Capresso 1050-Watt Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Machine, Black/Silver

I really love this espresso machine. I am no great coffee afficianado, but I was entering a time period when I foresaw the need for the regular intake of caffeine, and really only enjoy lattes, so I clearly needed an espresso machine that would also allow me to steam milk. I previously had the Mr.Coffee espresso machine that did have the steam wand, but I was moving and it was either a choice to pay to ship my Mr. Coffee or look into something new. I didn't love the Mr. Coffee, but I didn't have any huge complaints either. The opportunity came up for me to get a new machine for free (thanks to some promotional points I had with an organization that were soon to expire). This was the only espresso machine they had to "purchase" and the reviews I could find were generally positive, though not glowing. But, this machine definitely seemed like it would fit my needs and would be a better use of points than cubic zirconia earrings so, I bought it!

With that full disclosure out of the way, I must say I have grown to love this machine!! After just about 2 weeks of use, its probably gotten more use than my Mr. Coffee did over the 3 years or so that I had it.

Things that I love:

*EASE OF USE. This thing is CRAZY easy to use. I have even shown my mother (who is about 60 and not too tech savvy) how to steam her own lattes. I'm still having trouble with my husband who can never remember anything I tell him, but I am sure he will come around as well. The pieces fit together without much, if any, wrangling and finessing. It heats up and is ready very quickly. I just turn it on and by the time that I have assembled all my items for making my drink, its ready. Overall, just a joy to use.

*Versatility. Since I am not an innate coffee lover, I love that this machine can be used so well and so easily for other things as well. It makes hot water for tea with just a flip of a switch and it is hotter faster than if I were to use the microwave or electric kettle. It basically has replaced any of our old methods of heating water for tea. The ease with which it steams (and the rapidity with which it gets ready) makes making steamed milk drinks a snap. I've actually had more chai lattes than espresso since I've gotten this machine, and I love them!

*QUALITY. As I said before, I am not a great coffee afficionado and a decent cup to me may not be a decent cup to someone with a more discriminating palate. That said, I DO think the quality of the espresso that I pull with the Capresso is better than what I remember with the Mr. Coffee--and I lost my really good tamper in the move. So once I purchase a new one I think that the quality of the espresso from the Capreso will be even higher.

Things that I don't love:

*SIZE. If you have limited counterspace, this may not be for you. The Mr. Coffee was great with its very small footprint--could easily store out of the way or didn't take up much counterspace. While not huge, it's also not tiny. However, its multiple uses and the frequency with which I use it make leaving it out not such a huge drawback. (Also helps that I now have a bigger kitchen!)

So, overall, just wanted to put my 2 cents in that this was a very useful machine, which I am very pleased with and have already recommended it to friends. I don't know how it compares with the performance of comparable machines at its price, but on its own it is very satisfactory, and really I enjoy using it.

An additional FYI: I had also found this video review online when I was doing my search and it was very informative/insightful: .

Bought this machine in April 2011 for $150. We used on a daily basis, most days creating perfect jumbo cups of cappuccino. Some days the espresso was weaker than others...some days the milk was perfectly frothed, other days not so much. But hey, all espresso machines seem to have a mind of their own. After 3 months use the machine broke. The button to switch from Espresso to Steam stopped working. I think that we have the right to expect a longer life for a machine than 90 days! Amazon's return policy is 30 days.

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I love this machine, have been using every single day for a month to make lattes at home. Turn it on and let it warm up for 10-15 minutes to get a hotter brew, and also for the cup warmer to be of any use. For my first espresso machine I am completely happy, especially for the price. A little practice with the steam wand and I am getting consistent texture, temperature, and taste with my daily latte. I would definitely recommend for first time users who are trying to make the switch from your daily $4 latte, it will pay for itself!

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Okay, for a beginner this machine is good. It can pull a shot, but it will take longer, as it does not get to the 'ideal' temp. The cup warmer does not warm, but if you put anything plastic on it it will cause a lovely melty smell. The nozzle is not very good for steaming as it doesn't move well. It's entire build is a bit awkward, however access to the water tank is quite handy. *However* if you are looking for something that can make a modest macchiatto, this will work.

What it DOES NOT do:

Steam well enough to create microfoam (unless you are using skim milk, but that's not what we used in Spain, Italy, or even now, here in Germany skim stays well away from your coffee... it's the whip cream that kills the calories, not the milk)

Warm cups on the cup warmer (frankly why so many of these machines 'provide' this feature baffles me as the machines are not equipped with enough power to do so)

Pull a fast shot (the 'ideal' shot is typically listed as a 15-20 second shot, this won't do it, so don't even expect it to)

What it DOES do:

Steams milk to a good temp for hot cocoa

Steam water to make fast tea, or to reheat your tea

Produce a passable espresso shot (but it takes 30-40 seconds*)

What is a total pain about it:

getting anything other than an actual espresso cup under there is a pain. The portafilter is a little too low to allow for an espresso shot glass to go under it, let alone a coffee cup.

Cleaning it. You have to first unplug it, upend it on it's top (which is bad) and scrub at the extraction/drip area as removing grounds is really difficult, even with a hot washcloth and a scrub brush.

The drip tray itself isn't a pain, but how the steam collects then reforms/condenses back into water, then sputters out of a channel that is supposed to lead to the tray, but instead goes under it, and all over your counter.

In summation:

For this price range it is a moderate machine. If you are curious about making a passable cup of coffee, and are upgrading from a normal drip coffee pot, this machine will work. However, when this machine finally poops out on you, upgrade and don't feel bad if you 'only' get two years out of this machine. It's pretty much all plastic, and that automatically means it's going to degrade quickly.

*for those who are just starting out, the reason why the timing of the shot pull is important is because too long and you risk a scorched taste at worst or a cold cup at best.

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My wife and I used this to make very good cappuccino -a cup each, about four times a week for 14 months. Then, over the course of a week or so, the frothing wand lost 90% of its pressure and wasn't worth using anymore. We tried dismantling and cleaning, but that didn't help. I imagine there's a small crack in the boiler somewhere. I thought this machine would last for many years.

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