Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

*Update*: Still like this machine but just beware that the screws in the water tank rust. The rust crumbles off and falls onto a ledge inside the water tank, not directly into the water, but it's possible little pieces of rust can tumble into the water. This machine is a great value for the quality of espresso you get out of it. The portafilter (the thing that holds the coffee) is pressurized (read up on pressurized vs non-pressurized portafilters), which is the key to why this is a safe beginner machine. A pressurized portafilter will not release coffee until enough pressure has built up within the basket, extracting dense flavor, the key to a good espresso. Non-pressurized portafilters rely on the fine grain of espresso ground coffee being tightly compacted into the basket (called tamping) to provide a similar resistance (fyi, espresso snobs demand a non-pressurized basket supposedly because it gives more control over the extraction process). This machine is designed to work better with coarser regular ground coffee (for drip machines), but I HIGHLY recommend you do not do that. Buy a burr grinder and find a grind somewhere between coarser filter coffee and very fine espresso coffee that you like best. Very fine espresso coffee will clog in this machine's portafilter, which is actually good because you won't have to buy a $500 coffee grinder in order to get the right size grind (by the way, very fine coffee works best in non-pressurized portafilters, which the snobs like). Another complaint about pressurized baskets is that the crema can be watery, flavorless, and dissipates quickly because it's basically water bubbles. For some reason, this machine makes great oily crema that is creamy and long-lasting. I love making Americanos with this machine for this reason (it creates a creamy cup of coffee much different than a regular cup of coffee). Milk steamer is adequate, but I suggest beginners watch youtube videos on how to steam milk properly. Buy a small milk pitcher because the spout is short (I use a 12 oz bought on amazon). Love this machine.