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Super automatics espresso machines make the whole process of making a great espresso easier. One of the brands that produces the best super automatic espresso machines is Gaggia.
In this article, we are going to compare two high-end Gaggia super automatic coffee machines – the Babila and the Cadorna Prestige. In this comparison of Gaggia Babila vs Cadorna Prestige we will compare in detail all the functions, quality, and you will be introduced to everything that will make it easier for you to choose between these two super automatic espresso machines. Let’s dig deeper and look at their similarities and differences.
| Gaggia Babila | Gaggia Cadorna Prestige | |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |
 |
| Machine Type | Super Automatic | Super Automatic |
| Build and Material | Stainless Steel | Spray Painted Anthracite |
| Simultaneous Brewing | Yes | Yes |
| User Interface | TFT + Buttons | TFT + backlit buttons |
| Display | TFT Display | Color TFT Display |
| Pump Pressure | 15 bars of pump pressure | 15 bars of pump pressure |
| Removable Brew Group | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature Control | 3-level temperature | 3-level temperature |
| Boiler | 2 independent S/S boiler | S/S boiler |
| Double Boiler | Yes | No |
| Cup Warmer | No | No |
| Beans Container Capacity | 300 grams | 300 grams |
| Bypass Doser | Yes | Yes |
| Water Tank Capacity | 1.5 liters | 1.5 liters |
| Water Tank Type | Top loading | Frontloading |
| Water Filter | Yes | Yes |
| Water Filter Compatibility | AquaClean | Intenza+ |
| Milk Carafe Capacity | 0.5 liters | 0.6 liters |
| Removable Carafe | Yes | Yes |
| Steam Wand | Yes | No |
| Ceramic Grinders | Yes | Yes |
| Grind Setting | 15 settings | 10 settings |
| Aroma Setting | 5 settings | 5 settings |
| Programmable | Yes | Yes |
| Rinsing Cycle | Automatic | Automatic |
| Milk Circuit Cleaning Cycle | Automatic | Automatic |
| Descaling Cycle | Automatic | Automatic |
| Cup Illumination | No | No |
| Maximum Cup Height | 6.375 in / 16.2 cm | 6.1 in / 15.5 cm |
| Removable drip tray | Yes | Yes |
| Coffee Pucks Container | 11 coffee pucks | 10 coffee pucks |
| Dimensions | 13.38” H x 8.7” W x 16.93” D | 14.17″ H x 9.64″ W x 16.53″ D |
| Item Weight | 28.66 lbs | 21.00 lbs |
| Included Accessories | Grease Tube, Measuring Spoon, AquaClean | Grease Tube, Grinder Adjustment Key / Measuring spoon, Intenza+ filter |
| Color Variants | Stainless Steel | Spray Painted Anthracite |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
Similarities between Gaggia Babila and Gaggia Cadorna Prestige
15 Bars of Pump Pressure
The pump pressure of a coffee machine dictates how much flavor it can squeeze from the ground coffee beans. The Gaggia Babila and Cadorna Prestige can reach 15 bars of pump pressure. There is nothing impressive here as this is common in almost all coffee machines in the market.
Coffee Beans Hopper Capacity
Coffee beans are placed in the hopper located at the top of both machines. The Babila and Cadorna Prestige can accommodate up to 300 grams of your preferred coffee beans. Furthermore, both coffee machines have a bypass doser which is also located at the top. These bypass doser are used for pre-ground coffee in case you wanted one. This is particularly useful when making decaffeinated coffee from pre-ground coffee.
Water Tank Capacity
Aside from having identical coffee bean hopper capacity, both the Babila and Cadorna Prestige also have a similar water tank capacity of 1.5 liters. This water tank is large enough even for families and small office spaces. Moreover, this water tank uses a water filter. However, both machines have different water tank placement and water filter compatibility that will be discussed later in this article.
Differences between Gaggia Babila and Gaggia Cadorna Prestige
User Interface
A good user interface brings an equally good user experience. Let’s see how these two machines stack up.
Gaggia Babila
Both the Gaggia Babila and Cadorna Prestige have TFT displays on the front. To interact with the Babila and Cadorna Prestige, you must press the buttons that flank their TFT displays. However, the TFT display on the Babila is only in black and white. Moreover, its buttons are non-illuminated.
Gaggia Cadorna Prestige
The TFT display on the Cadorna Prestige is better because it is a colored panel. Furthermore, the buttons flanking the colored display are also illuminated. Thus, the Gaggia Cadorna Prestige has a better user interface overall.
The Winner Is- Gaggia Cadorna Prestige
Coffee Mug Height
The maximum cup height a coffee machine can accommodate is particularly important for people who drink coffee from a tall travel mug.
Gaggia Babila
The nozzle of the Babila can be pushed back to accommodate tall glasses. It can also be removed entirely to accommodate even taller glasses. The Babila can accommodate a taller cup up to 6.375 inches in height. On top of that, the Babila also has a pop-out espresso tray to accommodate espresso shot glasses to avoid splashes for lesser cleanup.
Gaggia Cadorna Prestige
The Cadorna Prestige can hold a marginally shorter cup up to 6.1 inches in height. With a taller cup height and pop-out espresso tray, the Gaggia Babila wins this category.
The Winner Is- Gaggia Babila
Double Boiler
No one likes to wait. Therefore, having a double boiler is good to have in a coffee machine.
Gaggia Babila
The Gaggia Babila has two independent stainless-steel boilers under its hood. It is indeed an advantage to have a coffee machine with a double boiler because it can brew your espresso shots and froth your milk at the same time. Thus, cutting the time down of making a cup of coffee. Moreover, double boiler coffee machines heat water more accurately which can affect the coffee’s final taste.
Gaggia Cadorna Prestige
While the Cadorna Prestige does not have a double boiler, its single stainless-steel boiler is enough to get the job done. Therefore, you will have to wait in between heating. Babila’s double boiler has the edge over the Cadorna Prestige.
The Winner Is- Gaggia Babila
Water Tank Access
As said earlier, both the Babila and Cadorna Prestige have identical water tank capacity. But the access to these water tanks is different.
Gaggia Babila
The water tank of the Gaggia Babila can be loaded and unloaded from the top. People who are interested in buying Babila should be wary of where they intend to place the machine. Kitchen countertops with little headroom might cause you problems after buying it. Check your kitchen countertops if there is ample height to fit the Babila.
Gaggia Cadorna Prestige
The headroom allowance issue is not a problem for the Cadorna Prestige as it has a front-loading water tank. This is a convenient feature preferred by most coffee machine enthusiasts. Thus, it is better in this category.
The Winner Is- Gaggia Cadorna Prestige
Water Filter
Filtered water is among the many factors that affect the final coffee taste.
Gaggia Babila
Water filters are used in coffee machines for an improved coffee taste and less descaling frequency. The Gaggia Babila uses the superior AquaClean filter. It promises to make 5000 cups of great coffee before the need to descale the machine. As long as you replace the water filter regularly, there is a long time in-between descaling. What’s more impressive with both machines is their capability of automatic cleaning.
Gaggia Cadorna Prestige
The Cadorna Prestige uses Intenza+ water filters. The Intenza+ water filters do the job of removing sediments present in the water. Thus, softening the water which gives a good coffee flavor. It is not as great as the AquaClean water filters that the Babila has because more maintenance is needed on the Cadorna Prestige.
The Winner Is- Gaggia Babila
Grind Settings
The number of grind settings dictates how fine or coarse the coffee beans are ground. Therefore, having wider grind settings means deeper coffee taste customization.
Gaggia Babila
You can choose among 15 different grind settings on the Gaggia Babila. This is as deep as any coffee machine can get with coffee bean grind customizations. Used ground coffee is automatically placed away in a container in the machine. This used coffee compartment can hold up to 11 pucks of coffee. There are also other factors and customizations on both machines that can affect the coffee’s final taste. They are discussed later.
Gaggia Cadorna Prestige
Coffee beans in both the Babila and Cadorna Prestige are grounded by ceramic burr. A burr made out of ceramics is believed to last longer than stainless steel burrs. Moreover, it does not corrode and deteriorate like stainless steel burrs. The Cadorna Prestige has 10 different grind settings. Also, the used coffee container can only carry 10 pucks of coffee. Thus, the Gaggia Babila is the better coffee machine in this category.
The Winner Is- Gaggia Babila
Other Customization
5 main factors are affecting the coffee’s taste. They are coarseness or fineness, aroma, temperature, flow rate, and pre-infusion time.
Gaggia Babila
Gaggia Babila can control all of the factors mentioned above. Aside from its 15 grind settings, it also has 5 aroma settings which controls how much coffee is going to be ground. Moreover, it has 3-level temperature settings. Pre-infusion time is also possible to control with the Gaggia Babila. Adjust the pre-infusion time with Babila’s “taste” setting which has 3 options – delicate, balances, and full body. Lastly, the flow rate of the spout is also customizable with the help of a dial on the front.
Gaggia Cadorna Prestige
On the other hand, the Cadorna Prestige can only control 3 of 5 settings. Aside from the 10 grind settings, the Cadorna Prestige also has the Optiaroma system which has 5 aroma settings. Lastly, temperatures can be adjusted among 3 different levels. With its limited customization, the Gaggia Babila sure has better customization than the Cadorna Prestige.
The Winner Is- Gaggia Babila
Pros and Cons
Gaggia Babila
Pros:
- Super automatic coffee machine
- Simultaneous brewing at full-strength
- TFT screen + buttons to interact
- 15 bars of pump pressure
- Removable brew group
- Double boiler
- Large 300-gram coffee bean capacity with bypass doser
- Huge 1.5-liter top loading water tank capacity
- Has 0.5-liter removable milk carafe
- Has a steam wand
- Ceramic burr
- 6.375 inches maximum cup height
- Pop-out espresso tray
- Deeper coffee customization
Cons:
- No cup warmer
- Black and white TFT screen
- Non-illuminated buttons
- Top loading water tank
Gaggia Cadorna Prestige
Pros:
- Super automatic coffee machine
- Simultaneous brewing at full-strength
- TFT screen + buttons to interact
- Has a colored TFT screen and illuminated buttons
- 15 bars of pump pressure
- Removable brew group
- Large 300-gram coffee bean capacity with bypass doser
- Huge 1.5-liter frontloading water tank capacity
- Has larger 0.6-liter removable milk carafe
- Ceramic burr
- 6.1 inches maximum cup height
Cons:
- No cup warmer
- Single boiler
- Does not have a steam wand
Final Verdict
After looking at the pros and cons, one might think that the Gaggia Cadorna Prestige is better because it has fewer cons listed. The Cadorna Prestige is nothing short of being a great coffee machine. However, at a closer look, the Gaggia Babila is better overall. Yes, it does not have a color TFT display, illuminated buttons, and it has a top-loaded water tank. However, the number of customizations you can create with the Gaggia Babila is limitless. If you are the type of person who cares about coffee taste rather than the other fancy features, then the Gaggia Babila is for you.