Customer Reviews

Cuisinart EM-200 Programmable 15-Bar Espresso Maker, Stainless Steel

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(39)

 

 

I've had this machine now 4 months. I've had many machines before it, including the ever popular DeLonghi. This is an amazing machine, but there are a few things to know.

1. All espresso machines, and even some coffee machines, need to be primed. If there is water in the tank, yet it's not pumping but making noise, chances are you just need to prime it. Turn the steam knob just like in the manual, and if it fails, try again. You only have to do this when you first get the machine, or if you some how let it run dry.

2. The specs list this as not coming with a tamper, that's only partially correct. It comes with a plastic scoop / tamper combo thang. Before you get too annoyed with it, I recommend ordering "RSVP Terry's Tamper" (probably advertised on the same page). It's less than 7 bucks, and the small side fits this machines portafilter perfectly.

3. Some reviewers have knocked this machine because the "Filter keeps getting clogged". Here's a news flash: All espresso filters will get clogged if your grinder leaves too many fines. You can get pre-ground espresso (I recommend LaVazza InBlu, or Illy), or you can get yourself a good grinder (doesn't need to be great, as long as it grinds *evenly*). If you accidentally grind too finely, this machine comes with pins to un-clog the filter. You can save a bit of time by just rubbing your thumb over the filter aggressively while running watter over it.

4. Noise. Without a doubt, this is the noisiest espresso machine I've ever owned. That said, I just purchased a Kurieg for my wife, and it is noisier and had even more trouble with it's initial priming. To the Kurieg's credit, there is no grind to mess with, and the clean up is Zero. :)

Now for the stuff that Hasn't been mentioned, but if I where Cuisinart, I'd be shouting this from the roof tops...

1. This machine has the most rock solid temperature across shots I've ever seen. Nothing else comes close.

2. This machine has integrated pressure relief. It's not perfect, which is probably why they didn't mention it, but even Gaggia's solenoid freaks out from time to time too. Most every other manufacture with this feature charge double this machines cost. It's a big deal.

3. I've been inside DeLonghis, Gaggias, and others, this thing is pretty well built. It also looks pretty nice on the outside, and has a water res that is easy to use, large enough, and above all else, leak free.

4. The steam wand works well. It actually works better than my Gaggia's (which was 4 *times* as much money), but it is Different, and takes some initial practice.

5. This machine has an auto power down. That's a Very Nice feature that is often overlooked on less expensive machines, and it's very handy too.

6. The dosing on this thing actually works. I've had a couple other machines that claimed dosing, yet they all seemed pretty random. This one actually works and it works reliably. Before you think this is a feature you can live without, consider this: With non-dosing machines, you need to use a shot glass or some other way of eye-balling when to stop, then put into final glass for mixing. But, with dosing, you can punch up a double shot right into the final cup, and it gets it right. Every Time. How cool is That??? Very Cool!

The only things I wish they did different:

1. I wish the machine was quieter.
2. I wish they had a non-pressurized portafilter basket option.

But, when you compare that to the plus side, it's a no brainer: Buy This Machine!

Not having to temperature surf, not having gooey cleanup, having a cup warmer that actually works, AUTO POWER DOWN, dosing, etc., all for the price of a used Gaggia? Just click "Add to Cart" already!

I read that another reviewer had trouble with her machine. Hopefully it was the exception and not the rule. It comes with a 3-year warranty, so I figure that I have reasonable protection should anything break.

This is my first espresso machine and I did a lot of shopping and read a ton of reviews before deciding to buy. I was nervous about buying it because there were zero reviews at the time. However, I loved the look, liked the feature set, and believed in the Cuisinart brand. I have had the machine for a week and have used it at least once each day. So far I am extremely pleased.

I had considered the DeLonghi EC155, which gets good ratings and is reasonably priced. However, it requires the operator to guess or measure the volume of espresso. I am terrible at guessing the volumes of liquids, so I liked that this machine has buttons that make a pre-set (or programmable) volume of coffee. It turns out that this is a great feature and really frees me to multi-task. In the mornings, I hit the power button, and by the time I fill the portafilter the machine is ready to brew. I hit the brew button and mix up my meal replacement shake. After the coffee is finished, I hit the steam button and pour the milk for frothing. It takes less than 30 seconds to froth and steam the milk, so I am pleased with its power. I have never run out of steam and was able to make a nice foam with very little practice. I can make my breakfast shake and a cappuccino or latte in under 10 minutes with the above process. Not bad for an amateur.

Overall I am very pleased with the machine and am having a great time with it. I would recommend it based on my experience thus far.

This unit is nicely put together, with its stainless steel finish. It definitely has a quality feel to it. I had no problem with turning the steam knob, as others have mentioned.

The machine makes excellent espresso, both in semi-automatic and manual modes. Good crema, excellent taste.

Where this machine fall short, though, is in steam volume. It takes a long time to froth the milk, and getting it right is very hit or miss. At first I thought there was more to the art of frothing than I'd assumed, and I kept working on my technique. The best approach, I found, was to include a couple of ice cubes in the milk, to keep the temperature down as the froth built up. Results were barely satisfactory.

I have since discovered that a stronger steam flow is the key to frothing effectively. I'm now using a fully automatic DeLonghi machine that makes excellent espresso and has a far more powerful flow of steam than this Cuisinart (at least the one I had).

If espresso is your thing and you don't mind the manual grinding, tamping, and brewing, this is a great machine. If frothing milk is part of your favorite drink, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.

This machine is amazing! Makes great expresso! I bought this machine to replace a Breville that I was not completely happy with, as it made weak espresso and I needed to turn a knob to brew the correct amount. NOT WITH THIS MACHINE! Push a button and walk away, come back to a single or double shot. The water tank is easy to refill (I use a clean syrup bottle to refill it, instead of removing it). The frothing knob is hard to turn at first, but upon the 3rd or 4th use, it is fine. I do not find the frothing wand to be too low or drippy, after all it swivels over the drip tray, duh!!! Looks great on the counter, large cup warming surface, truly stainless, not painted plastic, like some of the Breville is. A++++++

I got this machine about a month ago, and have been making two lattés a day since then. The espresso produced by this machine is excellent - rich in flavor with a very thick and finely-textured crema. It's easy to get that with the pressurized portafilter included. I have also had good luck with the frothing attachment, though I did remove the "quick froth" attachment, or whatever that was - just using the bare steam nozzle is (for me) easier and produces better foam.

I did have a bit of a freakout when I first tried to use it, though - I filled the reservoir and turned it on, and waited, and.... nothing. The pump made a priming noise (it's kind of loud), but the buttons didn't stop flashing, which would indicate that it was ready. I turned it off and on several times, and finally in a last-ditch effort, I pushed the "manual" button while it was blinking to see if I could get any water to flow through at all. Success! After a few seconds of pumping, the water finally started flowing. I pushed the button again to turn it off, and shortly after the buttons stopped blinking and everything was fine from then on. A lot of other people seem to have issues with this machine not working straight out of the box, and I wonder if it's because the pump isn't priming itself immediately/correctly.

There are, of course, some drawbacks to this machine:

It's kind of loud
It takes up to 60 seconds to warm up sometimes, and another 45 seconds to switch from espresso mode to frothing mode
The included tamper is worthless (for the record, the portafilter is non-standard, and if you get a new tamper, you should look for a 50mm)

Aside from those, I have no complaints. The coffee is delicious, and much cheaper than the $3 a day I was paying before this machine landed on my counter! At the same time as I purchased this machine, I also purchased a burr grinder - and I recommend anyone buying ANY espresso machine do the same. Blade grinders just aren't consistent enough for espresso.

I received this espresso maker as a birthday gift. I am a hard-core coffee drinker, drink multiple cups daily and very particular about my coffee. I've used it for about two weeks and have to say, this machine makes as good or better espresso, lattes and breves than I can get at my local coffee house. It put a reasonably thick caramel-colored crema on the top of the very first cup of espresso, but after experimenting with different grinds and types of coffee (yes, I have been playing with it a lot!) I've gotten it just about perfect with no bitterness. You cannot expect a machine of this price range to handle every detail of brewing for you, so it's important that you make the effort to pick a good coffee, get the right grind and learn to tamp it to the right pressure for the machine. This takes a little experimenting and if you are willing to do this, you can get very good results with this machine.

Unlike other reviewers, I have not had trouble getting the milk to froth properly. There is a technique to this and once you get it, it textures up nicely and evenly with no large bubbles. The only thing I've found is that its best to do the milk first, then pull the espresso shot once the milk is done as there is little lag time with this method. If you do it the other way around, it takes a while for the frothing steam to heat up after you pull your espresso shot, and your espresso will sit there and cool while you work on the milk.

One thing I should note, I don't think Cuisinart's method of cleaning the steam wand is adequate. I found that periodically steaming a milk pitcher full of only hot water will release all sorts of milk residue out of the steam wand and that it seems to function better after doing this. I clean the wand as advised in the instructions between each latte, but when I'm done with the machine for the day, I will steam a mug of hot water before putting the machine away.

I cannot address longevity issues as I've only had the machine for a short time, but I'll update this review as I get a chance to put it to long term use.

Otherwise, good product, seems to be solidly built, attractive and great espresso! I really love it!

This is our fifth espresso machine, so we consider ourselves "professional" home cappucino maker users. Last time we bought a Gaggia from Costco (it was slightly more than this one) and it worked ok, but it was completely manual and lots of things started breaking until it was unusable after about two years. Of course this Cuisinart is brand new, but we use it several times every day and so far it far exceeds our experience with espresso makers. It is extremely easy to use, we love the automatic functions and the foam is dense and fluffy and it makes sufficient for each cup of espresso.

I purchased the Cuisinart EM-200 Programmable 15-Bar Espresso Maker on Amazon recently. I set it up and cleaned it as per the instructions included. However, whenever I made a 2-shot espresso, the machine never finished the full pour (only 2 oz of 3 oz) and then it started beeping and the lights started flashing. It would not stop beeping until I pressed another button. I read the manual cover to cover and it did not have a section for troubleshooting, nor did it say anything about what it means when the machine beeps without stopping or what might be wrong if it does not finish a pour. So I double checked to make sure that everything was according to the directions and the water reservoir was full. I then reset the factory settings according to the instructions in the booklet and tried again. The same thing happened over and over. One time while I had the machine on but was not using it, it actually started pouring out hot water on its own!

I finally called Cuisinart and talked to them about my problems. They recommended that I return the machine to Amazon for a new one. I called Amazon; they sent a replacement and shipped my old one back free of charge.

However, the replacement has almost as many problems as the first one! When I opened the box it looked like I might have received someone else's return, but I can't verify that. I set it up as per the directions. A new machine should be set to the factory standards, but this one was not. It poured 5 oz for a double shot (should have been 3 oz) and 3 oz for a single shot (should have been 1.5 oz.) I reset the settings and it did the same thing. So, I programmed it manually to pour the correct amount. That was not such a problem, really, but it is a sign to me that something is wrong with this one too. What really frustrates me about the new machine is that it NEVER makes a crema no matter how lightly or heavily I tamp the espresso grind. I know I am not doing it wrong, as with the first machine I always got a good crema. Additionally, every time the machine is finished with any task (pouring an espresso, frothing milk) it always makes long loud noises and steams profusely from the bottom of the machine. The old one did not steam like this, so I feel sure something is wrong. Not to mention that the milk frother does not work well and rarely does more than warm the milk.

I have not bothered to contact Amazon or Cuisinart again, as it has just been so much trouble and I don't expect a replacement will fix my problems. I guess I should have known better than to expect to have a high quality espresso machine for such a low price. I trusted that Cuisinart would make a good product -- I have and love everything else they make (mixer, blender, etc.) I guess the lesson is that you can't trust just anyone with your espresso!

I have been using this machine for three weeks now after replacing my Briel machine that gave me 10 years of use. I have not yet used the frother.

I will say right now that I am not an espresso snob, i.e. I do not care whether the spent coffee grinds come out in a "hockey puck", I only care about the quality of the espresso that I am enjoying in the morning.

My first cup did not come out very well, almost no crema, and the crema that was there disappeared almost immediately. The coffee was so, so.

The manual states to give the coffee grind a medium tamp - wrong! I now give the coffee as hard a tamp as I can and the results are excellent, great taste and lots of high quality crema that last a long time.

I will update my review after I try the frother.

By the way, under $300 for a progammable machine that makes high quality espresso is fantastic. If you can get over the fact that it does not carry a fancy ($$$$$$$) Italian name plate, you will be quite satisfied.

I did a lot of research and read a ton of reviews of different espresso machines before buying the Cuisinart EM-200. This machine works excellently, but you have to make sure that you read the instructions (or watch the included instructional DVD). Here's a couple things that will help you make sure that you brew great espresso with this machine, which is especially easy to do once you get the knack of it!:

1. Make sure that you use good quality water so that you're espresso tastes as great as possible. If you're water is chlorinated or has a lot of dissolved minerals or metals, then you should probably run it through a Brita, Pur, Zero, or some other filter.

2. Make sure that the water tank is seated well so it activates the spring valve on the tank otherwise you will not get any water into the machine. Also, if the tank is not seated properly, it could potentially leak. However, I have never had any problems with mine.

3. Think carefully about what coffee you are using. Lots of people seem to use "espresso roast" coffee, but then complain about the lack of crema production. Crema production is partly a function of the roast of the coffee. Many European espresso shops use medium roasts (sometimes called a "city roast"), which tend to yield a better crema. It's your coffee, of course, but you might want to keep this in mind before purchasing espresso, French, or Italian roasts for your espresso maker.

4. Make sure that your espresso grind is very fine and even, if you're not using espresso pods (I rarely use them). It's tough to get a good, consistently fine grind with a blade grinder so you'll probably want to use a bur grinder. There are a bunch of good ones out there for around $25-$50.

5. You'll want to use 13 grams of ground espresso for a 1.5 fluid ounce (the "single serving" standard brew on the EM-200), 17 grams if you're going to brew a double shot (2 fluid ounces ), and 25.5 grams if you're going to brew 3 fluid ounces (the "double serving" standard brew on the EM-200). You can use the combo tamper/measurer that comes with the machine, but because espresso can compress *very* easily, it's better to weigh it for the sake of consistency.

6. Make sure that you tamp your coffee down well. The combo tamper/measurer is a little hard to give ground espresso the right pressure, so I use a stainless steel tamper to tamp to 40 lbs. of pressure. (The instructions with the EM-200 are not very specific on the pressure, but 40 lbs. of pressure yields good results for me with this machine.) I place the portafilter on a kitchen towel and then tamp the coffee so as not to damage the portafilter.

7. If the EM-200 is starting cold, it can take a minute or so to heat up. I usually fire it up before measuring, grinding, and tamping the coffee. This way it is ready to go as soon as possible.

8. Either select the manual, pre-programmed single or double serving, or the programmed serving and brew your espresso! (I know right, finally!) On my machine with properly tamped espresso, the pre-programmed 1.5 fl. oz. and 3.0 fl. oz. buttons were spot on and yielded those exact amounts. (I measured them in a graduated beaker.) If your yields or steam production declines over time, it could be due to mineral buildup in your machine. You can run a mineral cleaning product through your machine. They are cheap to get and easy to find on Amazon.com or your local Bed, Bath, and Beyond, for example.

9. If you're frothing milk for your espresso, you'll want to hit the steam button right after your pulling your espresso shot so the machine builds steam as quickly as possible. Once the steam button indicates it is ready, start the steam over the draining grate on the machine (in case any water comes out). After you see good steam coming out, move your milk pitcher into position and heat your milk to around 160°-170° F. You'll probably want to use a frothing thermometer, which are pretty cheap ($5-10) to get.

10. Pour your milk and spoon your frothed milk into your espresso (if you're using it) and you're all set!

Cleaning the machine is easy. I clean the portafilter, steaming wand, and drip tray by hand since it's easy and far less harsh than the dishwasher.

I've read reviews of this machine and think that probably 90% of the complaints about this machine are due to "operator error" and people really not knowing what they are doing, in my opinion. This machine works great when you use it properly! :-)

This machine is definitely worth the money and if you're looking for a semi-automatic machine, then I would recommend this one!

Thanks!