Pump Espresso Machines Ultimate Test: DeLonghi vs. Saeco/Philips/Gaggia vs. Hamilton Beach/Clatronic. Compared and Disassembled.

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• Very helpful review. I own a Somela Capresso and have converted to a non-pressurized portafilter. With a good grinder (I use a Baratza Virtuoso), careful dose measuring and proper tamping, it produces a very good shot of espresso. Actually, the shots are better than the majority of the ones I get in cafes, except where the barista really knows what she or he is doing. I am now trying to find a second portafilter that I can modify to make a naked/bottomless portafilter for even better results. It is surprising the quality of espresso you can get with home equipment. Thanks for the review.

• How do you do this modification?

• Hello Jose Luis,

  The following modification will only work on the Clatronic, Vitek, Hamilton Beach and Somela machines that Dmitriy mentioned above. If you want to just go non-pressurized, first you have to buy a 2-cup non-pressurized portafilter basket like I did on eBay (here is a link https://www.ebay.com/itm/201841439025 ). The baskets that come with the machine have only one small hole in the bottom and will not work in a non-pressurized system.
  Second, in order for the new filter basket to fit in the original portafilter holder, you have to unscrew the black plastic insert in the bottom of the portafilter and file or cut this insert's top edges that touch the bottom of the basket carefully until the basket fits flush with the top of the portafilter. Otherwise, it won't go back properly into the brew head. As I said in my original post, with this set up and careful grinding, dose measuring and tamping, you can make much better single/double shot espressos than with the original set up.
  I have since also converted a second portafilter to a bottomless/naked set up which I use when I make an individual double shot espresso and don't want anything interfering with the shot/crema flow. It uses the same non-pressurized basket, and really helps fine tune the tamping technique. If you get it wrong, you get coffee spraying at all kinds of weird angles. When you get it right though, it really looks impressive as it flows out. Really creamy and caramel-like.

• Wuaw… thank you… (i just recheck this article, and found your answer).
  I got the "Somela Capresso", and I'll bought the non-presurized basket (and make the modifications) in order to try it.

• Hi,
  I'm considering the Saeca HD 2387/47, the Gaggia Classic, or the Breville Duo-Temp, The Breville infuser is a little out of my comfort zone right now. I've been using an old Breville that I got used for $45 for the last three years but the pump is weak (or there is a vacuum leak). Sometimes it works better than others. Maybe I should try to get it tuned up? What are your thoughts?

• Hi, Alexander. You probably misprint the first model, there is no Saeco 2387, did you meant HD8327?

• Yes, that's the one.

• Hi, Alexander. First of all sorry for my late reply.

  Definetly the Gaggia Classic is the best among these three machines if not considering the price. Especially if you will find the old one.

  * Old one has the RI8161 index and it has the word "Classic" on top of the logo. While the new one has the logotype with the "Gaggia" on top and the "classic" under it. And it has the new index RI9403.

  The Saeco HD8327 is a good machine for its price. But it falls into completely different class. Poemia Hd8327 is an entry level machine, which gives the best espresso among cheap machines. However, if in your country price tags for Gaggia Classic and for Poemia are similar, then I don't see any reason to choose Poemia. For example, in the States the Poemia (as well as Gaggia Gran, which is the same machine under the gaggia name) is overpriced now, probably because Saeco don't import it officialy now.

  I don't personally like Breville, becuase it's usually overpriced and have strange engineering solutions inside. However, again, if it has the similar price tag to Poemia, then overall it will be better. If, conversely, it costs as much as Gaggia Classic, the Gaggia will be better.

• Thanks so much for the advice! Happy Holidays!

• I have a very old, now broken, DeLonghi steam pressure machine. I have been looking for a replacement. I found the DeLonghi pump style with the built-in tamper (useless?), but the milk steamer is on the left and that won't work in my kitchen. Can the tamper and steaming wand be reversed by the user? Obviously, I can't tear into the display model to check it out. Any advice when i really need a right hand wand and want to stay under $150?

• No, it can't be replaced.

  Any modern Delonghi model with a pump has steam wand on the right. Under $150 it will be ECP3420/3630 ($109+ on amazon, my review here), ECO310 ($121+, review>) or ECO330 ($126+, very similar to the ECO310, more massive body with more metal). Besides design the main difference between ECP and ECO - different filter baskets. First one gives less crema, but it is easier to use and clean it (see ECO310 review, this is described there).

• Hi, I'm just wanting to start to make home espresso (to save on buying!) I've read that something like the gaggia classic is good to start. However it's expensive and I can get delonghi icona at the half price. what would you recommend?

• Icona is a great machine to start with in a low budget, both for espresso and cappuccino.

• Just a couple of things:
  In most pressurized espresso machines the actual pressure at the portafilter is rather low (about 2-3 bar) much less than the 9bar one would want for an unpressurized filter. The pump needs an high pressure (listed at 15 usually) because thats static pressure, once the water starts flowing the pressure drops quite a bit so it needs a good overhead. But it doesnt mean that theres high pressure at the coffee puck, the final pressure to the portafilter is regulated by a small spring valve in the brew head, behind the shower screen. The weaker the spring the higher the final pressure. But there's a catch, since the system wasn't engineered for 9bar if the spring is set to that, the pressure of the water heating up in the boiler will be enough to slightly open the valve, dripping water in the portafilter. However if one looks at the great espresso of a lever machine they will find that in those the working pressure is an 8-6bar in average, with a declining profile. What that means is that in modding those cheap espresso machines one can find a good compromise in pressure setting them to a 6bar while delivering the water (static pressure is higher, water flowing means lower pressure because the pumps are what they are, one sets the pressure using a portafilter equipped with a pressure gauge and an orifice that delivers our classic 30ml in 30seconds, all this equipment can be DIYed easily sacrificing one of the filters). Without rising the pressure at the portafilter modding to the unpressurized ones its of limited gain since there wont be much pressure at the puck once the small orifice of the filter is eliminated (you have to compensate with finer grind and a lot of tamping pressure).
  BTW, once the pressure changes even the filter has to change to obtain the proper flow, in the delonghi for example a good compromise is obtained adapting the screen of the ESE pods to the double basket once the bottom of the basket is cut off (this screen has more flow than the screen of the double basket but the lip of the screen needs to be flared out to seal against the walls of the double basket).
  Boiler capacity: you want the biggest boiler available for temperature stability. In the cheap machines the boilers are way too small, if you make a double espresso the amount of cold water entering such a tiny boiler is enough to lower the temperature dramatically right when you are mid-shot (that's why another mod even on better machines is a preheat chamber or copper pipe coiled around the boiler. Beware that because of all the plastic involved and the fact that the pumps in these coffee machines are rated at a max temperature of 20C putting hot water in the tank is not a good thing).
  Portafilter weight also has its importance, an heavy metal one will maintain the heat better than a light or plastic one (let heat up and do an empty, just hot water, shot before putting your full filter on... if you ever pulled shot after shots with these things you will find out that after 5-6 shots the quality improves... obviously not stellar anyways but... its a matter of temperature stability thats all)

  On modified machines one can get even good shots, the fact is that ElCheapo machines are very finicky and one has to fiddle and and find a bunch of tricks to get something decent. Good machines instead are very consistent in giving good espresso because they are built better, a lot less random in the results and at the end easier to use.
  It takes an enormous amount of patience and tweaks to get something out of the cheapies and cant still be served to guests because its always a bit hit and miss, plus the cost of good beans wasted into bad espressos adds up quickly. Its like buying a cheap, unreliable car with a million of complicated quirks and that uses a ton of gas.

  One suggestion is to let the fake crema machines be, mods are possible but its a lot less time consuming to refurbish an older entry model that was created to use the right pressure and has all the right filters etc.
  If its the crema one wants, be it real or fake, then Im afraid a moka like the Bialetti Brikka will create the fake crema and a better coffee underneath (not espresso but still better than the fakespresso) than pressurized filters espresso machines.

• Hi Antonio. Thanks for addition. Totally agree with most of the thoughts and that's what I trying to explain here in my review.

  But I would rather disagree with your idea about 2-3 bars in the portafilter in pump espresso makers (4-5 bars - yes, sounds realistic). Can't make an experiment to give some proofs, however, some observations can show it. 2-3 bars - it's the pressure in moka pot (the value when the emergency valve opens). Even the cheapest 15-bar espresso machine will definetly give more pressure inside the filter basket - I noticed many times, that the same coffee puck (grind level, amount of coffee, tamping, and diameter and height being equal) can be pushed by a home pump machine, while moka can't push water through it. Even Brikka.

• Hi Dmitriy, mine isnt an idea or an hunch, the pressure was measured with a portafilter pressure gauge calibrated against the pressurized basket.

  The pressurized filter(or portafilter) is engineered to give you a final flow rate that stays reasonably within the definition of espresso.
  Once the portafilter pressure gauge replicates exactly the typical brewing flow rate of the pressurized basket (or pressurized portafilter) of the machine you are testing, the measurements you will read are the brewing pressures at the puck during normal use... and they were low.

  You cant deduce pressures comparing with the moka because a moka is built to work at low pressure, and a properly maintained safety valve will not allow to build up any extra, thats the way it should be. An espresso machine instead is allowed to build up that extra, it has the OPV (or whatever version of an OPV the manufacturer provides) that opens relieving the pressure at the boiler at a much higher limit than in a moka. So, even if the group valve is set to deliver a certain pressure at the designed flow rate (it works like a tap), you can make the pump build up pressure past the group valve in the portafilter reducing the flow rate of the puck ( thats why you can go all the way to the system max pressure using a blind filter or completely chocked filter until the OPV will open returning water to the tank). But at that point you wont be using grind and tamping to fine tune your brewing, you will be using it to completely control the pressure, with the consequence that every difference in the puck will also be responsible of a change of brew pressure making everything very random.
  Imagine a beginner with no training and reference points trying to find out if the grind or the tamping is off when every tweak of them is also responsible for a different brewing pressure everytime.

• PS: for someone reading the comments and not getting the group valve discussion looking around the net I found this video, it shows a built-in type of group valve and its effect on pressure (mid-level Gaggias have a serviceable valve removable as unit instead than as parts like the builtin ones and mid-higher end use a 3way valve). Keep in mind that the old model of Gaggia Carezza of that video used non-pressurized baskets/portafilter, the "crema perfetta" disc to place in the portafilter was just for optional use, so it was engineered to work with the standard pressure.
  Nevertheless the principle of how the group valve works as pressure regulator its the same.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrB2Dr-6q9s

• A very helpful review. Got to know newer things about my Philips Saeco Poemia HD8325. I've been using it for nearly five years without any trouble. Occasional descaling kept it in great form. I opened the portafilter and cleaned it a couple of times. A few days back the portafilter gave up. The metal clip inside is coming off. Tried to fix, but failed. I also noticed that the alluminium is corroded at many places and the grooves got blackened. I think it's time to replace the plastic parts inside. While searching Amazon (Canada) I found a stainless steel portafilter made by Saeco. It says the size is 53mm. Does it fit HD8325 ? I'm scared of alluminium getting into the coffee after i saw the inside corroded. Thanks in advance.

• This one http://amzn.to/2peq0xV ? Yes, this will fit.

• Thank you for the link.

• Hi,
  One point I don't get. I have a Gaggia Carezza, pressurized filter. Instructions claims that the same filter should be used for 1 or 2 cups (just different coffee dosage is required) and no damping.
  I don't see how I can get the same results with 1 or 2 cups given that the only difference is the amount of coffee in the filter. Indeed, the flow is much faster when preparing only 1 cup...which means a "waterish" coffee..

  Thanks

• Yep, in all Gaggia and Saeco esoree makers pressurized baskets come in one size. Since it's pressurized it really doesn't metter, except for smaller portion you will get more mess inside the portafilter after brewing. And you can tamp, they just wanted to play safe and put this in the manual to avoid any blocking/any extra pressure.

  However, I don't think I undestand you question about "the same results". Could you please clarify?

• Hi
  I'm in the UK.
  In your opinion which is my best bet for daily home use:
  Gaggia Gran @£105
  Viva @£120
  Carezza @£199
  Classic 2019 @ 199

  (All Style models for price comparison)
  OR Delonghi Dedica at around £170

  Thanks
  Roger

• Sorry, that Classic price should be £399

• Hi Roger and sorry for my late reply.

  Gran = Viva.
  Carezza overpriced in my opinion.

  Classic is the best choice BUT IF you are ready to invest in good grinder and get some practice. If you plan to use preground coffee and don't want to dig deep into brewing (just get you morning espresso with minimum troubles) then Viva/Gran is an optimal choice in my opinion.

• Hello Dmitry,
  I enjoy your articles and thank you.

  I want a machine that uses ese pods or ground coffee. I have many ese pods and gave my Starbucks Barista to my daughter.

  In the past I've had a Classic Gaggia which I loved and a Saeco Super also wonderful. Both wore out and were left in another country.

  Now, I am old so want to be able to use the pods or coffee. Would like to keep price under 400$ or $500. I make cappuccinos.

  Thankyou, kris

• Thank you, Kris.

  I'm not the biggest fan of Breville, but in that case I would probably suggest their machines (BES840 or Bambino plus seems to fit the $500 limit if on sales). Just because Saeco/Gaggia for some reason stopped selling their semi-automatic machines in the States, except for Classic/Classic Pro. Which is also a good option, by the way. And even cheaper. But Classic Pro is a bit "over-qualified" to be used for pods in my opinion. And based on your previous machines, I assume, that Delonghi machines may disappoint you with slightly more flat taste (after Classic/Saeco Super/Starbucks, which is also a rebadged Saeco as far as i know).

• Machines I'm considering:

  De'Longhi ECP3220R

  I bought and returned the Delonghi EC680M Dedica. It looked used but also looked cheap.

• ECP3220 will look even cheaper if compared with EC680 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

• Hi, currently and luckily reading your tests and reviews after a lot of internet search. I am looking for a machine like Philips Saeco HD8423/19 but it is impossible for me to find a similar one. In my country, Saeco are only the full automatic machines. Do you have a recommendation or two for an alternative machine to HD8423/19?
  Thanks

• They sell it as Gaggia Viva now. The machine is the same, just rebadged.