HomeSmall AppliancesCoffee MachinesSaeco Aroma Espresso & Cappuccino Pump Machine |
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
 fine machine but not as good as saeco aroma 30013 Feb 15, 2008
By soupcan
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.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
 A magnificent semi-automatic espresso machine Jan 11, 2010
By J. C. Liu
"Dr. Jimbob"
After my old, cheap combo drip/espresso coffee maker gave up the ghost, I decided to invest in a serious espresso machine. I followed the advice given by Alton Brown from his Good Eats episode on espresso and wound up with the same machine that he uses. It's a lovely semi-automatic machine. By semi-automatic, I mean that the machine pushes water through the portafilter to make coffee as long as the switch is on; it's up to you to decide when to shut it off. Same goes for the milk frothing attachment. But the frother attachment is a big, wide plastic tube which is easy to clean, the water tank has enough capacity for a week's worth of espresso, and the pump can make for a lovely shot of espresso with a beautiful head of crema.
I think I would have preferred the design esthetic of a previous model, where the brewing and frothing switches were on/off switches as opposed to up/down buttons, but that quibble aside, this is a lovely machine for do-it-yourself espresso and cappuccino.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Great little machine with a few caveats Jul 20, 2011
By Boo
I've been using this machine for the past couple weeks and so far I love it! It looks great on the counter, doesn't take up much space, it seems solidly built and I couldn't be happier with the quality of the drinks I've been making with it. I'm a latte/cappuccino drinker so I can't really comment on the subtleties of a good espresso shot but the shots look great, they have plenty of crema and the milk based drinks are just delicious, much better than what I get at the local coffee shops.
I usually don't write long reviews but while researching before I bought it, I found plenty of negative reviews from people who seem to have unrealistic expectations or who didn't bother to do their homework or read the manual.
Things to consider and common complaints:
- This is a single boiler machine, which requires the machine to be primed every time you steam milk. If you don't, it will end up suffering from a premature death due to overheating. You may be able to find a self-priming machine for this price (I didn't run into any but it's not a feature I particularly cared for). If you want a dual boiler machine then you'll have to invest more money. Personally, I don't mind priming it, it may feel like there are too many steps at first but once you get a hang of it, it's extremely quick and simple.
- It comes with a pressurized portafilter which is less sensitive to grinding finesse and tamping pressure and will give you a consistent espresso shot even if you don't really know what you are doing. For the average user this can be a great feature, since you can get a good shot with pre-ground espresso or a pod. However, if you are really into the art of making the perfect espresso and want to play around with grinding and tamping pressure, then you'll probably want a regular portafilter.
- The steaming wand is a bit too low and only rotates horizontally, which limits the size of the frothing container you can use. Not an issue for me but something you may want to consider. I use a 16 oz. frothing pitcher and as long as I keep it filled up to somewhere between 2/3 and 3/4, I can work without issues. With more liquid than that, I would spill some on the counter when trying to remove the pitcher. This can be addressed by raising the machine (something like a thick cutting board underneath it could work) or by placing the machine on the far right edge of the counter.
- The cup warmer seems a bit on the flimsy side. I'm just being picky with this one, I don't really care about that so just an FYI.
- The panarello attachment makes it really easy to get thick foam but a bit tricky to get microfoam. I've been experimenting with it to get microfoam and I've got some good results. However, it is a bit harder to do than with a regular steam wand and I'm not sure if it will be good enough for latte art. Again, if you don't care about latte art, this is no big deal and your drinks will come out just fine.
- If the portafilter is not tight enough or if it's too full, water will leak from the top. This happened to me when I first got it and was trying to set it up. It was a bit too tight which required extra strength to make it fit right. After a couple of tries, it loosened up, getting it on and off became very easy and there are no leaks whatsoever.
I can't comment on durability but I will update this review if I run into any issues.
Overall, I'd say this is a great purchase for the price as long as you know what to expect and it suits your needs. If you decide to get it, do yourself a favor and read the manual. =)
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Sturdy, easy to use and clean, makes great espresso. Will buy this over Saeco Spidem Villa Jul 26, 2009
By Baymate
Update on 10/30/09: I found the price fluctuating so much and I am compelled to update my review. Reviews are generally given for a certain price range. This is a great value under 200USD, about right at 250, and becomes expensive at over 300. In general, espresso machines are significantly more expensive than they should be.
This machine is easy to use and clean, and makes great espresso. It does not grind coffee beans so you need a stand-alone grinder or may buy ground coffee (for espresso machines). It has a small footprint and is aesthetically pleasing. At about half the price of the fully automatic Saeco Spidem Villa, this sure is a better buy.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Fantastic machine for the money! Jul 18, 2009
By HJ
I have owned this machine since Dec '08 and it has performed beautifully. We make 4 shots a day, 7 days a week and it makes a wonderful double shot of espresso with perfect crema each time. It also makes good frothed milk, but does take a little longer than some of the more expensive espresso makers on the market (however, I rarely use the frothing feature so it's not a big drawback for me). I'm not sure what the other reviewer meant by it being a "manual" machine. Possibly - and I'm just guessing - "manual" means that it does not have a built-in grinder so you have to grind the beans with another machine and then pack the the portafilter yourself. If so, most espresso machines are like that and it's not a big deal for the majority of espresso drinkers. I do want to add that I did not buy this machine in a "new" condition from Amazon. I bought it used on an auction internet site (you guess which one:) for only $139.00! I also bought a used Saeco burr grinder from the same site and I am very happy with that too (see my other review). Either way, new or used, I would recommend this espresso machine as it makes great espresso shots and is hundreds less than many of the other machines (even at full retail price).
See all 19 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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