The name Gaggia has been synonymous with innovation in the world of espresso coffees for sixty years or more. With its new capsule technology, Gaggia is combining its thirst for innovation with a respect for the traditional qualities Italians - and coffee drinkers all around the world - demand from their espresso.

The first Gaggia coffee machines took a giant step forward in the espresso's development, adding the thick "crema" and removing the burnt taste of what previously was a shot of strong coffee. Achille Gaggia, the company's founder, developed a machine that enriched the texture and complexity of flavour coffee drinkers demand from their cup today.

Gaggia innovates to overcome early problems

The problem with early espresso machines, Gaggia's included, was that they demanded a degree of skill and attention from the barista operating them. They could make great espressos, but they could also ruin them. And much of the coffee machine's subsequent development has been towards automatic machines that take the operator element - and the risk - out of making a Gaggia espresso.

Machines are now built with thermostats in the boiler to keep the water at its optimum temperature and with automatic pumps replacing the sprung levers that baristas used on Gaggia's first models. Many purists prefer Gaggia's spring lever espresso machines, but the developments have been widely welcomed by people who haven't got the time or inclination to go to the lengths demanded by lever machines.

Pods and capsules

But until now, many people have drawn the line at capsule technology. Capsules and pods, have been around for the past two decades, and provide a certain amount of pre-roast, pre-ground coffee that works in a certain machine.

There have traditionally been two drawbacks with this approach: firstly, many coffee drinkers want some involvement with the creation of their espresso - even if they don't want to risk ruining it with a manual lever machine. And secondly, pods and capsules don't allow for personal preference (stronger or weaker espressos, or longer or shorter drinks, for example).

Gaggia's capsule innovation

Gaggia's capsule innovation answered both problems. The company took two of its existing coffee machines, the Gaggia Baby and Gaggia Evolution, and converted them to take pre-sealed, vacuum-packed capsules which would make a perfect, standard cup of espresso.

The Gaggia machines can be used as normal espresso machines should the maker want to vary their drink or become more involved with the coffee making process. Brandrepublic.com welcomed the move, saying, "Gaggia's ethos of embracing change encouraged the brand to explore ways of combining an open coffee system with capsules, to extend consumer choice and enable customers to select precisely what went into each machine."

Gaggia coffee machines: available from Coffee Xclusive

Coffee Xclusive supplies a wide range of top-quality coffee machines for use in the home, the office, or for commercial purposes. We also provide coffee beans, pods and capsules along with all the accessories you need. To find out more, or to order online, just browse our website. We're always happy to answer any questions you might have - just fill in our online enquiry form on the Contact Us page.