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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing espresso machine easy to use would recommend to anyone, May 11, 2008
This review is from: Saeco A-SPV-BK Spidem Villa Super-Automatic Espresso Machine, Black (Kitchen)
Length:: 1:16 Mins
I have to say I was skeptical about buying a super automatic machine and especially this one since it was one of the cheapest models. I bought this for my mom and it had to be as easy as possible to use for her. I love it and I found out that the inside machinery is basically the same as the models that cost 2-3 times more. I have been using it for 3 months now and have not had any problems at all it just takes a little bit of learning and trial and error don't forget to read the manual there are many little things that you should know so the machine will work properly without problems. It really only takes about 1 minute for the machine to be ready in the morning from a cold start to make an espresso or boiling water for tea. The only thing that takes some time is to get the grind size and amount of coffee correct for the type of bean you have. You wouldn't think so but Dunkin Donuts whole orig beans work great and taste amazing for espresso I even talked to Saeco customer support and they said it was a great bean for it since it wasn't too oily. Dont think Twice about buying this machine it is amazing and will pay for itself in a couple months of not going to the coffee shop. I even like the fact that this machine isn't complicated it is very simple to use. If you end up buying one of these try to get the solid black model since it isn't painted it is solid black plastic so there is nothing to chip and when the coffee or milk splashes you don't see the spots so it looks clean all the time unlike the silver models. Some people complain about the water and coffee capacity but unless you put this in an office you will be fine the water makes about 12-15 shots and coffee makes about 30 shots so you should be fine for a normal household. I also noticed that if you use bottled water you will have hardly any problems with the machine since most problems arise from calcium buildup from hard water and not to mention bottled water tastes so much better. I hardly ever write in depth reviews it's just that I am so happy with this machine and it saves so much money. We are a family of 3 and we used to get 3 Coffee's lattes etc. every day costing about $12-$15 daily and we had a instant boiling water dispenser in our kitchen sink that from what I found out costs about $30 a month to keep going since it is always on and now we turned that off and just use this machine for the boiling water for tea, cup a noodles, etc. as well.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
So far, so good!, July 16, 2008
This review is from: Saeco A-SPV-BK Spidem Villa Super-Automatic Espresso Machine, Black (Kitchen)
I picked this unit up about a week ago for $379. It appears Amazon has now raised the price. Like others, I was skeptical about the quality of this machine for the price. In the end I decided instead of paying $1,000 or so for a machine that generically seem to break down a fair amount, I'd try this one since the reviews were pretty good. The logic being that if this one self-destructs I'll only tear out half my hair. If it happened with a $1,000 model, I'd pull it all out!
As for the Villa Spidem itself, after a week we're very pleased. The operation is not completely intuitive so you definitely need to read the manual (even though the manual is not a sterling example of clarity). Once you get the hang of it though, which doesn't take long, you're in for some fine coffee. From a cold start (that is if you have the machine turned off), it will grind and brew a cup in under two minutes. If the machine is already on, your cup will be ready in about 30 seconds. All this by just pushing a button. By using the dial on the front of the panel you can vary the brew from a tiny espresso to an Americano and every gradient in between. We are using Altura Cafe's French Roast as our first bean and the result is very tasty.
Complaints: All minor at this point. If you want to go from brewing to foaming some milk, the machine will balk until you vent a bit of the hot water out first...takes about 5 seconds. Also as has been pointed out, both the bean and the water hopper in particular are a bit on the small side, but for one or two users I'd call it a non-issue. If you have a family of 4 or 5 heavy users, you'll probably go through two waters and one hopper of beans in a day. Finally, it is a bit noisy. Like one of Pavlov's dog, I've grown to like the sound because I know it means satisfaction is moments away, but I suppose if I was hosting a party and making a bunch of coffees it would be distracting.
A promise: The machine is virtually all plastic and it's hard to believe that it will last. Countless reviews on super-automatics testify to the inherent weakness of these machines in general. If this machine breaks down I will edit/update this review. If you're reading this with no update you can assume it's still making our delicious daily coffee.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Saeco Villa is wonderfull, March 4, 2008
This review is from: Saeco A-SPV-BK Spidem Villa Super-Automatic Espresso Machine, Black (Kitchen)
This machine lived up to expectations and more. I have used it for two weeks and love it. From a regular cup of Americano to espresso, it brews fast and consistent. I add water every other day, coffee beans twice a week and clean it, which takes about four minutes, once a week. I now have a cappuccino every afternoon, which I never did before. When you want a coffee, select your brew, push the brew button and 30 seconds later you have it. I have no complaints about this machine. The engineering is amazing.
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