Vev Vigano 8072 Itaca Inox 2-cup Espresso Pot

Lovely one girl stove top pot! Makes great coffee. I don't know how I managed so long without it. Purchase a larger model for two or more guests.

After several trips to Italy I have become and espresso addict and now smuggle home several kilos of LaVazza coffee with me. One of the things I admire about Italy is the level of art/design they put into simple items like this. They add a bit of elegance to your kitchen just sitting on the counter. In use I prefer the stainless steel makers than the aluminum ones even though the aluminum ones heat up a bit faster. These make great espresso (get yourself some LaVazza coffee). If you want cappuccino I suggest the areolatte frother along with this machine and you'll be quite happy with the results.

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Miele CM5200 Espresso Machine

I have owned the Miele Cm5200 in black matte for about 3 weeks. We love it. I have had manual and semi automatic machines for about 17 years and when my last one (Breviile) had broken second time in two years, I decided to give this a try. I researched several apsuper automatics and tried in stores the Jura, Krups Barista EA9000 and the Miele CM 5200. The Krupa and the Miele has the best tasting drinks. I selected the Miele based on my past experience wi their customer service on other products and that their literature and warranty options support their claims of 20 years/50,000 shots. The Krups was the same price ($2,500) but claiming 6000 shots.

It takes a few days of finding your grind settings and testing the factory settings of the drinks verses the options you have to increase or decrease the amount of coffee grinds used, temperature and proportions. But once you do that, it is fabulous to get a consistently great tasting coffee drink every time. You can remove and rinse the brew group weekly (cant do with the Krups) and there are automatic reminders to rinse the machines and use the cleaning/Descaling tablets periodically. I use the finest grind setting, 2% milk, the strong (more grinds) and the normal temperature ( there is one hotter) for my latte macchiato and the drink tastes just like the one I get at the coffee shop where I buy my fresh roasted beans. I love not having so much cleanup anymore. No more constant wiping up of grinds on the counter and scraping clean the milk frothier.

Factory-Reconditioned Breville XXESP8XL Café Roma Espresso Maker

I purchased this machine in July of 2008. The reason I decided to write a review at this time is because I am considering purchasing another one for my parent's 60th Anniversary and noticed all of the negative reviews.

I lived in Spain for three years in the late 70s and learned to enjoy espresso drinks while I was there. When I returned to the USA I purchased a very inexpensive machine which I used off and on over the years. I say off and on because it did not produce very good espresso and I would exile to the basement. Every few years however I would haul it back up expecting, I guess, that it had learned it's lesson while it was in 'time out'! I eventually decided to spend a little more money and try a better machine. I found the refurbished Breville Cafe Roma at Amazon for $95 with free shipping (even at $149 it is a steal.) I had a little trouble at first because it operated differently than my old one, but all I had to do was send an email with my question to Breville customer service and they would call me back and walk me though any difficulty I was having. In the intervening months I have become quite expert in the nuances of this machine. During the winter I make a latte with mounds of foam so tight you'd think it was whipped cream. In the hot summer months I make two-oz. of espresso and put it in the freezer overnight. THe next morning I put it in the blender with 6 oz. of skim milk and 1 tsp of vanilla sugar and hit the 'frozen drink' button. I get a smooth, frothy cold mocha drink that feels and tastes totally decadent but isn't. I can't start my day without one of these treats and they are both far superior to anything I have bought at several different upscale coffee houses.

As to the cups and frothing pitcher: my sister bought a new Breville Cafe Roma which did come with the additional items and she never uses them. The pitcher is too small (10-oz.) if you like lots of foam. I purchased a very nice Rattleware 20-oz. pitcher from Amazon and it is the perfect size. Neither my sister nor I drink espresso straight, but if I did I would not want stainless steel cups because they put my teeth on edge (no I don't bite them.) I much prefer glass or ceramic which can be purchased in beautiful colors and designs.

Bottom line: if you want good espresso and are either short on funds or filthy rich but don't need a high-end machine sitting on your counter to impress your friends and relatives, get a Breville Cafe Roma and be patient while you are learning how to become an expert barista in your own home then impress your friends and relatives with the delights you make with this machine.

I've only had this product for 2 weeks now so can't comment on it's reliability as a refub., but I have used it at least twice a day without issue. Needed a new espresso machine since my old KRUPS pump machine finally gave out after about five years. It's definitely a beautiful looking machine and if you follow the directions about heating and priming, you will make yourself a very good cup of espresso! It is solidly built with some heft to it and the pump system puts out good pressure for pulls and frothing. The heating plate on top does take awhile to heat up and warm cups, but it does finally get very warm. Also on this older model the frothing wand does not swivel front and back like the newer model, but I have no problems with it being stationary as it is. Alas this refurb. does not come with the stainless cup and saucer pair as described (hence 1 less star), but the great price more than makes up for it. I'm totally satisfied with this product so far....

Buy Factory-Reconditioned Breville XXESP8XL Café Roma Espresso Maker Now

First of all is the price I paid for a machine of this caliber! Second is its easy to use and clean. I've tried a plastic Hamilton Beach pump style espresso machine for $54 bucks and returned it the next day. I took a chance on this one and I like it too much, can't stop using it. It is much larger than expected but it looks fantastic. No more expensive coffee shops for me.

Read Best Reviews of Factory-Reconditioned Breville XXESP8XL Café Roma Espresso Maker Here

I'm all for purchasing refurbished items. But this item seems to have missed the refurbishing tech. Appears more used, then refurbished.

My espresso machine arrived today. It has a few scratch marks on the stainless. Top & one side. As well as, a small black pitted mark on the front chrome panel. But the unit does work.

However, the ad states. a set of stainless steel cups, and frothing jug are included. NO cups, NO jug.

I called Amazons help number. The CSR was kind enough to give me the number to Breville/HWI. I called, and was only able to leave a voice message. I then tried to send an e-mail to Breville/HWI. At the listed e-mail address on the instruction manual. askus@brevilleusa.com I tried this twice. Both times my e-mails were returned. Stating fatal error for this e-mail address.

Anyway, Will see what happens. This is one refurbished item. That just may get returned. I will repost the outcome.

Want Factory-Reconditioned Breville XXESP8XL Café Roma Espresso Maker Discount?

Such a deal!! I can't believe this espresso machine is on sale for around $100!!

I've owned a Gaggia espresso machine that cost over $300 and the Breville Roma is substantially better for one-third the price. First, it's all metal and built like a battleship. It heats up quickly and makes great espresso with plenty of crema. Make sure you get the right grind (the grounds should have the consistency of sand) and tamp the grounds into the portafilter with a bit of pressure. It's really simple.

We have this in our office and we are pulling at least eight shots a day. Even if it wears out in three months, it will have paid for itself several times over. No more afternoon runs to BigBucks coffee down the street.

For everybody complaining about not getting any cups--GET OVER IT! I went to IKEA and got a pair of insulated stainless steel espresso cups for $5.99.

Also, our machine appears to be brand new. It has no signs of wear and worked great right out of the box.

Aerobie AeroPress Coffee Maker with Tote Bag

This is a great coffee maker especially for someone like me who wants to make only 1 mug at a time. I've tried all different kinds of coffee makers, but they don't seem to be optimized for making a single ~8 oz mug of coffee. I always ended up brewing multiple cups of coffee and throwing the extra away to get the one good cup I wanted.

I got this aeropress for Christmas 2006 and it is great. I followed the initial instructions, but preferred my coffee a bit different. So, I experimented with grind, water temperature, amount of coffee/water, etc., until I found the right combination for *my* personal preference. I use this to make a cup of coffee, not espresso (that is, I add water to the result to get "regular" coffee), so I can't comment on the quality of espresso taste. I have noticed that coffee beans/grind from different sources have their own "sweet spots" for best grind and coffee/water quantity to get the taste I prefer. So, now that I know how I like to brew a couple different types, I try to stick with those so that I don't have to go through the experimenting stage needed if I try a completely new coffee bean/grind. That works for me. This coffee tastes great. :)

Oh, I should mention that I have also used french press coffee makers. I really like the taste of french press coffee, but got sick of the grinds and/or sediment that always ends up in the bottom of the coffee and made the bottom of the cup taste gross. True to its advertising, the aeropress doesn't seem to leave grinds or sediment. I sip my cup kind of slowly and end up zapping it in the microwave to heat it up again several times. The coffee does not get bitter from sitting in my mug because there is not coffee grind sediment soaking at the bottom. That is a huge plus for me!

A few folks mentioned that the plunger can be hard to press. I have to agree. I've had 2 shoulder surgeries and it does take some extra effort to manage to push the plunger straight down. I can still do it, although I only have 2 scoops of coffee grind in at a time. I think it would be extremely difficult to press with too much coffee in it.

All this time of daily use, including travel, and there are no problems, no parts wearing out from stress, no cracks in the plastic. It still looks like new.

I donated my drip coffee machine, french press and espresso machine to Goodwill. :)

PS I noticed the aeropress is available via third party vendor and Amazon. I can't comment on the vendor, as I put it on my wishlist for Xmas and got it as a gift. I noticed there are separate reviews for each device/vendor, so will post my review under each.

I am very picky about my coffee. I only like espressos I get at restaurants and coffee shops about half the time. If you use a standard meat thermometer to ensure the water is between 175 and 185 degrees F the result is truly outstanding. It makes great espresso as well as coffee. You can easily control the acidity by using hotter water. I have owned espresso machines ranging from $100 to $300 and this little unit beats them hands down. Fantastic product!

Buy Aerobie AeroPress Coffee Maker with Tote Bag Now

After reading the reviews about this I decided to purchase one. This is one GREAT product. I have used it several times camping and it is so easy to use and clean. The coffee is great made from this. I also found that you can use the same coffee grounds at least twice and maybe more (just stir a little longer than 10 seconds.

Read Best Reviews of Aerobie AeroPress Coffee Maker with Tote Bag Here

Over decades of coffee brewing, I've tried electric & stovetop espresso makers, the Chemex, the Melitta drip filter & the French press pot. The Aeropress, made by the same folks who came up with the Aerobie throwing ring, makes the best coffee ever -extremely low in acid, intensely high in flavor. It's even fun to clean (you eject the compressed "puck" of used coffee straight into the trash & rinse everything off). Read the directions carefully: it's simple to use but quite different from other methods (for example, the manufacturer recommends using water heated only to 175F). My only problem is figuring out which one of my co-workers has swiped it on a given day.

Want Aerobie AeroPress Coffee Maker with Tote Bag Discount?

This is a great coffee maker especially for someone like me who wants to make only 1 mug at a time. I've tried all different kinds of coffee makers, but they don't seem to be optimized for making a single ~8 oz mug of coffee. I always ended up brewing multiple cups of coffee and throwing the extra away to get the one good cup I wanted.

I got this aeropress for Christmas 2006 and it is great. I followed the initial instructions, but preferred my coffee a bit different. So, I experimented with grind, water temperature, amount of coffee/water, etc., until I found the right combination for *my* personal preference. I use this to make a cup of coffee, not espresso (that is, I add water to the result to get "regular" coffee), so I can't comment on the quality of espresso taste. I have noticed that coffee beans/grind from different sources have their own "sweet spots" for best grind and coffee/water quantity to get the taste I prefer. So, now that I know how I like to brew a couple different types, I try to stick with those so that I don't have to go through the experimenting stage needed if I try a completely new coffee bean/grind. That works for me. This coffee tastes great. :)

Oh, I should mention that I have also used french press coffee makers. I really like the taste of french press coffee, but got sick of the grinds and/or sediment that always ends up in the bottom of the coffee and made the bottom of the cup taste gross. True to its advertising, the aeropress doesn't seem to leave grinds or sediment. I sip my cup kind of slowly and end up zapping it in the microwave to heat it up again several times. The coffee does not get bitter from sitting in my mug because there is not coffee grind sediment soaking at the bottom. That is a huge plus for me!

A few folks mentioned that the plunger can be hard to press. I have to agree. I've had 2 shoulder surgeries and it does take some extra effort to manage to push the plunger straight down. I can still do it, although I only have 2 scoops of coffee grind in at a time. I think it would be extremely difficult to press with too much coffee in it.

All this time of daily use, including travel, and there are no problems, no parts wearing out from stress, no cracks in the plastic. It still looks like new.

I donated my drip coffee machine, french press and espresso machine to Goodwill. :)

PS I noticed the aeropress is available via third party vendor and Amazon. I can't comment on the vendor, as I put it on my wishlist for Xmas and got it as a gift. I noticed there are separate reviews for each device/vendor, so will post my review under each.

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