Review · Bean-to-cup machines
Gaggia Magenta Plus review: Gaggia's mid-range bean-to-cup
The Gaggia Magenta Plus pairs a bean-to-cup grinder with a proper steam wand. Check price at Gaggia UK. Here's what you get, and what you don't.
This Gaggia Magenta Plus review covers the RI8700/01, the black Magenta Plus that Gaggia UK now lists with an over-ice feature. It’s the entry model in Gaggia’s Magenta range, and the only one with a steam wand rather than automatic milk. It was £499.00 at Gaggia UK’s store, in stock, checked 3 Oct 2026. We haven’t tested this in person. Our verdict is based on Gaggia UK’s store and range pages, Currys’ listings for rivals and UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
Gaggia Magenta Plus review: the short answer
Get the Gaggia Magenta Plus if you want bean-to-cup espresso and americano at one touch, and you’d like to froth milk yourself with a proper steam wand. It was £499.00 at Gaggia UK, checked 3 Oct 2026, with a five-year parts warranty for home use.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants milk drinks made for them. The Magenta Prestige adds a milk carafe for £100 more at Gaggia UK (checked 3 Oct 2026).
Skip it if you want the longest drinks menu for the money. Gaggia UK lists five drinks, and the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo below adds automatic milk for less. De’Longhi Magnifica Evo: See it at De’Longhi for De’Longhi Magnifica Evo (opens in a new tab)
Who it isn’t for: anyone on a tight budget who doesn’t care about the steam wand.
What it costs right now
- Gaggia Magenta Plus RI8700/01: Check price at Gaggia UK.
Gaggia UK’s store is run by CaffeShop Ltd, Gaggia’s exclusive UK distributor. Currys showed no Gaggia machines in its search on 3 Oct 2026.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants to compare several retailers’ prices. We couldn’t confirm one outside Gaggia UK.
Specs from Gaggia UK
- Size: 22.4cm wide, 35.7cm high and 43.5cm deep, and 7.6kg on Gaggia UK’s range page.
- Water and beans: a 1.8-litre tank. The store page lists a 150g bean hopper, while Gaggia UK’s Magenta range page says 250g, so check before you buy.
- Grinder: ceramic, with five grind settings, plus five Optiaroma strength settings that set how much coffee is ground per cup.
- Drinks: espresso, espresso lungo, coffee, americano and hot water.
- Controls: a full colour display with capacitive buttons, which Gaggia UK says guides you through cleaning step by step.
- Other features: pre-brewing, a quick heat boiler, an aroma lid on the bean container, a stainless steel espresso tray, 1900W, and a cup height of 70mm to 155mm.
- Coffee: whole beans or pre-ground, which suits a decaf in the evening.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who needs exact capacities. The hopper figure differs between Gaggia UK’s own pages.
The steam wand
The Magenta Plus is the only Magenta with what Gaggia UK calls a professional steam wand. It’s stainless steel, shaped so you can use different jugs, and also dispenses hot water for tea. That gives you more control over milk texture than a pannarello or automatic system, but it takes practice. One verified buyer reviewing it on Gaggia UK’s store page wrote in August 2026 that their frothing technique was “still a work in progress”, which is fair warning for beginners.
If you want to practise latte art, a small stainless steel jug with a defined spout is a good start.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants identical lattes every morning without effort. An automatic milk system will be more consistent.
Cleaning and upkeep
Gaggia UK says the brew group comes out and can be rinsed under the tap. The colour display walks you through cleaning procedures. Gaggia UK doesn’t list automatic milk cleaning for the Plus, which makes sense because the steam wand is manual: wipe and purge it after each use.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a fully hands-off machine. Bean-to-cup machines still need regular rinsing and descaling.
Magenta Plus vs Cadorna Plus
Gaggia UK’s Cadorna Plus costs £549.00 (checked 3 Oct 2026). It adds four user profiles, 10 grind settings and a 300g bean hopper, but has a smaller 1.5-litre tank, a pannarello instead of the steam wand and a 26cm-wide body. Our Gaggia Magenta vs Cadorna comparison goes through every model.
Who it isn’t for: shared households. The Cadorna’s profiles may suit you better.
Downsides
- Short drinks menu, with five drinks.
- Manual milk only.
- Hopper figure in doubt across Gaggia UK’s pages.
- One retailer. We only confirmed a price at Gaggia UK.
Alternatives to consider
- De’Longhi Magnifica Evo ECAM290.61.SB: £349 at Currys, in stock, checked 3 Oct 2026. Currys lists LatteCrema Hot automatic milk and a 1.8-litre tank.
- Philips Series 3300 LatteGo EP3347/90: £569.99 at Currys, in stock, checked 3 Oct 2026, with a removable milk carafe, a 1.8-litre tank and a 275g bean container listed.
For more choices, see our guide to bean-to-cup machines under £500.
Who it isn’t for: anyone set on a steam wand. Both rivals froth milk automatically.
Independent review: Trusted Reviews has published a review of the Gaggia Magenta Plus. We haven’t summarised its findings here.
FAQ
How much is the Gaggia Magenta Plus? £499.00 at Gaggia UK.
Does the Gaggia Magenta Plus froth milk automatically? No. It has a manual steam wand. The Magenta Prestige has an automatic milk carafe.
What drinks does the Magenta Plus make? Espresso, espresso lungo, coffee, americano and hot water, per Gaggia UK.
Can you use ground coffee in the Magenta Plus? Yes. Gaggia UK lists a ground coffee option.
What warranty does it have? Gaggia UK’s store lists a five-year parts warranty for home use.
Verdict
Gaggia Magenta Plus bean-to-cup coffee machine RI8700/01 (black, Over-Ice)
The Magenta Plus suits people who want bean-to-cup convenience for coffee but like to steam their own milk. At £499 with a five-year parts warranty from Gaggia UK, it's fair value, though the menu is short and milk drinks aren't automatic.
Pros
- Pro: Steam wand for frothing milk yourself, which also dispenses hot water, per Gaggia UK
- Pro: Five-year parts warranty for home use at Gaggia UK's store
- Pro: 1.8-litre water tank and a ground-coffee option for decaf
- Pro: Fairly slim at 22.4cm wide, per Gaggia UK
Cons
- Con: Only five drinks: espresso, espresso lungo, coffee, americano and hot water
- Con: No automatic milk drinks; you steam milk by hand
- Con: Gaggia UK's pages disagree on the bean hopper (150g or 250g)
- Con: We could only find a price at Gaggia UK's own store
- Best for
- Anyone who wants one-touch espresso and is happy to learn to steam milk.
- Who it isn't for
- Anyone who wants cappuccino or latte at the press of a button.
See it at the retailer: the Gaggia Magenta Plus bean-to-cup coffee machine RI8700/01 at the Gaggia online shop (gaggia.company.site) (no maker product page found)Link: the Gaggia Magenta Plus bean-to-cup coffee machine RI8700/01 at the Gaggia online shop (gaggia.company.site) (no maker product page found). Not an affiliate link.
Sources
- Gaggia UK (gaggia.company.site)
- Currys (currys.co.uk)
- Currys (currys.co.uk)
- review of the Gaggia Magenta Plus (trustedreviews.com)