Lately, I've been reviewing quite a few super automatic espresso machines in the $1,500 to $2,000 price range, which is why this Gaggia Naviglio Milk review will come as a welcome relief to some of you. In particular, I'm thinking about those of you who've been trying to decide between buying a new coffee maker and taking a vacation.
Lately, I’ve been reviewing quite a few super automatic espresso machines in the $1,500 to $2,000 price range, which is why this Gaggia Naviglio Milk review will come as a welcome relief to some of you. In particular, I’m thinking about those of you who’ve been trying to decide between buying a new coffee maker and taking a vacation.
The Gaggia Naviglio Milk is an entry level automatic espresso machine that’ll set you back $599.00 on Amazon. Sure, that’s still a decent amount of money, but it’s an entirely reasonable amount to pay for what you’ll get. Plus, you might still be able to take that Carribean cruise you’ve been planning!
You get a lot for your money
Gaggia Naviglio Milk
A good balance of price and features
Very affordable automatic coffee maker
Automatic and manual milk froth options
Quick heat boiler
Easy to clean
User friendly interface
No adjustable coffee temperature
No bypass doser
Table of Contents
Gaggia Naviglio Milk Overview
Launched at the start of 2020, the Gaggia Naviglio Milk is one of the manufacturer’s most affordable automatic coffee makers. That doesn’t mean you won’t get excellent results from the Naviglio Milk, though. If the other Gaggia offerings in my best automatic coffee machine guide 2024 are anything to go by, the Italian manufacturer continues to show a commitment to high quality espresso and milk production.
The Naviglio Milk is a compact coffee maker featuring a low-key, streamlined design. There’s nothing flashy about this machine and I imagine it’ll slot nicely into your kitchen without making your other appliances feel unworthy.
As you’d expect from an automatic coffee machine at this price point, there’s plenty of plastic in evidence. That said, the drip tray cover is made from stainless steel, which is a relief. Anyway, the Naviglio Milk strikes me as a sturdy and well made machine, which is to be expected from Gaggia.
Gaggia Naviglio Milk First Impressions
Front and center lies the machine’s user interface which comprises backlit buttons and a large dial for adjusting brew strength. There’s no screen and certainly no app to worry about, which is fine with me. So far, so intuitive and straightforward.
What really sets the Naviglio Milk apart from the competition is its automatic milk frothing system. From what I can gather, the Gaggia stands alone in offering an automatic frother at this price point. The manufacturer has christened the Naviglio Milk’s automatic frother the Capp-in-Cupp system, which is catchy I suppose. I’ll take a closer look a little later.
Overall, my first impressions of the Naviglio Milk tell me that we’re looking at a real contender for a best in class machine. However, I don’t want to speak too soon, so let’s continue this Gaggia Naviglio Milk review by digging a little deeper into what the machine can do.
Gaggia Naviglio Milk Features
Just because you’re buying an affordable, entry level super automatic espresso machine doesn’t mean you shouldn’t expect a range of useful features. Otherwise, you might as well just stick with a moka pot and a milk frother! Let’s take a look at what the Gaggia Naviglio Milk brings to the table.
User Interface
As I mentioned earlier, the Naviglio Milk has really got it dialed in when it comes to the user interface. Sorry, I just couldn’t resist!
Anyway, the user interface allows you access to all the information you need via LED backlit buttons with clear icons. Those of you for whom searching through endless touch screen menus seems like a nightmare will find the Naviglio Milk’s user interface a dream come true!
Ceramic Grinder
Like all other Gaggia super automatics I’ve seen, the Naviglio Milk is equipped with a ceramic flat burr grinder with five grind settings. I’m a big fan of ceramic burrs because they’re quiet, consistent and they help cut down on heat transfer while grinding. That’s a big win for your coffee beans.
While the limited number of grinder settings might seem alarming at first, it’s good to remember that most super automatics don’t perform well using coffee that’s too finely ground, anyway. When a manufacturer talks up a 12 setting built in grinder on a budget machine, you can almost guarantee it’s a cynical marketing ploy.
The main downside to the Naviglio Milk’s grinder is the fiddly way in which you change the grind setting – namely by using an allen key. Then again, you can’t have everything, especially at this price point.
Milk Froth
The Capp-in-Cupp automatic milk system is actually pretty cool and allows you to prepare true one-touch milk specialties at the press of a button. In fact, it’s one of the most interesting features I looked at in this Gaggia Naviglio Milk review. As the name implies, we’re talking about cappuccino foam here, so lovers of fine microfoam might be a little disappointed.
On the other hand, if you’re willing to go the extra mile and froth milk by hand, you can bypass the Capp-in-Cup entirely and use the included pannarello wand. Manual frothing should give you a little more control over the texture of your milk foam, allowing you to whip up a beautiful latte macchiato or flat white. Heck, you can even create milk froth for a hot chocolate!
Memo Function
While the Naviglio Milk doesn’t offer user profiles or complex programmability, you can still customize your coffee creations. Not only that, the Memo function means the machine will remember your settings for next time.
Activating the Memo function is as easy as pressing and holding the espresso button or cappuccino button, then pressing again once you’re happy with the volume of coffee or milk that’s been dispensed.
What it won’t do is remember more than one person’s settings at a time. So, if your spouse or roommate comes behind you and saves a memo of their settings, yours will be lost. That’s the basic difference between a memo function and user profiles.
Aroma Intensity
This is where the large rotary dial on front of the machine comes in. You can choose between three aroma intensity settings, each of which adjusts the amount of ground coffee used in espresso preparation. In combination with your grinder setting and volume of water used, the aroma intensity dial gives you an impressive amount of control over your espresso extraction and coffee flavor preference.
Brew Group
If you aren’t familiar with super automatics, you might not know that the brew group is akin to the machine’s beating heart. This awesome piece of equipment is where the machine tamps and brews coffee and you should treat it with the care and respect it deserves.
The Naviglio Milk is equipped with an easily removable brew group that’s accessed via a door on the side of the machine. This makes it easy to keep the inner workings of the Gaggia clean and in good working order.
Boiler
The Gaggia Naviglio Milk’s boiler is one of its more impressive features, especially since this machine costs well under $1,000. Thanks to its stainless steel lined aluminum construction, the boiler heats up quickly and can maintain the necessary temperature for brewing espresso and frothing milk. With that said, if you’re preparing multiple drinks in a row you’ll most likely have to practice a little patience!
Cup Height
As with most automatic coffee makers, you can adjust the Gaggia’s coffee dispensing spout up or down to accommodate different sized cups. I find this especially useful for espresso preparation, when it’s important to preserve the crema by bringing the height adjustable spouts as far down as possible. The Naviglio Milk delivers in that regard, but the maximum spout height of 4.3 inches (11 centimeters) means you’ll have a hard time brewing into taller glasses or insulated coffee mugs.
How to Use the Gaggia Naviglio Milk
I’m fairly certain you won’t be surprised to hear that this Gaggia super automatic espresso machine is remarkably easy to set up and use. We are talking about an entry level automatic coffee maker, after all.
In fact, I’d be willing to wager that anyone could start getting pretty great coffee and milk drinks out of this thing with the minimum of fuss.
Start by filling the removable water reservoir and adding coffee beans to the hopper on top of the machine. May I kindly remind you to use freshly roasted, high quality beans from a small batch roaster – what you get out of the Gaggia will only be as good as what you put in!
Before using the Naviglio Milk for the first time you’ll need to prime the machine and perform a couple of rinsing functions. I won’t bore you with the details here, but the instruction manual provides clear and easy to follow instructions.
Drink Preparation
Making coffee with the Naviglio Milk really is as easy as pressing a button, but you’ll most likely have to spend some time experimenting until you find your ideal settings. I recommend starting with a fine grind and setting the aroma intensity dial to the highest setting.
Remember to only make changes to the grind settings when the grinder is running and avoid using oily beans. Trust me, the last thing you want is a clogged up grinder.
If you’re using the automatic milk system, simply attach the spout to the steam wand then place the hose into a milk container. For a delicious cappuccino, make sure to use cold milk straight out of the fridge.
If you want to release your inner barista, give manual steaming a whirl by attaching the included pannarello wand. It’ll take a little practice to get good results, but it won’t be long before you’re producing beautiful milk foam.
Gaggia Naviglio Milk Cleaning
I’m not here to lecture you, but I will say that keeping your cappuccino and espresso machine in tip top condition will extend its life and keep you enjoying delicious coffee. As it happens, the Gaggia Naviglio Milk is easy to clean, so you won’t be spending too much time on maintenance and upkeep.
Still, there are a few things you should take care of on a daily basis, including rinsing the brew group, drip tray and dregs drawer under running water. I recommend emptying and rinsing the water reservoir on the daily, too. Things can get nasty in there pretty quickly, and using fresh water every day can only mean better testing coffee.
There are two front loading drawers on the machine, one providing the water reservoir access location and the other giving access to the used grounds container.
The automatic milk system should be taken apart and rinsed thoroughly under warm water, and the same goes for the pannarello attachment. No matter how tempting the dishwasher might seem, I’d recommend avoiding it altogether. Once a month, or so, use Philips Milk Circuit Cleaner to deep clean the Capp-in-Cup system.
Gaggia Naviglio Milk Descaling
I’m always relieved when I see the option to add a water filter to a coffee maker’s reservoir. Not only does it mean my coffee will taste better, but also that I won’t have to descale the machine as often. Anyway, you can add an Intenza + water filter to the Gaggia’s water tank, and it’ll last around two months.
At some point you will have to descale the Naviglio Milk, and you’ll know it’s time when the machine’s CALC CLEAN button lights up. The whole process is very straightforward and takes around half an hour.
Again, detailed instructions can be found in the user manual. The manufacturer recommends using only Gaggia Descaler Solution, warning that anything else might damage the machine. I’ll leave it up to you to decide how believable that is.
Gaggia Naviglio Milk Specifications
Gaggia Naviglio Milk | |
Manufacturer | Gaggia |
---|---|
Model number | RI8749 |
Product category | Super automatic espresso machine |
Removable brew group | |
Housing material | Plastic with stainless steel parts |
Color options | Black |
Milk frother | Steam wand |
User interface | Monochromatic LCD with buttons |
App | |
User profiles | Memo function only |
Removable water reservoir | |
Water reservoir capacity | 50.7 fl oz / 1.5 l |
Number of boilers | 1 |
Pump pressure | 15 bar |
Maximum cup height | 4.3 in / 10.9 cm |
Minimum cup height | 2.6 in / 6.6 cm |
Grinder | Ceramic flat burr grinder |
Grind adjustment levels | 5 |
Bean hopper capacity | 10.6 oz / 300.0 g |
Pre-ground coffee bypass | |
Grounds discard container capacity | 10 |
Specialty drinks | 4 |
Pre-infusion | |
Adjustable coffee temperature | |
Adjustable milk foam temperature | |
Adjustable milk temperature | |
2-cup function | Yes (non-milk drinks only) |
Pot function | |
Hot water function | |
Hot milk function | |
Milk foam only option | |
Water filter | |
Power consumption | 1850 W |
Weight | 19.7 lb / 8.9 kg |
Dimensions | 13.4 x 17.3 x 10.1 in |
Warranty | 1 year |
Notes | Included Accessories: Instruction manual, Grease tube, Milk frothing attachment. |
Current price on Amazon | $599.99 |
All specifications |
Gaggia Naviglio Milk vs Others
No Gaggia Naviglio Milk review would be complete without a quick peek at some of the machine’s direct competitors. Let’s take a look at how this affordable one touch cappuccino maker fares in comparison to some other reasonably priced super automatics.
Gaggia Naviglio Milk vs Philips LatteGo 3200
Costing $747.58 on Amazon, the Philips LatteGo 3200 is more expensive than the Naviglio Milk but it’s still very much in the affordable category of automatic coffee makers.
During my review of the Philips 3200, I was really impressed by the machine’s build quality and intuitive operating system. Although I wasn’t blown away by this coffee maker’s milk foam, I do like the way the automatic frother integrates into the machine, rather than using an external milk container.
See Also: Philips LatteGo 3200 Hands On Review 2024
Gaggia Naviglio Milk vs DeLonghi Magnifica XS
If you’ve read my review of the DeLonghi Magnifica XS, you’ll know how impressed I was by this little machine. The quality of espresso and milk foam I was able to produce from the DeLonghi pretty much knocked my socks off, leading me to award this machine the title of best entry level espresso machine.
With that said, at $999.95 on Amazon, the DeLonghi Magnifica XS costs nearly double what you’ll pay for the Naviglio Milk. Whether or not the DeLonghi is worth the extra investment remains to be seen.
See Also: DeLonghi Magnifica S Hands On Review 2024
Gaggia Naviglio Milk vs Saeco PicoBaristo
I’ve included the Saeco PicoBaristo here because it’s a great example of how super automatics improve above the thousand dollar threshold.
The Saeco costs $1,189.80 on Amazon, which is a big step up in price from the Naviglio Milk. however, you’ll also see a big step up in build quality, functionality and control over both milk foam and espresso. If you’re serious about coffee and can come up with the extra cash, I’d highly recommend the Saeco PicoBaristo.
See Also: Saeco PicoBaristo Hands On Review 2024
Gaggia Naviglio Milk vs Others Comparison Chart
Gaggia Naviglio Milk | Philips 3200 LatteGo | |
Manufacturer | Gaggia | Philips |
Model number | RI8749 | EP3241/6 |
Product category | Super automatic espresso machine | Super automatic espresso machine |
Removable brew group | ||
Housing material | Plastic with stainless steel parts | Plastic |
Color options | Black | Glossy Black/Silver |
Milk frother | Steam wand | Integrated carafe |
User interface | Monochromatic LCD with buttons | Touchscreen |
App | ||
User profiles | Memo function only | Memo function only |
Removable water reservoir | ||
Water reservoir capacity | 50.7 fl oz / 1.5 l | 60.9 fl oz / 1.8 l |
Number of boilers | 1 | 1 |
Pump pressure | 15 bar | 15 bar |
Maximum cup height | 4.3 in / 10.9 cm | 6.9 in / 17.5 cm |
Minimum cup height | 2.6 in / 6.6 cm | 3.3 in / 8.4 cm |
Grinder | Ceramic flat burr grinder | Ceramic flat burr grinder |
Grind adjustment levels | 5 | 12 |
Bean hopper capacity | 10.6 oz / 300.0 g | 9.5 oz / 270.0 g |
Pre-ground coffee bypass | ||
Grounds discard container capacity | 10 | 12 |
Specialty drinks | 4 | 5 |
Pre-infusion | ||
Adjustable coffee temperature | ||
Adjustable milk foam temperature | ||
Adjustable milk temperature | ||
2-cup function | Yes (non-milk drinks only) | Yes (non-milk drinks only) |
Pot function | ||
Hot water function | ||
Hot milk function | ||
Milk foam only option | ||
Water filter | ||
Power consumption | 1850 W | 1500 W |
Weight | 19.7 lb / 8.9 kg | 17.7 lb / 8.0 kg |
Dimensions | 13.4 x 17.3 x 10.1 in | 9.7 x 14.6 x 17.0 in |
Warranty | 1 year | 2 years |
Notes | Included Accessories: Instruction manual, Grease tube, Milk frothing attachment. | Included Accessories: Measuring scoop, Water hardness test strip, AquaClean filter, Lubricant, LatteGo storage lid |
Current price on Amazon | $599.99 | $747.58 |
Gaggia Naviglio Milk | Philips 3200 LatteGo | |
Manufacturer | Gaggia | Philips |
Model number | RI8749 | EP3241/6 |
Product category | Super automatic espresso machine | Super automatic espresso machine |
Removable brew group | ||
Housing material | Plastic with stainless steel parts | Plastic |
Color options | Black | Glossy Black/Silver |
Milk frother | Steam wand | Integrated carafe |
User interface | Monochromatic LCD with buttons | Touchscreen |
App | ||
User profiles | Memo function only | Memo function only |
Removable water reservoir | ||
Water reservoir capacity | 50.7 fl oz / 1.5 l | 60.9 fl oz / 1.8 l |
Number of boilers | 1 | 1 |
Pump pressure | 15 bar | 15 bar |
Maximum cup height | 4.3 in / 10.9 cm | 6.9 in / 17.5 cm |
Minimum cup height | 2.6 in / 6.6 cm | 3.3 in / 8.4 cm |
Grinder | Ceramic flat burr grinder | Ceramic flat burr grinder |
Grind adjustment levels | 5 | 12 |
Bean hopper capacity | 10.6 oz / 300.0 g | 9.5 oz / 270.0 g |
Pre-ground coffee bypass | ||
Grounds discard container capacity | 10 | 12 |
Specialty drinks | 4 | 5 |
Pre-infusion | ||
Adjustable coffee temperature | ||
Adjustable milk foam temperature | ||
Adjustable milk temperature | ||
2-cup function | Yes (non-milk drinks only) | Yes (non-milk drinks only) |
Pot function | ||
Hot water function | ||
Hot milk function | ||
Milk foam only option | ||
Water filter | ||
Power consumption | 1850 W | 1500 W |
Weight | 19.7 lb / 8.9 kg | 17.7 lb / 8.0 kg |
Dimensions | 13.4 x 17.3 x 10.1 in | 9.7 x 14.6 x 17.0 in |
Warranty | 1 year | 2 years |
Notes | Included Accessories: Instruction manual, Grease tube, Milk frothing attachment. | Included Accessories: Measuring scoop, Water hardness test strip, AquaClean filter, Lubricant, LatteGo storage lid |
Current price on Amazon | $599.99 | $747.58 |
Verdict: Gaggia Naviglio Milk Review
The more I see of Gaggia super automatic espresso machines, the more convinced I become that the Italian manufacturer is worthy of taking on industry giants like DeLonghi and even Jura.
You get a lot for your money
Gaggia Naviglio Milk
A good balance of price and features
Very affordable automatic coffee maker
Automatic and manual milk froth options
Quick heat boiler
Easy to clean
User friendly interface
No adjustable coffee temperature
No bypass doser
With the Naviglio Milk, Gaggia is taking aim at its competitors by producing a solid, well performing machine that’s approachable both in terms of ease of use and affordability.
From everything I’ve seen during this Gaggia Naviglio Milk review, it’s little wonder these machines are becoming so popular among North American consumers. I’d say other manufacturers had better start upping their game!
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my Gaggia Naviglio Milk review. Do you have any experience using this affordable coffee maker? As always, I look forward to your comments!
Gaggia Naviglio Milk FAQ
Turn on the Gaggia Naviglio Milk by plugging in the machine and then pressing the on/off button.
The Gaggia Naviglio Milk doesn’t have a bypass doser, so you aren’t able to use pre ground coffee with this machine.
You can use any kind of milk with the Gaggia Naviglio Milk, including dairy, oat and soy.
The Gaggia Naviglio Milk has one boiler made from stainless steel lined aluminum.
There are two ways to make a silky cappuccino or other milk drink with the Gaggia Naviglio Milk. You can either use the automatic milk frother or froth milk manually using the pannarello steam wand.