Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine Review

very good machine. if you don't invest in, or already have, a good coffee grinder, you might have to work with the local grocer or starbucks to get a grind that is perfect (i use starbucks).i've had my machine almost two years. it is solid quality construction, and it pulls a perfect shot every single time. the steamer is much faster than my last machine and doesn't loose power after the first pitcher of foam.

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Product Description:
Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine FeaturesSpecificationsRancilio Silvia Espresso Machine The Rancilio Silvia is making the news as one the best single boiler machines in production. Like more commercial brand machines, its all in the brass facts. Brass boiler, brass lines and chromed brass brewing head all help to maintain temperature and heat distribution for the perfect espresso.The Silvia will deliver consistently fine espresso, lattes, cappuccinos and more, just with the touch of a button. Its beautiful to behold and simple to use. Youll be making your favorite espresso to the raves of family and friends. This is a quality machine at a terrific price.Simple to Use Controls - Push the large central power button and an orange light comes on and stays on until the Silvia is at operating temperature for espresso, steam or hot water. Three more professional grade rocker switches now let you chose which one of those options you want. Top is for espresso, the middle for hot water and the bottom one is for steam.Flip the espresso button and that rich, hot liquid will start to flow. Switch it off when you have the amount you want. For hot water, simply flip the middle switch open the steam valve knob and hot water gushes from the steam wand. For lattes and cappuccinos, flip the bottom steam button. When the orange light goes off, open the steam valve and start frothing milk.Milk Frothing and Hot Water - The Rancilio Silvia features a straightforward chrome plated steam wand that delivers plenty of ready steam for milk foam. In 1.5 minutes the Silvia will have enough milk to make the average sized latte up to temperature. Simply put, the Silvia out performs almost every espresso machine under $500 in the steaming and frothing race!The steam wand also doubles as the outlet for hot water. Simply press the hot water button and hot water will be dispensed for making beverages such as the popular Americano or tea.Quality Brewing Group - The grouphead (or the component that

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Saeco Aroma Espresso Coffee Machine - Black Review

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

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Product Description:
Features The Aroma is a marriage between Saeco's legacy of Swiss quality and Italian styling. Give your countertop an espresso machine with performance and good looks. The Aroma features a powerful 15-bar pump, a pod adaptable pressurized pot filter, a cup warming surface and a steam and hot water wand with an exclusive Pannarello milk frothing device. Pannarello frothing device. Pod adaptable filter holder. 15-bar pump Cup warming surface. 85 ounce removable water tank. Steam and hot water wand Color: Black Power: 950 W Housing cover material: Stainless steel Machine housing material: Metal

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Krups 867-42 Il Caffe Bistro 10-Cup Coffee/4-Cup Espresso Maker Review

A year ago, I purchased one of these for my fiancee. My initial impression was very positive, but I didn't want to rush into writing a review without putting it through the wringer (so to speak). Well, after countless latte's the Caffe Bistro is still pumping out quality espresso and foaming great quanities of milk. It's very solid in construction and brain-dead simple to use, even without its very well written owner's manual. I do have a few comments to make, however, that might serve as minor caveats to anyone seeking to purchase a combo espresso/coffee maker:
[1] While the manual states that the handle assembly is dishwasher safe, I would strongly recommend *against* putting it in the dishwasher. I'm not sure what it is about my fiancee's dishwasher crystals, but after one go-around in the 'washer, the aluminum portion of the handle assembly turned very dark grey (almost a slate color)--completely oxidized. This doesn't affect performance in the least, but it does make the it somewhat less pretty to look at. Wash it by hand and all should go well. If you forget and find yourself with an oxidized cup, simply go at it with a brillo-type (mildly abrasive) pad and your favorite dishwashing soap (e.g. Palmolive, Ivory, etc.). After a few minutes of scrubbing, the aluminum cup will be back to its original lustre.
[2] The manual makes frequent mention of a "perfect froth attachment" but doesn't really explain what it is or what it does or why it's there. In short, it's the second little miniature stem to the side of the steam stem whose purpose is to funnel in cool air from the room via the top of the attachment via the Bernoulli effect (the same principle that perfume atomizers with the squishy rubber bulbs use), thus providing the "perfect" amount of air needed to make foam. While cleaning the frother, the little rubber tip on the top of the attachment rolled under the stove and was effectively lost. The next time I tried to froth some milk, I got a whole bunch of air and very little steam, resulting in just a rapidly moving cup of slightly warm milk (and a whole lot of noise). I figured out that if you just remove the "perfect froth" attachment, you can get "perfect froth" by simply holding the nozzle just a tiny bit above the surface of the milk--just the way one would do with a machine without such an attachment. I'm now actually glad we lost the tip of the PFA since now the steam nozzle is much easier to clean. :-)
[3] Regular cleaning of your frothing nozzle is imperative. I like to keep a straightened paper clip next to the machine to clean out the tip after every use. If you don't clean it regularly, old milk and hard water deposits will result in a partially or completely blocked nozzle. You should also use a small wrench to remove the tip of the nozzle once a month and make sure you clean it from the inside--a paper clip can only get so much.
[4] The nozzle on this unit is just a bit too long, even without the PFA in place. We purchased a stainless steel frothing pitcher from Fourbucks, er...Starbucks, and found it to be just about 1/4" too tall (or the nozzle just about 1/4" too long) to fit under without tipping either the pitcher or the machine. I'm sorry I don't have a measurement handy, but it's only a very minor annoyance, nothing worth losing sleep over.
[5] I am concerned about the use of aluminum in the unit. The grounds cup, the handle assembly and apparently the tank in which the water is heated are all made of aluminum, and aluminum is a known neurotoxin (i.e. it's bad for you) and it is thought to be a contributing factor in the contraction of Alzheimer's Disease. If I had known that the Caffe Bistro used so much aluminum in the parts that contact the water, I probably would not have purchased it, but buying an espresso machine with stainless steel parts would have been prohibitively expensive. :-(
In short, it's a great unit and has served wonderful lattes and coffees for the past year or so, and it's a great value...that is, if you don't mind ingesting material that is a known to do the body harm.

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Product Description:
This dual function Krups coffeemaker brews ten cups of coffee or four cups of espresso/cappuccino at a time. Programmable with a digital clock, auto power off, deep brew, and stop and serve function. The espresso/cappuccino function serves directly into cups or carafe. The steam-pressurized system has asafety valve and makes perfect froth. Includes manufacturer's limited warranty. Style 867-42.

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West Bend 55108 3-in-1 Coffee Center, Black and Stainless Review

This machine looks very nice and was built fairly well for the most part, BUT the cappaccino machine needs more steam power for the frother and the rubber piece they have over the froth wand is useless and the machine actually froths better without it. The coffee maker takes forever to brew and the pot and its lid are kind of cheap.

I would NOT recommend this machine.

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Product Description:
Combining modern elegance with utility and performance, this three-in-one coffee center makes 4 cups of espresso, brews up to 10 cups of coffee, and froths milk with an easy-to-use steam nozzle. The power switches for the espresso machine and the coffee machine are in the front of the unit for easy access, and its swivel-out brew basket provides added convenience. Two functions can be performed at the same time--coffee can be brewed while espresso drinks are being made, and the unit's brew-pause function allows for pouring a cup of coffee mid brew. Other helpful features include a removable cone-shaped filter basket, easy-to-read water and coffee-ground markings, and an indicator light that illuminates to show the brewing process has begun. For simple cleanup, the unit's glass coffee carafe and espresso carafe are dishwasher safe. A measuring spoon is included. Designed for household use only, the coffee center measures 13 by 13 by 11 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Emerson Combination Machine Review

Wow! I am a student, so money is not too abundant; however, my wife and I love coffee and dig good espresso, but don't like paying $4+ for a latte. When I saw this combo unit I was skeptical that I could make a good espresso. Machines that friends have are $500+. However, it does a great job.

Pros:

1. Coffee has an automatic brew timer.

2. Good sized water reservoir, especially if you are making a load of espressos.

3. Has a frother. The frothing wand could be longer.

4. The PRICE is the best out there for a good beginner espresso machine. I've had cheaper ones that break easily and do not produce a good espresso WITH crema.

5. Simple operation. You'll read some reviews about the instructions, but come on-it's not rocket science...it's coffee. Water in the water reserve. Check. Grounds in the mesh filter (no more paper-yah!). Check. Push the on button. Check = Coffee. For espresso: Water in reservoir. Push espresso on button. Make sure that you are set for the cup and not steam (pictures). Pump should be off. Put empty portafilter in machine and turn the pump on when green indicator light is on. Run water through for 5 seconds and then turn the pump off. Remove portafilter and put finely ground beans in. Lock portafilter into machine. Turn on the pump. Here is the confusing part: How long do I run the machine for? The manufacturer does not say. I run it until the brown crema gets too light (yeah, subjective-I know). Turn the pump off and turn the machine to steam production. Wait until the green indicator light turns on and then turn the dial ever-so-slowly to flush out water in the line. Then bring your milk to the frothing wand (that you have perfectly placed the rubber tip onto according to my advice below) and turn the steam on ever-so-slowly. When the green light turns off, it's still ok to keep running the steam (if you check, sculding hot steam is still coming from the machine) unless you go way too long. You should be able to steam and foam with this machine in one pass (I started out requiring two warm ups of the steam boiler to get this right, but I guess I really wasn't getting it right-it should take you one pass).

6. Looks attractive.

7. 15 bars of pressure is competitive with very expensive machines.

8. Has a removable drip tray under the espresso machine.

Cons:

1. Only makes 10 cups of coffee.

2. The frothing tip is rubber and sits over a single-walled metal wand. The wand gets very hot, which can burn the milk (so I am told by "experts"-can't tell the difference except for the dried milk that requires a quick and easy rub with a wet rag for clean-up). Nonetheless, the metal part does not have a side spout, which is needed for microfoam production. So, if you want microfoam, you have to place the rubber tip over the wand ever-so-perfectly. Looking inside the rubber tip, there is a groove along the inner cylinder. If the metal tip is just a little higher than this inner cylinder groove exit, then you can actually produce microfoam with this machine and do it quickly-complicated? Sorry. You'll understand when you make a dozen lattes and can't understand what you're doing wrong and then start to experiment.

3.If you get leakage out of the portafilter (the part where ground espresso goes) then you are probably not tamping the grounds down hard enough (requires ~30 lbs of pressure) OR have grounds in the groove. The machine is sensitive in this regard. Also, make sure you do not remove the portafilter until the pressure dissipates (just leave it off for a few minutes) otherwise when you unlock the portafilter grounds are shot into the groove and makes a small mess.

4. There is not a carafe temperature control knob.

5. There are no temperature gauges to tell you what the operating water temperature is (good to know for perfect espresso).

6. Portafilter is fairly small, so making double shot espressos is hard.

Tips:
1. Get coffee flavoring-vanilla, hazelnut, caramel, mocha-whatever you prefer and put 1/2 a shot glass amount into each latte. It really changes everything.
2. Tamp a little ground cinnamon onto the final product for a little extra. It adds flavor and a good smell.

I hope this helps. I do not usually write reviews, but this machine is very impressive for the price, so I wanted to help you out by giving more details.

Follow-up 2/14/10: Unfortunately, the Emerson boiler broke just a few months after purchase. I was still able to produce coffee, but could not make espressos. I contacted the manufacturer and they gave me a return number. I packaged everything up and mailed the entire unit to Emerson's repair department. I didn't have all of the required documentation of purchase, but they did not hassle me. The representative was very polite and effective. She understood the problem and just told me to send it back with a note on the defect. About a week or two later, a brand new Emerson arrived on my doorstep. Haven't had any problems since. Great customer service. The only complaint I could muster if forced to was that I had to eat the shipping cost to Emerson for the unit (~$20); however, they have a $15 charge for all returned products for mailing back to your home. They waived this fee without me even asking about it!

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Product Description:
Keep warm plate will keep coffee warm for 2 hours with automatic shut-off Pause and serve feature lets you enjoy a cup of coffee before brewing has finished 1-touch espresso and cappuccino buttons Built-in steam nozzle to create froth for cappuccinos Digital clock with timer 14 7/8 W x 14 5/16 H x 10 3/16 D Includes 12-cup glass carafe filter basket measuring spoon nylon filter espresso filter and espresso portafilter with thumb bar

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Hamilton Beach Espresso Maker Review

An inexpensive way to have coffeehouse-quality beverages at home. Unit is largely plastic, so it may not last forever like the $300+ models, but with proper care should last for years. Frother is easy to use, loud, and effective-just like the sound you hear at every corner coffee bar. Makes one or two cups at a time, and makes them fast and consistently good. Will accept ground espresso, or the individual 1-cup "pods". Comes with an instructional DVD that is 10 minutes well spent. Watched it once, and had my first cinnamon cappucino 10 minutes later! Really produces terrific quality, and makes this an excellent value. One warning: For some reason, this unit requires a manual shut-off to stop the brewing. So, you need to watch the output and hit a button when you think the espresso is as you like it-so no walking away during brewing!

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Product Description:
Hamilton Beach Cappuccino Plus Espresso Maker Cafe quality made easy Powerful 15 bar pump No-fuss frother Easy-fill reservoir Works with pre-measured pods or gound espresso Enjoy authentic espresso and cappuccino anytime

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Briel ED171ATB Space Saver Multi-Pro One Group Thermo Block Espresso Machine with Built-In 10-Cup Drip Coffeemaker, Steel/Silver Review

I see I'm alone in this, but I quite enjoy my Briel Spacesaver. Never had any problems with it. I know it is not completely metal. For the price it looks high end. To get all metal I would paid over $1,000.00. I can always depend on my machine when I make coffee for friends and my daughter enjoys making espresso. She is a barista in Dean and Deluca in NYC and she says it works like the commerical machines at work. So I can't complain. I am very satisfied.

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Product Description:
Space Saver Multi-Pro One Group thermo block espresso machine with built-in 10-cup drip coffeemaker.Highly polished stainless steel with matching end panels. New compact footprint.

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Mr. Coffee ECMP50 Espresso/ Cappuccino Maker Review

Like most who purchased this product, it was my first espresso maker. And I found out quickly that hunting for these things can be overwhelming! I purchased it at my local Target for $79.99 for convenience in case I had to return it -- with all of the mixed reviews out there, I was incredibly weary of choosing one! However, I will most likely not need to do so. It is perfect for all of my needs!

PROS:
1. Incredibly easy to use! Directions and trouble-shooting pages in manual are simple and helpful.
2. Compact size, looks nice sitting on the counter.
3. Easy clean-up. All parts that need to be cleaned detach easily.
4. A standard sized coffee cup will fit under the spout -- not so with many models!
5. The steam feature is simple, fairly powerful, and works well. No problems here.
6. As long as you get a good batch of coffee grounds, this machine can turn it into delicious espresso!

CONS:
1. I have been experiencing a small leak onto my counter after use. I haven't caught it in the act yet, but if I return to the kitchen a few hours later, there is a wet spot near the machine. I read another review that mentioned the same thing, so it might be a universal issue with this product. However, it is a small leak, and not enought to cause a real problem in my opinion.
2. I would suggest making 2-3 cups before wasting any milk product on your first trial. This model does not have an automatic drip feature and you will need to manually tell it when to stop pouring. If you are not used to this, you might end up with a few nasty batches on your first try. No biggie. Just watch the color of the drip. It starts out as a medium brown, and changes to a much lighter brown if left alone. I would recommend shutting it off a second or so after it changes to the lighter brown. I have made perfect batches every time by this method. This all takes place over several seconds, so keep an eye out.

YOU MIGHT NEED TO KNOW:
It mentions this in the manual, but make sure to get the right size of grounds. About the consistency of salt. I would recommend griding your own either at home with a grinder or at the store at a grinding station. They taste better for one, and you won't waste your money on a mystery bag that doesn't work well with your machine.

Also, it does not come with a frothing pitcher. You will need to buy one separately. I purchased mine at Bed Bath and Beyond -- a Krups one, stainless, about $10? It fits fine. Just make sure you don't get one that is too deep, or the froth wand will not reach the milk. It is a countertop model after all. If you don't want to use as much milk you can turn the pitcher at an angle.

That's it! Definitely more pros than cons. I feel that for the price I paid, I could not have hoped for a better quality machine. I would highly recommend this model if you want something easy and you don't require tons of frills. If you want something more frilly, go ahead and spend $300 to $3000 on one. But I purchased an espresso maker to SAVE time and money (so long, Starbucks!), and this one's just right for me!

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Product Description:
Have the ability to make coffeehouse quality espressos and cappuccinos in the comfort of you own home.The Mr. Coffee 15-bar pump espresso maker delivers high-quality drinks on a consistent basis.The thermal block heater makes brewing faster and a removable water reservoir makes it easier to get started.

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