Others say...

"Gaggia 35008 Appears to be a good machine"
Arrived quickly, in good condition, and was exactly as advertised.
I had used a steam pressure espresso machine for several years and was hoping that a pump machine would be as much of an improvement as I had been told.
It certainly is.
I have been using it at least once daily for about a month and I'm quite happy with it. The more you use it the better you get but I was making MUCH better espresso (compared to my steam machine) with the first try. I have no need for the steam wand, have not used it so cannot report on it.
I have noticed a very few bad reviews of this machine. If you are looking for a machine you stick coffee in, push a button and walk away expecting to come back in a few minutes to find a pot, or cup, of coffee waiting, then you need a coffee machine and not an espresso machine.
It's a bit like making a tasty snack or treat. You MAKE it. You don't wait for it to be made for you.
The machine does make a little noise when it's pumping but not much. Now if you want to make espresso without the person in the next room knowing, then you need the stealth version (there is no "stealth version", it's a joke son, I say a joke). They'll smell it anyway and show up for their share sooooo...........
It looks fine to me but how it looks is not important to me. I got it to make good espresso, not impress guests with how great it looks sitting on the counter. My wife likes it's looks though and I guess that IS important.
I'm glad I got it.



"Melted knob but still good"
I still will recommend this product even though the plastic frothing knob melted the first time I used it. Yes, I followed their directions. Be warned to make sure the frothing knob turns freely before powering up the first time since the brass stem gets VERY HOT and can melt the knob. My knob turned and turned but I didnt know it was turning nothing since it melted and I thought the frother was broken. This is a design flaw since a more heat-resistent plastic should have been used. Gaggia reps said they will send a new one so I hope they keep their word. Other than that noise is not a big deal since it lasts about 20 seconds and I don't hear it when I am drinking the coffee. ;) Froth is nice too after you figure the best technique.

"Don't buy it"
This machine has terrible quality control. The distributor nozzles (at the bottom of the metal cup) are not metal - they're plastic, AND the plastic was not properly formed from the factory, so I had to create openings with a hot screwdriver to allow both nozzles to work.

Two brews later, it stops producing at all. The pump buzzes, but nothing comes out. Not good, as in USELESS.

Brewing good coffee is something I expect from Gaggia. In this case, they do not deliver.

Now let's see how good Amazon's return policy is.

"noisy gaggia carezza "
best gaggia for the money. but the drip tray is so shallow it's a joke. also, only inconsiderate people would use this machine while others are sleeping; it's pretty loud, especially at first. i like my saeco better but it's another $100-150. it's quieter and usually produces thicker crema with its nifty pressurized group. i say "usually" because if you get the grind right, the gaggia will match the saeco. otherwise, it won't. but if $200 is your limit, you can match anyone else's espresso if you get a decent burr mill. you can spend more, but the $60 cuisinart mill works fine for me with the saeco. and if you have the patience, a programmable blade mill (so you can keep track of the time) will work with either. but it's not nearly as foolproof as a good burr mill.

"What a reliable machine this is!"
I have had this for 2 years now, still works every bit as good as the day I bought it. It does take a while to figure it out. Most important thing is the grinder and bean quality. Fabulous crema, and awesome lattes.

Be sure to get a good coffee burr grinder otherwise this will not perform at the best level. Also use good coffee beans, (make sure they are not oily, preferably medium roast, organic). I will reccommend Breville Icon Burr grinder, it works like a charm with this. Best ever espresso pulls.

The steam milk frother can get stuck, needs occasional cleaning. Just remove the wand, clean it, and put it back. Works great!