Bialetti Venus Stainless Steel Espresso Maker

With this sleek little pot, you can make espresso on the stovetop like they do in Italy. The Venus Bialetti is easy to use-if you use a countertop drip maker, you can handle this. It takes only 3 minutes on my stove to make 4 shots.

I have been using this daily for a little over a year, usually one pot for myself and one for my husband and the gasket is still doing well.

It does not make the same quality as an industrial espresso maker but it certainly out performs the various countertop models I've tried. I would even go out on a limb and say that a countertop model that outperforms this would be in a price range of roughly 10 times this cost. Those take up a lot more real estate in small kitchen too.

The Bialetti Venus is also adorable. Not that I want to marry my espresso pot or anything. . .

I think you have to be willing to risk some hassle factor, as mine arrived damaged (cracked handle). Amazon was great about the return, sending a replacement immediately. Makes good espresso, but there is definitely a learning curve.

A few tips:

It's hard to be sure, but from looking at the interior pieces, they may not be stainless steel like the exterior. The instructions are similar to the aluminum model, to make a first pot of coffee and throw it away and to only rinse for cleaning. This is to coat the interior with coffee oils to prevent a metallic taste. If you do wash it, you'll need to throw out your first pot of espresso again, because it won't taste good at all.

It's important not to pack the espresso grinds so the steam will move properly into the upper chamber. When I packed the grounds, at least half of the water remained in the lower chamber and quite a lot escaped through the release valve and gasket seal.

The grind size is also very importantif it's too fine, steam shoots out the sides.

There should be a little water left in the chamber after brewing, maybe a tablespoon or so. This is to prevent scorching and discoloration. This means the 4-cup unit makes about 7 oz of espresso, not 8oz. For us, this is enough for two small-ish cappucinos.

It's also important to use relatively high heat, and to remove the maker from the heat as soon as most of the espresso has moved into the upper chamber (this takes a little practice to figure out, but the upper chamber looks about 2/3 full at this point and it is at about the time the unit starts gurlging). The espresso is more bitter if there is prolonged contact with the grinds.

I do like Illy brand espresso, and you can froth hot milk with a whisk if you look up the Cooks Illustrated directions. It's basically putting the whisk between hands that are in the same posisiton they'd be in if you had just clapped them, then slide them back and forth in opposite directions (like you would if they were cold).

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I've been using my 4-cup Bialetti for nearly a half year now. Unlike other reviewers, I've not had any problem with the gasket. (I don't remove it for each cleaning since the gasket is the weak spot.) My girlfriend has the six-cup model and this smaller Bialetti is perfect for about two cafe-lattes. I enjoy the ritual of making espresso on stovetop on those morning I'm not compelled to rush drip grind through my standard machines. I love coffee. :-)

This little unit is also simply a gorgeous work of art. The stainless steel construction is solid, and the components such as the filters are suitable for reasonably heavy use. The Bialetti makes better espresso than my Mr. Coffee four-cup machine.

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I have a Bialetti 2-cup stovetop espresso maker that I bought while we were in Italy 5 years ago and we use it all the time and love it. I soon after bought a 4-cup maker here in the States that is also Bialetti and is made well and works well. I have just received the Bialetti that I ordered to give my daughter as a gift and it is made in China and not of the same quality. The coffee basket is cheap, and the water belly is coated on the inside with some brushed-silver finish. It makes me think there may be something internally that I can't see that is cheaply made as well. I am sending it back and buying a Veg Vigano instead simply because they are still made in Italy and completely made of stainless steel. I don't know what Bialetti is thinking having their products made in China and India and allowing the quality to slide downhill. The customers who buy these products are looking for quality stainless steel products made in Italy that will last forever and actually get better with age. What a disappointment...

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I was concerned by some of the negative feedback about this item and in fact hesitated to buy it because of some of the reviews about its workmanship and quality, but there is no cause for concern. The craftsmanship of the Bialetti Venus 4-Cup Percolator is in fact superior to all the other Bialetti stovetop percolators I have. I currently own three aluminum models and have owned a total of seven. This one is the best of the lot.

I much prefer this to any of the aluminum models. The coffee it makes tastes better, the pot is easier to clean, and the craftsmanship is superior.

Don't hesitate to buy it. It's top notch quality.

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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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Jura-Capresso 13548 Impressa J6 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center, Piano Black

Due to the high price I checked many reviews on many sites and most brands had specific problems or limitations. The Jura was consistently rated highly with few problems. When spending $1500+ I didn't want a machine that was going to break down after a few months. I have now had this machine for about 6 months and have had no problems except a minor one explained below.

First the good

Very easy set up. I was up and going in about 30 minutes after opening the box and making sure all the parts and pieces were included.

The machine is pretty idiot proof. It tells you when to add water, when to add coffee beans, when to run the cleaning cycle, when to decalcify, and when to dispose the used grounds. The burr grinder is fairly quiet and has run without clogging. You do have to be careful not to use beans that are too oily but if they are all you have to do is let them sit for about 5 hours before using. The water capacity is very adequate at 70 oz. The bean hopper holds about 1/4 lb of beans so you don't have to keep adding. There is no way to empty beans to add a different type, however there is a place for ground beans if someone want a different type. I like that you can change the height of the two nozzles for different height mugs and being able to separate the nozzles for brewing two cups at the same time. Cleaning is a snap. Just slide out the empty grounds tray, rinse and replace.

I like that you customize each button on the face of the machine (see below) and you can easily override how much coffee or water you use for a single use without losing the programmed amount.

Finally customer service, something important for such an expensive machine. When I registered the machine on line (and you have to do this in 2 weeks to get the warranty) I mistyped the serial number. The next day I got an email informing me of my error. Nice. Also, my mother got one of these for my father and one of the nozzles was not working properly. He called them up and they told him what to do. The nozzle was blocked and just needed to be wiped clean. My parents have well water that they bi-pass to some of their faucets. The machine comes with one water test strip to test for water hardness. When he called he asked them to send a few more and they did. Not that big a deal for them, but they did it.

Next the okay

The six buttons on the face of the machine for water, steam, 1 or 2 cups of espresso and 1 or 2 cups of coffee, are very easy. Not so easy is using the buttons on the top of the machine. These buttons work like folders on a computer and it is easy to forget where you are. These buttons are used to "customize" what comes out (heat, strength, amount per cup, language, auto on and off).

Every time you turn the machine on you need to rinse the nozzles (push a button and it runs about 1 oz of hot water through the nozzles), this is okay but you have to do it even if you just used hot water the last time. The full cleaning cycle is based on the number of rinses so if you use the machine for hot water you will end up using the cleaning cycle more than necessary. The machine also automatically rinses when it goes into sleep mode so I put a shot glass under the nozzles after use. Not a big deal, if I forget the water goes into a collection tray.

Finally the bad

There are two ways to make steam and froth. Without going into details, one of these is an attachment that doesn't stay on very well due to the high pressure of the steam. When it comes off steam sprays all over until you push the steam button again. This happened to me a few times and while it did not burn me, it is quite a surprise. I just do it the other way

Overall a positive experience and I would recommend to family and friend.

Update on April 10th, 2012.

Unit still works well and customer support is excellent. I recently had a problem with the decalcify procedure. Emailed customer support on a Saturday and received a return email on Monday to call customer support. Called and the representative walked me through the fix (I was using too much water, you have to use the amount specified in the instructions). My father had a minor problem last week and when he called he had a solution in a matter or minutes.

This machine replaced a Spidem Divina. Although the Divina made good coffee, it was very temperamental and required numerous calls for on the phone repair. Finally, we just gave up. The Jura was twice the price and well worth it. We have not had one problem and love the coffee. I whole heartedly recommend this machine, you won't be sorry. We purchased from a brick and mortar Sur La Table store. They said if there is ever any problem, just return and they would replace if they were unable to diagnose the problem. But, as I said, not one issue.

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We have gone through 3 grind-and-brew style coffee makers in the last 3 years. They all stopped functioning or started leaking.

Extensive research and $400 off the sticker price led me to the Jura Impressa J6.

Less than ten minutes out of the box, we were enjoying the finest cup of coffee produced in our house. In the two weeks since that first cup, we are marveling at how spectacularly better a cup of coffee is when properly brewed.

I had always thought if you kept your beans vacuum sealed up to the point of grinding, you were going to get the best cup of joe possible. Well, you can banish that thought forever. The J6 grinds the beans then tamps them right before brewing, and the flavor extraction is far beyond that of mortal brewers.

Two design features make this the perfect purchase. 1] You can fill both the water tank and the bean receptacle without having to move the machine from under the cabinets! All the other brewers were top-loaders. I had to pull the them out from under the cabinet, eyeball the water level, then push them back under the cabinet. The J6 has a detachable water tank on the side that lifts about a half-inch and easily separates from the main body. Once filled, the tank's clever disappearing handle makes it a snap to replace. A full tank lasts two or three days for us. 2] The start/stop and program buttons are super-simple to use. One session with the owners manual and you will be customizing your coffee, latte and cappuccino's to perfection.

Obviously I cannot address reliability issues. We have a whole-house water treatment system, and specific drinking water spigots at our kitchen sinks. I'm hoping these will contribute to the J6's longevity. If it lasts five years, it will have cost me about the same as annually buying the most expensive Grind N Brew unit.

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I've had this machine for about a week, and bought it at my local Sur le Table store. This was my first automatic machine and I am still totally freaked out at how expensive they are. That being said, the machine makes amazing coffee. It's also really cool to make tea and hot soup with the hot water feature. The machine works well overall (knock on wood) and I expect to keep getting amazing coffee for years to come.

UPDATE:

I've now had the machine for two years and it is still going strong. Be sure to use the cleaning tablets regularly. I also have been using the filter (buying more at Sur Le Table and sometimes on Amazon). No issues, works great. Except for the fact I put the wand in the garbage disposal once, oops...

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I am only writing this "review" to help those that are new to the at-home espresso arena. I recently purchased an automatic espresso machine and I didn't realize how many accessories that I'd need and it took me an extra couple weeks to realize what I needed , what was out there, and to get it ordered. I thought I'd offer these tips to those in the market for an automatic machine in hope that you can have everything you need when the machine arrives. In hopes to help as many others as possible if you can click that this review "was helpful" at the bottom before getting lost in the links that would be great so others can benefit too. Thanks!

In order of importance...

Milk Froth Pitcher my first week I spent rummaging through the cabinets trying to come up with something deep enough to keep the milk from overflowing but small enough to fit under the steam wand. This might be the only thing that will work. Again, most highly reviewed and has worked perfectly for me.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MR6I9I/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000MR6I9I&linkCode=as2&tag=stupisms-20

Milk Thermometer you really will have no idea when to stop frothing the milk without one of these. You will most likely make it too hot or too cold. Trust me... get a thermometer. This one has very high reviews and works great.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016C4SWW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0016C4SWW&linkCode=as2&tag=stupisms-20

Espresso Cups a normal cup will not fit underneath most espresso dispensers. You can't use a standard shot glass because it overflows. These 2 oz cups are the highest reviewed on amazon and they are very pleasant to hold.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041EIFUI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0041EIFUI&linkCode=as2&tag=stupisms-20

Espresso Spoons a regular teaspoon works okay but only if you aren't using small espresso cups. If you are planning on using the small 2oz cups then definitely buy these spoons to stir it as a regular spoon won't fit. Again, there are a lot out there but these are highly rated and are high quality stainless steel.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ECQQX8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001ECQQX8&linkCode=as2&tag=stupisms-20

Espresso Knock/Stein this is the tub that you pound the espresso bean holder from the machine into to get the used grinds out. This item is less necessary if you have your garbage in a place you can easily bang on. However, this gadget does prevent a mess which will happen if you use the garbage can method. Also, if your espresso machine is fully automatic and disposes of the grinds internally then you won't need it either.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016J7YQM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0016J7YQM&linkCode=as2&tag=stupisms-20

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Breville 800ESXL 15-Bar Triple-Priming Die-Cast Espresso Machine

The Breville 800 ESXL is turning out to be one of the best buys I have ever madeBreville 800ESXL Commercial 15-Bar Triple-Priming Die-Cast Espresso Machine.

I had a Gaggia that produced great espresso when I first got it, but recently, it stopped creating any crema whatsoever. Water leaked from the steamer wand and the expresso head. It was time for a replacement.

I studied and studied and studied all the expresso makers and I knew I did not want to spend over $500 for a good pot. My goal was to find a great pot for under that amount. I read every review there is on the internet concerning the Breville 800 ESXL. People love it or hate it but if you read carefully, you may find as I did, that many of those who hate it, did not follow the directions as prescribed by Breville. They treated it like their old pot, however, the Breville 800 is a wonderful pot if used according to the instructions put out by Breville. And dare I say, that some of the others who did not like the pot sounded like coffee snobs who want perfection and had no right buying this machine and judging by standards that only a much more expensive machine could match.

If you want a truly outstanding expresso or cappuccino, the Breville 800 will do it for you, as long as you live up to your part of the bargain. The first thing you need are really good beans and fresh filtered water. Next is to really learn how to make expresso. You need to find the right grind and then stick with it. I have a Capresso Burr Grinder that works great for only $85. You need to learn the right amount of pressure to tamp the coffee (also, it does not hurt purchase a good metal tampthe one they give you is only okay). You should get a thermometer to make sure your frothed milk is between 140 160 degrees and then learn how to froth milk. The cups should be warm and you will have some great coffee.

you may not get great coffee the first time out--and maybe not the second, but the more you do it, critique what you did, and make adjustments, you will find that the difference between and excellent cup and a good cup has more to do with you than the machine. This is a hands-on machine (which I love about it). Like a cook using fresh ingredients, the results often lie in the art of the cook. It is the same with this machine. If you just want to turn it on and get a great cup of espresso, it may happen sometimes, but not always. It is up to you to make your shot the best. There is a learning curve to be sure, but the end result is fantastic and for a great price. I was making great shot after great shot in about three days.

I was scared to death about my filters clogging as others have said, but I have found that the best thing you can do is to clean after every shot. it is not a big job to wipe down the nozzle, rinse out the pots and filters, and take the little tool they give you to keep the filters open and poke the hole once to keep it open for the next time. Takes all of a minutemaybe less. The result, great expresso, perfect crema, great frothed milk (once you acquire the knack of rothing), and a beautiful, sturdy machine that should last a long time with the kind of care I ask you to give it.

Some have complained about the temperature of the coffee. I too thought it was not hot enough the first few times I made the espresso, and then I read the manual. When you do what the manual says, the coffee is plenty hot --too hot actually. As for the time it takes to steam the milk, no longer than my Gaggia with a lot less mess. And about the "sloppy mess in the portafilter" and no dry puck ---well, I would like a dry puck too, but the paper from Breville in the box tells you that the technology they use to get the coffee hot and with perfect crema will not give you the traditional dry puck. Expect it to be watery in the portafilter. just rinse it out when done and you are in business. I accept that and as a result I get great coffee. My machine is not a Rencilio, nor a Gaggia. It is a Breville and it does not have the dry puck--but it does have great espresso that can be made within a minute or two of turning on the machine. And clean up takes less time than it did to heat up (under a minute).

It has a large well for water which is easy to fill, from the front and the back. it is very very easy to clean. It is sturdy and it looks great. There are so many cool things built in --obviously thought went into the design. Some complain about it being loud. I have never met an espresso maker that is not loud. Oh yes, I saw one once but that machine cost $2,000 and was fully automatic. There was no joy in making an expresso with that---no art to it. The machine does it all.

Now, for the weaknesses. I already told you to get another tamp. The one they give is not the greatest. Also, it has the very cool feature where it purges itself after each shot or steaming allowing the built up steam to flow to the overflow reservoir. (Actually this is a positive feature) but on the negative side it uses more water, but no big deal unless you are paying for bottled water. With my Gaggia, I was always afraid it was going to blow up on me. This steam pressure release is very cool and well thought out.

Needless to say, I am very happy with this machine. As you may be able to see, I am the kind of person who looks at what I have done and tries to make the next one better. For me, this machine does not disappoint.

Hopefully, this review has helped.

From a interface and asthetic point of view, the machine is flawless. It's beautiful and solid, and has many nice touches like an integral storage bin and swiveling steam wand. Having said that, it's missing a few things on the INSIDE that you'd expect from a $400 machine:

For one, it uses a thermoblock. This results in a pressure drop and uneven heating compared to a boiler, which is why there is the need for the double-wall crema system. (I'm referring here to pump machines with boilers, not the cheap steam machines.) This is why you'll find that after brewing you have a soupy sludge instead of the hard dry puck considered an indicator of proper espresso brewing. Update: as pointed out by somebody else, this may be more a function of the lack of three-way valve than indicative of poor pressure or heating. I didn't realize this didn't have a three-way valve, but that's just one more reason to avoid this. Regardless, the weakness of the thermoblock is apparent in the difference in quality between a single shot and a double shot. The latter is harsh and bitter, which I assume is because the last part of the shot isn't properly extracted due to a drop in temperature.

Second, the filters and group head aren't made of brass like you'll see in machines of similar price. Brass has a high thermal conductivity and mass, which helps keep the water hot on the way to the grounds, at least when the machine is properly preheated.

Personally, I'm not sure I have a sophisticated enough palette to discern a difference between espresso from this and a machine with better parts. But given that you're considering spending $400 on an espresso machine, I assume you might be a purist and somebody who cares about getting the best for your money. I also feel the need to offset some of the other breathless reviews by people who clearly haven't bothered to do even a minimal amount of research on espresso machines.

Despite the above, the machine produces good espresso, as far as I can tell, and it IS beautiful. My guess is that it overcomes some of its component shortcomings with nice engineering (such as the auto-purge feature to avoid scalding the grounds). However, you have to wonder if you're really getting your money's worth where it counts, when there are machines out there at half the price with better internal components and plumbing. You should be able to find machines with more stable temperature and higher effective pressure for much less money if you're willing to go for substance over looks.

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Reviewing Breville 800ESXL Espresso Maker

Points to make

(1) UNPLUG the machine every time, like it says in the manual! Why?

The first day I had the machine I assumed that once you turn the machine off in the front panel, it is really off.

Not so, apparently.

One lonely evening, while making love to my machine (just kidding eh!), anyway, quite near the turned off machine in a quiet evening, I could hear a very low humming sound coming from it.

Power unit or whatever, I realized the machine was not really off, and from then on I decided to follow the recommendation in the manual -which I presumed initially was only for home-safety reasons.

Obviously is not sucking the 1500 watts, but there's still something going on inside, and it's not a caffeinated gerbil!

(2) Vibration and Noise

IMO, it's not noisier than other espresso makers, and it sure is a dead loser against my blender, which my neighbors are probably acquainted with.

As for vibration, I did the same as I did with my Breville coffee grinder: I placed the machine firmly on a towel folded to the appropriate thickness. That not only dampens the vibration but will soak up any water spilled in an accident.

The tank might vibrate off its place and onto the drip area? Yes, it might.

The first time it happened, it was almost funny to watch.

Because I saw many other good points in the machine and this was a minor mechanical problem asking for a mechanical solution I did the obvious: I used the original tape that came with the packaging to hold the tank in place. Using on one side is enough. I use a tank of water every two days, so no big deal. (Yes, the thing uses a lot of water, even more so if you include the after-espresso cleaning procedures)

(3) Grind.

One of the reasons I considered the Breville 800ESXL it's because I have for some time their coffee grinder, which was an excellent choice for a burr grinder under $100 which looks nice and is a solid workhorse.

Before I bought the grinder I read reviews saying that the finest grind was not fine enough (for the reviewer, for some reason).

But now I see that, at least for me, the mid-notch in the Turkish selection in the Breville grinder has been ideal. Enough pressure, good timing and extraction, good crema, and NO clogging so far.

Rule of thumb, or fingers: if it feels like sand, it's too thick; if it feels powdery and like flour it's too fine; if it just stains the fingers without clumping or adhering to them, it's closer to the ideal.

(4) A routine (mine :-) becomes effortless and natural for people who like preparing coffee. (If you dislike rituals, trial and errors, and want push-button coffee this machine is not for you)

Before

Give the machine some latitude. If you know that you'll use it in ten minutes, turn it on right now. If you turn the machine on and start brewing immediately after the red light goes out, you risk not getting your coffee or hot water hot enough.

After the machine is ready (red light out), run a 10-second blank shot (holder and filter in place but no coffee), and collect the water in the coffee cup you will use. This first run warms up the filter assembly and the collected water will warm up the cup while you fill and tamp the filter with the ground coffee. When ready, dump the water and put the empty cup under the filter and start the real thing.

After

After cleaning and washing the filter assembly and filter of all wet coffee grounds, run again a 10 seconds blank shot with clear water to fine-clean the filter and avoid eventual clogging. (Do the same with the steamer in a cup filled with clean water).

It's a good idea also to lightly clean the underside of the filter holder (the fixed part in the machine from which water drips) with a wet paper towel or cloth before running the final cleaning blank shot.

(5) Steamer. Not the greatest feature in the machine, but works just fine when you practice enough. Don't worry, the loud high-pitched sound is NOT a feature of this or any machine :-): move the pitcher, depth and angle until it stops, and the right soft sound will guide you. And go for the micro foam, not the macro foam bubbles. You will see the difference right away and it's easy to learn to get it right. And follow the usual advice: low-fat or free-fat refrigerator-cold milk preferred.

(6) Cleaning the steamer.

As always, the drier the milk, the more difficult to clean. (So, don't take a couple of hours enjoying your coffee, and only then come back for the cleaning!)

Soon after use, "steam" for some seconds a container with clean water. Remove the sleeve and drop it in any container with clean (or soapy) water. Wet-wipe the full extension of the nozzle clean, making sure there's no milk crusting or remains. By following these procedures, it's very unlikely that you are going to have any problem with the steamer or hot water.

(7) Pods.

I didn't care much about pods, had never used them, and it was and remained completely out of my purchasing decision. Like most real coffee lovers I don't consider pods seriously in the tradition of coffee-brewing.

But, as I'm curious about everything, and finding that my local Starbucks had a nice-looking box of 12 dark espresso pods for $4.95, why not, let's see how this thing works.

And it did, beautifully.

My surprise is that, right in my first try, the machine performed beautifully. Quick and with no mess (and ground coffee is always messy as we all know), it came out with perfect color, crema, temperature. And it tasted at least better than the espresso you get at the Starbucks counter!

And the great thing is that Starbucks has the decaf version of the same pods. Great if I feel like having an espresso after dinner!

That does not mean of course that I will start using pods regularly. But, besides having the convenience of the decaf option for a (rare) quick late night fix, I can see the use of a pod as convenient when you wake up in a foul mood not prone to any coffee-loving rituals or patience, or you just don't have time.

The fact is that it's there, it's an option, and it works.

(8) One last note about cleaning.

If you like drinking and preparing coffee, but don't like or don't have time to clean things and keep them clean, you have a problem.

The importance of cleaning in a machine like this cannot be overstressed. Coffee and milk are both troublemakers. Milk dries fast and adheres in layers to surfaces, corners and clogs orifices very quickly. And coffee has oils that stain and adhere to surfaces. It's not that it looks ugly after a while, but it starts to interfere with the flavor of the coffee.

So, the attitude to follow is to make the cleaning, maintenance and keeping the hardware in prime condition, part of the process and ritual of making and enjoying coffee.

* * *

Read Best Reviews of Breville 800ESXL 15-Bar Triple-Priming Die-Cast Espresso Machine Here

This machine is indeed beautiful, and I find the espresso very good indeed. The problem is that if your coffee is ground too fine, even once, the filter clogs. Due to the design of the crema filter, there is an inaccessible "interior" between the coffee-side filter holes and the bottom-side single exit hole. If this gets too clogged, there is really nothing to do except get a new filter, as the clog is not reachable with any tool.

This wouldn't be too bad if you could actually GET filter baskets when you need them. The only online company that carried them seems to be out of business now. And without a filter basket, this is just so much pretty scupture.

UPDATE: You can get the filters from Breville USA, for a price. You can also use a backflush detergent (like JoeGlo) to clear them, although it's a bit time-consuming and messy.

Want Breville 800ESXL 15-Bar Triple-Priming Die-Cast Espresso Machine Discount?

After 3 weeks of "so-so" espresso's and cappuccino's, I was ready to return the 800ESXL. The espresso produced was not hot enough, and the frothed milk not even close to the dense foam I had hoped for. But I gave it one more try using the below techniques, and the results were night and day.

Pre-Heat the machine, then run water thru the portafilter for at least 10 seconds. By doing this, the water temp went from 140 to 174 degrees. OK, so this is recommended in the instructions...but who really reads them?

Using the Breville Conical Burr Grinder, I found the "click" setting two clicks down from Espresso (towards Turkish) worked best. (Great grinder, producing perfectly even grinds every time. Highly recommended!)

Practice your tamping technique. I bought a "Terry's Tamper" which is much easier to use than the supplied Breville tamper/scoop. Tamping pressure is the greatest variable between success and failure. At least it was for me.

To improve frothing, I tried covering the top hole on the stainless steel frothing attachment with tape and it worked to perfection. I could not get the desired "micro-foam" before making this modification. I have since used a tiny screw to close up the top hole. This really made a difference in the density of the foam, using both non-fat and 2% milk.

Keep your frothing pitcher in the freezer, and use very cold milk.

As other reviewers have suggested, after brewing your espresso and dumping the puck, run another 5 to 10 second shot of water thru the portafilter to purge it out. I have yet to have the filter clog up.

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Cuisinox Roma 4 Cup Stovetop Espresso Coffeemaker

Though advertised as a four cup coffee maker, when used as directed, the coffee is awful weak, burnt.

What I found works is to use two measures of coffee (fill the coffee holder, without using the reducer) but only use half the water (halfway to the release valve). Use low heat and pour as soon is it makes noise. The coffee then is delicious and about the amount of a double espresso.