Customer Reviews

Capresso 351.01 Pump Espresso/Coffeemaker Capresso Bar

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

 

 

For the person that appreciates fine coffee and cappucino, this is the machine for you! I did a lot of research on different combination machines (Coffee+Espresso) and this one is it. With espresso drinks, pump pressure is important, and this one outdoes most in that regard (compare and note pressure rating). The equipment is sturdy, the operation and display impressive. It comes with an instructional video which I recommend you watch carefully. I also suggest you carefully maintain this machine--frothing nozzle, espresso parts, etc--as is recommended.

Mr. Capresso (for lack of his actual name) left Krups a number of years ago and started making his own fine machines. Consequently, Krups is his main competition, but is not quite as good (except that a cheaper Krups machine reportedly filters water, which this apparently doesn't.

Although it was louder than we anticipated, the product keeps us happy and our guests entertained. If you want more info, you can look at the manufacturer's website. You could spend hundreds or thousands more on a fully-automated machine from Capresso or someone else, but chances are you're not going to get a much better cup of java. Enjoy!

UPDATE: We've grown frustrated with the carafe--everyone spills coffee. At such a price, perhaps it should have a (MUCH) better carafe, like on the Braun. Also, we had to send it in for repair because the electronics were fried by...coffee. We still love the machine, but wanted to make the review completely honest.

I've owned the CoffeeBar for a few years now, and I've finally decided that the time has come to order an Italian machine. My Capresso has been sent back twice for repair. The first time when it was new because the pump wouldn't brew properly, but only dribble very weak espresso. They sent me a new unit, which worked better for awhile, but eventually began to produce very inconsistant results. The computer that measures the shots has became erratic and delivers different pours each time. Very frustrating. When it went back this time, it was returned with no explanation of the repairs made and no real improvement. I called the company and spoke to a woman who could only be described as surly, but who passe me on to a technician who said the machine only needed cleaning. Each repair after the warranty expires costs (...) no matter what they do, so I guess I paid to have the thing cleaned, which I had already done trying to get it to work before I sent it back. I should point out that each time I sent the machine back to Capresso to fix the espresso component, the drip coffee maker went too, of course, which has been a bit inconvenient. My new machine will be arriving by UPS any day. (A Racilio Sylvia) This machine costs only a little more than my soon to be retired CoffeeBar. True it has no drip machine attached, but I think I would prefer to have a separate drip machine anyway.
So, if you're really serious about your coffee drinks, you can do much better for the money than this.

Admittedly, my first one had a steamer problem, and was promptly replaced under warranty (I got it off eBay - it was a store demo model, soooo . . .) - I've had that replacement from Capresso for over 3 years now, and it's still making very nice espressos, continues to froth or steam milk well (though, I wish the arm was placed higher, but not a big deal) and it makes fine drip coffee. Programmability is certainly interesting, but I only go for standard shot sizes and otherwise use the timer to start coffee for morning wakeups. This is a very easy to clean and use unit - well designed in both regards.

Sure, you can easily find more expensive, rather serious Italian espresso machines to complement a separate drip (or other) coffee maker - but, this has made satisfying coffee/cap/espresso, been very convenient and easy to use, saved counter space and has lasted well for me.

Although the theory works, in practice, the machine is not worth the money. The Espresso maker only works with very coarse ground coffee, put anything in that is a little finer and the system comes to a grinding halt. The drip side works fine although you could get the same functionality for a fraction of the cost.

This machine does it all! It took a few times of watching the instructional tape to get down some of the features but now making espresso or cappuccino is a snap and one of the hottest cups of coffee I have ever had at home, or any restaurant. The frother makes great foam for cappuccino or latte's. I read some of the previous reviews and frankly I was shocked. This machine is great from the top down. I recommend it whole-heartedly. The only negative thing thus far is, the lid for the water tank on the espresso side pops off occasionally when you push it all the way back. No Worries! Just pop it back on. The espresso and cappuccino is so good we haven't even gotten to make any drip coffee yet! :)

This product makes very good espresso with the right amount of 'crema'. However, the milk steamer worked well for only 10 months and can no longer be used to make cappuccinos. I did follow the direcetions and clean it regularly but it still became useless.

The coffee that was brewed in the regular coffee maker was not hot enough. We had to heat the cup in the microwave to get the coffee to an acceptable temperature. The expresso machine seemed to work ok.