Espresso Maker by Richard Sapper Size: 6 cups

I know it is extravagant to even consider spending this much for a stove-top espresso maker, but this product is worth the price. It is not only beautifully designed on the outside, it is well designed and manufactured on the inside. I have had stove-top espresso makers for thirty years and this one looks and functions better than any one I've had in the past. Considering the fact that I use it everyday and plan to have it for years, I may at some point get over the price multiple compared to other espresso makers.

Bosch Tassimo Single Serve Coffee Brewers

Ordered this new Bosch Tassimo machine on-line directly from Tassimo. Same price as Amazon at $139.99. www.tassimo.com. We have been using it for about a week now and I absolutely love it! We had used the Braun Tassimo machine for about 5 years and the new Bosch has much improved the Tassimo coffee maker. Here's a list of the Improvements:

1. It's narrower and doesn't take up as much counter space

2. There is a power button on the front of the machine so you can easily turn it off at night.

3. There is essentially no water warm-up time. It is almost instant after you insert the T-disc and push the green button.

4. It is extemely quiet.

5. It even makes the coffee a little stronger than the old machine did.

6. It does not collect waste water that you have to empty all the time. Only the few drops of coffee that don't make it into your cup are collected.

7. Much better filtering system. It also has a change filter indicator to tell you when its time to change the filter.

8. Higher construction quality, more solid feel to the machine.

As a coffee enthusiast I've done most of the things coffee enthusiasts do grind their own beans, try to get their roasts as fresh as possible, use different brewers and methods, etc. I tried the Senseo pod system as well. I also currently have a Keurig system that I enjoy. About six weeks ago I decided to try the Tassimo system, and these are my thoughts so far:

1. I think the Bosch unit is well-built. It is virtually instant-on, and its resevoir is adequate for home use. Keurig requires a couple minutes from cold to ready, but allows you to set an on time to coincide with your wake-up time so it's ready to go when you are.

2. I appreciate the fact that I can hold the brew button in and add some extra water to increase the portion size of a cup of coffee. I think that is more convenient than Keurig's fixed-size portion choices.

3. Overall, the coffee seems stronger than what the keurig typically brews. This system seems to have a better extraction method, and of course the bar-coded discs allow for variety.

4. While not a foamed-milk connoisseur, I think it does an adequate job of making lattes and such, with none of the attendant mess a steam wand and milk jar can create.

5. The cost seems pretty much on par with the Keurig products. If you have made a commitment to a cartridge-based coffee maker, you won't be sticker-shocked by the cost per cup. Of course it's higher than if one grinds their own beans, but on average I am using far less for brewing and, more importantly, not wasting partial pots that have grown cold or being forced to brew 4 cups when I only want one. I think if one begins to consider the waste factor of regular coffeemakers and their minimum brewing quantities, these cartridge systems become more cost competitive at providing a near-instant cup of completely fresh, hot coffee.

That being said, I think there are some irritating drawbacks to this system:

1. Unless you are happy with what you get locally, you better be prepared to get your order in by Wednesday at Tassimodirect, because they only ship on Fridays. Miss the deadline, and you will wait a week. Tassimo has a relatively thin selection compared to pods and K-cups, and many T-disc brands and types seem to be available only from Tassimo directly. This reminds me of small-time E-Bay retailers who run their auctions and set them up to end and then have a once-weekly "ship date". That's fine for them; it's amateurish for a company that is a division of Kraft Foods.

2. Brewing takes longer to complete. When my Keurig machine is done, I need to wait perhaps 5 seconds to remove my coffee cup and open the unit and pull the pod out. The Tassimo system seems to linger at the end of the brew cycle and dribble out coffee for quite some time. If you get impatient and open the lid, you will likely be greeted by a whoosh of hot steam and hot, wet coffee grounds. It really increases the amount of time to brew multiple cups. Bosch needs to introduce an option that allows people who know they are not going to add additional water to their coffee to have the brewing cycle terminate and relieve the pressure in the brewing chamber at whatever point the barcode on the T-Disc has instructed the machine to fill/brew to.

3. Watch out if you get a bad batch of T-Discs. I have had 2 batches of discs (same flavor, 2 different packages) where about 80% of them ruptured during their brew cycle. This results in hot water streaming out of the brewing area, accompanied by lots of coffee grounds in the brewing area and coming out of the unit. It's a mess, and it's dangerous. Both batches had actually ruptured the foil tops on the T-Disc pods. I really doubt it's my unit because the dozen or so other brands/flavors/types I have tried have not ruptured.

Is it a good system? Yes, it is. It's positioned somewhere between K-Cups and Senseo-type pods, which have the largest choice, and the highly boutique systems such as Nespresso and Lavazza Blue, which have a much narrower focus and selection. Its system is also more versatile at brewing than Keurig, which can't do Crema or milk foaming, but it does need some fine-tuning to cut down the cycle finishing time and make it safer to open to unit more quickly at the end of a cycle.

Buy Bosch Tassimo Single Serve Coffee Brewers Now

My wife and I bought the BRAUN Tassimo Maker about a year ago as a wedding present to ourselves and we LOVED it (use it just about every single day). The BRAUN unit did have a few drawbacks that we would have liked to see changed: Unit too wide, too LOUD, no cord storage, and that annoying "puddle cup" for unused/overflow water, etc.

We had heard the BOSCH unit was much improved over the BRAUN so we bought it this past weekend. All I can say it BOSCH got it right. Although we were a bit disappointed neither unit has a timer, the fact that the beverages are brewed so quickly (even faster in the BOSCH) that the inconvenience of not having a timer is really not a big deal. Although the BOSCH is a tad bit deeper (longer) than the BRAUN...it has a slimmer width and looks much nicer on our kitchen counter. The new BOSCH is still very simple with a similar one-touch operation...but with the addition of an on/off. Our 11 favorite features of the new BOSCH Tassimo are:

1 The noise has been reduced by at least 90%! Anyone who has had the BRAUN will notice a HUGE difference with the BOSCH!

2 FASTER brewing time. Within a few seconds after turning the unit on and inserting a T-disc the unit will start brewing, unlike the BRAUN which sometimes took a minute or more for the "ready" light to come on.

3 A more "solid/quality" look and feel. This is especially evident in the T-disc housing. It is a much heavier plastic and you don't feel like you are going to break it whenever you clamp down on a T-disc.

4 Longer "piercing unit" that narrows down toward the cup. This significantly cuts down on coffee splatter which was a real pain with the BRAUN.

5 CORD STORAGE! With the BOSCH I only pull out the exact amount of electrical cord I need making for a much better fit on the counter than the old coil and hide cord on the BRAUN unit.

6 NO MORE PUDDLE CUP! Although the storage tank on the BOSCH has slightly less capacity than on the BRAUN, we love not having to empty the "dribble cup" or soak up water in the base everytime the unit's base cup was removed to fit tall mugs!

7 The Cleaning Disc is conveniently stored away in the back of the unit, virtually eliminating the possibility of misplacing it.

8 On/Off switch! This is a nice feature for turning the unit OFF when going out of town, etc. rather than having to unplug it!

9 Filter Change Indicator. I like this feature, but I feel that having to buy filters every couple of months can get pricey. We use "double filtered" water (filtered from our fridge and then filtered in the unit). By doing this I am confident we can get twice as much usage out of the filters than those using unfiltered tap water...simply "reset" the filter indicator twice.

10 The water reservoir on the BOSCH has a handy-dandy handle which makes it much easier to remove/fill/clean, etc.

11 PRICE! Considering the improvements on the BOSCH, I would have gladly paid the same amount as we did for the BRAUN (retail $169)...but at just under $140 this until is well worth the price.

I hope this helps those of you trying to decide between the two units!

Read Best Reviews of Bosch Tassimo Single Serve Coffee Brewers Here

You've probbaly done a lot of research, as did I, on the Tassimo system. I'm familiar with some of the others, but found I like this system the best. That being said, for the machine itself, the BOSCH is the one you want.

I bought the Braun system for home, and thought I would try the Bosch system for work. Definately go with the BOSCH.

I think its mentioned before, but worth repeating.

* The Braun is very quiet. Its slightly louder than the air circulation pump in an aquarium if thats an indicator. Nice little bbbbrrrrrr... sound when dispensing coffee/ tea.

* Its much cleaner than the Braun machine. No spatters, dripping, splashed water from a lid that falls into the water holding container. This has a nice little handle, secure fitting lid and little if no extra water as in the other system.

* Heat up time is very quick, although I think it does take a bit longer to pour than the other system--however, the heat up time is so fast, it more than makes up in overall time to prepare a cup of coffee/tea.

* There is a water filter replacement gauge which is a nice little feature

* The controls are a lot easier to understand and use than on the other machine.

As far as the Tassimo system itself, you can avoid shipping charges if you make a minimum recurring order of $35 a month. I spend more than that, so its not an issue and I get a package delivered to my door. A trip to Target would cost me at least $8 in gas anyways, so its actually 'economical' to do it this way. Also, the stores are very limited in what they carry, so its better to order online for a really good selection.

What to order:

Chai Latte is really good. Spray some chilled canned whipping creme on top and its really --really, really, good.

If you like a stronger coffee, I'd suggest Seattle's Best or Maxwell House

For a lighter coffee (think Caribou Coffee vs. Starbucks), I like the Gevalia Latte and Gevalia in general.

You can also get Starbucks coffee, too. I haven't tried one, but my office mates have and like it.

The Hot Chocolate is what you would get at a highschool football game, kind of watery. That being said my kids LOVE the stuff, absolutely love it. I don't care for it, but since its for them, I'll give it a positive recommendation. You can add whipped creme to the top which helps a lot, or use a Latte disc to make it a little bit more creamy.

The machiatto is a bit watery, but I'm not familiar with how its supposed to taste as I've never ordered one from a retail store.

Basically, if you've chosen your system--Tassimo-then the Bosch is the machine that you want.

Hope thats helpful.

Want Bosch Tassimo Single Serve Coffee Brewers Discount?

I've had this machine for a while now, and I love it. I have the Tassimo at home, but at work I use a Keurig so I thought I'd write up a review comparing the two of them. I prefer the Tassimo machine by quite a bit.

Tassimo pros and cons:

++++ the ability to make lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, espresso, etc. (this is the selling point for me.)

+ vastly superior hot chocolate

+ barcode technology allows for smarter brews

lack of in-store availability

poor customer service

hard to find t-discs in stores

Keurig pros and cons:

+ widespread availabilities of k-cups in stores

+ variety of coffee flavors

+ superior customer service

inferior coffee quality. Vast majority of brews are thin and watery.

limited drink variety (no lattes, etc)

In my opinion, despite the widespread availability of k-cups and the huge variety of brews available, Keurig is just a well-run company that makes an okay machine. It brews convenience store quality coffee and it does it very quickly. Their customer service and marketing departments are clearly doing a MUCH better job than Tassimo promoting the machine and providing support to consumers following their purchase. I see k-cups in stores everywhere now. I even saw some at Staples the other day! The Keurig also makes decent teas, but I find their hot chocolates undrinkable. For me, real milk is a total necessity for a rich and creamy hot chocolate.

Tassimo on the other hand is a poorly run division of Kraft foods that has a really awesome little machine. For the price, the quality of beverages this thing can produce is really pretty awesome. The lattes, capps and espressos aren't what you would be served in an Italian cafe, but are they as good as if you went to your average starbucks down the street? Sure! And the machine does a better job of making a good cup of coffee. Rather than basically just dripping some hot water through the grinds like the Keurig, the Tassimo machine uses more pressure to push the water through resulting in brews that are richer and more flavorful. The best coffees on the Keurig are comprable to the low-end coffee from the Tassimo, and the best coffees on the Tassimo are as good as what you'd get using fresh ground beans with a drip coffee maker. The t-discs on average cost about the same as the Keurig k-cups for just plain coffee and obviously a little more expensive than a keurig cup for lattes and capps. For a latte or capp you can be looking at up to about a dollar a cup, but it's still a substantial savings over going to a coffee shop daily as I had been doing. The discs that you use to make frothed milk with is real milk and it tastes like real milk. Personally I don't mind just ordering online, but the t-discs can be hard to find in stores (though this varies by region).

Despite the poor management of Tassimo by Kraft, I don't think customers need to be worried about the business going under and not being able to buy t-discs anywhere anymore. Although the Keurig seems to be the more popular machine in America, Tassimo has about 90% market share in Canada and is very popular in Europe. Even as t-discs are harder to find in American stores, online selection is growing as many once Europe-only discs are available for shipment stateside.

Mr. Coffee SKX26 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Red

Was looking for a red coffee pot, programmable and reasonably priced. The color isn't red more wine or burgundy, but I love the amount of coffee it makes. It has a cool feature... the water arm swings out of the way to get the filter out, and the lid automatically pushes it back into place when you close it. Dual water windows are greatso no matter which side you are pouring water in ( I'm a lefty, my husband is a righty) you can easily see the water level. We have it sitting on a "Handy caddy" which makes it really easy to use!

This coffee maker does everything we want in our coffee maker and at this price it cannot be beat. It is programmable, has the drip pause, includes a filter for your water and all the normal things we coffee lovers expect from Mr. Coffee. Now, if you want a red coffee maker to go with your other kitchen items like I did, you need to go find another one. I am just going to live with it, but if I had known I would have chosen another one. It is a purpleish pink color. Everyone is my family agrees. If you can deal, then go ahead and buy.

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I really like this product. I was greatly pleased to have the lighted panel lighted in green. It really shows up in the dark. The coffeemaker is very easy to use and I have always had great coffee come from the machine. I love the red color too.

Ted

Read Best Reviews of Mr. Coffee SKX26 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Red Here

I've been looking for a red coffeemaker to replace my 10 year old Mr Coffee (that is still working BTW!) but I've updated my kitchen to red, so I wanted a coffeemaker to match. I got sucked in by the Kitchenaid brand at first, because everything else I own is by them these days, but it was WAY too tall and bulky for my vintage kitchen in my 1955 apartment in the city. I didn't realize it until I was on my 3rd red coffeemaker, but they are running much larger nowadays! I'd buy one, unpack it and it would be an inch too tall to fit under my hanging cabinet.

This red Mr Coffee popped up on my suggests list and I decided to take a chance. It showed up and is not only very pretty, it is the perfect size and performs as great as I've come to expect from a Mr Coffee. I bet this one will last another 10 years and all for under $20!! (I bought the one from the warehouse because the box had been opened it was only $15! It is in perfect condition!)

Want Mr. Coffee SKX26 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Red Discount?

Hi, I had the $39 Mr. Coffee last time. I thought I would save some money and get this one. It is very basic and does the job. What I don't like is

1. It is Dark Pink ( Not a bad look, I have seen this nail polish. As a guy I will pass it off as 1950's...LOL

2. The Glass pot can spill some when pouring.

3. No water filter with it. You can use a MR. Coffee filter if you want to buy one.

4. Two holes in the back of maker. This is so you don't over fill water. However the water will end up on the counter instead.

These issues aside, I like MR. Coffee Makers. Yes, I also had a Bun at one time. If You have to ask the price you can't afford it. The MR. Coffee is just as Good and is on all day. The last maker lasted 3 years so great value. Hope this helps.

KRUPS Espresseria Full Automatic Espresso Machine

I just received this Krups Espresseria automatic machine. I have a Jura ENA 4 at my work so I will try to make some comparisons to them. The Jura is about the same price and they both have very similar features. I was so excited when I found out I would be receiving this Krups machine so that I can make my cappuccino at home too! I am a coffee fool so I make alot. With winter coming up this will be well used. Ok I have been using the Jura for some time at my work and it has been a very nice machine and is easy to setup, clean, and use. The Krups is no exception here as it is very easy to setup. Just fill the water container, bean hopper, set language, ML or OZ for liquid measurement, water hardness and ready to go. I use beans I buy here on Amazon. They are eight Oclock brand 50 % decaf. I chose the fine grind setting and brewed my first Cappuccio in less than a minute and the froth was superb. The coffee taste and strength is every bit as good as the Jura maybe alittle stronger with the Krups. I like that the machine is fully programable for different fill levels of coffee. You can fill one or two cups at a time. The nozzle height can be adjusted for taller cups but will not accommodate tall cups without sliding the drip tray out. The Jura can accommodate tall glasses no problem. The steam wand worked very well with no mess and produced a very nice froth and is fully adjustable for many positions. I really liked the spill tray as it has a float in it that rises to let you know when it is full. The Jura does not have this. Both machines come with a water filter to help reduce the bad flavors and reduce machine descaling frequency. The both come with a starter pack of cleaning tablets. As with any coffee espresso machine it will need cleaning to keep the flavor and machine working properly. It looks like the Krups requires less frequent cleaning. Both the frothing nozzles need cleaning frequently. All in all this is a very nice machine that will see alot of use. Oh yeah I was kind of surprised when I opened the box and noticed a small amount of coffee grinds in the machine. I called Krups customer service and was promptly advised that the machines grinders are tested during the assembly. I found no mention of this in the owners info so I was surprised but it is very nice to know that the machines are quality tested before shipping them out. Oh I should note that Jura does mention in there instructions that small traces of coffee grinds may be found in there machines for the same reason. Well I will try to make some comparisons now.

The Krups you can only use whole beans and no preground coffee.

The Jura has a bypass doser that allows you to use preground coffee.

The Jura does not come with a milk container and must be bought separately for about 80-100 dollars.

The Krups does come with its own stainless steel milk container even though it is not mentioned or shown in any of the pictures. I was really hoping it did come with it. Yeah!!

The Krups is made in France and not Mexico or China.

The Jura has a removable bean container.

The Krups does not have a removable bean container so no quick swapout of beans. Must run them all trough machine.

They both hold about the same amount of old grind cakes at 14.

The Jura needs to be cleaned every 180 cycles.

The Krups needs to be cleaned every 360 cycles. Big plus here!

The Jura takes about 44 minutes on the cleaning cycle.

The Krups take about 22 minutes on the cleaning cycle.

Both have an energy saving mode that is programable.

Both can be changed from ML to Oz for fluid measurement.

Both Krups and Jura come with a 2 year or 6000 cup warranty.

My likes about the Krups are slightly stronger coffee than the Jura.

Less frequent cleaning demands with the Krups.

Krups comes with its own Stainless milk container so you can fill it and put back in fridge when not using. The Jura you must purchase the milk container for 8-100 dollars.

Krups has a drip tray float to remind you when it needs cleaning out.

The Krups costumer service department was very quick and responsive when I called them. Oh yeah and they were all American so I could understand them.

The Krups has a better look for a home than does the Jura in my opinion.

I like being able to see how full the bean container is on the Krups without looking down in it unlike the Jura.

My dislikes abouth the Krups are no removable bean container. So when you want to change coffee beans to another brand you must cycle them through where as the Jura you can remove the bean container and empty it out.

Cannot use preground coffee as an option where as you can on the Jura.

The Krups nozzle does not raise as high as I would like to accommodate taller cups but can if you slide the drip tray out first.

So bottom line would I recommend the Krups Espresseria machine??? Yes I defiantly would!!!

UPDATE:

Ok so I have been using it for some time now and love it more than ever!! My wife too!! When just making a good old fashioned coffee the creama is so rich and yummy. I love it. I am still experimenting with all the minor adjustments you can make to custom tailor it but so far I like the grind set on very fine for a very robust flavor but not bitter at all. I am also loving the included milk container for the milk froth. It is very nice to be able to just fill it, use it, then put back in the fridge when done. Jura makes you pay extra for there milk container so nice job Krups!! Well just wanted to give an update as to how things are going here. Thanks

We're a 2-3 cup a day coffee household. This doesn't include all of the weekly trips to the coffee shop while at work for more specialized drinks. Prior to getting this espresso maker we simply brewed flavored coffee at home with cheap and disposable coffee makers. We were of course overjoyed to welcome the Krups EA8250001 Espresseria Full Automatic Espresso and coffee Machine into our kitchen. Here are my thoughts;

Pros

+ All in one unit. Stores, grinds, brews and disposes of your coffee. No outside water lines needed.

+ Stainless Steel milk frothing bottle provided. Very nice!

+ Auto clean/rinse cycle. Only needs complete cleaning once every 360 cycles!

+ Modern and sleek black look. Also, very compact in size for an espresso machine.

+ Easy to use digital interface and quick set up.

+ Water proof service guide stored inside a side slot of the machine.

+ Steamer nozzle also dispenses hot water for tea/hot chocolate drinkers.

+ Extremely quick brew time. Less than 2 minutes.

+ Energy efficient and has an auto-off timer.

+ Made in France (not Taiwan or China like many products today).

+ 2 year or 6,000 cup warrantee.

+ Machine alerts you on all cleaning/replacement functions.

+ Tool provided for easy installation of the unit's water filter. Especially useful if you have larger hands.

Cons

Incredibly expensive.

Milk frothing bottle and attachments are a bit cumbersome to use and clean.

Water filters are $18-20 each and need to be replaced every two months.

Unable to use flavored or pre-ground coffee. There's no bypass chamber to change beans. Once your coffee is in the machine it's in there until you use it.

Frother is rather rigid and has limited flexibility. It's also difficult to use on a countertop, especially with larger mugs. You need to have it on the counter edge to even get a larger cup out.

Can be rather noisey, especially early in the morning. Water tank can rattle quite a bit when brewing the coffee.

Clock display doesn't stay on when you're not using the machine.

Water dispenser tray platform is a bit small and while the coffee nozzles do raise, it's not really enough for larger coffee mugs.

Some crucial pieces of the machine are plastic (coffee nozzles, parts of the frother etc.). I would prefer them to be metal as the plastic feels like it could crack from the heat.

The Krups EA8250001 Espresseria Full Automatic Espresso and coffee Machine is something most people would never buy but would love to receive it as a gift. I'm sure there are many of these machines on wedding registries from couples with crossed fingers. For the price this machine should definitely be considered an investment. Spending this much on an espresso machine is difficult to justify. However, if you can afford the purchase price it definitely does what it's supposed to. I can absolutely say that I'm the envy of all my coffee drinking coworkers and friends. I know our household will get many years of use out of it.

Buy KRUPS Espresseria Full Automatic Espresso Machine Now

This could seriously be the best thing I have ever purchased. It is expensive, but man, it is great to wake up and push 3 different buttons a total of 5 different times and have an excellent cup of cappuccino. It could not be easier. Set up is a breeze. The machine tells you when you need water or a new filter. You can see the coffee beans. There is no mess to clean up. When it is time to empty the spent grounds (about every 10-15 cups) a message comes on, you pull out a side drawer, dump it in the trash, empty and rinse the water tray and ... voila.

We bought this assuming that it would not replace our regular drip coffee maker. But we completely stopped using the coffee maker and instead have cappuccino or cafe creme every day. The automatic cappuccino foamer is really quite clever and easy to clean. We have found that you need milk fat to make a decent foam so use whole milk or add a little 1/2 n 1/2 to whatever reduced fat milk you use and it will make a good foam. It takes a few experiments to see how long you need to let the steam run to get the right amount of milk foam to mix with the strong espresso. We have finally landed on 15 seconds. The machine always comes back to whatever setting you used last, so once you get a setting you like you can pretty much just push a few buttons and your coffee is ready in less than 2 minutes from the time you power up the machine.

It pays to experiment with beans also. We use a mix of 1/2 decaf cafe Britt which is nice and dark and adds an earthy flavor, and 1/2 regular caf Lavazza Super Crema because that seemed to be a consensus good espresso bean. The Lavazza is a medium roast. So now we have the coffee we like, and cappuccinos better than any we can get in a restaurant or coffee shop (always way way too much milk). I am confident we would never use a manual machine. My hats off to people who do. If you are like me and want a great espresso, cappuccino or cafe noisette every day, you will love this machine

Read Best Reviews of KRUPS Espresseria Full Automatic Espresso Machine Here

This is the best super automatic espresso machine out there based on my own, super-nerdy formula: "(rich flavor * ease of use) / cost." Dorky, yes, but you're talking to someone who came up with decisionking.com and previously has used a one-touch Tassimo machine in USA, one-touch Philips machine in Spain, and a few other cheap espresso machines including the manual kind. I am a resident of Spain and a US citizen, so I appreciate a good european style "cafe con leche."

The advantages of this Krups machine are that: 1) it's the most compact machine, 2) it's very simple to operate 3) it has the lowest cost of the different super automatic brands (as of 10-26-2011), 4) and it can use oily beans unlike the other different brands of machines. 5) Also, it runs the longest between cleaning cycles (360 cycles) compared to the other brands. The resulting coffee is, of course, rich and smooth and full of flavor. That being said, it is important to note that coffee flavor seems to be more related to the quality/freshness of coffee beans used rather than the machine itself.

The disadvantages of this Krups machine are its high cost (relative to my cheap coffee machines before) and no bypass doser. But both of these disadvantages are minimal especially when you compare the Krups cost to the other super automatic espresso machines. On the other hand, a bypass doser is important for that quick decaf, one would want to make for late night after dinner.

Bottom line is: I'd give this device 4.5 stars since it does not have the bypass doser. But if you want an easy to use, minimal maintenance, one-touch espresso machine, that is compact and costs the least of the super automatics then I think this Krups is the machine you want to invest in.

Want KRUPS Espresseria Full Automatic Espresso Machine Discount?

So, I've had this machine for about a month now, and I'll echo much of what others have said: it makes an awesome cup of espresso (especially if you've got good quality espresso roasted beans, but that goes without saying). The fully automatic nature of the machine makes it a dream to easily get a good cup of coffee, and I'm fiendishly excited that I can reduce my outlays to Starbucks.

The one "complaint" that I had about the machine was that the auto milk attachment didn't get hot enough (i.e. it got up to around 110 degrees F), so I started nuking my coffee to get it to a good "americanized" coffee temperature. But, I found a solution: when you hit the steam button and the milks starts pouring into your cup, pinch the plastic tube so that it sputters--this will allow more steam to get into the mix, thereby heating up the milk more. The result? Milk that gets to about 140 degrees F!! Perfect stuff. Also, BTW--I've successfully used almond milk from the start, so if you want to go healthy and tasty, then you have a good non-dairy, non-soy option. Cheers and enjoy!

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Saeco Aroma Espresso & Cappuccino Pump Machine

I've been using this machine for the past couple weeks and so far I love it! It looks great on the counter, doesn't take up much space, it seems solidly built and I couldn't be happier with the quality of the drinks I've been making with it. I'm a latte/cappuccino drinker so I can't really comment on the subtleties of a good espresso shot but the shots look great, they have plenty of crema and the milk based drinks are just delicious, much better than what I get at the local coffee shops.

I usually don't write long reviews but while researching before I bought it, I found plenty of negative reviews from people who seem to have unrealistic expectations or who didn't bother to do their homework or read the manual.

Things to consider and common complaints:

This is a single boiler machine, which requires the machine to be primed every time you steam milk. If you don't, it will end up suffering from a premature death due to overheating. You may be able to find a self-priming machine for this price (I didn't run into any but it's not a feature I particularly cared for). If you want a dual boiler machine then you'll have to invest more money. Personally, I don't mind priming it, it may feel like there are too many steps at first but once you get a hang of it, it's extremely quick and simple.

It comes with a pressurized portafilter which is less sensitive to grinding finesse and tamping pressure and will give you a consistent espresso shot even if you don't really know what you are doing. For the average user this can be a great feature, since you can get a good shot with pre-ground espresso or a pod. However, if you are really into the art of making the perfect espresso and want to play around with grinding and tamping pressure, then you'll probably want a regular portafilter.

The steaming wand is a bit too low and only rotates horizontally, which limits the size of the frothing container you can use. Not an issue for me but something you may want to consider. I use a 16 oz. frothing pitcher and as long as I keep it filled up to somewhere between 2/3 and 3/4, I can work without issues. With more liquid than that, I would spill some on the counter when trying to remove the pitcher. This can be addressed by raising the machine (something like a thick cutting board underneath it could work) or by placing the machine on the far right edge of the counter.

The cup warmer seems a bit on the flimsy side. I'm just being picky with this one, I don't really care about that so just an FYI.

The panarello attachment makes it really easy to get thick foam but a bit tricky to get microfoam. I've been experimenting with it to get microfoam and I've got some good results. However, it is a bit harder to do than with a regular steam wand and I'm not sure if it will be good enough for latte art. Again, if you don't care about latte art, this is no big deal and your drinks will come out just fine.

If the portafilter is not tight enough or if it's too full, water will leak from the top. This happened to me when I first got it and was trying to set it up. It was a bit too tight which required extra strength to make it fit right. After a couple of tries, it loosened up, getting it on and off became very easy and there are no leaks whatsoever.

I can't comment on durability but I will update this review if I run into any issues.

Overall, I'd say this is a great purchase for the price as long as you know what to expect and it suits your needs. If you decide to get it, do yourself a favor and read the manual. =)

Fine machine. Brews an excellent shot with good head. Heats up quickly and the durability has been excellent. Steams well but it definitely takes longer than I'm used to. I have this one at work but the 30013 at home which I think is an even better model. Brews and steams much quicker and while the case is the same the push buttons on this one feel less solid than the flip switches on the 30013.

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I've purchased 3 different Saeco machines and have ownd a La Pavoni espresso maker in the past. I have a home in Italy where the first two Saecos were purchased and a home in the U.S. where I have my third.

I had second thoughts about buying an Italian coffee machine in the U.S. because all of these at one time or another require professional maintenance. Every single one of my 4 espresso machines has had to go to the shop for one thing or another. In Italy, espresso is part of everyday life and there are a lot more of these machines in use and being serviced. My authorized Saeco dealer near my Italian home knows these machines very well and always provides expert service.

My U.S. machine recently stopped providing enough hot steam to froth milk properly. I contacted Saeco USA and was given a warranty number and instructed to send the machine to their Livermore, Californa shop. I did so and in about a week the machine arrived back at my home. When I unboxed it, the machine had been sealed in a plastic bag and placed in the box. When I opened the plastic bag, water poured onto my floor. Not a mere amount of condensation either. The entire machine was soaking wet. The repair center it seems was so unfamiliar with these machines that they didn't know to pump out all of the water prior to shipping. Then, I read their repair report which said that there was no problem with the machine and recommended that the customer (me) let the machine heat up before trying to use the steam wand. (I've been letting it heat up and steam twice trying to get hot frothed milk to no avail)

The machine is no better than when I sent it in...it still doesn't provide enough hot steam to froth and I'm out the $40.00 shipping and packaging that I spent sending the machine to the service center. I notified Saeco USA about this last week and requested a replacement. I haven't heard back from their company.

My recommendation...if you live in Italy where these can get serviced properly, by all means buy one. When it is working correctly it's a nice machine. But, if you are a U.S. customer, I'd pass.

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After my old, cheap combo drip/espresso coffee maker gave up the ghost, I decided to invest in a serious espresso machine. I followed the advice given by Alton Brown from his Good Eats episode on espresso and wound up with the same machine that he uses. It's a lovely semi-automatic machine. By semi-automatic, I mean that the machine pushes water through the portafilter to make coffee as long as the switch is on; it's up to you to decide when to shut it off. Same goes for the milk frothing attachment. But the frother attachment is a big, wide plastic tube which is easy to clean, the water tank has enough capacity for a week's worth of espresso, and the pump can make for a lovely shot of espresso with a beautiful head of crema.

I think I would have preferred the design esthetic of a previous model, where the brewing and frothing switches were on/off switches as opposed to up/down buttons, but that quibble aside, this is a lovely machine for do-it-yourself espresso and cappuccino.

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I purchased this for 300$ with free shipping and a free kit including 6 espresso cups, saucers, spoons and a milk foaming metal pitcher and some espresso blend grounds as well. This machine works great, it's solid, simple, small and powerful. The machine warms up quickly and has few buttons so it won't confuse you.

**Like most machines of this sort, you do need to learn how to use it and it does require maintenance every so often (rinsing, descaling, etc...) but once you use it as it is intended, the results are stellar. Maybe it's just the grounds, but this thing pumps out espresso just like I remember from my trip to Portugal; great crema and very straightforward to use. The steam wand works great, better than some commercial models I've used working in cafe's.

Just make sure you prime the water circuit and warm the portafilter (where you put the grounds) before you put the grounds in. Warming the portafilter has the side benefit of warming the cup as well(which you'll put under the portafilter to catch the water), which most espresso snobs will tell you is necessary for great espresso anyway.

The espresso water pump and the steam wand do seem to continue to leak water a tiny bit after use, but keeping them over the water tray is instinctual and I have heard that even commercial models will drip a bit of water out immediately after use so I don't consider it a 'con', not really a 'pro' though either.

All in all, for this price, I couldn't be more happy. The machine is quite nice to look at too and the extras that I got it with made it a steal of a deal by my standards. It doesn't come with a real 'tamper' though, I'm still trying to find one, it's amazing how most kitchen style stores don't actually sell them.

Contents: machine, water tray, grounds disposal tray with wooden 'hit me here to empty' thingy, removable water tank, water tank top, portafilter with accessory for using ESE pods or regular ground coffee, espresso scoop/spoon.

5 stars so far and if it keeps up it's good work.

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Aerobie Aeropress and Hario Mini Mill Grinder Package

This is my 4th Aeropress. Originally I bought one to take on a motorcycle trip, and after trying it I found that the coffee it makes is so much better that my drip machine. Even my girlfriend that hated coffee tried it and now has coffee every morning. I use the inverted method mostly. It does not make espresso, but it does make a fine cup of coffee. I have one at the office, and two at home, one of which travels with me on bike trips. Just one of those products that make you go...why didn't I think of this.

This combo is the BEST. I use both products together at least once daily in my studio, and couldn't be happier. The grinder takes a bit of time, but its worth it for the quality. If the handle is left off, the hexagonal-shaped nub is a perfect fit for a cordless power drill chuck. Set it on LOW or be gentle with your trigger finger, or else you will burn the beans, and wear out the grinder. But if you have a light touch and common sense, grinding in the shop or studio is a breeze. Will be buying a few more of these sets come x-mas time for friends and family.

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The aeropress makes rich, delicious coffee and you can add as much or as little water as you want to tweak it to the strength that you like. The Hario grinder can do a very fine grind. It takes me about six minutes to grind enough beans for two cups of coffee. Grinding, pressing and clean up all told takes me about ten to fifteen minutes. If you have a little extra time in the morning to spend making an awesome cup of coffee, this is the way to go!

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Aerobie makes better coffee than I've ever had before. It takes I bit more work than the pour, scoop and button-push of an automated drip coffee maker, but the results are SOoo worth the extra effort.

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This makes great coffee. I wasn't sure about the grinder but it works pretty good if you are not in a hurry.

Farberware FES15B 15-Bar Pump-Driven Espresso Machine

I had this machine for about eight months. I drink espresso nearly every day (yes I know...I have a problem). The Farberware machine was great until most recently the handle separated from the metal dish that holds the coffee beans. I called technical support and the lady whom I spoke with informed me that the part was discontinued and that I could not get a replacement part, even if I wanted to purchase it. The only solution offered was that if I had a receipt, she could provide me with a comparable machine. This thing was a gift from my mother... Where o where could that receipt be?

Humorously, I can still use the machine by twisting the metal container into the housing without the wand. It does still work, but talk about shoddy. Great machine...poor ingenuity on the wand.

Light usage over the course of a year. The handle puled a part from the metal cup that holds the espresso beans. I would not recommend this for anyone that wants to get more than say 40 espressos out of their machine. Up until this point, I was relatively happy with it's performance and design.

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Two years ago, I bought this from a local electronics store for $30. It was on sale and I decided to try the machine. Before buying it, I checked reviews and they were unanimously horrible. However, for the low cost, it was worth a try. I am surprised this unit is still being sold. I used this machine once and it was dead the second time I tried to use it. The one time I used it, it produced acceptable froth and a decently tasting cup of coffee. Since this machine broke, I have used and own two Delonghi machines Both are dependable and produce excellent results.

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i thought this was a fantastic machine when i got it for christmas... until 2 months after i got it. the handle broke off the thing that you put the coffee in... and if the handle breaks so does the part that the coffee comes out of... and the pressure is messed up so it leaks everywhere now. and there is no way to geat a replacement. this is not even made by the manufacture anymore, so they cant replace the part. If anyone can help me find a replacement please let me know, because i searched 4 months with no luck.

now i have to go buy another coffee machine because this one had such a short life.

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Quit working after the second cup. Very difficult to steam milk because of the room to place the milk holder. Your are not provided with a cup or receptacle for the milk. It is very procedure oriented to make the espresso and messy after doing so. Forget this machine and look elsewhere. :-{

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