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.

Read Best Reviews of Capresso 3011.01 4-Cup Glass Replacement Carafe with Lid for Mini Espresso Machine Here

... 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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