Gaggia Anima Prestige vs Saeco Incanto: 2 Akin Models – Which Performs More Smoothly?

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Gaggia Anima Prestige vs Saeco Incanto was tough to compare initially, but the result came out clear after a few months of daily brewing. And my final chosen winner for this debate is Gaggia Anima Prestige, all thanks to its quite stable operation and ergonomic design.

Regarding the winner Gaggia Anima Prestige, the greatest cappuccino you’ve ever had from a mid-range machine will be produced by this model. It has perfect milk foam and espresso flavor, and the temperature is just right for a good morning. I believe the leak-free operation will impress you as well, especially if you have had experience with one that leaks and requires constant water tank refill.

As for Saeco Incanto, it can brew very sweet and balanced espresso and froth fluffy milk foam. But the machine has some flaws that diminish its design’s value. The water tank leaks into the dreg drawer, and the drip tray is always full are some errors that the device manifests.

Gaggia Anima Prestige vs Saeco Incanto: Comparison Chart

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THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Saeco Incanto Carafe Super Automatic Espresso Machine with AquaClean filter, Stainless Steel, HD8917/48
Model
Saeco Incanto
Dimensions (LxWxH)
8.5 x 16.9 x 13 inches
Color / Material
Silver/ Stainless Steel + Plastic
Water Tank Capacity
61 oz
Weight / Power / Voltage
15.8 Pounds/ 1600W/ 230V
Bean Hopper Size
8.8 oz
Grinder type
Ceramic disc grinder
Grind Settings
5 settings
Heating system
Single boiler
Milk-based one-touch beverages
Leak-free
Clean/ descale indicator
Adjustable temperature
Milk frother
Milk carafe
Programmable Drinks
4
Used coffee drawer capacity
Up to 15 servings
What I Like
Price
Price not available
More Info
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Image
Saeco Incanto Carafe Super Automatic Espresso Machine with AquaClean filter, Stainless Steel, HD8917/48
Model
Saeco Incanto
Dimensions (LxWxH)
8.5 x 16.9 x 13 inches
Color / Material
Silver/ Stainless Steel + Plastic
Water Tank Capacity
61 oz
Weight / Power / Voltage
15.8 Pounds/ 1600W/ 230V
Bean Hopper Size
8.8 oz
Grinder type
Ceramic disc grinder
Grind Settings
5 settings
Heating system
Single boiler
Milk-based one-touch beverages
Leak-free
Clean/ descale indicator
Adjustable temperature
Milk frother
Milk carafe
Programmable Drinks
4
Used coffee drawer capacity
Up to 15 servings
What I Like
Price
Price not available
More Info

Last update on 2024-12-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Gaggia Anima Prestige vs Saeco Incanto: Differences

Gaggia Anima Prestige wins 2-1 against Saeco Incanto. It boasts better temperature performance, richer espresso flavor, and a leak-free water tank! These are some convenient details that Saeco Incanto doesn’t or barely has.

Espresso extraction

Winner: Gaggia Anima Prestige

Temperature control

The heating system used by Gaggia Anima Prestige and Saeco Incanto is a single boiler. I’m content with what they’ve provided thus far.

But Anima Prestige warms up a lot faster. It takes about 12 to 15 seconds to get ready for extraction. The results are outstanding as well. I can create hot espresso using this device. My thermometer revealed that the beverages reached a temperature of 175–182°F. I would recommend it just because of this model’s incredible heat performance.

Gaggia Anima Prestige heats up very quickly
Gaggia Anima Prestige heats up very quickly

As for Saeco Incanto, this device can also extract hot espresso at around the same temperature as Anima Prestige. But it takes more time to bring water to such a temperature. I usually leave it on for 1-2 minutes for a good starter.

Brewing technique

This pair employs a 15-bar pump to extract espresso and variable aroma strength for adjustment. With the flexible programmability and potent pressure work, it’s easy to get the right espresso flavor to anyone’s liking.

With Gaggia Accademia Prestige, I have been able to make bold espresso and prominent flavor notes, from chocolaty to nutty. Light and medium roasts work divine with this model, as they are with most espresso machines. This one’s grinder doesn’t work great with oily dark roasts, so the flavor comes out either watered-down or burnt.

Gaggia Accademia PRestige delivers amazing espresso. Does this imply that Saeco Incanto is incapable of brewing tasty coffee? Not at all! The most significant difference I can identify, though, is Saeco Incanto’s greater aptitude for smoother espresso. This indicates that the bitter note isn’t very pronounced and that the flavors are more on the sweeter side. This model is ideal for coffee enthusiasts who dislike strong espresso.

Grinder’s performance

Winner: Saeco Incanto

Surprisingly, Saeco Incanto boasts a more stable ceramic conical burr grinder. What I notice with Gaggia Anima Prestige isn’t the fineness or evenness’s performance. Rather it was something to do with the bean hopper and bean feeding.

Saeco Incanto has a stable ceramic conical burr grinder
Saeco Incanto has a stable ceramic conical burr grinder

The Anima Prestige requires the bean hopper to be filled entirely to feed beans correctly. When it’s half full, I have to manually push the beans around for them to get into the grinding chamber. Other than that, there isn’t anything bad about the grinder.

There are 5 grinder settings with both devices. It’s not too few but not too variable, either. I usually set the ground level at 4 or 5 to get a bolder flavor.

Water tank capacity and water control

Winner: Gaggia Anima Prestige

Due to the major similarity in their design, it’s not surprising that they share the same water tank capacity that can hold up to 61 oz of water, requiring moderate refills. Or so I thought…

After brewing and frothing milk with them for months, I notice something about Saeco Incanto. And that is the machine running out of water before Gaggia Anima Prestige despite brewing the same recipes and running the same cleaning cycles.

And the cause behind this is the leaking problem that the device currently suffers. It’s not rare for me to find the drip tray and the dreg drawer full of water. This makes it almost certain that I must refill at least once daily if I intend to brew during the day. I checked the water tank placement without being able to detect the real issue behind it. So sending the machine back for warranty will be my prioritized option now.

Gaggia Anima Prestige vs Saeco Incanto: Similarities

There are some convenient features that both Gaggia Anima Prestige and Saeco Incanto share. Check them out below!

4 preset drinks

These models share the same set of preset drinks that users can brew with a single touch of a button: espresso, espresso lungo, cappuccino, and latte macchiato. I don’t mention non-coffee drinks like portions of milk or hot water, but those are things you can get with the one-touch selection as well. Some may say there aren’t enough pre-programmed beverages, but I think the collection covers each coffee drinker’s most basic yet variable needs.

Gaggia Anima Prestige boasts 4 one-touch beverages
Gaggia Anima Prestige boasts 4 one-touch beverages

Milk foam texture

With the automatic carafes, I have gotten my hands on velvety and airy foam with these devices’ cappuccino and latte macchiato. I can also adjust the milk length, but I still would like to have access to more programmable factors, like milk texture or temperature. But overall, the milk systems convince me, and I think the pair will make a great home appliance for beginners in the espresso world.

Quick Rundown Of Gaggia Anima Prestige

No products found.

Pros
  • Espresso with all the taste nuances.
  • Auto-purge and auto-descaling are efficient
  • May use its carafe to froth microfoam
  • A modern machine with an easy-to-use interface
  • One-touch cappuccino and latte macchiato are delicious
Cons
  • Beans don’t feed into grinder when half-full

Quick Rundown Of Saeco Incanto

Saeco Incanto Carafe Super Automatic Espresso Machine with AquaClean filter, Stainless Steel, HD8917/48
  • Elegant design, best materials, and high quality workmanship
  • Creamy cappuccino and latte macchiato at the touch of a button thanks to detachable, hygienic milk carafe
  • Professional disc grinder made of 100% ceramic for consistent performance and natural taste
  • Easy maintenance and cleaning thanks to removable brewing unit and automatic cleansing and descaling procedures
  • Large capacities in compact design: 8.8 ounce bean container, 15x waste container; 60.9 ounce

Last update on 2024-12-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros
  • Hot coffee temperature
  • Elaborate alert system that updates on the device’s real-time condition
  • 4 preset drinks with milk-based recipes
  • Full and aromatic coffees
  • Quiet operation during the bean grinding step
Cons
  • Leaking problem
  • Less coffee crema than Gaggia Anima Prestige

Product Video

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