Espressione 1377 Cafe Chic Cappuccino Maker, Anthracite Grey Review

I upgraded from a very cheap little steam-only machine with no pump, and the cafe chic certainly makes better espresso than that. The company claims that Cafe Chic is easy to clean, and they are telling the truth- the bad news is that as messy as this machine is, it has to be easy to clean or you'd never get to enjoy the products of your labors. As soon as I turn on the steam function, steam also comes out of the espresso maker, which has a very ineffective seal and leaks badly- I constantly have soggy coffegrounds all over everything. The steamer itself is nice, it does a good job in relatively little time, but it's in a very bad place. The steamer is off to the side, and very low, so it's difficult to get the steamed milk out without spillage. In the picture, the steamer actually looks usable, but the picture is NOT accurate- point in fact, the picture includes 2 espresso shot cups, which are not included. The espresso maker comes with a micro-filter that also has problems, your grounds don't drain, so the best of your espresso just sits there...Bottom line- it makes decent espresso, or as good as it can get while using a mere 15 bars of pressure, at an inexpensive price, but you get what you pay for. If you can, save up a little extra and go for something pricier- it'll be worth it. Wish I had...

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Product Description:
Make cafe-quality coffee drinks from the comfort of home with this cute, yet powerful espresso machine. The unit effortlessly produces authentic Italian cappuccino and great-tasting espresso thanks to its specialized ThermoCream system and 15-bar boiler system pump. It also comes equipped with a high-pressure safety valve and a self-priming pump to prevent wait times and leakage from the brew head. The unit's filter holder accommodates both ground coffee and mess-free coffee pods, which can come in handy when serving guests who may prefer decaf after dinner. The unit's Maxi Cappuccino milk-frothing device helps create perfect cappuccinos and lattes, and its hot-water function allows for quickly making instant soup, tea, or hot cocoa. Thoughtfully designed, the machine offers helpful indicator lights, simple push-button controls, and a 5-cup removable water tank with a visible water level for convenient filling. Other highlights include adjustable automatic shut-off, a coffee tamper, a cup warmer, and a removable drip tray for quick cleanup. The 850-watt espresso machine measures 10-1/5 by 9-1/2 by 15 inches.

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Nespresso D150 Espresso & Cappuccino Maker Review

The Nespresso D150 is so easy to use and maintain and it makes the best espresso I have ever had. It could not be simpler to use:1. fill the cleverly designed water container (it has a handle that makes it easy to place it in the receptacle behind the machine) 2. turn on the power switch 3. wait about 60-90 seconds for the yellow light to go off (which indicates the water has reached the proper temperature) 4. put in your favorite pre-ground/pre-tamped/pre-measured coffee capsule 5. place your espresso cup under the handle 6. turn the switch in front and then within seconds you will have made delicious espresso (with incredible crema!) with your own two hands! : ) The only thing that I don't love about the D150 is the frother. I have yet to make great foam with it. No matter how hard I try I always end up with a tiny bit of foam and a pitcher full of scalding hot milk. Maybe I'm not doing it right? I'm not sure. Whatever the case, I still love the Nespresso D150 and I'm completely satisfied with my purchase. The best part of owning it is the reaction from your friends when they taste your espresso for the first time.They won't believe you did it all by yourself! Over all, if you're like me (a complete novice "barrista" who's addicted to good coffee) , you'll enjoy the simplicity of the Nespresso's design, the convenience of the capsules, and the way that this machine makes it easy for just about ANYONE to make great espresso at home.Bye Bye Starbucks!

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Factory-Reconditioned Breville XXESP8XL Café Roma Espresso Maker Review

I've only had this product for 2 weeks now so can't comment on it's reliability as a refub., but I have used it at least twice a day without issue.Needed a new espresso machine since my old KRUPS pump machine finally gave out after about five years. It's definitely a beautiful looking machine and if you follow the directions about heating and priming, you will make yourself a very good cup of espresso!It is solidly built with some heft to it and the pump system puts out good pressure for pulls and frothing.The heating plate on top does take awhile to heat up and warm cups, but it does finally get very warm.Also on this older model the frothing wand does not swivel front and back like the newer model, but I have no problems with it being stationary as it is.Alas this refurb. does not come with the stainless cup and saucer pair as described (hence 1 less star), but the great price more than makes up for it.I'm totally satisfied with this product so far....

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Product Description:
Cafe Roma is perfect for making all your favorite cafe drinks in your own kitchen. Apparatus contains a 15-bar pump for optimal pressure and perfect cream on every shot of espresso.

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Gaggia 16109 Evolution Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine, Silver and Chrome Review

Why the designers can't make a steam wand that is high enough to get a mug under is beyond me. The housing is cheap plastic and poorly assembled. The ready lights had fallen out and didn't fit right. Molding flash on the plastic parts wasn't even trimmed.

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Product Description:
Brew cafe-quality espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, and more from the comfort of home with this semi-automatic espresso machine. The unit's 44-ounce water reservoir removes for convenient filling, and its user-friendly control panel offers three simple push buttons for power, brewing, and steaming. The machine also contains a 3-1/2-ounce aluminum boiler with two heating elements, which makes the initial heating process much quicker than with other semi-automatic espresso machines. Furthermore, its commercial-style chrome-plated brass brew group and portafilter provide excellent temperature stability, and the rubber-mounted 15-bar vibration pump ensures quiet operation. The portafilter can be used with either ground coffee or ESE coffee pods--a nice feature for guests who might want decaf after dinner, and thanks to the Turbo-Frother steam wand, anyone can look like a professional barista. Other highlights include a passively heated cup warmer, an easy-to-clean design, and lightweight heat-resistant polycarbonate construction. Accessories include single/pod and double-shot stainless-steel filter baskets, a coffee tamper, and a 7-gram measuring scoop. The 1425-watt espresso machine measures 10-3/5 by 8-2/3 by 13-2/5 inches.

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Lello 1375 Ariete Cafe Prestige Coffee Maker Review

I will give this five stars. Not the same five stars I would give something along the lines of a Gaggia Carezza mind you. This five stars should be taken as a rating relative to its price. If this were the same cost of the Gaggia I would probably have to give it a 3.5

I should note I prefer americanos, cappuccinos, lattes, etc over straight espresso. I bought this for a second house. If I were to be drinking a lot of straight espresso I would have bought the Gaggia.

One important detail which is not in the description is this unit will use ESE pods. The portafilter has inserts for single and double shot amounts, as do most machines. The single shot has a small ledge around it which is designed so it may be used for both single shots and ESE pods, with a pod fitting perfectly into the area created by the little ledge. This is a big advantage for those days when you are in a rush.

Construction. This thing is solid. When I ordered it I thought it would not really be steel, just chromed plastic. Well it is stainless steel. And the finish is beautiful. This has to be the most impressive looking espresso machine this side of $300. One plus of being so heavy is you don't have to hold it down when tightening the portafilter. Something I never liked about the lighter units.

Despite the description noting a rather weak looking 950-watt heater, I was pleasantly surprised by the speed at which it warms up. This had worried me at first, but now that I have it I have discovered no reason to be disappointed. While using the steam feature to froth it has enough power to be ready to pull a shot immediately with no need to wait. And after pulling a double shot it seems like it is ready in seconds for the next shot, well before I have time to remove the portafilter and get it cleaned and reloaded.

Another impressive feature here is the warming plate on the top of the unit. Once again, as with the 950-watt rating, I was expecting a rather weak showing on the warming front. Wow, another shocker. It works! I turn the unit on in the morning and prepare my first drink. Then I leave it on. Make sure at this point you clean the portafilter and place it on the unit empty. By the time you roll around to getting your second cup, the cups on top are nicely heated and the portafilter is warmed up as well.

The drip cup and water reservoirs are quite generous. The drip cup underneath the bottom plate even has an ingenious little pop up float near the back which raises with the water level. Instead of constantly pulling up the plate, you can tell if it is getting full by simply looking to see if the float is starting to pop up. What a nifty little feature!

There is one drawback. The portafilter is what Ariete calls their "Thermocream" design. The problem with this design is it is created to produce a "crema like" crema on the top of every cup. This somewhat hides whether or not you are doing your job right and the crema is a product of a good grind, good tamp, and good pull. I prefer the crema production to be a function of how well I doing my job, not a function of some little device that makes stuff that looks like crema even if it is not.

I would like to add that the Group Head (the thing the portafilter attaches to when you put it on) is not solid metal. Parts of it are plastic. But given the price I am not willing to deduct a star for this (or the Thermocream feature) as I would if I were comparing to the $200 machines.

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Product Description:
Constructed of heavy-duty stainless steel and simple-to-use controls, this 950-watt espresso/cappuccino machine makes it easy to brew cafe-quality coffee drinks. The unit's high-performance ThermoBlock 15-bar pump-driven system provides uniform and constant pump pressure to make a superior espresso with good crema and a frothy thick milk cappuccino. Its removable 2-1/4-quart water reservoir can be refilled from the top at any time during operation, and a cup-warming area allows up to nine cups to be warmed before use. Designed in sleek, attractive housing, the espresso/cappuccino maker measures 9-1/2 by 9-1/4 by 12-1/2 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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