different coffee strengths and aromas until we all found the best coffee blend for each of us in the team. We found particularly cool (and super helpful) is that the Gaggia Anima coffee machine incorporates a bypass dozer that caters to those who prefer decaffeinated coffee. And trust me, given the choice, there are quite a few people who will appreciate this amazing feature. It gives you so many options to customize your own coffee.

Grinding System

This is one thing that most people would rather avoid but it is essential in getting the right coffee, adjusting the grinding system. You need to use a grind adjustment tool that, to make your life easy, it actually comes with the package. It is a bit complicated to adjust the grinder, we won’t sugar-coat it, but if you follow the manual you learn quickly how simple and easy it is. And just like most coffee machines with built-in grinders, you will need to keep an eye and regulate the grinding in order to avoid beans from getting stuck on the burrs. To do this, simply turn on the grinder, change the grind size, and empty the dozer. The only setback that we noticed is the bean hopper lid lacks the rubber seal. Without it, coffee beans are not airtight and this makes the grinding sounds much louder than it should.

Pannarello Steam Wand

Pannarello is a great choice for making a thick and voluminous bubble foam. The Gaggia Anima Espresso Machine has a metal steam pipe that serves as a pro steam wand for creating not just the standard foam, but also microfoam for your flat white coffee. Making froth for cappuccino or latte is so easy as the machine automatically adds air to the milk by using a pinhole at the top of the wand. We enjoyed steaming the milk for the first time and it certainly makes you want to learn new skills on latte art. We tested the machine over a week and almost everyone one of us had their go at latte art, some more successful than others. But the important thing is that we were encouraged to do so by how efficient the wand is.

Operation

Using the Gaggia Anima Espresso Machine is simple and easy. It is the perfect coffee maker for people who wake up early and barely have the time to make their own coffee. You can follow the manual but the operation is so simple that you can easily free-style it and go with the flow. You just can’t go wrong as you can see through its very clear and neat LCD display which one of the six labeled buttons to choose from you have to press. You get five coffee strengths, 3 coffee temperatures, and the amount of water for two coffee modes. Once you select your preferred setting, you will enjoy a freshly-brewed espresso in just a couple of minutes.

How to Make a Coffee

1. Plug the machine and turn on the switch at the back of the machine.
2. Adjust the grinder with the grind adjustment tool and align the indicator line to the medium-sized dot. You can also adjust it to fine for espresso or coarse for a long coffee.
3. Fill the water tank up to the maximum level then push the standby button below the display to turn the machine on.
4. Press the aroma strength button for the machine to start warming up.
5. Put some beans on the bean hopper, and once warmed up with beans and water loaded, the machine will indicate that it is ready to brew.

Maintenance

Cleaning the machine after every use or at least at the end of the day should be the regular routine in order to maintain its clean look and functionality. We all know how important it is to clean the coffee machine to avoid dirt or germs from building up. This build-up affects the quality of the coffee and the taste too. Ensuring that the coffee machine stays clean will saves on repairs and/ or replacements.

6. Wipe down the exterior of the machine and empty the drip tray after using it.
7. Remove the brewing unit and place it under running water. Do not put these on the dishwasher because it might ruin some parts.
8. Run the milk frother for a few minutes to discharge any milk left. Just take extra caution as the steam might cause burns.
9. Empty the water tank once in a while, clean it thoroughly and make sure to dry it out first before assembling it to the machine.
10. Do a strip test to know if it is time to descale the machine or see how hard the water is and follow the descaling process.

The Gaggia Anima Coffee Machine uses simple steps for descaling which is absolutely essential. You don’t want to see the build-up of minerals inside (think of a dirty kettle) so it is recommended that you perform descaling once a month or every 3 months.

Steps in Descaling

• Pour the descaling solution in the water tank, fill it with fresh water up to the CALC CLEAN level, and put it in the back of the machine.
• Press the MENU button, select the descaling function, and push the OK button to start descaling.
• Remove the water tank and rinse it, then fill it with fresh water up to the MAX level before returning it to the machine.
• Repeat steps 1 to 3 then press OK to launch the rinsing cycle.
• After the rinsing cycle, press the OK button to exit the descaling cycle.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a coffee maker that creates good-quality coffee, the Gaggia Anima Coffee Machine is the perfect all-around machine. It consistently delivers great-tasting coffee that won’t break the bank. Imagine being able to create your very own coffee at home, isn’t that a dream? The idea of saving up from constantly spending money at your local coffee shop should be enough of an incentive.

Anima is Gaggia’s best-in-class model, and now we know why. It is easy to operate, easy to clean, and pretty much impossible to get wrong. If you have little time available or don’t have the patience to learn how to make coffee the traditional way, this coffee machine gives you the best of both worlds.

Wondering whether this is the right coffee machine for you? Why not check out our section of grinding coffee machines? If the process seems too complicated and you want something a little simpler and easier to operate, you should certainly consider Nespresso one-button coffee machines. Happy coffee making!

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