Espresso Machines
DeLonghi EC155 Espresso Makerby Delonghi (EC155) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 $140  | | customer review: My wife loves this thing. It was a Xmas gift. She is addicted to Starbucks $4 Latte. It makes excellent Latte even with skim milk. Maybe better than Starbucks. My only disappointment is the tamper is attached to the machine, a small annoyance. Once you get it figured out, Latte lovers will be in heaven. | Durgol 0291 Swiss Espresso Special Decalcifierby Durgol (0291)  customer review: My home espresso machine had gotten so limed up I had scheduled a major repair. Before taking it over for the expensive work I decided to try a different deliming product. After ONE try it was working again perfectly. The powdered product wouldn't even touch it but this product worked great! | DeLonghi EC5 Steam-Driven 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Maker, Blackby Delonghi (EC5)  customer review: I wouldn't reccomend this product. It doesn't heat well at all, and it runs out of steam before the mild is even room temperature. | Bialetti Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Percolatorby Bialetti (06800)  customer review: I bought this after getting a Nespresso Aeroccino Automatic Milk Frother for Christmas. Already have a Cusinart Grind and Brew. This tops the Cusinart for rich coffee, easily brewed on the stovetop, for taste and smoothness of the coffee. Seems less acidic in brew.
| Since I am lactose intolerant, I add soy milk heated and frothed in the Aeroccino and I have a great soy latte... even with both in terms of cost, I recoup the cost of having a latte outside of the house in a week or or two... and in my house and easy chair in front of the TV watching the news. Worth a try for the newbie. I will have to wait and see how the Moka Express holds up. Recommended by my local Peet's --- 2 T coffee per 6 oz of water. I just filled the filter and the Moka Express to the top of the line (9 cup Moka Express). Worked out great. Enjoy... Capresso 302.01 Mini-S 4-Cup Safety Espresso/Cappuccino Machineby Capresso (302.01)  customer review: does a good job for the price! def. helps saving money from going to starbucks! | Breville 800ESXL Commercial 15-Bar Triple-Priming Die-Cast Espresso Machineby Breville (800ESXL)  customer review: I purchased the Breville 800ESXL Commercial machine and what a good choice I made. First, the item arrived at my home way before I expected it. Second, we opened up the box and found everything that was advertised with the product. We gave this product to our daughter as a Christmas gift and she loves it. It works great. I have no complaints at all with either the seller or the product. | Nespresso C100 Essenza Automatic Espresso and Coffeemaker with Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother, Titaniumby Nespresso (C100-US-AERO)  customer review: I loved the NESPRESSO C100 Essenza!!
| The quality of the coffees is really exceptional and it is very easy to operate this machine and even my husband, who doesn't drink coffee, enjoys preparing the expressos for me... Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Makerby HWI/Breville USA (ESP8XL)  customer review: First of all this is a very nice looking machine. It is well built and has a solid feel to it. As far as I can tell it does almost everything the 800XL does for a lot less money.
| But how does it make espresso and froth? Pretty good once you learn its little quirks. First of all, don't expect this machine to be an automated espresso maker; it isn't. It also doesn't cost thousands of dollars like the automated - do everything for you machines. YOU actually have to do some work to get the best results from it and it requires constant maintenance. I learned most of what I know by reading lots of reviews from other users. Some tips are in the manual but not all of them. First of all, this machine needs to be primed before you use it, on both the espresso and steamer settings. With my first few attempts it just didn't get things hot enough until I learned this. The steamer will eject water for the first 20 seconds or so - so you need to prime it or you will get watery froth. The metal cups need to be preheated in order to have hot espresso. I simply prime the steamer and catch the water in the cup to preheat it, then dump it out. I have had no problems with the filters clogging up as others have complained about. I think the thing here is not to grind the coffee to fine or it will get trapped between the two metal filters. I use an automatic grinder on the "fine" setting with no issues. Just make sure it isn't powdery or you will have problems. I have also learned to stop the espresso from brewing when it gets to about 3/4 of the way full on the metal cup. It does continue to drip for a while after you turn it to the standby position. This isn't a big deal as you will have to clean the drip tray anyway once you are done. The grounds do come out watery in the filter after use, but this is how the machine is designed to work. Not a big deal - just a little messy. If you don't tamp down the grounds real hard it isn't as bad. I find it is also necessary to clean the filters and other parts as soon as possible after using it. I think this also prevents the clogging problems. Once again, not a big deal once you get the hang of it. I just simply rinse everything out well with hot tap water. You do get some grounds up in the top of the machine, (where the filter seats) but I just get a wet paper towel and wipe it down - that's all. If you don't, you will find dried grounds dropping onto the drip tray or into your next cup. Actually the machine is very easy to clean and the steamer is now much improved as the rubber nozzle has been replaced by an all metal wand. You simply wipe it down and then run some steam through it before you shut it down. Piece of cake. All in all this is a good machine for the money. It makes great espresso and I find it easy to get good froth for other drinks. At first I didn't like it and was ready to return it. I just took me some time to learn how to use it. Take your time, don't freak out, clean it well, read some reviews, learn how to use it, and you will enjoy some good espresso Making a good cup takes some experimenting and experience to get optimal results. As far as its durability and longevity, we will see. I do think they need to replace the plastic collar that holds the filter in place. It really should be metal and is the weakest part of the machine which also gets the most use. Others have complained that the pump burns out prematurely. Maybe this has to do with running grounds that are too fine as that would put more back pressure on the pump. Sure, its not perfect, but what is these days? I've been able to get some good drinks from it and I still learning. Durgol 0296 Express Multipurpose Decalcifierby Durgol (0296)  customer review:
| Product worked like advertised! 5 year old coffee maker works works like it did when it was new. Bialetti Cappuccino and Latte Setby Bialetti (06856)  customer review: Pining away from my beloved lost espresso maker from 7 years ago, I tentatively put this one on my wish list, hoping that it could do justice to my fond memories of the lost love.
| It surpassed my expectations! The espresso is thick and chocolaty, and the froth is dreamy and creamy. It took me a few times to perfect it, as the instructions were quite poorly translated (see previous reviews). C'mon people, don't you know an English-speaking person who can proof-read before you send your instructions out internationally??? Anyway, you will not be disappointed. I indeed kept peeking while the espresso was brewing to see if it was done. Have confidence: when it is done, the boiling sound emanating from the bottom stops. You don't have to peek, just listen. As for the creamer, you do need to warm up the milk first a bit, and you really should use half-and-half to get the cream. Otherwise, you get some cream on top and liquid on the bottom. Also, once you pump the milk, let it settle for about 30 seconds before opening it, because the foam settles and condenses. Mocha Idea: melt 3-4 tablespoons of chocolate in the microwave at medium power for about 2 minutes or until the chocolate gets a bit melty and shiny. Pour the hot espresso on top and stir until chocolate dissolves. Add froth. For an added touch, sprinkle some cocoa mix on top. ¡Disfrute de! Mr. Coffee Steam Espresso Machineby Mr Coffee  $41.49 customer review: I've had this machine for over a year and paid 30 dollars for it at target. As another reviewer stated, I too have tried other machines. Ive 'tried' to upgrade to a Krups Pump 4030 and an expensive Breville Pump machine BUT have returned both. I find this machine to be much more convenient and makes just as good tasting cappuccinos as the pump machines ive returned.
| For my purposes, this machine is strictly for making cappuccinos. I make about 4 cappuccinos a day for 2 people. I will say tho, that if your only into drinking espresso shots and strictly that, I would go with a pump. But if your going to add steamed milk and froth to your espresso to make a latte or a cappuccino, I say this machine is the way to go. PROS -Inexpensive, if it ever breaks its was only 30 bucks (have mine over a year) -Makes good cappuccino / latte -Steam frother is strong, plastic tip is removable. Makes thick micro foam (Krups frothing wand is horrible) -Much more quiet then a pump machine, no loud grinding and bumping noises. -Small footprint. -Easy operation. Brew / Off / Steam... That's it! -Looks good, clean classic lines, no weird protrusions or buttons. Easy to clean. -Coffee pucks are dry and easier to clean then the wet ones created by Krups / Breville -Customizable length of the power cord -No leaking in odd places. Pump machines usually have a 'water waste cycle' after the espresso is made this water dumped into a drip tray which then has to be emptied. Some pump machines fail at collecting "all" the water and you end up with leaking water on the counter. CONS -Supplied tamper is just a slightly flattened end of the coffee scooper -No frothing pitcher -Takes longer for machine to heat up then pump machines do -Feels cheap (because it is) It is definitely NOT one of those heavy sturdy tank-like machines. -To make multiple shots you have to de-pressure the machine before you can open it and add more coffee to the portafilter. BUT you can make a max of 8oz at one time and I have successfully done so making 4 cappuccinos (2oz espresso for each) with no problem. NOTES -Get a tamper. I got a cheap but very nice one at Crate and Barrel and it fits perfect. Sometimes the quality of the espresso is dependent on how you tamp. Too hard and nothing will come out, too weak and the coffee will rush out with no flavor. -Get a grinder. I got an expensive conical burr grinder thinking I was going to upgrade to a much more expensive espresso machine but ended up not. I kept the grinder anyway It's the Breville Burr Conical. The key is a consistent grind and one where you can adjust the grind fineness by slight increments to suitably match your machine. I used to get my beans ground at the coffee house but find sometimes the fineness varied per visit. Grinding just what you need before making the espresso is the way to go. -Get a frothing pitcher. I got the Krups one. It's nice cause the glass carafe fits inside for easy storage. -Sometimes I run a cycle of just plain water thru with no coffee to warm up the machine and place the hot water in cups to warm up the cups. -Don't use the plastic frothing tip it wont make "micro" foam just big froth. You can make lots of thick froth by placing the tip of the steam wand right at the skin surface of the milk. The thing to note, is that the skin surface level changes as the froth is produced, and you have to adjust the height of the pitcher accordingly. It takes a few times to learn but its very easy once you do. -Descaling. I've used Durgol to descale and it works perfect and makes my machine like new. DeLonghi BAR32 Retro Pump-Driven 35 ounce Espresso Makerby Delonghi (BAR32)  customer review: I've had this unit for about two weeks, and it works extremely well for the price. I've had trouble getting an even double pull into two cups. Tamping the puck more tightly and carefully (even) seems to minimize the problem. This machine makes great espresso. I don't think you can beat it for the price. | Mr. Coffee ECM21 4-Shot Espresso Machine and 8-Cup Coffeemaker Combo, Blackby Mr. Coffee (ECM21)  $64.11 customer review: I bought this as a gift for my husband, who works at StarBucks. He wanted an "all in one." It works very well; we've used it every day since Christmas. My husband had a Krupps espresso maker and he likes this one better.., the "frother" thing, (as you can see I'm not the espresso maker), is hotter and works longer than the move expensive Krupps version. I like the coffee maker because the water resovoir pops off, and back on, really easy.., and so you don't have to do the pouring-into-a-hole thing. Also, the basket that holds the filter and coffe grounds., it also pops in and out easily and makes for a no-mess exchange of old and new. Plus, that means the water bucket and coffee basket are easy to clean. (No "old" coffee taste that you can't wash out.)
| I read other reports of leaking.., ours does not leak at all. However, if you don't put the water spout thingie back over the coffee grounds.., any unit will leak/fill/brew wrong. (And you have to have a moveable water spout over the grounds if you want to be able to take the basket in and out.) Also, if you use yours a lot (like we do), you may not notice that the upper most lid is not completly on it's hinge.., if you leave it off, then steam will escape and this will case a "leak." But when used properly, no leaks at all. We've had more expensive coffee makers and expresso makers.., but it seems that the old stand-by "Mr. Coffee" works as well or better. And my Barista husband knows his coffee makers! Another bonus of a Mr. Coffee is that if you break the carafe it's easy to replace. If there were a 4 1/2 star rating, I would have used that.., but for only one request.., it has no timer so you cannot set it to brew before you wake. Other than that, it's a quality product, which I bought on clearance.., and so it cost less than many units by themselves. Bialetti Mukka Express Cappuccino Maker, Polished Aluminumby Bialetti (06990)  customer review: I purchased one of these to test about a year ago, as a possible gift for my mother. I figured that if reviews about the machine being hard to use were true, I would just keep it for myself. I read many reviews offering advice on how to finesse the machine to get consistent, good results.
| As it turns out, this is a good product that gets relatively consistent results. Unfortunately, I could not scientifically control the conditions that produced the best results. I tried medium and finer grinds, temperature adjustments, starting with hot water instead of cold, varied the amount of fill in the container, etc. Even when I did everything "right" I would say my success rate was about 80%. Now, my failures still tasted good - there just wasn't as much froth as usual. My intended recipient would use this to drink cappuccinos, and I knew that if I could not get 100% consistent results with it, she would not fare better. Try these two items together for a slightly cheaper and more consistent method for concocting your milky/frothy coffee drinks: Bialetti Brikka 4-Cup Stovetop Percolator Aerolatte Milk Frother, Satin Finish Aeration milk frothers have their own set of quirks that are different from this device. Some people can't tell the difference; I think I might prefer the steam-foamed milk to the aeration frother product. That being said, once you know how to use the aerolatte (or similar device), you'll be able to make your drink 100% of the time, rather than being perplexed or somewhat disappointed 20% of the time. The added bonus of getting the Brikka + the Aerolatte is that the Brikka produces surprisingly good coffee. I have a standard moka pot which is, at best, "very strong coffee." The Brikka on the other hand produces something that tastes like an average-quality espresso - incredible for its price and simplicity. In summary, this is a good device, but imperfect. It produces an enjoyable drink, even if not terribly consistent between uses. If you are comfortable using the immersion frother, you may want to try that with a Brikka first. (Tip: for the perfect Brikka grind, see Cafe Bustelo. Then match your favorite beans to that granularity.) This device is still superior to the Brikka + Aerolatte combination in that it's a 1-shot machine that does it all while you wait, rather than making you do the frothing. You decide. Cuisinart SS-1 Cup-O-Matic Single Serve Coffeemaker, Black and Brushed Chromeby Cuisinart (SS-1)  customer review: I read all the reviews and couldn't believe that the coffemaker could be as bad as some made it out to be. Well it's worse!! It is excessivly noisy it vibrates like crazy, and my cup did in fact slide of the rest during brewing. Not only did it have these problems it stopped sensing the brew cup and would not brew coffee. Cuisinart sent a new one and it worked a week. Now more water spews out around the brew cup than goes through the brew cup. Water all over the counter top and very weak coffee. I let my 30 day return period with Amazon pass so now I have to deal with Cuisinat. All they want to do is send another noisy, vibrating coffe maker that does make great coffee. Don't make my mistake buy something else. | DeLonghi EC140B Espresso and Cappuccino Makerby DeLonghi  customer review: I really wanted to love this machine. The frother worked great and it was easy to use and clean. However, after trying and trying, and using up lots of espresso beans, the result was very weak coffee. Not espresso at all. Returning. | Capresso 121.01 Ultima Semi-Automatic Coffee and Espresso/Cappuccino Machineby Capresso (121.01)  customer review: Pros:
| - Makes good espresso until it breaks Cons: - Cheap plastic construction will fail within a year - Poor design causes this machine to leak water and espresso grounds - Capresso won't sell internal parts and requires that the machine be sent to their service center at a cost of $75 to be repaired I drink espresso every day, so my espresso machine needs to be durable. I've had the Capresso Ultima espresso machine for a little over three months. At first I thought it was a great machine and sold my Gaggia espresso machine that I had owned for ten years. BIG MISTAKE! I had to replace the internal grounds bucket in the Ultima after two months as the trigger for the "grounds full" light switch broke. Then, the Ultima started leaking water internally after 3 months. I decided to take it apart to see where it was leaking in case it was an easy fix. I had worked on my Gaggia lots of times. The Gaggia was simple to disassemble and parts were easy to get at partsguru-dot-com. The Capresso Ultima is just the opposite. It requires specialty tools, disconnecting the switches, and working in impossibly small spaces. Still, I'm a mechanical engineer and I figured it out. After some testing, I found that: (1) the internal water catch basing was clogged -- an easy fix, but a poor design as the entire machine has to be disassembled to get at it and (2) the plastic steam valve was leaking at the top of the boiler. The plastic steam valve has a small gasket and o-ring at the connection to the boiler that needed to be replaced. Only Capresso sells parts for the machine, and no third party has them. When I called Capresso to ask for a parts diagram, they told me that they won't send out any diagram or internal parts list for the Ultima. I then asked them to provide the gasket and o-ring, and they said they wouldn't! The only option is to send the Ultima in to their service center in Pennsylvania at a cost of $75 plus shipping. They wouldn't even tell me what size the gasket and o-ring are so that I can buy one elsewhere. What's more, this is a part that will fail again. It's just a gasket and gaskets wear out. Not to mention that the steam valve is made of plastic which will get brittle and fail. I've never seen a pump espresso machine that didn't have a metal steam valve before this one. It's inexpensive for a reason. It's made cheaply and will not last. This machine is a waste of time and money! I'm going to buy another Gaggia espresso maker (shouldn't have sold my old one). At least it can be repaired without sending it to a service center. Jura-Capresso 1151.13 Cleaning Tablets 25-pc.by Capresso Inc. (115113)  customer review: We use our Jura Capresso espresso maker constantly so this quantity pack of cleaning tablets is a great benefit and savings. | Mr. Coffee ECM20 Steam Espresso Makerby Mr. Coffee (ECM20)  customer review: I USED TO drink Starbucks daily so I am kinda picky with my espresso/latte drinks. This is a great machine for the price. It was very affordable at Target. Easy to use and makes yummy espresso. The reason I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 is because it didn't come with a tamper to press the coffee down. Also the little knob to start the brewing is a bit hard to turn. Since I had some medium grind coffee left over I used that it was fine. Otherwise I've used it for 2 weeks now and no problems whatsoever! | Bialetti Venus 4-Cup Stovetop Percolatorby Bialetti (06968)  customer review: I wanted an inexpensive method to make a decent cup of espresso and this is it. The stainless steel is highly polished, the quality of the welds is excellent and the pieces fit together great. It is very easy to use and I love the fact I don't have to use filters.
| I also purchased an electric milk frother. Using Starbucks Espresso Roast I am able to make Latte's just as good as Starbucks. My eggnog latte is even better than theirs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||