Gaggia Accademia vs Saeco Xelsis: Compare The 2 Advanced Espresso Machines

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In the competition of the super-automictic espresso machines, Gaggia Accademia vs Saeco Xelsis, it is hard to find the one with better performance. I decided to give this match a tie because each of the machines owns unique features for optimal performance and the best coffee drinks.

For the Gaggia Accademia, it is equipped with an 8-setting ceramic grinder, a dual-boiler heating system, adjustable pre-brewing settings, coffee strength and volume options, and a milk system with a manual steam wand for those enjoying making latte art. It also features an active cup warmer for you to pre-heat the cup, ensuring the hotness of your coffee.

Meanwhile, with the Saeco Xelsis, you have a ceramic grinder with 15 settings (that’s a lot!), a single-boiler thermoblock heating system, and programmable options for coffee drinks and milk froth. Though it doesn’t have an active cup warmer, it offers 6 user profiles for you to freely personalize your drink and store your programmed preferences in the machine menu.

Gaggia Accademia vs Saeco Xelsis: Comparision Chart

Image
TIE!
Gaggia 1003380 Accademia Espresso Machine,0.5 Liters, Silver
TIE!
PHILIPS Saeco Xelsis Super Automatic Espresso Machine - LatteDuo Milk System, 15 Coffee Varieties, 6 User Profiles, Touchscreen, Black & Titanium, (SM7684/04)
Model
Gaggia Accademia 1003380
Saeco Xelsis SM7684/04
Dimensions (LxWxH)
16.8 x 11.1 x 15.2 Inches
19.25 x 11.1 x 15.7 Inches
Color / Material
Silver / Plastic + Metal
Titanium Metal / Plastic + Metal
Weight / Power / Voltage
39.2 Pounds / 1500 W / 120 V
23.8 - 26.9 Pounds / 1400 W / 120 V
Water Tank Capacity
54 oz
57 oz
Bean Hopper Size
12 oz
16 oz
Grinder Material / Settings
Ceramic / 8 settings
Ceramic / 12 settings
Control Panel
LCD Display + Buttons
TFT Touch screen
Heating System
Dual-boiler
Single-boiler thermoblock
No. of Beverages
8
15
Pump Pressure
15 bar
15 bar
Adjustable Coffee Temperature
3
3
Adjustable Coffee Strength
3
5
Adjustable Milk Temperature & Foam
Active Cup Warmer
Pre Infusion
What I Like
Price
Price not available
$1,465.60
TIE!
Image
Gaggia 1003380 Accademia Espresso Machine,0.5 Liters, Silver
Model
Gaggia Accademia 1003380
Dimensions (LxWxH)
16.8 x 11.1 x 15.2 Inches
Color / Material
Silver / Plastic + Metal
Weight / Power / Voltage
39.2 Pounds / 1500 W / 120 V
Water Tank Capacity
54 oz
Bean Hopper Size
12 oz
Grinder Material / Settings
Ceramic / 8 settings
Control Panel
LCD Display + Buttons
Heating System
Dual-boiler
No. of Beverages
8
Pump Pressure
15 bar
Adjustable Coffee Temperature
3
Adjustable Coffee Strength
3
Adjustable Milk Temperature & Foam
Active Cup Warmer
Pre Infusion
What I Like
Price
Price not available
More Info
TIE!
Image
PHILIPS Saeco Xelsis Super Automatic Espresso Machine - LatteDuo Milk System, 15 Coffee Varieties, 6 User Profiles, Touchscreen, Black & Titanium, (SM7684/04)
Model
Saeco Xelsis SM7684/04
Dimensions (LxWxH)
19.25 x 11.1 x 15.7 Inches
Color / Material
Titanium Metal / Plastic + Metal
Weight / Power / Voltage
23.8 - 26.9 Pounds / 1400 W / 120 V
Water Tank Capacity
57 oz
Bean Hopper Size
16 oz
Grinder Material / Settings
Ceramic / 12 settings
Control Panel
TFT Touch screen
Heating System
Single-boiler thermoblock
No. of Beverages
15
Pump Pressure
15 bar
Adjustable Coffee Temperature
3
Adjustable Coffee Strength
5
Adjustable Milk Temperature & Foam
Active Cup Warmer
Pre Infusion
What I Like
Price
$1,465.60
More Info

Last update on 2024-10-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Gaggia Accademia vs Saeco Xelsis: Differences

I decided to give it a tie for Gaggia Accademia vs Saeco Xelsis competition because each machine features unique settings and equipment that contribute to making the coffee taste better with a touch of a button. The grinder on the Saeco Xelsis is better but the Gaggia Accademia provides a greater milk system.

Their brewing systems have good performance to extract the good coffee taste. They also provide the user with adjustable setting options for dialing suitable coffee references.

Grinder

Winner: Saeco Xelsis

Between Gaggia Accademia vs Saeco Xelsis grinders, the Xelsis offers a more adjustable grinder than the Accademia does. Though these machines feature ceramic grinders, the one on Xelsis has up to 12 grind settings. Meanwhile, the Accademia grinder has 8 settings for the grind fineness.

This 4-level difference can make a greater difference in the coffee flavor as the Xelsis can make finer grinds for more robust coffee tastes.

Brewing system & Coffee flavor

Tie!

Saeco Xelsis cappuccino setting options
Saeco Xelsis cappuccino setting options

Heating system

The Gaggia Accademia is the winner in this category because it features the dual-boiler type. This means the machine has one boiler for brewing and another for frothing or steaming milk, so it can heat up the milk to the desired temperature much faster, nearly immediately. As a result, the time for making milk-based drinks is faster, which is very useful when I need to make several servings at one time.

Saeco Xelsis uses a thermoblock heating element, which is known for its quick heating time for the water. However, the time switching between steaming and brewing is a bit longer than that of a dual-boiler system.

It is because the Xelsis needs to cool down and reheat the water to reach the desired temperature for specific processes. Thus, I see that there is some water pushed out into my cup before the machine starts adding the milk.

Coffee drinks’ programmable options

In terms of options for programming the coffee drinks, the Saeco Xelsis is a bit better. The Saeco Xelsis offers 3 programmable coffee temperatures, 5 adjustable coffee strengths, 3 levels of adjustable coffee taste, and 3 levels for adjusting the milk foam. In addition, it also has 15 drink types, which is more than the number that the Gaggia Accademia offers.

Gaggia Accademia drink customization options
Gaggia Accademia drink customization options

On the other hand, the Gaggia Accademia has about 8 programmable drinks, 3 levels of coffee strengths, 3 levels of milk foam, and 3 levels of coffee temperature. Though these settings have fewer options than that on the Saeco Xelsis, the Gaggia Accademia features an adjustable 3-level pre-brewing setting that enables you to control the time of pre-infusion.

If the pre-brewing time is long, the coffee extract will be richer and stronger, compared to short-time pre-brewing. 

Additionally, the Gaggia Accademia also has a flow knob to control the speed of the coffee flow. The slower coffee will result in a full-bodied and richer taste, while the faster flow will give a lighter flavor to the coffee.

Coffee flavor

When I brewed my coffee with these two machines, I feel that the flavor is relatively the same. Both can produce good crema, full-bodied, and robust taste. The shortcoming of fewer options for coffee settings in the Gaggia Accademia can be compromised by adjusting the flow knob to get the best taste. So, it is a tie for me in this round.

Milk system

Winner: Gaggia Accademia

Additional manual steam wand

I choose the Gaggia Accademia as the winner for this category owing to its additional manual steam wand. This is very useful when I want to learn to make latte art. If you are someone who loves latte art and wants to make it with a fully-automatic espresso machine, the Gaggia Accademia is a great option to go for!

Quick Rundown Of Gaggia Accademia 1003380

Gaggia 1003380 Accademia Espresso Machine,0.5 Liters, Silver
  • Adjustable telescopic coffee dispenser with a maximum height of a little over 6-1/2-inch to accommodate a wide variety of cup sizes
  • Milk carafe capacity 0,6 L.Ceramic burr grinder with integrated bean hopper and double lid aroma saver
  • Integrated coffee grounds container, removable from the front
  • Programmable coffee quantity - from 7 to 10-cup
  • Pre-brewing system for maximum flavor extraction.Materials and finishing:metal painted/stainless steel

Last update on 2024-10-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Has active cup warmer
  • Can adjust the pre-brewing setting
  • Features dual-boiler heating system
  • Has manual steam wand for latte art
  • Can adjust the speed of coffee flow for lighter or richer taste
Cons
  • Has limited grind settings
  • Only adjust 3 coffee strength

Quick Rundown Of Saeco Xelsis SM7864/04

PHILIPS Saeco Xelsis Super Automatic Espresso Machine - LatteDuo Milk System, 15 Coffee Varieties, 6 User Profiles, Touchscreen, Black & Titanium, (SM7684/04)
  • With Philips Saeco Xelsis easily make up to 15 coffee varieties from common Espresso and Capuccino to specialty coffees like Flat White or Americano. Simply swipe the touchscreen to select the drink and customize it with our intuitive Coffee Equalizer.Filter type:Reusable.Power consumption stand-by : 0.5W, Drip tray capacity : 500 ml
  • 15 Coffee Varieties at Your Fingertips: Explore the world of coffee - Espresso, cappuccino, macchiato, and a range of specialty drinks
  • Personalized Preferences: Everyone’s custom coffee favorites can be saved in up to 6 user profiles for instant selection. Personalize each profile down to the finest detail
  • LatteDuo Milk System: Prepare and enjoy single or double serving of any coffee recipe with one touch, including Cappuccino or Latte Macchiato
  • Double Thermo Blocks: Dedicated for both brewing and steaming offer accurate temperature controls for every drink in your recipe book

Last update on 2024-10-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Has up to 6 user profiles for saving personalized coffee settings
  • Has 15 programmable drinks
  • Can adjust more coffee strength levels than the Gaggia Accademia
  • Features 12 settings for grind fineness
Cons
  • Do not have an active cup warmer

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References

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