Saeco Vs Gaggia: The Best Brand for A Quality Cup (2022 Reviewed)

Today, we’re comparing two coffee powerhouses: Saeco vs Gaggia.

We deliver a short run-down of their features, plus who wins when we face off their products.

If you’re wondering which one of these brands to take home, this article is your chance to make up your mind!

Read about their similarities, differences, and diverse features below.

The following products are featured in this article.

Introducing: Saeco

Saeco has had sustainable and innovative coffee products since 1981. While this brand started off as a small business enterprise in Italy, it’s now a worldwide must-have technology for coffee machines!

Do you like using bean-to-cup coffee machines? The built-in grinder makes the coffee experience a breeze. You have them to look back on as the bean-to-cup pioneer!

Today, they have three lines: vending, professional, and OCS.

Saeco’s machines are sleek, modern, and powerful. When looking for the best machine to take home, it makes sense to look at Saeco first and foremost.

Introducing: Gaggia

Gaggia goes back to 1930s Milan. This is where Achille Gaggia sought to refine the coffee extraction process while working in his family’s cafe.

Years later, he patented his own brewing mechanism and produced innovative coffee machines. Natural coffee oils create a customer-loved creamy layer on top of the coffee!

Meticulous, hand-crafted, and aesthetic coffee machines reached the rest of the globe.

Today, we continue to enjoy quality coffee from Gaggia’s quality machines. Over 80 years of experience with the Italian espresso can’t fail you!

Are Gaggia and Saeco the Same?

Are the two names sounding overly familiar? If you’re wondering if Gaggia and Saeco are the same: they are, and they aren’t. Let us explain.

In the 1990s, Saeco bought Gaggia. As of 2009, Saeco was a Philips branch. So while they’re technically under the same manufacturer, they still have distinct histories and technologies.

Let’s go through both brands below!

Saeco vs Gaggia: Battle of the Features

Saeco and Gaggia are two powerful Italian brands. Which one gives coffee lovers the better coffee experience? Let’s find out!

We’re comparing the two on four categories: versatility, quality, user-friendliness, and price. 

There was already a clear winner as soon as we started judging each brand: Gaggia’s products. Are you curious to know what happened? Read on! 

Versatility

Which machine adapts to more flavors and varieties?

Most of Saeco’s coffee makers offer a specific beverage for a specific model. One model may have an integrated cappuccinatore, but you can also mix drinks with the milk foam and froth options.

Another of Saeco’s line, Phedra Evo, offers hot water on demand. Aside from your favorite coffee drinks, you can also fix yourself up hot tea or chocolate!

Gaggia’s coffee line has a significant advantage: most machines include frothers, for one thing.

This feature allows you to play barista in your kitchen, whipping up cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos with ease.

Some of their lines expand on this versatility even more.

The Anima line replicates other lines by having a frothing wand for milk. Keep in mind: you can also go for a model that automates the latte and cappuccino process.

That’s right: just press a button, and you can expect to have a latte on your counter automatically. It’s as if a barista prepared the entire drink just for you.

Meanwhile, the Accademia line boasts a full range of customization. This machine offers one-touch eight specialty beverages, adjustable froth, and adjustable milk foam!

Winner: Gaggia

Quality

Both brands have a reputation to uphold when it comes to caffeine quality. But honestly? They both pass in our standards.

Saeco isn’t just a machine you find in homes. Restaurants, cafes, hotels, and offices have them, too. It’s not just their history but consistent, cutting-edge technology that dictates the standard of coffee.

They launch ten to fifteen projects each year to keep each machine up-to-date.

They apply one of the best pressure, temperature, and technology to keep your cup of joe high-quality.

In all honesty, the same goes for Gaggia’s coffee makers. They are under the same manufacturer, after all, but it’s still awe-striking that each machine delivers what you need.

You can choose to adjust flavors manually or let the machine do it for you. Either way, they’re both equipped to make your java taste better each morning you take a sip.

The verdict: we’re at a definite stalemate!

Winner: Tie

User-friendliness

User-friendliness is an essential feature in any machine. How do you expect to make the best cup possible if you don’t know how to operate it?

It’s best if the people behind each brand know how to translate complex technology into simple, easy-to-use appliances.

We love Gaggia’s and Saeco’s use of LED color displays and minimalist icons for their interface. Saeco has a large interface with backlit buttons!

We love that automated models just have a knob to twist for you to get your caffeine craving.

However, we want to highlight Gaggia’s memo function. In some models, you simply hold a button for a few seconds for the machine to remember what kind of customization you prefer for your espresso.

We love descaling alerts and automatic cleaning systems, too! Your cup of joe isn’t the only thing that can come to you automatically.

Just pressing a button can clean and descale your preferred model – provided that they offer it.

User-friendly doesn’t just mean the interface is stylish. Operating it should be a breeze, from brewing to maintenance. While we may play the barista role at home, we want the easy functionality, too.

Do you know which brand has the most cleaning and descaling options?

That’s right. Gaggia’s models win our favor once more!

Winner: Gaggia

Price

Saeco’s models have this feature in the bag. The price points are definitely a lot more accessible.

Keep in mind that price points don’t necessarily have to be a basis, especially when you factor in your unique needs. If the situation calls for it, go for the higher price tag.

If you can get the model you want without breaking the bank, we don’t see why not!

Winner: Saeco

Style

We’re at a definite stalemate for this feature.

We love how Saeco’s appliances have innovative, sustainable designs.

For example, Saeco’s coffee makers have a refined touch. The Phedra Evo is minimalist and sleek. The Restyle is slim, flat, and you can go for different shades and a wooden touch!

Meanwhile, Gaggia’s own instruments come in various, sleek hues. White, grey, blue, and red are available for the Classic Color Vibes, all in modern chrome. The Viva Chic has three unique colors, too.

All come in durable stainless steel.

Both save space, are great to look at, and continue to be both functional and fashionable.

Winner: Tie

Product Comparisons

Super Automatic Espresso Machines: Gaggia Brera vs Saeco Intelia

Automatic espresso machines take away all the hassle and frustration in brewing your best cup of coffee.

The best automatic espresso machines allow you to grind beans, customize flavors, and brew a cup with just a press of the button.

If you don’t have an espresso machine, you have to grind your beans yourself or buy them pre-ground.

You measure out the right amount, adjust water temperatures, wait, and rinse the filter out when you’re done.

When you’re in a rush, this simple process can seem a bit much. Super-automatic machines come in handy here!

Gaggia Brera

• With ceramic grinders
• Intensity and flavor personalization
• With water filter
• Classic stainless steel Panarello (steam wand)
• With descaling alert

Saeco Intelia

• With ceramic grinders
• Dual-chamber milk carafe
• Automatic rinse and descaling cycle
• Adjustable flavor, grind granularity, and richness

Between the two brands, both are impressive. They both have a ceramic grinder with adjustable grinder settings.

Both automatic machines have milk frothing capabilities and flavor and intensity customization. They come in stainless steel.

You can for a lighter or bolder cup depending on your needs. With the milk frother attachment, you can make everything: espresso shots, latte, macchiato, cappuccino, and more!

However, another automated feature we look for in super-automatic espresso machines is its maintenance.

If grinding and brewing take up too much time, then so does descaling, cleaning, and rinsing out your coffee machine.

Luckily, Gaggia alerts you when it’s time to descale your machine. Meanwhile, Saeco takes it a step further by alerting you and starting an automated process to descale and clean your brewing unit!

So while your coffee drinks can come in mere seconds with various flavors, only one brand can clean up after you finish your cup.

Winner: Saeco

Manual Machines: Gaggia New Classic vs Saeco Poemia

A manual espresso machine requires the barista’s labor, but it results in a high-quality espresso shot! Unlike the automatic espresso machine, this time, you control everything.

You need to perfect the accuracy with the lever operation to make your espresso successful.

If you want to reenact being a barista in the comfort of your own home, consider the two brands going head to head below.

Gaggia New Classic 

• 15-bar pump for creme natural espresso coffee
• Three filters allowing pre-ground coffee and coffee pods
• Steam wand included
• Cup warmer included
• Premium stainless steel

Saeco Poemia

• 15-bar pump
• With pressurized crema filter
• With frother
• Cup warmer included
• Premium stainless steel

For a manual espresso brewing machine, there’s a clear winner.

Despite sharing nearly the same qualities (pump, filter, frother, large water tank, and warmer), Gaggia is unparalleled with the three filters it has.

It allows for the best espresso brewing versatility by offering pre-ground coffee and coffee pods to work with the machine.

Winner: Gaggia

To Sum It Up

Gaggia’s our winner! However, you may have noticed something: it kept tying up with Saeco’s features and models, too.

Now that they’re under the same manufacturer, we did expect that they’d have a lot of similarities. We hope the guide above helped you be a better buyer.

Read our buying outline below!

The Verdict

Get Saeco If…

• You want more or less the same functions for your machine without breaking the bank
• You want a sustainable, minimal design
• You want to use it for professional purposes
• You don’t mind descaling the water reservoir and cleaning the machine itself every now and then

Get Gaggia If…

• You can afford the price for the value
• You want a full-on replica of the barista experience with as many different specialty drinks as possible
• You want to clean and descale your water reservoir and model with one, easy touch of the button

Though Gaggia’s models are our winners, Saeco’s handy coffee makers are still a good buy! It’s a matter of differentiating what you want, what you need, and how your budget matches up.

Your next cup of java is just around the corner. If you’re a caffeine junkie like the rest of us, a good cup is the best way to start the day. So why not invest in the most high-quality product while you can?