Are you in the market for a low-priced automatic espresso machine that can make espressos with minimal effort without breaking the bank? The Gaggia Anima vs Anima Prestige, which is in the same series, might be worth considering. They have a lot of similarities, but there are also a few key differences. Without beating around the bush, my vote goes for the second one.
The Gaggia Anima Prestige uses an automated system to get the job done and has more one-touch drinks, making it the overall winner. Meanwhile, the Gaggia Anima has a steam wand, and you will need a few practices to froth milk and prepare milk-based drinks.
Gaggia Anima vs Anima Prestige: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2023-11-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Gaggia Anima vs Anima Prestige: Differences
The Anima Prestige wins 2-0 against the Anima, after all. Here is a breakdown of all the differences and similarities between them!
Milk Frothing System
Winner: Gaggia Anima Prestige
The most significant distinction between these Gaggia models lies in their milk-frothing systems. Despite both being automatic coffee machines, the Anima uses a frothing wand, whereas the Anima Prestige features a fully automated frother. This difference means that with the Anima, you have more control and can experiment with frothing, while the Anima Prestige provides an effortless frothing experience at the touch of a button.
The base version has a frothing wand, which is ideal for coffee purists or those who want to hone their own frothing skills since it gives you the highest degree of control over the milk froth. Of course, this approach comes with a learning curve, and you need to get it wrong a few times to get it right.
On the other hand, the Prestige model sports an auto-frother, which is a fuss-free solution for those who love their coffee with minimal effort. Just add milk to the carafe, select your favorite drink with the push of a button, and the machine efficiently completes the frothing process.
Personally, the Anima Prestige’s automated system does its job well, and you can have an acceptable cappuccino without doing anything. So it has my vote here.
Built Quality
The Prestige version features a more sleek, modern design with a brushed silver metal finish, while the base version opts for a robust black ABS plastic exterior to reduce its cost. Interestingly, despite this difference, there is no notable difference in the weight of the machines.
Pre-programmed Coffee Options
Winner: Gaggia Anima Prestige
| Gaggia Anima | Gaggia Anima Prestige |
|---|---|
| Espresso Espresso Lungo Hot Water | Espresso Espresso Lungo Cappuccino Latte Macchiato Milk Froth Hot Water |
The Anima Prestige has more pre-programmed drinks as it has an auto-frothing system, enabling you to prepare a few milk-based drinks at the touch of a button. There really isn’t much customization on each drink option, but you still have options to tailor the grind size, coffee strength, shot volume, and brewing temperature to your preference. You can use the memo function to save all the settings for future use.
Gaggia Anima vs Anima Prestige: Similarities
Dimensions & User Interface
| Gaggia Anima | Gaggia Anima Prestige | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13.4 x 8.7 x 17 inches | 13.4 x 8.7 x 17 inches |
| Weight | 19.1 lbs | 19.1 lbs |
These machines are compact, so you can easily find each one a permanent home. Still, they are fairly tall, so it may present a few challenges if you have limited clearance between your countertop and your cabinetry, especially considering that their bean hoppers and water reservoirs are top-loading. Even if you find yourself having to move the machine around regularly, it won’t be too much of a hassle since each of them only weighs sixteen pounds.
Built-in Grinder
Their cone burr grinders are crafted from ceramic instead of the more common stainless steel. We all agree that this is a big plus since metallic grinders tend to heat up during operation, potentially scorching the grounds and compromising the coffee’s flavor. Ceramic grinders, however, don’t suffer from this problem, ensuring a smooth, clean finish to your coffee without the risk of a burnt taste.
On the negative side, both only have five grinding settings. As for the Prestige version, it should have more than that. Five settings might meet the needs of most users, but for those who find them inadequate, you’re left with no choice but to purchase a separate grinder with multiple settings to unlock the full potential of your coffee beans.
Adjusting the grind settings on these machines is a bit more intricate than on many other automatic espresso models since it involves using a key tool found on one end of the included coffee scoop. Store the scoop carefully, only alter the grind settings while the grinder is operational, and gradually do this one level at a time. With a bit of patience, the system will work well, and you’ll be fine.
Heating System
Both have a single boiler system, meaning there is a delay between brewing and steaming for the temperature to adjust. This isn’t a bad thing since thermoblock technology shortens the waiting time to less than one minute, resulting in faster coffee than ones that use traditional boilers.
These machines have no cup warmer, which isn’t a significant drawback either since there are other easy ways to pre-warm your cup. Before brewing your espresso, you can run hot water from the machine directly into the cup you intend to use. This not only warms the cup but also helps in rinsing it, ensuring it’s clean and free from any residue or odors.
Brewing System
These two machines also come with a pre-infusion function where the coffee grounds are gently soaked with water before the full pressurized extraction begins. This prevents channeling, where water passes through the coffee puck unevenly, and leads to a more thorough and even extraction of flavors from the coffee.
What’s more, both extract espresso at a pressure of 15 bars. This high level of pressure is crucial since it ensures that the water extracts the flavors, oils, and aromatics efficiently from the coffee grounds.
Spout & Cup Clearance
| Gaggia Anima | Gaggia Anima Prestige | |
|---|---|---|
| Spigot Type | Dual | Dual |
| Cup Clearance | 4.3-6.5 inches | 4.3-6.5 inches |
Their coffee dispensers are height-adjustable and can accommodate a range of cup sizes up to 6.5 inches in height. You can even fit your latte glass or travel mug under there without hassle. Conversely, for smaller cups, the spout can be lowered to just over 4 inches to not only help prevent splashing and keep your counter clean but also ensure that the lovely crema on your espresso is perfectly preserved.
Water Reservoir & Bean Hopper
| Gaggia Anima | Gaggia Anima Prestige | |
|---|---|---|
| Water Reservoir | 1.8 liter | 1.8 liter |
| Bean Hopper | 0.26 liter | 0.26 liter |
Both share a super-sized water tank with a capacity of 60 ounces, or 1.8 liters, which is big enough to satisfy the daily coffee appetites of most households. Refilling it is a little less convenient because it’s top-loading, especially if your machine is located under something like cabinets or shelves. This isn’t a deal breaker at all since you can easily move the machine any time you want to reload.
Both also utilize a water filter, which is built into the reservoir tank. Using distilled or bottled water renders this filter superfluous, but if you opt for tap water, you should use it. Of course, using the filter means you have to count the ongoing cost of filter replacements into the overall expense of maintaining your espresso machine.
Hot Water Function & Bypass Dose
By replacing the Anima Prestige’s milk carafe with the hot water nozzle, you can instantly prepare tea (or americanos) with water that’s free of milk residue. Tea aficionados will particularly appreciate this feature, as it not only delivers hot water more swiftly than a traditional stovetop kettle but also ensures each cup of tea is infused with filtered water.
Like many automatic espresso machines, both have a bypass dose for pre-ground coffee. This might seem a bit daft when you have a great grinder for fresh coffee beans, but this feature might come in handy for those times when decaf is preferred, like when entertaining guests or you find yourself running out of coffee beans.
Cleaning & Maintenance
For quite a few folks, a common drawback of owning an espresso machine is time-consuming cleaning, but that is not the case for these Gaggias. As it happens, they are very easy to maintain.
Descaling these machines is an automated cleaning routine, and remember to use the Gaggia Decalcifier for this. Additionally, if you’re using a water filter or pre-filtered water, the frequency of descaling is significantly reduced. There’s a slight learning curve involved, but it’s fairly mild, and the user manual will tell you how.
Aside from that, you also need to rinse some removable parts on a regular basis. I’m talking about parts like the drip tray, used grounds collection box, brew group, and water tank. I’d say you can expect to do this at least once a week.
Quick Rundown Of Gaggia Anima Prestige
- 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.Filter type:Reusable
- ONE TOUCH BREWING AND FROTHING: Bean-to-cup feature with automatic milk frothing for cappuccinos, macchiatos and lattes
- PROGRAMMABLE: Programmable brewing options for lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos and espresso
- TEMPERATURE CONTROL: 3 different temperature settings. Min/177.5 °F, Med/182.9 °F, Max/184.5 °F
- EASY ACCESS TO WATER RESERVOIR AND BEAN HOPPER: Features a removable 60 oz water reservoir that can be accessed on the top left of the machine, and an 8.8 ounce capacity bean hopper with access from the top right of the machine
Last update on 2023-11-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown Of Gaggia Anima
- 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
- MANUAL FROTHING FOR MILK-BASED DRINKS: Pannarello steam wand for frothing milk
- PROGRAMMABLE: Programmable brewing options for espresso and espresso lungo
- TEMPERATURE CONTROL: 3 different temperature settings. Min/177.5 °F, Med/182.9 °F, Max/184.5 °F
- EASY ACCESS TO WATER RESERVOIR AND BEAN HOPPER: Features a removable 60 oz water reservoir that can be accessed on the top left of the machine, and an 8.8 ounce capacity bean hopper with access from the top right of the machine
Last update on 2023-11-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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References:
- Gaggia Anima Prestige: https://www.gaggia.com/automatic-machines/anima-prestige/
- Gaggia Anima: https://www.gaggia-na.com/pages/gaggia-anima-manuals
Felix Hendricks is a skilled barista with over 12 years of experience. He excels in crafting coffee and has a strong foundation in coffee machine mechanics. Felix holds a Coffee Machine Maintenance Certification from the Coffee Equipment Technical Institute, showcasing his ability to diagnose and repair coffee machines. He’s also worked as a quality control specialist, selecting premium coffee beans for optimal flavor. Felix has a diverse work history, including stints at renowned coffee spots like Café Euphoria & Starbucks. His expertise in both brewing and machine maintenance makes him a respected figure in the coffee industry.