Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Pros: Brews excellent espresso with abundant crema, dual thermostats for brewing and steaming, two different sizes of filter holders, one of them allows you to use E.S.E. pods, good frothing, cup warmer, attractive look all at a good price. Cons: Removable water tank not ease to reach in a tight counter space, I would have liked to see more flexibility in the frothing wand, the design leaves too little space both sideways and below to maneuver with the pitcher, cheap plastic, fragile looking bottom tray that contrast with an otherwise stainless steel solid body. Although there are much better pump driven machines out there you may find out that the much higher price doesn't have much impact in the quality of the espresso and sometimes even in the quality or functionality of the machine. For a budget minded person, this is a good choice in its class. Now a few words about the different espresso makers to help you make a choice. I have owned all three types. The traditional stove top maker, pros: is cheap, last a lifetime with little care, keeps the coffee warmer longer, cons: it is messy, slower in comparison with steam driven machines and requires attention while brewing, doesn't make crema by itself and of course you need a separate frothing device for cappuccinos, size of the brew rigid you will need different sized machines to brew for just yourself or 3-4 people or you'd be wasting coffee. Still the most popular household machine in espresso loving countries and localities like Italy, Cuba and Miami. Steam driven machines, pros: fast, inexpensive, durable, can be left unattended while brewing, integrated frothing wand, more flexibility in the size of the brew, cons: Espresso quality while similar to that of the stove top cannot match that of a pump driven machine, no crema, coffee gets cold fast. Pump driven machines, pros: great tasting coffee with crema, integrated frothing wand and other convenient features, cons: always more expensive, lots of parts and electronics makes them pron to fail or wear much faster than the two other types, brewing requires full attention and some technique, the machine needs priming too so this are not machines for people on the run. Finally, the quality of the espresso is in a good part a function of the quality of the coffee you use regardless of the machine, pump driven machines definitively give you a better tasting coffee all other things equal but requires you to learn some techniques and won't compensate for bad coffee. However, I must say that taste varies. Some people here scoff at this or the other brand of coffee and recommend particularly expensive brands as a show of their taste and sophistication. Follow you own instincts and taste, experiment with different brands and techniques (grinds, degrees of roast, tamp strength) until you find the most satisfactory to you. Many will find out that good coffee doesn't necessarily have to be made and packed in Italy. I personally use inexpensive 30 cents an ounce or less Latin brands which suit my taste well for everyday use. When it fancies me I buy something more expensive for a gourmet experience. Bottom line, you don't have to break the bank to enjoy a good espresso just like you don't have to go every day to a gourmet restaurant to have a good meal. Update April 14, 2012 I have owned this machine for more than two years of daily use and still running fine with all its original accessories. I have performed descaling with the recommended product twice. I notice a significant improvement in performance after each one even though I used filter water and in my area the water is not hard. In areas with harder water you may want to follow strictly the manufacturer recommended descaling schedule or do it more frequently. I also recommend to clean well the area outside and around the boiler removing the gasket as natural coffee grease accumulates and that may influence coffee taste as well as the boiler iteself. Same for the coffee holders. Update December 27, 2014 Still own the machine, four years of daily use, descaling performed twice a year. No problems so far, the only accessory I have to replace was one of the coffee holders as the gasket worn out and break.