Coffee Gaggia for an espresso n00b?

[JoshInCA]

There's a Coffee Gaggia on the San Francisco area craigslist (http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/hsh/1296389841.html) for $75 ... said to have been used just three times (by a little old lady who only pulled shots on Sundays?).

Ought I to
(a) Stay away and save up for something better
(b) Ask the seller ... something (what?) ... and see if it's worth the drive
(c) Jump on it now before it gets away

I'm a total newbie to espresso, looking for a good place to start, on a tight budget. I know a good grinder is going to be very important (another reason for the tight budget for the machine).

TIA!

[yorel23]

That machine would make a great starter machine!  If they really only used it three times that price sounds pretty good too!  I'm sure Tex (the Gaggia Ex-Spurt) will chime in.  Before you know it, he'll have you putting a PID on that thing and pulling shots like the pros!

[Tex]

Gaggia Coffee covers too much territory; from the FOWC, which makes great coffee but for which parts don't exist, to the New Coffee. Get pics from the seller or pass on it.

Try this search of Craig's List for Gaggia's.

I'll be happy to help you select a good one. 

[bwilson]

Huh!?  I didn't know you could create Google searches like that!    Way Cool.

[Tex]

Huh!?  I didn't know you could create Google searches like that!    Way Cool.

Shhh..., just a few Boolean connectors.

Don't tell milo; I'm trying to stay ahead of him in toy count.

[milowebailey]

Huh!?  I didn't know you could create Google searches like that!    Way Cool.

Shhh..., just a few Boolean connectors.

Don't tell milo; I'm trying to stay ahead of him in toy count.

You can try...