Gaggia Magenta Prestige Review: One Great Hit After Another!

Note: The images in this article feature the Gaggia Magenta Milk.

My reasons for embarking on this Gaggia Magenta Prestige review are twofold.

To begin with, I’m excited to take a look at one of the Italian manufacturer’s newest coffee makers. Secondly, I feel like you all deserve to know that you don’t need to win the lottery or refinance your home to afford a high quality super automatic espresso machine. 

Costing just $680.00 on Amazon, the Gaggia Magenta Prestige sits squarely in the budget category, yet offers a bunch of features you’d expect from much more expensive machines. Sound too good to be true? Let’s find out if this thing delivers!

Gaggia Magenta Prestige Review Overview

The Magenta Prestige was launched in 2021, making it one of the most recent additions to Gaggia’s lineup. The manufacturer’s design team have obviously upped their game here. Compared with older machines, the Magenta Prestige is sleek, streamlined and, well … modern looking.

What’s more, you aren’t going to have to completely redesign your kitchen to accommodate this machine. Thanks to its slim profile and compact dimensions, the Gaggia Magenta Prestige would be ideal for studio apartments or dorm rooms. Not to mention larger kitchens like mine that are already full of coffee making equipment! 

I can’t help but mention the fact that there’s too much plastic in evidence, but I suppose that’s to be expected from a machine at this price point. Still, the matte black finish is pretty cool and at least the updated drip tray is made from stainless steel.

The Gaggia Magenta Prestige’s most striking feature is its huge angled control panel, which sits proudly above the coffee dispensing spout. I’ve been known to poke fun at Gaggia user interfaces in the past, especially when they seem almost willfully antiquated. 

Here, though, we have a bright, beautiful screen with capacitive buttons. It seems that Gaggia has finally caught up! I’ll take a closer look later in this Gaggia Magenta Prestige review.

If you aren’t excited to hear that the Magenta Prestige features Gaggia’s awesome auto frothing carafe, it must mean you only drink black coffee and straight espresso. 

Seriously, this automatic milk frothing system is one of the best you’ll see on any super automatic espresso machine. In combination with Gaggia’s dedication to espresso preparation, the auto frothing carafe almost guarantees superb milk based drinks.

Gaggia Magenta Prestige Super-Automatic Espresso Machine Features

So far, so good. Still, there are plenty of machines in my automatic espresso machine guide that can give this affordable Gaggia a run for its money. 

Let’s continue this Gaggia Magenta Prestige review by turning our attention to its key features. Has this machine got what it takes to stand out from the crowd? We’re about to find out!

User Interface

Although Gaggia continues to act as though apps haven’t been invented yet, at least the manufacturer has made an effort to update its user interface. I must say I’m really impressed by the results. 

The large, crisp display features clearly labeled icons for each coffee specialty and the adjacent buttons make it easy to navigate the menu. Not only that, the whole thing is angled upward, which is a truly thoughtful design feature.

I have a sneaking suspicion we’ll start to see this on machines from other manufacturers in the near future!

Ceramic Grinder

As with all the Gaggia coffee machines I’ve reviewed so far, the Magenta Prestige comes equipped with a ceramic flat burr coffee grinder. This is a huge selling point, as ceramic burrs aren’t just durable and precise. They also reduce heat transfer during grinding, which protects the quality of your coffee beans.

My only concern is that five grind settings won’t give you enough leeway to really dial in espresso with this machine. With that said, super automatic grinders are notoriously finicky at their finest settings, so we’ll have to trust Gaggia knows what it’s doing.

Milk Foam

Earlier in this Gaggia Magenta Prestige review I raved about the auto frothing carafe for milk based drinks. Get ready for more of my excitement, because this thing is just so well designed.

The carafe locks onto the front of the machine. So, it’s only when you’ve pulled out the froth dispenser you’re ready to make one touch milk beverages.

There aren’t any pipes or hoses to worry about either. Once the carafe has done its thing you can run a quick clean function with milk still in the carafe. From what I’ve seen, the Magenta Prestige produces silky frothed milk that’s ideal for a range of specialty drinks.

Specialty Drinks

Speaking of specialty drinks, the Gaggia Magenta Prestige has you covered, with more than enough options to keep things interesting. The menu offers 12 beverages including cappuccino, flat white and cortado; all of which are fully customizable.

Once you select a drink from the menu, you’ll have the option to adjust parameters including brew strength, temperature and milk volume.

What really floats my boat is that the Magenta Prestige nails it in terms of the order in which espresso and milk are dispensed. Personally, I find there are few things worse than a machine that dispenses coffee before milk froth during latte macchiato preparation. Way to go Gaggia!

Memo Function

The Gaggia Magenta Prestige doesn’t have multiple user profiles which could cause problems in a household with multiple coffee lovers. Let’s just say that Mauricio knows messing with my espresso macchiato settings isn’t going to turn out well.

Anyway, the Magenta Prestige does have a Memo function, which is super handy when you want to save the settings for your latest masterpiece. Once the machine has finished brewing, it’ll ask you if you’d like to save new settings. That means you won’t have to tax your brain trying to remember the exact milk length for that perfect latte macchiato.

Aroma Intensity

One of the most important parameters you’re able to adjust before brewing is the Aroma Intensity. By choosing between five different levels, you’re able to control the amount of ground coffee used during brewing, thereby affecting the intensity of the resulting espresso.

When used in conjunction with the grinder settings, temperature and volume of water, you should have a pretty impressive amount of control over your espresso extraction.

Pre Brewing

In case you’re unaware, pre-infusion is an integral part of any coffee extraction process, whether you’re using a Chemex, French press or espresso machine. Dampening the ground coffee with a small amount of water allows carbon dioxide to escape and aromas to start developing.

I’m actually happy to see that the Magenta Prestige doesn’t allow you to turn off the pre brewing function. You’re only going to get sub-par coffee without it.

Brew Group

The coffee maker’s easily removable brew group can be accessed via the service door on the side of the machine. Make sure to take good care of this wonderful piece of machinery – it’s where all the magic happens. You won’t get far without it, much like how leaving your car keys on the table makes it hard to get out of the garage in the morning.

I’ll go into detail about how to care for the brew group later in this Gaggia Magenta Prestige review, so hang tight.

Boiler

The Magenta Prestige features a stainless steel line aluminum boiler that’s been designed to heat up quickly. Although you can’t prepare coffee and milk foam simultaneously, the machine will deliver them in quick succession, thanks to the boiler’s efficient design. Plus, the boiler comes up to temperature in around a minute, meaning no agonizing wait times in the mornings.

Cup Height

The Magenta Prestige’s coffee dispensing spout can easily be adjusted to accommodate a variety of cup sizes. I’d say the maximum height of 5.9 inches (15 centimeters) will provide sufficient clearance for most travel mugs and insulated cups. 

The machine also features a nifty little cup riser which you can use to bring your espresso cup closer to the dispensing spout. I love this espresso tray, as it means you can preserve the rich crema while cutting down on messy splashes. Let’s call that a double win!

How To Use the Gaggia Magenta Prestige

Before using the Gaggia Magenta Prestige for the first time you’ll need to jump through a few hoops. However, there’s nothing overly complicated about setting up the machine. In other words, it won’t be long before you’re able to start having fun.

Start by adding your favorite coffee beans to the bean hopper (I trust you’ll be using high quality, freshly roasted stuff) and filling the water reservoir. While you’re at it, do yourself a favor and install an Intenza + filter. There’s no doubt this will have a hugely beneficial effect on your coffee’s flavor. You’ll also need to input your water hardness using the included test strip.

Once you’ve completed a manual rinse cycle, you’re ready to start making coffee! If you’ve never used a super automatic espresso machine, don’t be alarmed. I say that because preparing your favorite specialty drinks really is a one button affair. Still, you’ll most likely spend a little time dialing in your settings, but that’s half the fun!

Drink Preparation

I know coffee maker manufacturers like to toss around terms like “intuitive” and “user friendly.” But, you’ll just have to believe me when I tell you they really do apply to the Magenta Prestige. The machine’s user interface is extremely easy to navigate and customizing drinks couldn’t be simpler.

Depending on your choice of coffee beans, I’d recommend adjusting the grinder to its finest setting and adjusting the aroma intensity strength to the maximum level. You’ll then be able to tweak the temperature and espresso length settings until you start getting good results.

Another piece of advice: Always use cold milk for flat whites and other milk based drinks. Luckily, you can store the milk carafe in the fridge, so that shouldn’t be a problem!

If you’re anything like me, there comes a time in the day when you reluctantly have to admit that consuming more caffeine would be a bad decision.

Fortunately, you’ll find a convenient bypass doser on top of the machine allowing you to use ground coffee instead of whole beans. You’ll be happy to have this feature when your sweaty palms and racing heart are telling you that the next latte should be decaf!

Gaggia Magenta Prestige Cleaning

I won’t try to convince you that cleaning the Gaggia Magenta Prestige is fun. Still, I can reassure you that keeping this machine in tip top condition doesn’t take too much hard work.

As long as you get into the habit of performing a handful of daily cleaning chores, your Magenta Prestige will continue to provide you with top notch espresso and milk foam.

The drip tray, used grounds container and water reservoir can all be removed for easy cleaning and you should rinse them under warm water.

Though the milk carafe does have a self cleaning function, I’d recommend taking it apart and giving it a good rinse at the end of each day. Once a month, perform a milk carafe deep clean cycle using Philips Milk Circuit Cleaner.

I already mentioned that the brew group can be removed for easy cleaning. First, rinse it under warm water. Then, let the component fully dry before reinserting it into the machine.

Once a month, use Gaggia Coffee Cleaning Tablets to fully clean the brew group and the included lubricant to keep it in good working order.

Even with a water filter installed, you’ll need to descale the Magenta Prestige every once in a while. The machine will let you know when it’s time to perform a descaling cycle. It will also walk you through the steps to take via the display.

You’ll need to use Gaggia Descaler Solution or else you could damage the machine. At least that’s what Gaggia would have you believe. Anyway, the whole process shouldn’t take more than half an hour and you’ll feel a triumphant sense of accomplishment once it’s done!

Gaggia Magenta Prestige Specifications

Gaggia Magenta Prestige vs Other Super Automatics

Any Gaggia Magenta Prestige review worth its salt has to take the competition into account, even if some of its adversaries are from the same manufacturer. Let’s see how our compact friend measures up in comparison to some other bean to cup machines.

Gaggia Magenta Prestige vs Magenta Plus

If you think you can do better than an automatic milk frother, the Gaggia Magenta Plus could be the machine for you. Instead of a pre-programmed menu full of coffee specialties, the Magenta Plus allows you to whip up your own creations using the commercial style steam wand.

Not only that, eliminating the automatic milk frother saves you money and you’ll only pay $629.99 on Amazon for one of these beauties. As long as the Gaggia boiler can keep up with the demands of a steam wand, I’d say that’s a screaming good deal!

Gaggia Magenta Prestige vs DeLonghi Dinamica Plus

At $1,049.99 you’re paying a good chunk more for the DeLonghi Dinamica Plus, but I can’t deny that this machine is worth every penny.

It’s easy to see what the extra money is paying for – from the Coffee Link app to the 13 stage conical burr grinder, this machine ticks all the boxes. Then there’s the fantastic LatteCrema system and the machine’s superb touchscreen display, both of which elevate the Dinamica Plus into the big leagues. Can you tell I’m a fan of this machine?

See Also: DeLonghi Dinamica Plus Review

Gaggia Magenta Prestige vs Others Comparison Chart

Verdict: Magenta Prestige by Gaggia

If this Gaggia Magenta Prestige review has shown me anything, it’s that there’s a good reason the Italian manufacturer is gaining so much traction in the North American market. 

This compact machine punches well above its weight in terms of quality and functionality and I can’t help but rate it highly. The Magenta Prestige will appeal to entry-level coffee lovers and seasoned connoisseurs alike, thanks to its fantastic user interface and refined programmability. What’s more, the price is most definitely right.

Having tested the Magenta Milk, I’m very tempted to buy the Gaggia Magenta Prestige, so we’ll see how long I can hold out. After all, there’s always a little extra room in my kitchen for just one more coffee maker. In fact, I’ve got my eye on a suitable spot right now!

Gaggia Magenta Prestige Review FAQ