Lello 1375 Ariete Cafe Prestige Coffee Maker
Constructed of heavy-duty stainless steel and simple-to-use controls, this 950-watt espresso/cappuccino machine makes it easy to brew cafe-quality coffee drinks. The unit’s high-performance ThermoBlock 15-bar pump-driven system provides uniform and constant pump pressure to make a superior espresso with good crema and a frothy thick milk cappuccino. Its removable 2-1/4-quart water reservoir can be refilled from the top at any time during operation, and a cup-warming area allows up to nine cups to be warmed before use. Designed in sleek, attractive housing, the espresso/cappuccino maker measures 9-1/2 by 9-1/4 by 12-1/2 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
1 Star Not your mother’s expresso machine
For those buying this machine, as I did, as a step up to replace an inexpensive home type “espresso” machine without a pump, for a few dollars more, it is not really good. It is not for non-coffee-aficionados.
This machine makes better espresso, about a 3 star on that, for convenience and ease of use 1/2 star.
Don’t buy this machine if you want a quick latte, etc before leaving for work.
1. It is not “automatic” You do not put your cup under there and come back for the coffee. You must turn the steam on and then off when you think it is done. You must wait for it to heat up between processes. Now I understand why making good espresso is considered an art. Not really a negative if you are espresso savvy. I am not.
2. The water reservoir is a pain. Who wants to leave water in a plastic container over night and then use it for coffee. So to get fresh water you have to take this clumsy, cheaply made container that is too big to fit easily in the sink out of its place on the back (you have to pull out the machine to fill it), empty it and refill and replace it with some difficulty.
3. It is not exactly as described, If it were I would give it better marks. There is not lever on the handle to expell the coffee holder as described in the instructions. The coffee holder is really difficult to put into the handle thing. It says there are some slots to match up, but there are not so you are trying to press it in without spilling the ground coffee. Then afterwards you cannot just expel it, you have to put your fingers on it (hot)and pull or leverage it out. Also it says there is a pick to clean the holes and there is not.
4. It is very heavy and quite large. On the counter top, under a cabinet is not a good place to put it. Really needs it own table..
5. The special steam head for frothing is a made of a really smelly, soft rubber. Ok if you want your milk to taste like rubber. Too smelly for my kitchen, I threw it away.
I had a Braun simple inexpensive home type machine, that made pretty good latte’s, not real espresso, but ok for me. I took it with me every where. It lasted for three years being used every day. Not sure if I will keep this one. It does make better espresso. This is my first impression, the first day, I do not know if it will break in a few days, etc.
4 Stars Great Cappuccino & Customer Service Will Replace Gasket
We got the Ariete Cafe Prestige Cappuccino maker after a long series of Krupps, DeLonghi, and other Cappuccino makers failed within months (typically a sticky pressure valve leading to no pressure/taking forever). First impression: Awesome! Super strong, sweet, flavorful, good crema. But…
After a week, it would periodically leak, spray, pee, spurt, etc around the seal, especially on the 2nd shot, then after another week, at almost every use. This left a crappy, brackish shot, and a big mess in the kitchen. Figuring it was the seal/gasket, I looked online at the Amazon reviews, found the review with the problem and number (replace the gasket, call Lello at 201 939-2555). But wait….
I called them and said “I had an Ariete Cafe Prestige 1375 with a gasket problem” and in 2 seconds (no kidding), the lady told me they’d send a replacement and asked for my address. Holy crap, that’s customer service!!
So, I give it a 4, because they (Amazon or Lello) really should put a card or sticker on it that says “if you have a seal or gasket problem, call these guys for a replacement” but top kudos for hiring such great customer service. It’s a great cappuccino maker, too bad the one I got came from a run that skimped on quality for a critical component.
5 Stars Simply Amazing!!
Wow! I got this machine for two reasons. I was frustrated with the amount of money I was spending on my daily lattes. I was also frustrated with the time it took to go to the coffee shop every morning. When I got this machine both of those issues were successfully solved.
Now I spend an average of $10 a week on coffee. A pound of espresso goes over two weeks for me. And milk goes a long way too. I am saving a lot of money very quickly considering I was spending an average of $40 a week on lattes.
This machine is a pump machine. It has a great amount of pressure. The espresso comes out perfect, with great crema!! Milk is easily steamed as well. So far I haven’t had any problems. I should also mention I worked at a coffee shop for 5 years during high school and my early days of college. I was a little hesitant to get this machine fearing the espresso would not come out well. Turns out it DOES! it tastes just as smooth and rich as it would from my local roaster.
This machine is a must for someone who is on a budget. Also, its very convenient to wake up and make your own latte. One of the best purchases of my life! =)
5 Stars A happy customer
I was looking for a espresso machine for a while. After read many good reviews about this machine. I decided to buy it. It is a solid design! I have it 2 month so far with no problem. I just ordered another one for my sister.
4 Stars Ariete Espresso Machine
This is a decent product for the price. It is easy to clean attractive and makes a decent single cup of espresso. I’ve been using it daily since I bought it. First coffee I bought for it was ground a little too fine — but when ground right, the espresso is as good as you will get in a restaraunt. I just make the espresso — don’t use the steam apparatus much, but I have tested it to froth or warm soy milk and it seems to work just fine. For $130 — I am sure it is as good as machines that cost from $200 up — they seem to be of similar construction. I like the water container on the back and how easy it is to disasseble the “head” where the water comes out for cleaning.
Saeco A SP SV Spidem Villa Super Automatic Espresso Machine Silver
A staple in Europe, the Spidem Villa is a super-automatic home espresso machine that retains the features made popular by its predecessors, the Vienna super-automatic machines. Spidem Villa by Saeco puts Saeco’s patented removable brew group technology into an easy-to-use interface. You can now make espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, and tea all using one machine that grinds, tamps, and brews gourmet coffee. The steam and hot water wand has an exclusive pannarello to make frothing milk simple. The Spidem Villa’s adjustable conical burr grinder makes the perfect grind for gourmet coffee. The Opti-Dose adjustable doser feature enhances your flexibility to make an ideal cup of coffee. Not only can you adjust the fineness of the grinds and the amount of coffee brewed, but also the amount of ground coffee used to make each individual cup from 6 to 9 grams. With a light push, the machine will rotate on its swivel base, simplifying general maintenance and cleaning and the refilling of the 57-ounce water tank. This package contains two things traditionally never found at the same time: a top-quality espresso/cappuccino machine and a reasonable price. The unit features a simple control panel, with three buttons and a dial–one button for power, one for coffee, one for steam. The adjustable steam wand is on a swivel joint, allowing you to place either a 12-ounce or 20-ounce frothing pitcher underneath to easily make creamy cappuccinos and lattes. The machine also features a pre-infusion system for extra-rich flavor, extracting the most aroma from the grinds in a pre-brewing cycle. The internal dump box for used grounds is removable and can hold up to 15 pucks. Made in Italy.
5 Stars Amazing espresso machine easy to use would recommend to anyone
I have to say I was skeptical about buying a super automatic machine and especially this one since it was one of the cheapest models. I bought this for my mom and it had to be as easy as possible to use for her. I love it and I found out that the inside machinery is basically the same as the models that cost 2-3 times more. I have been using it for 3 months now and have not had any problems at all it just takes a little bit of learning and trial and error don’t forget to read the manual there are many little things that you should know so the machine will work properly without problems. It really only takes about 1 minute for the machine to be ready in the morning from a cold start to make an espresso or boiling water for tea. The only thing that takes some time is to get the grind size and amount of coffee correct for the type of bean you have. You wouldn’t think so but Dunkin Donuts whole orig beans work great and taste amazing for espresso I even talked to Saeco customer support and they said it was a great bean for it since it wasn’t too oily. Dont think Twice about buying this machine it is amazing and will pay for itself in a couple months of not going to the coffee shop. I even like the fact that this machine isn’t complicated it is very simple to use. If you end up buying one of these try to get the solid black model since it isn’t painted it is solid black plastic so there is nothing to chip and when the coffee or milk splashes you don’t see the spots so it looks clean all the time unlike the silver models. Some people complain about the water and coffee capacity but unless you put this in an office you will be fine the water makes about 12-15 shots and coffee makes about 30 shots so you should be fine for a normal household. I also noticed that if you use bottled water you will have hardly any problems with the machine since most problems arise from calcium buildup from hard water and not to mention bottled water tastes so much better. I hardly ever write in depth reviews it’s just that I am so happy with this machine and it saves so much money. We are a family of 3 and we used to get 3 Coffee’s lattes etc. every day costing about $12-$15 daily and we had a instant boiling water dispenser in our kitchen sink that from what I found out costs about $30 a month to keep going since it is always on and now we turned that off and just use this machine for the boiling water for tea, cup a noodles, etc. as well.
5 Stars great coffee
Easy to use and makes great coffee. Adjust levels to make espresso or American brew.
5 Stars Awesome
I got one for Christmas and have been using it for 4 weeks now. It makes the best coffee with the added bonus of just a single cup at a time in about a minute. I retired my old coffee pot and have had to switch to decaf because it’s just too easy to have another cup. My oldest daughter started drinking a couple of cups of coffee a day and at least one latte. We’re switched to buying half-an-half in the half gallon size. All components are easy to use and cleanup. I don’t think we could live without one now.
4 Stars Great coffee maker!
Love this machine – makes perfect coffee easily and conveniently – like as if it’s from my local Peets (am using their great espresso beans). I did have a problem with my machine but it was quickly replaced by Aabree Coffee Company where i bought it from via Amazon. Now it is perfect. Didn’t give it 5 stars as the plastic outer casing of the machine could hae a better fit and finish (it is after all a SAECO). But it’s solid and I love it. This is a great machine – believe me I did a lot of research as I know my coffee!
4 Stars Delicious fast brew, but could be packaged better.
We bought this unit to replace a Saeco Vienna Black machine we had for 5 years. The brew group is the same quality as the Saeco Vienna (it appears to be indentical) In fact all internal components appear to be the same with just a new enclosure. Speaking of the enclosure; that is my only disaapointment with this machine. The fit is simply not as good as our earlier unit. It is molded white plastic and painted silver on all surfaces visible when closed. However, as soon as you pull out the ‘puck’ drawer or open the door to reveal the brewgroup you can see the white base plastic. Kind of cheesy. The Veinna Black was molded entirely of the finished color and was smooth and glossy. The silver paint is rather flat and rough. The joints and seams are sloppy and the gap varies from one side of the machine to the other.
Nonetheless, the machine works flawlessly and brews a delicious cup of espresso, americano or coffee with ease.
I gave this product review 4 stars because of the fit and finish (lack thereof), but the machine does what it is designed to do; brew a fast, fresh and wonderful hot drink right in your home!
Krups XP1500 Coffee and Espresso Combination Machine With FREE Decalcifier and FREE Shipping
Choose your coffee – American or European. Drip or Espresso is represented in one combo unit. Separate systems, the drip part has a 10 cup coffee carafe while the Espresso part has a 4 cup carafe and a valve for foaming milk to make cappuccino. Stop n’ Serve feature lets you remove carafe at any time during the brewing cycle Non-stick warming plate keeps coffee hot for hours Illuminated on/off switch Espresso/Cappuccino Machine 4 bar steam system makes espresso, cappuccino and latte quickly and easily Convenient steam nozzle for easy frothing of milk Glass carafe with convenient handle holds up to 4 cups of freshly made espresso Removable dip tray
Krups XP1500 Coffee and Espresso Combination Machine Black
Beautifully designed with a small footprint and simple-to-use controls, this coffee and espresso combination unit provides an array of convenient features. The coffeemaker side of the machine quickly brews up to 10 cups of great-tasting coffee. The coffeemaker’s water-level indicator clearly shows how much water is in the tank, while its swing-out filter holder makes it easy to add coffee grounds. For added convenience, removing the carafe from its warming plate mid brew pauses the brewing process to allow for a quick pour. Other handy extras include an illuminated on/off switch, a handy coffee scoop, and a nonstick warming tray that keeps coffee hot for hours. The other side of the unit functions as an espresso/cappuccino machine with a four-bar steam system that makes espresso, cappuccino, and lattes quickly and easily. Its glass carafe with a convenient handle holds up to 4 cups of freshly made espresso, while the convenient steam nozzle easily produces rich, creamy froth. In addition, the espresso machine’s removable drip tray with a stainless-steel grid is designed for quick cleanup. The 900-watt coffee and espresso combination unit measures 14-3/4 by 12-1/4 by 13-1/2 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
4 Stars Haven’t had problems people complain about
I got my espresso/coffee maker at a yard sale for $25 so maybe that makes me a little more kind, but I haven’t had as bad luck as everyone else. The espresso maker is a bit touchy- sometimes it shoots out fast and because I get distracted I miss the chance to steam my milk. Other times it’s slower. Other than being a bit labor intensive it’s really not that hard to make espresso/lattes. Of course I’ve never used another espresso maker so I have nothing to compare it to. It makes good coffee and espresso and is short enough to fit under the top shelves on the counter. Like I said, since I only paid $25 I really can’t complain.
1 Star Piece of junk!
I would not recommend this machine. It’s plastic and bulky and pretty much cheap looking. The milk frothing “wand” is short and akward to use. As soon as it hits the milk, it’s a foam explosion and makes a big mess. To top it off, the espresso isn’t even hot. I haven’t bothered to try out the coffee side, as I’m perfectly happy with my no fuss french press. Don’t waste your money on this item!
1 Star It Krupped out!
We have only had this pot a few years, only used filtered water in it, and vinegar cleaned it regularly. The flow slowly started to diminish. We troubleshooted the machine and found a faulty heating element. Of course there is poor customer service. Krups used to be a quality product. Our “spare” $20 Mr. Coffee pot is much older than the Krups and is back in service. I will seek another espresso machine, but it will NOT be a Krups.
3 Stars good coffee, bad espresso
After a year of using this we put it in the garage for the next yard sale. I didn’t have a problem with the coffee, but my husband thought the espresso part was terrible. Here’s our list of pros and cons:
Pros:
1. smaller and shorter so it fit easily under cabinet – however – see cons for part two of this one
2. simple and easy to use, very basic
3. good, basic coffee
Cons:
1. NO AUTO-OFF ON THE COFFEE MAKER. This is a biggie if you leave it on at least 3 times a week like I did.
2. Espresso was bad. started tasting weak and being unpredictable in it’s delivery after several months. tried cleaning it but nothing worked.
3. water door at back is large and you really have to pull this machine out from under the cabinet to fill it. but the unit is really bulky to be pulling out every morning. plus the little rubber feet on the bottom popped off instantaneously.
Hope this helps. Not a terrible machine in my opinion, especially for the price. You do get what you pay for. But also not terrific.
5 Stars Excellent
This is the best coffee or espresso maker I have ever purchased or owned. Easy to use. Also makes a great gift.
Capresso 121 01 Ultima Semi Automatic Coffee and Espresso Cappuccino Machine
By eliminating the usual fuss and mess, this 1,200-watt machine makes it easy to brew espresso and make cappuccinos and lattes at home or in the office. It’s semiautomatic because all that’s required is to fill the water tank, place ground coffee into a receptacle, and pull a lever. Within seconds coffee flows from the double spout, which adjusts for different cup heights, into one or two cups. No tamping is required because the machine tamps the coffee precisely and automatically. Nor is it necessary to clean used coffee grounds out of a messy filter holder, because there is no filter holder, and the machine automatically discards grounds into a waste tray. The tray also catches overflows, and a light shows when it needs emptying.
For steaming and frothing milk to make cappuccinos, lattes, and hot chocolates and for delivering hot water for tea, there’s a wand that rotates out to fit inside a pitcher or cup. The coffee receptacle accepts 7 to 15 grams (one or two fillings of the included scoop), and the powerful pump supplies enough hot water each time to fill cups from 1-1/2 ounces to 12 ounces, which means it will make a big mug of regular coffee as well as an espresso. The 53-ounce water tank is transparent for water-level monitoring. Water heats quickly thanks to the 1,200-watt heating coil, and a thermostat light shows when the water is hottest. The machine has internal storage for the power cord and comes with clear instructions, drink recipes, and a one-year warranty against defects. –Fred Brack
5 Stars I love this machine
I love this machine. I read several reviews prior to buying it. Most were good. One stated that her machine wouldn’t work no matter what the grind. It clogged. I was concerned about this, but it never happened to me. My machine is not at all picky. I like that it’s semi-automatic so that I have control over how to make my coffee. It’s easy to make and easy to clean.
5 Stars Best espresso machine for the price
This machine was recommended to me by my best friend who owns a coffee company, and supplies and sets up hotels and high end restaurants with expensive espresso machines, and who is quite the perfectionist. He was going to set me up with one of his commercial machines, which would have taken up a lot of room, and would require a water feed, etc, and he had owned one of these machines a few years ago a told me to buy it. It’s so easy to use. Tamps the grind to the correct pressure, disposes of the grounds with no mess, easy to clean, easy to load the coffee,easy to load the water, nice crema, great pressure. My only two complaints are that it is initially not quite as hot as I would like for Americanos, but I just steam the final brew a little, and it is plenty hot, and I wish the steam spout was just a little bit longer. The initial heat cycle is only 30 seconds, so by the time you have the coffee loaded and tamped, it is ready to go. I just don’t think you can find a better designed, easy to use machine for the price that will make espresso this well.
4 Stars Great Engineering. Great Espresso & Coffee!! Price can’t be Beat!
I was compelled to leave a review for the Ultima because I just have to say how pleased I am with it. This little machine is awesome! I’m a self proclaimed coffee snob and perfectionist. I reviewed several machines before settling on the Ultima. I’m definitely glad I did. Makes a great espresso with nice layer of crema. If you want a great cup of coffee it’ll do that too as you can control when to stop the pump. Prep is easy and the more comfortable you get with it the easier it gets. I recommend it 100%. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because it’ll only take 2 scoops of coffee at a time limiting the amount of coffee you can make a time. Also not the prettiest machine but you’ll get over that as soon as you start making coffee. I had a Krups pump driven before this that cost around the same and was slicker looking but an inferior product. These are minor points though. Overall, price and quality wise it can’t be beat.
5 Stars Expresso Love
If you like expresso than this machine is well worth having in your kitchen.
It is amazingly easy to use to prepare anything you would like, including expresso and cappuccino which I had found a bit intimidating/not successful with before I got this machine.
It is pretty easy to set up and get ready to make your drink, takes me a couple of minutes or so at this point, and the machine is quick and easy to maintain.
All in all one of the better items that I use often in the kitchen.
5 Stars Super easy Espresso drinks
This machine makes espresso drinks very easy, fast, and tasty. I have a very nice tradional espresso machine with portafilter. I can make a fantasic shot of espresso with The tradional machine but it takes me about three times longer to prepar then with the Capresso Ultima. The Capresso makes a pretty darn good shot also. Its so easy to use and it cleans up easy. It looks and feels sort of cheap with all the plasic but if it works flawlessly for a few years I can overlook the cheap plastic feel. My tradional machine wheights about 35lbs the Capresso wheights about 1/3 of that wheight. I talk about the weight a lot becous in my exprince heavy steel things tend to last longer the cheap plasic. Not to say that the Capresso Ultima is cheap, Its not. I just dont trust all the plastic. I gess that if they would have used more steel the price would have been a lot higher. At the price point it is, its very afordable for the quality of the drinks you can make with it.
Nescafe Dolce Gusto Single Serve Coffee Machines
Who knew coffee this easy could also be this good? With a fun countertop design and intuitive operation, you’ll be brewing cups of your favorite coffee drinks within seconds. Simply insert one of Nescaf?’s fantastic pre-filled coffee pods and get ready to enjoy! Two-year warranty. Model KP2100.
5 Stars A Remarkable Machine
Coffee is part of who I am. With my burr grinder, french press, trusty Bialetti, frother, and two Keurigs I thought I was set. Then came the Dolce Gusto. The DG is not a substitute for any of my other coffee appliances. However, what it does, it does well.
And what it does is provide a serving of rich espresso with a wonderful crema or a delicious latte macchiato with next to no effort, almost no mess, and in an amazingly short amount of time. Of course, there are several other coffee bar drinks the DG makes just as well. When I first observed the frothy, hot milk dispense into the included cup, I knew the DG was something unique and special.
Looks wise, the DG looks about as much like an espresso/cappuccino machine as a Keurig looks like a french press. No matter, it takes up very little counter space and is easy to move out of the way or to stow when not in use. It is solidly constructed, as well. Even though it is made mainly of plastic it should provide years of use as long as one does not drop it or push it off the counter.
Cleaning the DG is easy. The reservoir is a snap to lift off and replace, easy to carry and rinses clean. The actual business portion of the machine, where the coffee goes, is easy to slide in and out and also rinses clean in short order.
On the room for improvement side is the fact the machine still operates after the reservoir is empty. It would be nice if it shut off automatically when it’s out of water. A more precise way of measuring the amount of liquid dispensed, would also be appreciated. As it is, one simply guesstimates when to stop the flow. Of course, the provided cups help make estimating easier.
All in all, the Dolce Gusto is fun, easy, and makes great coffee drinks, as advertised.
4 Stars Fun Gadget to Have Around
The Nescafe Dolce Gusto machine is my first experience with a single serve gourmet coffee maker, and I’m a bit undecided as to how I feel about it.
Here are the positives:
- The coffee was of high quality, much better than from a standard coffee maker, but not quite as good as from a coffee shop
- I thought the dry milk would taste strange, but actually could not tell that it was not real milk once it was in the coffee
- The design of the machine is very innovative, and definitely adds a nice touch to the kitchen
- Easy set-up, the instructions were great
- As promised, the machine is very easy to clean and there’s virtually no mess because of the neat capsules
- Coffee is ready very quickly, I believe it took 20-30 seconds – and the froth was unbelievable!
- Easy to control the amount of milk and coffee according to your taste
- The water is not pre-heated, but passed over a heating element when you switch the machine on
- The machine comes with a starter pack of coffee, a saucer with a cup, and a glass, which were nice touches
- Nutrition wise, these coffees are not too terrible; if you do Weight Watchers, I believe a cappuccino (which comes with milk) is 2 points
Cons:
- The coffee pods are expensive compared to your basic coffee, and surprise surprise, you can only use Nescafe pods with this machine. With the milk + coffee pods, you’re paying slightly above $1 per cup. The espresso and caffe lungo that do not use milk are cheaper.
- There are not that many varieties of coffee yet, but I guess they’re coming out with more in the near future. I believe caffe lungo is the only variety that comes in decaffeinated and mild versions, and cappuccino comes in a cold drink as well.
- The machine does not have a water filter, which would have been nice considering the price.
- While you can control coffee and milk amounts, the pods come pre-made with sugar, which you cannot control
- It can take some fine tuning to get the coffee just right. A couple of times I wound up with drinks that were watery or too strong
Overall, I think it’s a nice gadget to have around. I will use it in addition to my regular coffee machine as a special treat, but it’s too expensive for an everyday habit.
5 Stars Barista 101
Manufactured by Krups International, the Nescafe Dolce Gusto Single Serve Machine brings “coffee bar style” beverages to one’s kitchen counter in minutes. A full beverage selection is available via the Nescafe Dolce Gusto single serve capsules. Flavors include; espresso, cappuccino, latte, cafe lungo, and hot chocolate.
One key sweet feature of this machine is the brew lever. The manually controlled brew lever allows the operator to customize each beverage. Compared to the noisy Keurig K Cup Machine, this Krups model is outfitted with a much quieter Thermobloc pump. 15 different levels delivers exact pressure and water temperature for a perfect cup of java each and every time.
Other accessories include a 51 ounce removable water reservoir, magnetic pod holder, an attached metal punch, and an adjustable drip tray to accommodate any height cup or glass. When not in use, the system shuts itself down automatically. Weighing in at just over 12 pounds it measures 8-2/5″x12.3″x13″. This unit comes with the standard two year manufacturer’s warranty.
Simple to operate, even the occasional coffee drinker can be transformed into a world class barista. This system rides the wave of great any room appliances. The Krups & Nescafe team have a winner.
4 Stars A coffee machine that excels at making more than coffee
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RCGFPKD17JTG2 Nescafe Dolce Gusto Single-Serve Coffee Machine has the wrong name, but that’s not a bad thing for those who own it. It makes much more than “coffee.” Happily, it makes a large variety of coffee drinks really well. The cappuccinos, espressos, etc. are really delicious. Being a chocolate fan, my favorite is the Nescafe Dolce Gusto Chococino, which is doesn’t actually contain coffee, just delicious chocolate and frothy milk.
But you have to buy the machine to get the great drinks. So how’s the machine? Very good. There are a few design modifications I’d make to it to help maximize my counter space, but I do enjoy having it. The set up was extremely easy and making the different coffee drinks is even easier. Check out my video to see how tough it would be to actually mess up making a cappuccino.
Pros
1. Great coffee drinks. Just like the ones you’d buy at an expensive coffee shop, but you don’t have to go there. (You’ve got free wifi at home already anyway, right?)
2. Very easy clean up. There really is very little clean up at all since each coffee serving is made by using disposable coffee “capsules.”
3. Once the cost of the machine is paid for, your coffee drinks run about $1. That’s much better that that expensive coffee shop, right?
Cons
1. The shape of the machine is a little problematic for a New York City apartment. If you can view the view I’ve uploaded with this review, you can see how much of my counter it takes up. It might be pretty to look at with its curves, but those curves eat up a lot of my limited counter space.
2. I wish the machine had some way of knowing what type of coffee “module” you had inserted and measured the proper amount of hot water coming through based on that. If you don’t use the cups that come with it, you’ll need to do some experimentation to get the coffee strength to your liking.
3. My *primary* problem with the entire system is the waste it produces. The packaging of the individual coffee “modules” are not recyclable. I checked the products web site because I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to put them in the plastics recycling.
The site’s FAQ say:
Are the capsules recyclable?
No. Used Dolce Gusto
Capresso 121 01 Ultima Semi Automatic Coffee and Espresso Cappuccino Machine
The best of coffee culture in one convenient package. Eliminating all the strenuous steps of conventional espresso/cappuccino machines ? tamping, hot filters and stubborn sieves ? this all-in-one center lets you pour in the coffee, switch on the pump and enjoy! One-year warranty. Model 121.
5 Stars I love this machine
I love this machine. I read several reviews prior to buying it. Most were good. One stated that her machine wouldn’t work no matter what the grind. It clogged. I was concerned about this, but it never happened to me. My machine is not at all picky. I like that it’s semi-automatic so that I have control over how to make my coffee. It’s easy to make and easy to clean.
5 Stars Super easy Espresso drinks
This machine makes espresso drinks very easy, fast, and tasty. I have a very nice tradional espresso machine with portafilter. I can make a fantasic shot of espresso with The tradional machine but it takes me about three times longer to prepar then with the Capresso Ultima. The Capresso makes a pretty darn good shot also. Its so easy to use and it cleans up easy. It looks and feels sort of cheap with all the plasic but if it works flawlessly for a few years I can overlook the cheap plastic feel. My tradional machine wheights about 35lbs the Capresso wheights about 1/3 of that wheight. I talk about the weight a lot becous in my exprince heavy steel things tend to last longer the cheap plasic. Not to say that the Capresso Ultima is cheap, Its not. I just dont trust all the plastic. I gess that if they would have used more steel the price would have been a lot higher. At the price point it is, its very afordable for the quality of the drinks you can make with it.
5 Stars Expresso Love
If you like expresso than this machine is well worth having in your kitchen.
It is amazingly easy to use to prepare anything you would like, including expresso and cappuccino which I had found a bit intimidating/not successful with before I got this machine.
It is pretty easy to set up and get ready to make your drink, takes me a couple of minutes or so at this point, and the machine is quick and easy to maintain.
All in all one of the better items that I use often in the kitchen.
4 Stars Great Engineering. Great Espresso & Coffee!! Price can’t be Beat!
I was compelled to leave a review for the Ultima because I just have to say how pleased I am with it. This little machine is awesome! I’m a self proclaimed coffee snob and perfectionist. I reviewed several machines before settling on the Ultima. I’m definitely glad I did. Makes a great espresso with nice layer of crema. If you want a great cup of coffee it’ll do that too as you can control when to stop the pump. Prep is easy and the more comfortable you get with it the easier it gets. I recommend it 100%. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because it’ll only take 2 scoops of coffee at a time limiting the amount of coffee you can make a time. Also not the prettiest machine but you’ll get over that as soon as you start making coffee. I had a Krups pump driven before this that cost around the same and was slicker looking but an inferior product. These are minor points though. Overall, price and quality wise it can’t be beat.
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