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Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining

Gaggia Classic E24: one month in, already modifying it

I've barely brewed a few coffees with my Gaggia E24, yet I've taken it apart several times. I love the modification potential; the stock steam disappoints.

The green E24 beside a grinder and an extensive set of coffee accessories.

More dismantling than brewing

I bought the Gaggia E24 last month. The other accessories came from China, with an air-freight wait of nearly two weeks.

The appeal and the drawbacks

It’s small, easy to operate, classic-looking and has lots of modification parts and potential. But I think the steam is poor, and in original form I have to manage the brewing flow and temperature myself.

I’d tell a complete beginner to avoid it. To me, spending several thousand on this machine feels like buying a durable copper boiler and a classic metal shell, with hardly any other functions. A machine already modified with Gaggimate or Gaggiuino could make sense—it would be like giving it a brain.

I’m honestly envious of places such as Britain and China, where people can buy pre-modified new machines or find someone to do the work. Here in Australia, I feel I have to do everything myself.

Where my modifications stand

  • Already installed: a 9 bar spring and a Cubic extraction timer.
  • On the way: a Shades of Coffee steam valve and single-hole tip, plus a Gaggimate controller.
  • Planned: a shower screen and water-tank LEDs.

I’ve hardly made a few coffees, but I’ve taken the machine apart several times already. As someone who likes modifying cars, I find the Gaggia Classic irresistible. I want to change everything!

Source: BAND-AID_QBB · Xiaohongshu · 11 May 2026 · GAGGIA E24 桌面摆设. Search this Chinese title in Xiaohongshu to find the original post.

Before You Buy

Models in your region

Gaggia publishes separate US and European manuals for the Classic E24 family. They provide factory-model context below; the owner is in Australia and needs the instructions and rating label for that regional version. The owner’s modifications and accessories are separate from the factory machine.

Model in this review Related regional model What to know
Gaggia Classic E24 Classic E24 (US) US manual for the E24 family. Match the full rating-label version to your supply.
Gaggia Classic E24 Classic E24 (Europe) European regional E24 documentation. The factory E24 is a manual espresso machine; the owner’s controller is an aftermarket modification.
Model in this review
Gaggia Classic E24
Related regional model
Classic E24 (US)
What to know
US manual for the E24 family. Match the full rating-label version to your supply.
Model in this review
Gaggia Classic E24
Related regional model
Classic E24 (Europe)
What to know
European regional E24 documentation. The factory E24 is a manual espresso machine; the owner’s controller is an aftermarket modification.

Choosing for everyday use

The owner started with a Classic E24, a manual espresso machine also covered by the Classic E24 (US) and Classic E24 (Europe) manuals. Gaggia describes the factory E24 as having a brass boiler and a professional steam wand. The owner’s arriving single-hole tip and controller are aftermarket changes, not regional standard equipment.

This is principally an enthusiast’s first-month account. The owner has made few coffees, so their enthusiasm for the platform is better established than its daily drink performance. Their comments about finding modification services abroad describe personal impressions, not a verified directory of available installers.

If buying a modified E24, ask for the base-machine code, a written list of fitted components and who supports that configuration. The US manual directs repairs and internal servicing to authorised personnel. The existence of a hobby project does not make its installation part of factory support.

If your priority is simply making breakfast coffee, consider the time needed for grinding, manual brewing and steaming before treating modification potential as a benefit.

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