Jura ENA 9 One Touch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can search for nTrk_7bd60s on YouTube for a demo.

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

Buy Jura ENA 9 One Touch Now

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

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

Pros

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

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

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

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

Cons

1. Warm cappuccino, just like the ESAM3500

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

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

4. No cup warmer like the ESAM3500.

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

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

Suggestions:

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

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

Read Best Reviews of Jura ENA 9 One Touch Here

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. The down sides are the following:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Want Jura ENA 9 One Touch Discount?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Save 24% Off

Breville BES860XL Barista Express Espresso Machine with Grinder

I spent my Christmas 2009 reviewing expresso machines. I had just returned from a trip to Europe and finally was going to fold and get an expresso machine. I missed the expresso from Italy and France. 1oz of crema delight.

So, I liked the Breville from all the reviews but was worried about some of the negativity on the "wet puck" I had read. All the reviews mentioned excellent coffee though, so it was on my short list.

Then I saw the Breville BES860XL, also known as the Barista Express Programmable Expresso. From the looks you can tell this unit has exchanged the hot water dispenser for a bean grinder. This unit is a fully automatic expresso machine with the super automatic feature of grinding a pre-measure of beans for your brew. Note, it is not a super automatic machine as you still need to manually mount the portafilter into the group head, and clean the filter afterwards. This is as automatic as you will want to go if you want to really control your coffee.

But, let me walk you through the pleasure:

1. the box. this has excellent graphics -even as you open, the getting started guide and pictures guide you along. The unit removes easily.

2. The tamper is magnetically held in place on the front of the machine -you can use it in place or remove for manual tamping.

3. New: -there is a dry puck feature now for all the fussy reviews -this removes excess water so you get, a dry puck

an excellent burr grinder -you can dismantle this for cleaning, and it has a wide range of control

for those that previously complained about the "cheat" dual wall filters -the unit comes with single and double dual wall AND single wall filters

there is a hideaway storage tray to hold all the small goodies

4. Steaming -excellent steam temperature and pressure -works very well with the provided frothing jug, very minimal excess water to start

5. The real test. I am using the dual wall filters, and the Illy whole expresso beans I got from Italy were made into pure heavenly expresso. Nice crema. This is the real thing.

This is one finely engineered machine. From a mechanically inclined electrical engineer to the folks at Breville: you have created an exceptionally functional piece that does the job. Did I mention it is beautiful on the counter as well? I have it on an island, no bad sides.

Drawbacks: none. BUT, when making a real expresso shot, make sure you pre-warm your demitasse. Otherwise the expresso will heat up your cup and your coffee will not be hot. I run a water cycle first into my cup to heat up the group head and the cup.

In my opinion this is the best buy in the market under $1500. At the office, daily I use a super automatic machine that is at that top end.

The Barista Express is Breville's newest (and most expensive) offering in its line of espresso machines (which includes the Breville 800ESXL Commercial Espresso Machine and the BES830XL Die-Cast Programmable Espresso Machine). It is a semi-professional machine designated for the "aspiring barista" and the "beginner."

The major selling points of the Barista Express are:

(1) patented dual-wall filters to help novices make a respectable cup of espresso without a lot of fuss. Breville has also included regular (single-walled) filters to allow a user the freedom to craft a cup of espresso like a professional barista would.

(2) the integrated burr grinder

A burr grinder (as opposed to a blade grinder) is ideally suited for grinding coffee beans because they generate less frictional heat than a conventional blade grinder. (Excessive heat degrades the quality of coffee beans. See Breville BCG450XL Conical Burr Grinder)

(3) coffeehouse-quality espresso right in your own home in under 2 minutes flat.

My experience with Breville Barista Express has been mostly positive. I'm especially impressed by how easy it is to make a delicious-tasting cup of espresso! Here's a detailed assessment:

Single-Wall and Dual-Wall Filters

Breville has included 2 types of filter: (1) the single-wall filter and (2) the double-wall filter. Each type of filter comes in 2 sizes (single-shot and double-shot) -for a total of 4 filters.

> Single-Wall Filter (Non-Pressurized Filter)

With the single-wall filter, getting the tamp pressure and grind size just right are of paramount importance for making a good cup of espresso. Under-extraction results in a watered-down espresso with little creama (foam head). The espresso will also taste a little sour. Over-extraction, on the other hand, makes the espresso overly bitter. I'll tell you, I have ruined many a cup of coffee because of under-extraction or over-extraction. Getting it right will take a lot of patience, practice, and experimentation.

> Dual-Wall Filter (Pressurized Filter)

I really appreciate the dual-wall filters Breville has included in the package for a beginner who is unsure of the "right" ground size or tamp pressure to use. The dual-wall filter helps to give a beginner a leg up on making a good cup of espresso without having to worry too much about the intricacies involving coffee ground size and tamp pressure.

A commonly reported problem that's noteworthy is that the single hole on the lower wall sometimes gets clogged up (although I haven't encountered the problem thus far). Breville advises the use of a pin to unclog the filter.

Coffee Temperature

The ideal temperature of the water for extraction is between 195 F to 202 F. However, the water temperature reaches only roughly 185 F on my machine. There are no adjustments that allow you to increase/decrease the temperature of the water.

Bean Hopper & Conical Burr Grinder

The bean hopper coffee that feeds the burr grinder has a supposed 8oz capacity. In practice, I find that it will only hold about 6 oz (it takes about half of a 12-oz bag of Peets coffee). A real plus to the hopper is the edges of its lid are lined with rubber to ensure a tight-fitting and airtight seal, so the coffee beans won't degrade as a result of oxidation.

The grind size of the burr grinder is adjustable, from very fine (for espresso and Turkish coffee) to coarse (recommended for espresso extraction with a dual-wall filter). The grinder delivers very evenly ground coffee (no lumps).

The only complaint I have about the hopper is as it empties out, the coffee beans in it occasionally need a little help to make them fall into the chute leading to the burr grinder. This happens more often with "oily" coffee beans.

Magnetic Tamper

The magnetic tamper allows you to either (i) tamp on the counter (like a professional barista does) or (ii) do your tamping "on board" (with the tamper magnetically affixed to the machine). I really like that you're able to store the tamper on board when it's not in use, so it's within easy reach and it won't get lost.

Programmable

I like how easy it is to program the amount of espresso dispensed into both the Single Shot and Double Shot buttons. For example, to program the Double Shot button, all you do is press the Program button, press Double Shot button, and press Double Shot button again to stop the extraction once you get the desired amount of espresso. Thereon, the Double Shot button will dispense the preprogrammed amount of espresso every time you push it.

Steam Wand

The steam wand produces perfectly textured milk. You can use an included attachment if more froth is desired.

Design

The Barista Express is a beautifully designed machine that simply oozes class and quality. The exterior is stainless steel except for the water tank, the bean hopper, the drip tray, the knobs, and a few other smaller parts (all of which are made of plastic).

Easy Cleanup

Clean-up is easy:

> Give the portafilter a good tap to expel the ground. The ground should pop right out (the used ground should resemble a brownie if you've gotten the grind size and tamp pressure right). Give both the filter basket and the portafilter a quick rinse and you're done.

> Empty the drip tray when it says "Empty me" (a small float atop the drip tray gets upturned to display an "Empty me" sign when the drip tray is just about full) -a very nice touch.

> Make sure the steam wand is wiped down immediately after use.

Get Started Right Away

Everything you need to get started right away is included: filter baskets, milk jug, tamper, carbon water filter, and frother attachment. You probably want to get some espresso cups and a thermometer if you don't have them already.

---

Despite a couple of issues, I like the Barista Express. Would I recommend it? Well, it depends.

If you're looking for an convenient, no-brainer way to make good cup of espresso (or any espresso-based beverage, such as Latte, Cappuccino, and Mocha) the Barista Express may be your ticket. It consistently churns out a good cup of espresso when you use the dual-wall filter, which works in tandem with the preprogrammed dual-wall settings. In addition, the burr grinder, which doesn't normally come integrated in professional machines, is a definite plus.

However, if you're into the art of making espresso (like a true barista), there are other good machines within the same price range you might want to look at first (one of the most popular machines is the Silvia Rancilio Espresso Machine).

There you have it. The above are some important considerations you might want to take into account before you make a purchase decision.

---

[Update October 5, 2011]

4 months after I acquired this espresso machine, it began leaking water. The water must have shorted out the electronics because the unit stopped working altogether shortly after. For months, my machine fell by the wayside, until I contacted Breville about getting it fixed. I was pleasantly surprised at how promptly they responded and how helpful the customer representative was. About 1 week after I contacted them, I received a brand new unit. Great job on the customer service, Breville -Thank you. You've definitely won me over.

Buy Breville BES860XL Barista Express Espresso Machine with Grinder Now

I agree with most of the reviews below but wanted to add a few words about my experience with this machine:

I made a cursory read-through of the manual and having never owned a machine like this, but certainly having purchased a lot of coffee shop espressos across the globe, I thought I could jump right in and make some great drinks. Well, in part true, but I hit a point where I almost returned it. I started off with the double-wall filter and it made a very decent shot. Then I figured I try out the single wall filter. 2 weeks later and after joining the ranks of Corn-holio, I hit the jackpot.

During the first 2 weeks, I went from a moderate grind and a middle grind amount to the finest setting and about 2/3 away around the grind amount dial. I even far exceeded the recommended tamping pressure. The result was always an under extracted and bitter shot. Most of the time the puck was wet on top and a bit messy to clean up. Each time I pressed the double-shot button, the pressure wouldn't even rise into the darker colored scale. No matter how fine the grind, or how hard I tamped the coffee the result was the same. I thought maybe it was the bean I chose or just a lousy grinder. Nope.

The day before yesterday I decided to read through the manual very carefully and try doing what they say step by step, not just what the cartoon correction diagram showed. I pre-heated the cup by running hot water through the filter and portafilter, thereby warming it. Then I immediately dried the portafilter/single-wall filter and filled it with freshly ground coffee. I added some coffee, pressed it down lightly into the filter with my fingers and added more. Then I tamped it with about 20 pounds of pressure. When finished, the tamper's stainless rim near the bottom was not completely recessed in the portafilter, leaving it filled to within 1/8". After cleaning the rim thoroughly I simply attached the group head and pressed the pre-programmed double shot. Killer espresso like ones I've had in the finest Italian shops. Cleanup was a dream because the puck was nearly dry it just popped out. Wow. Cleaning between shots is important reheating is as well. If you follow these (Breville's) directions you will be more than pleased with this machine. I now feel like I got my $600 worth.

I changed a few things all at once, so I can't necessarily put my finger on exactly what changed the output. Pre-heating and filling the single-wall filter to an after-tamped level near the top seems to be the key. I love this machine now. As with the other reviews, I think the "clean me" light comes on with just a pre-set number of cycles since I too use filtered water and clean incessantly. The machine is heavy, solid and well laid out. Watch out while filling the reservoir so as not to get even a few drops close to the hopper jamming problems and a difficult clean. I don't like leaving the tamper in the magnetic mount to tamp my coffee, but it's a great place to store it. The wand for frothing is fantastic, but I normally prefer straight espresso. My lovely wife prefers cappuccino and we're now working on some good cup art, no longer worrying about trying to nail the perfect shot. I do recommend this machine, but I highly recommend reading the directions word for word, front to back in the manual and adhering to their advice. Breville designed it and they know how to get the best results. With practice, you too will snub your nose at Starbucks from now on.

Best of luck.

Read Best Reviews of Breville BES860XL Barista Express Espresso Machine with Grinder Here

We have had our Breville unit for several months now. It has given good, reliable service and makes a terrific shot. I take capuccino (and the steam wand frother is very easy -the best manual frother I have used), and my lovely wife takes americanos. We use the "barista" filters rather than the Senseo-style "beginner" filters. The included pressure gauge makes it very easy to "sight in" your favorite shot by varying the grind and tamp till you find what you like.

The pump assembly, heating block, and user interface are terrific. The buttons have a nice feel, everything about the machine's style radiates solidity. It is a pleasure to use. The waste reservoir in the base is large enough for several days' coffee drinking, and is easy and simple to empty. The convenient hidden compartment behind it is a great place to stash the extras and cleaning tablets.

The grinder is indeed adjustable and delivers consistent sized grind when it is working. But there are several problems with it -it's obviously Breville's first attempt. First, the bean reservoir has very shallow sides -they are not sloped enough for most beans to autofeed, so we often end up pulling the top open and stirring the beans with our fingers, to get them to feed down into the grinder. Second, the grinder *will* jam if you use oily beans -which is too bad as we like a very dark roast. Mixing oily and dry roasts 1:1 seems to be OK, except... Third, the grinder *will* jam if you get even a little bit of water in it, which is inevitable if you fill the tank in-place on the back of the device. The molding at the top of the machine seems custom designed to direct otherwise-harmless drops of water straight down into the grinder where they will do the most damage.

The worst thing about the grinder is that it is a bitch and a half to clean. You can disassemble it -at least as far as getting the stator blades out from around the burr -but the part that jams is the feed paddles that push grounds out of the area under the grinder, into the top of the chute that feeds the espresso head in its holder (as pictured). That part is nearly impossible to get to. When the grinder jams, I vacuum out the coffee beans and grounds with the blade head on our vacuum cleaner (incidentally, Dyson vacuums rock), then go after it with a combination of toothpicks, pipe cleaners, and dust-free canned "air". This generally happens in the morning, so I wake up the kids with the vacuum, and then everyone's in a bad mood -the kids want sleep and/or breakfast, I want my coffee, and I'm rooting around with a toothpick cursing the designers.

We do run the clean cycle when the "clean me" light comes on, but I suspect it is on a fixed timer -we user reverse-osmosis water, shouldn't have any boiler-scale issues at all.

Want Breville BES860XL Barista Express Espresso Machine with Grinder Discount?

UPDATE: After 10 months of non-heavy 3-4 times a week use, I got up one morning to find water leaking from the bottom of the machine, covering my counter top. I contacted Breville's CS; they didn't hassle me at all. They requested my receipt and serial number (stamped on the bottom of the unit), and emailed me a link to a Breville-paid FedEx Ground shipping label. A week later I received a brand-new machine. My biggest hassle was of my own doing for not keeping the original box. They have GREAT customer service.

August 20, 2012--UPDATE #2: Two weeks ago, my warranty replacement did the same thing as my first unit (water leakage from the thermoblock's gasket). Personally, I think it's a manufacturing defect as I always used filtered water, descaled and cleaned my machine as it was required. IMHO, the one year warranty on these machines is lame, considering what these cost.

************************************************

I didn't like coffee of any kind until 5 years ago when I tried a drink from Seattle's Best. Then I was hooked. I had to clone this recipe at home; but attempting to make my own Raspberry Mocha Kiss from plain ol' coffee brewed in my $15 Mr. Coffee proved to be a failure. Now, I'm happy to say, I truly can make my own at home, all because of this stainless steel espresso machine made by Breville.

I agree with most of the other reviewers here --this is a great machine. From the moment you cut the package sealing tape on the box, the entire experience exudes class. Even the box flaps are beautiful with a large full color picture of a cappuccino on high-gloss cardboard. The directions start on the box flaps as far as unpacking it, and there is also a full manual and smaller quick-start guides to making the espresso and cleaning the machine. All the components are packaged well and the small number of parts needed for assembly fit together perfectly. You get everything you need except the coffee beans and shot glasses.

My sister-in-law owns a local coffee shop which, of course, has commercial-grade espresso machines. She saw my Breville and was impressed with the quality build for a home-use machine.

I admit after I had it assembled and ready-to-go, I was a bit overwhelmed that a coffee novice like me would be able to make a mocha or latte. I just stood there and stared at it for 3 days before I had the nerve to plug it in. But thanks to Breville for including the double-wall filters for us beginners it wasn't that hard. You get a total of 4 filters, dual wall for novices like me, and single wall for more experienced baristas. Single and double shot of each style.

A stainless steel pitcher is also included for steaming and frothing the milk. I used skim milk and the high steam output heated and made the milk into foam in no time at all.

My first two espresso's did not turn out. Third time was charm for me I hadn't tamped with enough pressure on the first two I made. If you are new at making espresso, make sure you go to Breville's web site and watch the videos there are several that will help you with whatever trouble-shooting problem you may have.

I'm amazed at how quiet it is...even the grinder hardly makes any noise...when the machine pressurizes, it's quiet....I have 2 cats and neither one ran to hide under the bed when I turned the power button on. The steamer is the noisiest component but it's not annoyingly loud.

Breville's Customer Service has been supportive and quick to respond to my questions. I had a couple questions late Sunday night so I emailed them, and by Monday morning I had a response in my Inbox.

Yes, this espresso machine is an investment. But if you visit Starbucks often, it will soon pay for itself, plus there's the convenience factor of not having to go out for a treat.

Save 25% Off

KRUPS XP3200 Opio Pump Boiler Espresso Machine, Black

I wrote the review below when I got the machine. Now two months later it won't steam. I've tried everything and it wont' work. Even though this was a gift, I guess you get what you pay for with this machine.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

After working as a barista at several private coffee shops I was worried about getting an espresso machine that would fit my budget and my coffee tastes. I got this machine a few days ago as a Christmas present and have had no problems with it. It heats up quick and is fairly easy to use. It does take a little getting used to some things though. It does take longer to steam cold milk than what I was used to, and I discovered that it was harder to tamp the coffee grounds down, but it makes a decent mocha or latte. I liked that it did froth the milk very well so there was a nice foam and brews the espresso with a nice crema on top. I'm going to experiment with different coffee brands and even try the E.S.E. pods. One thing I was worried about was the reviews about water leaking from the bottom of the machine. I discovered that after using the steamer it releases the water and pressure out the bottom into the drip tray. I didn't really believe the directions when they said to empty the tray after each use, but it definitely does need to be done. I would have given it 5 stars, but I think the learning curve with the grounds isn't as easy to use as some other machines out there.

This machine makes great espresso for a great price. The crema (foam on top) is always impeccable. BUT there is one extremely common issue with this machine that is also extremely easy to fix.

PROBLEM: machine fails to pump out any water (even with full tank & green light on)

SOLUTION: you are tamping (pressing) the coffee grounds down TOO tightly in the basket! Take the grounds out, shuffle them around to break up clumps, and place back in basket with decreased tamping pressure. Works like a charm.

Buy KRUPS XP3200 Opio Pump Boiler Espresso Machine, Black Now

I've had this Krups espresso machine for about a month, got it on Woot for $65 delivered (it's on sellout.woot again today).

People have commented that it doesn't produce the same strength of coffee as a steam unit that's because it's not supposed to. Steam units overcook the coffee, that's why I finally upgraded to a pump. You may want to choose a stronger, darker-roasted coffee if you liked the strength of a steam-driven unit. (I still use a stove-top steam pot for camping.) Some coffees that were just too strong in my Bialetti stove-top steam pot are great in the Krups, with better coffee flavour than the beans that I use with the Bialetti.

Another tip if you like stronger espresso, don't run the pump too long, once the best of the coffee has been extracted it will just water it down if you keep pushing water through the coffee. It took me a week or two to learn the balance. I do really love the wonderful crema that this machine produces. Steam pots just can't do this. If you are a typical latte/cappuccino drinker (like me), try the espresso by itself, with just the head of crema. It's a treat all by itself! (With or without sweetening.)

(To the leakage issue I've only had it leak (outside the tray, when the tray wasn't even full) when I run two espressos immediately one after the other. If I purge the steamer in between, it does not happen. For a large latte I brew an espresso, run the milk steamer, then brew the second espresso no leaks!) see updated below.

It does seem like a design defect, it shouldn't leak water outside the tray, and if I had paid the full retail price (around $180), I would not be happy. Since I paid about a third of that, I can live with this eccentricity, as it can (at least for me so far) be avoided.

Update: I've had the unit leak a couple of times, and have tracked it down (at least for my unit) to an improper seal of the water container caused by a few coffee grounds that probably dropped into the back of the unit when the water container was removed. Cleaning the receiving end of the water seal (and making sure that the water container is similarly clean) has so far kept the water from leaking again. I can also see that this may become a problem over time as the water container wears, the seal may become loose and leaky again. We'll see.

Read Best Reviews of KRUPS XP3200 Opio Pump Boiler Espresso Machine, Black Here

This machine makes a very good espresso in a short amount of time. It's simple to use, a pump espresso, which works better than my previous steam espresso machine that took a long time. Overall quality is excellent.

Want KRUPS XP3200 Opio Pump Boiler Espresso Machine, Black Discount?

So being from Italy, I know good coffee. Been through many mid range cappuccino makers and they all sucked. This machine is by far the best I ever owned. The espresso crema is outstanding. Don't waste your money on high dollar machines, by this one. You will be very happy.

PS make sure you read the milk frothing directions. You have to purge the water before steam. Easy process.

Save 55% Off

Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder

I've been drinking coffee for years now and know a good cup from bad. I bought this unit after doing lots of research online and going to local stores and inspecting the grinders up close. I found that most machines in this price range are using ABS plastic where the burrs are located. This to me is a big NO NO and a huge red flag. The ABS will break. This unit uses nylon or UHMW plastic at first glance. These plastics are more ductile and will last. Being a machinist, i am very picky with build quality. The burr set is conical and looks to be Stainless Steel or somesort of hardened steel. Nonetheless, both good options and the burrs look very nicely built. They have been machined and ground and look a lot like burr sets you'd see in units that are 2-3 times the price. The outside of the machine is wrapped in rubber and looks nice. The top hopper is a clear plastic, but seems strong, especially where it matters (the point where it meets the machine). The container receiving the grind is GLASS wrapped in rubber. This is great!! No static, which means, NO MESS! My first attempt at a burr grinder was poor. I just bought something from the local superstore without any research. It had flat burrs and rotated at the speed of sound, or so it seemed. Everything was plastic and grinds flew everywhere. Hated that thing!

I'd say the only thing that may bother some, is that the timer goes 20 secs. Now for me this is more than enough, but for others its not nearly the time they would need. Bodum recommends after 1 20sec run to leave the machine idle for 5 mins to prevent the motor from overheating(i read the manual). I thought this would be an issue for me, but my daily use only requires a 10 sec run at a time which delivers about 1/2 the jar or enough grind to yield about 3-5 cups(my small french press is 3cup capacity, which is really 1 mug). I am not grinding for espresso and have not tried the finest setting yet, but intend to and wish i had to make this review more complete, but my results so far are very consistent and from what i can see im sure itll do a fine enough grind for espresso and if not, im sure it can be modded easily enough to provide. I plan to start into the world of home espresso extractions, but not at this time as im still experimenting with other methods.

Also if you were to use for espresso, it looks to me that you could easily remove the bottom jar, pop the portafilter in place(obviously holding it) and run the machine. The grind should fall nicely into the portafilter.

UPDATE (JAN 10/2011): I'm still using my grinder after 2-3 months and I still love it! I've started grinding for espresso with great results. Glad to see that most everyone is as content as I am with this little guy! Clean up is a breeze, and its never once clogged up on me personally, although i read one review where someone said theirs did. Happy Grinding!

UPDATE (April 2012): Grinder is still working great. I have some concerns. The glass jar has a very thin bottom and if your using anything other than a softer utensil, will break. I found a small hole in mine after a lot of use with a spoon. I've since been using a wooden spoon. My fix for this hole was tape.

My espresso 'machine' up to this point has been a Presso. The bodum at its finest setting works great with the Presso. Any finer and you'd never be able to pull a shot without breaking the Presso (which i've done). I've since bought a machine and with the pressurized basket the grind is consistent enough and fine enough to yield good results. Since I enjoy tweaking equipment to some degree, my next step is a single walled basket and bottomless portafilter. The bodum will in my opinion not grind fine enough for this set up. I have a hario mini for now, but looking to buy a more expensive grinder for espresso. The bodum will be for drip and french press which I believe it does a great job at. One thing about the bodum as compared to more expensive units is the bodum is quite light in comparison. I feel if the bodum was a heavier machine with more use of metals rather than plastics, it could probably be set up to grind finer and be a wonderful machine overall. But at this price point this is what you get, and for the money, it does a nice job.

One other thing, I roast my own beans and when I first started roasting the bean consistency was not perfect due to the method. This resulted in the bodum actually skipping during operation. I stopped it quickly enough as to not destroy it, but was a little alarmed. Now that I've changed my methods for roasting, the beans are always consistent and the bodum grinds them no problem.

UPDATE Dec 2012: I still use the bodum daily. It is a superb grinder for the money and I am glad it has served me so well. I tested the bodum against the Hario Mini and my friends Baratza Virtuoso grinder and found that even though the Hario and Baratza will grind finer, the bodum produces the most consistent grind, hands down! Considering the Baratza is triple the price I'd say I was quite surprised. You can get finer grind from the bodum, but I don't take any responsibility for anyone modifying their machine. I took the top burr out, and found that there are two tabs (plastic section that houses the burr) that sit on the threaded section of the bottom burr which allow for the grind settings. You will notice 2 beveled edges. If you sand these down slightly the top burr will come closer to the bottom burr. I took measurements before starting with calipers and started working from there. This does work well, just be careful as moving the burrs closer could cause them to rub against each other.

Hi. I've never done a video review before, so forgive me if I ramble or go off-topic. Feel free to skip through to any parts you think are relevant. I run the grinder for the first time about halfway through the video. The first half of the video is spent explaining why I bought a new grinder, and what I hope to get out of it (less mess, less noise, consistency in the grind.) Without giving away the surprise ending (there is no surprise), I can simply say that this is the best burr grinder I have ever owned. It is also only the second burr grinder I have ever owned, so I'm no expert :) Although, I was a barista for a couple years, and I can tell a quality grinder when I see it.

Cheers, peace, etc.

*EDIT* Having used the grinder every day since I received it (and sometimes twice daily), I feel I can now comment on its practical features. Although the grinder seems to create more static/dust when set to a more coarse grind (still negligible static compared to my old burr grinder), the lid on the glass grounds container does a good job of keeping the dust inside the containernot all over my counter. I love the consistency of the grind. No matter the setting, all the grounds seem to be of equal size, which means less sediment in my French press! The machine is also noticeably more quiet than any other grinder I have encounteredburr or otherwise. The twenty second timer fills up about half the grounds container, which is perfect for a 7-8 cup setting on my drip machine. All in all, I would still give it five stars. So I got that going for me, which is nice. Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder, Black

Buy Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder Now

When the magic smoke trailed out of my ancient Krups blade grinder, I knew I was going to bite the bullet and buy a burr grinder to replace it. Reviews led me to the Bodum Bistro, so now I'll share my thoughts as well.

I make coffee one cup at a time using a Melitta cone filter basket that sits on top of my coffee mug. If you have thus far avoided the hype that is single-cup coffee brewing machines, take the money you've saved and get yourself a one-cup filter and this grinder instead. A few experimental runs led me to the coarseness (just finer than drip) and time (7 seconds) required to grind exactly as much coffee as I need for a single cup. Now I leave the settings as they are and only have to push a button in the morning. I find that a pound of coffee lasts me longer now than it did when I was using the old Krups.

In a nutshell:

Pros:

Even grind with less dust and sediment around the work area

Acts as coffee bean storage

Makes more efficient use of the beans

Identical results every time

Glass catcher and plastic lid keep grounds under control

Small footprint and attractive design

Cons:

Stays on the counter all the time

Hopper doesn't quite hold a full pound of coffee

Settings are awkward to change if you need to change them often

Relatively small capacity per grind

Rubberized exterior requires frequent cleaning collects dust from the kitchen (flour, etc.)

If you make a full pot in a 12-cup drip machine every morning, this probably isn't the burr grinder for you. However, if you're a French press or one-cup drinker, I haven't seen a better grinder on the market to meet your needs.

Read Best Reviews of Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder Here

As others have mentioned in their four and five star reviews, this thing has a flaw. The max time in can run is 20 seconds and then you have to wait 5 minutes to run it again or risk motor burn out. Well I use a manual drip coffee cone most of the time. We also have a french press and espresso maker. I grind six scoops of beans for our carafe. It takes ~30 35 seconds to grind the six scoops so I have it set to 20 seconds. I grind for 20 sec, wait 4-5 minutes and then grind the rest. Waiting to grind is no fun. Why did they design this thing to run only 20 seconds every 5 minutes? This is annoying. Otherwise I have no complaints. I have used it twice so far. The mess is minimal and the grind is very even. It grinds so much better than the blade grinder we have been using for years.

Want Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder Discount?

I have researched these things for hours before deciding to buy this unit. Here are my findings:

There are three units that were in the running (ordered by price):

a. Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder (the unit on this page and the one I ultimately bought and am very happy with) $89.99

b. Breville BCG800XL Smart Grinder $199.99

c. Rancilio ROCKY Rancilio Burr Grinder with Doser $359.99

Now, if price is not an issue, by all means go with the Breville BCG800XL (really can't go wrong with that one). Also, notice that all of these are burr grinders (blade grinders are NOT the way to go) and all are excellent machines; all other machines researched under $400 have serious drawbacks trust me I've done the research.

Okay, now let's take a look at each one.

--a. Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder, Black this is an excellent unit all around and the one I bought:

- Grind:

Very consistent and perfect size for drip on drip setting; I have tried this with a drip coffee maker and it is excellent. Some say that it can't quite match the best machines out there for a cappuccino grind (i.e. very very very fine for very very picky machines) but I do not have a cappuccino machine and so this does not really concern me all that much.

- Mess:

Awesome, no mess at all. The glass catcher reduces the static on the grinds so that they do not jump (no idea how some complain about mess); no mess here.

After catcher is removed, no excess coffee spills out.

- Noise:

Not very loud at all; I thought it would be louder. Two scaredy cats in my house and both did not even wake up (same room as the appliance).

- Cleanup:

Super easy; just rinse the catcher and you are done.

- Features:

Timer -> 5-20 second; set it once, and it stays from grind to grind. 10 seconds was perfect for my mug (4 cups).

- Build Quality:

Excellent all around with a glass catcher and plastic hopper. The burrs are very well machined.

- Looks/Size:

The machine is on the small size but very good looking (I have a black one).

- Cons:

Motor "should" (at least that is what the manual recommends) rest for 5 minutes before every 20 second grind. Really, for me, this is not an issue as 20 seconds produces about 6-8 cups of medium strength coffee.

Bean hopper is not tinted so leaving beans in it (especially in the light) may not be a great idea but you should not leave beans in the hopper in any case as suggested by all of the other machine's manuals.

Some claim that very very fine cappuccino grinds are not acceptable for very picky cappuccino machines; go figure.

Adjusting the grind size can only be done with the motor running (or so claims the manual). Not a big deal for me since I do not plan to adjust it ... well ... ever after the initial setting (doesn't have to have beans in it but just running motor while adjusting).

--b. Breville BCG800XL Smart Grinder if money is not an issue, why not I could find really nothing wrong with it except the price.

- Grind:

From doing much research, this thing really gets it right for anything you want; even the pickiest cappuccino machines like this thing. French press is also no problem.

- Mess:

No mess; static is eliminated by their special technology that slows the coffee grinds before they get to the catcher.

- Noise:

Very quite.

- Cleanup:

Cannot comment on cleanup but people have said that it is not a problem.

- Features:

Built in doser very nice; will auto grind correct amount based on your cup and strength setting.

Nice LCD screen.

Bean hopper is tinted.

- Build Quality:

Customers claim that it is very solid and well built.

- Looks/Size:

Looks very nice.

- Cons:

Price.

--c. Rancilio ROCKY Rancilio Burr Grinder with Doser if you want the best, this is it for a reasonable price (reasonable to some, all depends).

Specs:

I am not going to go into detail about this one but needless to say that those very serious about their cappuccino grind, etc. and for whom money is no issue should probably get this machine. Frankly, for this much money, I see no reason.

Conclusion:

The Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder is an excellent all around machine with very minor (at least to me) drawbacks and if one is to consider the price/performance ratio, simply cannot be beat. Best of luck and hope this review saves some hours of research.

Save 15% Off

Handpresso Case #HPCASE, Black

I have a funny story about my Handpresso that starts at gate security at McCarren International and ends with me trying to explain to some TSA why I need to carry a spare O-ring.

However, rather than bring that into this review, let me just say that when I order a replacement for my confiscated Handpresso, I'll probably pass on the case! I mean, it already resembles some kind of space age peener pump! Why in the world put it in a rifle case? With balls? Why not slap a biohazard symbol on the side while you're at it?

My husband uses the hand held espresso maker every day. He takes it to work and brings it back home for the weekends. He loves it. The handpresso case makes it easy for traveling around.

Buy Handpresso Case #HPCASE, Black Now

The significant discount on the Handpresso and its case made this an impulse purchase.

It should be hard to get a case 'wrong' one could question its usefulness when the Handpresso could just as easily be protected in luggage by being wrapped in clothing or similar instead, but a case is a case. The unfortunate thing is that this case tends to take about a minute to open or close, simply because it is next to impossible to pull the zip around from the long handle part to the bulbous end. The zip doesn't want to move around this concave section and every time you try to open or close the case it feels like an unreasonable amount of force is needed, to the point that I'm surprised I haven't broken the zip already.

**UPDATE -after a few months of use, this case is becoming ever easier to open and close. It's still a bit awkward, but with a bit of tugging it opens quickly enough every time and I haven't managed to break it yet.

Read Best Reviews of Handpresso Case #HPCASE, Black Here

Great protection for the portable espresso machine. It is very strong and has thick lining, and the zipper is pretty strong. The case is very durable. I highly recommend this product.

Want Handpresso Case #HPCASE, Black Discount?

Item is a good fit and keeps everything secure. It does make the item bulky but it is nicely protected

Save 13% Off