Nespresso D520 Gran Maestria Espresso Maker, Platinum

I bought this machine from another high end housewares store when they were on sale recently. I sold my Delonghi super auto as I was so sick of all the tinkering and cleaning. This machine is perfect for my needs.

I want to turn it on and be able to pull great shots with little effort. Yes, I know some people would say this is not the true espresso way...but in the AM when I need a great latte or doppio this machine does the trick. The heat up time is under 30 seconds, the espresso varieties are delicious and I can always get the exact same shot. I love that the dials on the front of this machine allow we to adjust quickly the amount of water passed through the capsule. Sometimes I add a little more water with the capsule in place so I can get a little more from the capsule. I will say that pulling a lungo capsule on the longest setting is a bit of a stretch and definitely makes a light shot.

-The fit and finish of this machine is gorgeous. I love the way it looks in the kitchen, with it's cool LED lights and finish. I am a sucker for packing and marketing so this is just the kind of thing that calls out to me.

-Getting the capsules from Nespresso has been painless and the iphone app allows me to quickly order as soon as I notice my supply is low. I wish there wasn't the $6.99 2 day delivery charge. But those are the breaks and when you buy into this system definitely keep in mind the cost of these capsules. .60 or .65 a piece. The quality and flavor make this worth it to me and I am glad to have a consistent high quality shot.

-The aerocino attached to the base is great as well. Dense foam and nice light steamed milk. My daughter also loves the steamed milk with a little vanilla flavor as a snack.

-This machine is also great for dinner parties. I can open the case of capsules. Guests can check them out and make a choice. People enjoy tasting and comparing. Makes coffee tasting fun and easy. No grinder, no tamping, no steaming and stretching milk by hand.

-I would definitely buy this machine again. I find it to be worth the premium prices and only being able to get capsules from Nespresso.

Enjoy!

Recently purchased the Gran M. was a bit worried as I've been disappointed in the past with other machines.... I must say I'm really happy with it. The coffee is surprisingly good and clean up super simple. It's so simple and fast that I find myself using it all the time. Other machines I've had sat idle and I made far to many trips to the local Barista.

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I did not purchase this machine from Amazon I purchased mine directly from Nespresso. It is a great machine and makes a great cup of coffee with a good variety of coffee pods to choose from. I live in Florida, and I wanted to leave a comment for other users that may be in high humidity climates. I had issues with the milk frothing (aeroccino) not consistently frothing the milk. It would work sometimes and other times not. It was very frustrating for a number of months, until I called Nespresso to complain. I got right through to an American support person and when I told her the issues, she immediately asked the state I lived in. When I said Florida, she said for high humidity climates like Florida, they recommend using only Organic Milk for frothing. Well my first thought was, give me a break no way is it the milk I am using. But she said she would make a note in my file but she was certain if I switched to Organic Milk my frothing issues would go away. She said it has to do with the extra stuff in regular milk and how they interact in the higher humidity climates? Well, low and behold she was right. Since I switched to Organic every single froth has been perfect. It took me a very long time to get this information, and I wanted to post it here just in case someone else is having similar issues. I have used all types of Organic milk to test things out Horizon, Ogranic Valley (boxed (shelf stable), whole, 2%, 1% vanilla, etc and it sure seems as long as it is Organic it froths to perfection every time. Hope this info helps someone.

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My girlfriend and I received the Gran Maestria as a housewarming gift from my mom in October. Purchased it from William Sonoma at Stanford Mall, but when we got home it was the wrong color and looked to be like it was a returned item as some paperwork was missing and there was a scratch on it. We were not notified of this and returned it the next day. Unfortunately, my mom wasn't able to try it because she had to return back home to Hawaii before we got the correct, new machine. OIur first experience with a Nespresso didn't look promising.

Alas, we got our beautiful machine home, plugged it in, and brewed our first latte. We were truly impressed with the quality of the espresso and it tasted much better than the one we tried in the store before we bought it. My girlfriend uses it religiously in the morning and we have one at night with dessert. So far the machine has worked flawlessly, which we'd expect from a $600+ machine, but you never know now days with so many products being made with only the bottom line in consideration.

I've never used any other espresso machine, so I can't really comment on clean-up, but I can tell you that the Nespresso is easier to clean than a regular coffee maker.

I ordered our first set of capsules on Nespresso.com, which was a breeze and they arrived so quickly there is no need to get them from a store. But now that Nespresso has opened a store in The City next to Union Square, I can pick up our monthly supply on my way home after work.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this product to anyone looking for a fantastic espresso and who are looking to impress guests. It definitely adds class and pizzazz to our kitchen. In fact, I love our Gran Maestria so much I just purchased the U (in orange) for my desk at work. I just hope the loud brewing sound doesn't annoy anyone. If it does, they will forget about it once the rich and bold aroma of my espresso fills the air. Enjoy!

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Waking up to a cappuccino. The perfect amount of frothy, earthy espresso dripping into my warmed Spode Christmas mug, organic, grass fed cow's milk foamed in just under a minute spooned on top, it is a singular pleasure. A high end luxury, that brings a certain specialness to the moment, puts love in my heart and makes me want to hug and kiss any cat, dog or human within arm's reach.

Considering the consistent, delicious, simple, fast and ease of cleaning this machine, I can't imagine why you would spend more on an expensive espresso machine you need to constantly maintain. Everything is recyclable. It's a treat anytime of day.

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Imusa B120-22069SET 9-Piece Stainless Steel Espresso Set with Stovetop Coffeemaker, Cups and Saucer

handle was very flimsy. the plates and saucers were a nice

though. this espresso pot works well just be gentle.

This little pot makes espresso so simple. The lower half boils water which is then forced by the steam pressure up through a funnel tube, through coffee, through another tube in the upper half. Since there is no recycling or percolating of the water, the lower half is not even get dirty and the funnel containing the grounds is easy to clean. Rinse and wipe dry -3 parts only. There is a gasket, but you should wait until that needs to be replaced before removing. Since there are metal perforated screens above and below the coffee I rinse in both directions to remove any coffee I cannot see. Reviewers have warned not to tighten the pieces using the handle and I must note that it is tempting to hold the handle when screwing on the bottom, but I abstain since I don't want a broken handle. It does not need much torque to seal since the rim is very smooth and gasket material is silicone rubber. No tamping is needed, in fact it is suggested to only smooth and not pack down the coffee. I think this is because the coffee will be expanded by the water, making the chamber always appear more full after brewing. Holds about 3 tablespoons of coffee and 9 ounces of water, but only about 6-7 ounces goes up to the top of the pot. When you hear steam escaping the process is over and you should remove from the heat. I am using an induction stove top with a Max Burton 6010 8-Inch Induction Interface Disk with Heat-Proof Handle (reviewed separately).

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Nespresso A+C50-US-TP-NE Espresso Maker with Aeroccino Milk Frother, Pure Grey

Better than any Starbucks, at a fraction of the cost. This thing will pay for itself in a month, no more $5 cups of coffee.

I had Nespresso before, and now have Jura, and bought this espresso machine. Perfect combination. Nespresso is quick and giving excellent quality of espresso. You wake up fresh.

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we love this machine,we are addicted to it..

but it did BREAK after 2 weeks and we returned it. Nespresso sent us a replacement machine without even asking us to send back the other one. the new machine arrived in about a week. now all seems fine.

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With just a few days before Christmas, I've been running around all day looking for Nespresso capsules to go with this gift my daughter requested (and I bought through Amazon). At this point, she'll get the Nespresso maker, but if the capsules are so inconvenient to find, I expect it will be returned. She used one when she was living in the UK last summer and loved it maybe the capsules are easier to find there. The frustrating thing for me is that I've found the Nespresso maker at a couple of stores today, they just don't sell the capsules unlike some competitors on the market.

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DeLonghi DC514T 14-Cup Programmable Drip Coffeemaker

I've had my DeLonghi Esclusivo coffeemaker for exactly 3 months. It brewed the best tasting coffee I've ever had. It was my favorite coffee maker by far for the following reasons: Coffee is delicious -slow brewing permits a more robust coffee. Small footprint on my counter. Stylish design. VERY easy to program and use. Large opening through which to pour water. Charcoal filter to purify water. Automatic shut off. Caraffe has large opening for easy cleaning. NON-DRIP POURING!! I was in heaven with this coffeemaker and knew I'd found the perfect one. (I've had many in my lifetime.)

Unfortunately, two days ago, the plastic surrounding the hot plate began to melt. The vendor from whom I purchased it has already refunded my money and has asked me to return it. I will NOT purchase another one for fear of fire hazard. This coffeemaker would have received 10 stars from me had it not begun to melt itself to death. For this reason, I'm heartsick.....it WAS the perfect coffeemaker.

Easy to use, attractive design, makes aromatic hot coffee. I like the aroma function that brews the coffee slower and uses the "shower head method" to better soak the coffee grounds while brewing. As long as the machine doesn't break down, the 5 stars will remain. Silly me, I thought maybe was made in Italy, but no, made is China. I bought this because of good price, free shipping and attractive design. It has more pluses than that. It is a good buy!

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I purchased this coffee maker in December 2009 and it worked well for a whopping 7 months. My son threw it in the trash but I remembered that it had a one year warranty so I dug it out of the garbage can. The piece needed to stop the water from dripping all over the counter is on backorder. I understand that backorders happen, but a 3 month backorder is unacceptable.

I spoke to Bev in customer service and she was as useless as you-know-what on a bull. She said that the part wasn't necessary to operate the coffee maker. I suppose she's correct, IF you prefer licking your morning coffee off of the counter top instead of sipping it from a cup.

Since my machine has been inoperable for three months, and there is no date in sight for the part's arrival, I suggested that they send me a new one. Request denied. I later suggested that they should extend my warranty since my 12 month warranty has turned into a 9 month warranty since the part is on back order. Request denied.

Unless you enjoy lapping your coffee from your counter, i would stay away from this unit and company in general.

UPDATE: Oct 30th, I received the wrong part from the company and must now wait at least two more months for the correct item.

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I have used almost every brand of coffee maker. But when I made the first pot with my DeLonghi, I new then that I would never use another coffee maker. The coffee that was made from it was by far the best I have ever tasted, even comparing it with coffee shops.If you by this coffee maker you will not be dissatisfied.

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We purchased this coffee maker after doing a lot of researching and trusting many of the reviews on this site. However, we were really disappointed with the taste of the brewed coffee. We thought it was sort of muddy, at times almost chalky-tasting, and at the end of every cup there was a thick black bitter tasting 'sludge'. I am very experienced at making coffee and have never had this problem with any machine before.

Although we weren't 100% pleased, we decided to stick it out and try to continue using this machine. However, 2 more incidents have changed our minds and it's going in the trash now:

A) Our child accidentally broke the carafe, therefore, a word of caution: buying the matching glass 14 cup replacement carafe is nearly impossible. You can't buy it on Amazon, and when we decided to purchase from Delonghi, the only other place we could find one, it was $50 with shipping! If you do purchase this machine be VERY careful not to break the carafe!

B) Just today, the pressure gauge on the filter broke off rendering the filter now useless. Bear in mind, this machine was purchased only a month ago!

I felt compelled to write this review to anyone out there doing their research and thinking this is the coffee maker for them. We had a terrible experience with it from Day 1, and will now be purchasing a Cuisinart for our great past experience with that brand and their easy-to-find replacement parts.

Good luck in your search!

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West Bend 12-Cup Coffee Maker, White

This coffee maker arrived well packaged and damage free. I really like the sleek look as compared to a Mr. Coffee which seems bulkier and more utilitarian in design.

This item does not work any better than a Mr. Coffee just looks nicer as a full time counter top resident. After all coffee is all about the bean and not the hot water maker.

I have always used a plug in appliance timer for my coffee maker so the lack of an auto off feature is not a problem.

You can't go wrong for the price. Initially I was willing to pay a lot more until I started reading the reviews. I have had this now for over a month, it gets used daily. No problems, easy to use and clean. The coffee taste just as good as the Kuerig (workplace). Save your money.

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Perfect, inexpensive, big container, pours well Why pay $100 when this works just as good, no needless bells and whistles.

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Love this unit. It is easy to clean and the pot does not drip. I wanted this particular coffee maker because it does not have "bells and whistles." I clean it after each use so it maintains a continuing sparkle.

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The carafe, however, is terrible. Half the coffee ends up on the counter. Also the coffeemaker can't handle espresso grinds-even when mixed with standard auto-drip grinds.

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La Pavoni PA-JV Jolly Burr Grinder, Black

We purchaed the Pavoni PA-JV "Jolly" (I don't get the "Jolly"; this is a serious machine) coffee bean grinder 16 years ago at Williams-Sonoma for $175. Espresso coffee is the only coffee we drink and we enjoy it twice daily. Therefore we use the Pavoni twice daily. We take great pride in our espresso and the grind is an extremely important component of producing rich, crema-laden espresso. The Pavoni PA-JV has consistently, reliably and powerfully produced a high quality espresso grind for us without any breakdowns, repairs, etc. Bravo, Pavoni, bravo.

its beyond me how something ships in the condition that i got it in. the grinder was broken in 2 different spots when i opened the box and it was not broken during shipping cause the pieces that broke off are no where in the box so someone else broke it returned it and amazon never checked the item and resent it to me. on top of the item being broken there multiple missing parts! great job guys.

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Dip-It Automatic Drip Coffeemaker Cleaner Liquid-7 oz

Our family has used this product for years and it works GREAT on automatic drip coffee pots. We use to buy this item at local grocery or pharmacy's but can't find it any more. I was delighted to find it available via Amazon. Our coffee maker was cleaned as soon as the box arrived.

Dip-It is my favorite cleaning product for both coffee and tea pots. Unfortunately, none of the stores in my area choose to carry it anymore--even Walmart! So, I turned to trusty Amazon and ordered as much as I could. Great product, great service!

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I love these for being tasting very fresh and crunchy! I can put my favorite cheese and jams on them, and they still taste the same!!!

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This product is totally different than the Product of the same name by a Company apparently called Dip-it! If you notice closely enough, this product is by a company named "Reckitt". (Perfectly named, I might add.) I ordered several bottles of this product and it was nothing but colored water. It was totally useless. What you are probably looking for (as am I) is the powered form by the company called "Dip-it" NOT this stuff. Don't buy this item unless you want to just throw your money away.

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Espressione 1387 Caffe Novecento Espresso/Cappuccino Machine, Chrome

First... I'm not an employee of Espressione...

I've read many reviews on this item, most of them, not very positive. I thought I would add my 2 cents as I have had this machine for a little over 2 months.

Let's start with day 1. Dead on Arrival. Bummer. Well, it was easy enough to return to the place I purchased (Sams). They sent me a new one within 3 days, and I was excited to get started. Before you buy this machine, make sure you make this checklist:

1. I have a decent conical burr grinder ( )

2. I am aware that I need to buy fresh beans to get real crema ( )

3. I have a decent tamper in the 58mm variety ( )

4. I am not a total espresso geek, but I have owned a cheap machine or two ( )

5. I never pay retail for espresso machines ( )

If you've checked most of these, feel free to continue, if you haven't, don't buy this machine. It's not for you. If you're an uber espresso geek, go buy your PID'd Rancilio Silvia or your Le Lit. You don't belong here. This machine has an aluminum boiler that has heat issues just like the rest of the lower grade machines do. It does hold heat better than most, but seriously, if you're in the $600 market, you shouldn't be looking at this machine. You can get this machine at "other" vendors in the $230 range. And for that price, there isn't a whole lot that's better. Maybe a Gaggia... but I'm sick of those pieces of plastic.

Physical Traits: It's pretty... Very pretty. It's also pretty solid and heavy at 24ish lbs. It is tall, and yes, you do have to hold on while attaching the portafilter. However, it's not as bad as previous reviewers have stated. The portafilter is almost as heavy as my Reneka Viva single group commercial machine at work. It has a very nice (and handy) temperature gauge on the top of the machine that is very useful.

Espresso:

Probably the best part of this said portafilter is that it has options for brewing espresso. If you have a decent grinder, you can remove the "crema enhancing" disks inside and use it's regular filter basket just like a higher end machine (a serious plus for me...). The pump has plenty of pressure to press fine ground espresso and make wonderful crema (as long as your beans are fresh). Some reviewers have stated the espresso is cold. Here's my typical process:

1. Fire up the machine into the standby position (heats boiler to just about 100 degrees C)

2. Once the temp is up, for the first shot of the day I do a quick blank shot to keep the portafilter warm.

3. I warm my cup up with warm water

4. Pull the shot. Enjoy.

I'm guessing people find the espresso cold is the massive portafilter is cold. Once it's warm, it stays warm. But honestly, I've had some pretty nice shots.

Steam:

Yup, it pretty much sucks in from the factory form. The machine makes plenty of steam for my latte's, but not without modification. The tip they give you for the wand is awwwwfuuuullll. Replace it with somethign... or trim it down. I used my Delonghi Ec155 tip on mine and it makes nice micro foam. But the original allows too much air into the mix. Foul bubbly milk... no thanks.

Yes, the wand is too close to the machine, but I have got used to it. It' not that big of an issue, and quite frankly I'm not that picky for $230 bucks shipped. If I were spending $700, I'd be furious.

Well I think that just about wraps it up. I really appreciate good espresso. Sure, there are plenty of better machines out there, but this one suits me just fine. Hope you enjoyed this review and that it is somewhat sobering.

I needed to add this review after I purchased this product and reread the reviews that helped me make the decision to buy. It is now obvious to me that these were paid reviews. A few of them appear in exact or similar wording on several websites.

This is a nice looking machine but out of the box we were disappointed with the quality of most of the parts. The drip tray is a very thin metal and even worse are the plastic levers and steam wand. It does come with a quality portafilter and we did really like the temp gauge on the top as well as the slick blue lights.

If you have a good grinder, the espresso this machine produces is decent with some crema, but the bigger problem is the steam wand. It only moves forward and back, and is very short you will either be holding the pitcher throughout steaming or you will need to stack something under your pitcher which is always likely to spill (and isn't all of this fiddling and rigging one of the reasons you wanted to upgrade in the first place?). And the production of steam is just poor. You can pay much less for many of the budget machines and they will serve you much better.

Bottom line, please do not buy this machine unless you can find it for less than $300 (I haven't seen it for less than $400 so I'm talking a closeout price here). We returned ours and purchased a Rancilio Silvia for $550 and it is a quality piece of machinery inside and out. If you are looking for a machine that is more practical (the Silvia has a learning curve), go with a Gaggia. This machine is lovely (from a few feet away) but not worth the money!

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It looks absolutely great, but that's not why you spend $400-500 for an espresso machine. This is my first machine at this level, so I'm not a complete expert, but I do know a good shot when I drink it. It took me some time to get used to it. The portafilter needs some serious muscle to tighten. I use the rail on top to provide leverage and it has actually gotten easier with time. The most important thing to know about the Novecento is that it has a powerful pump, so you have to use a fine grind and tamp REALLY hard. I bought a 58mm metal tamper Rattleware 58-Milimeter Round-Handled Tamper, Long and it made all the difference. The plastic one provided is almost useless. Properly ground and tamped, the espresso is excellent with plenty of crema. It takes a couple minutes to go from brewing temp up to steaming temp. The steam wand is close to the body and does not allow for a lot of room to maneuver the milk pitcher, but what can I say, it works! I just hold the pitcher there until it's ready under a minute. Overall, quite functional and as I said, beautiful.

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This machine looks like $1000 kitchen toy. If you learn or know how to use it properly you be satisfied with results. The best frothed milk and excellent espresso, I use Lavazza btw. This machine worth every dollar it cost. I owned Krups for few years, and its like night and day comparing to this one.

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I bought this machine, even after the negative reviews here, because I got it for $169 (an offer I couldn't refuse). It turns out that the negative reviews are all a bunch of bunk. This machine makes a great shot of espresso and it looks really cool sitting on my kitchen counter! The only gripe I have about the machine is the muscle it takes to get the basket seated properly. I have some minor arthritis in my hands and it makes it rather difficult for me. But, what the heck, I'm getting some serious exercise for my wrists! I also expect it will loosen up after a while.

Now, if this machine lasts as long as my prior Sacco machine lasted, I'll be a very happy camper.

Senseo HD7003 Espresso Pod Holder for Deluxe & Supreme Senseo Gourmet Coffee Machines

I guess there might be a difference but I couldn't see it. The pods work with our regular holder and we can't tell the difference. Oh, well.

The holder works as advertised, which is more than I can say regarding some other products I have seen advertised for this machine. I fits and makes great expresso. Not quite as strong as a much more expensive unit when you let it run for the full single cup cycle. Cut the time short on the brew cycle and you can't tell the difference. I happen to have a young lady from the Netherlands, where the Senseo is made, staying here for a short visit. When she saw the Senseo machine she indicated that she had one at home as well but she did not have the expresso pod holder and after trying the coffee indicated that when she returned home to the Netherlands she was going to get one.

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Primula 6-Cup Turkish Coffee/Milk Warmer with Thermometer, Aluminum

The size of it is not as in the description, it is 3.5(d) x 5(h) x 8.7 inches.

It is 24oz.

Pros:

The steel is nice and shiny, but sort of too thin.

Comes with thermometer

Cons:

Handle attached with the 2 rivets about 3 inches from the bottom, so there is potential leak

The bottom of the pot is not flat, it bumps out, so it wobbles when placed on a flat surface

The metal is thinner then I expected, can be deformed by fingers if push hard

This seems to be better choice

Harold Imports 24-Ounce Capacity Turkish Warmer, Made of Stainless Steel

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Capresso 3011.01 4-Cup Glass Replacement Carafe with Lid for Mini Espresso Machine

About a year ago I wanted an espresso machine that was easy to use, however I was unwilling to pay 1k or more for a fully automatic machine. The Capresso turned out to be an excellent value, providing ease of use with semi-automatic ground disposal and a reasonably sized water container.

In fact, we have experienced only two problems with the Capresso since we bought it: a torn o-ring and clogging. The o-ring tore because I did not clean the rotation mechanism for several months. The accumulated grounds eventually tore into the o-ring, breaking the pressure seal. However, when I called the Capresso help line to discuss our broken o-ring, the help desk agent immediately sent us two replacements in the mail with no questions asked. Total down time for the machine was a mere two days. The clogging was fixed with a complete cleaning, and if truth be told, it did say in the instruction booklet not to use very finely ground coffee.

Our last espresso machine, besides breaking after two years, was so difficult to use and clean we only made espresso on special occasions. The Capresso is convenient enough that we use it all the time. In fact, we have used our Mr. Coffee only twice (note the broken o-ring comment above) since we bought the Capresso.

After a year of use, I can still strongly recommend this product.

I bought this machine after looking around for the perfect one for quite some time. This Espressomaker is unique because of a clever semiautomatic mechanism that doesn't require the usual, messy tampering and cleaning innate to traditional machines. This device comes at a fraction of the cost of the fully automated ones, but is almost as easy to use. The only little flaw I noted is that the frother will spill a relatively large amount of water (5cc or so) during the first couple of seconds before the full steam gets going. Usually no big deal, but if you froth a small amount of milk, you may want to "catch" these first cc's first. Otherwise, this machine is perfect. The pump is very strong 18bar, I think) and the crema is excellent. Baseline: If you want a traditional machine, go for a Gaggia or something similar; if you are a (lazy) millionaire, consider one of the fully automated machines ($1000-2000). Otherwise, there is currently no alternative to the "Ultima".

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If the technical aspects of a cappuccino before the crack of dawn have you actually contemplating drip coffee again, check out this machine. You'll have to re-learn how to make a cappuccino, but once you get the hang of it, you can break speed records. For double caps, two scoops of pre-ground espresso go in the coffee spout. Turn the bizarre looking top a quarter turn, push down the lever and turn the pump on. You'll instantly get a perfect espresso with more crema than I was able to get with any kind of consistently from our many previous machines. And it takes less than a minute for the water to heat in the unit for making coffee or arming the frother with steam in this sturdy machine. The best part comes in the clean-up. When you're ready to make the next cup, turn the lever on top a 3/4 turn and it will simultaneously dump your old grounds in a hidden bin and stage itself automatically for the next cup. That's zero coffee grounds on the sink and the ability to crank out a cappuccino every two minutes.

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... the Capresso Ultima is just a wonderful espresso machine regardless of the price/performance ratio. It is very well engineered. You can tell the refinement of the design simply by looking at the layout of the compartments, the water tank with a clever fold-in handle that is very well balanced while you are adding water, the perfect tamping mechanism, the layout and feel of pressing the buttons and rotating the lever arm, and the matte surface finish. All accolades about this machine from previous reviewers are true so I won't be repeating them here.

Some reviewers have pointed out, however, that (1) the espresso and/or the milk is not hot enough to their liking; and (2) the frother spills large amount of water. These claims are just not true.

The espresso that comes out of my machine is just so hot that it burns my tongue, not to mention the perfect crema that comes out with it. I actually tried to stick my finger (like a naughty boy) inside the espresso glass and it burns my finger like boiling water. The "secret" is to push the pump button right after the thermostat light (yellow) goes off. It's really no secret because that's what the manual receommends.

Also, the steamer/frother is capable of heating up a cup of milk that is so hot that practically you can't drink it right away. Note that the steamer/frother has got an automatic 80sec cut-off. Everytime the milk is really hot after this 80sec of steaming/frothing (not to mention how nice and thick the froth becomes I usually froth half a cup of cold 2% milk and the froth is like 2/5 cup thick YES. CLOSE TO HALF A CUP OF FROTH within 80sec of frothing). For those who really want to burn their tongue, they could always repeat this steaming/frothing for another 80sec (again read the manual to see how). I tried this and it always ends up boiling the milk (implying that it has reached 100C or over). Frankly, I don't know who would like to drink practically boiling coffee. It just takes the taste away.

For the water spill problem from the frother, I actually experienced once. But quickly I found out that it's due to the fact that I didn't screw the frothing tip tight enough so the steam leaks into the metal slieve and as soon as it gets to the rubber holder on top, the steam condenses and becomes water spill. From then on, I screw it finger tight and it does not spill any more.

What more can I say? For those who are in the market to buy an excellent espresso machine at a good price, stop searching right now. This is THE ONE.

After you got the machine, Get excited, Read the manual, Practice a few times, Enjoy the coffee, and Stop complaining!

Cheers!

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Wow, so this machine makes GREAT cappuccinos! Just a few points from a non expert who loves to have her morning cappuccino:

1. The coffee/espresso is really good! There is a good crema layer and it comes out very strong (not too strong) in my opinion. I haven't alwys found it to be 100% consistent, but, nonetheless, over 95% of the time it has been great.

2. The unit is kinda.... ugly! I'm sorry, but this is the truth. It's not like soemthing you would display in a very nice kitchen it's a bit cheap looking. It doesn't even look like a traditional espresso machine. Also, what is up with the blue strip on the tray? That really makes it look cheap. Nonetheless, because I am so plesed with this product, I am willing to overlook this flaw.

3. When they said semi-automatic, I thought I would have to do a lot of work. Not true! This is the EASIEST espresso/cappuccino to make even over my sister's semi-automatic that she paid a lot more money for (not to mention the espresso/cappuccinos taste the same, except hers is much better looking!) All you have to do is rotate the handle on top, put in coffee, rotate it 90 degrees counterclockwise, push the knob down and turn on the espresso switch. When done, you turn the knob 270 degrees and it dumps the coffee. VOILA! No coffee cleanup today or tomorrow... or for a while (this is my FAVORITE part).

4. A few annoying things Whoever it was that says when you froth milk, there is first a spurt of water is correct. However, when you have frothed an entire cup of milk, you can't tell the water was added. Also, when pushing the know down to make espresso, sometimes it has been a crap shoot and no espresso came out. I had to repress the knob down and try again.

All in all, I give this a B+ because it is ugly and a bit cheap looking. However, if I rated it on taste, it would be an A. If I rated it considering that I got a great price on it and relative to other units and prices, A+!

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Krups XP2070 Programmable 10-Cup Coffeemaker/15-Bar Pump Espresso Machine

I was and still am deeply suspicious of these combo units, but this one has been a pleasant surprise. All of the basic functions work admirably and it does a wonderful job of frothing even low fat milk. The espresso maker is a little less forgiving of your tamping skills than other machines I've used, but when you get it right the crema is beautiful.

I have only had this for 3 months, so I can't vouch for longevity of the machine, but it seems to be sturdy and well made.

The problem I have is with the computer program that operates everything. It is perhaps the most non-intuitive, least user-friendly design I have ever come across on any home appliance. The functions themselves should be fairly straightforward -push a button -but require you to learn the secret code of whomever designed it.

Add to that the fact that the instructions are WRONG. I can handle them being written by a non-English speaker, I'm used to that. But they can at least be accurate. Helpful tip when frothing milk, after the steam has built up and the flashing light begins to glow continuously, DO NOT push the "steam" button again as the instructions indicate. Push the "Valid" button instead.

However, once you get the secret code down, this machine works well. Compared to other combo units I highly recommend.

My husband and I registered for this at Crate & Barrel and have been thrilled with it for 9 months now. I did immediately notice, however, that the carafe is made from very thin glass and was always scared I would break it. Other than that, the only problem I had with it was when pouring a cup of coffee, 9 times out of 10 it would leak over the sides and onto the counter if you didn't pour very slowly and sometimes even that didn't help. I just made a mental note that our next machine might be an upgrade from Krups or something like that, but still LOVED this machine. Imagine my horror when today, after our morning pot of coffee, it just completely stopped working! I unplugged it, changed outlets, nothing. The led display is just dead. The machine is dead. I've checked it every hour or so today. Nada. After doing some research online, I now see that is a common theme with this machine among people who've had it a while (the earliest I read of it happening was 5 months). I descaled it with vinegar every 3 months or so. Nothing in the manual addresses this situation. So, here I sit with a cup of Starbucks, writing this review. Starbucks just doesn't measure up anymore to having my fresh ground Kona coffee and espresso (not to mention lattes and cappuccinos!) each day....very disappointed.

UPDATE (7.11.08): We called, found we were within 3 days of waranty expiring, so sent it in to a local, authrized Krups repair shop..it came back in about a week, worked for 2 pots of coffee, then broke again. We called the shop and were told to send in again. This time it's worked (still working) for 3 weeks..now the black plastic lid above the filter area is warped and sticks/pops when you open it to put water/coffee inside. I should also mention that when they sent it back to us, they wrapped it with a plastic film and it apparently had moisture inside because now the machine has water stains all over it and looks pretty bad. I think we're giving this machine away when we move next month..did I say how it smokes and huffs/puffs when it's brewing (and it's descaled regulary)? It's too bad, because this machine looked great to start with and had such great potential!

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I bought the XP 2070 with the hopes of having better coffee and the espresso option. Within one week of purchase (one round of capuccinos), I am unable to turn on the espresso maker. I called customer service, and they asked me to ship the machine back and wait a month-and-a-half because "the warehouse has closed," even though this is the newest model. Very reluctantly, they threw in a few free coffee filters in the deal. I wish I had read other Amazon customer posts, that indicate that not even the CEO responds to customer service complaints.

They also said they had no information on troubleshooting the machine "because we just introduced it." It seems that any decent machine testing would check to see that you could turn on the machine. Please do not make the same mistake I did, especially with a holiday gift!

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This machine is absolute garbage. There are not enough pejoratives or expletives in the world for me to describe my feelings for this device with anything like the right level of detail.

The user interface is like trying to decode an alien artifact. The manual is terrible. The customer service and support is unbelievably bad. It is unreliable and expensive.

Get a different espresso machine, go to a coffeeshop, heck, boil coffee in a 55 gallon drum over a pile of oily rags any of these is a much more satisfactory way to get a coffee drink than using this (insert chain of imaginative diminutives) thing.

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I must echo the comments in previous reviews. This is a fine machine at first -does the job and does it well -but the instructions were very complicated, the pot is poorly designed & you end up pouring just as much coffee on the counter as you do in your cup, and after 4 months of use, mine just stopped working. I really thought this $300 machine would be the last coffee maker I would have to purchase for awhile considering my $50.00 "Mr Coffee" machine worked for 5 years and is now being used as my "backup" while I try to get a resolution with Krups. (Thank goodness I decided to hold onto it!!)

Think twice before sinking so much money into this product.

DeLonghi KG79 Electric 12-Cup Burr Grinder, Black

Just bought this a few days ago after reading and looking extensively. Used initially for only espresso and so far, so good. Next weekend it will get it's chance to show what it can do with french press. The fine setting yields consistently fine grounds. The reservoir for beans and ground coffee are both generous and hold enough to keep you 'jumpy' for quite a while. The smallest yield is 2 cups but that's too much for one espresso. It would be nice to yield just enough for one double espresso shot but that's a minor quibble. The machine does not vibrate or spray coffee grounds and you don't have to hold anything down while in operation. It's much quieter than the Krups blade grinder I've used for years and quieter than most others I've seen even much higher priced items. I also have the DeLonghi espresso machine so visually they make a nice pair.

This grinder has the usual problem with plastic grinders. It builds up static electricity and the coffee both sticks to the grind holder and will also fly all over you and the counter. The square holder makes it unusually difficult to extract the coffee.

The range of fine to course doesn't generate course enough coffee for a French press. Be careful to follow the instructions for pre-cleaning and putting back the components. It needed a clean prior to use.

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I've been using this grinder for a few weeks for my daily espresso. It's reasonably priced and works well, very easy to use. To make less than the minimum 2 cup setting, just hit the stop/start button. It usually takes about eight seconds to grind the perfect amount for a double-shot in my espresso maker.

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Great Coffee Grinder! Works great, the only thing is it creates a little static in the plastic coffee grounds box. Not bad just tap it a little and most all of it falls off the sides. My coffee taste so fresh now and smooth. For a normal coffee maker I set it at one click to the right of medium. This seems to be perfect. The timer you just have experiment with. It sits still when it's grinding. All I can say is this is a great grinder. I also have their espresso maker and work perfect also. DeLonghi Great Company!

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This DeLonghi bur mill works very well consistent grinds and texture. Very fast processing time as well. Buy one now!!!

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Hot Water Pot (3 Liters)

I bought my unit at an Asian grocery called "99 Ranch", which had a very good price. The unit had notable defects (sometimes stopped boiling far before the boiling point; sometimes got an air bubble and couldn't keep pumping the water out), and it did NOT have a "lock/unlock" safety button although one was depicted in the manual. When it did work, it was very handy. It stopped working entirely after just two weeks.

I called the phone number printed right on the back on the machine, and the very courteous man on the phone immediately offered to send me a whole new one at their expense, and even pay for the return shipping on this one. The new one arrived promptly, but has already proven to have at least one defect (a loose hinge part).

It seems like you get a lot for your money, but the quality reminds me of General Motors circa 1975. Needs improvement.

I've had one of these hot water pots for several years now. All it does is boil up 3 liters of water and keep it hot all day, all night. I frequently plug mine in at 9 am and unplug it at 2 am. The water is always very hot. I use it to make instant coffee, tea, cocoa, and for 'starter' hot water to boil noodles & such faster. I also find that having hot water always to hand helps ensure I get plenty of fluids each day (particularly important with drying heat on in the winter).

The fuse did blow on mine a few months after I first got it. But the company quickly sent me another free of charge (pot was under warranty), and it was not difficult to install. You can also purchase fuses if you want extras. But, this happened only once to me in about 3-4 years of heavy daily use.

All in all, if you want a basic unit that will give you really hot water whenever you want, this pot is perfect. Much easier than constantly boiling up tea kettles (and probably more energy efficient).

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I have had my hot water pot for about a year now and I love it! Being an avid tea and hot cocoa drinker I am always using it and probably end up refilling it about once every other day. I would recommend a larger size for families. I recently moved in with my boyfriends family and at first they were skeptical about using a hot water pot they claimed to like the charm of heating a pot of water over the stove everytime they wanted hot cocoa but I set up my hot water pot and now they are addicted. The poor water kettle has been sitting on the stove collecting dust for a few months now! The only bad thing I can think of is that you get hard water stains in the water dispenser. I am not sure if there is any way to get around this since the nature of the pot is that it boils off chloride, etc. I just rinse it out once in a while without any chemicals and it works perfect still. Anyways, I highly recommend a hot water pot.

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This item was given to us second hand, it is the best thing ever for making baby bottles. (of course always check the temp to be sure it is not too hot for baby!) We put about an ounce of hot water to make an 8 ounce bottle mix the formula then add room temp water. Also great for making tea or cup of soup. We just love it, have been using it for about a month now and have had no problems and it was used previously for who knows how long. No problems with the pump or hinge or anything else works like a dream. Easy to clean too. And the cord comes out of the side of the pot so that it can sit flush up against the back of the kitchen counter minimizing the amount of space it takes up.

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I got my first pot and it worked great for 3 weeks. Called manufacturer and they were very nice and sent me a new cord as they thought that was the problem when it completely stopped working...that was not the problem so they sent me another bottom and it went right to ready with no boiling....they sent me a third pot and it worked great for 3 days when it also stopped boiling and went right to ready. Great concept when it works...I'm now going to ask for a refund and try another brand.

Krups F054 Anticalc Lime Descaller Kit

I bought the descaller (is it really spelled that way?) for my ancient Krups Il Primo espresso machine. No instructions came in the box. It took forever to get any help from Krups and then the instructions were for much fancier machines.

So here's what I did:

Dissolve the packet in 500ml of water. I did half a packet because my machine could not hold all that much.

Pour a third of the mixture into the machine. Steam some of it and let the rest go through the coffee basket.

Do that again.

Then heat it up and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. And then expell the mixture.

I found "crud" in the basket. Next time I will check the basket after each round.

I then ran plain water through the machine several times. Maybe it wasn't necessary but it made me feel better.

Had a "dead" Krups expresso maker. Used this powder per the instructions and machine started percolating like new. If you have a sluggish or non-percolating machine, use it before going out to buy a new one.

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I bought this for my Krups coffee maker. It doesn't come with instructions so I followed the instructions that a previous reviewer had written and it worked fine. I ran it through the cycle twice and then ran clean water through twice, and it did the job.

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My neighbor was giving her Krups cappuccino maker to charity and I asked if I could have it. She said that it didn't work because the water no longer came out, and she had tried to clean it and nothing worked. She gave it to me and I ordered this product. I followed the directions for the coffee maker I found online and ran the cycle once with the descaller and three times after with just water. Now it works great. I haven't decided if I should tell my neighbor or not!

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it unclogged my coffee maker in minutes. the only thing is that it doesn't include clear instructions luckily instructions on how to use it came with my coffee maker. works great!

Jura Capresso C1000 Super-Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center with Claris WaterTM Care System

I received this as a gift about 5 years ago. I use it daily. Every cup is amazing. Even with cheap coffee beans. I brought this machine to work with me an now I am a favorite spot for coworkers to visit when they need a cup. I have a Keurig at home and I just really choke down coffee made in that. This Capresso just makes coffee that tastes great. I follow the "warning lights" when they come on and de-scale with special tablets and liquids when it calls for it and have had no problems at all. Turn it on, prime it with the push fo a button and in seconds you have wonderful "Crema" coffee. I use it in a big cup and have adjusted the water to allow me to have a pretty large cup of coffee (not a pure espresso dude here). Every coworker that has a cup tells me how amazing the coffee is. So I know they don't make these things anymore but the build quality, ease of use, and most important taste of coffee is outstanding. I am just gonna really be bummed out the day this decides to quit knowing how much I am going to have to pay for a replacement unit. In reality, it is not that much when you think of how much you could be foolishly spending daily just to carry a starbucks cup around. Again if you can find one buy it. I'm ruined as no coffee seems to taste as good as what comes out of this machine!

I struggled to follow the initial instructions for setting up the machine, but after speaking with the seller was able to get the machine operating correctly. It brews amazing coffee and espresso. I can't drink "other" coffee any more.

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KRUPS 027/A-42?Espresso?Carafe, Black

We're a bit perplexed. We ordered this replacement once before and found the lid to fit perfectly. This time, we ordered two replacement carafes and our old lid doesn't fit either one. Not sure if Krups has made a running production change or what. Bottom line: don't break your carafes as often as we do!

Bought this replacement carafe on the recommendation in another review that it would work for our Melitta brand espresso maker model MEX1B. It does fit in the machine, but not with the (original Melitta) lid on.

Not a big deal for us, but something to be aware of if you're considering buying this for the Melitta espresso maker.

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So after my husband learned that a glass carafe + ceramic tile floor = big mess, we ordered this replacement for our Krups Il Duomo. No issues with the size, it fit perfectly. I am thankful that we kept the lid, as I am a little surprised that the lid is an extra purchase (and around $6!)

We're storing this one in the box in the cabinet so we don't repeat history...

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Just what I needed when I broke the carafe to my Krups espresso machine. Good price and great overall transaction.

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I have broken two of these now but the replacements are perfect and as you would expect. You just need to know that Krups sells the lid separately, so keep the lid to your carafe or else you will need to buy that separately.

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DeLonghi ESAM5500M Perfecta Digital Super-Automatic Espresso Machine, Metallic Blue

I am surprised that I am the first reviewer of this great machine. I just received mine yesterday. I bought it from another vender, but since I typically do most of my shopping via Amazon I thought I would share my experience thus far. Overall, this Super-Automatic is simple to use and makes great coffee, lattes, and cappuccino's. My advice though....WATCH THE DVD BEFORE USING!!! I thought I had this thing in the bag.. how difficult could it be to use??....Well it isn't difficult to use, but there are a few things I did that had I watched the video all the way through I would not have done. For example, when setting how fine or coarse you want the beans you have to adjust the dial one notch at a time while the grinder is running (still doesn't make sense to me). I paused the video before waiting for the lady to finish talking on the topic and just moved it a few notches towards fine...oops! Oh well, doesn't seem to have adversely effected anything, but now I know. Contrary to reviews I have read of super-auto's, the burr grinder on this one is quiet when running. On a scale of 1-10 where 10 is extremely loud and 1 is basically silent I would rate this machine a 5 and my Cuisinart Grind and brew (the one that hold like a pound of beans) an 8. I was actually expecting something much louder.

Build Quality I would have to say I am impressed with the looks of this machine and its fit and finish. I am sure some people will complain of the amount of plastic, but seeing how this thing already weighs over 20lbs. why add more weight. I thought about the Gran Dama, but honestly this machine is better.

CoffeeI was also considering the Jura Z5 because I read good things, but the price was a stretch. Granted, this machine isn't cheap either. I believe that I made the right choice. The espresso is great. I do wonder though what it tasted like from the factory, but since I changed the settings prematurely I will never know...ha! The Milk pitcher is ingenious...BRAVO! Latte's and Cappuccino's are a breeze and let me tell you this machine makes both very well. Sure a semi-auto can do better, but really I do not want to do the extra steps. As it is, Starbucks does not compare. I have read reviews that state the Gran Dama latte's can be cold. I have to admit, the first one I made was, but after I made a couple and utilized the cup warmer they were perfect. I bought the Cinnamon Dolce syrup from Starbucks and I downed to many lattes....probably explains why at 0209 EST I am still up and writing this review.

My Opinion If you are in the market for a super-automatic I would say give this one a consideration. I bought this machine from a place that has probably the best return policy of all retailers, so if something does go wrong I will take it right back for another. Regardless, the people at Delonghi are great and I was amazed that as soon as I pushed (1) I was talking to a person almost immediately. I will probably just purchase the extended warranty from the manufacturer and extend the 2 years to 4...Extra $150. That is all for now. Look for an update in a couple months.

**UPDATE** 3/24/10

Well I overworked the first one, but the place I bought it from gladly took it back and ordered me another one. I made nearly 2,000 cups of coffee in 4 months with the first one. I have made nearly 1000 with the one I have now, but it seems to be holding up fine. As far as recommending it I still would. I love this machine. It is so nice that I can make everything Starbucks does without having to pay them $4 for every cup. I have basically every syrup they have and all my guests rave about the Delonghi. It is a lot of money to spend on a coffee maker, but I would do it again.

**UPDATE** 8/14/12

Well my Perfecta has been perfecta to date. No real issues to report yet.

My wife and I have been making 6-8 cups a day for 6 months. We only ever make cappuccino and the 'fire and forget' button is priceless. The froth is good albeit with slightly larger bubbles than from conventional froth. We always place the milk container in the fridge and so far we have had no problems with the seal. And, the milk container can be purchased separately at a reasonable price (so my wife says).

One slight niggle we have had lately is that sometimes the door opens during the coffee making process. I have cleaned several times but to no avail. And it is difficult to find out what is pushing on the door from the inside (it is closed :-). But I guess we eventually will figure it out.

Some reviewers have complained about the coffee being too cold. I currently live in Australia and previously lived 6 years in Italy where they serve the genuine cappuccino. Outside Italy I have often had the opposite problem, where inexperienced barista's make the coffee far too hot. It is not supposed to be that hot. In Italy the barista will generally attempt to remove your coffee cup almost immediately as the coffee is supposed to be consumed right away. A cappuccino can last a bit longer but is also consumed in short order. Some coffee gourmet sites list the optimal coffee temperature and too high a temperature ruins the coffee. So I am quite happy with the temperature of the Delonghi.

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The Good This espresso machine is very easy to use but can be intimidating at first. My husband and I use it several times a day and we have had no problems with it since we bought it at least 6 months ago.

The Bad It doesn't make a hot cup of coffee. It makes a warm cup of coffee. I take coffee with me to work every day in a travel cup and by the time I get to work (15 minutes) I have to heat it in the microwave because it is cold. My last cheap espresso maker would make a cup of coffee so hot that I could savor it for an hour. Very frustrating to me.

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Previous setup:

I used to use a Rancilio Rocky grinder and a Lelit Espresso machine. Making me and my girlfriend a latte with 2 shots in each cup and frothing milk was very time consuming and messy. The Rancilio Rocky grinder spit grounds out side of the portafilter. Making espresso shots (4 for the 2 of us) required grinding coffee into the portafilter 4 times, and making the espresso, cleaning the portafilter and repeat these step 4 times.

The De'longhi Perfecta experience:

I was real nervous spending this much money on an automatic espresso machine and not knowing how well it will perform. First and more importantly, The taste of the espresso is excellent! In the manual it says to making at least 4-5 shots before the machine will produce satisfactory results. The grinder is preset perfectly but can be adjusted to your liking. I make double shots and it completes in 20secs which is perfect. The espresso is neither sour or bitter. It is the perfect balance in taste.

I only make either a double shot espresso or a latte so i can only review the two. Ok so the espresso is delicious so now on to the latte. Some reviews Ive read stated the milk was too milky and no micro foam or doesn't produce much milk when making a latte. From the manual it shows 4 different ways to work the milk. READ THE DIRECTIONS. It will explain how to obtain denser froth or less dense froth. Pushing the Cappuccino button once will make a cappuccino and you can adjust the froth on the container as stated before. To make a latte, push the cappuccino button 'twice' and it will only make frothed milk. So for me, i make the double shot espresso then hit the cappuccino button twice, then i hit the cappuccino twice again and for me it makes my perfect latte.

The machine itself has been described as loud but in my experience with other machines such as the Rancilio rocky and lelit espresso machine, the de'longhi perfecta is not any louder. The grinder is actually quieter than the Rancilio Rocky and reminds me of the sound the grinders in coffee shops sounds like. It sounds like quality and feels like a quality machine. Its extremely easy and quick to clean.

In Summary:

It produces quality espressos and quality lattes. It is a joy to use this machine!

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Have had this machine for 15 months and 1534 shots of espresso and it still works great like the day I bought it. I only use distilled water and descale when it tells me to(shows up on digital read out). No problems ever and even though it's expensive it has saved me $6 a day from star bucks (quad grande mocha $5 +$1 tip)

-andy

11/23/2010

2863 shots of espresso and still going strong!!! In these machines I believe distilled water is the secret to longevity success.

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Lavazza 4202A 2.2 Pound Super Crema Espresso Whole Bean

after years of using starbucks espresso roast in my gaggia titanium, i thought i'd try something different. there is really NO comparison...the lavazza beans produce coffee that is less bitter and sweeter than any of the starbucks coffees...there is a lovely thick crema on top of the glass (thicker and tastier than any i've ever tried) i can even happily enjoy full cups of americano coffee from my gaggia (doesn't work really well with other beans, again, they tend to be bitter and acidy)

highly recommended!

Don't have a clue what the negative reviews are about...it's a food product and there will always be natural variations in consistency. I haven't experienced any with this product. Even though I received a 1kg bag with a broken seal, it was still excellent (it's a sin to waste it, LOL!). . As far as the "light" color goes, oily black beans clog super-auto machine's grinders so they're usually not recommended. FWIW, the Illy (see below) is black as night and it's pre-ground so I don't have to worry about clogging as I can manually bypass dose the machine. You can do the same with any espresso you buy pre-ground or grind in an external grinder.

Personally, I love the stuff! I was introduced to it by friends who bought a Saeco Incanto Sirius super-auto (HIGHLY Recommended) and use Super Crema and Illy Decaf pre-ground (fantastic, but you need a mortgage to buy the stuff) and I loved them so much I bought my own Sirius and tons of Lavazza (as well as the Illy decaf). I've had the Saeco from Memorial Day to Labor Day this summer and have brewed circa 800(!) shots, going through SIX (6) kilos (13.5#) of Super Crema in the process and have yet to brew a bad shot. It does fine in cappucino and cafe crema as well. I bring 12 shots into work on fridays (bagel day) and everyone loves the stuff...I haven't met one person who didn't enjoy my Super Crema espresso and that's served from a thermos!

Buy a bag and see for yourself....for LESS THAN the price of Starbucks garbage, you can get the real deal here. I just bought six more bags of the stuff...I'm keeping most of it and giving one or two away as gifts to family/friends. Remember the old caveat: there truly is no accounting for taste, LOL!

Enjoy!

UPDATE (4/8/09): After approx. 4,000+ shots, I haven't changed my opinion. If anything, I love this stuff even more now! I am completely addicted to Super Crema to the point that I can't stomach anything else. I still haven't had a bad shot with the stuff. If you find better, let me know, please! You'll have to go some to beat Super Crema in my book, especially at the under $/lb. price point!

Buy Lavazza 4202A 2.2 Pound Super Crema Espresso Whole Bean Now

Fantastic espresso beans! I usually drink Illy, but thought I would give this a 'shot'... and I was not disappointed! This has a slightly smokier flavor than the Illy roasts, produces a NICE crema, and is ultra smooth.

In short, give this a try. Highly recommended for my fellow coffee heads out there...

Read Best Reviews of Lavazza 4202A 2.2 Pound Super Crema Espresso Whole Bean Here

Lavazza produces the best espresso beans according to me. Someone was complaining against the quality may be the packs that you bought were too old and yesgenerally espresso does upset sensitive stomach, that does not indicate bad quality of coffee beans. I am from Europe and can say that Starbucks coffee is not to my taste, I have to agree with Mr.Hernandes. The bitter taste that they achieve has blends and notes of something quite different than the normal espresso bitterness.

Want Lavazza 4202A 2.2 Pound Super Crema Espresso Whole Bean Discount?

These are ordinary coffee beans, not the super oily dark roast you want in expresso beans. In fact they are a little on the green side. They probably make decent coffee.

Update 9/3. I have revised my review from 3 stars to 5. This is wonderful stuff, full-bodied and creamy. It isn't what I expected; it's better. I'm reordering some today.

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