Gaggia Classic Pro review: a simple manual espresso machine for enthusiasts

This Gaggia Classic Pro review covers the machine Gaggia UK sells today as the Classic E24, the brass-boiler version of the Classic. We’ve checked two model codes: the RI9481/11E in brushed stainless steel and the RI9481/16E in grey. “Classic Pro” is still the name most people search for, but on 3 Oct 2026 Gaggia UK’s Classic range listed the Classic E24, Classic Up and Classic GT, with no “Classic Pro” among them. We haven’t tested this in person. By Gaggia UK we mean the shop run by Gaggia’s exclusive UK distributor, which is where we checked prices and specs. Our verdict is based on Gaggia UK’s published specs, Coffee Friend’s listing and UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026. We didn’t find a named UK test of the E24 to cite, and we couldn’t link owner reviews, so there’s no owner feedback on this page. Read how we compare.

Gaggia Classic Pro review: the short answer

Buy the Classic E24 if you want to learn espresso by hand on a machine with few electronics and a 58mm filter holder, and you’re happy to buy a grinder too. The grey RI9481/16E is £499 at Gaggia UK and the brushed stainless RI9481/11E is £549 at Gaggia UK, both checked 3 Oct 2026.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants the machine to manage temperature, dose or milk for them. There’s no PID, no shot timer and no automatic steaming.

Choose the Classic Up instead if you like the Classic’s layout but want PID temperature control. Gaggia UK lists PID for brewing, a brew pressure gauge, a shot timer and programmable pre-infusion. We couldn’t confirm a price, so check current price at Gaggia UK.

Who it isn’t for: anyone choosing the Classic for its simplicity. The Up adds a screen and electronics, which is the opposite of what some Classic buyers want.

Choose the Sage Bambino Plus instead if milk drinks matter more than manual control. It’s £399.95 at Sage UK, checked 3 Oct 2026 (only brushed stainless steel was in stock; the other colours were sold out), and Sage lists an automatic steam wand. Our Sage Bambino vs Bambino Plus comparison has the detail. Sage Bambino Plus: Check price at Amazon for Sage Bambino Plus (opens in a new tab) · Sage Bambino SES450: See it at Sage for Sage Bambino SES450 (opens in a new tab)

Who it isn’t for: anyone who specifically wants a 58mm filter holder. Sage includes a 54mm tamper with the Bambino Plus.

What it costs right now

• Gaggia UK: £549 for the RI9481/11E (brushed stainless) and £499 for the RI9481/16E (grey), both in stock, checked 3 Oct 2026. We only checked these two colours. See the stainless E24 at Gaggia UK or the grey E24 at Gaggia UK.
• Coffee Friend: Check price at Coffee Friend for the Classic E24 in stainless steel (“Inox”). The listing doesn’t show a model code. See it at Coffee Friend
• Currys: a search for “gaggia classic” showed no Gaggia machines on the first page of results (checked 3 Oct 2026), so we have no Currys price.
• Bella Barista: we couldn’t load a Gaggia Classic page there on 3 Oct 2026, so we have no price.
• John Lewis: Check current price. Its search page didn’t load for us on 3 Oct 2026. Search John Lewis

Classic Pro, Evo Pro or E24: which model you can buy

Gaggia’s own manuals call the RI9380 the Classic Pro, and give the RI9481 code to the Classic Evo, the later update. Gaggia UK now calls the RI9481 brass-boiler machine the Classic E24, and doesn’t use “Evo Pro” on its E24 pages. Coffee Friend’s listing uses both “Classic E24” and “New Classic Evo”, and Shack Group calls it the Classic E24 Evo Pro.

Gaggia UK says it has also sold Classics with polished aluminium and non-stick coated boilers alongside the E24. If you see a Classic for less than the prices above, check whether the listing says brass boiler or E24 before you buy.

The only named UK test we found, Expert Reviews’ Gaggia Classic Pro review by Sasha Muller, was published on 5 Feb 2021. It covers the earlier Classic Pro, not the brass-boiler E24, so we haven’t drawn on it for this verdict.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants one model name that works at every retailer. Compare the RI9481 code instead.

What you get: specs and controls

Gaggia UK lists these for the Classic E24 (checked 3 Oct 2026):

• Boiler and pump: a 120cc brass brew boiler, a 15-bar pump and an over-pressure valve listed at 11 to 15 bar.
• Controls: rocker switches with indicator lights for power, brewing and steam, plus a three-way solenoid valve that releases pressure after a shot so the used coffee comes out drier.
• Filter holder and baskets: a stainless steel filter holder and three baskets: a “perfect crema” basket and single (7g) and double (16g) traditional baskets. Shack Group’s listing gives the double basket as 14g. We’ve used Gaggia UK’s figure.
• Steam: a stainless steel steam wand, which the store listing says has two steam holes.
• Tank, size and power: 2.1 litres, 23 x 38 x 24cm (width x height x depth), 1300W, and 7.3kg, or 8.1kg including accessories.
• Warranty: a five-year parts warranty for home use on Gaggia UK’s listing. Coffee Friend lists 24 months, so check which applies to the seller you buy from.

Coffee Friend lists a 58mm basket diameter. Gaggia UK says the E24 brews ground coffee and ESE pods, and also names Caffitaly and Lavazza Espresso Point capsules as options.

Why “no PID” matters. Gaggia UK’s own comparison with the Classic Up explains that the E24 is electro-mechanical. Its brew thermostat reads the temperature on the outside of the boiler, so the ready light can stay on just after a shot even though the temperature inside has dropped. Gaggia UK also says the E24’s steam is strong at first but can dip and recover, while the Up is designed to give steadier steam.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants to set an exact brew temperature on a screen. That’s what the Classic Up and Classic GT are for, according to Gaggia UK.

You’ll need a separate grinder

The E24 has no grinder, and the traditional baskets need fresh, finely ground coffee that you can adjust in small steps. Gaggia UK says the “perfect crema” basket is designed to give good results from the first use, so it’s the forgiving option while you learn. Either way, you’ll get the most from the traditional baskets with a grinder built for espresso.

Our guide to the best coffee grinder for espresso covers grinders that can handle the fine adjustment espresso needs, and our burr grinders under £100 guide is the place to start on a tighter budget. A set of coffee scales also helps you repeat a dose.

Who it isn’t for: anyone whose budget stops at the machine. The grinder is part of the cost.

Who it suits

The Classic E24 is for enthusiasts: people who want to learn dose, grind, tamping and milk steaming themselves, and who’d rather have physical switches than menus. Gaggia UK is based in Elland, West Yorkshire, lists a maintenance and repair service, and sells 58mm tampers and dosing tools for the Classic, which helps if you plan to keep a machine for years.

Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants one-touch coffee. A bean-to-cup machine suits that better.

Classic E24 vs Classic Up and Bambino Plus

Against the Classic Up. Gaggia UK says both use the same boiler. The Up adds PID brew control with a probe inside the boiler, a 2-inch colour screen, a shot timer, a brew gauge and automatic or manual pre-infusion. Gaggia UK lists a 9-bar brewing pressure, a 2-litre tank and 8.2kg for the Up.

Against the Sage Bambino Plus. The Bambino Plus is £399.95 at Sage UK, checked 3 Oct 2026. Sage lists ThermoJet heating, an automatic steam wand with three temperatures and three textures, a 1.9-litre tank and a 54mm tamper. It’s the easier route to milky drinks, while the Classic leaves every step of each shot to you.

Who it isn’t for: anyone comparing machine prices alone. Add a grinder to either before you decide.

Downsides

• No PID. Temperature depends on thermostats on the outside of the boiler, according to Gaggia UK.
• One boiler. You wait for the boiler to switch between brewing and steam.
• Manual milk only. Every latte means steaming milk by hand.
• No grinder. The machine price isn’t the full cost.
• Thin UK retail. We could confirm prices at Gaggia UK only.
• Old evidence. The only named UK test we found predates the E24.

Where to go next

Start with our best coffee grinder for espresso guide, then compare more machines in our espresso machines under £500 guide.

FAQ

Is the Gaggia Classic Pro still sold in the UK? Not under that name at Gaggia UK on 3 Oct 2026. Its Classic range listed the Classic E24, Classic Up and Classic GT. The E24 (RI9481) is the direct successor.

How much is the Gaggia Classic E24? £549 for the RI9481/11E and £499 for the RI9481/16E at Gaggia UK, both checked 3 Oct 2026. Check price at Coffee Friend.

Does the Classic E24 have PID? No. Gaggia UK describes it as electro-mechanical. The Classic Up is the Classic with PID.

Related

• Sage Bambino vs Gaggia Classic: convenience or tinkering?
• How to descale a Gaggia Classic Pro or Classic Evo Pro
• The best espresso machines under £200 in the UK
• The best espresso machines under £500 in the UK

Similar reviews

• Breville Bijou VCF149 review
• Breville One-Touch CoffeeHouse II review
• De'Longhi Dedica Arte EC885 review

Related guides

• How to backflush an espresso machine (and when not to)
• How to clean a steam wand (Sage, De'Longhi, Gaggia)