Capresso 303.01 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Machine

by Capresso

• 800-watt espresso and cappuccino machine with 4-cup capacity
• Coffee/steam selector; adjustable coffee strength; swivel frother
• Safety boiler cap with built-in valve; filter holder with protective thumb guard
• Illuminated on/off switch; removable drip tray; dishwasher-safe glass carafe
• Measures 9-3/4 by 7-1/2 by 13-1/4 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.5 x 13.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B001QTVXCI
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 303.01
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (301 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,247 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)
  • #13 in Kitchen & Dining > Coffee, Tea & Espresso Appliances > Espresso Machines

Product Description

Capresso - 4-Cup Espresso & Cappuccino Machine

Exclusive Coffee/Steam Selector

Experience the full taste of espressos, cappuccinos and lattes! The Capresso 4-Cup Espresso & Cappuccino Machine features an exclusive Coffee/Steam selector that makes it easy to control both brewing and steaming, allowing the user to adjust coffee strength to their personal taste. The steam boiler principle of the Capresso 4 Cup Espresso & Cappuccino Machine heats up water and then starts forcing the hot water through the filter holder and brewing espresso coffee into the glass carafe. During this time steam starts collecting in the boiler. When the coffee has reached the bottom line marking on the glass carafe, you can stop the brewing and switch to frothing milk. At that time the machine has created maximum amount of steam. When you finish frothing, turn the selector switch back to the coffee brewing position. Important: To avoid a burnt coffee taste, stop the brewing before all the hot water has passed through the filter holder.

Espresso

Features and Benefits

• 4-cup high-tech steam/boiler system
• Boiler cap with built-in safety valve
• Unique Coffee/Steam Selector allows you to move from coffee to steaming and to adjust coffee strength to your taste
• Swivel frother with adjustable steam output allows you to steam large or small amounts of milk in seconds for frothing (Cappuccinos) and steaming (Lattes)
• The powerful steam/boiler reduces warm-up time to under 2 minutes, producing 2 to 4 cappuccinos or lattes in under 5 minutes
• Convenient filter holder with thumb guard for safe use
• Illuminated on/off switch
• Dishwasher safe glass carafe
• Removable drip tray for easy clean-up

Controls

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

433 of 442 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Capresso 303.01 4-Cup Machine July 6, 2009

By Nancy J. Swanberg

Amazon Verified Purchase

For the money this is an excellent machine for non-commericial use. My spouse is totally hooked on lattes. We usually make 2-20 ounce lattes at one time; although, we have made 3 sets of 2-20 ounce lattes back to back. The Capresso is fast. The espresso is flavorful and hot. The steamer quickly heats the milk to perfection and creates as little or as much froth as you prefer.

During the last 20 years, we have had 6 or 7 different espresso machines ranging from $40.00 to $180.00 in price. This one which retails for $105.00 (we paid less on Amazon)is the best. It is easy to use and creates exceptionally good coffee drinks.

A word of caution for any machine you purchase: READ the INSTRUCTIONS. The directions for each machine differ slighty. My caffeine addicted hubby overfilled the water chamber on a very expensive espresso/cappuccino machine and broke it.

The Capresso 303.01 is the machine I would recommend to friends and family. We are extremely happy with this machine.

UPDATE January 2012: We are still loving this machine. After at least twice a daily use (sometimes abuse), it is just starting to act a little tired. The carafe was replaced due to human error. Apparently glass breaks when dropped into a sink. (Amazon had the least expensive replacement.) The steamer is still going strong. Recently I have noticed that the espresso is not brewing quite as hot as it had been for the first 2+ years. Other than that our espresso machine is functioning well. When this machine finally dies, I plan to replace it with another 303.01. The price is currently at an all time low.

175 of 177 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Capresso is the perfect steam machine October 6, 2009

By Amazon Fan

Amazon Verified Purchase

I waited a few months before I submitted my review on this machine. The last machine I bought (a Mr. Coffee steam espresso machine) lasted only 3 months before it quit working. I'm happy to say that this machine makes perfect espresso every time. The steam wand works well for frothing and heating the milk, and you can also vary the strength of the espresso. To top it off, the whole unit is easy to clean. You can pop out the bottom shelf where the carafe sits and put it in the dishwasher.

249 of 258 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Entry Level Machine January 3, 2010

By K. Zimmer

So I bought this machine because of the price, expecting it to be a piece of junk or perhaps a surprise. As the directions in the box say, this is an entry level machine. After using it, I think they are correct, although that is not a bad thing at all.

The espresso is very good, although it does not create much crema. I have had better espresso in Italy, but I really bought this to make cappuccinos with and $59.99 is cheaper than a flight to Florence. It is also very dependent on the type of coffee you use (I purchased Illy's espresso ground in decaf - amazing! I was very, very surprised with the quality of the coffee - yum!).

I became very, very frustrated with the frother, even purchasing an aerolatte frother to see if I could live with that type of froth (btw - I can't. There's nothing like steamed froth). The frother seemed inconsistent at first. Most of that is my lack of experience frothing, which after reading online the various debates and instructions, perhaps the best advise was to buy a gallon of milk and get started because it does take some practice. BUT I had an amazing discovery, and perhaps this will help you too:

1. I took off the plastic attachment and am just now only using the metal wand, and am having very few problems. I just couldn't seem to get the hang of the plastic gizmo which is supposed to make it easier. But the metal wand by itself works great!
2. Start with cold milk and froth first (Don't follow the company's directions of heating the milk first and then frothing. Perhaps this is correct, but I couldn't get a consistent froth - either me or the machine, can't say.). The milk will heat naturally with creating the froth, and as soon as you are done with your froth, you can finish it off by putting the wand deeper in the milk and completing the steaming.
3. When frothing, hold the container by it's body, not by a handle, and don't let it get any hotter than you can comfortably hold. If the milk gets too hot, the froth will start to disappear. It's got something to do with chemistry - if you're interested, there are lots of sites online that go into excrutiating detail.
4. Directions say that nonfat or 1% are the best choices of milk. Online, they say 2% or whole milk. I would say, go with the higher fat content. They do in Italy, and look at you funny if you ask for nonfat. The frothing seems to work better with a little fat and the cappuccino tastes really wonderful this way.
5. Making these things take a little time. Not something you want to do if you're in a hurry to get to work.
6. Also, you need to stay and watch the thing - get involved. Frothing is quick (about 30 seconds), but you have to concentrate and not get distracted with other things. You have to pay attention or you will ruin your froth.
7. The process of making the espresso requires that you watch it. Sorry, but you can't go and do something else.

In answer to the irritable person that said it took a lifetime to drain the steam out of the machine to make more cappuccinos, here is my response to that:

1. It does NOT take a lifetime - about 5 minutes total. Put a tall glass underneath the steaming wand, turn the steam up all the way, and leave it alone. You can make more cappuccinos after that.

In answer to the other irritable person who said their coffee tasted burnt, here is my response:

1. What the heck are you doing? Perhaps not reading the directions? If you let all the water filter through like you would a coffee pot, it will taste burnt (and the instructions tell you that clearly). You have to follow the directions, perhaps read them a few times, and wait for the pot to either fill to 2 or 4 cups (making sure you put in the right amount of coffee).

Anyhow, I am keeping the machine. I am THRILLED to be able to make cappuccino's at home. It was really fun to be able to offer fresh cappuccinos for desert on New Year's Day dinner, that was truly delicious and an appropriate ending to a gourmet meal. They really are delicious.

I can see how eventually, I will want a more expensive machine that is perhaps more sophisticated, but for the time being, it serves the purpose just fine, making a delicious cup, giving great pleasure and relaxation, and letting me learn how to properly froth milk.

UPDATE Jan 5, 2010: My husband mentioned that the metal which holds the coffee was kind of funky looking. I started getting nervous, thinking that perhaps it might be aluminum, so I called the company. The company informed me that both the water boiler and the thing that holds the coffee ARE aluminum (not true for all the capresso products, but true for this lower end model). They come in direct contact with your water, get heated, and therefore, your coffee. I was trying to avoid aluminum products due to the uncertainty of the metal (there seems to be links to alzheimers and aluminum - although not conclusive, FDA is ok with it, but probably not worth the risk). I'm probably going to return the machine as I am just too paranoid to take chances. Thought you all should know BUT it does not change my opinion of the quality of the cappucinos should you choose to buy it. I may purchase a Capresso steam frother instead (which is mostly plastic), and a stovetop unit made of stainless.