The fragrance of strong, just-grinded, steamy coffee, invading the streets, the coffee shops, offices and homes with open windows. That’s what Italy feels like, either you visited it or just imagined it. At least that’s the feel for the coffee lovers, and I know there are many of us out there. These precise feel and aroma are the focus of Gaggia Carezza Deluxe espresso machine.
Contents
- 1 Gaggia Carezza Deluxe Review: Who it is For?
- 2 Types of drinks Gaggia Carezza De Luxe Makes
- 3 How does the Gaggia Carezza Deluxe works?
- 4 Features of Gaggia Carezza Deluxe RI8525/01 Espresso Machine
- 5 Potential Shortcomings of Gaggia Carezza Deluxe
- 6 Should you buy Gaggia Carezza Deluxe Espresso Maker?
Gaggia Carezza Deluxe Review: Who it is For?
Gaggia Carezza Deluxe Espresso Machine
What is Gaggia Carezza Deluxe? What can it bring us? Or, I should better ask Who is it? Yes, Who, because you might discover that this espresso machine is quite your own, personal barista, without actually going to a coffee bar.
Gaggia Carezza Deluxe is a compact semi-automatic espresso and coffee machine. And that’s not all. The things just start in this point. It has a retro look intended to inspire a retro coffee feel. This matches the retro high class of the coffee-based beverages this machine will provide you with.
I can’t deny its polish style, including a rounded front and an analogue temperature meter, as well as a retro-like big setup knob. It really has a classy impact on your mind, thus, over the entire experience of drinking coffee. It really simplifies the coffee making. This explains the machine’s name, Carezza (meaning caress in Italian). It really caresses your coffee-moments, each day, in the easiest way.
retro style – classic, pristine looking machine
Italian Barista Art
When I talked earlier about the Italian feel, I wasn’t wrong at all. The Gaggia brand comes from Italy, Milano, to be more specific. If they don’t know about coffee and strong espresso, than who does?
I, myself, feel quite safe to purchase a coffee machine created by a traditional Italian espresso machine brand. It gives me an extra warranty regarding the quality that I will get from the respective product. Achille Gaggia, the brand’s founder, invented a new way of brewing espresso with no steam, a special device which produces the much sought-after cream, which is specific to quality espresso.
And this is how the second part of the machine’s name is explained, Deluxe. Because a luxury taste beverage is what you get from it.
Types of drinks Gaggia Carezza De Luxe Makes
What drinks have I made with this gaggia espresso machine? Everything there can be. It is not just the coffee or espresso. It is a full bar experience. You can prepare the usual Italian-style short espresso, or the long espresso, but also latte, cappuccino, hot chocolate and even tea. Have I told you, yet, that this machine will make you think about opening your own bar? Or, at least, about inviting your coffee/hot beverages-lover friends over, more often. And if I haven’t told you that, I will just let you know about the cup warmer device, the metallic plate over the machine, which will preserve several cups warm and ready for the full espresso experience.
How does the Gaggia Carezza Deluxe works?
The Carezza Deluxe machine will brew your drink by use of a pressurized portafilter basket and a Pannarello wand. The setup is very easily made by pushing a specific button. You can use this machine either with pre-grinded coffee, of your own liking, or with Easy Serve Espresso (ESE) pods.
The heating time for brewing temperatures is only one minute. The water tank is a considerable 1.4 liters.
Operating the machine requires a certain degree of intervention from you, especially with the milky beverages, as it doesn’t have an automatic milk preparation. It has a steam output that you can set for steam or hot water (for frothing milk, or tea). There is a pre-brewing, pre-heating process. After turning the machine on, it will run one pre-heating cycle, before being ready to brew.
pre-infusion step helps to produce a full-bodied extraction
Brewing with grinded coffee. You have to remove the pod adapter and place the filter basket and the ground espresso coffee in it. Then just press the brew button.
Brewing with ESE pods. Place the pod adapter in the portafilter, and then put the ESE pod in it, and turn the button on.
Brewing milk beverages. You will activate the steam outlet within a cup with cold milk. After steaming and foaming the milk, you will pour in the already brewed coffee, and mix them. The Pannarello wand attachment can be removed for a creamy micro-foam, and if you wish to be creative with latte art.
Features of Gaggia Carezza Deluxe RI8525/01 Espresso Machine
Gaggia Carezza Deluxe might be vintage/retro in style, however it brings the newest, modern technologies in espresso brewing.
This is what you’ll get:
- Rapid heating, 1 minute
- Automatic shut-off, after 9 minutes of pause
- Front board with temperature gauge, power/ brew/ hot water&steam buttons, knob for turning on steam/hot water
- Auto frothing “Pannarello” stainless steel, classic wand
- Pre-brewing system, that soaks grounds before brewing, for a full, intense flavor
- Pressurized “Crema Perfetta” filter holder, for very thick, marvelous cream on top of each espresso
- Double basket, with a capacity of 18 grams of coffee (as compared to the usual 12 grams), to ensure a strong beverage, plus special filters for coffee pods
- Stainless steel cup warmer
- Descaling alert, for best maintenance
- Automatic rinsing cycle, every time the espresso machine is turned on and off
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Potential Shortcomings of Gaggia Carezza Deluxe
There are some strange short pauses after the activation of the knot, as well as unexpected breaks during the hot water/steam process, which might not make a lot of sense when you prepare your beverage.
It takes a little while plus some skills to operate the Gaggia Carezza Deluxe, at its best. Otherwise, the results will not be quite as good as expected, or rather quite disappointing. Some users have even complained about getting the lowest quality of “water-washed” coffee. For those who prefers a hassle-free espresso making experience, consider these automatic espresso machines instead:
Should you buy Gaggia Carezza Deluxe Espresso Maker?
How inspired do you feel about Gaggia Carezza Deluxe? How much do you enjoy your coffee? How much do you care about drinking a quality, barista-like coffee, everyday? What budget do you want to invest in a coffee machine? I can’t answer for you, if you should buy it or not. I have only shared with you my own experience with this coffee machine that combines Italian heritage and current technology. However, I truly recommend you to answer these other questions, or at least a couple of them. Your decision will suddenly become easier.
I hope this Gaggia Carezza Deluxe Review has been useful to you.
