Are you in the market for a new espresso machine? If you’re trying to decide between the Gaggia Anima Prestige vs Velasca Prestige, this blog is for you. Both machines are top-of-the-line espresso makers, and they each offer a unique set of features.
The Gaggia Anima Prestige espresso maker boasts a sleek, modern aesthetic alongside advanced features to produce perfectly crafted espressos. Its integrated ceramic burr grinder and pre-infusion system ensure optimal flavor extraction from each ground coffee dose, resulting in espressos with the ideal flavor profile and texture.
The Gaggia Velasca Prestige espresso machine offers convenience and versatility for home use through various technologies. A milk carafe allows it to automatically froth and integrate frothed milk into espresso-based drinks with one touch. Like its competitors, the machine provides multiple preprogrammed functions for popular beverages.
Gaggia Anima Prestige vs Velasca Prestige: Comparison Chart
Last update on 2023-09-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Gaggia Anima Prestige vs Velasca Prestige: Differences
The comparison between Gaggia Anima Prestige and Velasca Prestige is a close one. Both espresso machines offer powerful performance and a range of features. The best option for a machine ultimately depends on an individual’s preferences and needs.
Coffee flavor & brewing system
The winner: Gaggia Anima Prestige
Grind
Both espresso machines are equipped with a high-quality ceramic grinder. The ceramic material prevents heat transfer during grinding, ensuring the coffee beans are not overheated and the delicate flavors are preserved.
Besides, grind settings are important because they allow you to adjust the fineness or coarseness of your coffee beans, depending on your preference and the type of drink you want to make. An espresso with a finer grind will be stronger and more intense, while a coarser grind will produce a milder and smoother brew.
With Gaggia Anima Prestige, you can choose between five different grind settings. This gives you some flexibility to experiment with different levels of extraction and strength. However, five settings might not be enough for some coffee enthusiasts who want more control and precision over their grind.
Regarding the Velasca Prestige, you can choose from ten different grind settings that can be tailored to your coffee bean preferences and their quality. This range of options also makes it easier to adjust your grind to factors like humidity or the age of your beans compared to its rival.
Heating system and brewing technique
Both machines are equipped with a Thermoblock heating system and a pressure rating of 15 bar, which is essential for brewing a high-quality espresso.
A thermoblock can rapidly and efficiently heat the water to brew an ideal shot of espresso due to the limited amount of water flowing through the block at any given second. Additionally, the 15-bar pressure rating ensures that the water is pressed through the grounds with enough force to extract the perfect amount of flavor and oils from the coffee, further enhancing the overall taste and quality of the espresso.
Both the Gaggia Anima Prestige and Velasca Prestige models have a pre-brewing function. This technology allows the coffee grounds to be moistened before the brewing process begins, resulting in better extraction and a richer flavor. But the Velasca Prestige takes it a step further with three adjustable levels.
Milk system
The Gaggia Anima Prestige and Velasca Prestige models offer a convenient option for making cappuccinos and other beverages with their attachable carafe. Simply fill the carafe, place your cup, press the button, and let the machine do the work.
I was thoroughly impressed with the quality of the milk-based drinks on these machines. It’s not flawless, but considering its convenience, I think it’s a worthy tradeoff.
However, if you prefer your milk to be piping hot, Anima Prestige may fall short in this regard. Although the milk is warm, it’s not as hot as some people prefer. It’s suitable for a quick cup of coffee at home, but if you plan to take your coffee on the go, you may find it lacks the extra warmth you need.
Design and convenience
The winner: Gaggia Anima Prestige
Weight and dimension
When I compare espresso machines, one of the things I consider most is their size and weight. It’s essential to know how much space they occupy on my countertop and how easy they are to move around if I need to store or clean them. These are crucial factors, particularly if one has a small kitchen or limited storage space.
The Velasca Prestige measures 10.08 x 13.39 x 17.32 inches and weighs 20.7 pounds, while the Gaggia Anima Prestige measures 8.7 x 13.4 x 16.9 inches and weighs 19.2 pounds. This means that the Gaggia Anima Prestige is slightly smaller and lighter than the Velasca Prestige, which could make it more convenient to fit and handle.
Capacity
| Velasca Prestige | Anima Prestige | |
|---|---|---|
| Water tank | 54 oz | 60 oz |
| Bean hopper | 10.58 oz | 8.8 oz |
| Puck container | 10 pucks | 15 pucks |
Contrasting the Anima and Velasca Prestige reveals that the Anima has a larger water tank for increased coffee output. At the same time, the Velasca features a more spacious bean hopper for longer intervals between refills. Moreover, the Anima holds more used coffee grounds in its puck container, supporting more brew sessions before needing to be emptied.
Spout and cup clearance
Regarding the spout, the Velasca Prestige offers an adjustable height ranging from 70 to 110 millimeters. This flexibility accommodates various cup sizes, ensuring your favorite mug fits perfectly.
In contrast, the Gaggia Anima Prestige takes the spout game to the next level. With an adjustable height of 110 to 150 millimeters, it provides even more room to fit those taller mugs or glasses. This extra space can make all the difference if you like to savor a frothy cappuccino or a generous latte.
Drink options & programmability
Firstly, let’s talk about the variety of delicious beverages you can whip up. Both machines cater to the coffee enthusiast with a great range of drink options. With the Velasca Prestige, you can enjoy a classic espresso, an espresso lungo, a cappuccino, milk froth for all you creative baristas out there, a petite ‘baby cappuccino,’ or even just hot water for your tea.
Meanwhile, the Anima Prestige has similar offerings, but instead of a baby cappuccino, you’ll get to delight in a creamy latte macchiato. Not a bad trade-off if you ask me!
If one desires their coffee to be customized to their liking, programmability is an indispensable aspect. Rest easy because the Velasca and Anima Prestige are fully equipped with impressive customizable settings. You can select from 5 coffee strengths, 3 different coffee temperatures, and the length of milk and coffee.
Cleaning & maintenance
Tie!
First of all, both machines come with a water filter that helps prevent limescale buildup and improve the taste of your coffee. The Velasca Prestige uses the AQUACLEAN filter, which can filter up to 5000 cups of water before needing to be replaced. The Anima Prestige uses the INTENZA+ filter, which has an adjustable setting to match the hardness of your water.
But what about the milk carafe? That’s usually the trickiest part to clean, especially if you love frothy drinks. Well, both machines have a solution for that, too. They have automatic carafe cleaning options to maintain hygiene and functionality. You can do a quick rinse with hot water after each use of the carafe or a full carafe cleaning as needed.
Quick Rundown of Gaggia Velasca Prestige
- 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
- One touch brewing and frothing: bean-to-cup feature with automatic milk frothing for cappuccinos, baby cappuccinos, and milk froth
- Programmable: programmable brewing options for Espresso and Espresso Lungo, cappuccino, and milk froth, 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
Last update on 2023-09-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Quick Rundown of Gaggia Anima Prestige
- 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.Filter type:Reusable
- ONE TOUCH BREWING AND FROTHING: Bean-to-cup feature with automatic milk frothing for cappuccinos, macchiatos and lattes
- PROGRAMMABLE: Programmable brewing options for lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos and espresso
- 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
Last update on 2023-09-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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References:
Gaggia websites:
- https://www.gaggia.com/automatic-machines/velasca-prestige/
- https://www.gaggia.com/automatic-machines/anima-prestige/
I’m Floyd J. Alcock, an experienced barista with a deep love for coffee. I curate personalized coffee experiences, guiding customers through diverse flavor profiles and suggesting ideal brewing methods. My extensive knowledge of espresso machines enables me to recommend the best equipment to match specific needs and budgets. Sharing my expertise and passion with coffee enthusiasts brings immense satisfaction. I look forward to continuing my journey of coffee discovery with every customer I serve, fostering connections over a shared love for this magical beverage.