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143 of 143 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
So far so good!, May 10, 2007
This review is from: Mr. Coffee ECM21 4-Shot Espresso Machine and 8-Cup Coffeemaker Combo, Black (Kitchen)
I purchased this coffee maker a few weeks ago, and I enjoyed many good coffees since. I am Italian, and I find the espresso as good as a good espresso prepared with a moka. This is good enough for me, but don't expect a REALLY good espresso, the kind you can have in that special little bar in a hidden corner of an Italian city. I did not have any trouble with leaks anywhere, so far (as some reviewer complained about). Only small complain, the espresso sometimes has a "metallic" flavor coming from the high temperatures reached by the water container. But no big deal, overall I am happy I purchased this product so far.
P.S. I posted the review in May 2007 and I am writing this PS one year later, in April 2008. The machine still works perfectly, with no leaks. I have also used the milk frother several times, and it makes a pretty good cappuccino! Maybe I should upgrade my rating to 5 stars!
P.P.S. In February 2009, everything still works fine!
P.P.P.S. In August 2010, this appliance is still working great. Indeed I have updated my rating from 4 to 5 stars.
P.P.P.P.S. End of January 2011, all is still good! One added piece of advice: the following is probably obvious to most people but I keep forgetting to do it myself... When I make espresso for one-two people (which happens every morning to me), the sooner I turn off the machine, the more concentrated the coffee is. When I have 2 inches of coffee in my cup, the espresso comes out thicker and full of aroma. The many times I forget to switch off around this level, the coffee is still all right but it's significantly more watery (and if you wait to switch off until all the water is gone from the reservoir, that old burned metallic flavor comes out a bit).
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135 of 136 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Style AND Substance - A GREAT Coffeemaker, April 3, 2007
This review is from: Mr. Coffee ECM21 4-Shot Espresso Machine and 8-Cup Coffeemaker Combo, Black (Kitchen)
I have had this machine since February and use it nearly every day. This is definitely one of the best coffeemakers I have ever owned, and I haven't had one single problem with it.
When I was deciding whether or not to buy it, some of the negative reviews had me a little skeptical. But I am SO glad that I took a chance. It was absolutely worth it for me.
I honestly don't see how some of the reviewers have had some of the problems that they have. Reviewer 'Joan of Arc' seemed to have quite a bit of leakage problems. It must have been a defective machine, because ours hasn't leaked one time -- not even a little drop. I'll go over a few of the issues she and some others had:
- The removable water reservoir (or "bucket" as she called it) for the coffeemaker is easy to remove and replace. If you don't want to take it out to fill it with water, just pour water into it. It is marked clearly and is easy to read even when stationed on the machine. No problem.
- The showerhead over the filter basket swivels outward to allow you to change the coffee filter. When you're done, you just swivel it back into place. I don't see how you can forget to do it, because the lid is designed so that you can't even close it if the showerhead isn't moved back into place. It really isn't even something you have to think about.
- Some people have had problems with the carafe lid. It doesn't open fully, but opens wide enough for me to clean it with little problem. We haven't had any problems with it dripping or leaking at all. It's like any other carafe that I've used over the years.
- 'Joan of Arc' mentioned that it was easy for her to forget to put the 1st lid on the espresso side before putting down the second lid. I'm not exactly sure what she was referring to, but I think she meant the water reservoir cap and lid. Again, I don't see how you could forget to screw the cap back on after you fill it with water. I suppose it's a learning curve. The first few times I used the machine, I referred to the instruction manual to make sure I did everything right. Now I can crank out good espresso and cappuccino in minutes without really even thinking about it. It just takes a little practice, like with anything else.
- Some people wished for a frother that was a little more accessible to make it a little easier to froth milk in a larger pitcher. That would have been a nice feature. It isn't too difficult to use, however, and seems to work just fine. The milk is always steaming hot, and the froth doesn't get cold for us.
- The coffee and espresso COULD be a LITTLE hotter. I don't like scalding hot coffee anyway, so it doesn't bother me too much, but for someone that does, it might be a small issue. Again, it doesn't seem like a deal-breaker, though.
- A clock or timer would have been a nice addition as well, but not having it doesn't affect the quality of the machine. It would have made a good product even better.
We have used both the coffee side and espresso side many times, and have yet to have any problems. I think some people may have received defective machines, but any product can be purchased defective. Some issues can easily be resolved with a little practice in getting used to the controls and operation of the whole machine, but once you do, it's more than easy to make good quality coffee and espresso.
I would definitely have to say that I got a great deal on a sleek, stylish machine that also works very well and makes good quality coffee. If you 'get what you pay for', then I made out like a bandit. Perfectly satisfied and VERY happy I bought it.
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great espresso machine, acceptable coffee maker., June 4, 2008
This review is from: Mr. Coffee ECM21 4-Shot Espresso Machine and 8-Cup Coffeemaker Combo, Black (Kitchen)
Having used this machine almost daily for over a month now (usually the espresso functionality), I have definitely found gotten a feel for this machine.
Despite the number of con's below, they are all pretty minor...
CON'S:
===========
- Coffee maker is slow compared to my last coffee maker (Hamilton Beach "Graves" edition). I would estimate it takes about 10 minutes to brew a full 8-cups.
- The coffee karaff requires you to pour your coffee very slow (my girlfriend prefers to dump coffee into her cup quickly).
- There is no program function for the coffee maker: its either on or off.
- Every once in awhile, the steam function doesn't work. One day, despite daily cleanings, it must have been clogged and it sprayed out quickly upon unclogging.
- Espresso functionality doesn't allow for making more than one batch within a few minutes (that is, without the risk of steaming your hands).
The biggest drawback in my house has been the lack of a timer setting. We would prefer to set the coffee to start in the morning and wake to the smell of coffee, but that's a no-go with this machine.
With that said...
PRO's:
===========
- GREAT espresso! (Some visiting friends told me they liked my mocha's better than those from coffee shops)
- Steam function works great if you have enough water in the reservoir.
- Very simple controls...I had no trouble making my first espresso
- Phenomenal value for the money.
- Removable water reservoir for the coffee, which makes filling it very easy.
I would definitely recommend this machine to anyone interested in a cheap, simple but very effective espresso machine. If you're looking for a great COFFEE maker, you might look elsewhere.
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