Urnex Cafiza Espresso Machine Cleaner Tablets, Blister Pack (32, 2g tablets)

It took me many years to discover this product. I use it exclusively now and no problems with my two machines. The price is the best part.

My Jura Capresso, Impressa F7 machine (as well as their other machines) calls for very expensive Jura cleaning tablets. I got tired of buying their expensive tablets and tried these instead. They work just as well and appear to be the exact same thing. Compare the price but when I bought them they were a fraction of the Jura tablets. The Jura machines are expensive and need to be kept in good working order. We have had ours for over 2 years and I have used these tablets for the past year. We love the coffee from our machine.

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The manufacturer says to use vinegar, however, I asked Starbucks what they use and they recommended tablets. Let me say this product is a miracle! Easy to use, cleans the machine thoroughly and is so fantastic I wish I would have found it earlier. Highly recommend!

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Gotta love the price. Simple to use (just add water), creates a soapy solution with all the cleaning ingredients. Ran this through my aging Nespresso machine and it worked like a charm, pushing out dirty water at first and clear water after.

Remember to run clean water through your machine to flush this. As a precaution, I also ran a couple of cycles in the morning before my 1st brew.

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They are what I have used exclusively since buying our Breville Barista Express and they work just like the name brand ones and I believe they Re exactly the same thing. Why pay more?

Still haven't used all of the 32 Tab package that we purchased even though we clean the machine regularly and brew drinks with it 365 days a year. Good purchase all around!

Francis Francis! 201030 X1 Trio Espresso machine

I had wanted this machine for about 3 years. I finally decided to get one in Stainless. It is absolutely gorgeous! It is such a fine ascetically pleasing design. I love the toggle switches. Fit and finish are wonderful.

I had it for about a year. Unfortunately it was only good at making espresso with pods. It was an awful steamer and I drink mostly milk based drinks.

I ended up with the Rancilio Silvia. It is a night and day difference. The Silvia a "real" machine. Better tasting espresso, much, much better steamer ending in a tremendous product.

If you want a beautiful piece of equipment siting on your counter and are not too into coffee, one a week or so, I'd recommend getting this. Otherwise look else where for a good grinder and a good machine. I'd recommend the Silvia as the best you'll find under $800.

This machine is well made and has a user-interface that my destructive wife can handle without breaking anything; although she did scratch it on day 2 using a dish sponge :(

The system is well suited for espresso but its steamer is next to worthless. That is unless you enjoy having milk sprayed all over the machine itself and never really foaming up the milk. Yikes!

If you want only espresso, this is a great machine.

If you want espresso and cappuccino, get something else.

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I bought my pea-green Francis! Francis! X1 from Amazon about 5 years. Since then, I've used it almost every day -let's say 1000+ cups of espresso so far. It still brews good coffee and still looks spectacular.

But its Italian made. Need I say more? Like the Alfa Romeros of the '60s and '70s, my X1 is beautiful to look at and fun to drive, but something is sure to go wrong. And when it does, fixing it is likely to be expensive and time consuming.

In my case the analog temperature gauge that makes the X1 look so retro gradually quit working after a couple of years. I understand this is a typical problem. I'm guessing that because the temperature sensor sits in the water boiler, it gets caked with mineral deposits and no longer measures temperature accurately. From what I've read about the Francis! Francis! US service center, I'm reluctant to send it in for repair. I decided to live with it. It doesn't affect the brewing quality.

Also annoying, the plastic handle on the coffee holder developed a crack in it. I can still use it, but poor design is aggravating.

This said, the fact that it still works and looks so great is enough for me recommend it. Although it is now pretty pricey. I paid about $450 for mine.

Read Best Reviews of Francis Francis! 201030 X1 Trio Espresso machine Here

Don't believe the hype about "quality brass components". The pump on my machine died after one year of daily use in the morning. The temperature gauge on the front stopped working a few months prior to that. Don't repeat my mistake of being wooed by the styling on this machine.

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The negative reviews I just read may be spot on, but I only use this machine to make a double-shot of espresso every morning. The machine has worked flawlessly for years and it's a reliable part of my morning routine. The machine itself is nice to look at and cleans up easily. Of course, it costs quite a bit, but I've had my machine for over three years now and I use it every day, so if you spread the cost out over 3-5 years (hopefully more!), then it's truly pennies per day instead of $3 a day.

Breville BES840XL the Infuser Espresso Machine

Bottom line: I was expecting the Double Boiler to blow the BES840XL out of the water when it came to shot quality. That was not the case at all. While the milk texturing capability of the 840 is a pale shadow of the DB, and it lacks the multitude of convenience features of the DB, the 840 absolutely holds its own with regards to shot quality.

Full review:

I've been using the Breville Double Boiler espresso machine for nearly a year and have been very pleased with it. I was hesitant at first, but great shots and the many, many convenience features won me over. So, when the opportunity came up to compare their top of the line Double Boiler (DB) with their new machine (I'll call it the 840) I thought it wouldn't be a fair fight. Well, I was wrong.

I've never been a fan of thermoblock machines since the temperature stability is just not there. Breville seems to have solved that using two methods. First, the thermoblock is really a thermocoil -it's a solid block of metal that has two channels machined through it: one for water, the other for the heating element. Cold water enters at one end and emerges heated at the other. They also added a PID for temperature control. Collectively, these techniques produce excellent temperature stability for shots, and very fast recovery time.

The machine itself is classic Breville design -lots of stainless and high quality plastic. It has a small footprint, and looks much like the baby brother of the DB.

But it's the shots that count. I started with an easy test: Lavazza Super Crema. It's not a high-end bean, but tasty, and one that I've found is very forgiving of less than perfect prep. After a few test shots to get the new machine dialed in, I pulled a double shot from both machines. I could not taste the difference. Did it again and had others taste it, and they agreed with me -no appreciable difference in taste, mouth feel, crema, you name it.

The next test was a little more challenging -Lavazza Dek decaf. Decafs in general are (to my palette) more sensitive to temperature variations, and the Dek is especially sensitive. Again, both machines produced the same quality shot. The 840 seemed a just a bit less consistent when I did back-to-back shots quickly, but the difference was very minimal.

My final test was with one of my favorite beans Red Bird. This is where I did taste a difference between the 840 and the DB, but it was subtle. The shot from the DB was more creamy and full-bodied. But the 840 shot was quite good as well. The small differences became almost nil when I made Americanos from Red Bird.

For my tests I used my Baratza Vario grinder for both machines. While I have a Breville Smart Grinder it does not pair well with the DB (although it is excellent for any non-espresso use). I tried it with the 840 and got better results, but still much prefer the Vario to the Smart Grinder for espresso. Still, the 840 appears more tolerant of lower-level grinders. I also found I needed to go slighly coarser with the grind for the 840 than the DB.

The DB does pull ahead strongly in two areas -milk foaming and convenience. The thermocoil just can't match the steam production of a dedicated boiler. It did a decent job with milk (albeit with the annoying thump-thump-thump sound that every thermoblock design makes), but it was much slower than the DB and the steam was a lot wetter. Functional, but not at all impressive.

As expected given the price, many of the DB's convenience features are not found on the 840. However, the 840 does have a few of the DB features such as a dedicated hot water dispenser. This is operated with a knob (turn one way for steam, the other for hot water). It splatters more than the DB when dispensing, but the temperature is spot on: I got 197 with the 840 and 197.5 with the DB (same thermometer held in the water stream for 10 seconds).

The 840 also appears to have the same excellent quality head gasket as the DB. The portafilter is well made, although I was really disappointed to see that it was 54mm, which means I can't use my 58mm VST baskets, tamper or the bottomless portafilter I have for the DB. The included tamper is decent quality, and stores easily in the machine. The shot volume is programmable and can be overridden in manual mode. It has a three-way valve so you can backflush (plus it keeps the puck dry). It has an automated cleaning cycle and a "clean me" light, which is handy.

Misses are often related to convenience issues. I wish it was a bit heavier or had better gripping feet, since it's relatively easy to jar when you're putting on the portafilter. A bigger water tank would also be nice. The thing I missed the most was a water level indicator. I didn't expect it to have all the bells and whistles of the DB, but no water level indicator? That seems to be a basic feature that should have been included.

My concerns are two-fold. Breville does not seem to have mastered the reliability issue with their espresso machines. I'm on my second DB, and it is again starting to act up. The Breville customer service has been great in replacing machines, but I'd rather not have to deal with that at all. Plus, with only a one year warranty and no local service centers, I don't have the warm fuzzies about getting years of service out of either of these machines.

My second concern is about scale build-up. It's harmful in any machine, but truly deadly in a thermoblock/coil design. Breville includes their water filters (the same as with the DB) and recommends a descaling every month and a filter change every 2 months. The fact that they are taking such precautions tells me that they are concerned as well. If you get this, don't skimp on descaling!

But those concerns aside, I'm really impressed with the performance of this machine given the price. While it is not perfect, it holds its own where it counts: what's in the cup. This is definitely a machine that should be on your short list in the under $600 category don't let the thermocoil design scare you off in favor of a SBDU design. At this price point it's a 5-star machine. I'll update this should reliability issues warrant a revision in the score.

Sorry for such a long review, but feel free to post a question if there's something I didn't cover.

If you can't decide between the two, maybe I can help. I've owned the Breville Barista Express BES860XL Machine with Grinder almost 2 years. Eleven months into my 1-year warranty, I woke up to find water all over the counter. Breville has superior customer service and replaced my leaking Barista Express within a week. Two weeks ago I woke up to the same thing with the warranty replacement. It turns out that the Barista Express has a 2 piece ThermoBLOCK heater and the gasket where the 2 pieces join together eventually leaks.

This new Infuser has a one-piece ThermoCOIL heater. Will this one last longer? Only time will tell and I will update this review if I have a leak with this model.

Where the new Infuser excels:

-Smaller footprint, the Infuser measures slightly over 10" wide

-Hotter espresso, 5 degrees hotter according to my thermometer

-Quieter pump

-Drip tray is easier to clean

-Instant hot water feature (The Barista Express has only a steam wand)

-Around $100 less expensive than the Express, but you are lacking a grinder

Of course, the new Infuser also has its shortcomings:

-No grinder either buy a separate grinder or use ground beans

-Smaller water tank (61 oz. vs. 67 oz)

-Not as "beefy" as the Barista Express, so you need to hold it stationary when inserting/removing the Portafilter or it slides across the counter

So which model has the better tasting coffee? I can't tell any difference both are/were just as good as what I used to pay for at the coffee shop.

My only complaint is for what these machines cost, a one-year warranty is almost a joke.

Added on 1/4/2013: This ground espresso is VERY good: Lavazza Crema e Gusto Ground Coffee, Italian Espresso, 8.8-Ounce Brick

Buy Breville BES840XL the Infuser Espresso Machine Now

Got this machine from Amazon about two weeks ago now. Setup was a breeze and the machine works very well. Overall very satisfied.

Pros:

-Looks great

-Pressure gauge is very helpful though good shots are usually pulled on the high end of the pressure range

-Pre-infusion has generated good results

-Pre-programmed shot amounts are really helpful

-Machine prepares quickly

-Quiet operation

-Steam arm is long and on a great ball joint

-hot water dispenser is nice

-Great tamper holder built into machine

-large water tank

-Includes both pressurized and non-pressurized baskets

-Uses a thermocoil instead of a thermoblock

-Easy cleaning cycle

Cons:

-Shots pull fine, but come out not as hot as expected (when pulled stand alone). I haven't measured temp on them but if cups and porta-filter are warmed as suggested in instructions i'm sure I would have better results.

-In-spite of built in feature to cool water down to make a shot after steaming, the water stays too hot for a good shot. You have to wait a min or run a bit of water through it first to get the right temperature for the shot. This makes it difficult for latte art purposes because you can't swirl your milk forever. I usually just pull my shots first and then steam last. Shot looses a little but when drinking the latte you couldn't tell the difference if you tried. This problem is not as much of a problem as it is just the limitation of single boiler machine. I just didn't like how it was advertised as being able to pull a shot very quickly after steaming. I mean...you can pull one....just not a good one.

Overall very good machine and I'm very happy with it. I would recommend it. I use it in conjunction with the Breville Smart Grinder which has also been a great product. 1 year warranty on all Breville products

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TL/DR;

I snagged this guy for $334 and I gotta tell you it's really good, especially for that price. The coffee is noticeably better than that from a Krups Espresseria we have at work (and even that machine makes great coffee) and at least as enjoyable as anything I used to buy at local coffee shops. The machine itself has great ergonomics and is attractive to boot.

Plenty of other reviewers have covered the basics, I'm going to add my view of choosing this as an espresso noobie.

I had a long conversation over at coffee geek forums before finally decided to purchase this machine. The advice basically boiled down to "Breville sucks except for the Breville Double Boiler machine, thermoblocks/thermocoils suck, and it's not comparable to serious espresso machines" with the alternative view being "I have the Breville Double Boiler and the 840XL makes comparable espresso -I couldn't tell the difference, I was shocked." The other piece of advice I got that was really helpful is to go for the 840XL over the 860XL (which has the built-in grinder). I was convinced that having a separate grinder would result in a better grinder and less likelihood of the machine failing.

I decided I was fine with a Thermocoil over a brass boiler because the 840XL has a pretty high-wattage one. From what I read, the boilers with PID's can produce more consistent results, but at the same time they're finicky because things depend one where you are in the broiler's cycle and also take a long time to heat up.

I was getting really sour shots at first; I can't say whether that was me or the machine. I literally pulled my first shot of espresso ever on this machine. I tried using a thermometer to measure the water temp and it can be a bit lower than ideal brewing temp when you first use it, so I usually run the steamer for 10s or so before brewing. Also I learned a great trick/cheat for dealing with this -just let the first 2 seconds of the shot dump out and then put your cup under. Once I did this I've had nothing but excellent coffee from the machine. Once my technique improves I'll try a full shot again and mess with tracking temperature.

The machine itself has really good ergonomics -it switches easily / quickly between brewing, steaming, and hot water. The pressure gauge is nice; it's really helped me as an espresso noobie figure out my grind, dose & tamp. The steam wand is very easy to manipulate and there's plenty of room on the platform for steaming and using even some of our larger mugs to pull shots. I really appreciate the magnetic tamp holder, it's a great idea. It's also very easy to clean and attractive. The only ergonomic issue is that you can't see the water tank from the front and it's easy to forget to make sure there's enough water, but you learn quickly to just check before brewing so I don't count this as a major negative.

Overall I *love* the coffee and the machine and we no longer make routine (and expensive) trips to coffee shops.

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The Breville BES840XL has one major improvement over the older Breville espresso machines: it uses a thermocoil as opposed to a thermoblock. Breville's machines that use the thermoblock design are notoriously prone to a leakage problem a problem I was to learn about firsthand on my old BES860XL (another reviewer here had the same problem).

My 2-year old BES860XL began leaking water after only 4 months of moderate use (1-2 cups of espresso daily). Fortunately, the leakage occurred during the warranty period, and Breville promptly replaced the unit after I contacted them.

The trouble with the thermoblock on my old BES860XL (and Breville's older machines) is that it's composed of 2 halves that are joined together and sealed with a gasket. Over time, the gasket breaks down, which inevitably leads to water leaking through it. The new thermocoil, on the other hand, is a one-piece construction that solves the problem of potential leakage inherent in the old design.

The Breville BES840XL produces great-tasting espresso -ONLY if you use FRESHLY ground high quality coffee such as Peets, Starbucks, or Illy. The unit does not have an integrated burr grinder like the BES860XL, so you will need to purchase one separately if you don't already have one. You might consider getting the very favorably rated Breville BCG800XL, or the more affordably priced Capresso Infinity. Whatever you decide on, DON'T be tempted to use pre-ground coffee. Pre-ground coffee simply isn't the same.

The steam wand, like the one on my BES860XL, is a little slow, but it produces perfectly textured milk all the same. To turn on the steam wand, you give the knob a quarter turn in the counter-clockwise direction (the same knob also dispenses hot water through the hot water spigot when you give it a quarter turn in the clockwise direction). The knob for the steam wand simply turns the steam on and off; the steam pressure is not variable.

The Breville BES840XL also does not have temperature or bar pressure controls like those on professional machines.

The package comes with the basic accessories to help you get started right away: single wall and double-wall (pressurized) filters (each type comes in 2 sizes: single shot and double shot -for a total of 4 filters), portafilter, frothing pitcher, tamper, and frother attachment.

You may wish to get a thermometer to make sure you don't underor oversteam the milk. Other accessories that aren't supplied that you may want to get are a knock box and some espresso cups.

---

Bottom line: Despite the lack of advanced controls, the Breville BES840XL delivers very high quality espresso and textured milk. The quality of espresso is comparable to that from coffeehouses. This unit is definitely worth consideration if you're looking for a quick and easy way to make coffeehouse-quality espresso right in your own home.

Save 38% Off

Ne-Cap Nespresso® Compatible Refillable Capsules for Machines Before and After 2010 (100 Capsules

Guys: Although I was a bit skeptical at first, I got to say these are pretty neat because you can fill it with your own coffee and it's also a one time use cartridge for about .20 a pop if you go to coffee cap shop (one word) and select the cheapest shipping (100 capsules at $18.00 plus $2.39 shipping). Nespresso has a very tight grip on the distribution of their capsules, but a slight design change in these allows them to work with the Nespresso machines while still not infringing on their copyright. Note: There are alternatives to this product which are re-usable called Nex-pod, and another referred to only as "3 Brown or 3 Black" or coffeeduck CoffeeDuck Refillable Coffee Capsules For Nespresso 3 Pods These Espresso Cups fit all Nespresso machines from after October 2010 Please make sure you have the correct machine before purchasing..... I haven't tried these myself, they are a bit more expensive and from what I've read in other reviews and have seen on YouTube, they didn't just didn't seem to be the best choice for me; you may want to go online and look at the Amazon reviews of these products to judge yourself. Also, it looks like the brown ones (which are out of stock) are the ones for Nespresso machines made prior to October 2010; the black ones (still available here) are for machines after 2010 (I have the old original C190 Concept machine (model c190) from 2001). Just as an aside, I've also seen videos of people simply re-using a used Nespresso pod and re-sealing the foil piece with a new piece of aluminum foil (I tried this once and the results were really crappy and watery, and coffee grounds ended up in my machine).

Anyway, back to Ne-Cap.....I fill it with my own espresso grind (illy or Lavazza) and I've got to say that the coffee was good and had a decent crema. They're pretty easy to use as well, although you might need to experiment a bit with the coffee, grind and amount you put into the capsule to ensure you get a nice rich cup of coffee. Take out a new capsule, using your pod as the "scoop", scoop it to the very top and then simply wipe off the excess so it is filled to the top but not overflowing the rim, then very carefully peel off the paper ring from the top of the cup (uncovering the sticky ring on the top of the cap) and then place the pre-cut aluminum cap on top of the capsule to seal in the coffee (note: you need to be somewhat careful when you're peeling off the paper from the cup to expose the sticky seal or else you'll also remove the sticky seal which is supposed to stay on the cup). Although the sticky seal for these capsules is not the same as the Nespresso air tight seal (which I think is only done to keep their packaged coffee fresh), the seal is good enough to perform the job and prevent coffee from exploding outside the capsules. I know their video shows them tamping down the coffee pods as they fill them, but for me, no tamping works best (and it's simpler).

After experimenting a bit, I noticed that if you want the richer coffee and thick crema, you should stick with a darker roasted, robusta beans, finely ground (espresso or fine grind...check out Lavazza Crema e Gusto Ground Coffee, Italian , 8.8-Ounce Bricks (Pack of 4) which is primarily robusta and is on sale with subscribe and save). And when tamping down on the coffee, don't pack it in too much before attaching the foil top or else you just get a little dribble of coffee coming out (and in all honesty, I've been using these capsules for some time, but every once in awhile, this still happens to me. The drink is fine, it just takes awhile longer to fill the cup). Along with the illy brand of coffee, Cafe Pico, Cafe Bustelo, Lavazza Crema and Pilon also do a very good job in these capsules. If you want to see how much coffee Nespresso uses in their capsules, you can also open up a new Nespresso capsule and see what the grind looks like and the amount of coffee they use so you get an idea. I'm too cheap to do that ;-) The other thing I've noticed in reading some of the other reviews is that these pods seem to work well in machines that are more "manual" and allow the user to close the door and clamp the capsule into place (e.g., my C190 allows me to manually clamp down the door mechanism, there is no automated mechanism that may not close properly over the capsule).....this is just a guess on my part for some reviewers that noted problems using this with a newer machine (e.g., the U).

I wouldn't recommend making these cups too far in advance (since you don't have an airtight seal once you make the cup), but instead make them when you're ready to use them that day. Although this may seem a bit of work if you're in a rush (and remember, you do have to buy your own coffee), it is sort of fun to experiment with the different blends (you can use any full or half decaff coffee for those last minute guests that want espresso without all the caffeine or you can experiment and add flavorings like sugar or equal, vanilla, spices etc.).

I will start with some helpful info..

-Nespresso machine: Pixie

-Ne-Cap capsules 100 pcs. ($23.29)

-Coffee: Lavazza Crema e Gusto 250g enough for 50 capsules ($5.75)

-Empty capsule weight: ~1 gram

-Filled capsule weight: ~6 grams

-One capsule preparation time: 60-70 secs

-Cost of filled capsule: ~$0.35

The main reasons for purchasing the refill capsules are, being able to enjoy the coffee I like and save some money.

I haven't encountered any troubles with the capsules EXCEPT that you dont get the best out of it, as most of the hot water is spilled into the used capsules container; although I had the capsules filled, pressed and sealed appropirately. Therefore, I had to reuse the same capsule, however, sometimes replaced it with another one. The reason of water spill/waste is that Ne-Cap capsules are shorter than Nespresso capsules. Thus I assume if they were the same size, the capsules will perform much better.

This option is somehow economical, nevertheless, sometimes you may need to use two capsules to enjoy your Espresso, or Cappuccino cup.

Conclusion, if you are not enjoying the taste of Nespresso flavours or you like to have your own ground coffee, and want to save some $$$, go for it..BUT dont expect the same performance and cleanness of Nespresso capsules.

Update 2/8/2012================

When I first used the Ne-Caps, I gave it 3 stars. After using almost 30 capsules, I got to believe that it's not worth it and that Nespresso capsules are irreplaceable. I tried all possible ways to enhance the performance of the capsules, I made more holes at the base, also I dilated the existing ones, but all my attempt were useless. The shape of Ne-Cap pods should be modified to look like nespresso ones. That way, I believe they would be better. So my advice is to stick to nespresso despite the price. Save yourself the time and headache and enjoy your easy, tasty coffee.

Buy Ne-Cap Nespresso® Compatible Refillable Capsules for Machines Before and After 2010 (100 Capsules Now

Just filled a few of the capsules yesterday with my own coffee. It was a little messy but used the capsules this morning and they worked just fine. A lot less expensive than buying capsules from the company.

Read Best Reviews of Ne-Cap Nespresso® Compatible Refillable Capsules for Machines Before and After 2010 (100 Capsules Here

Manufacturer refused to admit problem with their capsules when it doesn't work.

Problem:

1. 1/3 to 1/2 capsules ends in very dilute coffee/dirty hot water

2. seal by far not perfect

3. foil cap not reliable peforated

4. used capsule compartment becomes overflow hot water compartment and sometimes overflow

Since the manufacturer says the problem is not theirs, I tried many permutation to make the capsules work, including:

1. filling grinds to different level, full to not-so-full

2. compacting grind to different degree, from no compaction to hard compaction

3. using 1 or 2 rubber seal

Results remain unreliable. When it works it works great. That's about 1/5 of the time. 1/3 of the time it is acceptable, the rest of the time I wasted the coffee and money on the capsule. In the end, it turns out to be more expensive than the nespresso capsules. Not worth the effort and frustration to get a cup of coffee nicer than nespresso's own only for 1/5 of the time.

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Very time consuming to peel off paper around edge of capsule, usually pulls off sticky part, so push sticky ring back down around tiny rim in a circle, then try to separate foil lids one by one, add the rubber ring and gently push up around bottom rim of capsule (which fell off on half of the capsules I tried), tamp in expensive ground coffee I purchased, makes a mess, then insert in machine and lots of water pours into tray on bottom! Surely someone can invent some easier solution for more coffee choices for the Pixie machine. Waste of money and time all around!

Porcelain #2 Coffee Dripper / Filter Cone

I had the Cilio and one day I dropped it and it broke. This was a few dollars cheaper so I went for it. It looked the same. It drains fine but the base is smaller and barely fits the edges of my daily coffee cup. I did not even think about that. The Cilio has a bigger base so if your cup is bigger around at the top that will matter to you and it matters which of these porcelain brands you get not only for proper drainage. I will be ordering the other again anyways because this just doesn't work with my favorite cups.

Great quality. Would recommend hand washing, Heat from a dishwasher will create tiny fractures in the glaze and will begin to stain.. This is for any porcelain product.

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European Gift Aluminium Stove Top Espresso Maker, 12 Cup

1. espress roast/espresso grind from www.capricorncoffees.com

2. stovetop esresso maker

3. aluminum sauce pan

4. milk

5. whisk

6. comfortable chair

7. good book from www.amazon.com

Contrary to the elitest pump-heads, you do not need a $500 pump driven espresso maker to make terrific espresoo -heck -they've been making espresso for hundreds of years -long before delonge came out with their Espresso-master 2000.

I've had this stove top model for 3 years now ... the espresso it brews is hot, smooth, and intense, but never bitter.

Similarly, you can froth milk over a low heat with a whisk and a saucepan it comes out frothier richer than a steam valve could ever produce.

The total set up is about 30 bucks. Take the $400 in savings, buy a bunch of books to enjoy with your espresso drinks.

Forever Espresso Miss TUTU 6 Cup Espresso Maker.

this thing works better than a crappy $60 countertop "espresso" machine. must be a lot of pressure created in there like a high quality machine, almost as good as starbucks when i use their beans here, very dark rich espresso. so glad to taste this for such a cheap machine. hell cheaaaa!! prime this sh** get it real quickkkk!! i love prime!!

The day Miss Tutu came to me was a cold one. It was a frigid 63 degrees in central Florida. I had to wear pants that day. I had spent the whole morning sipping fine rum and a good part of the afternoon drinking bourbon whiskey. I wasn't sure exactly how to operate the locking mechanism of my front door when the USPS man came and knocked. With the grace of God and some patience I unlocked the door and stumbled into the hallway to receive my package.

The USPS man looked concerned for some reason and asked if he needed to call someone. I declined graciously and demanded he divulge to me what was in the box. He looked momentarily confused so I raised my glass above my head and threw my beloved Teddy Bear, Evan, to the ground and demanded in a loud and commanding voice, "What is in the God damnable box, sir?"

He claimed ignorance to the box's contents but I am fairly certain he knew. I asked if he could open the package while I waited behind the door but he declined. This aroused my suspicion. What indeed was in this box? I was looking questioningly into his eyes when he pulled out a pen from his jacket pocket and asked if I could just sign for the box so he could go. I felt this was a reasonable request so I complied. He smiled and walked quickly out the door of my building.

I retrieved Evan from the ground and sat down upon the stairs and stared at the box by my apartment door for an indeterminate amount of time. I awoke some time later and noticed it had grown dark outside. There was a note from my neighbor taped to my chest mentioning something about "not sleeping in the stairwell" and Evan was no longer in my strong muscular arms. I looked towards the package and there on top of the box sat Evan. I felt a great sense of relief that he had not abandoned me during my nap. I also felt incredibly groggy and was overjoyed when I realized that the box contained my new stove top coffee maker. Evan and I enjoyed a nice cup of espresso from Miss Tutu.

Product is well made, not flimsy or anything. Very solid. Takes about 10 minutes on medium heat on an old electric stove to work. This does make 6 Espresso size cups of coffee. It will fill one regular size coffee mug and depending on the coffee you use it will really do the job.

The only thing you should keep in mind is that after every time you wash it you must wipe it dry or the water spots make it look really crappy.

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Chefmate® 12-Cup Coffeemaker

I've read a number of reviews on this item...there are folks who seem to buy one and it lasts and works well forever. But there seem to be more that have the same problem I did. I bought this yesterday at Target for under $10. It worked exactly twice and then stopped working completely. The red power light works, but nothing brews and the hotplate doesn't heat up. I read on another web site that it's a switch inside that goes bad. It said you can try and press around on the top to activate that switch, but you might have to keep doing it during the whole brewing process. Another review suggested it was a fuse that was too small. Either way, I'm taking mine back to Target and going back to a Mr Coffee.

My Ancient Mr. Coffee 8 cup died after 5 years of use and countless times being left on all day / overnight. I needed something new and cheap, as money is tight this month with the daughter's birthday coming up. I saw this coffee maker at Target for under $10.00 and made the purchase. I did not think that it would last a long time, or make particularly good coffee, but I thought it would be on par with my old basic skills Mr. Coffee and would last long enough until I was ready to spring for a more serious coffee maker.

On day 3, I got up, filled it with coffee and water, hit the power button, and stepped away for about 10 minutes. When I returned, nothing had happened. The heating element went out in it I assume, after just 2 days of coffee making.

I guess you get what you pay for, but for $10 bucks, it could have at least lasted 2 weeks. Don't waste any money on this machine.

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I had this coffeepot for about 3 weeks and it was working fine.

Unfortunately one day I was using it, and it had been on for about an hour or so (to keep my coffee warm) and I noticed an odd smell. My window was open so I thought it may have come from outside. I turn and look at my coffeepot and realize it was SMOKING. I immediately turned it off and unplugged it from the outlet. The smoke was curling from the bottom of the machine.

Everything was fine, and I threw it out the next day, but it completely freaked me out. I mean it could have started a fire if it was left on any longer. What if I had happened to go in the next room for a little while? I know you're not supposed to leave appliances on unattended but really? An hour and it short circuits?

Dangerous product!!!!

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AMAZING value...UNDER $10!. Our first one lasted almost 4 years... we're ready to buy another.

Found them again at Target this week (7/2010) and bought two for $7 each! Great value.. GREAT coffee.. great as gifts too!

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I cannot recommend this coffee pot enough. It not only brews strong, good coffee in a timely manner, but it is also a very effective ballistic missile.

It has survived one of my drunken roommates hurling it across not one, but THREE rooms at another roommate's head! HOW BADAASS IS THAT?!

It is also quite effective as a melee weapon when the original target recovered the missile and proceeded to demolish the kitchen with it.

Kitchen: trashed

Coffee Pot: INTACT!!!

Good to keep in the home for a cup of GOOD MORNING AMERICA! and also good when the Nazis invade.

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Ascaso BasicBlack Espresso Machine With BuitIn Cup Warmer

This is an extremely complicated machine to use. Not only that, there is a tendency for the pressure to build up in the grouphead after the espresso extraction, causing the grounds to explode all over the place when removing the portafilter. It's an inexpensive machine, but it's a waste of money.

By the way, I bought this from 1st-line Equipment online and was very unsatisfied with their customer service. I will never use them again.

Purchased this machine to replace old Italian job that had served me well for over 3 yrs (still works) and after less than 6 months seems like pump is on it's last leg. Buyer beware!!

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Urnex Full Circle Biodegradable Single Cup Brewer Cleaning and Descaling Liquid

I use this cleaner for my Verismo single cup coffee maker. I think that it really did a good job cleaning it. I did have to rinse more times than the instructions recommended. The ease of use is one of the reasons I chose this cleaner. Would recommend for others with single cup coffee makers.

Our family uses our poor little Keurig like it is a commercial product... Between my husband and I, we must make 5 cups a day7 days a week. That's a lot of coffee going through that little guy but I was shocked to see that this product worked so well. It was basically a quick and easy two step processat the end of which you have a cup of coffee that actually tastes better than the same coffee you had before you cleaned. Seriously.

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I have to admit I have had my Keurig for about 4 years and clean it maybe once a year...not because I like dirty coffee machines, but because the vinegar odor makes me a little ill and the process is laborious. I recently found out about the Full Circle cleaning liquid and was very excited to try it out it out because it 'claimed' to be odorless. To my delight not only was it odorless, it was VERY fast and easy to use (a few simple steps described simply on the bottle.) Exactly what someone like me, a busy Mom trying to get four kids out the door early in the morning, needs. My coffee has never tasted better!! I did have to rinse the liquid out a few more times than the directions suggest, but I have heard the directions have been revised. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone that has a Keurig, likes good coffee and cares about the environment. I will certainly be using this product for many years.

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My Kuerig Platinum B70 brewer refused to pump water again despite using only filtered water in it and not using it more than 1-2 times per week. The first time, Costco replaced it for me and I didn't want to have to take a second unit back. My son saw that this product is HIGHLY recommended by Starbucks and who wouldn't think Starbucks would know about coffee stuff, right?!

This product purports to be biodegradable and odorless -it might be biodegradable but I could certainly smell an odor -it was a low-level chemical-type odor. Maybe I just have a sensitive snout... I followed the instructions precisely and the water did start pumping a little more but that could also have been due to my following the Kuerrig on-line maintenance videos as well as some YouTube videos to try to deep clean the machine that same morning.

The brewer was still running slow so it took me almost 75 minutes to run through enough cycles to get rid of the chemical odor. Then the machine stopped pumping water again entirely. BTW, the product indicates that you have to do about 3 cycles to fully remove the product/odor from the brewer -just wasn't my experience.

Maybe this product would work if you started using it on a maintenance basis instead of trying to fix a problem that already exists. Just not sure....

Note for Kuerig users: when my brewer stopped again after having been cleaned, I called Kuerig customer service to find out what else I could do. We went through my purchase history and then she asked what steps I had taken to try to fix the problem myself. Everything was fine until I got to the part where I used a cleaner (didn't identify this specific one) that morning and it hadn't fixed the problem either. She said, "you know, when you use anything but white vinegar and water to clean our brewers you VOID THE WARRANTY!" She still honored the warranty for me because (I think) this was the 2nd one to have a problem AND I was able to detail all the work I had done PRIOR to using the cleaner without having any success.

So my advice is this -if you have a Kuerig, start early on a maintenance program -before you have problems -using white vinegar as directed in the manuals. If you DO use a cleaner and you call customer service, if you tell them you used any other cleaner, be prepared to be turned away without getting a replacement brewer should it truly fail, even during the 1 year warranty period.

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I have to admit, I was pre-disposed to love this product. I was given the opportunity to test it as long as I promised to write a review here. My Keurig desperately needed descaling so I thought this was going to be very win-win. Imagine my disappointment when things didn't go as well as I'd hoped. Here's why: The directions were so basic, they were actually confusing. So, before using the product, I called the number on the bottle and spoke to someone in customer service for clarification. I was told to go through 2 brewing cycles with the product, then dump the remainder, add a chamber of fresh water and brew one cycle. I did that but actually decided to brew the fresh water until the chamber needed a refill (I wanted to be on the safe side). After that, I again rinsed the chamber and added fresh water. This time I put in a K cup and brewed my coffee. The good news is that the coffee brewed in the normal amount of time (which it hadn't been doing because I needed to descale). But the bad news is the coffee was a very weird color and made my milk curdle. So I dumped it out (1 wasted K Cup) and tried another. This time the coffee looked ok but when I tasted it, it tasted awful. I tried a second sip and had to dump this cup as well (2nd wasted K cup). I called the company back, got another rep who said, "well with some machines you need to brew through to rinse reservoirs". Now if the first person had told me that before I both wasted coffee and drank toxic residue, I'd probably be able to give the cleanser itself a few more stars...

UPDATE: THE COMPANY WANTS TO DO WELL BY ITS CUSTOMERS AND ADDRESSED THE PRODUCT INSTRUCTIONS SO THAT THEY ARE EASY-TO-FOLLOW/MORE USER-FRIENDLY. THE RESULT IS A MUCH IMPROVED EXPERIENCE; THE PRODUCT WORKED WELL ALL ALONG, NOW THE USER-INTERFACE IS EASY INSTEAD OF FRUSTRATING. THEREFORE, I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT. AND I APPLAUD THE COMPANY FOR ITS PRO-ACTIVE RESPONSE TO CUSTOMER FEEDBACK.

Didiesse Frog Espresso Machine For E.S.E Pods in Black

I wish I could give this a better rating. The 'jaws' clamp down on the ese pods and make a great cup of espresso. The large water storage unit is clean and a great idea. the only problem was that after approximately 80 cups the pump burned out and the warranty service is in Italy.

I have had this machine for 4 months now and I've used it to demo coffee pods that I sell in multiple small businesses around the area I live in.

It has gone through 2 boxes of 200 pods each (so 400 pods) and it has never had a problem. I just like the way it really clamps down on the pods forcing ALL the water and pressure trough the coffee and not out on the sides. It works great for me and the fact that I can just pop in water bottles in the "tank" is just great and avoids a whole lot of mess and spills.

Compared to other machines I've had it just performs better. And I am not sure about after sales assistance, but my guess is that getting in touch with whom it was purchased for should get the help needed, or alternatively, it's not exactly a space rocket, any decent repair shop should be able to fix it.

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Villaware 275-06 Moka Express 6-Cup Espresso Maker

I've been using my Bialetti 6-cup moka maker for a couple years now and it sure beats the mess of an actual espresso machine and if you make the coffee correctly you don't sacrifice any of the great flavor. I'm not sure why this product is listed as Villaware because it is a Bialetti maker from Italy. Anyway, it makes great coffee. How to use: 1. Fill the bottom half with water up to the release valve so the water level is right under the release. 2. Place the filter in the bottom half and fill with espresso coffee very carefully. You need to spread the coffee to the edge of the filter and then get a good mound of coffee in the middle. Do not tamp the coffee in the filter like you would an espresso handle filter. 3. Screw on the top tightly. 4. Put on burner under low heat so the water can seep through the coffee slowly. 5. Once you hear it percolating you are done with this portion. For a simple cup of espresso just add sugar. Once the coffee is done there are a variety of recipes which you will have to look elsewhere for. Cleaning this pot is also very important. After it has cooled down you can take it apart, dump the coffee (I use an old coffee can), and clean the pieces with cold water only. DO NOT use soap to clean this pot. I like to wipe dry my pot because scum can build up if you have hard water, but you can let it drip dry. Do not put the pot back together while it is wet. In fact you don't even need to put it together again until you are ready to make another pot of coffee. Buona Fortuna.

Over twenty years ago, one of my roomates had one of these and we enjoyed a little cup of espresso every morning to get the day going. I never forgot the great coffee his little pot made, but I hadn't gotten around to getting one of my own until recently. I had about given up on espresso at home after several disappointing "cheap" plug-in machines.

The way this works is so simple; you put the water in the bottom with the coffee in a funnel like device with a stem that almost touches the bottom of the pot. Screw the gasketed top on and put it on the fire. As the water heats and starts to boil, the accumulating steam pressure forces the boiling water up the stem, through the coffee and into the top pot through a vented post. When you see steam start to come out of the spout, shut it off and enjoy!

The only trouble with this pot is its small size. It will fill one coffee mug full, so if my wife is home we have to split the pot. That's not all bad if you pour your half over a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a touch of Kahlua to fill the mug (after work, of course). I know they make larger pots like this, and as soon as Amazon has one, it's mine!

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There is nothing wrong with the Bialetti. It is excellent.

BUT...you really don't want to go with an aluminum stove top coffee maker. You want to go with stainless steel.

Over time, there will be calcium buildup in the pot; unless you're smart and use distilled water (which results in better tasting coffee anyway). When you go to use one of the decalcifiers on the aluminum, an oxide will form that is impossible to clean.The inside will lose its shininess and possibly some of the metal, allowing aluminum to leach in to the coffee.

This problem is avoided with a stainless steel stove top unit.

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Ask my wife, I love coffee, and I love espresso even more. It is rare to find a good cup of espresso, even at a fine shop, but this little machine does it. Trust me, I am picky. It does a wonderful job of bringing out a rich, even flavor from any bean. My first cup with it (about 4 months ago) was an experience of it's own. Since then, I literally have brewed 2 or 3 pots of regular coffee. I shun coffe wherever I go, and I compare "professional" espresso to what the Moka Express can do. Buy it. I have nothing to gain, except to know I have ended your search for a great cup of espresso at home, without the dissapointing results of the under $100.00 steam espresso makers. PS. My son asks me to pack it whenever we travel.

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I have been drinking coffee from this machine for 5 years now, and let me tell you, it's a new level of coffee. My roommate and I swear this is the best coffee in the world (I've recently been to Paris and Italy and nothing compared!).

The capacity is somewhat small, but it's good for one or two people, and hopefully amazon will soon offer the 12 cup version.

I've found that flavor has more to do with the type of beans, a certain bean that tastes great in a drip coffee will not necessarily taste great in this machine. So do lot's of experiments. And don't grind the coffee too finely as the machine will clog and sputter out of the sides...

I drink regular size mugs of this every morning with half and half (regular milk has no effect). Note that 6 cups refers to the tiny espresso cups. this thing will fill about 1.5 normal size mugs with very strong coffee (with room for cream)... Definitely buy it!

Lavazza Point Ep850 Aroma Point Espresso Machine

I bought this machine for lattes at my office. I got a cartridge system because I thought it would be cleaner than grinding beans & disposing of the puck. I needed a machine that takes little space, and I wanted to drink Lavazza since that's what I use at home. The cost was also a reason for selecting the 850; I didn't want to spend a lot for it.

I thought I got a defective 850 the first time I used it because the steam wand didn't produce steam long enough to heat the milk past 60 degrees. I contacted the Amazon seller but got no response. The manual that comes with the 850 wasn't helpful. I buy my Lavazza beans & cartridges from AromaCafeCulture.com & called them for help; they were out of stock for the 850 which is why I bought it at Amazon. They helped me get the 850 to work even tho I had not purchased it from them.

When you use the 850, you need to press the "on" button on the far left; it stays red to show the 850 is turned on. The middle button is the shot button & it lights up when it is ready. (You press & release the middle button. The 850 pushes water thru the cartridge until you press the button again. I use a Rattlewear shot pitcher to measure the espresso.) The button on the right is the steam button. To get steam, you press this button continuously until it lights. You then rotate a knob on the right of the machine to activate the steam wand BUT you need to press the lighted steam button the entire time you want to use the steam wand. If you don't keep your finger on that button, you'll get 45 seconds of steam. If you keep your finger on the button, the steam continues until you get the milk to 150 degrees & nice froth. The 850 will produce enough steam to heat & froth milk, but it takes longer than a machine at a coffee shop. Also, the amount of steam produced will vary while you steam & the light may turn off while you steam, but the 850 still steams while the light is off. Yes, it does not steam like Starbucks, but I also didn't spend $4000 on a machine either.

I can't judge the reliability of the 850 since I've had it for 2 weeks. It will pay for itself in 4 months.

I make vente lattes, so I use two cartridges for a serving. I get 2 oz of espresso per cartridge and steam 3/4 C of milk; this fills my Starbucks aluminum mug. Net cost is 20 cents with 8.8 cents for the cartridges. Not bad when compared to the coffee shops & they don't use Lavazza beans, so I'm also getting better tasting lattes while saving money.

I had the good fortune to be in the paddock at a couple of Formula 1 races. I spent a lot of time around the Ferrari garage and that was the first time I saw a Lavazza espresso maker. I was fascinated by how fast and easily the mechanics and others on the team could pull a shot. They chugged the dark brew in one or two sips and were immediately back to work The machine they were using was the pro model (I think it's over a grand!) so getting one was out of the question. Then I discovered this one it uses the same high quality coffee pods but that's just about where the similarity ends.

The not so good news First, the pro model has a lot more features, the most important being that it shuts the flow of coffee down automatically, guaranteeing a more precise shot. Alas, blessed by a Champagne taste but living with beer budget, this unit was all I could afford.

The good news The unit is beautiful ( it is, after all, Italian) and it's not really difficult to use. Make sure you turn the thing on well in advance of your need for Java. It takes a bit of time to warm up. After the green "ready" light comes on, you unfasten the pod holder and insert your favorite capsule (pretty simple). Then you press the green button, watching carefully to make sure you don't over fill your espresso cup. (Too much water and you get what the Italians call "dish water".

When it's reached the level you want, you press the button to stop the flow. The smell, by the way, is wonderful. If you want some frothed milk, you have to press the third button (NOT THE THIRD BUTTON!) until it lights up. Bring a container with cold milk over by the wand (on the right) and twist the knob behind it.

Why only 4 stars I really like this unit and given the price, I think it represents good value. However, there a few little things that annoy me. The steam wand shoots out water when you first use it so you have to remember to clear the pipes into a container before frothing anything. Also, the instructions are pretty rudimentary. They never really tell you how much coffee you should be "pulling" I have been estimating but as an ex chemistry teacher, I would love to have better specs. Finally, unless you use Lavazza espresso paper cups (yes, they sell them), pulling a shot into a room temp espresso cup will result in a luke warm cup of coffee. You need to heat up the cup (use the steam wand or dunk the cups in hot water). Also, if you want to add a dribble of milk, the small shot will get pretty cold best to warm the milk first is my suggestion.

Not a rave and not a rant a decent machine that fits my 4 or 5 espresso a week habit.

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Just received this machine on 12-31-10. I know it has only been 2 days of using it but i love it. It pulls a good shot of espresso. It may not be great,but it is good. I had a Gaggia classic many years ago. That pulled a great shot if you did everything right. I'm getting lazy in my old age and want an easier way to make my espresso. i have always loved Lavazza ground espresso coffee. I even use it in my Bunn coffee maker. I almost went with the Nespresso D90,but i am happy i went with this instead,partly because i know that i will get great coffee from Lavazza. Oh yeah it also looks great on my countertop!

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The cost of this machine is good compared to some of the other Lavazza machines.Still creates a quality shot of espresso, but the only disappointment is everything is so manual. great shot though!!

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La Pavoni PC-16 Professional Espresso Machine, Chrome

I have owned this machine (8-cup) for over ten years and everyday when I make my morning cappuccino I love it more. You can spend more for a machine that measures the coffee, tamps it, pulls the water through and steams the milk for you, but you can tip the kids behind the counter at Starbucks and they'll do the same thing. Making espresso should be a little art and a little science and this machine an impeccable balance of the two. If you aren't the kind of person who takes joy in mixing the perfect martini, making a risotto that whispers with flavor, or whipping a meringue to impossibly tall peaks, this probably isn't the machine for you.

The La Pavoni is for the person who will find tremendous joy in going to the lengths required to make a perfect cappuccino by hand everyday. (And don't bother using anything less than Illy Cafe coffee in it.)

I bought my La Pavoni in the summer of 1983 after high school. It was heavily used during college (especially finals week) and has made me superb espresso continually. This morning I made a spiced chai using it. I've been amazed with the quality of the unit. I unfortunately bought a model that had a brass and copper film that looked spectacular for about 8 months then began to peel off. It's now not terribly attractive but still pumps out amazing Java.

I estimate I've saved over $25,000 on espresso drinks while maintaining a level of quality beyond what one can get at Starbucks and similar cafés. Being from Seattle, there are now (finally) cafés and baristas locally that are passionate (neurotic) about making excellent espresso and I can match them. I'm very happy with my Pavoni.

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I have had this machine for a number of years, the upside is great coffee, downside are:

1. Finish poor, rust soon appears in the crome, the only saving grace is that it is mostly occurs under the drip tray out of sight.

2. It is too easy even after bleeding the pressure, to pop one of the seals when changing the coffee.

3. Descaling can be a real pain.

In short, when it works, great, but this isn't a low maintance product, a bit like old Italian sports cars

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After 15 years of near daily use, I thought it was time for me to relay my experiences and opinion on the La Pavoni PC-16.

This review is for the pre millenium model. The current production model does have slight differences with the group being slightly larger

I was a bartender and barista for about 3 years in a high volume cafe and bar, and believe that this gives me a reasonable level of proficiency in making espresso and espresso based drinks.

The La Pavoni PC-16 is a manual lever group and operates in a manner that is much different from automatic and semiautomatic machines. This must be appreciated and understood by the potential buyer, or it may cause dissapointment.

The concept of preinfusion is why a lever machine can produce a truly outstanding shot of espresso. This is where water wets the grounds prior to the applying of pressure, and this is what makes a lever group superior to other mechanisms in my estimation. The ability to preinfuse the grounds manually can drastically change the result of the shot. For example, the lever is slowly raised to a count of 5, and only then does the lever get lowered. Since this is a manual machine, this means that you alone are raising and lowering the lever, there are no pumps or springs to do the work for you. As the lever is raised, you will hear the water entering the group. This is when your count begins.

The amount of time that is taken to do the preinfusion step is what can drastically alter the result of the shot given that the grind, group temperature and tamp is identical.

Now I will decribe the various details that go in to the requirements for producing a quality shot from the PC-16.

The grind is what is the most difficult part to correctly apply when dealing with this machine. As perfect of a consistency is absolutley necessary with a fluffy grind, no clumping will be tolerated. You will need to judge this on your own, but a slightly finer than average espresso grind is what it takes to get thick crema with minimal blonding during extraction. I still wind up with the occasional sink shot because of this machines absolute sensitivity to grind quality.

I use a light tamp, about 10 pounds of pressure, leaving approximately 1/4" space from the top. Pay extra attention to acheiving a level surface. The Elektra Microcasa A Leva portafilter basket allows more coffee to be used than the PC-16's with far better results. Refer to Orhanespressos slap shot method.

Get a good tamper with 90 degree corners and a flat bottom. I use a custom fabricated stainless steel one, but there are many available online. Unit to unit variation means a standard 49mm tamper may not work.

Water quality. I prefer reverse osmosis versus other methods of filtration including various mineral waters. Experience has shown that r.o. has given the thickest crema and most complex notes. Distilled resulted in a slimy shot with various mineral waters giving a range of quality from good to poor.

It is best to avoid descaling, since it always affects machine performance negatively. Rather use water that is already softened.

Compared to a commercial machine, the PC-16 makes a much more intense shot with more clearly defined flavor. This can be a double edged sword, depending on what it is that you are looking for.

This machine gets hot quickly, and have found that more than 2 shots isnt possible without turning the machine off for a while. Do not flush or run any water through the group before pulling a shot. This will only raise the group temperature. I have discovered a pretty simple way of dealing with the excessive and destructive heat by placing clean and dry

portafilter baskets in the freezer and taking them out a minute before filling them with coffee.

With practice(a lot of practice), you can get perfect microfoam. Again this is very difficult and nothing like a commercial machine. When you first start, you can get a reasonable facsimile to the point of being able to do simple latte art.

There is no anti suction valve, the steam wand will draw milk back into the water tank. Pour out water and refill before turning on machine.

And lastly, make sure that everything is maintained. Generally just a matter of changing the gaskets every 2-4 years depending on use. Keep the machine off when not in use. If you arent comfortable working with tools, find a local tech that works with espresso machines. You can usually find one in most cities. Always respect the machine.

The La Pavoni PC-16 can represent a steep learning curve, but like me, you can be rewarded with outstanding espresso and enjoy the process.

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How can anyone who owns one of these machines not fall in love with them?

Yes, they are temperamental. If you screw up any part of the process, the Pavoni tells you by dispensing a lousy cup of espresso. Wrong tamp pressure, poor beans, incorrect grind (don't even think of using a blade), impure water, wrong pull and you get a bad shot. That's called HONESTY. But master all the above, and you get espresso ecstasy, pull after pull. There are plenty of guidelines available online, from CoffeeGeek to YouTube, to help you achieve your La Pavoni degree, and when you do, you'll not only be rewarded with ambrosia each morning, but you'll have developed a real skill, one that is Old School. And looking back, it's really not that difficult to learn. Use good water, quality fresh beans, and a good burr grinder (Rocky!), and you're rounding third base. Then it's just minor experimentation with the right grind, tamp and pull pressure to guide you home. All this and museum quality art on your counter-top to boot! I've got the gorgeous brass Romantica version with the dome top, and it really is a stunner.

Anyone out there who knows the difference between a flat and phillips head driver can repair this machine, INDEFINITELY. Although La Pavoni provides little help in the maintenance dept, online there is a wealth of info available to help you replace gaskets and the like. The Pavoni is built like a vault and simple to maintain, once you delve inside and see how it's built.

I still can't figure out why there are folks out there who don't like the auto-aerator. It couldn't be simpler to operate (dip tube in milk, open steam valve, admire perfect micro froth coming out every time). The standard wand works ok, but I replaced the 3 hole nipple with a single hole version much improved. But I still use the auto-aerator primarily.

By the way, the note below about using ice cubes on the group head to cool down the unit for subsequent pulls is GREAT advice. Wish I'd thought of that years ago!

Stella Inox Lucido 6-cup Stainless Steel Stovetop Espresso Maker #496

That's what I said to myself the first time I made a cup of espresso in my Stella Inox Lucido. I was looking for a non-electric, stainless steel stove-top espresso maker that had no plastic or aluminum parts. I also wanted the option of making one cup for me or two cups for for both myself and my husband. We drink more in our cup than the standard espresso sized cup. this has the stainless steel "mesh" which can be turned over for 1-3 cups, but I find that it works fine by just putting less coffee grounds into the basket. I also did find that you really should have at least 1/2 a pot of water for it to percolate properly, which means at least 3 espresso-sized cups must be made at a time. If I need to make more than one pot, I simply run it under cool water and it cools off very quickly so it can be handled and refilled right away.

This espresso maker is solidly built and Although I do not open it up by the handle, the handle feels sturdy. If I pour just half the pot into my cup and keep the rest in the pot, the thick stainless steel retains enough heat to keep the coffee warm for me to drink about 15 minutes later. I grind my coffee beans super fine and I get only a tiny amount of the finest powder in the bottom of the cup.

One of the best things about this espresso maker besides making great tasting coffee, is the ingenious handle design. Being angled out, if I set the pot just on the edge of the flame, the handle actually stays cool and I don't need a pot holder to lift it off the stove and pour into a cup.

I am so happy with my choice espresso maker, I can't think of anything I don't like about it. Like I said, Perfect!

Schaerer E6Mu-1 Touch Espresso Machine

This is one machine I will take with me...I have had this exact model for years and absolutely love it! It does everything for you. You dont need to be a barrista for this one!

Pros: Fast, convenient, great tasting coffee/espresso. Makes a large latte in less than a minute. Simple to use and maintain.

Cons: You need to buy a new foamer nozzle every so often. Reliability is ok, under heavy use it breaks down about once every 3-4 months.

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Impressa J6 Espresso Machine

My husband loves cappuccino, and I love latte. I have known this brand "Jura" for several years because my mom has one in her kitchen. I have always wanted one but it's just so expensive and I was not sure if I would be willing to spend that much of money buying a "coffee machine." Well, I finally made a decision purchasing this expensive machine on Amazon because of the free shipping.

This machine came with a very well protected big box, and it's very easy to open the package. The piano black looks so arrogant yet classic. Before starting the machine, I played the DVD in my computer. It has very clear and easy to follow instructions, including first time set up, how to clean, how to make different types of coffee, and so on.

I have tried cappuccino, latte, and regular coffee. It's so easy and quick! The quality is really amazing! My husband and I are both happy we bought this machine. Now we can enjoy cappuccino any time we want and it just takes one push! Love it!!!

Durgol Express Multipurpose Decalcifier

I'm reluctant to admit I had neglected the regular maintenance of my Carezza espresso machine for a year or two. While waiting for the Durgol Decalcifier to arrive in the mail, I flushed the machine with vinegar and cleaned the parts as described to get the cleaning process started. The machine still didn't work right. This Durgol product arrived today and I again flushed the machine according to directions, using this decaldifier. I'm amazed at the amount of sludge and disgusting grime that came out! This product is wonderful and has restored my espresso maker.

I bought a Capresso glass electric tea kettle and used for the first time spring water as I do prefer this than filtered drinking water for coffee and tea. After several uses, the chrome heating element became so corroded, and this spring water is bottled by the way, so I was forced to do some research.

On Amazon I found the above product and tried it. WOW, after following the directions, within a few minutes the chrome bubble in the glass carafe was shiny and new.

I was so impressed I then used it in my Meile washing machine, again very impressive, laundry came out lovely. By the way, the bottle doesn't say any thing about using it in a washer. In the UK, I can buy Calgon Tablets for this. Here in USA, I could not find Calgon at all for my washer.

Highly recommend this product.

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I ran this cleaner through my drip coffee machine and the coffee tastes better... product is good.

The bottle asks you to use 1 or 2 cups of cleaner per cleaning; I ran it through with 1 cup for a 12 cup drip machine and it cleaned it well.

I think you have 6 cups of cleaner in one bottle.

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There is no mention of the size of any of the Durgol products on your website.

In Switzerland, Durgol is sold in half-gallon plastic bottles at a very low price in most supermarkets, inexpensive even even when considering the strong Swiss currency. The espresso cleaner in the U.S. sells for about $6.82 for a 4.2 ozs plastic bottle. This extends to a price of $52.00 per quart or $208 per gallon! The product works very well, in fact just as well as regular white vinegar. After all, just about all mild acids work as well as the hydrochloric acid in Durgol in removing Calcium deposits. The Durgol Multipurpose Decalcifier, a very similar product, comes in an equally mysterious size.

I suggest that Durgol be more honest in the merchandising of its product and not hide the actual size of its products on your website. The pictures on the website are very deceptive.

gsnyc

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Capresso has been recommending this for 15 or more years. I find it very effective and far superior to vinegar or the powders.

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Vev Vigano 8160 Vespress Gold 12 to 14-cup Coffee Pot - Made in Italy

What a machine! We have been using a stovetop espresso maker for our coffee habits for 12 years. We've had some drip machines and a french press come and go, but nothing stands up to the stove top. We still have our original in great condition. We bought this unit to upsize so we could serve our friends. What a beautiful coffee maker! It looks great in it's permanent home, the stovetop. It shines up well with a stainless steel cleaner. The pouring spout is well designed and does not drip when being poured. What I like about this unit compared to our other, smaller and cheaper one, is that when screwing the top on it doesn't have to be screwed on so tight that it is impossible to unscrew the next time. Sometimes these machines have to be pretty tight to avoid steam loss through the side, but this one holds the steam in just fine and I don't need a second set of arms around to help get it apart later. The quality of coffee is unbeatable. My husband drinks it straight up as espesso (by the mug!), but most people who come over prefer it mixed with near-boiling water to be had as an Americano. This machine is perfection!

I also have been using my Vespress Oro espresso machine for many, many years and couldn't be happier with it! I bought mine while living abroad and it has held up for over 15 years. It is an excellent product and makes far better espresso than our counter top electric machine. I have even taken it camping! It's durable, elegant and is being used widely in Europe and Italy for many years. I love it so much that I'm ordering the larger size for so my new hubby and I can enjoy an espresso together!

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This is a pretty functional espresso maker. Makes good espresso at just the right amount for 4 people even though it says it is for 12.

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Purchased this when I had house guests coming, and I needed to brew more than my usual 6 cups in the morning. Reading other reviews helped me decide to stay with the same Italian maker of stove-top espresso pots that I had started with, and I have no regrets whatsoever. Easy to use and clean, and produces the smoothest cup ever. Love the coffeemaker, love the coffee it makes.

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Over the years I've had stovetop percs, electric percs, drip machines, french presses, plus stove top vacuum/bowl makers, and an electric version of same vacuum/bowl maker. I got this Vev Vigano on a whim after shattering my latest french press in the sink. A plus was that it is stainless steel, of course. I carefully followed the instructions -cleaned in soda first -then brewed 3 pots and threw them out. The resulting coffee from then on has been gorgeous stuff -full bodied without being bitter, strong without an aftertaste. Really great coffee. I've been using a dark roasted bean -ground on setting 3.5 of 8 on my grinder. I pat the coffee down -and use a fairly low gas flame. I tried using the lowest flame possible -but that didn't seem to work as well as a flame that was a bit stronger but does not flame up around the bottom. It takes about 10 minutes to brew on the flame setting I use. Easy to pour -brass handle doesn't require an ovenmitt for me at least. I love this Coffee Pot.

Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Hot Water System, Black/Stainless

Since we don't usually need a full pot of coffee except on weekends -I typically just grab a Starbucks "Via" instant coffee on the way to work in the morning (a pretty remarkable innovation, by the way) -I was attracted to the hot water dispenser on this coffee maker. I like it particularly because of its 58-ounce capacity -meaning that you don't have to keep refilling it if you're just using it once each morning to fill a car mug. My wife prefers tea to coffee, and she loves being able to get a cup of really hot water whenever she likes. (We fill it with spring water, and the results are superb.) I haven't had any problem with the "add water" light, as another reviewer apparently did. I was concerned about squandering energy by keeping a reservoir of water constantly hot, but it doesn't. It keeps only about 13 ounces of water at serving temperature; the rest of the reservoir is unheated. It doesn't take all that much energy to keep 13 ounces of water hot. And if you know you won't be wanting hot water for a while, you can just turn it off with the on/off button. I had expected it to heat water instantly through some kind of coil system -much like an under-sink unit does -but not so. As a result, if the unit hasn't been on, there's about a 3-minute wait for the water to reach the right temperature. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I wish the hot water dispenser were programmable in the way the coffee maker is, but it isn't. You have to start it manually. (No you can't use an outlet timer because the unit has an electronic on/off switch.) I also wish the hot water dispenser had a temperature adjustment (the coffee maker does); the water it dispenses is so hot that I have to wait for several minutes before I can drink any beverage I make with it. Finally, some Cuisinart coffee makers have a strength adjustment but this doesn't. But these are minor quibbles; it's still a great appliance. The coffee maker itself works as well as an automatic drip coffee maker can -always a function of trial-and-error at the beginning (what kind and how much coffee you use). It uses a cone filter (#4) -which in my humble opinion always delivers better coffee than the flat filters used in so many other coffee makers -including a lot of Cuisinart models -and the water is sprayed onto the coffee by a showerhead array in the reservoir lid. (Tip for review "Me2": Pour water into the coffee maker by putting the lip of the carafe on the rear LEFT corner and pour it in that way. It's a lot easier and you won't spill any.)

I looked at a LOT of different coffee makers before deciding on this model. Buying a coffee maker has to be one of the hardest things to buy. The problems come in because everyone has a different take on what coffee is supposed to taste like and unfortunately many of them are dead wrong. The most important thing for anyone that really enjoys coffee the way it is supposed to be made is that the water heats up to a sufficient temperature (greater than 190 degrees). This allows for the best flavor to be extracted from the coffee ground without that bitter taste that you get when the temperature is too low. Since most people don't know that you don't find that information in most reviews. I found that information in the good reviews for this product and it had an overall rating of 4.5 at the time that I purchased it but I was a bit concerned with some of the bad reviews. They pointed to things like the carafe leaking, the hot water dispenser side leaking or not functioning correctly, bad tasting water, etc. Well, I'm happy to report that I have not seen any of these problems.

Pros

1) Hot water dispenser heats water to 185 degrees. This is perfect for anything you might want to use it for.

2) The coffee maker side heats the water to about 200 degrees. This is GREAT for making a really good cup of coffee.

3) The coffee temperature allows the coffee too stay warm even after I add half & half.

4) The lid on the carafe is NOT hinged which means that it doesn't flop around when you're pouring and it doesn't have a flimsy hinge to break.

5) The hot water dispenser side is HUGE, much larger than it looks in the pictures. That is why I've uploaded some pictures with mugs sitting on it and my tape measure showing the actual size. It fits both very wide and very tall mugs.

6) The auto-off setting is adjustable from 1-4 hours. This is great for my mom who likes to brew a pot and drink it all morning.

7) The indicator lights on the hot water side that let you know when the water is ready and when you need to add water are great.

8) Indicator light lets you know when it is time to clean the unit.

Cons

1) I'm not really sure how much safer the safety lock is on the hot water side. Anyone that can reach the lever can EASILY slide that safety lock to the left.

2) This is a small nitpick but pointing out small things like this show how much I really like this coffee maker. In order to set the clock you switch the switch to Clock and then hold down the HR button until the time starts blinking. What else am I going to do while I have the switch set to Clock? Why do I have to hold down that button too? The only reason this actually bugs me is because if you hold it down a split second too long it will begin to change the hour. So if you only wanted to change the minute it can be annoying.

3) This is only a con at first. The first time you pour water into the coffee side the angle of where you have to pour it makes you feel like you're going to spill it. Not to worry though. The design of the carafe and the fact that the flipped up lid will catch the water if you go to far make it really easy. Just don't hesitate and you'll find that it is as easy as pie to pour the water in.

Finally, this thing makes a GREAT TASTING cup of coffee. I can't believe I finally have a drip coffee maker that I enjoy using. Prior to this any time I wanted a good cup of coffee I would break out my French Press.

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions. I'll be glad to check it out and get back to you.

Buy Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Hot Water System, Black/Stainless Now

This machine was to make both the coffee hound and the tea lover in our family happy in the morning. Only one of us is happy.. No complaints at all with the coffee maker..

The hot water dispenser has a strong bad taste that I cant get rid of with repeated vinegar or the 1 cup of lemon juice suggested by the customer service representative.. She had heard my story many times before..

The taste is similar to drinking out of a garden hose. The customer rep assured me that the insides are stainless steel and not plastic. I think there may be some quality control issues...

Even if I could get the bad taste out, the dispenser will only release 16 oz of water for the 32 oz you must put into it. This leaves 16 oz to sit until the next day to be reheated when you add 16 oz of new water.

You must always put in 32 oz to get out 16 oz. If you put in any amount less than 32 oz, the "add water" light will come on after only 6 oz drawn out..The machine will not let you take more than this out--even thought there is plenty more inside of it.

Consequently the new water put in always mixes with the old water that is both stale and bad tasting. Who wants day old water that has the taste diminished further by reheating?

I see this as a big design flaw that requires you to take the entire machine to the sink, pull the very ergonomically incorrect and difficult plug out of the bottom and manually drain it... The manual tells you to do this if the water has been in the dispenser a week or more...

There always will be water in the dispenser a week or more.. yuck..

I say back to the drawing board with this item..

Not what I expected from Cuisinart...

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My last old Cuisinart bit the dust so I was in the market for a new one. I had also been in the market for a water kettle but really did not like the idea of having one more appliance on my counter top. When I checked out the Cuisinart web site to see what was new I was blown away by the idea of this coffee maker that also dispensed hot water!! I was so excited about it I had it sent overnight.

I have only had it for a day but oh what a wonderful cup of coffee I had this morning and right now I am loving the convenience of having hot water available for my tea drinking!

Pros: Everything!! In perfect working order and I was able to follow the manufacture's instructions on hot water without any problems at all! Best cup of coffee I have had even counting my old Cuisinart!

Cons: Only 1 negative so far. It is awkward pouring water into the coffee maker side and I guess I will need more practice at this to keep from splashing water all over everything.

So far extremely pleased with my purchase!!

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This is really a great unit. Coffee brews perfectly. As far as the water dispenser, mine works fine. It notices water levels etc. The only thing is that the water will start to smell bad (metallic) if it is left in the resevoir too long. I would say follow the instructions. It says to empty the water resevoir fully if you do not plan to run the water function for more than a week, or to store the unit. There is a drain plug on the bottom of the unit (who knew)... I drained it and refilled it, flushed a couple of times and the water is much better. No more metallic taste/smell... OK, Just an FYI...

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