Archive

DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine

Amazon.com Price: $656.06 (as of 2010-09-09 13:03:17 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
User Reviews Send this to a friend
DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine
 
Manufacturer: Delonghi
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $1,260.00
Sale Price: $656.06
Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
Free Shipping Available
Buy Now
 

Product Description
The DeLonghi Esclusivo Magnifica Super-Automatic Machine brews perfect coffee, espresso, latte, and cappuccino. The compact and patented Direct-to-Brew System with Thermo Block technology provides excellent heat distribution, and it's removable for easy cleaning. The beans are ground instantly to ensure the freshest espresso or coffee brewed under 15 bars of pressure. Professional-quality integrated burr grinder produces consistent, fresh, and aromatic espresso or coffee. Grind settings allow you to adjust the fineness for all types of beans. The instant reheat function heats the core of the machine, ensuring that Magnifica maintains an ideal temperature for brewing. The patented cappuccino system frother includes a special chamber that mixes steam and milk to create a rich, creamy froth. It's perfect for making the ideal cappuccino, latte, or any other frothy milk coffee beverage. Automatic decalcification indicator lights let you know when it's time to clean the machine. Removable 60-ounce water tank with water-level indicator allows for convenient filling and easy cleaning. Removable used coffee container and drip tray for convenient cleaning and easy disposal of coffee waste. Two separate, easy-to-use control dials allow you to make adjustments to coffee strength and brewed amounts. Choose the one-cup option for a large mug or small espresso, or choose the two-cup option for two large mugs or two small espressos. Three-hour automatic shutoff for safe operation. Adjustable spouts let you brew directly into espresso, demitasse, or 12-ounce cups.

Product Details
  • Automatic espresso/coffee machine with integrated coffee grinder
  • Beans-to-brew system; 2 stainless-steel boilers; 3-hour auto shutoff
  • Electronic steam and coffee thermostat; adjustable-height coffee spigots
  • Heated cup tray; removable water tank and bean container for easy filling
  • Measures 17 by 13 by 18 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Video Reviews
#2208 Magnifica Coffee Center by DeLonghi ESAM3300 new $499

Customer Reviews
One of the Best Super Automatics Out There for the Price
 
Review Date: May 11, 2007
Reviewer: Vatsug, Boston, MA
I have the EAM3200, which is the previous model version. The differences are slight but noticeable to the newer. These machines are the best in class for price and performance, produce a great espresso, and are maintainable in ways that other manufacturers models are not. The coffee from the Delonghi is just as good as from Jura and even some manual models such as Expobar and Rancillo. It is very close to what you find in Italy - not quite, but for the price it is worth it. Great crema, hot temperature, rich flavor. And the best part is you can pull out the brew mechanism and clean it - VERY key. This will ensure sound operation and function for many years.

In order to keep this machine is fine working order, you need to do a bit of upkeep each week and use the right beans.

1. Only use non-oily, 100% Arabica beans. If you use oily beans it will clog frequently and attract rancid flavors. It will also shorten the life of the machine. I use Illy, but any espresso will do (I actually get the Illy dark roast - it has more flavor when brewing a larger "americano" cup).
2. Clean the brew mechanism once a week. Just snap it out and run it under hot water.
3. Use spring water instead of tap water. This will keep any weird flavors from your tap entering the coffee. It may build up minerals, but...
4. De-calcify the machine when it asks for it - don't wait.

I, for one, would rather have manual controls over coffee amount, strength, etc. You are not losing out on anything by not having digital controls - other than not being able to have the machine automatically on and ready to go when you first wake up. As for the other models ability to do milk-based drinks at the touch of a button - how often do you really want a cappuccino? If it is every day, then get the 3500. If you are like me and need real coffee in the morning, then get this model. The milk canister can only sit in the fridge for so long. If you are planning to serve cappuccino at dinner parties, then you are committing Italian heresy - cappuccino is only served in the morning.

CONS
1. The cup warmer does not work very well, but get double walled cups and the temperature of the product will not be an issue.
2. You can't have it turn on automatically at a certain time. But it only takes a few minutes to get up to temperature.
3. It is NOISY.

My espresso settings - coffee amount at 10 o'clock, strength at 3 o'clock, single cup dispense. Super double espresso in an espresso cup. I may have 2 of these on a saturday.

My wife's "americano" settings - coffee amount at 3 o'clock, strength at 3 o'clock, double cup dispense. Full cup of rich coffee in a normal cup.

Bean grind at 5.
Nearly perfect.
 
Review Date: November 30, 2007
Reviewer: Dale Botkin, Omaha, NE USA
I wish I could give it a 4.5. As others have noted, it is a bit on the noisy side. We went from a Bunn drip machine (best drip coffee maker by far) to this after being blown away by the one our hosts had in Germany. It's been worth every penny. Speaking of pennies, a 20% off coupon at Bed Bath & Beyond is the ticket for low price and a VERY good return policy.

We have used Starbucks and Pears beans, and will continue to try others probably. Cleaning is a snap, my only real gripes are the water reservoir - obviously designed with coffee-sipping Europeans in mind, not us coffee-DRINKING Americans. Still, we haven't used the Bunn since we plugged in the Magnifica.

Likes:
Superb coffee!! Great crema, better than coffee houses
Easily adjusted cup size & coffee strength
FAST warm-up
Easy to clean
Everything works perfectly

Dislikes:
A little noisy.
No automatic timer (not a big deal, since it warms up fast)
Cup warmer not of much use, and no way to shut it off
Worth It's Weight in Gold
 
Review Date: November 23, 2007
Reviewer: Jon, Seattle, WA
Truly a great espresso machine; consistent, easy to use, makes great coffee. I've been using only Illy beans with it, and I feel like I can hardly go out and buy an americano or a latte at commercial stores because it just doesn't seem to taste as good as at home!

I think the first review really covered most of the details you need to know, but here are a couple of my favorite features. I love that it's easy to get inside and really clean everything out, pull the infuser out and rinse off, etc. It also has a very nice amount of complexity vs. simplicity with respect to the settings for amount of water, coffee, etc. in each cup. My only negatives would be that it's a bit hard to make a latte that's really as hot as you'd want it, and i think the water reservoir runs out fairly quickly. Overall I would highly recommend. My wife and I figured that we would use once in a while after we bought, but it's bean over 3 months now and we have yet to make a pot of drip again.
Wonderfull Machine. Easy To Use and Clean
 
Review Date: June 14, 2008
Reviewer: D. Dell, USA
Several months ago I researched espresso machines and decided on a Saeco Super Automatic. I liked it, but it only lasted slightly over a year. So then I bought a different model of Saeco. I liked it also, but that one went out in just 6 months. Needless to say I researched a different brand and decided on this Delonghi.

I have only had it for a short time, but I do like this one better than the Saecos. I will not go into details about this machine because you can read all the specs for yourself. However, I will give you some information not listed in the description and some things are not in the manual.

There are two of us in the household. I prefer mocha cappuccinos and the other prefers regular American coffee in a 10 oz cup. The problem with that is the machine only dispenses a max of 7 oz. However, there is a way to get around this. You can either put more hot water in the cup by using the water/steam wand, or you can do the following. After it has stopped dispensing the coffee/water, press and hold the coffee button and it will fill the cup with more hot water until you release the button. However, be quick. You must press the cup start button within 3 seconds after it stops dispensing your coffee. There is also a third way to get more than a 7 oz cup of coffee that is not in the manual. Instead of pressing and releasing the coffee start button, push and hold the 1 cup start button until the desired amount of water is dispensed then release the button. Of course, anything over 7 oz is going to be weaker. So, you will want to increase the amount of beans to grind.

The decaling light will tell you when to descal. This is set at the factory and may come on more often than you actually need. I use filtered water, so I can go longer without descaling. Read the manual. It will tell you how to adjust this setting. The machine comes with a hard water strip to tell you how hard your water is. It has 4 indicator squares. One to four squares may turn red. The more red strips you have the harder the water and therefore the more often you have to descal. The manual tells you how to adjust the lights, from 1 to 4 to set the time you must descal. Helpful hint: The fewer lights you set, the longer you can go without descaling. If you have, say, 4 lights set then you will descal the most often. The manual really does not explain this, but does tell you how to set the number of lights.

The machine does not have a setting to automatically turn it on in the morning, but this is not a problem. It heats up and ready to use in a little under 2 minutes. Although, it will turn itself off 3 hours after the last use.

I read a few reviews that complained about how loud it is. Well, it is a little noisy, but not that bad. And, it is not any louder than the other espresso machines I had.

Another helpful hint: When you first turn on or off the machine it will dispense 1 to 3 oz of water. This action helps prime the pump and clean the infuser. Put your cup under the dispenser when you first turn it on. This will help heat your cup a little. Then throw the water out and make your coffee.

I really do like this Delonghi machine and highly recommend it. I can only hope it lasts longer than the other two Saecos I had.
Pricey but really wonderful
 
Review Date: December 1, 2007
Reviewer: Clay Whitney Babcock, Culver City, CA United States
I really do love my DeLonghi Magnifica. It greatly simplifies my morning mocha ritual. Just push the on button and this fabulous machine spends a minute cleaning an warming itself. Then all you have to do for an espresso is select the single or double button. Granted, Mocha lovers (like myself) still need to spend some time steaming the rest of the beverage, but the quality of the steam for the milk is really superior. The bean hopper holds enough for about six doubles and the water reservoir makes about four frothed doubles before needing to be refilled.
My only argument with the machine is that the strongest adjustment on the bean quantity knob is a bit low and I had to dial back the water quantity knob and add less chocolate to make the ideal drink. Oh yeah. the stainless steel tray is easily scratched by ceramic cups so it will not remain perfectly shiny for long. Still. What a wonderful example of improved living through automation. Also it seems as if most of the parts are easily replaceable from the supplied order form.

Black & Decker DCM2500B SmartBrew Coffeemaker

Amazon.com Price: $24.09 (as of 2010-09-09 13:03:21 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
User Reviews Send this to a friend
Black & Decker DCM2500B SmartBrew Coffeemaker
 
Manufacturer: Black & Decker
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $24.09
Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
Free Shipping Available
Buy Now
 

Product Description
This is one programmable coffeemaker that's actually very easy to program. The touch-pad buttons are intuitive, and the printed directions clear, so there's no excuse for not waking up to the aroma of a freshly brewed pot of java. To prepare for making a pot at any hour, the lid lifts up (hinges in rear), exposing the brew basket: add a flat-bottomed paper filter and the ground coffee of your choice. There's ample pour space for water, the level of which you can view through a convenient window on either side. Simply close the lid and push the On button. Auto/On and the clock buttons set the time for delayed start.

The most satisfying thing about the glass carafe is that the wide lip pours without a single drip. In addition, the broad bottom on the carafe affords good surface contact with the stay-hot plate for up to two hours; at that point, the machine shuts off automatically for safety. Those who can't wait for a sip before the entire pot is brewed will appreciate the Sneak-a-Cup feature. While the coffeemaker stands 13 inches tall, it must be pulled forward on a counter to clear most cabinets since the raised lid requires 22 inches. The DCM2500B features a sleek hourglass shape, comes in black or white, and is covered by a one-year warranty. The brew basket and carafe are dishwasher-safe in the top rack. --Ann Bieri

Product Details
  • 12-cup coffeemaker features digital clock and delayed start
  • Wake up to a pot of freshly brewed coffee
  • Perfectly drip-free pouring spout; 2 water windows
  • Sneak-a-cup feature; automatic shut-off after 2 hours
  • 13 inches tall, raised lid requires 22 inches; 1-year warranty

Video Reviews
No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

Krups XP4030 Pump Espresso Machine, Black

Amazon.com Price: View Sale Price (as of 2010-09-09 04:27:56 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
User Reviews Send this to a friend
Krups XP4030 Pump Espresso Machine, Black
 
Manufacturer: Krups
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $240.00
Sale Price: View Sale Price
Availibility: View Product Availability
Buy Now
 

Product Description
Passion. Precision. Perfection. The Krups heritage of German engineered coffee machines and food preparation appliances provides clear functional, rigorous design at the highest level of technical perfection, performance and quality. Working with leading European designers, the product series also represents the newest European designs yet maintains the rigorous and clearly functional characteristics synonymous with Krups products. Designed and built for those who continuously seek out new gourmet experiences and take pleasure in discovering and understanding how things are done well, the Krups range provides the tools that deliver genuine results, performance and taste. Inspired by experts and demanding consumers with uncompromising standards of performance, the new Krups series has been built with three key attributes in mind: Passion, Precision and Perfection. Specifically designed for easy operation, the Krups XP4030 is a 15 bar pump espresso machine. It is virtually "fool proof" and is equipped with a patented "Perfect Froth System" which makes the process of steaming and frothing milk for cappuccino or latte simple. It has a high convenience filter holder that accepts ground coffee for 1 or 2 servings of espresso as well as ESE Pods. The auto cappuccino system precisely combines the right amount of steam and air to easily froth milk.

Product Details
  • 15 bar pump machine makes café quality espresso, cappuccino and latte
  • Thermoblock heating element ensures optimal temperature and pressure for perfect espresso extraction
  • 32 oz removable water tank, removable drip tray for easy clean up
  • Easy transition selection dial from brewing espresso to frothing milk; patented auto cappuccino system for frothing of milk
  • Filter holder with 3 interchangeable pre-measured inserts that hold a single, double or ESE pod.

Video Reviews
Making Espresso

Customer Reviews
I'm never going back to steam espresso makers
 
Review Date: October 22, 2006
Reviewer: Stardazer, Greensboro, NC United States
After making cappuccino on steam type espresso makers daily for the past 12 years, I thought it was time to upgrade to a pump model. I researched pump types and decided on this model. Wow! What a difference! The espresso first comes out as a creamy light brown froth which then clarifies into a rich darker brown color within a minute. What a difference in taste! We use pure Kona and the taste is softer and smoother than we're used to. In the week I've used it, I haven't yet mastered the froth on this unit, but it's getting better and is probably a learning curve on my behalf.

Some pointers and caveats need to be mentioned up front for optimum performance and eyes wide open purchase:

1) This model is heavier & noisier than steam models
2) No decanter is included. I use a Pyrex measuring cup if making two servings. About 1/3 cup per espresso serving.
3) You must manually turn off the espresso control after the desired quantity is made, hence the measurement of 1/3 cup per serving
4) The water tank is removable--a nice touch. If it is not reseated properly, you will hear a very loud continuous noise as the unit tries to suck out water it cannot obtain. This is just a learner's tip.
5) While the water reservoir is massive, you can only make one or two servings at a time, unless the espresso is diluted. Making more is only a matter of placing the unit in standby, removing the grounds, refilling with fresh grounds and continuing the process again.
6) Always wait for the thump thump noises of the pump to stop before proceeding to the next step. This is usually a matter of several seconds, just don't be impatient!
7) Whenever crafting the froth, you must wait for the orange light to go out before proceeding. This is like waiting for the oven to reach appropriate temperature.
8) Alternatively, you cannot go straight from froth to espresso without first placing the unit in standby for a cooldown cycle. The pump will cycle for about 10 seconds. When it stops, you can proceed. This is only a cool down period.
9) For making espresso only, this unit is FAST!!
10) I am well over the age of 13!

With the above in mind, I hope you take the plunge. The price is right and the difference in taste is remarkable. If you're thinking of upgrading your steam espresso maker, go for it! The Holidaze are just around the corner!
Easy Espresso
 
Review Date: October 28, 2006
Reviewer: B. molina, Texas
First, an introduction to my point-of-view on coffee. I am not a coffee snob by any means, but I do know what tastes good and what does not. I am also no stranger to the kitchen...what I mean is, kitchen gadgets are pretty self-explanatory to me.

I wanted an espresso machine because paying almost $5 for a latte a day was becoming out of control I brew coffee at home all the time, but really needed something that would save me $20+ a week. I purchased a Mr Coffee unit which was awful and I returned. I did not want to spend $300 - $500 on something to brew espresso, but I did not want something that was cheap. I selected this model based upon it's pump feature and my previous experience with Krups.

Right out of the box, I cleaned the system following the simple instructions. Then, I was off to make my first latte. I read the instructions, while cleaning the system, and found them very easy to understand. Also, cleaning the system really helps to learn the system quite quickly. So, off I go....

This KRUPS unit brews a beautiful cup of espresso and quite simply so. Once my espresso was brewed, I steamed and foamed my milk for a latte. I could not believe how simple it was. My very first experience with this unit and I was able to create a wonderful latte that not only tasted good, but came out right. The milk was hot and there was the right amount of foam to drizzle my chocolate on top.

This unit allows you not only to brew ground espresso, but also pods if you choose. I am not a fan of the pods, but I might be with this unit. There are three filters in the box. A one scoop (cup), two scoop and pod filter. Also, it comes with a nice scoop that has a flat bottom at the end of the handle so that you can tamp your grounds in the filter. Very clever. The only thing that you might like which does not come with this unit is an actual small pot. I use a measuring cup so I can see exactly how much espresso I have brewed, but you can always purchase one of those pots as well.

The milk steamer/foamer is very simple to use. There is about a 3 inch clearing, so you may want to purchase a shorter stainless steel cup for steaming your milk. I use a 2 cup with the slant design. It is a pump; the sounds it makes are very normal.

Some tips I would like to offer:
1. Before pouring your milk into your container for steaming, place it in the freezer for about 5 minutes so that the milk is really cold. This will help to achieve the best foam.

2. Freshly ground espresso beans will give a full-flavor espresso. I tried pre-ground and it is not near as good.

3. Don't get frustrated if it does not work the first time. Especially the milk. This really is simple on this unit, but does take practice if you have never done it before.

A side note: My favorite is a Marble Mocha Macchiato - so I wanted to attempt this at home. Use about 1 cup of milk, purchase white chocolate sauce and dark chocolate syrup and you can make these at home for cheap. They are just as good. You can also create white chocolate mochas omitting the dark chocolate syrup.
Krups Pump Machine is amazing, and a bargain
 
Review Date: August 28, 2007
Reviewer: S. Lance, Grand Rapids, MI
This machine is fantastic--makes an excellent espresso, best I've ever had (and I'm a total coffee junky). I was a bit skeptical because of some of the bad reviews on here, but I've owned a Krups steam espresso machine for 16 years (4 espressos a day) and it still works like the day I bought it. I wouldn't have believed the difference the pump makes if I hadn't tried it for myself--if you love espresso like I do, dump the steam and get this machine.

As to the bad reviews...
The "noise" issue that people talk about is ridiculous. It makes two clicking noises when it starts up, which lasts about 1 second. Then it does the same thing when you flip the switch to make your espresso--1-2 seconds of a metallic clicking sound that is about as loud as an older dishwasher. Hardly what I would qualify as a "racket" or "sounds like a tank." It's compressing really hot water using metal bars in a pump mechanism--what do you expect? If you want total silence, you should expect to pay more than $150 for some feat of sound-baffling engineering by Bosch or something!

Second, the whole "leaks like crazy" issue is just plain wrong. There's a tray that collects extra water from the process. They tell you this in the manual (read it). It's NOT A LEAK--it's part of the normal operation of the machine. This slowly fills up, and needs to be emptied once a week--you pull it out, rinse it off and you're done.

The machine is also built like a tank, but doesn't sound like one...this is a solid piece of machinery--even the handle is made like it's supposed to be handed down to your grandchildren (it weighs 2-3 pounds!).

If you're looking to get into a pump machine, but don't want to spend outrageous amounts of money on it, this is the way to go. Don't bother with the bad reviews on here--people don't read the manual, and they expect engineering miracles that can a) fit on your countertop and b) cost under $150. Good luck with that!

I love this machine and I'm sold on Krups design, workmanship and value--ignore the whiners and buy it.
Learn to decalcify this machine, and it will work beautifully.
 
Review Date: July 17, 2007
Reviewer: K. Ng, Mequon, WI
Pumps great espresso, but after 2 months, my steaming wand flew off while steaming milk. One month later, milk stops frothing altogether. I called Krups customer service and they advised that I decalcify the machine. Mix 2 cups vinegar, 2 cups water, run some of the mixture through the steaming wand and the espresso pump. Then let sit for an hour. Now, run the vinegar through both the espresso pump and the steaming wand until it runs out. I found that the vinegar cleared the clog in my steaming wand! Repeat the whole process, this time with clear filtered water, to wash away the vinegar.

The machine should work great now. I learned that when the steaming wand gets a little clogged, it increases the pressure and this blows off the rubber gasket at the end of the wand, spewing milk all over. Depending on the hardness of your water, it is recommended to decalcify the machine every month.

Thanks to Judd at Krups for helping me out.

Ken
Works better than Starbucks endorsed machines
 
Review Date: May 10, 2007
Reviewer: Coffee Queen, SanJaun Islands
I bought the krups after reading the reviews online. The negative seemed to be that it was loud. I couldn't afford the one at Starbucks for over $400, so loud was OK with me. At first with youth activities and a very social life I would use it sometime to make 20 lattes a day. It was loud, but stayed hot and foamed milk great. Then I went over to a friends house who had a nice Starbucks machine, and she showed me how to steam milk without burning it. If the machine is screaming while heating the milk then you are burning the milk. You should work up a foam and then heat it and it purrs so quietly. I love my machine.

DeLonghi EN680.M Nespresso Lattissima Single-Serve Espresso Maker, Metal

Amazon.com Price: Too low to display (as of 2010-09-09 04:35:58 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
User Reviews Send this to a friend
DeLonghi EN680.M Nespresso Lattissima Single-Serve Espresso Maker, Metal
 
Manufacturer: Delonghi
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $1,040.00
Sale Price: Too low to display
Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
Free Shipping Available
Buy Now
 

Product Description
DeLonghi's Metal Nespresso Lattissima Maker, Model EN680.M, patented extraction system facilitates the ideal flow of water through the ground coffee. The machine automatically ejects the capsules into holding tank after brew is completed. Patented IFD milk system includes a milk container for cappuccino, latte or macchiato. The milk container includes a unique automatic cleaning function with a push of a button. The entire milk container is detachable so it can easily be placed in the refridgerator. The amounts of frothed/steamed milk and coffee are adjustable to preference. Adjustable cup tray height accomodates large or small cups with easy removable drip tray insert. Illuminated controls allow the consumer to choose their favorite drink of cappuccino, latte machiato, espresso coffee, long coffee, or hot water in a simple and intuitive way. Other features include removable drip tray, self-priming operation, 19 BAR high pressure pump and removable 40 oz water tank. The welcome kit includes an espresso cup, a latte cup, a saucer and a sample pack of Nespresso capsules.

Product Details
  • Single-serve espresso maker for use with coffee-filled capsules
  • 19-bar high-pressure pump; used capsules eject automatically
  • Illuminated controls; IFD milk system; adjustable milk/coffee amounts
  • Adjustable cup-tray height; removable drip tray; 40-ounce water tank
  • Warming tray on unit's top; measures approximately 10-1/4 by 8 by 13-1/2 inches

Video Reviews
DeLonghi EN 680M Espressomaschine Lattissima NESPRESSO

Customer Reviews
Latissima problems solved
 
Review Date: November 1, 2008
Reviewer: Susan Vazquez, Brewster, NY USA
I loved this machine from the first time I saw and tried it. However, I started having problems on day 2 - the milk wouldn't froth and it came out in spurts with a lot of water, not even filling 1/8 of the glass with milk. I took it back to Williams Sonoma and they cheerfully replaced it. It happened again to this new machine and, once again, I took it back for a replacement. (I had been in touch with Nespresso at all the junctures along the way and they replaced the milk jug and top twice.) When it happened on the third machine, I called the local Williams-Sonoma and asked if there was someone who could check out my machine. I am in the Danbury, CT area and Bill, at the local Williams-Sonoma, told me to leave it with him while I shopped and he would check it out. When I returned he told me it was frothing perfectly and then showed me how he set it up. It seems that I had not been pushing the jug connection tight enough. It has to click in. The lights had always been on and so I believed that the jug was connected correctly, but I was wrong. Not until I saw it being done and felt the connection, did I understand what I was doing wrong. Without being tightly connected it doesn't work correctly. Now I push until I hear a click and/or push it in a second time holding the back of the machine as I push, and have been making perfect lattes. I recommend this machine highly but think the documentation should be rewritten with this little bit of information in bold letters. I have seen many reviews of this machine from people who have had the same problem and hope that they found the solution as this machine is wonderful.
delonghi EN680.M
 
Review Date: December 23, 2007
Reviewer: Paul M. Wright Jr., Charleston, SC
We ordered this from Amazon and received it a week ago. My wife and I are very happy with the machine. It is a great design, easy to use and clean, and makes great coffee. I highly recommend it. It's high priced but much cheaper than similar machines.
Awsome espresso
 
Review Date: August 7, 2009
Reviewer: Lucy, Eau Claire WI
I saw this machine and tried a few samples of espresso with my family in the Nepresso store in Boston a month ago. I ordered it as soon as I returned from my trip. I think it produces a fantastic espresso and I like the convenience of the pods. I also own the Keurig machine and the Tassimo machine. Obviously I like the convenience of pod machines. I love the Keurig machine for regular coffee and iced coffee. The Tassimo machine can't compete with the Keurig machine for coffee. I bought it to make mostly cappuccinos and espresso with but it can't touch the Nespresso lattissima. The lattissima uses real milk not prepackaged condensed milk and the espresso the lattissima produces is far superior to anything the Tassimo produces. Hands down the Lattisima is a far superior machine. I have no problem with the milk frother and the temp of the milk on the Lattissima machine. After reading the others comments about the temperature I have always just run hot water through the frother first and made sure my cup was at least room temperature. My model has the cup warmer on top which I think is great. It keeps the cups warm all the time. I think the espressos and cappuccinos are plenty hot and so do my kids. We've only had it a couple of weeks but it gets used two to three times a day, some times more. I'm having a dinner party in two weeks and looking forward to be able to offer great espresso and cappuccino after dinner. It also makes great iced lattes. At this time I have no complaints about it. We love it!
good cap
 
Review Date: November 11, 2008
Reviewer: B. Cummings,
i just finished three years living in rome and when everyone asked me what would i miss most, i said the cap and corn (that's a cappucino and a cornetto--croissant) which i had each morning. since i got the nespresso machine, i'm back to my cap and corn each morning. i really like the one touch cappucino maker although i do find that i have to use two capsules for one good sized cappucino. not a problem since there's no mess with this machine. just pop the capsule in and then empty the tray when you're done. i really like it and it is going to save me airfare back to rome several times a year just for a cup of coffee!
Nespresso Lattisima
 
Review Date: December 22, 2008
Reviewer: Renee E. Giannini, Illinois
LOVE LOVE LOVE this machine!!!!!!!! We bought this machine because we wanted the ease of not messing with foaming the milk. It makes the most delicious latte, cappuccino, expresso!!!!! The coffee capsules are delicious! We haven't had a bad one yet. My only suggestion would be to get your cups hot with hot water before filling with your desired beverage! Very easy to use, but there are a few days of getting the perfect hang of it. Don't forget to get a little shaker for cinnamon or cocoa!! This is an addicting little machine. Oh, I have heard people complain about the little capsules not being recycleable, I just pop them in the sink and use a spoon to pull back the foil top and rinse them out and put them in the recyling bin...You won't be dissappointed this is an awesome little machine...We are packing ours up to take to FLORIDA this week with us...I don't know if I can live without it!!!

DeLonghi EC155 Espresso Maker

Amazon.com Price: Too low to display (as of 2010-09-09 10:45:15 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
User Reviews Send this to a friend
DeLonghi EC155 Espresso Maker
 
Manufacturer: Delonghi
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $140.00
Sale Price: Too low to display
Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
Free Shipping Available
Buy Now
 

Product Description
The DeLonghi Espresso Maker has a patented dual-function filter holder for use with ground espresso, this unique filter mixes air into the brewing process to produce a perfect crema. Distinguished by it's caramel color, the crema is the essence of authentic espresso. The filter also accommodates E.S.E pods. This great Espresso machine offers a swivel jet frother that makes cappucccino, latte or any other frothy milk beverage with ease. The 35 ounce (1Liter) removable water tank can now be filled right at the sink. Plus cleaning the tank has never been easier. The removable drip tray also lends itself to easy, hassle-free, clean up. Many other feature set this Espresso machine above the rest, its self priming operation, stainless steel boiler made of durable, high quality stainless steel, two separate thermostats so water and steam pressure are controlled separately. The adjustable steam emission for making the perfect cappuccino and the ON/OFF switch with indicator light that allows for easy operation.

Product Details
  • 15-bar pump-driven espresso machine with durable stainless-steel boiler
  • 2 thermostats for separately controlling water and steam pressure
  • Self-priming operation; accommodates E.S.E. pods and ground espresso
  • Adjustable swivel jet frother; removable 35-ounce water tank; "on/off" switch
  • Measures 7-1/2 by 9-1/2 by 11-1/8 inches; 1-year warranty

Video Reviews
Delonghi EC155 Espresso

Customer Reviews
Great espresso, incredible price!
 
Review Date: April 23, 2007
Reviewer: Jennifer Smith, Santa Barbara, CA United States
I love espresso, and this little baby makes a great cup. Here are a few points that might be useful for you to know:

Good points:
*It doesn't take up too much room on the counter and looks nice with it's silver metal accents.
*The water reservoir is a good size, you can make about 8-10 shots before you need to refill it, which is very easy to do, and there is a clear section behind the basket which shows the water level.
*Fast heat-up time (only about a minute), good frothing wand, no wait time between frothing and brewing (though you do have to wait a little between brewing and frothing).

Be warned:
*Frothing wand is only 3 1/4 inches from the counter top. Not a big deal, I just went and bought a frothing cup that is about that height.
*Distance from grounds basket to tray is only 2 1/2 inches, I usually use a small espresso cup.
*Built-in tamper sucks, buy a good metal one.
*You don't end up with a nice dry puck, the grounds basket is a watery soup after your espresso is made, so I dump it down the disposal.
*You will end up drinking more espresso than you mean to, it's that good!

Seriously, I chose this machine after a lot of online researching, and decided on this one based on its outstanding reviews and great price. What led me to it were the reviews of another DeLonghi, the EC140B, which is an older and less attractive model, but had reviews from people who had owned theirs for 6 and 10 years! I'm hoping that this one will have the same longevity.

-----> UPDATE: I've now had this machine for 8 months and it started running very slow. I'd been using only distilled water, so I knew it wasn't a calcification issue, so I looked into it and it turns out machines like this one (no backflushing) need to be cleaned every month or so to remove built up grounds that work their way inside the machine. So I ran some cleaner through it and all this nasty brownish liquid came out, and now it runs great again! So remember people, take good care of your things and they will take good care of you. A lesson I am still learning...
- and to answer a question commented on this review, my tamper is 2 inches in diameter.
Process of elimination
 
Review Date: January 2, 2008
Reviewer: OhioGardener, Ohio
First, a couple of disclaimers:
1. This is the first pump-driven espresso machine that we have owned.

2. We generally drink cafe Americano, which is an espresso with a little added hot water (or cold water with an iced Americano). We make an occasional cappuccino and have thus used the steam wand, but not extensively.

After doing a cost/benefit analysis in regards to our current cafe Americano habit (~10 per week), we realized that there would be some justification to buying a home unit. We first considered the Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker, but reviewers consistently lamented the unit's tendency to clog the filter, necessitating time-consuming cleaning. Also, not being completely sure that we would actually use the espresso maker, we balked at the $250 price tag.

We also considered moving up to one of the superautomatico machines that grind, tamp, brew and dispose of the grinds, but we worried about the reliability of technology that had only recently hit the consumer-grade appliances. After reading zillions of reviews, we realized that every mid-priced machine had some glaring flaw and, in the end, we decided to buy an inexpensive pump-driven unit and wait for the technology to catch up before investing a huge chunk of change in an espresso machine. Moving our investigation to low-end espresso makers, we were impressed by the reviews of the DeLonghi EC155 and purchased it from Amazon.

I put off writing a review in order to make sure that the DeLonghi was going to last until we had at least broken even on it. We received it in mid-July and since then it has produced about 200 double shots flawlessly. By my reckoning, that's about $400 worth of Americanos at the local cafe. Even considering the price of the coffee, we have more than broken even. So, here's our pros and cons:

PROs
- Price--we paid $91.28.
- Crema Production--this unit consistently produces a thick layer of delicious crema.
- Powerful Stream Wand--Easily froths milk.
- Mechanicals--After six months of nearly daily use this mighty-mite works as well as it did the day it arrived.
- Easy Cleanup--Filter cleans easily.

CONs
- Ergonomics--As other reviewers have noted, there could be a little more room between the area where the cup sits and the output nozzle. Also the steam wand could be longer.
- Features--No cup warmer. Not a big deal to us, especially considering the price of the EC155, but it will put off some buyers.

SOME THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED
- Using a coffee especially made for espresso, such as Lavazza, produces a much better espresso. Lavazza has the added benefit of allowing you to go for hours without blinking.
- Preheating the unit for 15 minutes and warming the cups in the microwave improves the results and experience.


Awesome pump driven machine for the $$
 
Review Date: March 24, 2007
Reviewer: Maddi the Pup, Bloomington, IN USA
I was always skeptical of expensive espresso machines and wondered why anyone would pay hundreds of dollars for an expensive machine. It turns out that the more expensive and quality machines are "pump-driven" rather than the typical "steam driven" found at your local Wally World and such. A pump driven machine will hit pressures 4-5 times greater than that of a steam driven machine and gets much better extraction from the espresso grinds (better flavor) and are the only machines capable of generating the "chrema" foam at the top of the espresso.

The DelLonghi EC155 is an excellent budget machine found for under $100 that is pump driven. I was happy with my old steam driven Delonghi, but once I received this I realized that I didn't even know what I was missing. This espresso is as good or better than anything you'll get in a nice Italian restaurant or at your local Charbucks. The chrema that this thing produced is flat out great (you'll get a nice 1/4 layer of tasty emulsified foam). The convenience of pulling a single shot is great too, and you really only need the machine to warm up a few minutes before you pull a shot.

The best feature about this machine in my humble opinion is that it is E.S.E certified (easy serve espresso). This means that you can pick up the ESE certified pods from Charbucks or a good online pod retailer and not have to go to the trouble of grinding and tamping. This is a HUGE feature that even some more expensive machines do not have and is what eventually sold me on this unit. Having grown accustomed to the convenience of pod coffee, it was only natural to look for the same thing in my espresso machine. Do note that coffee (senseo style) pods will not work in here as those are much larger than the ESE certified pod. Try a nice blend from Baronet or another find espresso brand and you won't be sorry.

I highly recommend this machine. In short, it has fantastic features for the money, makes awesome espresso chrema, and it ESE certified for pod use. You will definitely not do any better than this machine for under $100.
Great product for the price
 
Review Date: September 22, 2007
Reviewer: Pilates Lvr, Concord, CA
This product will meet your needs if you are looking for a basic machine that delivers good espresso at a decent cost. After trying it with the 15-30 minute recommended warm-up (turned it on to pre-heat and hit the treadmill) and the quick warm-up (about 5 minutes running two cycles of hot water), the end result is the same either way. I've tried the single and double shot filters packing my own coffee, and the single filter using a pod. I will say that I much prefer the pods for the convenience and because I'm not good at tamping-- plus, you don't have the hassle of dumping wet grinds out of the filter. Either way, the ultimate taste experience is going to depend on the quality and type of coffee bean (or pod) that you use, and your ability to successfully steam the milk without scalding it.

I understand the complaints people have about the awkwardly positioned steam wand, but I purchased a 12oz pitcher and a thermometer, and have been able to manuver it under the steaming wand without much trouble. I recommend releasing the steam for a couple of seconds before putting the milk under the wand-- that will eliminate any water buildup from the wand going into your milk. If you're new to steaming milk like I was, I recommend reading an article or two on the proper steaming technique-- it makes all the difference. I brew into a marked 1 oz glass, so the small clearance space between the drip grate and the filter basket isn't a problem for me, but it is something to be aware of.
EC155 A Really good machine
 
Review Date: February 15, 2007
Reviewer: Edward M. Wright, Portland Orygun
This is my first pump machine, until now I have been steam driven. Wow, what a difference. I choose it based on price + reviews + past experience with DeLonghi. The reviews were the major factor.
I have fed a variety of coffees through the machine, used an incorrect grind etc, just to test it. It provides perfect creama every time.
Starbuck's stock may just go down as I now make really good espresso at home.
My only complaints, and I think with time they won't be complaints any more, is that when fitting the coffee basket to the machine it is pretty easy to cross thread, and I would prefer the steam wand be mounted just a little higher. The steam wand by the way foams well and easily. I have only my old steam machine to compare to, but this machine is a joy.
Amazon as usual provided a highly competitive price, and better shipping than I had any right to expect.
5 stars all around

Keurig B70 Gourmet Single-Cup Home Brewing System

Amazon.com Price: $150.00 (as of 2010-09-09 11:35:37 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
User Reviews Send this to a friend
Keurig B70 Gourmet Single-Cup Home Brewing System
 
Manufacturer: Keurig
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $229.99
Sale Price: $150.00
Availibility: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Now
 

Product Description
The Platinum Brewing System is Keurig's best single-cup brewing system for your home. This premium model offers discerning coffee drinkers the widest range of five cup size options for brewing. The Platinum offers the full spectrum of features including Auto On/Off, Digital Clock, Adjustable Temperature Control and the "Set Your Favorite Cup Size" option. The largest available 60 oz. removable water reservoir holds up to ten cups before refilling and the removable drip tray allows for easy cleaning and the use of travel mugs. The sleek, award-winning design is a unique footprint among Keurig's line of home brewing systems and includes both a blue lit water reservoir and blue lit LCD display. At initial set up, once the machine is filled with water, it will take approximately 4-minutes for the water will be heated. During the heating period the red light next to ‘HEATING’ on the LED Control Center will become illuminated. Once the water is heated, the red light will turn off and the Small Mug Button will flash. Press the Small Mug Button to start a cleansing brew. Pour the hot water into the sink. The Brewer may take 15 seconds to reheat water between brews during which time the red light next to ‘HEATING’ on the LED Control Center may be illuminated. When the water has heated, the red light will turn off. The one-time set-up process is now complete and you are ready to brew!

Product Details
  • Single-cup home brewing system for use with patented K-Cups
  • One-touch control panel; blue backlit LCD display; digital clock; programmable on/off
  • 5 brew-size options; adjustable brew temperature; removable drip tray
  • Blue-lit removable 60-ounce water reservoir; descale indicator; dishwasher-safe parts
  • Measures 13-4/5 by 10-2/7 by 13 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Video Reviews
Keurig B70 One Cup Coffee Maker Review - Michael Vorel
Keurig B70 demo

Customer Reviews
Best Single Cup Brewer On The Market
 
Review Date: October 9, 2006
Reviewer: D. Peterson, Portland, OR USA
I recently purchased the new Keurig B-70 Gourmet Single Cup Home Brewing System that was released on October 1st, 2006 and have been very happy with it. The machine is extremely well designed, simple to operate, aesthetically pleasing, and most importantly, brews an excellent cup of coffee. I am very impressed with how quickly it is able to brew a cup of coffee, the selection of brew sizes, and how simple clean up is.

There are a variety of single cup brewers on the market now, many utilizing pre-packaged coffee "pods" for brewing. Personally I was not comfortable purchasing a product where I would be locked into the selection and pricing of a specific manufacturer, or one that would only brew coffee and not tea and cocoa. This is just one area where Keurig really shines above their competition.

Keurig has gathered support of a variety of gourmet coffee, tea, and cocoa manufacturers and there currently there are over 140 different types sold pre-packaged in K-Cups including Green Mountain, Diedrich, Gloria Jean's, Timothy's, Van Houtte, Tully's, Coffee People, Newman's Own, Celestial Seasonings, Bigelow, Twinings, and Ghirardelli. Not only is there a large selection to choose from, there are a variety of resellers online offering K-Cups, and pricing is extremely competitive.

In addition to the pre-packaged offerings, Keurig offers the My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter allows you to use your own gourmet ground coffee in your Keurig home brewer. This option provided the extra level of comfort I personally needed to make the jump into a single cup brewer. Frankly I don't find myself using it very often as I had originally thought, as there are so many options available in pre-packaged K-cups.

The pricing of the Keurig brewers are extremely reasonable, and brews gourmet coffee in just a fraction of the cost of purchasing it from a Starbucks, Coffee People, or similar. I expect that my machine will pay for itself in savings in just a couple months of use.

The only suggestion I have for Keurig is that the My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter be included with the sale of the brewer, and not an optional accessory. It is such an inexpensive accessory that I am surprised it was not included. Overall the Keurig brewers are excellent value and quality and would recommend them to anyone interested in a single cup brewer.
Variety rules the day at Keurig
 
Review Date: October 5, 2006
Reviewer: L. Ellis, Tennessee
Being one who loves convenient, but great tasting coffee, I've bought several single-serve coffee machines. The Home Cafe, My Bunn Cafe, and the most recent, Tassimo.

They all worked quite well, considering how "new" they were to the field, and how fresh the field really was at the time, for consumers. I was happy with each purchase(save the Home Cafe, which had a serious mechanical flaw).

I'm not going to spend all my time just comparing the Keurig machine; I'm simply going to say "I wish I'd bought one of these[any Keurig machine] earlier". It meets almost all the desires I had in a single-serve coffee machine.

- Tons of variety in K-cups (which actually can be difficult, I didn't know where to start or what to try!)
- Simple to use
- Beautiful, functional design
- 4 brew size choices
- Keeps water hot for the next cup instead of waiting until you fiddle with the machine
- Can be used with a custom filter K-Cup so you can brew any coffee you like (I'm looking forward to using this with tea too!)
- Much quieter than some machines I've used (the Tassimo is freakishly loud in my opinion)

Those are just some reasons I love this machine. The fact that it makes very good coffee is a big plus too, right? It seems as if the coffee from the Keurig machine tastes less "burnt" than most single serve coffee I've had in the past.

My biggest complaint is the cost. Whether it's worth $200 to you or not, is entirely up to YOU. If you're as obsessed with quick, easy, tasty coffee like I am, maybe you'll agree that it is worth it.

I'm a happy customer, either way. ;)
Perfect Cup of Coffee Everytime...
 
Review Date: December 17, 2006
Reviewer: Fabulous, Lone Tree, CO
I was introduced to this coffee maker about 6 months ago when I spent five days at a lake house in Texas with ten of my gal pals to celebrate my birthday. Each morning we had the thrill of going through the many selections of K-Cups and picking out the perfect one to suit our individual needs for that morning! Everyone got exactly what they wanted - in about 40 seconds. No mess, no fuss, no leftovers to toss away.

After doing some more research into the variety of "single cup" brewing systems I realized that this really is THE ONE TO HAVE. Unlike the Tassimo brewing system, Keurig offers you a variety of gourmet coffee & tea manufacturers to choose from. Don't forget to order the K-Cup Reusable Coffee filter so that you can use your own coffee grounds - yet another option that Keurig offers. Variety is the spice of life so stock up on your favorite herbals teas & flavored coffees and remember to order the Spinning Carousel to hold your choices (27 slots) for easy viewing! There are many websites to choose from that sell these K-cups. Amazon has a decent variety but they're not always available.

We've had so many friends pop in at a moments notice and instead of hurrying to brew a pot of coffee we just direct them to the K-cups and let them choose for themselves. No more making a pot of decaf and then a regular pot to please everyone!

A great feature is that you can set a timer to have the system turn on so when you get up in the morning you have hot water ready to go and then set the timer to turn the machine off at another desired time. Keurig suggests leaving the system on all the time but I think it's unnecessary especially if you're only morning coffee drinkers like us! It only takes about 4 minutes for the water to heat up so if you can't wait that long you've got issues that need to be addressed with a professional.

Get this for your own household and one as a holiday gift to share with someone else. They'll thank you over and over again!
Great machine (11/30/06 UPDATED 7/30/07)
 
Review Date: November 30, 2006
Reviewer: Stephen Sarrica,
My wife's Christmas present this year is a Keurig B70 coffee maker. We have a B100 at work that I was very impressed by and we decided that a home machine would nicely fill the need when we might want a cup or two, but might not want to make a full pot.

Long story short: we love the machine. So far, our favorite coffee is Timothy's Kona Blend -- but we haven't tried more than a handful of the scores of varieties of coffees and teas available for the beast. We got the extra filter for when we want to grind and use our own coffee in the machine, but have not yet had the opportunity to try it yet. It is a nice option to have.

We'll still use our Zojirushi thermal carafe brewer when we need a full pot, but the Keurig is wonderful for lesser amounts. Highly recommended.

I learned today that one of the coffee roasters that supplies the K-cups, Green Mountain, just bought Keurig (an American company with a Dutch name). I hope this won't limit the variety of coffees available for the machines -- that would be a major bummer if other roasters bowed out and would cause me to pull my glowing recommendation.

UPDATE 7/30/07: The B70 died today after 8 months of yeoman service. A call to Keurig revealed that the symptoms matched a "bad element" (one would assume heating element). A replacement machine in on its way (arrival in 3-4 days). Keurig doesn't want the old machine back, just a part. Keurig customer service was extremely pleasant and professional. Assuming the replacement machine arrives in good form, the five star rating is intact. I do wonder if there is a generic problem with heating elements in this model -- I'll have to look through the newer reviews to see if I should worry.
FABULOUS - AWESOME - HASSLE FREE - COFFEE/TEA/COCOA EVERY TIME
 
Review Date: December 4, 2006
Reviewer: Rock Bottom, USA
The Keurig B-70 is my answer to easy coffee, anytime, quickly, with superb results. It also brews tea and makes hot chocolate simple. The machine itself is very high-tech looking and has a very expensive look and feel to it. It will look wonderful on any kitchen countertop or in any setting. I SIMPLY LOVE IT! Your guests will be drawn to it, it just looks so interesting with its mystical blue lights.

There is absolutely no mess and it's fun for your guests or family to be able to choose what they like from the hundreds of choices available, of course their choices will be limited to what you have on hand. Amazon seems to have the best deal on the K-cups which is the genius of the machine. Pop one in and in 30 seconds or so you have a steaming cup of your fsvorite beverage. Though it costs a bit more per beverage, you will easily make that up with its ease of use and convenience (saves a lot of time and mess). No longer will you be pouring half full pots of coffee down the drain.

I also own the B-60 and I noticed that a reviewer here stated there are no differences. There are three huge differences that the B-70 features over the B-60. The larger reservoir is very nice to have, I don't have to fill it so often. The fact that the B-70 brews a 12 oz cup is a giant difference to me. And last, the B-70 appears better engineered, it is much quieter and is also better looking.

I give this the HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! AAA+++ It also has a one (1) year warranty, simply fill in the enclosed warranty card.

Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker

Amazon.com Price: View Sale Price (as of 2010-09-09 12:55:38 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
User Reviews Send this to a friend
Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker
 
Manufacturer: Breville
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $249.99
Sale Price: View Sale Price
Availibility: View Product Availability
Buy Now
 

Product Description
Breville ESP8XL Café Roma Espresso with 15 bar thermoblock pump has stainless steel commercial housing and includes a bonus stainless steel espresso cup set and frothing jug.

Product Details
  • Stainless-steel espresso machine with 15-bar Thermoblock pump
  • Dual-wall filter system for excellent crema; froth enhancer; cup-warming plate
  • Large, easy-fill 1-2/7-quart water tank; external water window indicates when tank is low
  • Removable drip tray and grid; stainless-steel espresso cup set and frothing jug included
  • Measures 9 by 9 by 12 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Video Reviews
Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker

Customer Reviews
An Excellent Machine
 
Review Date: May 29, 2005
Reviewer: Lori Smart, Eugene, OR
All I can say is WOW! My teenage daughters and I love espresso & designer lattes, This machine made it a BREEZE for us to give up all the overpriced designer cafes in our area. My brother is a coffee snob and spent literally thousands on a fully automated Capresso machine. You could buy a couple dozen of these Breville machines for the price of his.. and you know what? It's a few seconds more work but the coffee is JUST AS GOOD!

One of my daughters is visually impaired and she can work the machine and clean it with no problems.

Assembly was easy, cleanup is easy, and making three different beverages in seconds is a breeze, too. We have three completely different tastes so we've managed quite a few different drinks. I make sugar free soy lattes using Soy Slender and sugar free DaVinci flavors. We've frothed skim, 2%, whole and soy milks of every type. Even heavy whipping cream and half & half froth perfectly.

The only issue we had was that one time we tamped the espresso a little too firmly and nothing would come out. If you tamp lightly, you'll have no problem at all and the crema is absolutely superb!

As for the reviewer that said their espresso was watery, if you use a fine ground espresso, that definately won't be a problem. The two-serving filter makes a great double shot, but if you try to make more than that, I can see how you could end up with something watery. The drip tray does need emptying once in a while, but that's the same with every espresso maker I've ever used.

I DEFINATELY recommend this machine!!
Great machine
 
Review Date: February 13, 2006
Reviewer: Cosmas Bisticas, Denver
This is the second espresso machine I have owned, the first one was a professional one in my restaurant and made perfect coffee quickly!

This machine for a home espresso machine lacks nothing in it's ability to produce a great espresso other than the time required to do so. The crema it produces is thick and the steamer produces a reasonable, constant flow of steam making it possible to make perfect foam with your milk. The water storage allows space for more than enough water to make several cups and steam a large amount of milk. The drip tray is large enough to collect a good amount of dripage and the design is sleek and compact. The only thing I think that Breville could do to improve on this unit would be to include a timer to turn the machine on so that I can have espresso in the morning before I leave for work!
Perfect - Taste Functionality Features Looks and Style
 
Review Date: November 30, 2005
Reviewer: K. Angus, SLC, Utah
I've owned several machines over the last ten years, from the $49.00 'wait for the steam', a $4000 Venezia VAE-22, an 'all-in-one' $1000.00 Starbuck machine along with my current (broken) Starbuck Barista. None of the machines I've owned come close to the Cafe Roma ESP8XL for quality and design. From the water feed systems removable, cleanable, replaceable, easy to access water tank to the three tang filter holder, precision and functionality was first for the designers. The frothing system, the drip tray, the simple controls are all top notch and the cup warming plate is over the top! The pop-up button that shows you the level of the water in the drip tray is a really nice feature. By adding the stainless demitasse cups and saucers Breville created the best machine on the earth. For those that have problems with getting the grounds out of the filter I found a stainless steel Knockout tray with 49mm Tamper that matches the machine and is easy to clean. The first espresso I made was perfect, it took several cups in our stores Venezia VAE-22 to get everything right. Some of the other reviewers seem to have issues with the 'taste', part of learning how each machine functions is the issue. The filter on the ESP8XL is one of the easiest to maintain I've ever used and one of the reasons for the perfect Espresso.
Easy to use, good expresso
 
Review Date: January 2, 2006
Reviewer: R. A. Harrison, Kansas City, MO
Having used several other piston and steam type models at work, I am pleased to say this one is as easy as any to get a great cup of espresso. This machine replaces a Krupps.

First Impressions: My first cup was a little weak (I did not measure). After using the provided measure and a light force tamp, the second cup was perfect. So was the third. Some other reviewers noted the coffee was not hot enough, I thought it was just right...and I am one who always has to ask Starbucks to make mine "extra hot."

For the record, I used home-roasted beans (using the popular Fresh-Roast plus 8) and grind them using a Cuisinart DBM8. Since the grinder is new, I am using the full espresso setting (18) and am pleased with the results out of the box.

Grips: As noted by others, the steamer is slow. I've used it twice and it takes about 1 minute.

Likes: Quality accessories--I really like the espresso cups. Great looking stainless steel housing, easy to use, and a fairly small counter footprint.
Breville -- Changing Opinions One Mouth At A Time!
 
Review Date: November 6, 2006
Reviewer: Timothy D. Kiger, Madison, WV
I must admit, I had never really experienced true espresso until I fired up my Breville a few months ago, and neither had my wife or my 10-year-old daughter, who positively hated coffee! After having spent five years with a steam-operated coffee scorcher, I really expected the Breville to be just a bit better quality than what I was accustomed. Needless to say, I was very surprised. I now know why the coffee drinks I snare at all my local coffee shops taste so good -- they're using real espresso machines!
My wife and I can't drink regular coffee anymore, as it's much too thin and has a scorched, watery flavor. We love to find unusual coffee bean flavors and tremendously enjoy exploring the world of coffee beans and all the flavors.
As for the Breville, it works wonderfully, time after time. Every cup is the same, thick and rich, with a beautiful caramel-colored crema, thick enough to flow a dollop of sugar. Experiment with the tamps, a hard tamp gives you a longer shot, whereas a soft tamp gives you less crema. Do the same with the grinds and discover the beauty of coffee, your own way and at your own pace. Have patience and enjoy the journey! We are, thanks to our Breville!
 Page 9 of 9  « First  ... « 5  6  7  8  9