Customer Reviews

Hamilton Beach 40714 Espresso/Cappuccino Maker with Pod Holder

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I bought this unit online with the expectation that I would probably end up having to ship the unit back as I did not expect it to make a decent expresso or cappuccino for the little I paid for it. Wrong.

This unit really surprised me. Quick heating up, no long waits. Great steaming action for frothing milk, really good. The pump for expresso worked very well too.

Real simple to use. Hit the heat button to start heating the water for the expresso. While it is heating up, pack your expresso grind into the grinds cup. Install grinds cup, put your cup underneath, press the pump button and 25 seconds later you have your expresso. Remove the grinds cup, then press the steamer button if you intend to make a cappuccino or latte. While steam is heating up for a minute, rinse out the grinds cup. By the time your back the milk is ready to be steamed which itself takes around 30-45 seconds. Pour milk into expresso and your done!

Something to keep in mind is that you do not want to overpack the expresso grind. It takes a few times to get the hang of packing such that you get the right amount of time for expressing the coffee, getting a good crema and the right flavor (not over expressing the coffee. This is probably true with all machines.

A few tips that worked well for me:

- Heat up coffee cups in microwave for a minute with a spoonful of water in the cup, then place on warming tray to keep warm.

- Don't over express, the coffee will not taste very good (I used a measuring shot glass initially to get a sense for keeping my expresso's to no more than 1.5 oz

- Try packing the coffee to get the right amount of expresso time (around 20-25 seconds) and crema.

- Fresh roasted and expresso ground coffee makes a big difference.

- Pick up a really small metal pitcher for steaming the milk as there is none included. Also the cappuccino cups must not be to tall as they will not fit under the expresso

It took me around 5 times making expresso initially to get the hang of making a really good expresso. Steaming milk is completely effortless. Now we really are enjoying this very reasonably priced and consistent performing machine.

I have been on a two month long espresso machine crusade, I didn't want to pay big $'s, but I wanted a quality espresso. I use to work in an espresso bar so I had high expectations, I wanted a 15 bar pump so I could get a quality shot of espresso with a good creme. After going through several disappointing machines, including the Delonghi and Nespresso, I found everything I was looking for in this Hamilton Beach machine. It heats up fast, has the 15 bar pump, easy frothing, easy to fill reservoir, produces two shots of espresso, comes with scoop/tamper, and an optional pod filter. Only two possible problems, the espresso could have been slightly hotter but there is a warming tray for your espresso cups, and there was not a great deal of creme, but both of these problems can probably be solved by using freshly ground espresso instead of my canned preground italian espresso that I keep in the refridgerator. All in all it is a great machine for the money you spend.

Tired of looking for the right espresso machine, tired of reading reviews about machines that don't give as much as they pretend to ? This, is THE espresso machine you have been looking for. Not only does it look great, but it performs great ! It is also extremely easy to use and will give you great results fast. I have made a great tasting espresso on my second try (doping my poor girlfriend on caffeine) and by the end of the evening I reached a level that easily compares to lets say, Starbucks in terms of quality. I have compared this [$] machine to much more expensive models, and the taste is just as great, sometimes even better. Frothing milk was also a realy joke, I didn't even have to read anything, I juste gave it a try and it worked perfectly. The machine is also very quick and has a great build quality. Go for it, you won't regret !

I recently recieved this as a wedding gift (thanks Jen, Stef, Andy!).

In physical size the unit is fairly squat and does not have much of a footprint on the countertop. Very nice for me since I have a galley kitchen. There are four suction cup rubber feet which I have found convenient in keeping the unit in its place when I take the handle on and off. Also, it heats up fairly fast for those who want to turn the machine on in the morning and off after use. However, I have found and reccomend that keeping it on all the time yields a much better espresso in both temperature and appearance and taste. The froth and steam tip is very good. I have found it very easy to froth and steam milk especially in comparison to some more expensive models I have used in the past. The handle is fairly sturdy and well insulated from the heat. The water resovoir is very well thought out. It can be removed and filled very easilly instead of having to pour water into the unit.

I gave this machine 5 stars for, what I consider, a very high performance to cost ratio. For the price one pays, you can't beat it. If you want to pay more, you will seriously have to go into the $300 and up range to actually pay for a noticeable difference in quality and performance and ease of use.

I have read review after review, tried and returned machine after machine, and have now finally found the one. This machine works better than anything I have ever tried and, in the few days I have owned it, has already provided cup after cup of outstanding cappuccino and latte. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is the lack of room between the drip tray and the spout. None of my current cups will fit so I have had to be creative (I wound up using a low profile, one cup measuring cup). Other than this one minor complaint, it is ideal especially at this price.

This is terrific espresso maker. It's a great deal and saves lots of $$$ when you compare making your own to the $3.75+ spent waiting in line every morning. It takes only a few minutes to make a delicious drink...if possible, turn on the machine at least an hour before using so the water is heated to perfection.

I'd read that this was the best espresso machine you could get for under $300 (and so much under!) and it has really lived up to the hype.

First of all, it's a pump machine, which is the best kind of espresso maker. The cheaper machines are generally steam machines, which don't even make actual espresso. If you've been using a steam machine at home you will taste the difference - this espresso turns out very smooth and with a great crema. If you've just been buying from Starbucks or other coffee bars, you'll love the comparable taste. Honestly, I like the espresso this machine makes better than I like Starbucks. (This might also have to do with the great coffee pods I ordered from Amazon, which I believe are "Espressione 100% Arabica", although even Starbucks makes espresso pods.)

Second of all, as mentioned above, you can use espresso pods instead of ground coffee if you choose to and those pods are so convenient. They're a bit expensive (although nowhere near as much as a cafe-bought espresso drink) but since they're individually packaged you can order in bulk (they'll stay fresh for a couple of years) to get the lowest price possible. You don't have to dirty a measuring spoon, cleanup is significantly less than when using coffee grounds, and the quality of the coffee is high.

Third, I was amazed by how easy this machine is to use. I never used my old steam machine, not only because it made crappy coffee but also because it seemed like such a pain. You even get a 10 minute instructional video with this machine (which I unfortunately can't comment on since my VCR ate mine) and the whole process from start to cleanup is very simple.

Lastly, this is an attractive machine that seems quite sturdy. I read one review here that said theirs only lasted two years but if this is your first good espresso machine you may be ready to buy a more expensive one after this (although frankly, assuming mine lasts at least a year or two I'll probably buy another as long as the price stays so incredibly low).

Highly recommended - it's the best purchase I've made in a long time (at least since TiVo!)

I was looking at higher priced machines when I stumbled on this machine. The specs looked great, so I bought it to replace my pump Delonghi which broke down.

I have been unable to get ANY crema on my espresso with this Hamilton Beach machine. I have been adjusting the amount of coffee, the grind, the brew time, different coffee brands and nothing....NO CREMA. Just a flat cup of espresso. (My DeLonghi always produced crema)

The frother works ok (good pressure), no problems there. Construction is acceptable, a good looking machine and decent pricing.

Unfortunately, it's going back........still looking for a decent machine.

I recently upgraded from a Krups boiler model espresso machine to this little beauty. What is great about this little beauty is that you can make multiple cups of espresso without filling water basin (great for small parties.) The milk frother is great and extremely easy to clean. The video that comes with the product is very nice (great marketing tool.) The espresso that i have made from both pre-ground and at-home-ground beans was great (i am partial to a 3 ounce shot at a time). Not a bad machine for those who can't afford the fully automatics on the market. Definatly do not buy boiler models, go with a 15 bar or more pump machine.

This is my third espresso maker (the previous two were made by Briel and Starbucks, respectively). Both of the earlier units did an OK job of making espresso, but the Hamilton Beach unit really excels. The crema is spot on perfect, and the convenience factor when using pods means this unit gets used 3-6 times a day. (Yep, I will never again tamp grounds for espresso.)

Every element of this machine's design is thoughtful and well executed, from the splendid little suction cup feet to the very elegant european design. This is a quality unit and I like it so much I bought another for work. Can't say that about many other products. Highly recommended!