Customer Reviews

Saeco Aroma Espresso & Cappuccino Pump Machine

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Fine machine. Brews an excellent shot with good head. Heats up quickly and the durability has been excellent. Steams well but it definitely takes longer than I'm used to. I have this one at work but the 30013 at home which I think is an even better model. Brews and steams much quicker and while the case is the same the push buttons on this one feel less solid than the flip switches on the 30013.

After my old, cheap combo drip/espresso coffee maker gave up the ghost, I decided to invest in a serious espresso machine. I followed the advice given by Alton Brown from his Good Eats episode on espresso and wound up with the same machine that he uses. It's a lovely semi-automatic machine. By semi-automatic, I mean that the machine pushes water through the portafilter to make coffee as long as the switch is on; it's up to you to decide when to shut it off. Same goes for the milk frothing attachment. But the frother attachment is a big, wide plastic tube which is easy to clean, the water tank has enough capacity for a week's worth of espresso, and the pump can make for a lovely shot of espresso with a beautiful head of crema.

I think I would have preferred the design esthetic of a previous model, where the brewing and frothing switches were on/off switches as opposed to up/down buttons, but that quibble aside, this is a lovely machine for do-it-yourself espresso and cappuccino.

Update on 10/30/09: I found the price fluctuating so much and I am compelled to update my review. Reviews are generally given for a certain price range. This is a great value under 200USD, about right at 250, and becomes expensive at over 300. In general, espresso machines are significantly more expensive than they should be.
This machine is easy to use and clean, and makes great espresso. It does not grind coffee beans so you need a stand-alone grinder or may buy ground coffee (for espresso machines). It has a small footprint and is aesthetically pleasing. At about half the price of the fully automatic Saeco Spidem Villa, this sure is a better buy.

I have owned this machine since Dec '08 and it has performed beautifully. We make 4 shots a day, 7 days a week and it makes a wonderful double shot of espresso with perfect crema each time. It also makes good frothed milk, but does take a little longer than some of the more expensive espresso makers on the market (however, I rarely use the frothing feature so it's not a big drawback for me). I'm not sure what the other reviewer meant by it being a "manual" machine. Possibly - and I'm just guessing - "manual" means that it does not have a built-in grinder so you have to grind the beans with another machine and then pack the the portafilter yourself. If so, most espresso machines are like that and it's not a big deal for the majority of espresso drinkers. I do want to add that I did not buy this machine in a "new" condition from Amazon. I bought it used on an auction internet site (you guess which one:) for only $139.00! I also bought a used Saeco burr grinder from the same site and I am very happy with that too (see my other review). Either way, new or used, I would recommend this espresso machine as it makes great espresso shots and is hundreds less than many of the other machines (even at full retail price).

I've been using this machine for the past couple weeks and so far I love it! It looks great on the counter, doesn't take up much space, it seems solidly built and I couldn't be happier with the quality of the drinks I've been making with it. I'm a latte/cappuccino drinker so I can't really comment on the subtleties of a good espresso shot but the shots look great, they have plenty of crema and the milk based drinks are just delicious, much better than what I get at the local coffee shops.

I usually don't write long reviews but while researching before I bought it, I found plenty of negative reviews from people who seem to have unrealistic expectations or who didn't bother to do their homework or read the manual.

Things to consider and common complaints:

- This is a single boiler machine, which requires the machine to be primed every time you steam milk. If you don't, it will end up suffering from a premature death due to overheating. You may be able to find a self-priming machine for this price (I didn't run into any but it's not a feature I particularly cared for). If you want a dual boiler machine then you'll have to invest more money. Personally, I don't mind priming it, it may feel like there are too many steps at first but once you get a hang of it, it's extremely quick and simple.

- It comes with a pressurized portafilter which is less sensitive to grinding finesse and tamping pressure and will give you a consistent espresso shot even if you don't really know what you are doing. For the average user this can be a great feature, since you can get a good shot with pre-ground espresso or a pod. However, if you are really into the art of making the perfect espresso and want to play around with grinding and tamping pressure, then you'll probably want a regular portafilter.

- The steaming wand is a bit too low and only rotates horizontally, which limits the size of the frothing container you can use. Not an issue for me but something you may want to consider. I use a 16 oz. frothing pitcher and as long as I keep it filled up to somewhere between 2/3 and 3/4, I can work without issues. With more liquid than that, I would spill some on the counter when trying to remove the pitcher. This can be addressed by raising the machine (something like a thick cutting board underneath it could work) or by placing the machine on the far right edge of the counter.

- The cup warmer seems a bit on the flimsy side. I'm just being picky with this one, I don't really care about that so just an FYI.

- The panarello attachment makes it really easy to get thick foam but a bit tricky to get microfoam. I've been experimenting with it to get microfoam and I've got some good results. However, it is a bit harder to do than with a regular steam wand and I'm not sure if it will be good enough for latte art. Again, if you don't care about latte art, this is no big deal and your drinks will come out just fine.

- If the portafilter is not tight enough or if it's too full, water will leak from the top. This happened to me when I first got it and was trying to set it up. It was a bit too tight which required extra strength to make it fit right. After a couple of tries, it loosened up, getting it on and off became very easy and there are no leaks whatsoever.

I can't comment on durability but I will update this review if I run into any issues.

Overall, I'd say this is a great purchase for the price as long as you know what to expect and it suits your needs. If you decide to get it, do yourself a favor and read the manual. =)

I purchased this for 300$ with free shipping and a free kit including 6 espresso cups, saucers, spoons and a milk foaming metal pitcher and some espresso blend grounds as well. This machine works great, it's solid, simple, small and powerful. The machine warms up quickly and has few buttons so it won't confuse you.

**Like most machines of this sort, you do need to learn how to use it and it does require maintenance every so often (rinsing, descaling, etc...) but once you use it as it is intended, the results are stellar. Maybe it's just the grounds, but this thing pumps out espresso just like I remember from my trip to Portugal; great crema and very straightforward to use. The steam wand works great, better than some commercial models I've used working in cafe's.
Just make sure you prime the water circuit and warm the portafilter (where you put the grounds) before you put the grounds in. Warming the portafilter has the side benefit of warming the cup as well(which you'll put under the portafilter to catch the water), which most espresso snobs will tell you is necessary for great espresso anyway.
The espresso water pump and the steam wand do seem to continue to leak water a tiny bit after use, but keeping them over the water tray is instinctual and I have heard that even commercial models will drip a bit of water out immediately after use so I don't consider it a 'con', not really a 'pro' though either.
All in all, for this price, I couldn't be more happy. The machine is quite nice to look at too and the extras that I got it with made it a steal of a deal by my standards. It doesn't come with a real 'tamper' though, I'm still trying to find one, it's amazing how most kitchen style stores don't actually sell them.
Contents: machine, water tray, grounds disposal tray with wooden 'hit me here to empty' thingy, removable water tank, water tank top, portafilter with accessory for using ESE pods or regular ground coffee, espresso scoop/spoon.
5 stars so far and if it keeps up it's good work.

Great machine. As anything, once you get it down, it makes super espresso and frothed drinks. By far the best performing machine for the money.

I'm sort of surprised by the prices I see here on Amazon for this machine, I'm pretty sure I paid about $130 for it at Macy's. Anyhoo, just want to give three cheers for this workhorse, which consistently pumps out excellent espresso, always with a nice healthy layer of crema on top. My Gaggia machine, which gave up the ghost before I got this one, was more expensive and didn't have the consistent quality that this one does. While with the Gaggia I had to be sure I did everything exactly right (grinding, tamping, etc) to get a good shot, the Saeco Aroma doesn't need kid gloves - it always makes tasty, creamy espresso regardless. Plus I think this one is much more sturdy - it's got a nice hearty metal shell, while the Gaggia was very plastic & suspiciously lighter weight.

The only thing to alert buyers/new owners about is that if the water tube is allowed to empty out completely - either when you remove the well to refill it, or if the water runs too low - it can be difficult to get the flow in the tube going again. That pump will really churn and churn as it tries to re-engage the vacuum or suction or whatever the appropriate word is, and it can take some fiddling to get it going again. To avoid this happening, I don't let the water well get too low, and don't remove it to refill it. Sort of annoying but ultimately not that big of a deal.

Totally a great machine in this price range - that is if you can get it at the (more appropriate) price of around $150.

Enjoy!

Extremely happy with this machine however my 15.00 aerolatte does a better frothing job than the steam wand on this. I had to purchase a better steam wand for 40.00. Now I get perfect cappuccinos. I put the machine on top of a storage container to get around the problem of the steam wand being too low.

I really liked the espresso machine while it was working. Unfortunately, after a few months, every time I turned it on it blew the fuse at my house. I tried for 3 months to get it fixed, but unfortunately Saeco support does not answer their phone!!! If you stay on hold (even if you wait an hour), you eventually get a recording that asks you to leave your number. They call you back at THEIR convenience (usually in the middle of the day when I was in a meeting). When I complained about this, they did not seem to think this was a problem. I finally did get to speak to someone (I happened to be free when they called) and they promised to send me paperwork that I needed to fill out to get it fixed. I never got that email so I started all over again trying to get their call when it was convenient for them. When I finally got to speak with someone else, they told me the same thing. This time I stayed on the phone with them until I received the email. I emailed it back immediately and waited another 3 weeks (with several follow-up emails asking when they were going to respond) before I took it back to the retailer for a refund. I can't believe a company that does not support their products can stay in business.