Customer Reviews

Capresso 153.04 C3000 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center, with Pump-Auto Cappuccino System

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

We have owned several home espresso machines and this is by far the best one ever. The ability to froth milk automatically just before or just after making coffee or espresso is unique. In most other units it's necessary to purge the water system before steaming milk and then purging it again to regain brewing temperature. In this unit you just press the button and frothed milk foams out into your cup, and is pre-programmed to stop at the right moment. The milk unit can be removed and stored in a refrigerator and the parts are easy to clean. It even tells you when to run a cleaning or decalcifying session. Programable in English and several European languages. It's also easy to make hot cocoa by frothing chocolate milk. Electronic controls dose out the amount of coffee or espresso from a short shot of espresso (single or doppio) to a mug of coffee. It turns itself on and off and pre-measures the coffee you grind and the strength of your coffee. This is an electronic wizard that does lots more than brew a great cup of coffee. This is an ideal machine for an office or a household with a big entertainment kitchen.

[T]he C3000 has the most effective auto-frother I've ever seen. You just fill a detachable plastic container partway with milk, plug it into the milk feed, and press a button for frothed milk. An adjustable plastic valve lets you control the milk/steam ratio to adjust frothiness. Since it's a 2-boiler system, you can run the steamer immediately before or after (but not during, presumably due to power constraints) espresso preparation. My only complaint is that you can't effectively use the steam wand to just steam milk because it is too short and not height-adjustable. With my Magic Deluxe, I can use the steam wand to make hot chocolate, or simply to heat my steamed milk to the temperature I want. With the C3000, if you don't get the milk temperature right the first time, you have to microwave it. Running it through the forthing system again doesn't work because it will scald the milk and also leave a bunch of foam behind in the milk container.

I was also disappointed that the system can't be plumbed in. There are semi-automatic machines ...that can be plumbed in. Also, it has a vibration pump, rather than the rotary pump used in almost all commercial machines and some...semi-commercial machines.

That said, though, the quality of the espresso it produces still compares quite favorably with what I've gotten from commercial equipment. Making espresso is trivial, involving only pressing a button and waiting. Every factor except the water pressure can be controlled to your liking, and the automatic cleaning and descaling cycles are easy to use, once you figure out how to read the manual.

If you want a machine that every coffee drinker in the house can use to get top quality espresso, and aren't too picky about price, this is the machine for you. If you want to economize a bit (and don't mind learning frothing techniques), get the Saeco Magic DeLuxe. Don't buy the Capresso C1000, though. Despite the similar name, that machine is far inferior to the C3000, and also inferior to the Saeco Magic DeLuxe, in my opinion.

As advertised, this machine is a marvel of automation, with coffee and espresso available at the touch of a button. The unit cleans and monitors itself. It's really quite easy to use; there is a helpful video included with it. The coffee is "crema coffee" which is very flavorful; devotees of drip coffee may find it a bit stronger than what they're used to. Everything is customizable and programmable.

If you've had espresso/cappucino machines before, you know that the milk frothing is a total inconvenience. Not so with the c3000; just hook up the included milk container to the steam arm and you have LIMITLESS steamed milk. Great for hot chocolate (or Cafe and Coco)......

The only downside is that there is more plastic used in the construction of the unit than I would expect given the rather staggering price.

Enjoy....you deserve it!

Before I start writing let me be upfront, I do not own this machine. I have, however, used one a bunch of times. It is truly amazing. You press one button for a perfect cup of espresso that is better than anything you can get at a coffee bar. It you favor latte, you just hold your cup underneath the milk froth dispenser, press the button and out comes perfect froth. That's it. If you are like me and own an espresso machine and never use it because of the mess and hassle, think again. This is easier to use than a toaster. All you have to do is dump beans into it, fill the water tank and you have coffee or espresso.

I must have one. If you can afford it, buy it. You will not be disappointed.

If you're like me you're probably thinking "HOW MUCH for a *&%$ cappucinno machine???? You've got to be kidding me." The fact of the matter is that it's worth every penny to me. You see, I'm a Starbucks addict, an affliction that I probably figure costs my wife and I upwards of $10/day, or, should I say, used to cost us $10/day.

I'm a little bit of a coffee snob, and have 3 cappuccino machines sitting in my garage gathering dust. The problem was, THEY ALL (...). Really. Way too much time to make a latte, a huge mess, and it NEVER TASTED quite right. If you're reading this, you know what I'm talking about.

This machine does it all. It grinds, it taps, it brews, and it makes PERFECT latte's (yes, just like Starbucks). There's a small canister that holds the milk that you can keep in the fridge. When you want to steam, pull it out of the fridge, plug it into the machine, and that's it. When it's all said and done, I don't think it takes me more than 3 minutes to set up, make 2 lattes, and clean up. Between the time I save schlepping to Starbucks AND the $10/day, I'm way ahead of the game.

Besides, you can knock out cappuccino for yourself and a half dozen of your snobby friends in less than 10 minutes!!!!

If a coffee house quality drink is important to you and you don't want to end up with one more useless machine, bite the bullet and buy something you'll be happy with.

The ONLY negative I can possibly think of to say about this machine is that I figured that for as much as they were charging for this machine, the thing should probably have been in some sort of cool looking brushed metal or copper, not plastic (the picture makes it look like metal, at least I thought it did).

Hope this helps.

I bought this as a Christmas present for my wife. Her, myself and my oldest daughter are big espresso/mocha fans. This thing is a mechanical engineering marvel. The espresso it makes is absolutely the best I have ever had. It froths milk for mochas better than any I have had anywhere. If you can afford this thing, buy it! Let's see $7 a day, 5 days a week that is no longer being spent at Starbucks... that pays for it in 1.3 years. Not to mention Starbucks (or any other espresso bar) can't even come close.

After two to three months use the machine has clogged and had to be sent in for service. Clogging seems to occur after the message displays to clean machine with the tablet. After doing that, the trouble starts. When it is working it makes great coffee. Don't seem to get answers on how to fix it myself. They just tell me to send it back. Then I am without it for two to three weeks. The local rep has tried to be more helpful than Capresso customer service. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

After many enjoyable visits to coffee bars in Italy I came home and wanted to duplicate the perfect "crema" coffee which Italians savor like fine wine. Several attempts later with inexpensive home espresso makers a friend recommended the Capresso C 3000, and although more expensive than my first car, this sophisticated machine produces the best crema coffee and perfect foamed milk for cappuccinos. All of it done automatically in this easy-to program digital Swiss-precision Capresso.

Like other sophisticated commercial kitchen equipment this one is not for beginners or people with less than a passion for great coffee. It matches my commercial range and Sub Zero refrigerator and I use the Capresso many more times per day than my oversized commercial stove. This is an idiot-proof way to make perfect coffee or espresso!

This machine does it all - one team at work invested in one, and they're the caffeinated pride of the office. However, don't compare the coffee as "just as good as Starbucks". Assuming you don't use Starbucks's 30'-overroasted beans, this machine will make coffee that's BETTER than Starbucks. Trust me - there are enough coffee choices here in Seattle for me to judge. :)

In short, though, excellent investment.

I am totally blown away at how great a cup of coffee or cappucino this machine makes! It rivals the best that you have ever had, in either Italy or the best restaurants in the world, it simply doesn't get any better. And it is so cool to use! Just push a button and have a perfect cup! It is so technologicaly cool, it puts a smile on your face. It adds such a sense of enjoyment to mornings and after dinner. I will probably use this device more than any other appliance or gadget I own, which makes the cost look that much more reasonable. Ain't life wonderful!