Gaggia 11400 Achille Lever-Operated Espresso Machine
by Gaggia
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Our Price: $774.70
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Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: GaggiaBrand: Gaggia
Model: 11400.00
Color: Stainless Steel
Product features:
- Lever-operated espresso machine in cylindrical, stainless-steel housing
- Large-capacity stainless-steel boiler with heat exchanger and pressure control
- 28-ounce removable water tank; chrome-plated brass portafilter
- Includes double- and single-shot/ESE filter baskets; Turbo frothing wand
- Measures 17-4/5 by 9-2/3 by 21-4/5 inches; 1-year warranty
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Gaggia 11400 Achille Lever-Operated Espresso Machine
Customer Review: Wonderful Espresso and Countertop Irrigation
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this lever machine when my semi-automatic heat exchanger (A Livia 90) had to be sent back for repairs (the plastic water basin had cracked over time and needed replacing) -- I couldn't bear to be without espresso and always have been fascinated with lever machines. The Achille had gotten a good review on an espresso review website for the quality of its shots, but at the same time, some owners were complaining about leaks. I felt I could trust to purchase the machine through Amazon, since Amazon has excellent customer service.
The Achille produces wonderful espresso -- superior in some ways to my Livia. The shots have a pleasant sweetness to them, and the temperature profile of the machine is quite stable -- no sour or bitter shots here, assuming I let it warm up for about a half hour before use.
I did notice that shot quality degraded considerably if I did not tamp the grinds well. But within two weeks of ownership the Achille began leaking over my countertop when not in use. In addition, the knob to the steam wand broke soon thereafter. When I took it off to examine it, it was a plastic knob that did not have a metal sleeve inside -- when closing the steam wand firmly, the plastic inside the knob deformed, causing the knob to no longer function.
Now, there is a certain charm to the vision of making a latte with a pair of pliers while keeping the espresso machine inside a plastic bucket, but I realized that while the Achille produced wonderful shots of espresso, there are several engineering problems with the design of the machine and feared what else might go wrong. Also, reviews here mentioned that the company's customer service for repairs was difficult to nagivate.
My guess is that Gaggia under-engineered certain parts to save money and still be able to afford to manufacture the wonderful aesthetic design. It remains one of the most interesting looking espresso machines I have seen.
I am glad I purchased it from Amazon, as I am now in the process of returning it. I think I will look for a machine that is more reliable. To have it leak dramatically within two weeks of use, at about 6-12 shots per day, seems unreasonable.
It may be the case that by tamping firmly the machine was attempting to pull too much pressure into the shot, and thus eventually leaked, but if that is the case, and one is supposed to only tamp very lightly, I would say this machine produces quite poor quality espresso and is not worth its price. It seems a manufacturer should include some kind of over pressure valve to handle use cases like that. The user manual did not include guidance on the proper tamping pressure (e.g. 30lbs or such).
My older Breville heat exchanger machine, which I have since given to a friend, produced better shots than the lightly tamped shots from the Achille.
Description of Gaggia 11400 Achille Lever-Operated Espresso Machine
The designers at Gaggia know a good thing when they see it. Just one look at this lever operated espresso machine and you'll journey back to the golden age of espresso, when Gaggia founder Achille Gaggia was king. This vintage-looking espresso machine is a real throwback, and with its cylindrical body, stainless steel housing, and domed water reservoir, the Achille is sure to grab your attention. To operate the Achille, simply raise the lever on the front of the machine and a piston inside the group is raised, allowing water under pressure to infuse the coffee in the filter holder. When you lower the lever, the pressure causes the piston to force water through the coffee and into your cup. And with the Achille's easy-to-use Turbo frothing wand, your friends will not only be impressed with your old-world brewing skills, but also with the decadent, creamy froth you are able to create. When you have a Gaggia Achille on your counter, it makes a bold statement: you are serious about making coffee. The Gaggia Achille comes with both single and double shot filter baskets, as well as a tamper.Espresso Machines
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