Gaggia Babila Review – Is This Espresso Machine Any Good?

Gaggia Babila Review – Ratings & Top Features

Who Should Buy The Gaggia Babila Espresso Machine?

Any home coffee enthusiast who wants convenience in their espresso machines while still being able to customize certain elements would love the Gaggia Babila.

I suggest it for business owners wanting to install one in a small office or waiting room.

Why I Decided To Review The Gaggia Babila

As I briefly mentioned above, I got a taste of the Babila while on a business trip. My AirBnB had this installed in the kitchen, and I loved it.

I wanted to put the Babila through its paces to see if it could live up to other espresso machines under $2000 that I've tried. Once I got home, I just had to review it myself.

What’s It Like To Live With The Gaggia Babila Coffee Maker

What’s In The Box?

Much like most automatic machines, the Gaggia Babila arrives in a box within a box surrounded by plenty of foam.

At a hefty 29.6 pounds, I recommend getting really friendly with your delivery person or having someone around to help you unpack this super-automatic machine.

It is a stunning and sleek model, but taller than other machines I have had in the past at 14.7 inches. It will still fit under most kitchen cupboards, but worth keeping in mind.

There is no cup warming tray to worry about, but you will need room to open the two hinge doors to access the bean hopper and water filter.

Inside the box, besides the machine itself, you will also find the following accessories:

Set up was incredibly easy, thanks to the onscreen instructions.

There are four control buttons, two select and go back buttons on the left of the screen and an aroma strength/up arrow button, and a menu/down arrow button on the right.

These felt satisfying to push, and the instructions were easy.

Once I had filled the tank with the filter and water, set the water hardness, gone through the rinse sequences, and done minor things like adjusting the brightness and turning off button sounds, I was ready to go.

Pulling My First Espresso Shot

Every coffee machine I test has to go through the inaugural first espresso - let’s break down how the Babila handled it.

Like many a super-automatic espresso machine, I only had to press two buttons to get a freshly ground and pre-infused espresso.

I decided not to adjust any of the settings and just see how the standard ones fared.

The first shot was more of a practice one as it was cloudy and watery, but this changed on the second one thanks to the Gaggia adapting system.

The second shot was much better.

The color was beautiful, and there was a lovely frothy crema on top.

The ceramic burr grinder really made a difference when it came to maintaining the bold flavor of my beans. Overall, a very decent second try.

First Time Frothing Milk

Once I had my second run down, it was time to test how the Babila would fare while making an espresso macchiato.

I was most curious to try the automatic milk frother and milk carafe system.

As any of my friends will tell you, I love a milk-based drink - especially if it's sweet. However, I am cursed to be lactose intolerant, so I tried it with lactose-free milk.

All I had to do was select the option from the drinks menu, and it was raring to go.

The Babila ended up making an extremely convincing cappuccino. I love that it auto-froths at the touch of a button without me having to worry about extra parts or tubes.

I also love that I can remove the front to make room for travel cups or larger mugs - no more futzing around while trying to get out the door.

I also tried the manual steam wand and was impressed by how frothy the milk foam was. I would not call the foam competition-level, but you can easily practice your rosettas and swans.

How Much Control Do You Have Over The Machine?

For a super-automatic coffee machine, the Babila lets you control a surprising amount of elements. These include:

And more!

This level of detail and customization is impressive for a super-automatic espresso machine, and I love the range of drink presets.

How Does It Handle Different Roasts?

Now that we have established that the Babila makes great custom espresso and milk-based beverages, it is time to get down to brass tacks.

I would suggest only using medium roast beans with little to no surface oil when it comes to the Babila.

This is because the oil can get caught in the ceramic burrs and cause damage.

The ceramic burrs are vital for helping your grounds stay cool and retain their aroma while grinding - you do not want to mess them up.[2]

This means no darker roasts, lighter roasts, or flavored coffee beans with lots of surface oil.

Some medium roasts with minimal surface oil I used in my tests are Lavazza’s Super Crema Whole Bean Blend and Filicori’s Forte Arabic and Robusta Blend.

Look, Feel, and Size Of The Machine

The Gaggia Babila has a sleek brushed silver design and lovely smooth edges. It is not as flashy as something like the Quick Mill Andreja, but it still makes a statement.

I do wish it were available in more colors, but that is not the biggest dealbreaker for me.

At 14.2 x 9.7 x 16.6 inches in dimensions, it is the smallest of the Gaggia machines but is still quite tall.

Because of the slick two-door system to access these elements, there is no cup warmer with the Babila.

I have heard some complaints about this, but you can easily heat your cup in the microwave or do a preemptive flush with hot water to achieve the same effect.

The front of the machine is compact and dominated by the buttons and interface system.

The aesthetic of the control system and digital screen have a Marmite effect on people - some love the vintage vibes while others yearn for a more modern look.

I love its style but acknowledge that it is not always easy to pair with kitchen decor.

Like other home coffee machines, this hefty beast comes in at 29.6 pounds - make sure you have someone with you when moving it around.

What Drinks Can It Make?

The Babila machine produces a range of eleven total drinks to choose from. Five of these options are one touch, while the other six are available on the drinks menu.

Some can be made doubles for simultaneous brewing or crafting double-shot coffees on sleepy mornings.

The drinks you can craft are:

I love that you can customize each drink, so making coffee is even easier next time.

Making longer coffees is also so simple thanks to the adjustable height and removable front - no more juggling shot glasses.

Overall, I'm a big fan of how easy and customizable it all is - I highly recommend doing an experiment or two on your own alongside your regular coffee.

How Easy Is It To Use?

This machine is very easy to use even with very little practice making coffee as a barista. The user manual is helpful, as are the clear on-screen prompts.

The settings to get creative can be a bit fiddly but are overall very simple and clear. I highly recommend it even to those just beginning their coffee-making journey.

How Long Does It Take? (From Heat Up To First Sip)

As the Babila uses a dual boiler, you may have to wait a little extra time for it to properly warm up, depending on what temperature you had it set to.

All in all, it took only a few minutes to heat up and then only a few minutes for the drink to finish. 

Exactly how long it takes in total depends on what drinks you are making as well as how many.

Does It Have A Water Filtration System?

The Gaggia Babila makes good use of an AquaClean water filter system that gets to work as soon as it is installed in the water tank.[3]

An Aqua Clean water filter tends to last for up to 5000 cups of coffee, which is an incredible amount.

To put that number into perspective, if you were to make three coffees per day on the Babila, a filter would last for up to 4.6 years.

The on-screen icon also lets you know how it is doing, and you get an alert when it is time to get a new one for your water reservoir.

How Hard Is It To Clean and Descale?

Like other automatic coffee machines, cleaning and descaling is a breeze with the Babila[4].

Much of the automatic cleaning cycle is automated, and you get alerts that are tailored to the water hardness of your local area.

Provided that you put in the work when first setting up your machine in terms of inputting the hard water level, filter, and other minor adjustments, you should get an easy and accurate automated cleaning system routine.

This should be done alongside your regular cleaning tasks like emptying the drip tray, refilling the tank, cleaning the steam wand, and so on.

My Favorite Parts About The Gaggia Babila Espresso Maker

My Least Favorite Parts About The Gaggia Babila

Gaggia Babila Vs Similar Machines

Gaggia Babila Vs Accademia

The Gaggia Accademia and Babila are siblings - how do they fare against each other?

Both are excellent and share many features, but I would describe the Accademia as a Bablia Lite.

The Accademia is both a larger and cheaper model with only eight grind settings, three strength options, and a similar style.

It also has a larger and more modern display and interface, which some may prefer.

Gaggia Babila Vs Cadorna Prestige

The Cadorna Prestige is a much more modern and tech-heavy coffee machine than the Babila.

It can save up to four user profiles and has 14 beverage options to select and customize, including cortado and cafe au lait.

It features its own espresso tray and up to 10 grind settings alongside a quick heat boiler.

If you prefer a more tech-friendly machine or live with others, the Prestige is a good option available at a cheaper price.

Gaggia Babila Vs Jura E8

The Jura E8 is a highly popular option - how does the Babila stack against it?

The Jura E8 features a whopping 17 different specialty drinks to choose from, as well as a classier and more high-tech display.

It is also app compatible and up to $500 more expensive than the Babila.

Gaggia Babila Vs DeLonghi Dinamica Plus

The Delonghi Dinamica Plus is another hot contender against the Babila. It is about $100 cheaper and has up to 16 beverage options and custom settings.

There are 13 grind settings to choose from, as well as higher bar pressure and app connectivity. The warranty is also a year longer than the Babila, making it a real contender for the crown.

FAQs

Conclusion - Is The Gaggia Babila Worth Your Money?

To round up this Gaggia Babila review, this convenient stainless steel machine allows you to fine-tune your taste settings to craft great coffee without over-extraction.

If you want better coffee and a real bean-to-cup experience, the Babila could be an excellent option - if it suits your counter space.

References: 

1. https://www.gaggia.com/automatic-machines/babila/
2. https://www.melitta.co.uk/coffee-enjoyment/buyers-guides/steel-vs-ceramic-coffee-grinders/
3. https://www.gaggia-na.com/products/aquaclean-water-filter
4. https://www.gaggia-na.com/collections/parts/products/gaggia-decalcifier-4adf31c1-5733-464a-91c2-ffbda32ef649
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkvAWFbHvjo
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqaKrHIP1iY&t=570s