Here at Consiglio’s we’re on a constant quest to answer the question “what is the best espresso machine?”. This week we take an in-depth look at Delonghi vs. Gaggia automatic espresso machines, what sets them apart, and what makes each of them unique.

With so many competing brands on the market (with their own unique advantages and disadvantages), since founding our blog it’s been our goal to provide as much information as possible about the manual and automatic espresso machine models and brands available.

While we’re focusing on Delonghi vs. Gaggia this week, if you’d like to learn more we recommend taking a look at some of the other articles in the series:

• Saeco vs. Delonghi Automatic Espresso Machines
• Saeco vs. Jura Automatic Espresso Machines
• Saeco vs. Gaggia Automatic Espresso Machines
• Gaggia Classic vs. Rancilio Silvia M Manual Espresso Machines
• Gaggia Classic vs. Breville Barista Express Manual Espresso Machines

Delonghi and Gaggia espresso machine reviews:

• Gaggia Brera Automatic Espresso Machine Review
• Delonghi Gran Dama 6620 Automatic Espresso Machine Review
  
  

Delonghi vs. Gaggia Automatic Espresso Machines

The Gaggia brand can be traced all the way back to the 1930’s and 40’s when founder Achille Gaggia filed his first patent for a steam-free espresso machine that replaced traditional steam-based espresso extraction with a new, highly pressurized technology that allowed for a single shot to be brewed in 15 seconds. This patent launched the modern era of espresso making technology and development for both professional and domestic markets, and by 1949 the Gaggia brand was well known in Milan, as well as across international markets.

While the Gaggia brand is most often associated with their Gaggia Classic manual espresso machine, in recent years they have become increasingly competitive in the automatic and superautomatic espresso machine market.

Delonghi, on the other hand, is a comparatively new brand, entering the espresso machine market in 1990. Despite lacking the rich, expansive history of competing brands such as Gaggia and Saeco, Delonghi still has just shy of 30 years of experience under their belt, and in that time they’ve used their design and manufacturing experience to directly address changing demands and desires in the espresso machine domestic market.

In comparing the Delonghi vs. Gaggia automatic espresso machines, we’ll be highlighting key models of each brand, offering analysis of the pros and cons for each Delonghi and Gaggia, and will be directly comparing the Delonghi GranDama 6620 vs. Gaggia Accademia and the Delonghi Perfecta 5500B vs. Gaggia Anima Black. Finally, we’ll offer our overall rating for each Delonghi and Gaggia.

You can read through the article to get the full scope of our Delonghi vs. Gaggia breakdown, or you can use the handy menu below to jump directly to a specific section.

Navigation Menu:

- Delonghi Automatic Espresso Machines
- Delonghi Automatic Espresso Machine Pros
- Delonghi Automatic Espresso Machine Cons
- Gaggia Automatic Espresso Machines
- Gaggia Automatic Espresso Machine Pros
- Gaggia Automatic Espresso Machine Cons
- Delonghi vs. Gaggia Side-By-Side
- Delonghi GranDama 6620 vs. Gaggia Accademia
- Delonghi Perfecta 5500B vs. Gaggia Anima Black
- Delonghi vs. Gaggia Automatic Espresso Machine Overall Rating

Delonghi Automatic Espresso Machines

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Delonghi Automatic Espresso Machine Pros:

• Simultaneous Double Beverages: Delonghi espresso machines allow for two espressos to be made at once, without having to repeat the grinding an extraction process. Most competing brands (namely Saeco and Gaggia) will have two dedicated beverage buttons as part of their interface - one for short espressos, the other for long. On these competing machines, to make two espresso you will push the button for the drink of choice twice - the machine will then run through two separate grinding and extraction cycles to make the drinks.
  
  Delonghi, on the other hand, has four dedicated beverages buttons - offering the option of both single and double extractions for each short and long espresso. With Delonghi, you can push the double button to make two espresso of your choosing (or one double shot), and the machine will brew it with only one grind and extraction cycle. This is not only faster and more efficient - it means that half your espresso is not sitting and getting cold while a machine runs through a second cycle.
  
  Though seemingly small, this detail makes a world of difference in the daily use and functionality of the machine, and clearly reflects the level of care and attention to detail put into design and development by Delonghi.
  
  Pro tip: Use Delonghi’s double beverage feature to make fast and easy Americanos (similar to North American size coffee) - set your cup under the dispensing spout, select the longest beverage option, and hit the double brew icon.
  
  
• Beverage Temperature: Simply put, Delonghi espresso machines make hotter espresso. Period. It’s a feature that jumped out to me the first time I ever used a Delonghi machine, and one that’s stuck with me ever since.
  
  If you’re planning on downing your single shot of espresso immediately once it’s extracted, this might not be too big of a concern for you - but it clearly makes a world of difference for longer espresso beverages, Americanos, cappuccinos and lattes.
  
  
• Beverage Strength: Delonghi’s range of machines have been designed and built with the capacity to make espresso beverages stronger than any competing brand available on the domestic market. While most brands give the option of customizing beverage strength, the upper end of their strength options is limited by their physical capacity. While competing brands top out at 10 grams of ground espresso per extraction (11.5 grams for the Gaggia Anima line), Delonghi tops out at 16 grams - an increase of 60% over most models, and 39.5% over the Gaggia Anima Black, Anima Deluxe and Anima Prestige.
  
  
• Number of Grinder Settings: While Gaggia machines offer an integrated grinder with 5 adjustment settings, Delonghi’s new silent integrated grinders offer 13, allowing for better precision and control.
  
  
• Warranty: Delonghi stands head and shoulders above competing brands when it comes to the manufacturer’s warranty offered on their machines - while the industry standard across competing brands like Saeco, Gaggia, Breville and Jura is 1 year, Delonghi doubles that and confidently stands behind the quality and design of their espresso machines for 2 years.
  
  
• Value: Though both Saeco and Gaggia offer espresso machines available at an ultimately lower price point than what you’ll find with Delonghi, where Delonghi stands out is the price-point at which they start to offer automated and OTC milk frothing technology - with Delonghi, you’ll get more technology and automation lower on the price point scale than you will with competing brands.
  
  
• Aesthetic: Delonghi machines are some of the best looking out there, across their entire range of models. While both Gaggia and Saeco are fond of a slightly-dated, rounder look, Delonghi uses sleek lines, sharp edges, and contrast to create a modern aesthetic comparable to premium and designer brands.

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Delonghi Automatic Espresso Machine Cons:

• Size: Delonghi sadly does not offer a super-compact or space-efficient espresso machine, and while their models aren’t overly large (they’ll fit between countertops and overhanging cupboards in most living spaces), it’s best to compare the space you have with Delonghi’s dimensions before ordering to prevent disappointment or frustration down the line.
  
  
• Confusing Model Naming System: Delonghi’s naming system for their machines is not intuitive, and can be cumbersome when trying to compare different machines and models. While Gaggia uses a simple formula of model line+style to compare their machines (ex. The Anima Black, Anima Deluxe and Anima Prestige all share the same model line, but with different milk frothing options), Delonghi uses a more complicated system.
  
  Thankfully, unless you are working with these machines (or writing about them), there’s an easy solution: if you’re having trouble comparing and researching the Delonghi machines, send us an email (info@consiglioskitchenware.com), or give us a call - knowing and navigating the machines is our job, and we’d be happy to give you a hand.

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Gaggia Automatic Espresso Machines

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Gaggia Automatic Espresso Machine Pros:

• Compact Size Options: Gaggia offers several options for smaller, compact machines designed to fit into a wide range of living spaces without sacrificing quality or functionality - the perfect example being the Gaggia Brera: it manages to be one of the smallest automatic espresso machines available on the market, while still making a great espresso and having a sleek aesthetic.
  
  
• Successor to many popular Saeco models: It’s a little known fact that despite competing against each other in the domestic espresso machine market, Saeco actually owns the Gaggia brand - and has for almost 20 years. In 1999, Saeco bought out the Gaggia brand; in turn, Saeco was bought by Philips in 2009. This means that the Gaggia line is privy to all the expertise, design and development Saeco has developed.
  
  Because of this, Gaggia has been able to upgrade and re-release older retired Saeco models that had previously dominated the espresso machine domestic market - the Gaggia Anima line is the upgraded Saeco Incanto line, the Velasca Prestige is the upgraded Saeco Intelia Deluxe Cappuccino, and the Gaggia Babila is the upgraded Saeco Exprelia Evo.
• Value: With budget conscious consumers in mind, Gaggia has designed several of their machines to be highly competitive at lower price points, and offers several espresso machines under $1000 - the Gaggia Brera specifically shines at this value, and has been one of the most sought after machines in this price range for years.

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Gaggia Automatic Espresso Machine Cons:

• Beverage Strength and Temperature: Gaggia espresso machines are reliable, well made, and make a great espresso - that said, when compared against the Delonghi line, there’s no hiding the fact that Delonghi espresso machines make a stronger, hotter beverage. Depending on your preferences, this may or may-not be a factor for you, but if you highly value a strong piping hot espresso, a Gaggia machine might not be what you’re looking for.
  
  
• Warranty: Gaggia espresso machines carry a one year manufacturer's warranty - an industry standard across brands, unless you’re comparing them again Delonghi. Gaggia, Saeco and Jura all offer a one year warranty on their machines, but in directly comparing Delonghi vs. Gaggia, Delonghi’s 2 year warranty definitely comes out on top.

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Delonghi vs. Gaggia Automatic Espresso Machines Side-by-Side

Delonghi GranDama 6620 vs. Gaggia Accademia

Comparing the Delonghi GranDama 6620 and the Gaggia Accademia side-by-side, it’s easy to the similarities in their base technical specs and features - both are Italian made, offer a stainless steel housing, have automatic milk frothing capabilities, and intuitive digital interfaces. These similarities make the GranDama and Academia perfect examples of where brand-based design differences really shine: while the Accademia benefits from having both automatic and manual milk frothing systems, the GranDama offers a greater overall value, creates a stronger, hotter espresso, and offers a 2 year warranty over Gaggia’s 1 year warranty.

While both the Delonghi GranDama 6620 and the Gaggia Accademia are both Italian-made superautomatic espresso machines with OTC capabilities and stainless steel housings, Delonghi is able to offer stronger, hotter espresso drinks with twice the warranty at a lower price point.

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Delonghi Perfecta 5500B vs. Gaggia Anima Black

Comparing the Delonghi Perfecta 5500.B and Gaggia Anima Black side-by-side exemplifies the value offered by Delonghi - though both machines are offered at a similar price point, the Perfecta offers one touch automatic milk frothing technology with a removable milk container and integrated frother cleaning system AND a double boiler while the Anima black offers a standard manual pannarello frother.

Again, Delonghi offers a stronger, hotter espresso - where it falls short, however, is it’s size. Though it can’t compete in technical specs, the Anima Black is a smaller, more compact espresso machine, making it an alluring option for space-conscious consumers.

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Delonghi vs. Gaggia Espresso Machine Overall Rating