Philips Saeco Vienna Plus Automatic Espresso Machine

I recently purchased a Vienna Superautomatica as an inexpensive second espresso maker. The first thing I noticed is that it is Italian made like many of the great espresso machines. The body of the Vienna is "graphite" plastic, and while it does not feel first class, it somehow has a pretty sturdy feel to it. I also like that the footprint is pretty small thus taking up little counter space.

I opened the manual, which is not particularly clear, but need not be on account of very simple operation. The Vienna has three buttons--on/off, coffee, and steam. It also has a steamer control knob and a water volume knob.

I turned on the machine after filling the coffee and water tanks. The buttons feel Italian--you'll know what I mean if you've owned an Alfa Romeo. They are a bit clunky next to my old Capresso C1000, but they work well (for now).

The Vienna takes a couple of minutes to warm up--I don't mind this for reasons I'll reveal in a minute. The coffee spout is adjustable up and down to accommodate a large variety of cups and mugs. Once it's ready, the coffee light stops blinking. I push the button and it begins to grind the coffee. The noise level of the machine is louder than my Capresso, but not too bad. You might wake up the house with it in the morning, but my child stayed asleep. Once the coffee finishes the grind, the Vienna immediately begins making espresso.

My first impression was that I saw a lot more steam coming from the coffee than my Capresso. I am hopeful. The coffee also looked a bit thicker than the Capresso. After the Vienna finished I observed the cup: nice crema, plenty hot, and smells like the genuine article. I gave it a taste--wow, step aside Capresso, this espresso is richer, hotter, and a lot closer to coffee bar espresso. Next I took a sip. Ah yes, the cup holds rich chocolatey espresso. If you are sort of a coffee snob, you'll like what you taste. The coffee is much richer than the Capresso, which I attribute to hotter water and fuller extraction.

I'm sure that the Vienna will not make good enough espresso for some folks, but to me, it still tastes better than Starbucks. It was more than $100 cheaper than my Capresso and frankly makes better espresso. I cannot yet speak to the durability of the machine, but the Vienna is now my favorite inexpensive espresso maker.

Vienna Plus is my third fully automatic machine. I loved my first, Saeco original Vienna, hated the second, Saeco Incanto classic. The original Vienna worked for 3 years every day, making consistently good espresso before the pump gave. I should have paid for repair, but I succumbed to that stainless steel twinkle and went for Saeco Incanto classic. More expensive for sure. Worse, better said inconsistent, coffee quality, constant small problems relating to built quality concerning the brew group, the grinder and the steamer wand. After a year of irritation a pump seal has failed while making espresso, nothing like a small explosion in the kitchen in the morning, I tell ya. Well, gone back to the trusted Vienna, now with the plus in the name. Good old days are here again .... Compared to previousit is a lot quieter, when both grinding and steaming, it is also a lot quicker to warm up then before, steam is ready a mere 15 seconds after pushing the button. Espresso has a beautiful rich crema right out of the box, I didn't have to experiment with grind setting at all. The steaming wand (Panarello) has been redesigned and is now foolproof maker of perfect frothed foam. For the newbie I would like to add that I spent a lot of effort to find the right roast tasted more than a few before I settled on one (Peerless Coffee Espressp Perfection) that I buy now in 5 lb. bags and keep in the freezer. I should for fairness add that I never want any other coffee through the machine like some decaf or flavored stuff, so I don't miss the alternate ground coffee option that Incanto had. My priority has always been flavor and consistency and that the Vienna Plus delivers. My friends drive miles to "see me" and, by the way, get a cup of espresso, praising each one as "this is the best espresso in the world". If that is what you desire, don't get mesmerized by stainless steel shine or computerized display magic and save yourself some money by getting this machine. You won't regret it. And I am unanimous in that. ;)

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We owned a Saeco Vienna Deluxe since January 2004, but decided to purchase a newer model in September 2010. The Vienna Deluxe served us well for six and a half years, but was beginning to show its age. The Saeco Vienna Plus is the updated version of the Vienna Deluxe.

Saeco's Vienna Plus super-automatic espresso machine is simple to use. Add up to 57 oz filtered cold water to the reservoir, up to 12 oz beans in the hopper, and then turn the machine on. While warming up, adjust the volume dial for a 1 to 6 oz pour. Once ready, press the coffee button once to make an espresso or twice for a double shot or two espressos. If a latte is desired, press the steam button after the espresso has finished brewing and turn the steam knob to activate the pannarello to steam the milk. Turning the steam knob without pressing the steam button will produce hot water from the pannarello instead.

The perfect espresso may require adjusting a couple dials in the hopper. A strength dial controls the amount of grounds used per cup. A second knob controls the grind's coarseness. These settings are typically adjusted once then left alone if you chose to alter the factory setting. The factory settings work well for us, so we didn't adjust these controls.

Maintaining and cleaning the Vienna Plus espresso machine is just as simple. Cleaning consists of a weekly (or after every 15 pucks) wipe down of the machine, rinsing off the brew group with warm water, and emptying and washing the drip tray and grounds drawer. Incidentally, the used coffee grounds are beneficial to soil when spread out in the gardens or lawn. Once every three months, running descaler through the boiler keeps the inner workings in good condition.

A common complaint about Saeco Vienna espresso machines is the outer plastic cabinet. The durable plastic cabinet was not a problem for us on the old machine, as it didn't chip, crack, or break with normal use. The Veinna Plus uses the same plastic material for the outer cabinet, and is probably used to keep the cost down. The internal workings, like the stainless steel boiler, are hidden from view and use more expensive materials.

Another complaint I've read about is the grinder getting clogged. Our local coffee shop advised us not to purchase oily beans like many flavored coffees. If you enjoy flavored coffee, add syrup to the cup instead. Choosing the right beans, and regular cleanings has kept us from experiencing this problem.

Compared to the Vienna Deluxe, the Vienna Plus super-automatic espresso machine has an updated look, but operates the same and is similarly sized. However the Vienna plus is quieter, and the pannarello has been improved for easier and more consistent frothing.

Ultimately, the Vienna Plus super-automatic espresso machine is simple to use and maintain; plus produces a great tasting espresso and Americano. If you're looking for a fully automatic espresso machine, this one is definitely worth considering.

PROS:

Fresh quality coffee made at the press of a button

Makes consistently great tasting coffee/espresso

Simple to use

Easy to clean/maintain

Biodegradable waste is great for the garden

CONS:

This espresso machine is sure to spoil its owners

Cannot handle large quantities quickly

Read Best Reviews of Philips Saeco Vienna Plus Automatic Espresso Machine Here

Overall, I cannot recommend this machine.

The machine made excellent espresso for the first few weeks we had it. Once it was broken in, the espresso was average, and the crema was more of a large-bubbled foam. The grinder is able to create a fine grind, but unfortunately the machine can't pass any water through it, so you have to use a mid-level fine grind. The machine is able to adjust the amount of water used per shot, but anything more than the smallest available setting creates, well, coffee. Not even an Americano, just coffee.

After three months the grinder broke. When I opened up the machine's door a broken part flew out. Amazon sent me a new one. One month in on the new one, the brewgroup jammed. I thought it was broken, but after four days, the machine was able to pry itself loose. Ground coffee was all over the brewgroup, as if it had exploded. We'll see how it works out.

A bright spot--Amazon was astoundingly helpful and gracious. They replaced the first one, postage payed, express delivery, with no questions at all. They offered to refund the original purchase price on the second one, until it broke loose and started working again. I cannot complement them highly enough!

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We had a Saeco Vienna Deluxe for several years. The machine finally died on us. In searching for a new machine, I saw the Saeco Vienna Plus and knew this would be the next machine. It is very similar to our previous model. It is much cheaper than when we had purchased our first unit. I feel there is value in what we are getting. It saves us a fortune from having to run to the more expensive coffee shop chains to pick up a mocha when it can easily made at home. At the touch of a button or two, the coffee is ready to go. The ease of use is amazing. Clean up is easy. I would definitely recommend this machine for those who want to be able to make espresso with ease.

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Nespresso C50-US-TP-NE Espresso Maker, Pure Grey

Recently I was at a Disney hotel and they had a self-service Nespresso machine for guests. I fell in love the coffee. So, while standing in a line at Disneyland I ordered the U on my phone. I compared several of the machines and the U seemed to have the best features for the price. Plus, what man is going to order something called the "Pixie." Really Nespresso?

I have only had it for a couple of days and I will update this review if I run into any problems or have more to say, however this is my first impression.

Likes

* It was easy to set up. The instructions are good, although it seems as though they were translated from another language. The wording is clear, but sometimes awkwardly phrased.

* After a couple of cleaning cycles, you are ready to brew. I had my first cup about 10 minutes after unboxing.

* Its attractively styled. It's has basic utilitarian look, not overly "blingy" or gaudy.

* It comes with a sampler of 16 coffee capsules.

* All of the coffees I have tried are very good. I actually enjoy my Nespresso coffee more than what I'm served when I go out.

* I like hot coffee, but not scalding. Even the first cup comes out very hot.

* The water container can be set on either side of the machine or in back of it, which gives you more options for placement.

* It takes up very little counter space.

* The water tank holds 27 oz., enough for 7 lungo cups or about 20 expresso cups. I like the fact that is clear.

* Operation could not be simpler. Insert capsule, close door and brewing starts in about 25 seconds for the first brew, almost immediately for second and subsequent cups.

* It is very clean. Drip cup captures any dripping. No leakage. Capsules fall into a hidden bin that will hold 12 used capsules.

* You can select 3 different cup sizes. Ristretto, Expresso, and Lungo. The largest, Lungo, is about half the volume of a standard 8 oz. cup of coffee.

* It has all the feature you'd expected from a modern coffee maker such as auto shutoff. The machine itself is not inexpensive. However, for under $200 I feel its a good value for what you get.

Dislikes.

* The outside is all plastic. (However, to the eye it's hard to tell this.)

* Cost of the coffee. I knew this when I bought it, but each capsule is about $0.65. (see below for full story on cost.) This is certainly much, much cheaper than at the coffee shop, but it's probably 2 or 3 times the cost of bulk coffee. If you have a cup each day, you'll spend about $240 annually. You are paying for the convenience and coffee quality.

* The cheapest capsules seem to be those bought directly from Nespresso. You have to buy in multiples of 50 capsules (you can mix and match flavor though). In the U.S. they charged $6.50 for 2nd business day shipping for an order of 50 capsules. This is their cheapest shipping option. With shipping, per capsule cost grows from $0.65 to $0.80 each.

A note on caffeine content. Many assume that an espresso has more caffeine than a standard cup of coffee. Actually an espresso shot has about 6o-80 mg, compared to a cup of drip coffee that can have 100-200 mg.

Overall I'm very pleased with my purchase. I plan to set my traditional coffee maker aside and have and espresso each morning instead.

I recently decided on a Nespresso system for my house. I purchased the Nespresso U, because it was their newest machine. I wanted the Gran Maestria (I will speak about this later), but for now the U is the machine I purchased.

The unit was packaged well. I was not anticipating the cheap plastic build quality when I opened this machine though. The unit is very lightweight and looks and feels cheap. I definitely do not like the look of the machine in my kitchen at all.

Now for the important part… the coffee. The unit makes a very good cup of espresso. It is very easy to clean and makes an espresso in about a minute (this includes the 25-30 second start-up time). The espresso is not overly hot, but I found that if you microwave water in your espresso cup for 25 seconds (which matches the unit start-up time), the coffee is the perfect drinking temperature. I prefer the sliding mechanism to insert the Nespresso capsule compared to the lift and drop of the Gran Maestria.

That said, I am going to return my Nespresso U due to the fact that the build quality is so cheap. I expected a little more heft, a little less plastic, and a little better looking unit (the magnetic cup holder concept is great, but it looks and feels again... cheap).

I decided to also purchase the Nespresso Gran Maestria. The coffee quality is the same as it should be, but the unit is more flexible for cup sizes which I absolutely love. The build quality is amazing with the exception of scratches and dents on the unit. For $699 I expect an almost perfect finish. I tried a second machine and this also had minor scratches, but no visible dents like the first unit had.

The LED lighting also adds a classy looking touch. The Gran Maestria is definitely a welcome addition to most kitchens, mine included. The milk frother is in a word… amazing. It is so simple and easy to use. The cup warmer is very nice (I will require this on all of my Nespresso machines going forward) and not a gimmick at all. It heats up the espresso cup in about 10 seconds and eliminates the need for the microwave trick like the Nespresso U requires unless you look slightly warm espresso.

Overall, the Gran Maestria is an amazing machine. If Nespresso can figure out the scratches and dents they will have a winner on their hands.

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Green Mountain Coffee, Dark Magic (Extra Bold), K-Cups for Keurig Brewers

Dark Magic is for coffee drinkers searching for something bolder than the breakfast blends and flavored coffees ubiquitous on supermarket shelves. Whether it will satisfy depends on what you normally buy at coffee shops. My wife favors a latte or mocha, so she found Dark Magic too strong. I prefer an Americano, so I liked this roast.

I tested the Dark Magic blend on Keurig's small cup (5.25 oz) setting to capture the strongest flavor. It was a nice improvement from Green Mountain's Fair Trade Gingerbread I drank earlier in the week. Dark Magic is bolder than Tully's Coffee Kona Blend or Green Mountain Coffee Breakfast Blend but no more bitter.

If you need more caffeine, I recommend you add a SToK Caffeinated Black Coffee Shot.

In summary, I like "tres intense" roasts and Green Mountain Coffee Dark Magic is the darkest I have found in the Keurig lineup. I will post an update should I try a stronger blend than Dark Magic. Rating: Four stars.

BTW: Here are other coffees I recently reviewed for Amazon:

5 stars: Van Houtte Chocolate Raspberry Truffle

4 stars: Tully's Coffee Kona Blend

4 stars: Green Mountain Coffee Dark Magic

3 stars: Green Mountain Coffee Breakfast Blend

3 stars: Green Mountain Coffee Fair Trade Gingerbread

The Keurig system is marvelous--and the Dark Magic coffee is delicious. But Amazon is falling down on the job a bit with this price--you can buy a box of 24 K cups from the Keurig site for $13.95--and get a discount as muc as 15% if you are a repeat buyer.

Buy Green Mountain Coffee, Dark Magic (Extra Bold), K-Cups for Keurig Brewers Now

Green Mountain's Dark Magic Extra Bold is my go-to coffee for use with my Keurig coffee machine. I go through more of this particular flavor then any other type of coffee. In fact I don't think a day goes by that I don't have at least 1 cup of this flavor, if not more. Don't let the words dark and extra bold scare you off this coffee is rich, smooth and in many ways mellow. Its not overly acidic, it does't taste burnt, its just a good cup of "coffee flavored coffee". It works well with most flavored creamers, sweeteners, but is a pleasant cup in its pure and unadorned form as well.

Read Best Reviews of Green Mountain Coffee, Dark Magic (Extra Bold), K-Cups for Keurig Brewers Here

This has become my favorite coffeee. It is strong and bold without being bitter. I even make a second cup with the same puck and it is still good.

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I compared the 18 cup Dark Magic (from Target) to the 50 cup Dark Magic(from Amazon), since the labeling and k-cup is markedly different. The coffee did not taste as rich, so I became more curious.

I opened the k-cups to find the 50 cup filters have a visible cross hatch pattern, as compared to a dense firm paper style. I used a microscope to see the difference in density, as well. The weave of the fibers of the 50 pack is not as closely bound.

The coffee granules are finer in the 18 cup, giving the coffee a different texture on the fingers. The 50 pack ground coffee appeared 50%-100% larger under the microscope.

I hope that Keurig can shed some light on my findings! I have photos I can submit. I notice amazon is out of stock, currently. Perhaps, Keurig is looking into the matter.

Jura-Capresso ENA3 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center, All White

... when I looked at the price of these coffee machines, but I am so pleased that I made the leap. It's an expensive luxury, but we've come to feel it's a "must have" if really good coffee is of importance to you. We had had a Capresso coffee machine to make lattes and other treats, so I was familiar with the brand. That gave me the confidence to trust that Jura-Capresso made a machine that might be worth the investment. And boy, are we thrilled!! The coffee is dependably wonderful every time. We don't throw out the last half of a pot nor do we feel compelled to keep drinking just to finish that pot. Each cup is made hot and fresh every time. While it may be pricey, we recommend it. If you need just a little encouragement to switch to such a machine... Go for it!

We bought this machine five years ago to replace a Starbucks basic espresso machine that had lasted for ten years and was still going strong. I got it for my husband's birthday because we make espresso daily and wanted something more "automatic" than our basic machine. Within six months of daily use (4-6 shots/day) it was putting out weak shots despite replacing the filter and descaling regularly. We sent it back to the manufacturer where they replaced the burr grinder and cleaned the internal mechanisms and returned it for no cost. Great customer service. Unfortunately, every six months since then we've had to do the same thing and, since the warranty was only for one year, we've paid to ship it cross-country every time since and had to go without the machine for two weeks at a time each time. I am loathe to replace it because it was so expensive, but I am sick and tired of this song and dance. When I finally do bite the bullet and replace it, I won't be buying another Jura despite the helpful, courteous customer service. I wish I had stuck with my Starbucks machine that only cost about 1/4 the price.

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This has to be the best splurge-buy I've ever made. We've been brewing at least 4 cycles every day for the past 3 years, and it has never failed us. We like setting it for a 4 oz. cup, and brew a "2-cup" double per cycle to make a nice 8 oz. cup of lungo. We were worried at first about using the oily dark roasts that we love so much, but it turns out the trick to a strong cup every time is to gently tap and stir at the beans as it grinds to encourage them to fall down the hopper into the grinder. We love using the steamer wand as well for steaming milk. We always use filtered Brita water in the container, and we changed the water hardness setting for descaling to account for the Brita water. I just can't get over that they provide you with six levels of water hardnesses to set!

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Jura-Capresso 13187 Impressa E8 Super-Automatic Espresso Machine, Black

I have to say, I *love* my E8! I tried one at a store and, after a lot of research, settled on Jura Capresso because of the cleaning cycle feature (most others you have to remove the "brew group" once a week or so and manually clean it I was *so* not going to do that!). I settled on the E8 versus other JC's because of the price and the features... the higher-end models' extra features (none of which directly affect the quality of a single cup) were worth the additional cost, especially since I live alone.

I've no complaint about the temperature of the coffee, as long as I pre-heat my cup. A little hot water out of the spiget does the trick. I use a decent coffee bean from a local store and have excellent results. I did have to play around with the grind settings, but I expected that.

The frother (I don't have the fancy add-on) does a better-than-decent job of frothing/foaming milk; however, it's not as good as a coffee-house machine wielded by a pro, with perfect-temperature milk and a cold pitcher. However, it works much better than any home-based espresso machine I've encountered, and much better than what one often gets from a disaffected coffee counter person.

The flavor is rich and full like cafe crema or espresso ought to be. While, again, a true barista with a true pro machine and the best beans can indeed produce a better cup, this is far better than what I typically get in a high-end coffee shop. That's part of what originally sold me on it I found out the store that I sampled it at used "cheap supermarket beans" (as they put it).

One does have to be careful with the beans; if they're oily, they'll cling to each other and not make their way down the hopper. The solution? Stick your finger in the beans and swirl once, or don't use oily beans (oily doesn't necessarily mean more flavor). I like the beans I use but they do stick slightly, and a little touch with my finger fixes the 'problem'. The manual, video, web site, and talking chicken that came with the product makes this very clear.

Cleaning is a breeze every couple of days I empty the hopper that catches the pucks (grounds). Once a week or so I rinse out the drip tray. Every once in a while it alerts me that I need to run a cleaning cycle: in goes the tablet and that's it.

My only complaint and I knew this going in is that for $1000 it ought not be 100% plastic. The spigot that the coffee comes out is plastic, and raises/lowers. I'm always careful, because if something that I have control over is going to break, it's going to be this piece. More expensive models have metal for this piece, but I couldn't see adding $500+ dollars for this.

I was originally concerned not having a cup warmer might be an issue. It says it has a passive cup warmer in some of the online literature, but that's baloney the top doesn't get any warmer than rooom temperature. However, it is no inconvenience (and I'm pretty lazy) to release some water from the spigot into the cup, and let it sit for a few seconds.

This is just about the best thing ever! I used to go to coffee shops and drop $7 $10 a day. I figure I'll make that back after costs in about a year. It's not expensive it's economical in my book!

OK, this thing ain't cheap. I mean, how can you ever justify spending $1000 on a coffee maker?? I named mine Miss AnniBirthenTine. She was so expensive, that she was my 'Anni'versary, 'Birth'day, and Val'enTine's day gift all rolled into one item! That being said, I admit I have a bit of an unhealthy relationship with my coffee maker. I love her. Fine. I said it.

One thing I have noticed is that Miss Anna is smarter than I am. She tells me when to clean her, fill her with water, etc. And, I love that. She's clean and polite never demanding. Here and there she does some things I am not sure of, but nothing has been serious. For instance, I also experienced what the reviewer who gave one star said intermittent coffee part way through she would just turn off. I did not call customer service, but instead did some troubleshooting on my own. I came to the conclusion that the beans I bought were a bit oily (which is warned against in all the manuals and videos) and were jamming the works. I ran it through a clean cycle with a tablet and she has been a happy coffee maker since.

Miss Anna has been a part of our family since early Jan 2005. I drink Capuccinos every morning and use the hot water a lot during the winter for tea and soup. When I am feeling rather saucy, I even make espresso with half and half. YUM. You would have to rip this thing out of my cold, dead arms to get it away from me. I love Miss Anna. When I am away on vacation, I am sad about the mediocre swill people call coffee that I have to settle for until I return home. As long as I don't think about the money, I love this thing more than I can describe.

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I bought this machine about two years ago. At the time I thought it was pricey, but decided that in the long run, it would pay off. It has.

PROS:

CONVENIENCE. There is nothing like coming down in the morning, pressing a button, and having a good coffee, which is freshly ground for you while you wait. The separate boilers allows you to immediately switch from foaming milk to producing espresso.

EASE. My partner and parents (who wouldn't touch my Gaggia classic because it was too complicated) all use this machine without hesitation.

DURABILITY. After two years, our well-used machine (2-3000 cups) has not needed a repair.

VERSATILITY. The coffee bypass is extremely convenient, given that my partner and I frequently prefer different roasts it is very simple for one of us to grind our own and use the bypass to produce our preferred cup.

ECONOMY. The initial price tag for this machine is high. But when you compare it with the cost of buying 1-2 cappuccinos per day from your local barista...you can quickly see that the machine pays for itself.

CONS:

COFFEE QUALITY: Very very good, but I suspect that the pressures are just not quite high enough to make the coffee of nirvana. Still very good.

FOAM QUALITY: We've never been able to produce the perfect foam from this machine, but again the quality is high enough, and the convenience makes it worth it.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE: The machine does require regular (about every 5 wks) cleaning and descaling, using tablets purchased from the manufacturer. It's a slight inconvenience, but the procedures are easy to follow and take about an hour each.

*****

UPDATE THREE YEARS AFTER PURCHASE: After three years of use, our Jura has started giving us an "Error 8" message and its first major repair, which is to replace a large chunk of the brew group. The repair guy claims that this is a common error for this machine, and is expected to cost us ~$150. We also estimate that we pay about $100/year for cleaning tablets. I still really love this coffee machine (we use is several times every day) but thought that these additional maintenance costs would be useful to see in a review.

Read Best Reviews of Jura-Capresso 13187 Impressa E8 Super-Automatic Espresso Machine, Black Here

I think I am a bit of a coffee snob. I have had this machine for a few weeks now and it's going strong! I absolutely love it! I was concerned reading other reviews about Starbucks coffee not working so good in the machine, but the 'espresso' roast is working fine in my machine and I have had no problems yet.

The crema on this machine is wonderful! We're making coffee all the time. My guests are in awe of the machine, marveling at how quickly it brews fabulous coffee drinks! I made 6 different drinks the other night in just a few minutes and everyone loved them. It's great for entertaining.

My only issue so far is finding the right milk to froth. The fat free, lactose free milk that we normally drink doesn't yield much froth (it's barely milk to begin with). So, I'm going to try 2% and see how that works.

I really can't say enough good things about this machine. It does everything it's supposed to do and so far, has impressed the most discriminating coffee snob....ME!

Buy it, you won't be disappointed. It's worth every penny. I am going to name it I like it so much!

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You are buying convenience here, it does not make great espresso, but good enough for not so picky drinkers that want a quick shot without much work. Very good for a quick latte too. It is very picky on beans, if coffee does not come out like one reviewer mentioned, it is likely that the grind is too fine and you need to set the grinder a notch or two down. eg. I have no problem with Lavazza Top Class at the finest setting, but need to dial back a notch with Lavazza Super Crema because it was clogging. The brewing temperature is not a hot as the S series but still hotter than most other super-auto out there. I would get the the S if not for the aluminum thermoblocks.