Product · Gaggia
Gaggia Brera: stainless front, cup warmer, 1.2 L
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The Gaggia Brera (RI9305/11) is for someone who wants a compact, metal-fronted bean-to-cup machine for espresso and the occasional milk drink, and who values a classic Italian name over a long feature list. What distinguishes it in this group is the stainless steel exterior combined with a cup warmer, a feature usually seen on manual espresso machines rather than automatics.
- Wand type
- Milk frother (type not stated)
- Grinder
- Not stated
- Drinks
- Not stated
- Water tank
- 1.2 L
- Two cups at once
- Not stated
In its favour
- The stainless steel finish and 15 bar pressure are listed by Gaggia.
- A cup warmer and water filter are included as listed features.
- At 26 cm wide and 33 cm high it fits under most wall cupboards.
Good to know
- The listing gives very little detail on the frother, grinder or drinks menu.
- The 1.2 L tank is small, so expect to refill often with daily milk drinks.
Our take
A sparse listing, read carefully
Amazon's listing for the Brera is unusually thin. The only bullet gives the water tank capacity as 1.2 litres, and the rest comes from the specification table. That table describes a fully automatic espresso machine with button controls, a 15 bar pump, 1400 watts of power and whole bean input, plus a ground coffee compartment listed among the included components.
Several things buyers usually check are missing: the number of drinks, the grinder type and settings, and whether two cups can be made at once. If any of those matter to you, confirm them with Gaggia before ordering.
Milk frother and cup warmer
A milk frother is listed, but its type is not described. On a machine of this layout that typically means a wand you hold a jug under, so expect to froth milk yourself rather than press a cappuccino button. The cup warmer on top keeps espresso cups warm, which helps a small shot hold its temperature.
A water filter is also listed as a special feature, which should help in hard water areas.
Size, weight and build
The machine measures 43 cm deep, 26 cm wide and 33 cm high, which makes it one of the lowest bean-to-cup machines in its group and an easy fit under wall cupboards. It weighs 8.2 kg. The exterior finish and material are listed as stainless steel, and the spec table marks it as not dishwasher safe.
The small tank in daily use
A 1.2 litre tank is on the small side. For one person drinking espresso, that is fine. For a household making long coffees and americanos, refills will be a daily task, and possibly more than once a day.
Against the Anima and Magnifica S
Within the Gaggia range, the Anima is also fully automatic but has a larger 1.8 litre tank. The De'Longhi Magnifica S offers a 13 setting grinder, a manual frother and two cups at once, with a 1.8 litre tank. The Beko CaffeExperto goes further with a 2 litre tank and its own cup warmer. The Brera wins mainly on its low height and metal front.
Verdict
Buy the Gaggia Brera if you want a compact, stainless-fronted machine for espresso with hand-frothed milk and do not need a long menu. If you want a bigger tank in the same family, the Gaggia Anima is the obvious step, and if stated grind control and two cups at once matter, the De'Longhi Magnifica S is the safer choice.
Compared with alternatives in: Best bean-to-cup machines with a steam wand, Gaggia coffee machines compared: Espresso Evolution, Deluxe, Brera and Anima
Amazon listing title: Gaggia Brera Fully Automatic Bean to Cup Espresso Coffee Machine and Cappuccino Maker, Silver and Black