Customer Reviews

Briel ES62AF L'Expresso Automatic Cadiz Espresso Machine

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

After searching long and hard (and reading countless reviews) I decided upon this machine because of 1)price and 2)looks. This machine replaced an old Krups steam driven machine. I've now had it about a month. Here are my thoughts: 1)There is a learning curve - I had to adjust my burr grinder to get the correct setting, or adjust how hard I tamped, or else I found the liquid coming out around the edge of the filter holder. So,I suggest first buying good quality preground espresso, and get used to tamping it properly (ie. very lightly!). Then, after mastering the tamp, adjust your grinder so you get a grind that approaches what you bought (I used Illy). I found a 5.5 on my Braun grinder works best. Since then I've had no problem and perfect espressos. (the machine seems to work better with time). 2) It drips - no matter what they say it drips. If it didn't drip they wouldn't have a drip pan. It takes a rinse and its clean - no big deal. I have a sponge I use just for the machine to wipe up drips, etc. (also use a toothbrush periodically to clean the brew head). I don't want to turn anyone off; making espresso is messy and will always be unless you pop for the $1000 machines that do everything. 3)I don't have much use for the automatic serving system (the middle dial). Supposedly you can use it to control the amount of water, but I find it varies considerably between shots. I set it to the highest setting and then just turn the brew button on until my shot glass is full and then hit it again to turn it off. Takes around 25 seconds. In all, those are the problems I found - and they aren't biggies. For the price, I'm willing to deal with them as I don't think any of the other machines at a similar price would offer much difference. I'd definitely buy it again.

We just redid our kitchen with stainless steel appliances and wanted a powerful, yet attractive machine that would fit in. So we purchased the CADIZ AUTO from BRIEL. The Cadiz offers a sleek Stainless Steel look exterior with added features such as Auto Espresso Flow and a warming plate for pre-heating cups. Cadiz is an impressive machine that makes it easy for anyone to create authentic espresso, cappuccino or latte every time! This full size machine is adaptable for use with ground coffee or coffee servings (pods)! I get my pods from AMAZON.COM. Some of the features that my wife and I like most about the machine:

1. Large, removable water reservoir that fills from the top. 2. Water level visible from the front. 3. GREAT ESPRESSO EXTRACTION due to Constant 15 Bar pump pressure producing a savory espresso with perfect crema every time 4. POWERFUL STEAM with a snap-on Turbo Jet Frother produces plentiful dry steam for a thick milk froth for a cappuccino or latte.

We can wholeheartedly suggest this machine to others, as we intend to purchase a couple of these machines as gifts. We've had experience with BRIEL in the past and consulted their office in Atlanta where we found everyone to be pleasant, informative and upbeat about their products.

The machine worked great for about 3 months, then it started leaking, we looked inside and a rubber gasket had melted and a silicone stopper had turned to dust. Ok so things happen. After reading the horror stories here about the service center in NJ I called the one in Canada. A very nice man that spoke French and a little broken English tried to help but said he could not honor the warranty because it was purchased in the US. So then the nightmare began. I tried calling the US center 4 days running and kept getting a busy signal.
I had overtime misplaced the 800 number so I used MSN's yellow pages and dialed long distance. I then spent 10 minutes argueing with 2 people that I indeed did not dial the 800 number and would they please give me that number. After being called a liar about that I was told it would cost approximately $60 in handling fees, and if they determined that the damage was my fault I would be paying for the parts and labor as well.
I dont really give a damn how nice the coffe is folks, if that machine breaks down and you live in the US, consider yourself owning a $200 door stop, or a $400 machine after repair. Personally, if Im going to spend $400 its going to be on a different machine and it certainly wont be made by Briel

As long as this machine works, it's fine. But when it breaks down, as it will, get ready for, as someone else already called it - 'the royal run-around'. This machine broke down after about a year. We sent it in, forked over another 100 bucks, and soon were back to sipping cappuccinos. Sure enough, the machine broke down again ten months later. When we explained the problem over the phone -in detail!-, the repair person assured us that this was the same problem and, since it was within a year of the last repair, we wouldn't have to pay for it. So we sent it in again.
The real fun started when we received a call that our machine was ready, with the request for another $80 (in addition to the $20 for shipping we already paid). Suddenly, Mr. Steve Karow informed us, the previously repaired part only had a 90 day warrantee. When I told Mr. Karow of the earlier conversation, and that we only sent in the machine again because of the warrantee, he told us that, and I quote: "We would be happy to throw your machine out if you don't want to pay for it..."

Moral: If it can break down, don't buy from Briel! Their service department will leave a bad taste in your mouth that their best espresso can't wash away. Seeing here that other people have had similar experiences, I believe the FTC should take a closer look at Briel.

I was happy with my Briel Cadiz at first. Nevertheless, after 4 months, the unit started excessively leaking steam and water. I sent it in to Briel's service center in New Jersey in May - as of today (Sept. 21) I still don't have it back. I have called, been promised that it is shipping in a few days, more times than I can count. So, I've waited 4 months (and counting) for warranty repair of a unit that was only 4 months old. I've sent a letter to Briel's HQ in Portugal requesting that they send me a new unit, but have had no response. I am not going to purchased a Briel product again.

Maybe even more discouraging is that Amazon has been completely unwilling to help in this manner. I am very surprised that Amazon will not hold their vendors to higher standards of customer service.

So, if you buy a Briel product - pray that nothing ever goes wrong.

I have mixed feelings abut my Briel Cadiz. When I first received it, I became more popular than the local Starbucks. Everyone wanted one of my rich, creamy, foamy cappuchinos. A year and a half later, I wish I hadn't purchased this machine. It still makes excellent expresso shots, particularly since I've mastered all the little details that get it to turn out just right. However, the head of the milk foamer broke off, the button that switches the boiler heater to steam is broken, and of course the warranty is expired. I'm reduced to heating milk in the microwave and making lattes...but they still taste great!

The best part about this machine is its ability to turn out excellent expresso shots thanks to a nice little pump unit, perfect temperature regulation, and nicely engineered parts (some, not all!). The worst part is that underneath that gleaming exterior, its nothing more than a collection of rather tiny (and quite fragile) plastic parts, electric connections, a pump, and a brass boiler. Don't open it up - it will destroy the illusion that you own a real Italian coffee machine!!!

Buy this if you want to turn out excellent coffees and don't want to spend more than $250...this year. Buy something with a lot more quality engineered inside if you plan on using your machine for more than twelve months.

By the way, I read all of those positive reviews before I bought my Cadiz. A year later I'm seeing a lot of negatives that weren't there a year ago. I say...buyer beware!!!

I bought this machine about 1 1/2 years ago, and absolutely love the semi-automatic features, the fact that you can steam without making coffee if you want to, but I'm frustrated with the service side. About 6 months ago, it started leaking around the basket. I called the service no. on the back of the machine and the people are downright rude. I think the phone no. goes to the shop where the people are actually working on the machines, rather than answering questions and resolving problems. I was even told to call back the next day to talk to someone else. I don't feel I've used the machine to its maximum, so I do want to send it in for service, however, finding where to send it is a big pain. I don't have the service card anymore, and don't want to call the customer service no. but it looks like i'll have to. There is nothing online for Briel as a company.

I prefer this brand over my previous purchases of Krups anyday.

Overall, this is a good machine, but a few design flaws keep it from being a great machine. It brews excellent espresso with rich crema everytime. However, the grounds often stick to the inside of the machine after the espresso handle is removed. The frother attachment is made of well constructed stainless steel. This is good for durability, but makes it incredibly difficult to clean since you need to remove a hot stainless steel nut to allow the removal of a hot stainless steel froth cover. If you're willing to put up with the cleaning regiment to drink excellent espresso, this may be the machine for you.

I've had my Cadiz for about 2 years now. I've probably made about 150 cups. In the last 3 months it's started to show some serious problems. Perhaps they are fixable but I wish I didn't have to have it serviced and can't even find parts on-line. The crema stopped after about 50 cups. The more serious and recent problems are that the basket seems to be seriously clogged, despite lemon juice or vinegar cleaning treatments and maybe because or in addition to this, the seal around the basket leaks and the steam setting leaks, sending some seriously hot gasses through the grinds and diluting your just made cup of espresso if you haven't removed it. Needless to say, this also diminishes the steam pressure available for frothing. I'm starting to look for a new one.

We bought a Briel Cadiz for my son for Chrostmas last year and liked it so much we bought one for ourselves when our old machine broke. For the past year I have made 5-6 cups of espresso a day, and was moderately happy with the machine, although I was sad that it didn't seem to handle finely ground coffe very well. In fact, I had some of the problems mentioned in the negative reviews; clogging, leaking, etc. The clogging seemed to get progressively worse as though the filter was wearing out.
I decided to experiment with the filter and tried using pieces of filter paper inside the basket. One layer produced little or no benefit.
Two layers, however, made it into a completely different machine. I can now use the finest grind on my grinder, it rarely clogs (like once every 40 cups) and the crema is rich, brown and beautiful, as good as anything we had in Argentina. Please try it, you'll be amazed.