Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good machine + good price = Great deal!, December 20, 2005
I've used this machine for two years now, and would buy it again in an instant. I'll add these comments to those previously written:
* Crema varies with coffee bean; shiney fresh beans give more crema and have more (but subtle) flavors. I don't get the best crema with Starbucks beans. Peets is great though, so is Nicholas. Even the generic beans ($5/lb when on sale at the local grocer) work OK. Remember, these espresso machines extract more flavor from coffee beans (than perk or drip machines); it's the nature of the pressure (vs temperature) process.
* For a great double shot (actually, 4 oz), I fill the fresh-grounds filter to level (not heaping) with whole beans, grind them for 8 seconds in a cheapo spice grinder, and tamp them (not too hard, not too soft). The tamped grounds come up almost to the #2 line in the filter. I run the pump for 30 seconds after liquid starts coming out of the nozzel. The machine has been turned on and heating for only about 5-10 minutes prior to this.
* I've used Starbucks pods. It does takes two (at 15 seconds of pumping per) to make a double shot. It tastes good (but not as strong as when I use fresh-ground.) Pods are quicker, but more expensive, than using grounds. You do need to be careful to press the pod in the filter so all water goes through, not around, the pod. Be aware that this machine comes with two different stainless steel filters; one for grounds, and a smaller one for pre-packaged pods.
* These machines use ***PRESSURE*** not temperature to extract flavors. This results in smoother taste, but not scalding temperatures. If you want your espresso law-suit hot, nuke it afterward.
* The included plastic tamper is too flimsy for the tamping pressure I've found works best; get a sturdier one (I got an aluminum one from a local kitchen store.) If you don't tamp hard enough, grounds float up and coat the nozzel that high-pressure water comes out of. If you grind and tamp just right, the used grounds will maintain their hockey-puck shape when you shake them out of the filter.
* Coffee mugs don't fit under the spouts. Its not like this machine will make enough espresso in one batch to come close to filling a standard 10 oz mug. I just want to drink a strong brew from a manly mug ;-) I've had to resort to using the shorter, dainty, coffee cups from the fine china set. (Don't tell my buddies.)
* If you're the analytical type, check out "The Complexity of Coffee" in Scientific American June 2002, Vol 286 Issue 6 p86. It contains good info you can use to perfect your brew.
* Use some of that cafeine buzz to clean the machine after each use, and it will last for a long time. There was a recall (on the older 40714 version) because some people weren't cleaning milk off the frother, which resulted in scalding when the plug of old dried curdled milk suddenly erupted. Use common sense, keep this puppy clean, and it will make cup after cup of great brew.
* The frothing wand is not the easiest to use, due to the funny angle, short length, and low height above counter. I had to search for a stainless pitcher of just the right size; 10 oz to the brim. Disclaimer: I don't use the frother much so this doesn't detract from my rating of this machine.
* After years of use, hard water deposits build up on the nozzle just above where the coffee grounds sit. I noticed that water was spraying, rather than dripping, from here (during cleanup). There's no need to run special cleaners through the machine; I successfully remove deposits by rubbing the nozzel with a hand towel after every use. It's become part of the espresso-making ritual.
* I've been burned on other items when chosing the cheapest, but not on this one. It has some drawbacks, but for the price I can easily overlook them. It has kept my picky self satisfied!
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48 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Works fine for me!, March 1, 2005
I'm not sure what the below reviewer is complaining about with the machine's heating element. I've had this for two weeks now and have made many great tasting cappucinos with it (I don't like straight espresso).
The espresso shots come out perfectly hot (but not too hot) and the steamer froths and steams milk beautifully. My only gripe with the steamer is that I need to run it once, let it heat up again and then run it through a second time in order to get my desired results. The whole process is no more than a minute or so which is very tolerable considering the price.
I had read reviews on other sites that mentioned that this machine (actually an older model) did not produce decent crema. Well, I had no experience with making espresso in the past (I'm a home roaster for regular coffee) but my first try produced a great cup of espresso with a nice caramel colored froth on top. And this came from store bought, pre-ground espresso coffee!
Cleanup is very easy and the unit is small enough to store away when not in use. It comes with a measuring spoon that stores away in the unit and the machine accepts both ground espresso and pods (never used them). For the amateur and social drinker of espresso and cappucinos, this machine should suffice. I would not be able to justify spending any additional money on an expensive machine.
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27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
5 stars for a beginner and even a pro?, June 18, 2006
I've had this machine for 24 hours and have gone through a pound of coffee learning how to make espresso for the first time. So far I am very impressed with this machine. It really is as good as machines many times the price. However, the advice you hear everywhere is true: The grind and your technique matter much, much, more than the machine.
I did a lot of research online and talked to friends with home espresso machines. It seemed as if you had to pay $200-$500 dollars to get a good machine. I wasn't sure I wanted to pay that much. I ran across some postings about this machine and it sounded worth a shot, especially for the price.
I started with good fresh roasted coffee ground in the store on the "2" setting which is supposed to be the standard espresso grind. I went through 3/4 of a pound trying to get a good cup and couldn't. Light tamp, hard tamp, medium tamp, nothing worked. It was soupy in the portafilter, tasted bad, and even exploded over the counter several times.
Next I went to a coffee shop to buy more beans and asked the barista for some advice. They said a "3" grind might be more forgiving. They said to tamp it *very* hard. Also, the coffee left in the portafilter after brewing should be very dry and "brick-like". When you scrape a spoon across the used grounds, they should cake into clumps. The advice about the stream to look for was the classic "the tail of a mouse with the stripes of a tiger", which sounded strange at the time but was right on when I got my best cups.
I went home and tried again. I filled the portafilter and made an improvised tamper out of a 1/4 cup measuring cup. I pressed down hard with most of my weight. After the tamp the coffee came up to the double shot line. I started the pump and counted 25 seconds from the point where the stream started to flow and then shut it off. The stream looked just like it was supposed to and the coffee tasted great with a lot of crema! I then made half a dozen cups and they were all great. I made straight shots, lattes, and cappuccinos. The machine has plenty of steam to make good frothed milk. Once again, a beginner should expect some practice to get good. The steam alone doesn't make good froth.
This is a great machine for someone looking to give espresso at home a try. In my research I found that it uses the same pump as popular $500+ machines. As long as you don't mind plastic housings, I don't think moving up to a more expensive machine will give you better coffee.
All in all, a great machine. Here are my tips:
1) Start with the coarsest espresso grind and a heavy tamp. The "3" setting worked everytime for me. The "2" setting never worked.
2) Get a good tamper. I think the portafilter is the standard 58mm size so it should be easy to get a different tamper. Given the heavy tamp needed, the included tamper is worthless.
3) Practice. There is a lot of technique involved. I couldn't believe the variation possible when I tried different grinds, tamp pressures, and brew times.
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