Customer Reviews

Capresso 112.04 EspressoPRO Stainless Steel ThermoBlock Espresso Machine, Silver

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I am very pleased with the EspressoPro.

I had originally purchased the Krups Novo 2300 when my cheapo espresso maker died but became a little spooked by all of the negative reviews posted in ... about the machine even though it seemed to work fairly well. There were a few idiosyncrasies that became more annoying the longer I had the machine, such as having to turn the filter handle really tightly to get a good seal, the long awkward flexible tubing attachment for the frother, and the fact that the espresso was not too hot.

After doing more research, I found the Capresso EspressoPro which appears to be the only other espresso machine combined with the automatic milk frother in this price range.

The EspressoPro does not have any of the Novo 2300 idiosyncrasies: the filter handle clicks into place with minimal effort (no leaking), the frother comes with its own milk container which I find easier to use than the flexible tubing (and it works great and is easy to clean), and the espresso comes out hot (Capresso recommmends that you preheat the machine to improve the temperature, while Krups recommends that you preheat the cups and has a ineffective cup warmer). The EspressoPro is more compact than the Novo 2300, the level of the water container is easier to monitor because the water container is built into the side of the EspressoPro, the instruction manual was more detailed and had a better troubleshooting guide than the Krups manual. All in all, it seems that more thought and planning went into the design of the EspressoPro. I ended up returning my Novo 2300 and bought the EspressoPro even though it costs ... more.

We originally received a Krup's Novo 2300 as a wedding gift. Looked great, but leaked like the South Fork Dam. Greatly saddened, we returned the machine and bought the EspressoPro.

The EspressoPro looked great as well, but the pump was DOA. After a brief call to Capresso, we had a new machine within two days which is still working like a charm 3 months later. Hopefully it will continue to do so!

The machine makes great espresso (if you use the correct grind) with a thick layer of golden crema on top. It's very easy to use, not too bad to clean up, and not too noisy.

The frother is great though we don't use it much - makes great steamed milk and froth.

The three sieves for pods, single shots, and double shots are very handy.

The only reason I didn't give a 5-star review was for the first bum machine, and for the fact that the espresso could be just a touch hotter for my taste. But that's my taste.

I received the Capresso EspressoPRO as a birthday gift 4 months ago. As with any kitchen gadget, it's taken some time to learn about and get in sync with this machine. I use the machine every morning to make an iced latte (yeah, I like my brew chilly in the morning), and occassionally later in the day for a shot of espresso. I don't use the frother for milk, so the advice that follows focuses solely on making a rich espresso with good crema.

1. FINDING THE RIGHT GRIND. Too coarse, weak coffee. Too fine, it stops up the machine. I find that Peets Coffee ground at #6 is the best grind for this machine, even if it's a little coarser than what you'd use on a commerical espresso maker. Major Dickason's Blend has great body and depth of flavor. The Espresso Blend that Peets advertised in the spring has nice crema, but is a little weak. Don't grind at home unless you have a good burr grinder! I prefer buying in small weekly quantities and storing the ground beans in an air tight container.

PREPARING THE ESPRESSO. I use the double seive to make a stronger brew. I've found that the key to preventing the machine from getting stopped up is to slightly overfill the seive, and tamp down firmly around the edges to create a level fill. Don't pile up a mound and crush it in! But don't delicately fill the seive and level it off, either. Use the flat edge of the scooper to take off the excess after tamping. This step is key. If you under-tamp or over-fill, the machine invariably will stop up.

BREWING: Go for it! This is so easy. Turn it on, turn it off.

CLEANING UP: The nice thing about the machine is that pressure doesn't build up, so you can remove the seive holder promptly after brewing. I recommend cleaning out the seive holder under running water and removing the inner metal seive. Then reattach the handled holder without the seive, place an extra cup underneath, and turn on the machine for about 5 seconds as if brewing another espresso. The hot water will clean out the grounds that get stuck in the machine into your extra cup. I also take a paper towel and clean around the edges of the machine. If you don't clean up after each brew, you'll find that a lot of espresso grounds get stuck in the machine and eventually clog up the process. Better to spend 30 seconds cleaning every time than ruin the machine!

I hope these tips help. This is a fantastic machine once you learn its idiosyncrasies.

I have not had this product long, but so far am exceedingly pleased with it. My very first extraction yielded a fine cup of java with crema. I had some worries about this purchase that I would like to address:

* Noise - I had read that the EspressoPro was too noisy, in fact that it was obnoxiously so, and that caused me a little fear. I found my worries to be unfounded. Maybe as long as you expect some noise you will not be disappointed. It is does make noise during extraction (it uses a vibrating pump), but I don't find it to be irritating. Just know that it will make some noise while you are brewing.

* Crema - Would it really produce crema like in the photos? Yes! And, no... What I mean is it DOES deliver on the crema, but it may not be quite as rich-looking as in the marketing photos. I have found that during extraction, the crema is quite thick, and afterward it settles, but still remains. I am very pleased with it.

* Steam - I had read that this machine emits a lot of steam during use; a review elsewhere on the web purported that a cloud of steam would in fact surround this machine during use. I have not found this to be the case at all. Perhaps with more use, I will notice steam, but so far I haven't noticed ANY.

* Dripping - This does happen. When you switch the brew cycle off, the brew flow is not immediately stopped. Your two alternatives include letting the remaining espresso drip into the coffee cup, or moving the cup out of the way so that it may drip into the catch basket. If this is really really going to bother you, you should probably get a different machine.

* Weight - It weighs enough, and that weight is distributed in enough of an unwieldy fashion, that you probably want to give this machine a permanent spot on your counter. It is actually a lightweight compared with other pump espresso machines, but still too awkward to move around all the time.

* Grinding - This machine is undoubtedly sensitive to grind. In the product literature it warns against using in-store grinders, too fine of a grind, too course of a grind... I purchased a conical burr grinder - a Solis Maestro - to pair with my new espresso machine. It has worked beautifully, and I have had no problems. Beware of coffee 'dust' that occurs with lesser grinders - it could clog the sieves.

* Frothing - I purchased the EsspressoPro to add to (or replace) my existing coffeemaker, a Capresso CoffeeTec. Hence I was already familiar with the frothing system and pleased with it. I am not really a frothing aficionado, but I am pleased with the simplicity of the system. I do recall the first time I used the frother on the CoffeeTec, and I thought it was broken. It worked fine once I realized how it was supposed to work, and it takes all of the guesswork out of frothing. The only drawback is that the steamed milk may not be as hot as you are used to.

I love my CoffeeTec and really wanted to stick with Capresso, although I considered other brands - gaggia, rancilio, solis. It came down to the combination of more features and lower cost that made me decide upon the EspressoPro. I hope this was helpful!

As with other innovative Capresso products this one is leading edge. Besides the modernistic design the big bonus is that the water and steam are heated in stainless steel, not aluminum! This makes a great cup of espresso with little fuss and is the only one I have found that works with pre-pack coffee pods. It actually produces a nice "crema" on top of the espresso, which cannot be done with other machines using pods. The frothing attachment is great for steaming and frothing milk or for making a perfect cup of hot cocoa.

After a thorough and depressive-obsessive exegesis of reviews of espresso machines (My wife and I Italian and coffee-addicted), we decided that this machine offered the best cup for the buck. We were setting ourselves up for an over-roasted disappointment. The build quality of this espresso maker is mediocre. Plastic is everywhere, with loose joints and knobs. The metal-looking front bell is plastic as well. After only ONE cup of coffee, the machine started to spout hot water, and we could not do anything to stop it. We returned it. Even without this early malfunction, we cannot fathom how it could produce a coffee a day for more than one year. The lesson learned is that with coffee makers you cannot cut corners. We'll save a bit longer, but we'll be able to count on our morning coffee.

Machine is working well, but one note for buyers... I tried using my simple blade grinder and the variability in grain size clogged the filter. The pump was so powerful it actually burst the metal filter! I thought it was a fluke, but it happened a second time. I bought a good burr grinder and now it is working flawlessly.

After a horrific experience with a Briel machine recently, I decided it was time to buck up and purchase a slightly more expensive machine - the old you get what you pay for addage. I couldn't be happier with this machine.

I'm writing this review in a cappacino-induced haze as I can't get enough of the rich espresso and thick foam this machine produces. This machine is very intuitive and with the easy to read instruction manual I was brewing and foaming in no time. My first mocha latte was exceptional. (With the Briel machine, I didn't finish making my first cup before I was putting the machine back in the box.)

The FrothXpress feature is easy to use and with some experimenting will produce the perfect consistancy and temperature for you. The ESE pod system is a clean and convenient alternative to grinding, tamping, etc with your own beans. This machine is no louder than my old Krups Novo2300, nor have I noticed the "cloud of steam" that some reviews state.

I will now be able to enjoy a hot mocha in the car on the way to work with out stopping at Starbucks and shelling out $4.00!

I highly recommend this machine.

Once I used a burr grinder (setting 4 seemed to work well), it made wonderful espresso! They should emphasize this more strongly in their instructions--using a regular grinder with this machine clogs up the seive.

After owning one for 2 months, I'm ready to recommend this product. The EspressoPRO makes a great cup of espresso while being easy to clean. The removable water tank, drip tray, milk-heating spout, and milk container are easy to wash and clean. It conveniently comes with 2 stainless steel filters/sieves for ground beans (single and double portions) and one for ready-to-brew pods.

I have 2 observations and 1 complaint: the unit seems rather big (it will take up a good size of counter space); the water pump is somewhat loud; and although the FrothXpress system steams milk capably, it doesn't foam it enough to my liking (definitely not to restaurant standards). All things considered, a great product nevertheless.