Mr. Coffee ECM250 4-Cup Espresso/Cappuccino Maker

by Mr. Coffee

Product Features

• Powerful milk frother
• Easy to pour decanter
• Removable drip tray
• On/Off indicator light
• Convenient cord storage

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 14.1 x 12.8 inches ; 5.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B001KBY9E6
• Item model number: ECM250
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,319 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)
  • #32 in Kitchen & Dining > Coffee, Tea & Espresso Appliances > Espresso Machines

Product Description

Have the ability to make espressos and cappuccinos in the comfort of you own home. The Mr. Coffee steam espresso maker delivers quality drinks on a consistent basis. The powerful frothing tip makes heating milk an easy task.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not really espresso, November 6, 2010

By 

Kyle - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mr. Coffee ECM250 4-Cup Espresso/Cappuccino Maker (Kitchen)

I got this little machine as I'm always in Starbucks. I wanted a nice little alternative for nights and weekends when I felt like having an espresso based drink without having to drive to a coffee shop and shell out cash.

First, the good points of this machine:
-It's small, so you can easily store it inside a cabinet. It's not bad looking, however, so if you can sacrifice a little counter space, that works just as well.
-The machine is very simple to use. I have my own bean grinder, but you can get yours ground at Starbucks if you buy it there. You simply scoop the beans into the holder, screw into the machine, put water in the reservoir, turn on, and there you go.
-It's relatively quick to brew the espresso and it doesn't take too long to clean most of the parts.

Now, the bad:
-The biggest issue I've had with this machine is that it basically brews strong coffee, not espresso. I've tried a variety of ways of packing the beans, etc, but getting a crema with this machine eludes me. If you're a beginner at this stuff, it's not a big deal as the drinks will still taste alright. However, it's not really espresso in the full sense. You may as well just buy a coffee maker.
-The frothing wand is of okay size, but it seems like it takes forever to heat milk up to a desirable temperature for a drink.


Overall, not bad for a starter machine, but it's just that. If you want anything that will give you a crema and legitimate shot of espresso, shell out some more money and get a Delonghi. They're by no means perfect, but it will give you a more legitimate shot of espresso than this machine. However, if you're just starting with all of this and want to make a decent cappuccino occasionally, this isn't a bad machine.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good starter machine, December 21, 2009

By 

C. Aguilar (South Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mr. Coffee ECM250 4-Cup Espresso/Cappuccino Maker (Kitchen)

I received the Mr. Coffee Espresso/Cappuccino Maker as a gift. Obviously it's not going to produce the same results as some of the more expensive models but I think it works well enough for personal use. It's very simple to use-it only has two functions: brew or steam.

I noticed that several people commented about leaking and the instructions warn that this can occur if there are grounds around the top of the filter or if you over-fill the filter. The frothing arm is very short but I found a small frothing pitcher at World Market that works well. As far as worrying about aluminum in your espresso, the instructions also warn that you shouldn't leave water in the reservoir when you're not using the machine. The only other thing to remember is that you MUST de-pressurize the system before removing the filter holder or water reservoir cap!! To do this, unplug the machine, wait for it to cool off, then turn the knob to "steam" until you hear the hissing stop.

I think that for the price, this machine produces a nice cup of espresso in a relatively short amount of time.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Beware - Dangerous Machine - Mine Exploded, January 23, 2011

By 

B. ROBINSON "Half English" (Boise, ID) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mr. Coffee ECM250 4-Cup Espresso/Cappuccino Maker (Kitchen)

I used this espresso machine a couple times a week for about 3 years and liked it a lot; however, yesterday morning I was frothing the milk and it exploded. I looked at the cap (over the water reservoir) and it was split. Scalding water shot out of that split, luckily it went all over the wall and not toward me. If you have this machine, consider releasing the pressure from the water reservoir after every use and the cap may last longer, but I for one am switching brands. This scared the heck out of me and after looking online, I see that it has happened to others. Be aware.