Starbucks Verismo 580 Brewer Silver (011023256)

I am obsessed with coffee machines, I am also obsessed with lattes. I spend too much money at Starbucks and I have been seeking a low cost machine that makes comparable drinks. This is NOT it. First of all the milk pods are basically powdered 2% milk and that is exactly what it tastes like. When I saw that they were also selling a $50 frother, I said, if these make lattes why do you need the separate frother?? now I know why, because the milk pods taste like watered down powdered milk. Basically what this machine is , is Nespresso but less sturdy and not as good. At least the Nespresso has the right brew temp and pressure. I have also tried the tassimo , which uses powdered creamora as their latte and that too is nasty. The only decent push button machine I have found that is comparable for decent latte making is the FLAVIA machine.Their milk packet is also made up of milk powder and whey, but for some reason it tastes much better Other then that , your best bet for cheap lattes is a Nespresso with a Keurig frother.

Starbucks Verismo 580 Brewer

The Starbucks Verismo single-cup brewer allows you to make your favorite drinks at home: lattes, espressos and of course traditional coffee. The system is very efficient and the ingenious pods make it so easy to use. Update 3/14/13. I am enjoying this machine more and more each day. More pods are being introduced and so there are more flavors and options out there. I've tried some of the coffee pods and I must say I love it!

Positives:

1. Make your favorite Starbucks drinks in just seconds at the convenience of home.

2. Very easy to set up, maintain and use. Modular as well, that is you can change the height of the drip tray.

3. Fashionable and eye-pleasing...they come in different colors.

4. Doesn't take up that much space.

5. Produces great lattes!

6. Well-built system. It looks sturdy and designed to last. Only time will tell.

7. Update 3/14/13. Emphasis on positive #1. It's timesaving machine! Sometimes I'm on the go and the Verismo machine always come true.

8. More variety of pods!

9. Pods provide a more consistent taste every time out. No need to measure just insert the pod and you will get the same great-tasting coffe every time out.

Negatives:

1. The pods are expensive. The unit cost per latte is $1.62.

2. The recommended pods produce small drinks. Was hoping for larger sized drinks. Update, 2/2/13 I have discovered that you can make the lattes bigger by hitting the espresso button an extra time or two without much loss of flavor. Problem solved.

3. If product doesn't sell well will Starbucks still support it?

In summary, after a week of heavy use, I really like the unit. It's very easy and produces delicious lattes and espressos in just seconds. The only initial drawback is the price of the pods, hopefully as demands for this excellent system increases the price of the pods will drop and become more consumer friendly. Update 3/14/13. More pods means more variety. After a couple of months of use, I love and rely on my Verismo more than ever. Taste is a matter of opinion but as more variety of flavors become available, the consumer is more likely to find the pod that best suits their taste buds.

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It's been nearly 25 years since I got my first Espresso maker--a totally manual machine--and I've had quite a few machines since then. I hate to say what my current Jura Super-Automatic machine cost, but I can say that in all those years, I haven't been able to make an Espresso at home that was as good as I could get at a cafe. Well, except with my manual machine, but that was back when I was young, single, care-free and had time to pull a shot (and clean up the grounds, water and general mess afterwards).

While my Jura machine makes excellent coffee, the Espresso just isn't satisfactory, regardless of the roast and grind (harsh, with thin, watery crema that dissipates in seconds). I had wanted to get a pod machine, but I've tasted a number of them and they just don't hack it. Keurig, as well as most of the pod machines, don't really make Espresso, just a small cup of strong, pressure-brewed coffee, rather like my Jura machine. Except for the Nespresso machines (which are too messy and time-consuming for me), none of them brew with adequate pressure or temperature to make a true Espresso. I was skeptical of the Verismo when I first saw it, but the local Starbucks was giving demonstrations and free samples, so I thought I'd try it and this is definitely The Real Deal.

The Espresso is hot, rich, full-bodied and mellow--even the dark roast. Although it doesn't quite produce the thick, dense crema of the best Espresso I've had, it is far superior to anything else out there I've tried and considering how simple and easy it is, I've got no real complaints. I also disagree with the people who think the milk pods taste bad. I've used them for making lattes and hot cocoa and find them quite good and natural tasting (far more natural tasting than any other pod machine "milk"-based beverages). I actually find them a little rich tasting and so I run a little more water through the milk pod when frothing (which actually makes it frothier). I wonder if people are frothing the milk using the "coffee" button rather than the "milk" button, which will burn the milk, as the coffee is brewed at a higher temperature.

After brewing an Espresso, you can manually run the water through an espresso pod for a few seconds longer and get a good long shot (the higher end Verismo machine can do a long shot automatically).

I would say the low-end machine is a bit overpriced, while the high-end machine is quite overpriced, but like buying an Apple product, you are paying for the name as well as a better product. I've had no problems with leaking or noise. It heats up incredibly fast, it takes up little space on a countertop and is easy and quick to clean up.

The mechanism is shockingly simple compared to the other pod machines--no motorized or automatic dispenser, just a big lever you pull to drive the coffee pod into the brewing chamber. If you move the lever too hard and fast, or bobble the lever while moving it, the pod will not seat properly and will fall through into the dump bin (you can easily retrieve it for re-use, as it's obvious when a pod has already been used).

It would be nice if there was a low-water-level indicator, as there is on the higher-end machine and it's surprising to me that even the higher-end machine doesn't have some sort of automatic mechanism to load the pod, either motorized or spring-loaded, to avoid pod seating problems, especially considering the price.

All in all, though, it makes great Espresso with little effort at a reasonable price and that makes it easy to overlook the minor annoyances.

Just an update: If your machine is truly leaking water, i.e., water is coming out somewhere other than the spout or ends up anywhere other than in the drip tray, then your machine is defective and you should exchange it. Either the pump/hose has a leak or the seal around the pod is bad. My machine has no "leaks" whatsoever after several weeks and hundreds of espressos. Not a drop of liquid anywhere other than in the cup or the drip tray.

If people are talking about "leaks" in reference to liquid in the drip tray, that is normal. Any liquid that drips from the spout without a cup under it ends up in the drip tray and any liquid left in the pod/chamber when the pod is ejected ends up in the drip tray. This is an inherent side-effect of having a collection container for the used pods inside the machine, rather than requiring you to empty the used pod with each brew. It is true of all superautomatic coffee makers, for example, which are even messier to clean up, as you have to deal with loose grounds as well. I dump out the spent pods and empty the drip tray once a day--takes me maybe a minute and there is no mess (I do keep the machine next to the sink, though, so I don't have to carry the water reservoir around and spill water).

As far as the pod continuing to drip coffee after brewing, all you have to do is eject the pod before you remove your cup and the dripping stops immediately (of course the pod will then leak into the drip tray, but that's what the drip tray is for).

Believe me, I am not some sort of Starbucks fanboy--I rarely go there unless I want an espresso and it's on my way, as I can make great coffee at home with my Jura machine (better than Starbucks, IMHO), but I am totally satisfied with the Verismo and it's ability to make Espresso.

Another update:

I've had this product for many months now and have made many hundreds of Espressos. IMHO there is no better home machine for Espresso than this, other than manually pulling your own shots. None of the other cup-at-a-time machines even come close other than Nespresso and this is better and easier.

Just to clear up some misunderstandings that seem to be around:

1. Starbucks didn't invent this machine, it's a slightly modified version of the Swiss K-fee machine popular in Europe and Australia, replacing the bottom "Rinse" button with the "Milk" button to reconstitute the milk pods at a lower temperature than for brewing coffee. Starbucks' contribution was their clever method of manipulating temperature and pressure to allow you to brew coffee, produce espresso and steam milk with one machine (as well as fine tuning the system to match Starbuck's "flavor profiles".

2. If your machine leaks, it's defective--return it. No liquid should go anywhere other than in your cup or the drip tray. You must empty the drip tray before it overflows, but other than at parties, I've never had to do that more than once a day. I have absolutely no issues with liquid clean-up--not one drop.

3. As explained in the manual, when you turn the machine on, you must run a rinse cycle, which is why only the top button lights when you first turn it on. This is a good thing. It cleans the machine out and warms your cup. It adds maybe 10 seconds to making your first cup of coffee. I also routinely run a dummy cycle without a pod to warm cups that just came out of the cupboard--it works great in the winter when my cups have been sitting in the cold cupboard overnight.

4. As explained in the manual, you can turn the machine off manually by pressing and holding the power button until it turns off (about 5 seconds).

5. I've used the milk pods to make lattes and hot cocoas for dozens of people and no one ever complained about the milk--even when I prompted them and asked them if the milk tasted funny (I don't think it tastes funny, I think it pretty much tastes just like frothed 2% milk). To me, the best lattes are made by running the milk cycle a few extra seconds (which produces a larger serving, makes the milk taste a little less rich and froths it more), then brewing two espresso pods into the frothed milk. Like I said, no complaints, only compliments from dozens of people I've served at parties.

6. Although it took me a day or two to get the hang of closing the lever consistently with no mis-feeding of the pods, I haven't misfed a pod in months. I think maybe people make the mistake of trying to do it too slowly and carefully once they are sensitized to the issue, which is not a good approach. Or else they try to slam it home, thinking it takes a lot of force. It takes a smooth, natural motion, not too fast, not too slow. I honestly have no problems with it at all now, although it's certainly an aspect of the product that could be improved.

Six Month update (May 2013):

I still love it. I use it several times a day, every day. No leaks, hardly ever misfeed a pod any more, easy to use, easy to clean--no issues.

I see a number of people complaining about having to rinse the machine so often--I must have glossed over that part of the manual. All I ever do is rinse the machine whenever I turn it on (unavoidable, as it will only allow you to run a rinse cycle when first turned on) and once before shutting it off for the night. Although I will typically run a dummy cycle in order to warm a cup up before brewing, if the cup is already warm, I don't bother. I never rinse the machine between brews. If I make a latte, I follow the instructions and brew the milk first, then brew the espresso into the milk. When I do this, I never have residual milk getting into the next shot.

Interestingly, I just got a call from Starbucks to participate in a Verismo survey. This was a real survey, not one where they just get the answers they want by limiting the questions they ask and the responses you can give. They asked questions about how it operated, how it tasted, the noise level, the price, any problems with the machine, and they listened to my feedback (we actually discussed ways to eliminate the pod-loading issue!). Even though I don't have problems with pod-loading any longer, it's still a less-than-professional aspect of the machine.

Hopefully this means Starbucks will eventually introduce a cheaper machine with an automatic loading system and low water indicator. Either that or they'll just give up on it--although I hope not!

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Produces a good Esspresso, but no need for an alarm clock for the rest of the household, this machine is sure to wake them up. It is very loud! 2 times louder than the Tassimo...and I got rid of the Tassimo because it was loud and dripped too long after brewing. This machine does not compete with Tassimo or Keurig in quality of construction. The Verismo drips coffee after brewing as well as the milk. What is the point of a pod holder if you have to pull it out every time you use it to empty the dripped milk (and I'm not talking a few drops).

The milk is powder and not very good. Tastes like powered milk.

PROS: it is fast at warming up to brew. It froths the top nicely. The taste is what I expected it to be: like Starbucks Espresso. The size is nice for a counter.

I have had it 4 days and am returning it. For the flaws, it is overpriced. I am going to spend $50 more and try a Nespresso.

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I love espresso. After years of making espresso out of the trusted bialetti.. thought I'd try something easier. Yuck. Absolutely nasty. Don't waste your time.

Primula Classic 8-Cup Coffee Press

This was my first foray into using a french press, so I don't have much basis for comparison; however, I'm very happy with the purchase. Following basic instructions I found on the internet (which match up nicely with the manufacturer-provided instructions), I was able to make a tasty and very strong pot of coffee. As someone who lives in a small space, I appreciate being able to make coffee at home without a cumbersome coffee machine taking up valuable counter space.

The pot and press both seem sturdy, and both have weathered several washings with no ill effects. The handle seems firmly attached, and the whole thing feels well made. I bought it in red, and it's an attractive object. Some of the red enamel on the lid was chipped when it arrived, but I haven't seen any other blemishes.

I would not recommend this for someone who doesn't like a robust cup of coffee--Coffee made in this french press packs a punch. For me, that's a huge bonus, but I like my coffee strong.

I had been wanting to try French press coffee for quite a while but didn't want to spend a lot on a press for several reasons. First, I wasn't sure I was going to like the taste. Second, all the presses, with the exception of the double-wall glass ones, looked pretty much the same except some had more plastic than others. Without knowing why I would spend $75 vs $20, I decided to opt for the less expensive model until I felt certain spending the extra $ was warranted. Well, not only does this press work really well, it is truly atrractive and a delight to keep on my kitchen counter. Easy to clean, pour, and use. Can't understand why spending big bucks would be worth it when this one is available!!

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price good , came in 3 days , first time making some coffee it was strong , very tasteful in simple to use i use this one it makes for me 2 big mugs of coffee in stil have a half a cup left, i think i might throw away my drip or put it back lol

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I bought this exact French press at Macy's and it lasted less than 1 year. I was very disappointed in the quality of this press, even though it was my first experience owning one.

I read the instruction booklet before using it, and it said that it was safe to put into the dishwasher. This proved incorrect because the red coloring is a thin layer of film and it began peeling off after one wash, sticking on other dishes. Not to mention it then looked awful because it had red color peeling off all over.

The press 'plunger' piece also was very cheap and would unscrew easily.

It did, however, "do the job" until recently when I bumped the carafe on the sink while washing and it completely shattered.

I would definitely recommend paying a little more for something that will actually last.

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As stated, this is a good French press for the money. But there is one caveat. If you put it in the dishwasher the metallic coating will be gone in a few washings. It still looks good, but don't buy it for the color.

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Sensio 90017 Bella Professional 12-Cup Coffeemaker

In a Nut Shell Has12 cups capacity, 24 hour clock/timer, brew pause, programmable shut off, gold tone filter, heavy, and die-cast aluminum.

Comment Even tho I have a pretty collection of coffee makers, I wanted to try 'something different', so I opted for Sensio's Bella Professional line.

READ the latest Update below.

* The Good -

1. Brews an Excellent pot of your favorite Java (kirkland's colombian supreme).

2. Brewing Time initially was Very Good compared to others, I have used before like the all-time favorite Krups line.

It's a Top Loader for both your Java and H2O and has the much sought after Radial Spray Head, which ensures an even coffee extraction. I strongly recommend using Filtered H2O

for all of your Brewing needs and using Reverse osmosis seems to be the best Option in "Hard-Waters" country, like here.

3. 1 year later, it's still working but the Tropics cause much deterioration and is taking it's toll.

* The Bad -

1. Expensive: Over 100 hundred Bucks + S/H Charges add up quickly.

2. Clock is very SMALL, totally worthless, as it does not have any Numerical Characters, like a regular clock, just 'subdued' lines, nice Blue glow though.

A much larger Round or rectangular 'clock & Coffee Function' window would have greatly improve it.

3. Using the Decanter to fill a Cup, results in Dripping coffee all over the counter, unless you Hold the decanter at a Perfect 20 to 25 degree Angle & Axis, which is difficult when it's Full.

This is mostly due to the way that the decanter's Flip-top is finished-cut at an angle. They should have looked at a mr coffee, Cuisinart or Krups.

4. The Pause n' Serve function is limited to 2 Quick cups only, otherwise, it will start to 'overflow' at the filter/basket, which can be a mess!

5. The Heating Decanter area gets grungy quickly from the spilled coffee and needs constant cleaning, as opposed to the Krups.

6. The Front Face Stainless has developed a 'smudged' appearance, not the Highly Polished finish that I expected, while this in itself does not affect the Function,

aesthetics are an important factor, for me.

7. It's sold and labeled as a 'Professional' coffeemaker, which it isn't and it's definitely NOT 'bella (beautiful) either!

* Update June 2010 I have downgraded this coffee maker to barely 1 Star. Here's why, the Decanter Warming plate has now degenerated to a Rusted, Crackled, Paint-less, Ugly Mess!

It also started to SLOW DOWN in it's percolating phase to the point where I have just replaced with a new mr coffee maker.

I expected more out of a 100+ dollar coffee maker.

This is the first time I have ever written a review about any small appliance purchased online. I am a long-time gourmet coffee nut, and have purchased many high-end coffeemaker brands over the years, including Krups, Braun, DeLonghi, and others. They all made great coffee and lasted a very long time. I purchased this Sensio 90017 Bella 'Professional' Coffeemaker in mid-2010 to replace a Krups that finally died after years of great service.

I suppose I was seduced by the great looks and supposed high-end features. But after this 'professional' coffeemaker broke down completely 7 months later, I contacted the Sensio 'Customer Service' department, located in Montreal, Canada. My unit simply would not brew at all, it just beeped continually. Be forewarned upfront that there is no service department anywhere to ship the coffeemaker to for repairs, so you are out of luck if it breaks down. And Sensio refuses to replace their coffeemakers should they break down during the one-year warranty period. This was very surprising.

I was also shocked to learn that the stated one-year warranty on this expensive coffee maker was not honored. Consumers beware: the company 'pro-rates' your warranty and will not repair or replace your coffeemaker if it dies within one year. Instead, they will refund you the pro-rated value left on the unit. For example, if you paid $100 for this coffeemaker and it broke down in 9 months time, you would receive 3 months (out of 12 months total warranty time) worth of the original value. Which equates to 25 percent, or $25 money back. I have never heard of such a policy in my life.

When I asked if I could have it repaired or replaced, they refused, as did the manager I spoke with. And here is what you have to do to get your pro-rated money amount back: cut the cord off the coffeemaker, type up a letter, attach a copy of your sales receipt, and SHIP IT ALL TO CANADA AT YOUR OWN EXPENSE!! Needless to say, for those of us who live in the USA it is not cheap to ship a package to Montreal. Do you think it is worth it for me to receive about $30 back when it costs a lot to ship the package and go through all this hassle?

Not only were the customer 'service' representatives very rude, it was obvious they did not care about their products or how consumers feel. I tried my best to get them to be reasonable, but they really don't seem to care about honoring the warranty. I was told there is absolutely nowhere to get the unit repaired, and that they no longer replace defective ones. Absurd.

While the unit worked, it made great coffee. And I would concur with other reviewers on the uselessness of the clock (it only illuminates while brewing and you can't make out the time). The other major annoyance for me was that the lid could not be removed from the glass carafe, making placing it in the dishwasher impossible. So much for the claim that the parts were dishwasher safe. And the carafe drips when pouring water into the unit or brewed coffee out into a cup.

If you want a coffeemaker at this price to last at least one year, and to buy from a company that actually cares about service, the warranty, and customers, then avoid Sensio at all costs. Also beware that this same model is now being sold under other brand names, such as the Food Network and a few famous chefs. You will recognize it by the looks and round blue clock with the nearly invisible hands. Sorry to have to complain, which I despise, but this company really does not care about its products.

Thankfully Amazon listened and refunded me my money. I was told they would contact Sensio about their warranty policy. Anyone have a recommendation on a sub-$100 coffeemaker that makes great tasting coffee and lasts?

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Thought after our wedding to get some of the most expensive appliances for our kitchen as we are just starting out. The coffee machine power quit after 12 months. I took it apart, have to literally damage the stainless face to access the switch. I heard they have a terrible warranty, so I thought try myself. No good. Into the landfill it goes. We had a junky coffee machine with an actual clock before and it was indestructable. What the hell? Pretty disappointed and out $120.

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We were looking for a new coffee maker that wouldn't dribble water condensation all over the counter top every time we opened the lid. Well, this one solved that problem, but the host of other issues does not make it worth the money. It is a handsome color for our kitchen and makes a very good cup of coffee. Other than that, it gets very low marks.

1. The first problem is the single entry/opening for adding both water and coffee grounds. I have seen this in other coffee makers and it is bad news. You always end up with coffee grounds in the water reservoir, and with this model it's virtually impossible to clean them out.

2. There is no water level window. You have to actually look into the reservoir and watch the water fill pretty awkward if you're a little short. Also, it has "steps" for the even numbers of cups for your water level. If, however, you want to make something in between, like 3 or 5 cups of coffee, it is total guesswork as to how much water to add. Most coffee makers have the same even-number set up, but since they have a window you can tell when you've hit the half-way point between two evens. Not so easy when you are peering in from above.

3. The coffee grounds basket has to be seated exactly right. I don't just mean line up the little notch on the rim of the basket; you also have to hold the handle of the basket up and while doing so, push the basket down into it's precise spot, and then drop the little handle. If you make an error with this step, the drip-stop function will be engaged, even though the carafe is in it's place. So the basket fills with water, but has no way to escape and you soon have an explosion of coffee and grounds all over your counter top. Once again, coffee grounds end up in the water reservoir, with no good way to clean them out. Even after we figured out this issue, and learned to properly seat the basket, we still miss once in a while and have a coffee catastrophe all over the kitchen.

4. The heating element is another problem. We've only had this maker a few months, and already the heating element looks 10 years old. You have to be sure to clean the heating element between each pot of coffee, and be sure to DRY your clean carafe before you place it on the heating element. Otherwise, any coffee or water seems to react with the heating element and the heat itself to ruin the finish on the element.

5. The programmable part is kind of a joke. It is indeed a programmable coffeemaker, and with much trial and error we have managed to get it to autostart coffee in the morning. The manual is rather vague about how to set the autostart do you put the left-side dial on BREW or ON? I called and asked a rep, who knew nothing about coffeemakers, and he determined that you put the right side dial on AUTO ON and the left side dial on BREW. This of course was wrong. Put the left side dial on ON. To just make coffee without programming it, you of course put the right side dial on PROGRAM and the left side dial on BREW. Yeah, that makes sense. NOT.

6. Another irritating feature of this maker is its auto-off which is not programmable. My old maker allowed me to program how long it could stay on, and since I like to putter around in the morning and sort of sip slowly through my cup, I usually set it for 4 hours. If I turned it off and wanted to heat it up later, I could just turn the maker back on and the heating element would do its job. But not the Bella. It automatically turns the heating element off after 2 hours. No ifs, ands or buts. If you still have a little coffee in the carafe you'd like to heat up, you are out of luck. If you turn the machine back on, it will sense whether there is water in the reservoir. If no water in the reservoir, it turns itself back off. And voila, cold coffee remains cold.

So, while the description calls it fully-programmable, it is not.

I would give this product only one star but it does make excellent coffee, so I gave it 2. There are surely other coffee makers out there that also make excellent coffee without all the hassle, and for less than $100.

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I didn't make coffee in this product, so I can't attest to that function. I expected it to be a little more substantial, but it looked and felt a little cheapish. I don't think it was horrible, just not what I was looking for. Actually, I was getting so sick of these kind of coffee makers, cold coffee, short life,etc, that on a whim I purshased a Farberware stainless steel percolater. It makes fabulous coffee and it is really hot and so flavorful. Everyone that comes over raves over the coffee. Best part. It was only about $48 on Amazon! You will have to grind your own coffee to the percolator grind in the store.

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Bialetti Dama Deco

It's a Bialetti through and through. Great performance. The pack of espresso included in the order was an awesome surprise and damned tasty too. You gotta get one of these.

West Bend 55108 3-in-1 Coffee Center, Black and Stainless

This machine looks very nice and was built fairly well for the most part, BUT the cappaccino machine needs more steam power for the frother and the rubber piece they have over the froth wand is useless and the machine actually froths better without it. The coffee maker takes forever to brew and the pot and its lid are kind of cheap.

I would NOT recommend this machine.

I am a hard sell when it comes to coffee makers. Over the years I have bought and subsequently returned, or trashed, more machines than I can remember. I had actually gone back to brewing manuallly with the cone and boiled water. Then last February I was furnishing a new office. I desparately scoured the market once again for anything that had the basics of a good machine and that was not rediculously expensive. In a last ditch effort, and with very low expectations, I bought the West Bend at Walmart. I was very surprised! This machine gets it right. The water is hot enough, the caraffe is easy to pour and easy to read, the warmer is not too hot, all the grounds get soaked evenly, its fairly fast, and it does not spatter or overflow and it turns out a great cup of coffee.

The Espresso side does okay, too, although it did spatter and make a mess, (I haven't seen one in this price range that doesn't), it was easy to figure out, easy to clean, and it makes a decent latte.

I recommended this coffee-maker to my next-door-neighbor, she bought it and I have used it several times. Again, no problems, excellent coffee.

For the money, you can't go wrong with this one.

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I found this product to be poorly made and flimsy. The espresso was more bitter than my previous machine and the machine itself clogged easily. I found that coffee of both types made with this machine was just a little funny tasting, perhaps because of the plastic or other materials used in its manufacture.

On the good side, the warmer plate for regular coffee was not very hot, but hot enough, allowing the second cup to taste almost the same as the first.

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Well so far this machine has been great for the price, while the espresso isn't great it makes a fairly good mocha. It isn't a 3 or 5 hundred dollar machine, let's face it it wasn't even $50.00. I usually spend $5.00 or $10.00 a week on mochas so if I get even 6 months out of it will will have paid for itself several tiimes over. If you are looking for Starbucks either go to Starbucks or get yourself a $500.00 machine but if you are looking for a fairly good mocha or cappucino then give it a try.

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For the price, the machine looks great and I was not expecting miracles just good coffee and occasional decent cappuccino. That said I was happy to read Miss Mary's review because the bitter taste the coffee has from this machine is amazing. First, I thought it was the water then the coffee after changing both and getting the same result I'm glad it was not just me. I plan to send it back today!

Bialetti Replacement Gasket & Filter for 9 Cup Espresso Maker

The gasket for the 9-cup moka maker is TOO small. I bought this same exact filter/gasket set at another store and found that the gasket was too small (3 3/16" outer ring, 2 1/2" inner ring) to create a proper seal for my Bialetti. Reading another post, I found that Espresso Zone sells a proper gasket. It is the GAS-310. I even measured my moka maker to be sure 3 3/8" outer ring, 2 3/4" inner ring. Good luck finding the correct one!

The Bialetti replaceent Gasket was very easy to install and bought new life back into my stovetop espresso pot. The pack of 3 gaskets with filter is an amazing deal.

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Fits my esspresso maker well and certainly saved me money. Otherwise, I would have to buy a new appliance.

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We need a new gasket for our Bialetti Venus espresso maker. To buy a replacement, I had to go to one site to find out many cups our espresso maker makes (based on the measurement of the coffee basket); then go to another cite and purchase a gasket for that size espresso maker. Long story short, the gasket is too small, I'm out $8.00 and back to square one. Don't know WHY the pictured gaskets can't mention what size they are... I suppose Bialetti wants you to keep purchasing gaskets until you accidentally get the correct size for the model you own.

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I've been replacing the gasket for my stove-top espresso maker for a while and this makes it a perfect one.

Worth noting that my particular brand is no Bialetti but Pezetti. Same shape and size, so if you have a 9 cup Pezetti this is the right item for you.

CBTL from The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Beverage System, Americano Silver

I couldn't decide between the various CBTL units, but was sure I wanted a combo espresso and coffee maker. While I wouldn't consider myself a total coffee snob, I do love the good stuff, Blue Bottle, Peets Major Dickason etc. I have been very pleased with this unit after about two weeks of use. I have an excellent true espresso maker, but the difference has been negligible enough that for the time saved and the good quality pull achieved, this is a steal. I was able to find a combo with a hand held milk frother for

60 Nespresso Capsules Mixed Flavors New Mixed5

Do not buy these here. They are twice the cost if you buy from nespresso on their website. Their website is a little tricky but its worth it. You have to join their club. They even ship faster on nespresso's website.

Came quickly, exactly as described and no problem. I am new at this nespresso stuff, but so far so good. I just bought my machine before Christmas as a present to myself and I'm hoping that the machine holds up well. But this seller lived up to all expectations and I would highly recommend them. Priced reasonably and shipped quickly.

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Nespresso makes GREAT coffee and GREAT machines. I switched over to a Nespresso machine 7 years ago and have never looked back. I save a small fortune every year by making my lattes at home.

That being said, the Nespresso capsule offers posted here are from a third party who is putting a large additional margin on their price.

You can order the same products online from Nespresso for approx $0.55 each (half the price here).

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Love it. This a great combo pack if you like strong, bold espresso at home. I will definitely purchase again.

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Breville Refurbished XXBES830XL Espresso Machine

There are already plenty of reviews on the new model of this machine so I won't critique the design. I ordered this refurbished model after a Breville refurbished model with grinder failed. This one is working with no problems so far and makes a good espresso when using the single wall filters. There were no scratches or any trace of use on the machine I received. My only complaint so far is that the hot water wand drips a small amount when using the steam wand. Other than that, all is well. I also got the item quite a bit cheaper than it is currently listed.

(Update) 13 June 2012 -

After 94 days water started leaking on the unit and was found underneath the accessory tray and two days later started leaking through the seam in the upper right front, in front of and to the side of the steam wand. I contacted Breville Customer Service for a warranty replacement through email and I was sent a brand new unit to replace the refurbished one. The entire process from contact to resolution took 14 days. The new unit is working nicely and the Long Blacks taste great. Breville did state that the new unit would only be warranted for 90 days.

(Update) 04 January 2013 -

I left the title and rating as a good refurb on my previous update based upon the one year warranty. I now see that the warranty has been reduced to 90 days. The reliability of these refurbished units is marginal at best. Based upon the changes to the warranty I am rating this unit a 2.

EDIT: Third unit came in. Wrong parts. Lowering to one star. I bought this as a lighting deal for 250 dollars so I don't want my money back, I just want a working machine. Honestly, I know it's refurbished but it should at least work initially, right?

Amazon, I'm not a landfill, stop sending me garbage.

Initial review:

2 stars because Amazon's support is so amazing. But...

The first unit wouldn't pump water at all.

The second replacement unit would only heat water to 140 degrees and dripped from every orifice while running.

I'm wondering who does QA on these refurbs...

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I like the machine. Its my first espresso machine being that I'm trying to leave Starskybucks alone..(Love 'em but too costly a habit when adding up the visit.) However, just like others who purchased this refurbished 830 for the gold deal price ($249), mine leaks from the top of the machine near the steam wand. Hand still hurts from the hot water hitting me. After trying to return to replace the machine, Amazon (Ama) didn't give an option for replacing unit.

So I called Amazon being that like other customers, I did not want a refund vs. I wanted a working model at the gold deal price that I paid that would allow me to make my morning cup of espresso. Kudos to Ama customer service for their assistance in allowing me to keep the machine until they replenish their stock with working espresso machines. I don't think they initially realize how much customers want to keep their deal price and how coffee drinkers love their coffee.

But Ama did so I'm satiated for now...Ob(ezo's)'Ama(zon) does care. Fyi to other customers, this review is after using it for the first time so I may discover more pros or nuances with this machine later. One star for the broke machine but will change once I get a working refurb..so stay tuned...for O(le) B(ezo's) Ama(zon) to do their magic and get me the machine I want and I keep it at the price I liked.

Update: 5/7/12

Amazon sent me a new one and its working correctly...no leaking water. So I'm happy.

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Bought this machine as a gift for mothers day. Unfortunately when she received it, the machine would not stay powered on for more than 10 seconds. To get the power back you had to fully unplug the unit then plug it back in. This would only result in it powering for another 10 seconds. Needless to say Breville customer support attempted walking her through initial priming procedures but this failed to work. They recommended returning it and buying a non discontinued model. Guess I should have listened to the other reviews on here. The great price had me hopeful. I am glad that Amazon's return service is straight forward and honoring the refund.

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We purchased this unit as a Xmas gift to ourselves on Saturday 12/22/12 and anxiously awaited it's expected arrival on Xmas eve. Sure enough, Santa delivered right on schedule! However, despite Amazon's timely delivery, we were very disappointed since we could not get the machine to dispense any water. We read the manual, checked the directions & connections, and tried troubleshooting by running the unit for several minutes and switching between hot water and steam (to "prime" the machine), all with no luck. On December 27th, I called Breville Technical Support for assistance. The tech asked if we'd tried the recommended "priming" process, and I confirmed that we had. He asked where we purchased the machine and I explained that we purchased the "refurbished" machine on Amazon.com. He asked if I could email the receipt so I did. He then emailed me back a Fed Ex Shipping label, so that we could return the machine to Breville for replacement (Breville paid the shipping cost). He also advised that the Model BES830XL had been discontinued and Breville had no more in stock. Therefore, they'd be sending us the newer Model BES840XL called "The Infuser." Within 5 days, we were delighted to receive our brand new Breville Model BES840XL espresso machine. I must say it was well worth the effort, since we ultimately saved $200. Also can't say enough about Breville's outstanding customer service! (Note: We also own a Breville blender, and absolutely love it!)

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Espresso Pot Gaskets 6-Cup 2 13/16" Wide for Aluminum Pot Set-4

These replacement gaskets are alot thinner than the gaskets that came with my moka pot. I had to use a little less coffee (make sure the coffee is slightly below the edge of the cup). Since the gaskets are thinner I had to screw on the top about a quarter turn more than normal. The frist time I used the gaskets, coffee leaked down the side of the pot and I lost alot of the water from losing steam. After I made the adjustment(mentioned in the beginning Of the review) the gaskets seem to work fine but I plan on buying new gaskets that are closer to the original gaskets

After replacing a worn out gasket with these OEM gaskets, I was losing over half the water in the pot to steam. After I inserted new Bialetti gaskets, my caffetiera was brewing like new again.

The problem seems to be the thickness and hardness of the gaskets. These OEM gaskets are half the thickness of the original Bialetti gaskets; the material of the Bialetti gaskets also seem slightly softer, so that with the Bialetti, the top and bottom can be screwed deeper into the gasket, creating the tight seal you need for the caffetiera to work properly.

I'm all for saving a few bucks on OEM products, but, unfortunately, these gaskets left me decaffeinated.

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Ordered my expresso gaskets from the Wire Wisk. Excellent packing, shipping, and quality product.

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I love using moka pots to make espresso, the only draw back is finding gaskets when they wear out. This was a good replacement and did the trick, only had to do one wet run to settle the new gasket to produce a good cup of espresso

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Gaggia Brera Superautomatic Espresso Machine

This was my first foray into semi-automatic espresso machines, so even though I don't have a lot of experience, I was extremely careful in the treatment of the Brera. I cleaned it weekly, and descaled it on a regular basis. Unfortunately two things happened. About a month ago, every third or fourth espresso started coming out extremely watery. It seems that the beans were not being properly syphoned into the grinder properly. It appears that the machine makes the espresso regardless of whether there are enough beans in the hopper. When they did go in, it would make great crema. Last week, however, it developed an electrical issue. The machine would not prime and after playing with it for a few days, it refused to turn on all together. Ugh. I will attempt to get it repaired, but I am not hopeful. So for 900 dollars I got about 4 months of great espresso and a nice countertop decoration.

I bought the silver version about a year ago to replace an aging Capresso C1000. Unlike the burnt taste and warm espresso with the c1000, this unit produces excellent espresso in both taste and temperature. For your reference, I mostly use Giggia Intenso whole beans.

However, there are some minor problems not related to the espresso produced.

1. After about 4 months of use (latte in the morning), the top silver plating of the frothing handle started to peel off. It turns out that this peeling piece is made of plastic that covers the internal metal frothing tube. However, the paint peels off this plastic since it can't withstand the heat of the steaming hot metal. The part was replaced under warranty, but they charged me $6.95 for shipping. While this piece doesn't affect the functionality of the unit, it sure cheapens the look of the unit.. all for a lousy piece of plastic.

2. The water container is too small. Water has to be refilled after few shots of espresso. Not a problem for personal daily use, but annoying if you are entertaining more than a few guests.

I wish I could give this 4.5 stars, but that is not an option. Therefore, I'll give 4 stars since they made me pay shipping for a cheaply made plastic part that was still under warranty.

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Since Whole Latte Love won't print my review (please note others have assigned the machine 1 to 2 stars, yet only glowing reviews are published) I will back up the problems others have reported here. I always research big dollar purchases on Amazon and trust the reviewing community, and others should be forewarned about the Gaggia Brera. I bought it to replace my workhorse Saeco Superautomatica that trucked along for 8 years with typical repairs and part replacements. I make only one 2-shot latte a few times a week out of this machine, so I'm not asking a lot. I appreciated the quieter grind and operation of the Brera, the espresso was good, and the steamer worked great (although the wand is peeling and unattractive). My first complaint was that the ground beans overshot the press and filled the side of the machine. I also bought this for its bypass feature which made sense to brew the occasional decaf or flavored coffee. I contacted WLL, and they told me to use a brush and clean the shoot. Huh?? So I got used to wasting a lot of coffee and cleaning out the machine weekly. Should have returned it then. Now it's demanding to be primed and stuck cycling through the signals. This indicates the flow meter or self-priming valve is broken...and many have reported this problem. So...$140 to ship off for repair on top of the $650 purchase price after less than a year. Stay away from the Gaggia unless you want a pretty looking paper weight.

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I relied heavily on the brand name and reviews when I purchased this product, but was extremely disappointed upon its arrival. For $897 I would have expected a much more robust structure, but it is almost entirely plastic and, frankly, very chintzy in feel and appearance. I followed the setup instructions precisely but after only 3 cups of espresso, the service door which encloses the brew group warped to the point where the door opens during brewing and shuts the machine off. The coffees it made were not bad, but I literally had to hold the service door shut to keep the brewing cycle on. Gaggia needs to throw some of the $897 at some higher quality materials and rethink the service door design. Another disappointment was the absence of the special water filter. They refer to an "Intenza" filter in the instructions and the product description at both Gaggia.com and Amazon.com say this filter is included, but not so. Only a small molded plastic filter. BUST from beginning to end!!!!

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Bought Gaggia Brera through Amazon about a year and a half ago and worked well until all of a sudden got stuck in a "prime loop" where all it could do was prime over and over again--no more brewing.

I have cleaned and descaled it exactly as instructed in manual and did all of that again to troubleshoot to no avail.

here is a YouTuvbe video descring problem although their's occured right out of box and I had excellent espresso for a year and a half.

Gaggia Brera Superautomatic Espresso Machine, Silver]]

I am out of warranty and now have to find someone to repair it.

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Black & Decker DCM2590 SmartBrew 8-Cup Drip Coffeemaker with Thermal Carafe, Black

I originally had a 4-cup coffee maker with a stainless steel carafe. It did the job, but would not stop leaking during pours. I was a bit skeptical of the DCM2590 because of the price, but I was wrong. While eight cups may seem a bit much, the thermal carafe has kept coffee I made in the morning warm until after work! Plus, not a single drip out of the carafe! The coffee tastes great and is quite hot. Highly recommended purchase.

I needed to replace a Bunn coffeemaker. Even though it made great coffee and was super speedy, I was fed up. In just three years there had been two recalls, and then one morning it had leaked water all over the counter. Enough already! After lots of research, this looked as if it was what I wanted. Even though it would take longer to brew coffee than the Bunn, it had a thermal carafe and a timer. I made the right choice. This makes hot delicious coffee which stays hot and fresh long enough to last through the morning. I am pleased.

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I wanted an automatic drip because the on/off switch on my vacuum coffeemaker broke within three months (Bodum brand) so I had to stand and hold the button. I wanted thermal to keep the coffee hot. This model, to my surprise, has a flat filter, not cone-shaped. The coffee needs to be finely ground to ensure a rich cup of coffee. Unlike the vacuum, the water never really boils so it starts out cooler, but stays a reasonable temperature in the carafe.

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First, I have this unit and have enjoyed it for months now. I bought it at a garage sale to avoid burnt coffee from the warmer plate on most drip coffee makers. It is a less time consuming option than my espresso machine.

My coffee is perfect in temperature without preheating and we do keep the house in the 60s. I grind my own coffee in a burr grinder and I preheat my milk and/or mug (for black coffee, using tap water) in the microwave (and sometimes foam it with a small electric whisk) so that it doesn't cool the coffee. I use a cheaper grinder for decaf coffee in the evenings. I do the same ritual at Panera to preheat my cup and milk using the microwave under the counter for the same reason. I like my coffee hot. Cold liquids and a cold cup ruin what came out of the carafe at just the right temperature. Since my wife likes weak, insipid coffee (we still respect each other in the morning), I sometimes decant the first run of coffee into a separate stainless steel thermos and run a "second run" for her. Since the thermos carafe keeps it hot rather than a warming element, the coffee does not get bitter.

A comment about keeping the coffee hot.

Since the pot is a stainless steel thermos, you are going to get the hottest coffee if you brew a full pot. It also will stay hotter the more coffee (and less air) it has in it. And, of course, it will stay much hotter if the lid is fully sealed except when pouring. Also there is a small hole always open, so unless you cover this hole with a towel, it is not quite as hot as a stainless steel thermos with a full seal. I never brew less than four cups (as marked on the side), but that is because you also don't get the right drip through on the coffee if you have too shallow a depth of coffee in the filter.

If you are making a small amount of coffee and your house (and carafe) are cold, prewarming the pot is not a bad idea, especially if you are just making a few cups of coffee. (The first hot coffee in the pot has to warm the pot, stainless steel does not warm as fast as glass and even if there was a heating element under the carafe, the heat wouldn't get through because it is a thermos with a vacuum barrier in between the inside and outside walls .) As I say, I have not had to do this.

Simple tip: If you want your coffee hotter, you can also preheat the carafe (and the rest of the system for that matter) by running a cup or two of water through the coffee maker before you brew your coffee. This would also clean your carafe and system--dump it out of course just before you hit the button to start the coffee.

All drip coffeemakers work the same--the water turns to steam, climbs up above the beans, condenses and drips through. So your coffee will also be relatively hotter if 1) you use a coarser grind of coffee, as finely ground coffee slows the drip more, 2) if your ambient temperature is higher (since the coffee is more or less in the "room" while it is dripping through the beans into the carafe, and 3) as above, different strategies for keeping your carafe more insulated and starting at a higher temperature before the coffee enters.

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This thermal carafe coffee maker works well in getting most of the flavor from the coffee, is very easy to clean, is energy efficient, keeps the coffee hot and keeps flavor in the coffee for a long time if the top is closed securely, is reasonably attractive, appears to be durable, and seemed to be the least expensive of all the thermal carafe coffee makers currently available. I believe that it should be illegal to sell old fashioned hot-plate coffee makers, which are incredibly wasteful of energy and which make coffee undrinkable 5 minutes after brewing.

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Krups GVX Burr Grinder

First, let me say that I am NOT a coffee connoisseur (heresy, I know). Just a guy with a drip machine and a need for much morning brew. I wanted to grind my own because I hate the flavored coffee taste that I always seem to get from the grocery store grinder. I'm also busy and lazy.

I really like this grinder; and I like it for the same reasons that the guy from Hawaii hated it. I want to spend my morning drinking coffee, not preparing it (one cup at a time? yeah, right). Pour the beans in (no more measuring), push the button, and before you can fill the maker with water, you have just the right amount of grind ready to go. Yes, there's a little sticking to the plastic container, but I've never had it cause any mess just tap it on the sink before you remove the lid then pour it into the filter. Grind size and quantity takes a couple of attempts to figure out exactly what you like, but seems pretty consistent once set. Only gave it 4 stars because there are features on the more expensive units that would be nice a BIG, sealed, hopper that would hold several days worth of beans; and glass grind containers that would completely eliminate the static issue. However, for my use, and for the price, this thing works great. Hope it holds up over time.

I've been the owner of this grinder since February 20, 2005. In that time span, I would guess that the beans have gotten "stuck" (whereby the burrs spin freely without doing anything) maybe 5 times TOTAL. I make coffee about 3 or 4 times a week. So that's somewhere between 30 and 45 operations, and it's goofed up 5 of those times. NOT ONCE have I had to disassemble anything. You just hit the grind button again to stop it, jostle it GENTLY back and forth, and hit the grind button again. Of course, you lose the timed grind that is supposed to happen, but I view it as a VERY MINOR inconvenience to have to stand there and manually turn it off when it's done grinding.

As for the complaints of size, I think we've pretty much come to a consensus among the reviewers that it's NOT freakishly huge, or whatever that one reviewer said. It's modestly sized, and certainly less blockish and imposing than, say, the Rancilio Rocky, for which you'll pay 5-10 times as much.

The noise is not an issue for me, because it's no noisier than the old blade grinder I had. You've got to look at these kinds of issues like you would evaluate a car. Yes, a Rolls Royce is going to have less road noise than a subcompact Toyota, but the Toyota isn't going to set you back $50,000, and it's going to use less gas, AND it's going to get you there in just as much time. So there might be some noise (particularly when the beans get lodged funny), but it's no worse than the KitchenAid blade grinder that will wake up not only your partner, but also your dog and the local fire department.

Lastly, the grind itself. I will agree with the complaints that have been lodged previously. First, the grind is generally too fine for the setting. I haven't tried french press yet, but I get the suspicion that it'll be too fine even on the coarsest setting. Additionally, there's a little bit of overground powder that comes through with every grind. This shows up as a very thin layer of sludge at the bottom of a brewed pot. And finally, the cup dial does not accurately reflect everything I've learned and been taught about how much bean goes into one cup of coffee. It does grind too long for the cup setting. But you learn this quickly, and it's a pretty easy fix. If you're making 4 cups, set the dial to JUST above 3 cups. Voila. And if you're making fewer than 3 cups of coffee, you should find a roommate. There's no good way to make coffee in that small an amount.

My final thought on this grinder is that people who give it one star are being way too hard on it. I'd honestly give it 3 and a half, but I'll go with 4 just to boost its self-esteem a bit. You're paying $50 people. It's not a Rancilio. It's not a Mazzer, it's not an Isomac, it's not even a Starbucks Barista. But it's pretty good, and affordably priced, and it's a hell of a lot better than a blade grinder.

For those of you who might WANT to spend $350-500 on a burr grinder, but know you reasonably SHOULDN'T, this is the grinder for you. Just learn to live with its quirks, and you have a fantastic bargain on your countertop.

**UPDATE**

French press works great. My favorite use for this setting: I grind up a baggie-full before I go camping, and with my Lexan French press, I get a spectacular cup of coffee, which makes my fellow campers extremely jealous.

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One other reviewer stated that this grinder is ungodly big soooo not true. At a little under 10 inches tall, 5 inches deep, and 4 and 1/2 inches wide, this grinder is WAY smaller than my previous Cuisinart Burr Grinder which just recently broke. And the noise! DECIBLES quieter than my Cuisinart!!! It is such a low sound for a grinder. Mainly sounds a little louder than a murmur....First time I grinded coffee, I nearly jumped for joy that the volume was loads lower than my other one! Grinds were also very even. I grind in between medium and fine, and I did not see extremely powerdy grinds or even course grinds. Everything was very even in it's texture! Great grinder. I love it already!!!

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I got this grinder because it seemed ridiculous to pay three or four times the price for the nice industrial-strength Kitchen Aid grinder that I saw sitting next to it on the shelf. After a few months of using it, I know why it's cheaper -it continually fails, even on fresh, oily Peet's beans. As another reviewer noted, when it jams, you have to unload the whole thing into a bowl, disassemble it, note disconcertingly that the insides are made of plastic, and put it all back together.

And in actual use, this grinder leaves the largest countertop coffee-ground piles of any grinder I've used.

It's extremely frustrating and I wish I'd bought the Kitchen Aid to start with. Poor build quality, short lifespan, and poor design.

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After a "long term road test" of this Krups Coffee Grinder, I wanted to summarize my experience. I have used it pretty much daily. It replaced another Krups grinder (blade not burr) that I had used off and on for 20+ years.

Good:

1. Easy to use, particularly for getting beans into it and ground coffee out of it.

2. Does not get coffee everywhere (a key modification was to put it on a little tray that catches the ground coffee that falls out as you remove the ground coffee container).

3. Moderate noise level. It is not "quiet" and has gotten noisier over time. That makes me suspect that the noise level of individual units may vary a bit. But it is much quieter than the Krups blade unit it replaced.

4. Has been reliable. My previous burr grinder (different brand) failed within one week.

Bad:

1. Plastic grounds reservior is very staticy, so grounds adhere to the plastic. I carry the container to the sink, and give a sharp rap on the bottom of the sink, to get everything loose off.

2. Beans do not feed evenly, sometimes the grinder freewheels with no beans feeding down and you need to whack it. I found that the grind affects this (finer grinds seem to feed better) and the beans; very oily (i.e. dark roast) beans do not feed as well as drier beans.

I still have ranked it 4 stars as I thought it was a very good value. It has lasted nearly a year without an issue and I have worked around or adapted to the shortcomings. I would not spend money to replace it: it meets my needs.

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Ferrero Pocket Coffee (18 Pcs - 225 G)

At so many cafe, tobacco shop and grocery store check-out counters in Italy you can buy this tiny hit of espresso in a small rectangle of dark chocolate. Molto bella. Twice now I have brought home several boxes of these delicious treats for my friends to taste. Not one Pocket Coffee has ever made it out of my house. I love to cook and share what comes out of my kitchen but I cannot bring myself to share these.

A quick and tastey break from the day's work, and it fits in your pocket too! Dangerously delicious treat with a caffene jolt.

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Well...... I had some reservations about ordering this product, wondering if they would melt in the heat and be ruined guess what? they didn't and they are as good as the ones I found at the Rome airport the 1st time, then hubby went to Rome and brought me some back, then family went to Rome and said they were unable to find them... so after a brief dis-appointment my smile is back, I don't have to wait on travels to Rome... yet I am mindful that there is a specific shelf time that they are available

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I first found this product in the checkout lines at Austrian groceries. When I returned back to the US, I ordered this from Amazon to share with co-workers. They are espresso-filled chocolates and are quite good. I had to warn co-workers to put the entire thing in their mouth, because the espresso is liquid and will drip out if you bite. My colleagues snapped them up quickly and we were energized for the rest of the day! I had to hide them from my 6 year old because she liked them, too, and would climb anywhere to find them. She already has enough energy.

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What's not to like??? It's so rich, one candy satisfies my sweet craving for the day. YUM! And the little bit of crunch.... nice.

Jura ENA 9 One Touch

Let me first state that I have only had this for two days and that this is my first espresso machine. I say this so readers will understand that this quick "review" is to point out a couple of details that may be overlooked when researching this machine, not as an indication of the quality of drink produced.

I began doing research on home espresso machines several years ago after drinking coffee prepared by my dad on his Jura Cappresso E8. It was a revelation to drink such good quality coffee outside of a coffee shop. At the time my wife didn't care for coffee so it was only me drinking a single cup in the morning with breakfast so I was put off by the high prices and ended up buying a grind and brew automatic drip coffee maker by Cuisinart. I bought it "open box" at a kitchen store for a hundred bucks and I was pleased enough with it. Fast forward a few years and now my wife enjoys cappuccinos and lattes and drinks coffee with me daily, albeit with a lot of cream and sweetener. She also stops at the local coffee bar for a flavored cappuccino with some regularity. So I started looking into a quality espresso machine for the home again.

I spent a lot of time educating myself on the various makers, such as Jura, DeLonghi, Gaggia, Saeco, etc. I knew that I wanted to get a superautomatic as we aren't purists, nor do we have the time usually to pull our own shots, froth our own milk, etc. At the end of the day, it came down to the various Jura Onetouch models, the Gaggia Accademia Espresso Machine, and the DeLonghi ESAM5500M Perfecta Digital Super-Automatic Espresso Machine, Metallic Blue. My research led me to have a little less confidence in the DeLonghi's reliability, although I liked their milking system. The Gaggia was just too much for me to spend on my first machine (or last for that matter more than likely). My dad has never had the first problem with his Jura and it's more than 5 years old and likely has not had much maintenance or cleaning I suspect so I feel it will hold up to the reasonably light use we will give a machine. The Jura-Capresso 13422 Impressa C9 One Touch Automatic Coffee-and-Espresso Center, Black and Jura-Capresso 13423 Impressa S9 One Touch Automatic Coffee-and-Espresso Center, Platinum are older models, larger and more expensive than the ENA series. So due to the features, the quality, and the fact that it was the least expensive, I decided to purchase this machine.

Now, to the machine. The first thing I should point out is that it is a unique design for Jura. The other one touch machines work differently, which I didn't realize when I made my decision. The key point to this is that THERE IS NO EXTERNAL FROTHER. If you want to froth milk manually you can't do it. And it is not equipped with their Connect System either, which would allow you to change out the external wand with a frothing wand. The wand on the ENA9 is only a hot water spout. I would have preferred to have the option for manual frothing, both for experience and as a backup. The other nice thing about manual frothers as they are easier to clean. I mention this in case you, like me, didn't notice the lack of a frothing steam wand. The internal frother does microfroth, which is a pleasure. You can purchase a Capresso frothPRO for less than steam wand would cost if you really want to froth manually (but it's a different method of frothing.

This machine is really designed to optimize the one touch functionality. It works best when you set your preferences and store them. The preferences you can store are water volume (up to 12 oz), strength of espresso, duration of milk froth and temperature. You set these for espresso, cappuccino and coffee individually. If you want more or less of any of these parameters I think you have to go in and change the preferences. I may be wrong about this as I'm still getting my preferences set but I haven't found a way of pulling a one off variety yet. Honestly, I pretty much want the same thing every time anyway so it's not that much of an issue.

The one touch feature is nice. All you have to do is put the sialastic hose into your milk source, slip your cup under the nozzle and push the cappuccino button on top of the machine. A few minutes later, depending on your chosen froth duration, there is your cappuccino. Of course don't bother with the milk for coffee or espresso.

There have been criticisms of the ENA series regarding the small capacity of the water tank and bean hopper. One of the compromises of having a smaller machine on your counter is that the capacities are smaller. My dad loves his large capacity water tank because he can drink coffee all day without refilling it. I personally like to have fresh water and beans so having to fill them up frequently doesn't bother me in the least, but as I stated, we are not high volume drinkers either.

The last point I would make is that there is a fair amount of maintenance with this machine, IF YOU USE MILK. I don't think it is unique to this machine but is typical of the superautomatics in general. My dad only drinks espresso or coffee which is probably why he can get by without cleaning his often. You are supposed to rinse or preferably clean the cappuccino portion after each brewing session. It is very simple to do but may get to be a pain on a daily basis. You just run the machine through it's cappuccino cleaning cycle, using water or Jura's proprietary cappuccino cleaning liquid Jura-Capresso 63801 Auto Cappuccino Concentrate, 250 ml and manually rinse the frothing tube and a few rubber pieces inside. It's a small hassle but likely necessary as milk will cake on the internals and I'm sure halt the function of the frother if neglected like any other milk frother. Another reason for an external frothing option. Using filtered water, or the in tank Jura filter will cut down if not eliminate the need to descale the machine supposedly.

The ENA series boasts an energy efficient option of auto shut down, the timing of which you can customize. So, if you like to save energy, the machine will automatically turn off after a set period of time. This would not be an attractive feature if you are like my dad and enjoy walking up to the machine any time of day and pulling a cup of coffee. You would have to turn it on each time. It doesn't take long to heat up again but it does prompt you to rinse on each start up. You don't have to use the auto shut off but it's there if you want.

All in all I believe this will be an excellent purchase. I got what I wanted but wish it had an optional external frother like the C9 and S9. The frothXpress system added to an ENA5 might be a little cheaper and a little more versatile but not as convenient and the frothing may not be as high quality. I hope this has helped you in your research of this high quality machine.

First off, being a lazy old fart who can't be bothered with manually making froth under one nozzle and then coffee from the other, I was looking for a machine that's totally automatic and hassle free. Just one-click and by the time I wear my tie, my Cappuccino is ready.

So I did a bit of research online before settling on this one and boy am I happy with it.

Not much to add to SpeadDeacon's excellent review except that this machine is made mainly for use with whole Coffee Beans, with a light, medium and strong roast settings for the grinder.

Yes, it has a second opening on top for fine grounded coffee but only if you're having black coffee. It seems Cappuccino and Macchiato only use coffee from the grinder source on top of the device.

As for the froth, it has to be seen to be believed. Its truly amazing, feather light and fine.

Cleaning is also fully automatic. It monitors what drinks you've been having and periodically (or on shutdown) applies the corresponding self cleaning mode.

Or it can be done manually with one-click. For example, any time milk frothing is used, just replace milk source with water and press C-clean. It cleans both the sialastic hose and rinses the milk nozzle.

The only gripe I have is that the water tank is a bit small (4-6 drinks depending on your settings for each drink) and the sialastic hose is attached to a black plastic thingy that plugs into the device (which is responsible for the fine froth) and it would have been nice if a spare plug was included just in case.

Overall a great, durable all-in-one-touch machine for home-use that's well worth the price.

You can search for nTrk_7bd60s on YouTube for a demo.

Update: well I've happily had it for a year now and it still works just like it did on the first day. No regrets what so ever.

Buy Jura ENA 9 One Touch Now

Well, this is my second Super-Automatic machine and my first was the Delonghi ESAM3500. From owning these machines I noticed the following. Super-Automatic machines are a great convenience for making cappuccinos a simple process. Just put your cup under the spout, push a button, and one minute later you will have your drink. There is a downside that you must be aware of with this big purchase and that is the cappuccinos does not come out as hot as those served at Starbucks/McDonalds. This is a common complaint, check out the reviews for the ESAM3500. The reason for this is due to the automation of the steam/frothed milk not heating the milk to the correct serving temperature (150F). The ENA 9 steam/frothed milk comes out at 125F and the ESAM3500 is at 124F (with the milk starting at 40F and water at 72F). These temperatures lead to what many reviews describe as a warm, not hot, cappuccinos that require a trip to the microwave or the cappuccino will get cold on the way to work. To get an idea of the serving temperature of cappuccinos (espresso & milk), I measured the temperature of the drink from Starbucks and McDonalds and the temperature ranged from 142 to 150 F. The cappuccino from the ENA 9 is around 130F, while the ESAM3500 is 127F using room temperature water (72F). If I put cold filtered water from the refrigerator(42F) into the machine, the temperature of the cappuccino drops to 125F for the ENA and 118F for the ESAM3500. The reason the ENA 9 produces a slightly hotter drink is due to it's 1450-Watt Thermoblock heating system vs the 1150-Watts in the ESAM3500. This makes the ENA 9 more tolerant to the water temperature you use. To give some credit to the machine, the espresso from the ENA 9 is around 169F and the ESAM3500 is 165F.

If you can overlook the temperature issue, ENA 9 is a great machine and makes delicious cappuccino with it's thick frothed milk. Below are some pro/cons of the machine.

Pros

1. One touch button for cappuccinos / latte (just keep the bean and water container filled)

2. Wow, the foam on this machine is amazing compared to the ESAM3500. It is thick and micro foam like.

3. Programming the machine is straight forward and easy to do. You use the rotary dial to traverse through the menu and pushing the dial inwards for selection. You won't need the manual after you read it once. The ESAM3500 requires the manual to be around to figure which buttons to hold down to program the machine.

4. Customizing your drinks is a step above the ESAM3500. For example with cappuccino, the amount of milk foam is selectable (3 to 120 seconds), the gap time between the output of the milk and espresso to allow the foam and hot milk separate (0 to 60 seconds), the coffee strength (mild, normal, or strong), amount of water (0.5 oz to 8.0 oz), and temperature (normal, high).

Cons

1. Warm cappuccino, just like the ESAM3500

2. The water and bean container is small. The ENA 9 holds 37 ounces of water vs. the 60 ounces on the ESAM3500. The ENA 9 is not meant to be used with large groups. It also has a glitch that it will requests the grounds to be dump after 3 beverages even though there is space available in the grounds tray.

3. Can't output foam/steam milk by itself, the ESAM3500 has this capability

4. No cup warmer like the ESAM3500.

5. Both ENA9 and ESAM3500 have a max cup height of 5 inches, which means most travel coffee mugs will not fit under the spout.

6. The water container is located in the back and must be lifted up. This means that the ENA 9 requires around 22 inches of height clearance

Suggestions:

* Get the Bean vacuum canister to keep your beans fresh. Exceptional Designs Bean Vac Coffee Canister (ED150)

* Starbucks sells their coffee syrup for $10 (just asked the barista). "Cinnamon Dolce" is my favorite.

Read Best Reviews of Jura ENA 9 One Touch Here

I have a Rancilio Silvia, which I have been using every day for the last 8 years. Silvia produces a good espresso, but the steaming ability is quite weak. It is difficult, noisy, time consuming and requires clean up. I don't do milk in my drinks, but my wife really wanted that option, so we agreed to buy a super automatic with one-touch capability. We looked at a range of machines, running from the the Jura Ena 9 to the Saeco Xelsis.

We finally picked the Ena 9 on the basis of the small footprint, plus it is a Jura (excellent reliability), and the ease of use. We don't need super-programmability, nor fancy touch screens or anything like that.

My major concerns were two fold: (i) the quality of the espresso relative to the Silvia, and (ii) the problems of cleaning out the milk frother.

I ordered through Amazon, and the machine arrived on time and in perfect condition (as is always the case with Amazon). After using the machine for three weeks, here is my bottom line assessment of the machine:

1. If you don't need programmability, this machine is great.

2. The quality of espresso with the actual espresso button is not particularly great, even when you modify the strength of brew and the amount of water. But if you press the Aroma Boost button twice (double espresso), I find this produces a very good quality espresso. The intensity of the brew is not as great as the Silvia, but overall it is very good. So no complaints here.

3. Cleaning: it turns out not to be as much of a hassle as I thought. I hand-rinse the milk components out every night which takes around 2 minutes. The machine also routinely self-cleans, which keeps the machine squeaky clean. I use the milk frother cleaning liquid to run it through the machine once a week, even though Jura recommends this be done once a day if you used milk on that day. I find this to be overkill, and one way that Jura can make money on cleaning products. If you clean out the components properly every night, you have nothing to worry about.

4. The convenience of the machine is just fantastic. I make an espresso or two every 90 minutes or so, and I can't tell you how easy it is. It is a major step-up from my Silvia. I now have no intention of using Silvia unless the Ena breaks down sometime in the future.

5. The one-touch frothing is superb. The foam is just fabulous thick and luxurious. I don't drink milk, but just playing around with that foam makes me want to put some into my drinks. My wife loves it, and even makes her own drinks in the mornings it's that easy to use.

6. The down sides are the following:

the coffee bean hopper is a little small. You end up filling it once or twice a day, which is a pain.

the water reservoir is also way too small. I have to fill this at least three times per day. I am seriously thinking of constructing a tank above the machine which will auto-fill the built in reservoir.

The spent coffee grounds fall into a small container inside the machine which is also way too small. You need to empty the grounds after every 3-4 drinks. But sometimes, depending on how the spent puck falls into the container, the machine thinks the grounds container is full after just two drinks and will require that you empty it. This, for me, is the biggest hassle. Having to empty the grounds every 2-3 drinks is silly. And there is nothing you can do to fix this you just have to live with it.

You'll notice that all of my complaints are related to the size of the machine the small footprint seems to cut on these conveniences, which I had not really considered.

Bottom line: I am absolutely happy with the machine. If I were to do it again, I *might* look at a larger machine, but the quality of the autofoaming is so good, and the price is fantastic, so I would definitely give this machine another chance. The time it saves me every day, plus the constant availability of top-quality espresso is most definitely worth the paltry $1500 this machine costs.

UPDATE: one year later, and I am still super happy with this machine. I have had no problems with it at all. The cleaning is easy, the coffee is good, and so no problems. I find that I use the auto-froth far less than I thought I would, so if I were to do it again I would get a machine without this function. But it's nice to have when people are overthey always coo when it does it's own frothing.

Want Jura ENA 9 One Touch Discount?

The following are comments I wrote my cousin when she asked about my experience with a Jura (Ena 9 which was purchased from a non-Amazon retailer about 17 months ago.) Here goes...

So as for the espresso machine (Ena 9), I do apologize for doing that to you guys. It was a mean dirty rotten thing brandishing the sparkly appliance and forcing tasty espresso drinks on you... ;) That having been said, I believe we are both still glad to have it. It makes making good coffee so very simple. There are however some things that would be good to know before investing a small fortune in a coffee maker.

So THE most important thing you would need to know about a Jura (at least the 2 models I've been exposed to) is that there is a super secret manual cleaning process (and by that, I mean you use a paper towel to dislodge/wipe some coffee grounds) that is not documented at all in the manual. It is easy to do and I only do it about once every other week, but both I and a friend that has a Jura (prior Ena) were perturbed when after a month the machine seemed to have no pressure whatsoever. A quick call to Jura (which seems to have rather good service) cleared the matter up and prepared me for the biweekly manual hand/paper towel cleaning technique. They really should document the method because I believe it needs to be pretty much necessary/standard practice.

With respect to changing the beans, (that could be your deal breaker... my cousin's concern was her drinking decaf and her husband drinking regular) I'm not exactly sure how to accomplish that. We pretty much dump the new beans on top of the old ones.

I did once try to get the beans out of the holding basket... I was somewhat successful using a vacuum, however I gave up trying to get the beans that had fallen (and there were still a few down there) past the guard which apparently was put there to prevent people like me sticking their hands down into the grinding mechanism. I've never been bold enough to turn the whole thing upside down as I'm sure there's some kind of internal water holding tank which might make a mess.

There is however a bypass that allows you to put ground coffee in without having to bother changing the beans. It works pretty handily (although we use it somewhat infrequently), however according to the instructions, you must not put too many grounds in there or supposedly it could damage the machine. That being said, if I was using it regularly, I would probably have to pre grind (which obviously causes you to lose the "fresh ground" appeal of such a device) and pre measure the coffee for quick use... That whole process is somewhat more messy than most would like because the grinding and measuring means you're inevitably getting grounds all over the place (especially if they're still statically charged). You do however still get the benefit of having the grounds dumped into the easy to empty bin rather than having to dispose of or thoroughly clean filter/baskets.

Another thing that can be annoying... especially if you're a clean freak... the used ground bin and the waste water catch/reservoir can get ugly looking (especially the reservoir underneath that tends to be a mixture of water and coffee grounds/mud. Whenever we first got the machine, I couldn't take seeing it with all the wastewater/mud. Now it rarely gets emptied until its almost full and when it does it most often only receives the most cursory rinse... I believe we've pretty much decided the parts inside that catch the leftovers are destined to be messy... that's why they are hidden away inside... You can clean em till they sparkle, but when you make your next cup, they'll only be covered in coffee grounds/mud again.

So a couple other things I will mention for full disclosure... Although there appears to be a way to change the grind settings, we pretty much have to leave it on the largest grind... presumably according to Jura this is because the beans we use are oily and cause the machine to not work very well... We tend to make a "cup" of coffee rather than shots of espresso (a sin most coffee snobs will surely scoff at.. but hey this is a review for a fully auto machine after all.. a snob should not be reading such things)... we want plenty of water coming through. If you were making a shot, supposedly you'd only want about an ounce of water in about 12-18 seconds. If it is a double you'd want 2 ounces. We max the thing out... I think its only about 8 ounces.. That's not a huge cup of coffee. If I was making a shot, presumably I'd put the grind to a smaller setting which (according to the instructions) must also be done while grinding is taking place or else it could potentially damage the machine (although i'm pretty sure I've changed that setting when it was not grinding and so far my machine seems to be fine.) Also for those that prefer a "cup" of coffee, the water reservoir is pretty much just the right size for the initial rinse, 2 people to have a cup in the morning and the pre-shut down rinse. The next morning you will have to refill the reservoir (probably a good practice anyway)... All that is to say that if you're doing some entertaining and making large cups of coffee... you're either refilling the reservoir several times or you're running out in the middle of a cup (which can also be annoying.)

Next... if you're trying to take your coffee with... it is somewhat difficult to find a mobile cup that fits under the spout (they are all usually too tall). I found one that is small (so I'll make a smaller cup a bit stronger). My wife holds her travel mug tilted under the spout. Most mugs you use around the house won't have that problem.

I'd probably speak more about the frother on our Jura except we don't use it very often. It works very well, but we're lazy and even though frothed milk is really nice, non-frothed half and half is pretty dern good also! There is also a bit of cleaning that is necessary when you're putting milk through the machine (which is as mentioned... more work when what you really want is to walk away, sit and enjoy your coffee).

The manual also mentions using a water-filter to avoid having to periodically clean the machine due to build up from hard water (which as you might have guessed if you've noticed the trend... has the potential to damage the machine.... I have no idea how paranoid the product manual author was or how real these problems might be.) We started out using a Jura filter... eventually we ran into what I believe was a faulty filter which prevented the machine from taking in any water... and ever since have just filtered the water using the filter on our tap rather than the ones that sit in the water reservoir. The Jura filters aren't free... the cleaning tablets necessary to clean up after a couple months of hard water use are far less expensive and the machine tells you when to do it (as it does for most other cleaning processes with the exception of the undocumented manual paper towel method) and what to do....

So after reading all of the ways you can permanently damage your brand new overpriced coffee filter, I should more than have made up for having tempted you with such a sparkly and tasty-beverage making device. On the other hand, if you've read all of this and I have not deterred you, I expect you may be pleased with a Jura. They make great coffee very easy. And this rather extensive essay does document most everything of importance regarding how to use it and what to expect.

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