Learn what the best coffee is to use in your Gaggia Super Automatic Espresso Machine and prevent damaging the grinder.
Selecting the right coffee bean is not only important for your tastebuds but also for the longevity and proper functionality of your machine.
What happens if I use the wrong type of bean?
By far, the most important thing to remember is that Gaggia Super Automatics are not compatible with oily, dark-roasted, caramelized, or flavored beans. Use of these beans can cause permanent damage to the machine that is not covered under warranty.
If you use these types of beans, the burrs, grind chamber, and chute will accumulate a thick tar-like substance that is difficult to clean out. This buildup will cause excess resistance and heat which will cause the grinder motor and assembly to eventually fail, resulting in the need for a repair.
How can I tell if my beans are bad for my machine?
- Are they too oily?
- The easiest way to determine if you are using the incorrect bean is by looking at and touching the bean. If the bean is shiny and slick or tacky feeling, it is too oily to use.
- The roast level of the bean is a good non-visual indicator of how oily the bean will be. It is best to avoid the following roasts:
| Full City + | Vienna |
| French | Italian |
- Are they flavored?
- Every region and roast of coffee will develop its own natural flavor profile, and that is perfectly fine. But it is important not to confuse this with coffee that has flavors added. Natural flavors will typically be presented as "Notes" in the description, whereas flavored coffee typically has a flavor in the name such as "French Vanilla".
- Flavored coffee is made by adding syrup to the beans. This syrup is what causes the tacky buildup in the grinder, so it doesn't matter if the roast is light, medium, or dark.
What do I do if I have already used the wrong bean?
If you have only used a flavored or oily bean a few times, we recommend vacuuming out the grinder and chute and then using Urnex SuperGrindz to clean out the system.
After prolonged use, it will be best to open the machine for a thorough hand cleaning of the entire grinder assembly. If you'd like to do this at home, navigate to our Gaggia Support Library, click on your machine, and find the article on how to "Clean or Replace the grinder". If you would prefer to have one of our skilled technicians repair your machine, simply Submit a Request for Repair and an agent will assist you with setting up a repair.
Do you have recommendations for good beans?
Of course, we do! Here are some top picks from our customers and staff:
| Whole Latte Love Crema Wave | Lavazza Super Crema | Maromas Orphea |
| Filicori Forte | Carraro Tazza D'Oro | Lavazza Dek Decaf |