Overseas, we had a DeLonghi machine, very similar to this one. Apparently on the 220 voltage, the machines get hotter and have higher bar pressure, which is really the only thing that matters in making espresso. Initially, upon returning to the USA, we got a Krups machine, more expensive than this one, and it was a disaster. It spewed water and coffee all over the place, and made a poor cold cup of coffee-soup. We returned it, and went back to DeLonghi. Thank heavens, we can make a proper cup of coffee again. Although the bar pressure is 15, which I think is less than the overseas model, there are no higher pressure machines in the US for even substantially more money. Ignore bells and whistles, and here you have the best, cleanest machine, which can even brew from fine ground coffee (as an espresso machine is supposed to do, as opposed to others on the market). Oh, and the little round pressing device to compress the coffee in the filter is very convenient.