Reviewed in Canada on October 13, 2015
So, just like me, you decided to buy an Espresso machine because you love Espressos, right? But, do you really know anything about Espressos? Well, after buying this machine I realized that I didn't know jack about making Espressos, hopefully my review will help someone out there to learn and then enjoy this Espresso maker.
After getting familiar with the machine I jumped to the part that matters hoping to make my first wonderful Espresso. So I followed the instructions, primed the machine, prepared the coffee puck, turned on the machine and waited anxiously for the nectar of life to flow into my mug. The big moment was upon me, I didn't have amazing expectations but still hoped it would taste great. I grab the mug, smell the perfume, take a sip and felt that bold, heart warming taste of ..... Tea.
Whattt????? Yeap, the first "Espresso" that came from the machine was disgusting. I blamed the beans, I blamed the machine, even the water got some tough love, but after many attempts and lots of readings, I came to understand a bit better about this "Art".
Following the manual I brewed the coffee for 20 seconds. That is way too much time, after around 10 seconds, the machine puts out almost only foam making the Espresso weaker by the second.
The second thing ( remember all this is according to my taste, I just believe Espresso lovers like bold, strong coffee) is the size of the Coffee filter. The machine comes with two filters, one for single shots and another for double shots. Personally I found the single shot filter useless, too shallow to hold a significant amount of coffee. Suggestion, throw the single shot filter away.
Third thing. Have you ever heard of "tamping"? If not, google it and learn how to make it properly. It makes a huge difference in the final results.
I use the double shot filter (to make one Espresso), fill it to the top, tamp it (compress the coffee in the filter), fill it again, tamp it again and brew it.
Now that you know how to make an Espresso to my taste, let address a complain about the steam wand pouring water before steam. Well, not much to say here, only that this is how it works, cheap or expensive machines will pour some water before the steam comes out, for this reason there is a procedure called PURGING, which is recommended to be done every time on uses the steam wand. So what is purging? As you might have guessed is the act of removing something from something else, in this case, removing water from the steam wand. Just put a container under the steam wand, turn on the steam, wait for the steam to come out and only then proceed frothing your milk.
This is a long review with spelling errors, bad jokes and questionable advice, but if you read all the way here, chances are that like me, this will become a hobby as well, so do some research and enjoy your Espresso machine. I came for the Espresso but I stayed for the Art, I'm just natural at poetry :)
