I researched long and hard before buying this fully automatic espresso machine. I read every consumer review (there weren't many since the machine is so new) and watched every Youtube video, of which there are several. Here are the reasons why I bought this one: The Anima is manufactured by Gaggia, an espresso machine company in Milan, Italy with over 50 years of experience making commercial and domestic espresso machines. Today Gaggia is owned by SAECO International Group, another espresso machine maker with an excellent reputation.SAECO is owned by the giant Dutch conglomerate Phillips. If you compare Gagia and Saeco machines side by side you will see that several models contain similar DNA. Parts appear interchangeable and menu operations look alike. Interestingly, Saeco espresso models with features similar to the Gaggia Anima, appear to be priced higher than the Gaggia. Anyway, Gaggia espresso machines, including their fully automatic models, tend to receive high marks by Amazon reviewers and others on consumer and coffee related websites. The Anima Prestige was introduced in the fall of 2015 and is the top model in Gaggia's new Anima line of automatic espresso machines. The three new Anima machines are publicized as the "soul of Gaggia" and the accumulation of 75 years of experience "finally combined in one coffee machine." Based on the machines features, it appears these advertising boasts may be truthful. Here are some features that make the Anima espresso machines stand out: First, the Anima performs pre-infusion before making espresso. That means it wets the ground coffee for a few seconds before it begins the pressure cycle that makes the espresso. According to espresso experts pre-wetting the coffee puck assures a better shot. Second, you can adjust the "strength" of your espresso by changing the coffee dosage from 6.5 to 11 grams. This means no more mediocre or underwhelming espresso shots. It is a great feature if you like strong straight espresso or stronger milk based drink. Third, you can change the water temperature to assure a hot drink. You can adjust the water temperature to as high as 184.5 F. Hence, there should be no need to nuke your espresso or milk based drink in the microwave to make it hot. The Anima also has a ceramic burr grinder. Ceramic burr grinders are considered one of the best types of espresso grinders for producing a traditional espresso flavor profile. Build quality - The one thing I hate about buying expensive items on-line is that you can't truly judge the quality of the product until after you pay and it is delivered. Here are my observations about the Gaggia Anima Prestige: It was boxed carefully and arrived undamaged. Overall, the machine exudes high quality. All metal and plastic parts on the machine fit together well and it has an overall solid feel. One of the best compliments I can give the machine is that my wife said it "looks nice" on the counter. This is from a woman who wants no coffee gear left out after it is used. In summary, in this case it appears the old sayings applies...."You get what you pay for." I paid for a quality espresso machine and that's what I got. Coffee brewing first impressions - Setting up the machine for first use was a bit confusing. I had to read the manual several times and “I think” I got it right. At first I had an issue with the grinder. It wasn't grinding any beans and the first few espresso shots came out looking like dirty water. I made an adjustment to the grind setting and the problem went away. I then made 3 straight espresso shots and each was better than the last. Crema was not too thick, but thick enough. The shots were more satisfying than any I have ever made with my Nespresso machine using a wide selection of Nespresso capsules. After making a few straight espresso shots I fired up the milk frother and made a cappuccino. It was excellent, much better than I expected. The Anima Prestige produced nice steamed milk with a fairly thick top layer of milk. The temperature of the drink was perfect, meaning hot but not too hot. As I mentioned earlier one reason I bought this machine was because you can adjust the quantity of beans you grind to make stronger shots. Since I typically prefer powerful Cuban coffee, this was important to me. I put the bean count on the menu screen to 4 out of 5 and made an espresso. I am happy to report it was strong. In fact, I had to back the bean count down to 3. That is a good thing because now I know if I need a power shot, no problem. In summary, I am very happy with my purchase. While the Anima may not produce as high a quality shot as a Barista might, it meets my needs 100%. To see a few excellent videos about the Gaggia Anima line of espresso machines, visit [...] and enter Gaggia Anima in the search box. The website is user friendly and they know lots about espresso machines. FYI, I have no personal interest in the website other than as a consumer. Update: Today is December 8, 2016. I have owed my Gaggia Anima Prestige for exactly 1 year as of today. I am happy to report the machine has operated flawlessly since purchase. On average I prepare 5 espresso shots a week. That equates to about 260 shots a year. Here are a few observations: I clean the workings in the machine after every use by flushing the brew group under the kitchen faucet. Being retired, I have time to empty the used coffee puck and clean the machine that frequently. The machine, while easy to use, does leave a small amount of coffee grinds in the brew group and a small bit of water in the plastic tray under the barista part. Small amounts of coffee grinds always have to be wiped away. Personally, I don’t think I would want to wait until a week has passed to clean things up. Also, after about 9 months I noticed my machine made a stressing sound as if plastic was rubbing against plastic. I applied the supplied grease to the moving parts described in the manual and that took care of that problem. So, if your machine sounds like it is straining, grease it up. There are youtube videos that will show you what to do if you are not sure. Mark Update: Today is June 13, 2017. Six months since the last update. Only thing to report is that the Gaggia Anima Prestige is still operating flawlessly. Update: Today is July 10, 2018. I can’t believe I have owned this machine for almost 2 1/2 years. A few comments and observations.... I typically make one espresso a day and the Gaggia continues to operate flawlessly. I clean the brewing head when I am finished with my coffee. Being retired, I have time to fuss with it. I lubricate the brew head about once every 6-9 months. This is no big deal and is easy to do. I have not descaled the machine because I use filtered water and the machine has not yet indicated it is time to descale. If you are considering buying this machine, here is a bit of good news. I paid about $1,300.00 U.S. for the Gaggia Anima Prestige and today you can buy it new for $999.00. To me that is a huge savings. I still highly recommend this machine. Mark Update - May, 2022. Anima Prestige still going strong. Not much more to say. Lol Update - January, 2023 - Anima Prestige still going strong. While I still prefer a straight shot of espresso, many guests ask for milk based drinks. The Anima Prestige has proven to be a winner in this area as well. Love this machine. Update - May, 2023 - Can’t believe I have owned this machine for over 7 years. Still going strong, and still love it. The reason for this update is to comment on its current price in this Amazon listing - $699.00. I paid $1,300.00 for it back in 2015. At $699.00 this IS A STEAL.
