Breville Cafe Roma Espresso/ Cappuccino Maker ESP8XL

by Breville

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 19 pounds
• ASIN: B000E46ITO
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,245 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)

Product Description

The Cafe Roma Espresso/Cappuccino machine by Breville is for the style conscious coffee lover. It is ideal for making a variety of coffee drinks from espresso and cappuccino, to lattes and machiattos. This espresso machine features a 15 bar Italian Thermoblock pump system, an advanced crema system with a froth enhancer, a removable 1.2 litre water tank, a removable drip tray with a water level indicator, a cup warming plate, 2 stainless steel espresso cups and a frothing jug.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This machine doesn't froth, March 12, 2007

By 

Dr. Stephen M. Johnson (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breville Cafe Roma Espresso/ Cappuccino Maker ESP8XL

I've been making cappachino's for over 30 years with machines in this price range. I couldn't froth the milk with this particular machine and sent it back. I might have just gotten a lemon. But, if not, I hope this saves you the same trouble. The Gaggia machines and the Villa Ware machines work for me.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for the faint of heart, November 17, 2009

By 

CJ (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breville Cafe Roma Espresso/ Cappuccino Maker ESP8XL

If you are looking for a simple to use foolproof espresso machine, choose another. It is a challenge to learn to use this machine to create a good espresso drink. It is possible though. In fact, I have been able to make some of the best I've ever had. I have worked as a barista for nearly 4 years and never got as good a result on the commercial models.

If you are up for the challenge, there is one important thing to keep in mind: the filters are very unforgiving. It is crucial that your coffee is ground perfectly for espresso or you will spend hours trying to unclog the filter (a tedious process involving a device that amounts to a pin being poked one by one into dozens of holes). I had all but given up on this machine when I decided to try a prepackaged already ground espresso. Normally I would discourage pre-ground coffee in general (due to loss in flavor) but this completely solved the clogging problem. The espresso shots were amazing. It was the promise of that incredible crema that drew me to this brand in the first place. Finally, I got to enjoy it. You will need to experiment with the proper tamping to get the desired results. Too light and your shot will be weak. Too firm and it will clog.

Foaming the milk is also a challenge. It seems you must overfill the included pitcher so that some of the milk spills out while you're foaming. If you do you will get the most velvety foam imaginable.

Is it worth it? Given the price I might have skipped it if I had known how challenging things would be. Now that I own it I am not sad since I am able to really impress my guests (and myself) with my barista skills by serving the best espresso drinks I (and hopefully they) have ever had.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I wouldn't buy another, November 21, 2008

By 

Ken Walker - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breville Cafe Roma Espresso/ Cappuccino Maker ESP8XL

I bought this to replace another bad designed espresso maker a KitchenAid that I paid over a thousand dollars including tax. This started out just like the previous one,worked fine for 3 or 4 months and it became a pretty stainless steel space filler for our counter. The main problem with these is clogging filter that cant be cleaned properly. I don't think I will buy any more hi end makers.