Gaggia Carezza Deluxe Espresso coffee Machine - RI8525/08

Product Information

In my opinion, it is. Similarly to the above comparisons, if you buy a standard portafilter for this machine then the espresso will be roughly on par with the espresso from the Carezza, but the Carezza comes with the standard portafilter without having to pay extra for it, so the total saving isn't quite as much by that point. On the front panel are a temperature gauge, buttons for power, brew, water and steam, and that knob for turning on steam and hot water. Water Reservoir I slightly prefer the DeLonghi Dedica to the Gran Gaggia and the Gaggia Viva, they're very similar machines, but the portafilter that Dedica comes with while being pressurized, isn't quite as horrible as the Gaggia pressurized portafilter, plus the machine just feels a bit more solid and a better build overall than the Viva and Gran, and although the wand is a panarello, it's DeLonghi's smart panarello with an aeration setting and a heating only setting. One of the things that I wanted to make sure I mention is the delightful design of this machine. It features a look that leans towards a cool vintage feel, but with a touch of elegance that moves it several levels above kitsch.

Gaggia Carezza Style - Manual espresso machine for home use Gaggia Carezza Style - Manual espresso machine for home use

I don't think it's fair or even necessary to compare the Carezza with the likes of the Gaggia Classic, or other similarly priced machines from Sage, Lelit, Rancilio etc., but I do think it makes sense to compare them with machines that are slightly cheaper, simply because in some cases at least, these machines will produce roughly the same cup quality, so the question would be whether the Carezza is worth it vs the slightly cheaper options.

Features

Actually, being really honest, I never expected the blog to be anything but a hobby. I had no inkling that a handful of years later I'd be doing this as my “job”, playing with coffee machines, basically what I'd be doing if I'd won the lottery or something! I certainly never expected that brands would want to send me stuff to review.

Gaggia Repairs - GAGGIA UNITED KINGDOM Gaggia Repairs - GAGGIA UNITED KINGDOM

Although it may seem a bit excessive to use 100ml of the small 1.3L water tank for this, it's actually a clever feature. It heats up fast, about 30 seconds, but as with all fast heating machines, this just means that the water heater is warmed up. The brew path (the pipes from the tank to the group), the group itself, the portafilter and the cup, will all be stone cold, so if you pull a shot when it's just heated up, the temperature will be zapped as it's brewing. With a compact size, the Carezza Deluxe RI8525 is suitable for small spaces, yet it still offers a generous water tank capacity, allowing users to brew multiple cups of coffee without the hassle of frequent refills. The machine also features a high-quality coffee filter, ensuring a smooth and rich flavor with every brew.

How to Use the Carezza

DE-SCALING MANUAL COFFEE MACHINES Gaggia Liquid Descaler are recommended. DO NOT USE ANY DESCALER THAT IS RECOMMENDED FOR OPEN ELEMENT PRODUCTS SUCH AS KETTLES OR WASHING MACHINES.