Customer Reviews

Saeco 30013 Aroma Traditional Espresso Machine, Stainless Steel

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It aint fancy, it just works. Seriously, no big bells & whistles, just great, FAST espresso and steamed milk. The cleanup is easy, especially since the little do-hickey on the frother comes off; the drip tray comes out, etc. It's easy to use, though there is a slight learning curve... there is a specific sequence of switch flipping and dial turning you have to get down. That's about the only negative. This unit could be improved by adding more switches and having each do one thing only. On the positive side, this sucker heats up super fast and makes consistent espresso. It's smaller than most machines, at just a little stockier than your average drip coffee pot. The only other negative would be the positioning of the frothing wand, but I've found that EVERY espresso machine has this problem - they just don't swing out far enough and are too long..or something. You nearly have to tip a cup of milk parallel to the counter to get it under the steam spout. Why has no manufacturer fixed this yet?? Alas, great little machine, just right for the price, great coffee, good & fast.

I love coffee. Unfortunately, good coffee can be hard to find. So I decided to take the matter into my own hands and make my own coffee. After many hours of research on the internet through various sites, I decided to go with this model (It helped a little that Alton unofficially endorsed this model on his show). All I can say is wow. This unassuming machine sure does produce an excellent shot of espresso. I think it's nearly impossible to not get a beautiful head of crema in every shot. Not only does the shot look amazing, it tastes great too. Once you get down a good routine, the coffee this produces will be almost 100% free of any bitterness. I personally don't think you can ever completely rid coffee of its bitterness, but this machine helps me come closer than any coffee I have ever bought from a coffee shop. The machine is very easy to use, and cleaning really isn't that much of a hassle (make sure to read the instructions thoroughly before use). The frothing wand works well. Not great, but well. It doesn't quite achieve that micro-bubble texture, but it does a pretty good job. The portafilter has a little more plastic on it than I would like, but it's holding up nicely after 7 months of frequent use.

Overall, the machine is solidly built (for the most part), efficient and so far, reliable. I really would give this unit 4 stars, but for the price, I feel I can't give it anything else but 5.

*As a side note, this machine alone will not give you a good cup of coffee. You will need of course a good coffee bean roasted to your preference, a good grinder, and if you really want to standardize and perfect your coffee every morning, you really need a scale to measure the coffee. I shoot for about 15 g of coffee for two shots. You may want a little more or less depending on your preferences. You definitely want a conical burr grinder, and I wouldn't go for anything less than the Infinity model by Capresso (it's what I use). If you can afford better, then go for it.

**Edit: One thing I should have mentioned, is that this is really considered an entry-level/beginner espresso machine. This machine uses a pressurized portafilter, which basically means it is more forgiving to novice mistakes (coffee grind for instance). While I'll still assert that this is a great machine, more experienced users should really consider different options.

My sister has owened an Aroma for years and I'd always been impress with the quality of espresso and capucino she could make at home. And one morning, I just decided that I deserved the best coffee too and ordered my own. I picked the chrome model which complements my other chrome appliances in my kitchen. It's a robust and simple piece of machinery that produces an amazing espresso. The extraction time is small, the crema is thick and their patented gizmo they use to foam milk is fool-proof. Just stick it in an wait a few seconds and you get the best foam.

if you want to make espresso with thick crema without thinking about it (who wants to think early in the morning?), this is a good choice. (the portafilter contains a pressure release valve to compensate for coffee beans that are milled too large). i also own a gaggia that makes a great espresso but it requires more care with the grind to get thick crema.
i've used the machine about two years, once/twice a day. no problems. i run a little water (3 seconds?) after removing the portafilter with each use to get espresso out of the dispersion head. if you don't, you'll eventually need to remove it and clean the dried espresso that clogs the holes in the dispersion head. not a big deal, but it complicates your life. i keep the gasket and dispersion head clean by putting a wet paper towel on the portafilter, intalling it, running the machine until the water comes out clear, and then rotating it a couple of times. keeps you from having to replace the gasket. these little exercises are needed to maintain all espresso machines, not just this one.

I've had Tassimo, and Krups, but this is the one for me.
It is simple, reliable and makes wonderful coffee. My wife and I use it every single day and I've had it for over a year. I use it with senseo coffee&espresso pods which can be purchased for around 19cents/pod. I rarely use the steamer, but I have used it and it does work.
Incidentally, I think this was the machine (with the brand name hidden) that was endorsed on the food network's show good eats.
To summarize, the machine is sturdy and solid, and it quickly and cost-effectively delivers excellent hot coffee every single day.

I have owned the Saeco Aroma for a year and use it daily. I love it. The espresso is of high quality, easy to make, the steamer is quiet and the panerallo tip makes it simple to build up a nice milk froth. I also bought a stainless steel milk pitcher that is sold on Amazon. This helps with the issue with having to tip the cup to get the steam wand out of the cup. Unless the foam in the milk pitcher is all the way to the top, it will not spill. Also, don't try to steam your milk in your coffee mug, you wont have enough room in the mug and will end up spilling when you tip the cup to pull it out from under the steam want. Order the stainless milk pitcher and use that, it works great. If you buy this machine, you will have perfect espresso or latte etc with ease, and a very good sturdy machine. Please be sure to invest the time to read the instruction manual thoroughly to prevent damage to your machine and avoid frustration. Prime your machine before and after making espresso to keep it clean inside and keep it working correctly.
I have seen this machine for around 189.00 on sale so shop around and you can find a good price.

I only have this Aroma machine for about 10 days now, but it is absolutely wonderful. I have not owned an espresso machine in the past but I did work in a cafe so I have some experience making capuccino and espresso.

The machine was very easy to setup. The instructions are clear. People who have not used espresso machine before, make sure you read the instructions, especially about how to prime the water circuit BEFORE making coffee. This priming is a must if you have not used the machine at all or have not used it for some time. In fact, I prime it before each use to be sure.

Steam also has to be "primed" because water first comes out. But after about 5 seconds, pure hot steam is coming out. So you must have a little container or a glass at all times next to the machine, to prime the steam and then you are good to go. Do NOT pack too much coffee into the machine. The grind I made was made using a very basic coffee grinder with steel blades (a Cuisinart) and I just grinded a lot until the grind was fine. The first coffee I made was actually an "Americano" - watered down version of espresso double and it was in fact too strong for me. I am not used to espresso so it was quite strong but not bitter. The taste is wonderful. I use a local coffee shop in Montreal (Cafe Noir) and had Ethiopian "Sidamo" beans, 80% dark/20% brown mixture. The taste was rich, with lots of crema (foam on top of the coffee)and not bitter or just slightly bitter.

The milk steamer is good and works well. However, the lack of adjustable steaming arm (it does not move up and down) needs a little "adaptation" from the end-user. I KNEW about this fixed non-adjustable steamer spout before buying the machine but it had received such good reviews for taste that I went for it. All one needs is to place the machine at the edge of a counter, a slim and small (perhaps 4-6 ounce maximum) container to fit under the arm and one is ready for very foamy and hot milk.

The water container is also large so there is plenty of water reserve. The machine has an adjustable steam pressure knob which you turn (front right).

I love to smoothness of the coffee which has lots and lots of foam (crema) in it and the taste is truly a pleasure compared to my Braun filter coffee machine I used before which made very weak coffee.

I cannot say much about the long-term reliability yet since I have only operated the machine for about 10 days now, but I can update this review in a few months or a year.

Highly recomended. Do not judge this machine by its "simple" looks - it makes wonderful coffee!

You know it already: after your last trip in Italy, *$ has become an unspeakable place to drink a real espresso. As if an espresso was a bitter cup of coal! Haha!
So you will soon go on the quest of the holy grail of espresso.
After some googling, you will find out that you need: a good espresso machine, a grinder and, of course, good coffee beans.
To stay on a reasonable budget, I chose the Saeco aroma combined with the Capresso 560 Infinity grinder.
The Saeco comes with a pressurized portafilter. This allows to get good shots without any barista skills: there is no need for tamping and you don't need a very fine grind.
But if you want to improve your barista technique (and your espresso quality!), I would recommend to purchase a non-pressurized portafilter. I bought a naked portafiler that allows to see your extraction (see the picture). There is a learning curve but the reward is a very nice cup of espresso, with thick crema!

Our machine is put to use every day. Great and quick espresso to rival an Italian Bistro. Without their large frothing pitcher, frothing milk is inconvenient because the arm does not lift. We rarely use it and when we do we must pull the machine to the edge of the counter to froth-up. But at the bargain price of $230 (from another store) we'd buy it again. We prefer our home espresso to the likes of Starbucks and Peets now.

This machine does work and it does make a good cup of espresso, but I was disappointed in the overall quality of the construction and operation. The steaming arm does not lift (!), so you have to tilt the milk cup...fine going in, but coming out, you have to move the machine to the edge of the counter to keep from spilling the steamed milk. I returned this machine and bought a Saeco Via Venezia for a few dollars less. I like the design much better, and the steaming arm angle is adjustable!