Even if you do not know much about espresso machines, the features of the Gaggia Accademia vs Saeco Xelsis won’t seem too complex. Both machines produce delicious espresso and creamy milk that will stay hot for longer!
But someone with a little bit more experience with espresso makers will tell you that the brewing skills of the Saeco Xelsis are better than the Gaggia Accademia. It’s a high-end espresso brand, so it earns higher marks in brewing quality, temperature, and durability.
The Gaggia Accademia is good for its basic but modern brewing functionality and its impressively versatile milk system. Only that it does not brew as many coffee drinks as the Saeco Xelsis. And the Saeco Xelsis does not offer a steam wand for latte art like the Gaggia Accademia. The rest of it – burr grinder, brewing temperature, and automated rinsing cycles – are the same.
Gaggia Accademia vs Saeco Xelsis: Comparision Chart
Last update on 2023-03-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Gaggia Accademia vs Saeco Xelsis: Differences
To sum up, the Gaggia Accademia scores 1 – 3 in favour of the Saeco Xelsis which is a better competitor for espresso drinkers. It has more programmable coffee drinks which is something that any espresso lover will prefer.
1. Coffee Flavor
The Winner: Saeco Xelsis
Coffee Grinder
Even though the Gaggia Accademia and the Saeco Xelsis have the same ceramic flat burr grinders and the same bean hopper size, they differ in the number of grind settings they offer.
The coffee grinder of the Gaggia Accademia has 8 grind levels while that of the Saeco offers 12. So it’s 4 extra levels of adjusting the fineness of coffee grounds which impacts not only flavour but the consistency of espresso as well.
But if you do not prefer the extra grind levels, that’s fine too. The brewing technology of the Gaggia is fast and optimal so it delivers delicious and barista-grade espresso drinks easily.
Heating System
The Gaggia Accademia comes with a dual boiler that costs more as it is superior water-heating technology for espresso machines. Especially for home espresso makers, it definitely improves the quality of heating up water for espresso and steaming.
Dual boilers are seriously considered for commercial espresso machines. But for home use, even for multiple cups of coffee per day, I would prefer something lightweight. Such as the dual thermoblock heating system of the Saeco Xelsis. It’s lightweight and super-fast.
The brewing temperature ensures smooth and balanced extraction of espresso. Not too bitter and not at all under-extracted.
2. Dose Control
The Winner: Saeco Xelsis
Programmable Drinks
The Gaggia Accademia offers 7 coffee drinks with one-touch controls. This means you can brew from a creative and delicious palette of espresso drinks and get a unique espresso taste in each one. All these drinks are customizable with 3 levels of intensity.
The Saeco Xelsis, on the other hand, features twice as many coffee drinks and 5 levels of intensity, or Aroma. The level of customization on the Saeco is more superior which is the ideal setup for any beginner.
So the battle of espresso between the Gaggia Accademia vs Saeco Xelsis is not so much about the quality of espresso drinks but the quantity.
3. Milk System
The Winner: Gaggia Accademia
The one thing that sets the Gaggia apart, in a good way of course, from the Saeco Xelsis is the commercial steam wand and automatic milk system. It has two options for you to pick from. The steam wand is the more tempting choice because you can replicate barista-quality micro-foam for your home drinks. And the automatic milk system has a carafe in which you can easily store the milk and keep it in the fridge.
Both parts are backed by Gaggia automatic rinsing cycle so that they’re ready for use for the next cup.
The Saeco Xelsis has a fast and fully-equipped automatic milk system. But it does not feature a commercial steam wand like the Gaggia. The internal milk frother comes with a hose, a glass case printed with proper level markings.
It froths, not steams, the milk which does mean a few differences in foam density and milk texture. But honestly, it’s not bad at all. Just different.
4. Cleaning & Maintenance
The Winner: Saeco Xelsis
The cleaning and maintenance features on the Saeco Xelsis simply pay for themselves in the short run.
While the Gaggia Babila comes with an automated rinsing cycle, the Saeco features the HygieSteam functionality and automatic circuit rinsing for both the coffee and milk circuits. So it’s more equipped than the Gaggia at keeping the machine clean and ready after every use.
What the HygieSteam function does is it flushes the internal tubes with hot steam to get rid of tough stains. And it does this automatically after you use the milk system. So it’s instantly ready to use for the next cup.
For the Gaggia, you may have to rinse the machine once to use it. So that does take up some of your time.
Gaggia Accademia vs Saeco Xelsis: Similarities
Contrary to what you might think, the Gaggia Accademia and Saeco Xelsis have plenty of similarities. They are both controlled via the high-quality and intuitive front control panel.
Both feature a 1.6L water reservoir that is also removable for quick and effective cleaning. A 350g bean hopper and 15 bar pump pressure that does not lose the flavour even with a variety of grind settings and coffee drinks to choose from.
And speaking of ground coffee, the Gaggia and Saeco also share the same dosage – 7 to 10.5g between different strength levels.
Other similarities include 15 coffee puck drawer capacity and a safety thermostat. The thermostat makes sure the machine doesn’t overheat or overload. And you get the exact brewing temperature for coffee.
Quick Rundown Of Saeco Xelsis SM7864/04
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping the grounds before brewing can all lead to inadequate pressure for a proper brew. 2)It is important to note that the amount of espresso extracted will vary depending on the grind size and amount and reprogramming may be needed when the size and amount are adjusted
- 15 coffee varieties at your fingertips: Explore the world of coffee - Espresso, cappuccino, macchiato, and a range of specialty drinks
- Personalized Preferences: Everyone’s custom coffee favorites can be saved in up to 6 user profiles for instant selection. Personalize each profile down to the finest detail
- LatteDuo System: Prepare and enjoy single or double serving of any coffee recipe with one touch, including Cappuccino or Latte Macchiato
- LattePerfetto: The external milk carafe creates a dense milk foam with a fine, silky texture
Last update on 2023-03-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown Of Gaggia Accademia 1003380
- Adjustable telescopic coffee dispenser with a maximum height of a little over 6-1/2-inch to accommodate a wide variety of cup sizes
- Milk carafe capacity 0,6 L.Ceramic burr grinder with integrated bean hopper and double lid aroma saver
- Integrated coffee grounds container, removable from the front
- Programmable coffee quantity - from 7 to 10-cup
- Pre-brewing system for maximum flavor extraction.Materials and finishing:metal painted/stainless steel
Last update on 2023-03-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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References
- Gaggia Accademia 1003380 from Gaggia https://gaggia.com/automatic-machines/accademia/
- Saeco Xelsis SM7864/04 from Saeco https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/SM7684_04/xelsis-super-automatic-espresso-machine
I am a passionate coffee drinker. Since I left my job as a barista a few years back in 2012, I’ve been sharing my expertise on coffee and buying the best coffee equipment online. That’s how Wild Boar Coffee came to life.
I write about everything coffee-related under the sun. Where to buy the freshest coffee beans from? How to test coffee beans based on texture, aroma, and acidity?
I know all this from scratch – all thanks to my years and years of experience as a barista. So I’ve gotten real up-close-and-personal with coffee beans and different brewing techniques.