(gah-jah)

The Gaggia Achille is a blast from the past, modeled on Gaggia’s original piston lever designs from the 1950’s. A clear domed water reservoir, chrome plated stainless steel housing, and elegant curves all add to the Achille’s classic look. For me, the most interesting part of the Achille’s design is its piston-operated brewing system, which means the user becomes the pump. It took a little elbow grease and finesse for me to get the hang of pulling a shot, but the work was well worth the reward.

Don’t let the Achille’s retro design fool you, though. It comes equipped with a stainless steel heat exchanger boiler that let me go right from brewing to steaming. The patented Gaggia Turbo Frothing Wand definitely employs the boiler’s power, frothing a cold pitcher of milk in a little over 1 minute.

When it comes down to it, the Achille is a prime choice for the passionate espresso drinker, or someone looking for a gift for one. It’s a beautiful machine and great conversation piece for any kitchen.