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Excellent machine! Jun 11, 2010
I have had this espresso machine for over 3 years now. I normally use to make 1 to 2 doubles a day, so that's well over a thousand doppios I have made with this machine! And they were always excellent.
The machine has a pump that provides pressure. The hot water seems to always be at the right temperature. There is a valve under the filter, where the ground coffee is, that guarantees the correct pressure. With these features, this machine makes it possible to have a great cup of espresso.
There are other important things to keep in mind, though. The machine is only one term of the expression. There is also coffee quality, grind, and the ability to put it all together.
So besides this machine, you need freshly roasted coffee beans. After roasting and cooling, coffee beans start to degrade immediately. I have found that after roasting, coffee is normally good for a couple of weeks, and then I start to notice the difference. I have tried coffee beans of unknown roasting date, and I could tell they had been roasted a long time before.
It's best if the blend is an espresso blend. Espresso is not a roast, it's a blend. You can tell it's a blend because the beans are not all the same. Some are larger, some are smaller. It can also be that some are darker, some lighter. An espresso blend is what you need to get the best results. I have found a single origin bean that works in this machine, but I figure that's hard to find elsewhere, so when in doubt, I would stick to an espresso blend.
The beans need to be ground at the correct degree of coarseness. Too coarse, and water will run through it. The espresso will taste weak and watery, the cream will be light-colored. Too fine, and the hot water will burn it. The espresso will be bitter and taste like burn. If you have a burr grinder, it will take a few attempts to figure out the correct settings for the machine. I haven't change my setting in years.
The ability to put it all together boils down to: grind 16 grams of coffee beans, put them in the filter and tamp very lightly, plug it in the machine, and hit the button. It takes a little bit of practice but anyone can learn to do it quickly.
The beauty of this machine is that it is consistent. It makes a nice cup of espresso even if the beans are not super-fresh, or if the coffee is not the best blend. Given the same inputs, though, the results are always the same. You can count on it. It is dependable.
I love it.
Also recommended:
Gaggia 8002 MDF Burr Grinder with Doser, Black
RSVP Terry's Tamper
3 of 6 found the following review helpful:
Finally...decent espresso! May 11, 2009
I have owned several, less expensive espresso machines, and decided I was fed up with the poor result I was getting. I don't need my espresso to be perfect, but I didn't want it to taste awful or feel like I was wasting my precious morning time.
There's not really many machines available in the $150 to 400 category, which is what I wanted. Although $500 is a lot to spend on a machine, I decided that the convenience of having a machine in my home (as opposed to having to run out) was worth the cost. I don't really think I'm saving money over the short term as I only drink espresso a few times a week.
The machine is easy to work with minimal reading of the instructions. I like that you can use espresso pods without having to buy anything extra. If you don't know what an espresso pod is, I'd highly suggesting looking it up if you hate old coffee and like easy to clean.
The bottom line: it's easy to use, makes a great cup, but is pricey. I expect it to last a while, so the cost is ok with me.
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