Gaggia Classic E24 Home Espresso Machine

The Gaggia Classic is truly deserving of its name. It was first released in 1991 and quickly became one of the most popular domestic espresso options just before the turn of the century. It went through many iterations over the years, some that were popular, and others less so, but with the release of the ‘Pro’ version in 2019, Gaggia re-established this little beauty as one of the top choices for aspiring home baristas on a tight budget. Then, in 2023, Gaggia released the new ‘Evo Pro’, adding some subtle but significant upgrades to the already excellent Gaggia Classic Pro. Now, we have the even newer E24 version, released in 2024. All versions share much of the aesthetic of the original Gaggia Classic but with lots of minor cosmetic improvements, and some pretty significant feature upgrades.
About the Gaggia Classic home espresso machine

Although Gaggia has named some recent versions ‘Pro’, this is a bit of a misnomer. The Gaggia Classic is squarely aimed at the home barista. However, it does offer some pretty serious features when compared to other machines in its price bracket.

Among these important features is a 3-way solenoid valve which helps to release pressure from the group head after pulling a shot. This is something that all higher end and commercial espresso machines have, but many entry level home machines lack. Lack of a solenoid valve can lead to sloppy pucks and lots of cleanup.

The biggest upgrade that the Pro version of the Classic received was an improved steam wand with a two hole tip. We can vouch for the fact that it provides pretty decent pressure for such a small machine, definitely enough to practice some latte art at home. Previous versions of the Classic were quite underpowered when it comes to steam, this makes a world of difference for the aspiring home barista. The new E24 version offers even more steam pressure (more on that below).

With these important features, the new versions of the Gaggia Classic also sport a brushed stainless steel finish (also available painted in other colours), while still retaining the compact and recognisable aesthetic of its predecessors.
About the new E24 version of the Gaggia Classic

So what’s the difference between the new Gaggia Classic E24 and the Gaggia Classic Evo, or the Pro for that matter, you might ask. Well, it boils down (you’ll appreciate this pun in a moment) to a few invisible, but important differences, which mostly have to do with improved materials. Since the launch of the Evo version of the Classic, the portafilter head is stainless steel instead of chrome-plated. The grouphead, similarly, has a stainless steel exterior, but has also been upgraded to brass inside, for better temperature stability. The E24 builds on this with one really important upgrade: the boiler is now made of brass. This may not sound like a big deal, but it actually is quite an important change. Brass is the material of choice on higher-end espresso machines because it provides much more temperature stability. It has also allowed Gaggia to provide better steam pressure with this latest version of Classic.

These upgrades mean that the E24 is the same Gaggia Classic that has taken the world (and South Africa) by storm with some significant upgrades from the manufacturers that should make it even more consistent and reliable. We reckon it offers even better value for money on the entry-level end of the espresso spectrum.
Who is the Gaggia Classic for

We recommend the Gaggia Classic for aspiring home baristas on a relatively tight budget. The market is full of cheap kitchenware pseudo espresso machines, and many people regret purchasing them, because they just cannot produce real espresso-based beverages. The Gaggia Classic currently represents the most affordable way to make the “real deal” at home.

Because it has a three way solenoid valve and proper steam wand, you can make espresso-based drinks on the Gaggia Classic like you would on a higher end machine, including cappuccinos, flat whites and many others. Perhaps most importantly, the Gaggia Classic has a 58mm group head, like higher end and commercial machines. Not only does this mean that you can use readily available accessories like tampers and filter baskets on this machine, it also means that the dynamics of extraction are pretty similar to what you would get on other models.
Don’t give into the pressure

One of the quirky things about the Gaggia Classic is that it comes both with pressurised portafilter baskets, like lower end machines, but also with a “proper” espresso basket that does not add pressure.

The pressurised baskets are designed to help you produce crema with pre-ground, stale, or too coarsely ground coffee. They allow you to skimp on the all important espresso grinder companion for your machine. We would recommend you put them in a drawer and forget you ever saw them. If you’re contemplating doing espresso without a proper espresso grinder, then espresso may not be for you.

Luckily, Gaggia also provides a proper espresso basket with the Classic and, because of the 58mm group head, you can purchase many other professional baskets that will fit with the machine. These baskets require you to use a proper espresso grinder and dial in your grind properly, but that is exactly what you should want to do if you want to drink proper espresso or espresso-based beverages!