Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I’m reviewing this espresso machine after using it for about 3 weeks. Overall, it’s a great espresso machine for beginnings. However, there are a few things which prevent a 5 star rating: the size of the machine is far too short, and the steam wand adds far too much air. There also a minor issue of residual milk left inside the wand after purging/rinsing. I bought this machine after reading/watching reviews on Amazon and Youtube. I do agree with most reviewers who say that this machine produces high quality espresso at this price point. It is far superior to my previous machine, producing a rich crema and espresso which pulls out great notes in the various beans I’ve put in it (Picture 1). The machine comes with two pressure baskets, portafilter with two nozzles, decently sized water tank, removable drip tray, and an attached tamper (Pic 2). The build quality is nice and feels sturdy. The two baskets provided are called “pressure baskets” meaning that there are many holes on the top, but a single valve on the bottom (Pic 3). This allows you to “cheat”, meaning that the espresso grind doesn’t have to be perfectly “dialed in” like at a coffee shop. So if you don’t have a comparably prized burr grinder to go with the machine, the pressurized basket will help you out. The downside is that you do not have full control over how you pull your shots, once you learn how to “dial in” your shots. I have seen that people buy second hand filters which are “non-pressurized” so that they can have more control, if that’s something you’re looking for. The main criticism I have towards the machine is about its size. I knew it wasn’t the tallest machine, but the pictures shown are slightly misleading. I’m attaching pictures of the whole machine, along with various cup sizes that I have, so that you can decide if this machine is right for you. You will not be able to fit a standard steel/glass jug under wand -anything >3.5in is too big (Pic 4). I ended up doing what others did online, and put the machine on top of an upside-down glass baking tray. This is not aesthetically pleasing on a counter top and not something you want out of a new machine. While your jug can’t be too big, the milk in the jug can’t be too little either. The wand is only 1.5 inches long, which makes it more ideal for steaming enough milk for multiple people at once, rather than for one. The MAX CUP SIZE you can fit is <2.5 inches (Pic 4). Pic 7 has a few cups with a ruler so you can get an idea of the sizes of cups that (don’t) fit. In our home, besides a shot glass, the only cups that fit under the machine are these glass punch cups (Pic 8-11). I would say that the average person drinks coffee out of a mug comparable to pic 11, but the smaller sizes are more representative of cappuccino sizes. If you remove the drip tray, you can fit a 3in cup, but will have to lift it over a 1 inch retainer, causing you to tilt the cup in an awkward way (Pic 12). The next issue I have with the machine is the poor steaming wand for anyone above a beginner level. In order to make a solid cappuccino/latte, you need milk to have micro-foam which looks like wet paint. This machine puts out something closer to a kid blowing through a straw. What you get is a huge amount of bubbles on top, a thin layer of micro-foam in the middle, and a half amount of hot milk underneath. Even after purging the wand and cleaning with water, some milk will be trapped inside (Pic 15). I’ve also tried removing the plastic piece to steam directly (14). However, the whole is too big and causes the milk to spray everywhere. I’ve recorded some videos to show you the steam quality with and without the plastic piece (16-17). However, for most, the machine will be a great starting place. Video (18) shows water with a few drops of soap. As you can see, a good amount of air is mixing in and turning the water over. So it’s good, but not great. Lastly, some people say that the machine is loud when the electric pump is on. It doesn’t bother me. See the end of the video uploaded to see the amount of noise being produced. The decibel reading isn’t very accurate, as it’s just using a free iPhone app on an old phone rather than a calibrated meter. The issues with the small size is pushing me to exchange this model for the next higher one, which is taller with a better wand. While the machine is great at producing espresso, it’s too disappointing to have to prop the machine up on a glass tray. I think the amazon listing should be far more clear about the machine’s small size. If you’re looking to take your coffee hobby to the next level, this machine won’t be enough for you though. You won’t be able to produce microfoam milk, nor will you be able to dial in shots.