GAGGIA ANIMA PRESTIGE REVIEW: AN HONEST TAKE ON A CLASSIC

The famed Italian commercial espresso machine brand brings it home with the Gaggia Anima Prestige.

Super-automatic espresso machines really run the gamut when it comes to quality. So if you’re shopping for your first one, a good first step is to consider a trusted Italian brand like Gaggia. They know espresso inside and out. 

The Gaggia Anima Prestige is a mid-level model offering many functions in a small package, from fully customizable espresso drinks to an automatic milk frother. It’s one of the most affordable machines I’ve tested that can deliver a cappuccino at the touch of a button.

If that sounds like what you’re looking for, keep reading this review of the Gaggia Anima Prestige. I’ll detail my experience to help you decide if it’s the right option for you.

The Full Gaggia Anima Prestige Review

In North America, Gaggia is likely best known for everyone’s favorite entry-level prosumer semi-automatic, the Gaggia Classic Pro. But in fact, the majority of their home line is made up of super-automatic espresso machines like this one, the Gaggia Anima Prestige. 

This is excellent news for consumers because it takes a brand with specialty expertise to make super-automatic espresso machines. It’s not just about understanding espresso and milk-based drinks. You also need to add a quality grinder and the technology to link the systems. Gaggia has this figured out (1).

The Anima series includes three machines, with the milk frothing system as the only difference between them. The base model Anima uses an automatic frothing wand; the mid-level Deluxe model uses a cappuccinatore system; and the top-of-the-line Prestige, which I’m reviewing today, has a detachable milk carafe.

How We Rated It

• Brewing System
• Versatility & Coffee Quality
• Design
• Cleaning and Maintenance
• Value for Money

3.9

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How Does It Work?

The Gaggia Anima Prestige is a bean-to-cup fully automatic coffee machine, which means that it includes a built-in coffee grinder and a system to brew espresso. As the name implies, all you need to do is add coffee beans to the bean hopper. The Anima does the rest of the work to turn those beans into a delicious cup of coffee. 

First Up: The Grinder

The airtight seal on the bean hopper lid is a nice feature increasingly seen on well-made super automatic espresso machines. It seals in the flavors and aromas of the beans, so you can add 8 ounces of whole bean coffee at once without worrying about it going stale – at least not within a reasonable timeframe. I’d still recommend adding no more than you plan to drink in a week or two.

The Gaggia Anima Prestige has a ceramic burr grinder with conical burrs and five grind settings (2). The settings are well chosen to be in the correct range for a classic espresso, but honestly, I was a little disappointed with the limited grind precision. it would be nice to see a few more grind size adjustments here for when you want to dial in more unusual coffee beans. For example, the always-popular Breville Barista Touch has 30 settings.

If you prefer to use a different grinder or you want to use pre-ground coffee beans on occasion – for an occasional decaf or flavored brew, perhaps – the Anima Prestige is equipped with a ground coffee bypass doser. This skips the coffee grinding step and goes straight to brewing.

In either case, the coffee grounds are guided straight to the brew head. There is no need for you to dose or tamp. 

Next Steps: Brewing

The first step inside the coffee maker is akin to pre-infusion. The coffee grinds are showered with water, and then there is a slight pause before pressurized extraction begins. This settles the coffee into a more uniform puck to guarantee an even extraction and delicious brew, and it’s the sort of quality feature that a lesser brand would overlook (3).

The Gaggia Anima uses the patented Optiaroma brewing system found on many Gaggia espresso machines, which gives you a fair amount of control over the strength of your espresso. You can choose between five settings, which adjust the single-shot dose between 6.5 and 11 grams. 

I was pretty impressed with the range of dose options, particularly as someone who prefers a stronger shot. For comparison, an average Nespresso capsule has only 5 grams of coffee, and even Jura machines only offer 6 to 10-gram doses for single shots.

Once you’ve been espresso brewing for a while, the unique Gaggia Adapting System learns your preferences and automatically adjusts the grind cycle to ensure you always get a perfect dose.

Making Drinks And Frothing Milk

The Gaggia Anima Prestige comes pre-programmed with four espresso drinks, all available at the touch of a button: Espresso, Lungo, Cappuccino, and Latte Macchiato. The other two drinks (Frothed Milk and Hot Water) require an extra step via the drinks menu.

The milk frothing system distinguishes the Prestige from the rest of the Anima line. It uses an automatic milk frother with a removable milk carafe, making this the most convenient of the three models for lovers of milk-based coffee drinks. 

With the Base model, you need to froth the milk manually using the Pannarello wand, and the Deluxe model uses a cappuccinatore system. As a result, neither can deliver milky drinks at the touch of a button. 

Keep in mind that the carafe system is less convenient if you live in a household where everyone likes different types of milk in their coffee. If you love 2% dairy and your spouse prefers oat milk, it might make more sense to opt for the Deluxe or Base model (4).

I did note one possible inconvenience, which is that the hot water tap can only be added when the milk carafe is not in place. They occupy the same plumbing. This is not a big deal if no one using the espresso maker wants an Americano, or if everyone does, but it’s a bit of a hassle if you’re regularly swapping back and forth.

What’s On The Menu: Drink Options And Coffee Flavor

The Gaggia Anima Prestige super-automatic espresso machine makes the aforementioned four programmed specialty beverages. But that is far from the limit of its versatility because you can completely customize each one. 

Using the buttons coupled with the LED display on the front of the machine, you can adjust the coffee strength (between 5 levels), the coffee volume, the brew temperature settings (from 160 – 185 °F), and the milk texture and volume. If you want to brew a double shot, you need only hit the button twice in a row, and it will automatically prepare back-to-back drinks.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll immediately clock that brew temperature range as being well below the 195 to 205 °F recommended for ideal extraction. Don’t worry. In my experience, this seemed to refer to the temperature as the coffee exits the machine – not the actual temperature of the water used for brewing.

The ability to program a drink and trust that it will be made the same way every time is what makes super-automatic coffee machines so appealing (5).

So how do the drinks taste?

Super-automatic machines are known for their convenience more than their coffee quality, and I won’t claim that the Gaggia Anima Prestige automatic coffee machine is any different. 

The shots I pulled were nicely sweet and well-balanced with a notable lingering crema layer. But they weren’t on par with what a skilled barista could make using a semi-automatic espresso machine at the same price. 

That’s because you’re paying to avoid becoming a skilled barista. Brewing espresso with a semi-automatic coffee machine takes practice. You need to dial in the grind, learn how to distribute appropriately, tamp the puck, and master dosing and shot timing. And if you want a milky drink, you also need to learn how to steam milk. In short, it leaves a lot of room for human error.

The Gaggia Anima Prestige can’t make the greatest espresso you’ve ever tasted, but it will never disappoint you as long as you can push a button. The same holds true for the milk-based drinks. In fact, I’d say they drifted even further from what you could expect in a specialty coffee shop, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t delicious.

The cappuccino was delightfully frothy and had a good kick of coffee flavor but lacked the smooth steamed milk layer of the real deal. The latte macchiato was noticeably creamier than the cappuccino, which I was happy to see as many super-automatics simply deliver the same milk texture for every drink. But it definitely wasn’t the sort of silky microfoam you can make with a professional steam wand.

How Big Is The Gaggia Anima Prestige?

The Gaggia Anima Prestige’s most obvious design feature is its small size, particularly in width. The Anima is a compact machine requiring little counter space, measuring just 8.8 inches wide by 16.9 inches deep. With a height of 13.4 inches, it easily slides under upper cupboards. Anyone with a small kitchen or office will undoubtedly appreciate these dimensions. 

It is rare to find any espresso machine this small, let alone bean to cup machine with a built-in grinder and auto frother.

Despite its compact frame, the Gaggia Anima Prestige has a significantly larger capacity than the entry-level Gaggia Brera. The water reservoir holds 60 ounces of water, the bean hopper holds a half-pound of coffee beans, and the milk carafe measures 17 ounces. The drip tray is equally substantial, holding up to 24 ounces of liquid.

It also boasts an impressively large gap between the coffee spouts and the drip tray. With 6 inches of clearance, you can fit tall travel mugs or even a small thermos if you like your espresso drinks on the go. This is especially noteworthy given that the machine itself is under 14 inches tall.

Other Design Features: Aesthetics And Usability

Aesthetically, the Gaggia’s Anima Prestige espresso machine is made to resemble the brand’s top-end model, the Gaggia Accademia. It features a stainless steel front panel and chrome accents with a classy appeal. It looks more expensive than it is, which is always better than the alternative! 

I would prefer to see the entire case made from stainless steel, as with the Brera. This would inevitably increase upfront costs versus the current plastic back and sides, but it would also add to the longevity of the espresso maker.

The soft rectangular buttons are pleasingly tactile, a nice change from the ubiquitous touchscreen. As much as touch screens provide a modern look, sometimes it is nice to push a button that feels like a button. And don’t even get me started about trying to use a touchscreen when your hands are wet. An attractive blue LED screen displays programming options and cleaning alerts.

Cleaning And Maintenance Needs

Ease of cleaning is a big selling point of super-automatic espresso machines. Users of these machines value convenience, and manufacturers are wise enough to note that that applies to cleaning and maintenance as much as to grinding, brewing, and frothing.

The LED screen of the Gaggia Anima Prestige alerts you when any cleaning or upkeep is required.

That includes when you need to refill the water reservoir or top up the bean hopper, when you need to clean the milk carafe or empty the coffee grinds dregs drawer, and on rare occasions when the machine needs descaling. The drip tray has an analog alert system, using a small float to let you know when it is full. 

Thanks to this model’s large capacity, none of these needs to be done too often. The water reservoir, dregs drawer, and bean hopper are all good for several days at a time for average users. I’d empty the drip tray daily, though, just to avoid a spill.

The cleaning cycles themselves are also automated. The coffee system runs an automatic cleaning cycle every time the machine is turned on and off, a sanitary feature that also ensures a fresh-tasting brew each time. At the press of a button, you can sterilize the milk system with a jet of hot steam after each use, and the integrated milk carafe is dishwasher safe. 

The brew group is easily removable, and it’s recommended you take it off and give it a quick rinse with water weekly. Many brands, such as Jura, used a fixed brew group which mandates running a full cycle with expensive cleaning tablets. I much prefer the Anima’s removable group, which saves time and money. 

Descaling isn’t fully automated, but it’s needed only rarely, especially if you’re using filtered water (which I recommend). The Anima alerts you when it’s time to descale, and prompts on the screen will walk you through each step.

How long do Gaggia machines last?

The Gaggia Anima comes with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty. In my experience, super-automatic machines of this quality and price tend to have a 5 to 10-year lifespan, especially if you’re diligent with maintenance. I’d put Gaggia machines in the upper end of that range, simply due to the brand’s expertise.

Is The Gaggia Anima Prestige Worth Its Price?

Buying a fully automatic espresso machine necessarily means a relatively large outflow of cash, but at around $850, the Anima Prestige is decidedly reasonable. Remember that you’re paying for a quality espresso machine AND a grinder. 

If you’re set on a one-touch machine, few others on the market at this price range offer the same capacity, degree of programmability, and ease of use. And because Gaggia is such a well-respected and longstanding Italian brand, you can trust that its affordability has nothing to do with low quality.

That said, a lot of what you’re paying for in this particular model is the detachable milk carafe and automatic milk froth. If you’re willing to operate a steam wand or cappuccinatore – or if you rarely make milky drinks – the Anima or Anima Deluxe models offer better value. 

The Base model, for example, is about 60% of the cost of the Prestige, and it still offers the same grinder, customizable drink options, build quality, and delicious espresso. The only difference is that you’ll have to steam milk and mix it with the espresso by yourself.

Is Gaggia better than Jura?

I get this question a lot, and of course, the exact answer depends on the models you are comparing. In general, I’ve found that Jura machines are of higher quality and deliver better drinks. The trade-off is that they are substantially more expensive. Even the cheapest Jura costs more than the Anima Prestige, and the prices only skyrocket from there.

Here’s a look at how this Gaggia machine compares to other super-automatics in a similar range:

	Reviewed item
Manufacturer	Gaggia	Jura	Breville	DeLonghi	Philips
Model	Anima Prestige	E8	Barista Pro	Magnifica ESAM3300	EP4347/94
Product category	Super Automatic Espresso Machine	Super Automatic Espresso Machine	Super Automatic Espresso Machine	Super Automatic Espresso Machine	Super Automatic Espresso Machine
Housing material	Plastic	Plastic	Metal and Plastic	Stainless Steel	Plastic
Color options	Stainless Steel	Chrome, Piano Black, Piano White	Black Stainless Steel, Black Truffle, Brushed Stainless Steel, Damson Blue, Oyster Shell, Royal Champagne, Sea Salt, Smoked Hickory	Stainless Steel	Black
User interface	LCD Display	TFT color display	Backlit digital display	Rotary control and buttons	Color Touch Display
Bean hopper capacity	8.8 oz	10 oz	8.1 oz	8.8 oz	10 oz
Grinder	Ceramic flat burr grinder	Stainless steel conical burr grinder	Stainless steel conical burr grinder	Stainless steel conical burr grinder	Ceramic burr grinder
Grind Adjustment Levels	5	6	30	13	12
Pump Pressure	15 bar	15 bar	15 bar	15 bar	15 bar
Boiler design	Thermoblock	No	Thermoblock	Thermoblock	Thermoblock
Warm up time	45s	Yes	20s	45s	1:26
Water tank size	60 fl oz	64.2 fl oz	67.6 fl oz	60.9 fl oz	60 fl oz
Milk frothing system	Integrated milk carafe	Cappuccinatore	Steam wand	Steam wand	LatteGo
Number of cups	7	8	8	7	7
Brews with	Coffee beans and pre-ground coffee	Ground coffee	Coffee beans	Coffee beans and pre-ground coffee	Coffee beans
Specialty drinks	6	17	2	1	8
Hot Water Function	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Coffee Temperature Adjustments	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Programmable	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dimensions	13.4 x 8.7 x 17.0 inches	13.8 x 11.0 x 17.6 in	16.0 x 13.9 x 13.5 inches	14.4 x 11.0 x 15.3 inches	9.5 x 17.7 x 14.5 inches
Customer review	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5
Warranty	1 year	2 years	2 years	2 years	2 years
Price	No products found.	$2099.00	$849.95	No products found.	$999.00
	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE	CHECK PRICE

Don’t Buy the Gaggia Anima Prestige If…

• You don’t want a super-automatic: If you already have a grinder or prefer the more hands-on experience of operating a semi-automatic or automatic machine, there are plenty of good espresso machines to consider.
  
  Sticking with the Gaggia brand, check out the Gaggia Classic Pro for a longtime favorite entry-level prosumer semi-automatic that will save you some cash and deliver cafe-quality shots of espresso. Or consider the Rancilio Silvia, which is closer in price to the Anima and is known for its excellent build quality and powerful steam wand.

• You don’t need a one-touch machine: If you don’t mind doing leg work between pulling a shot and frothing milk, you’ll be interested in my Gaggia Brera espresso machine review. This less expensive model is a bit lower capacity than the Anima and offers fewer options for customization, but its all-stainless-steel build is a big selling point.

• You want something more premium: If money is no object, Jura is the brand. These sleek-looking Swiss-made models don’t come cheap, but they are a cut above in quality and technology. For a compact model similar in size to the Anima, the Jura ENA 8 espresso machine is worth considering. You can also read my reviews of the Jura S8 or the Jura E6 if you want a higher-end super-automatic.

The Verdict

You’ll have a hard time beating the Gaggia Anima Prestige if you’re in the market for a one-touch cappuccino machine with an affordable price tag. Its compact footprint and reasonable cost make this one of the most accessible bean-to-cup espresso machines. And because Gaggia makes it, you can trust that they haven’t skimped on the build or the espresso quality.

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