Gaggia Syncrony Compact Espresso Machine

My husband and I purchased this machine many years ago now - it's hard to remember when exactly, but I believe 2003 or 2004. Here in 2010, it is still going strong! Formerly we used the Capresso Coffee Team, which we still keep on hand for ...

I bought this machine because of the brand and its compactness. It feels rather plasticky and things don't always fit well. Eg the metal drip tray doesn't fit well inside the plastic molding. The "kick" from expelling the grounds sometimes causes the ...