Gaggia Velasca Vs Anima: Espresso Or Milk-based Drinks?

Gaggia Velasca Vs Anima

The Gaggia Velasca vs Anima match-off of two pioneers of two popular super-automatic lines from Gaggia. Believing that a quality espresso shot is the base of all good things, I pick the Velasca to be the winner.

The Velasca focuses on its espresso. It holds more beans, offers more grind sizes, and includes an AquaClean water filter. With this model, you can tune your shots just right to your taste.

Meanwhile, the Anima leans to milk-based drinks. Therefore, it has greater cup clearance and stores more water. You don’t need to constantly refill the water reservoir or find an extra-wide cup when making a Macchiato or a Galão. 

Gaggia Velasca Vs Anima – Differences

There is quite a bit of similarity in their brewing unit and programmability. The distinction lies in their hardware and design choices.

The Velasca can help you prepare a number of milk-based drinks, but its specialization is espresso. It covers every aspect of good extraction, from fine ground to clean water. 

If you are a fan of tall drinks, the Anima is for you. Making a Latte to go with your travel cup is never more convenient. You will get more storage capacity and cup clearance.

Through three rounds, the former machine clutched a close victory with a 2-1 score.

Product
Gaggia Velasca
Gaggia Anima
Image
Gaggia Velasca Espresso Machine,54 ounces Black
Gaggia Anima Coffee and Espresso Machine, Includes Steam Wand for Manual Frothing for Lattes and Cappuccinos with Programmable Options,Black
Coffee beans capacity
0.7 pounds
0.6 pounds
Water tank capacity
51 ounces
61 ounces
Water tank refill
Frontal
Top
Coffee pucks capacity
10 coffee pucks
15 coffee pucks
Built-in grinder
Grinder setting
10 levels
5 levels
Interface
LCD + Buttons
LCD + Buttons
Heating system
Stainless steel boiler
Stainless steel boiler
Auto rinsing
Auto descaling
Milk frothing system
Panarello steam wand
Panarello steam wand
Removable drip tray
Adjustable cup spout
2.8-4.3 inches
4.3-5.9 inches
Included water filter
Pre-infusion
User rating
-
-
Price
$499.00
$725.45
Product
Gaggia Velasca
Image
Gaggia Velasca Espresso Machine,54 ounces Black
Coffee beans capacity
0.7 pounds
Water tank capacity
51 ounces
Water tank refill
Frontal
Coffee pucks capacity
10 coffee pucks
Built-in grinder
Grinder setting
10 levels
Interface
LCD + Buttons
Heating system
Stainless steel boiler
Auto rinsing
Auto descaling
Milk frothing system
Panarello steam wand
Removable drip tray
Adjustable cup spout
2.8-4.3 inches
Included water filter
Pre-infusion
User rating
-
Price
$499.00
More info
Product
Gaggia Anima
Image
Gaggia Anima Coffee and Espresso Machine, Includes Steam Wand for Manual Frothing for Lattes and Cappuccinos with Programmable Options,Black
Coffee beans capacity
0.6 pounds
Water tank capacity
61 ounces
Water tank refill
Top
Coffee pucks capacity
15 coffee pucks
Built-in grinder
Grinder setting
5 levels
Interface
LCD + Buttons
Heating system
Stainless steel boiler
Auto rinsing
Auto descaling
Milk frothing system
Panarello steam wand
Removable drip tray
Adjustable cup spout
4.3-5.9 inches
Included water filter
Pre-infusion
User rating
-
Price
$725.45
More info

Coffee Brewing Quality

The Winner: Gaggia Velasca

What brings a great brewing result? You will need a good coffee ground, purified water, and a good brewing system. 

The two machines both use a stainless steel single boiler and a 15-bar pump system. That is a good start. Stainless steel does not heat up very quickly but is reliable. Fifteen bars is more than enough for a nice cup of espresso. 

They also share the Gaggia Adapting System. According to Gaggia, it will figure out the optimal setting for your ground after a number of extractions. Whether that means grind time, dosing, or tamping, right now, remains ambiguous.

Now it comes down to the coffee ground and purified water. Here is where Valesca shines.

Its ceramic grinder has five more levels than its opponent’s, allowing you to dial in the best coarseness for your personal taste.

This model also comes with an AquaClean water filter. A water filter will not just make your coffee taste better but reduce the need for descaling as well.

The other machine is also compatible with a water filter, INTENZA+, to be specific. But it does not have a filter as an accessory. So you will have to spend some extra money.

Thanks to a better grinder and an attached water filter Velasca scored the first point.

Milk System

The Winner: It is a tie

Their steam wands have different colors but that was as far as the diversion goes. They both are Panarello steam wands. This type of wand enhances the steaming ability of your boiler and pump with an air hole.

Through this hole, it sucks and injects air into your milk while steaming. In this way, your heating system does not need to produce two or three strong jets of steam like with commercial steam wands.

A Panarello wand does not promise the best quality foam but it can give entry-level latte art foam once you get the hang of it.

Utilities

The Winner: Gaggia Anima

The two models are super-automatic but not one-touch. You can have them make an Espresso or a Lungo with a push of a button. To make a Cappuccino or a Flat White, you need to pull up the menu.

They both allow users to program numerous varieties while brewing. You can adjust the aroma strength (coffee quantity), coffee temperature, and length. Water hardness is also adjustable for their descaling modes.

That was their software. When it comes to their hardware, there is quite a bit of difference.

The Velasca’s larger beans container allows you to make about seven more single shots. Its water tank has convenient frontal access.

Meanwhile, its opponent has a larger water tank of 10 oz to fill up an Americano or a Long Black. Tall cups also go in easier under the Anima’s spout. The minimum height of its spout is the maximum height of the other unit’s nozzle. There is more space in its pucks container as well.

Based on the number of advantages of each machine, it would be fair to give this round to the Anima.

Cleaning And Maintenance

The Winner: Gaggia Velasca

Coming from one manufacturer, the cleaning and maintenance requirements of the two models are largely the same. However, carrying out these duties with the Velasca is easier for first-time users.

It is because of its intuitive manual. Every cleaning step is listed and numbered logically and clearly. You will have no trouble moving from one task to another.

Unlike it, the Anima’s manual employs cryptic symbols for its lists. Also, those lists often get interrupted by overlong warning sentences.

The included AquaClean of the Velasca is another reason for the unit to win this round. It reduces minerals in your water. With it, you can save money on descaling solutions and effort on descaling routines.

Short Summary

Quick Rundown: Gaggia Velasca

Gaggia Velasca Vs Anima

Gaggia Velasca Espresso Machine,54 ounces Black
  • Manual frothing for milk-based drinks: Pannarello steam wand for frothing milk
  • Programmable: programmable brewing options for Espresso and Espresso Lungo with 3 different temperature settings
  • Ceramic burr grinder and brew unit: ceramic burr grinder with 10 fineness settings, 5 brew strength settings, and bean hopper with 10.5oz capacity
  • Front loaded water reservoir: features a 54oz capacity and pulls out from the front of the machine, ideal for low hanging cabinets

Pros:

  • More flexible grinder
  • Includes a water filter
  • Bigger beans hopper
  • Easy-to-access frontal water tank
  • Intuitive manual
  • Pre-infusion

Cons:

  • Smaller water tank
  • Smaller pucks container
  • Less cup clearance

>> Read Customer Reviews: Here <<

Quick Rundown: Gaggia Anima

Gaggia Velasca Vs Anima

Sale
Gaggia Anima Coffee and Espresso Machine, Includes Steam Wand for Manual Frothing for Lattes and Cappuccinos with Programmable Options,Black
  • 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

Pros:

  • Larger water reservoir
  • Holds more coffee pucks
  • Higher coffee spout
  • Pre-infusion
  • Milk-based drinks oriented

Cons:

  • Holds fewer beans
  • Offers fewer grind sizes
  • Requires more top clearance to refill water
  • No included water filter

> Read Customer Reviews: Here <<

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