Customer Reviews

Factory-Reconditioned Breville XXESP8XL Café Roma Espresso Maker

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I purchased this machine in July of 2008. The reason I decided to write a review at this time is because I am considering purchasing another one for my parent's 60th Anniversary and noticed all of the negative reviews.

I lived in Spain for three years in the late 70s and learned to enjoy espresso drinks while I was there. When I returned to the USA I purchased a very inexpensive machine which I used off and on over the years. I say off and on because it did not produce very good espresso and I would exile to the basement. Every few years however I would haul it back up expecting, I guess, that it had learned it's lesson while it was in 'time out'! I eventually decided to spend a little more money and try a better machine. I found the refurbished Breville Cafe Roma at Amazon for $95 with free shipping (even at $149 it is a steal.) I had a little trouble at first because it operated differently than my old one, but all I had to do was send an email with my question to Breville customer service and they would call me back and walk me though any difficulty I was having. In the intervening months I have become quite expert in the nuances of this machine. During the winter I make a latte with mounds of foam so tight you'd think it was whipped cream. In the hot summer months I make two-oz. of espresso and put it in the freezer overnight. THe next morning I put it in the blender with 6 oz. of skim milk and 1 tsp of vanilla sugar and hit the 'frozen drink' button. I get a smooth, frothy cold mocha drink that feels and tastes totally decadent - but isn't. I can't start my day without one of these treats and they are both far superior to anything I have bought at several different upscale coffee houses.

As to the cups and frothing pitcher: my sister bought a new Breville Cafe Roma which did come with the additional items and she never uses them. The pitcher is too small (10-oz.) if you like lots of foam. I purchased a very nice Rattleware 20-oz. pitcher from Amazon and it is the perfect size. Neither my sister nor I drink espresso straight, but if I did I would not want stainless steel cups because they put my teeth on edge (no I don't bite them.) I much prefer glass or ceramic which can be purchased in beautiful colors and designs.

Bottom line: if you want good espresso and are either short on funds or filthy rich but don't need a high-end machine sitting on your counter to impress your friends and relatives, get a Breville Cafe Roma and be patient while you are learning how to become an expert barista in your own home - then impress your friends and relatives with the delights you make with this machine.

I've only had this product for 2 weeks now so can't comment on it's reliability as a refub., but I have used it at least twice a day without issue. Needed a new espresso machine since my old KRUPS pump machine finally gave out after about five years. It's definitely a beautiful looking machine and if you follow the directions about heating and priming, you will make yourself a very good cup of espresso! It is solidly built with some heft to it and the pump system puts out good pressure for pulls and frothing. The heating plate on top does take awhile to heat up and warm cups, but it does finally get very warm. Also on this older model the frothing wand does not swivel front and back like the newer model, but I have no problems with it being stationary as it is. Alas this refurb. does not come with the stainless cup and saucer pair as described (hence 1 less star), but the great price more than makes up for it. I'm totally satisfied with this product so far....

First of all is the price I paid for a machine of this caliber! Second is its easy to use and clean. I've tried a plastic Hamilton Beach pump style espresso machine for $54 bucks and returned it the next day. I took a chance on this one and I like it too much, can't stop using it. It is much larger than expected but it looks fantastic. No more expensive coffee shops for me.

I'm all for purchasing refurbished items. But this item seems to have missed the refurbishing tech. Appears more used, then refurbished.

My espresso machine arrived today. It has a few scratch marks on the stainless. Top & one side. As well as, a small black pitted mark on the front chrome panel. But the unit does work.

However, the ad states. a set of stainless steel cups, and frothing jug are included. NO cups, NO jug.

I called Amazons help number. The CSR was kind enough to give me the number to Breville/HWI. I called, and was only able to leave a voice message. I then tried to send an e-mail to Breville/HWI. At the listed e-mail address on the instruction manual. askus@brevilleusa.com I tried this twice. Both times my e-mails were returned. Stating fatal error for this e-mail address.

Anyway, Will see what happens. This is one refurbished item. That just may get returned. I will repost the outcome.

Such a deal!! I can't believe this espresso machine is on sale for around $100!!

I've owned a Gaggia espresso machine that cost over $300 and the Breville Roma is substantially better for one-third the price. First, it's all metal and built like a battleship. It heats up quickly and makes great espresso with plenty of crema. Make sure you get the right grind (the grounds should have the consistency of sand) and tamp the grounds into the portafilter with a bit of pressure. It's really simple.

We have this in our office and we are pulling at least eight shots a day. Even if it wears out in three months, it will have paid for itself several times over. No more afternoon runs to BigBucks coffee down the street.

For everybody complaining about not getting any cups--GET OVER IT! I went to IKEA and got a pair of insulated stainless steel espresso cups for $5.99.

Also, our machine appears to be brand new. It has no signs of wear and worked great right out of the box.

Having researched espresso machines, and read reviews, I thought I knew what I was purchasing, when I ordered this factory reconditioned espresso maker. I was expecting to receive the machine without the glass cups, or stainless cup that comes with a new product. This was acceptable, since I didn't need either. When I opened the box, I discovered that the glass cups were absent, as well as the soft plastic froth enhancer; the stainless steel cup was included, however.

As far as quality of the product is concerned, it has met my expectations. It is a basic machine that produces good espresso, and efficiently steams milk. I went to the Breville website, and ordered the plastic froth enhancer for $5. Turns out that it does not make an appreciable difference for making lattes.

This machine is superior to the Krups espresso maker that it replaced. It seems that the reconditioned product accessory list is a crap shoot.

I bought this Espresso machine on Amazon Sept. 2008. It hasn't once required any maintenance, heats up quickly and the best part is that for the price you're surprised to see that everything is made of easy to clean metal.

It has a genuinely powerful espresso pump and handles variations in grain without getting jammed.

The only thing I will say is that when you're steaming milk, it does squirt out a little cold water as it heats it up, even if the heating light is off, so don't put the milk underneath right away.

Other than that 5 stars for great value.

I purchased this factory reconditioned espresso machine 3 months ago and couldn't be more pleased. A great price for a great machine. It doesn't come with the cups or an ESE pod filter, but I did get the frothing pitcher. I don't really drink milk-based coffees such as lattes, but I have discovered a love for Americanos (double shot espresso & hot water.) I now have one great coffee in the morning rather than 4 cups of bad drip coffee. This Cafe Roma heats up quick and consistently makes great espresso. I usually go to Starbucks and get a half pound of espresso and let them grind it to the espresso machine setting. This is a great entry level espresso maker.

I recently purchased the Breville ESP8XL - What a dissapointment. The expresso is great but the hand unit does not hold the coffee basket in place during cleaning. When you are done making an excellent expresso and want to dump the grounds the hand unit does not adequately hold the grounds basked in place when you dump the grounds in the garbage can. The hand unit uses a spring clip to hold the basket in place but when you turn the hand unit over to dump the grounds into the garbage and tap the hand unit once or twice on the garbage can side - the basket dumps into the garbage with the grounds still in it. Then you have to pick the basket out of the garbage. WHY? Other mfgs. use a thumb holder and Breville did to a few years ago to hold the grounds basket in the hand unit. This new design that is used on several Breville models is inadequate.

Please Please bring back the old design that used the thumb lever to hold the grounds basket in the hand unit. I called Breville customer service four times for resoulution and it took over 1.5 weeks for replacement parts that did not work either. Its a bad design in my opinion. I suspect thats why there are so many factory refurb. Brevilles on the market. Great expresso but the grounds dumping process is not what one expects.

After all the great reviews I am really disapointed. First, wow, beautiful machine. But, every latte was horribly weak - problem is the steam wand. No matter how long I heated it up, primed it whatever, the steam is just not that strong. When steaming into an empty cup, waited until just steam (no running water), and ended up with 1/4 cup water in the cup! I know $100.00 is not much for a good machine, but I still think that's alot of money and now also a big waste of my time. Returning the machine.