Gaggia Besana review: Gaggia's compact bean-to-cup

This Gaggia Besana review covers Gaggia’s most basic bean-to-cup machine: a compact, made-in-Italy model with a pannarello for milk and three drinks. We couldn’t find a UK retailer selling it on 3 Oct 2026, which matters more than any spec. Gaggia UK’s online store didn’t list it, John Lewis said it doesn’t stock it and Currys showed no Gaggia machines. We haven’t tested this in person. Our verdict is based on Gaggia UK’s Besana pages, Gaggia’s international product page and UK prices for rivals checked 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.

Gaggia Besana review: the short answer

Consider the Gaggia Besana if you drink espresso or lungo, want a simple machine with buttons and a knob rather than a touchscreen, and are happy to froth milk by hand with a pannarello.

Buy something else for now if you need a machine this week. With no UK retailer price we could confirm, the Gaggia Brera is the nearest Gaggia you can actually order, at £399.00 from Gaggia UK (checked 3 Oct 2026). Gaggia Brera: See it at Coffee Direct for Gaggia Brera (opens in a new tab)

Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants cappuccino or latte at one touch. The Besana has no automatic milk system.

What it costs right now

We couldn’t confirm a current UK price on 3 Oct 2026.

• Gaggia UK’s store, run by CaffeShop Ltd, Gaggia’s exclusive UK distributor, listed Brera, Anima, Magenta, Cadorna, Naviglio, Velasca and Accademia machines in its bean-to-cup categories, but no Besana.
• John Lewis returned “Sorry, we don’t stock gaggia besana” for a search on 3 Oct 2026.
• Currys showed no Gaggia machines in its search the same day.

Gaggia UK still has Besana information pages on gaggiadirect.com, so it may come back into stock. If you see it in stock, compare the price with the Brera and the rivals below before you buy.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a quick, easy purchase. Check the retailer’s warranty terms too if you find one elsewhere.

Specs from Gaggia UK

• Size: 29.5cm (L) x 32.5cm (H) x 42cm (D), and 7kg.
• Water and beans: a 1-litre tank and a 180g bean container.
• Grinder: 100% ceramic, with five settings.
• Drinks: espresso, espresso lungo and hot water, per Gaggia’s international page, which also says it can brew two cups at once.
• Controls: buttons and a rotating knob, with a MEMO function to set the length of your espresso.
• Boiler: a stainless steel quick heat boiler, 15-bar pump pressure, 1400W, and under 1W on standby.
• Grounds: Gaggia UK says the puck container holds 14 pucks. Gaggia’s international page says 8, so expect to empty it often.

Who it isn’t for: households that get through a lot of coffee. A 1-litre tank needs refilling more often than the 1.8-litre tanks on the Philips and De’Longhi rivals.

Milk with the pannarello

The Besana has a classic black plastic pannarello. That’s a steam wand with a sleeve that pulls air into the milk, so you get foam with less technique than a bare steam wand. Gaggia says it also gives hot water for tea. You still froth by hand, one jug at a time, and the result depends on you.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants silky microfoam for latte art. A full steam wand, like the one on the Gaggia Magenta Plus, gives more control. Gaggia Magenta Plus RI8700/01: See it at Gaggia for Gaggia Magenta Plus RI8700/01 (opens in a new tab)

Cleaning and upkeep

Gaggia says the drip tray, puck container, water tank and pannarello come off for washing in water with a bit of washing-up liquid, and the brew group comes out to be rinsed. The machine runs an automatic rinse, gives a descaling alert, and is compatible with Gaggia’s Intenza+ water filter. Descaling itself is a manual cycle. BRITA Intenza+ water filter: Check price at Amazon for BRITA Intenza+ water filter (opens in a new tab)

Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a fully hands-off machine. Every bean-to-cup needs regular rinsing and descaling.

Downsides

• Hard to buy. We found no UK retailer listing on 3 Oct 2026.
• Short drinks menu, with three drinks.
• Small tank and hopper: 1 litre and 180g.
• Puck capacity in doubt, given as 8 or 14 on Gaggia’s own pages.
• Manual milk only.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants the most features for the money.

Alternatives to consider

• Gaggia Brera RI9833/70 (silver): Check price at Gaggia UK. Gaggia UK lists a pannarello, a 1.2-litre tank and 250g bean hopper, both reached from the front, a removable brew unit, a pre-ground option and a five-year parts warranty for home use. It’s 25.5cm wide.
• Philips Series 2200 EP2220/10: £279 at John Lewis, checked 3 Oct 2026, with a classic milk frother and a 1.8-litre tank. See our Philips 2200 review.
• De’Longhi Magnifica Start ECAM220.22.GB: £299.00 at Appliances Direct, checked 3 Oct 2026. It has a traditional milk frother and a 1.8-litre tank. See our Magnifica Start review.

For more choices, see our guide to bean-to-cup machines under £500, or browse all bean-to-cup machines.

Who it isn’t for: anyone set on the Besana’s size. Check the depth of each rival against your worktop.

FAQ

How much is the Gaggia Besana in the UK? We couldn’t confirm a current UK retailer price on 3 Oct 2026. Gaggia UK’s store didn’t list it, and John Lewis and Currys didn’t stock it.

Does the Gaggia Besana froth milk? Yes, by hand. It has a classic pannarello that steams milk and gives hot water. There’s no automatic milk system.

What drinks does the Besana make? Espresso, espresso lungo and hot water, per Gaggia.

How big is the water tank? 1 litre, with a 180g bean container, per Gaggia UK.

What’s the difference between the Gaggia Besana and Brera? Going by Gaggia UK’s specs, the Brera has a bigger 1.2-litre tank and 250g hopper and is narrower at 25.5cm. Check price at Gaggia UK.

Related

• Gaggia Besana vs Brera: Gaggia's compact bean-to-cups compared
• The best bean-to-cup coffee machines under £300
• The best bean-to-cup coffee machines under £1,000
• Gaggia Magenta vs Cadorna: comparing Gaggia's bean-to-cup ranges

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