New Gaggia Espresso Machine

For our 1st anniversary, my wife and I received a Gaggia Black Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine Deluxe. It looks like this.

Ours is completely black and is reminescent of Darth Vader's helmet and mask. Spooky! It doesn't take up much space on the counter.

This Gaggia model is a bit of a paradox -- on the outside, it has a plastic case and is somewhat lightweight. The inside, however, uses the same fixtures as the much more expensive Gaggia models (all hand-assembled brass).

The espresso (right now, just Illy we bought at the grocery store) comes out wonderfully rich with a thick crema.

Shop around and you can find this model for around $225. It's a great starter espresso machine -- for someone who wants to step up from their stovetop pot to a real espresso machine.