Gaggia Classic Pro (E24): A Single Boiler for People Who Like Straight Espresso

This is the machine people mean when they say they want to learn espresso properly. It's also the one most likely to disappoint someone who just wanted a latte before work.

A note on our evidence. Gaggia's own E24 page gives the filter holder, pump, boiler and valve. The 9 bar spring and the missing PID come from retailers and are labeled that way. For daily use we read Gaggia's US manual, titled Classic Pro RI9380, the number on Amazon's listings. Follow the one in your box.

Who it suits, and who it doesn't

Technical data

Retailers disagree on a boiler coating, so we state neither version.

The same machine appears under several listings: E24 in brushed steel^*, Thunder Black^*, Cherry Red^*, and the Evo Pro in grey^*, white^* and blue^*. Compare the model number and the description on the day.

Start with the easy filter, then leave it

The US manual describes a “crema perfetta” filter that gives you crema from the first day, and says to move on to the traditional filters once you have the skill. Crema shows CO2, so freshness and roast. It says little about flavor. The traditional filters are where dialing in starts to pay off. Note that the manual pairs the crema perfetta filter with its frothing jet device, and warns that coffee can squirt out and burn you without it.

Read how to dial in

Daily use, from the manual

• Heat-up. Leave the portafilter in the machine so the group stays hot, and wait a few minutes for the coffee light. The manual has you run a cup of water through first.
• Steam. Press the steam button and wait 15 to 20 seconds, until the steam light comes on. Purge the wand briefly, then steam. The manual says not to steam for more than 60 seconds at a stretch, because that can empty the boiler.
• Back to coffee. The boiler is now too hot to brew. Without the portafilter, run a cup of water through the group to bring it down, or the next coffee may taste burnt.
• Cleaning. Wash the filter daily, wipe and purge the wand after each use, and brush the screen regularly. How to clean an espresso machine compares the manuals.
• Descaling. The US manual titled Classic Pro RI9380 says “every 2-3 months” in its tips and “every 2 months” in its care section. The Classic Evo RI9481 manual prints the same two lines. Use Gaggia's own descaler, the manuals say, not vinegar or other agents. The cycle involves about 20 minutes of soaking and several tanks of rinse water. Our descaler page compares makers.

Always follow the burn warnings in your manual. The wand and the group get very hot, and the same manual warns about water left on the coffee when you take the portafilter out.

Grinder and tools

You will need a grinder that goes fine and moves in small steps. Our grinder guide has the choices. Two are easy matches for 58 mm: the Breville Smart Grinder Pro^* has a 58 mm cradle (Breville), and the Baratza Encore ESP^* has a dosing cup with a 58 mm adapter (Baratza). A scale comes next, and the accessories page sorts the rest.

Mods: what they risk

People search for PID kits, solenoid parts and bottomless portafilters, and the Normcore 58 mm bottomless portafilter^* is listed for this machine. A bottomless portafilter is the easy end: it shows you how the shot runs, and it doesn't touch the wiring. Check the fit against your model.

PID kits are a different matter. They mean working on mains wiring beside water and steam, and we give no instructions for that. Have a qualified technician do it, if at all. Gaggia's Classic Evo manual also says that using parts from other makers, or parts it doesn't recommend, voids the warranty, so read your warranty terms before you add anything.

What others report

America's Test Kitchen (July 2, 2025) calls it a compact, simple machine, and its complaints are a steam wand with limited grip and a messy spurt at the end of the brew. Serious Eats (copy dated May 2, 2023) notes weak steam pressure and says you have to watch the boiler temperature, because there's no PID. We don't pass on buyer reviews.

Alternatives

• Want help, not homework? The Breville Bambino^* is compact and ready in 3 seconds (Breville), with a 54 mm portafilter.
• Want the grinder included? The Breville Barista Express puts it in one body.
• Want a sturdier single boiler? The Rancilio Silvia^* sits a price class higher. Rancilio gives a 0.3 L boiler, retailers give 58 mm, and America's Test Kitchen recommends it with reservations, partly for the long heat-up.
• Staying with one boiler? Single boiler machines and Gaggia's range have more.
• Still comparing? All our picks, side by side puts this machine next to the others, and Gaggia Classic against Silvia settles that choice.