Briel ED132AFB Sintra Espresso Machine with Drip Coffeemaker

Other Briel products

Product Features

• 15 bar pump pressure; brews 2 cups in about 35 seconds
• Jet frother produces robust steam, thick froth
• Large removable water reservoir; automatic shut-off
• Automatic shut-off adds safety
• Measures 14 by 11-1/2 by 10 inches

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 18.2 x 14.8 x 13.2 inches ; 20 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 20 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00005AXJD
• Item model number: ES132AFB
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #249,496 in Kitchen & Dining (See Bestsellers in Kitchen & Dining)

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Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Briel's Sintra espresso machine with drip coffeemaker is backed by the company's 30-plus years in the coffee business, and it shows--this model's designed to present café-quality drip coffee, espresso, and cappuccino to the home user. To get this high quality, the Sintra has a number of extraordinary features. To start with, it gives you the ability to match most coffee preferences in one machine, due to its dual nature: drip coffeemaker and espresso maker. On the drip side, it has a 10-cup-capacity glass carafe and a nice "stop-and-serve" feature that allows you to remove the carafe during the middle of the brewing cycle.

The Sintra also has some nice functionality on the espresso/cappuccino side, starting with its Auto Espresso Flow system. This system lets you set the coffee strength according to taste, from a stronger, Italian-style short cup to a larger, less robust brew. The espresso is brewed at the required 190 degrees F, and the machine has 15 bars of pump pressure. And it's speedy, brewing two cups in about 35 seconds. It also makes good cappuccino, because of its steam nozzle, which lets you froth the milk. Some other nice features include its patented Cremaker filter, which provides a richer crema on each espresso, an exterior water-level indicator, and a cup warmer. In shining stainless steel and sturdy black plastic, this machine won't shame any counter. It has 2,010 watts of power and measures 14 by 11-1/2 by 10 inches (length by height by depth). --A.J. Rathbun

Editor's note: This item may arrive with water inside from the manufacturer's pressure test. This is a normal occurrence and doesn't point to a problem with the machine.

Product Description

Briel Sintra ED132ABF Combo Coffee Machine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars WARNING!!! Check out the address on the reviews!!!!!!!!!!!!!, March 16, 2004

By A Customer

Whoever this guy is from Short Hills, NJ has posted like 20 five-star reviews. I've also seen him do the same on other espresso machines. He either works for these companies or is a distributor or something.

If you are researching espresso machines I would suggest keeping an eye out for this guy because he's trying to throw the averages. My suggestion would be to NOT purchase any of the machines he recommends.

Amazon, your ratings system obviously needs some more checks and balances.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Combination Machine-The Best of Both Worlds!, November 2, 2001

By A Customer

My husband purchased the Briel SINTRA ES62 combination pump espresso machine with built in drip coffeemaker. The espresso machine portion is incredible and produces a rich thick crema each time we brew espresso, whether it be from pods of ground coffee. The auto espresso flow feature makes it easy to start and the machine stops automatically based on the amount of coffee you requested. The machine is a real powerhouse in terms of steam pressure for frothing milk. We use this several times a week. But the best feature of the machine is the drip coffeemaker portion. It brews 10 cups of hot coffee in a short amount of time. The pause and serve feature is great. This combination machine is perfect for our counter as it's a multi-purpose machine that is used everyday. You can even brew drip coffee at the same time as making an espresso. Pretty cool...

We really like the metallic faceplate and accents, as it fits in perfectly with our kitchen decor. Yet we have friends who also have this machine in their office, which is perfect for handling large quantities of drip coffee and of course espresso.

We've had Briel before and are more than satisfied. GO FOR IT!

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fatal Flaws Fixed!, April 4, 2002

By	Craig Weems (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I won't repeat what has come before but first I will inform how to avoid the challenges that other reviewers label flaws.

First: space under coffee holder is too small for a mug. True, but the plastic tray and stainless steel grill slide out easily leaving plenty of room for a mug. When I discovered it I thought it was an intentional design feature. Also, even with the top tray out there is still another below to capture spills.

Second: filling water reservoir. I prefer the squat frothing jugs by Krups which hold a lot of milk and water. They are perfect for filling the reservoir without moving the machine and with plenty of clearance between the machine and the cupboard above. Only two jugs will fill it up as they do hold a lot.

Other Comments:
It does use pods but of the filter type (Starbucks) not Nescafe. One feature not spoken of in detail is the cup size control. With other machines you have to turn them off when enough coffee has been made. If you are like me and multitasking, you may forget and make a watery cup at best or empty your machine on the counter at worst. The Briel has a dial to select the amount of coffee produced creating a very consistent cup. In addition, the steamer produces steam nearly immediately with just a tiny dribble so small you can ignore it. The steam volume is incredible. Sloppy steamed milk production will make a mess, as it should.

The real flaw: It should come with two coffee holders for production line results. When you are having a party and everyone wants espresso the machine is fast, with you as the limiting factor. Your own speed of emptying the coffee holder, rinsing it out, filling it, tamping (the machine has a great built in tamper which I have never seen on any other brand) and pushing the button is the problem. Lastly, the front panel may be plastic but it can take repeated scrubbings with mild abrasives without harm. Treat it nicely and it should look good forever.