by Ken on August 14, 2011
I know some of us just want that regular cup of coffee every morning without having to go to all the fuss of tamping grounds and heating up the milk, not to mention washing up. That’s why a lot of people overspend more than $2 a day for coffee. But with the Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker, you’d think stopping by Starbucks is more trouble!
Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker and Milk Frother
Place this awesome espresso machine in your office or at home, and enjoy an espresso shot or a lungo whenever you like in 30 seconds flat, no mess, no fuss, and no skill needed. It’s so easy to use: just pop in the espresso coffee pod, wait for the lights to tell you it’s ready, and press the button.
The Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker only uses pods from Nespresso, but these are really good! They must have been made of espresso grounds. There are many flavors and intensity to try out and I’m sure everyone can find their favorite. One pod makes one cup, and each pod costs only $0.55.
And there’s none of that business of descaling or backflushing with this espresso machine, only press the button again to run the machine with water after use and dumping the used pods.
The frother is really good too! The froth is thick and the frother is easy to clean.
“Pour your favorite milk to fill line. Replace cover. Press button. Voile. Whisper quiet then thick, frothy suds for your perfect cup of espresso or coffee. “ – Mary Brown
There are a couple of reviewers saying that their frother on this combined unit didn’t last very long, but they are very satisfied with the espresso maker itself. If you make a lot of lattes a day, you may want to consider buying the espresso machine and frother separately.
For ultimate convenience and to save many bucks a day in coffee, get the Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker. It’s very affordable compared to the super automatics, and it’ll soon pay for itself.
If you like a more compact unit of automatic espresso machine, the Nespresso C-100 is a good choice. It has a smaller footprint because the frother is separate and can be stored away.
Those who prefer a higher end super automatic espresso machine, I recommend the Bosch Benvenuto B30. Or try DeLonghi ESAM3300 for good value. Anyway, I have more recommendations in my Best Espresso Machine main page.
I’m sure if you’ve been doing some research on the espresso machines that does it all – grinding, tamping and brewing – you know that super automatic machines like this don’t come with an attractive price tag. But here’s an exception!
Gaggia Syncrony 9004 is the super auto espresso machine I would recommend those with a tight budget.
Gaggia Syncrony 9004
If you are one who want your coffee fast without going through all the process of grinding and tamping the beans yourself, this unit is really a good buy because you won’t need to buy a separate grinder. It’s even cheaper than a high end semi-automatic espresso machine!
Best Budget Super Automatic
What’s great with this machine is that it has a double boiler to save time between brewing and steaming. The body of the machine is mostly plastic but the steamer is stainless steel, which is an important feature for some people.
Just like the best super auto machines, Gaggia Syncrony 9004 can make espresso shots from both beans and ground coffee, but don’t try fine ground! Use coarser ground so that the filter won’t clog up.
But then, I wouldn’t need a super automatic if I want to drink ground coffee all the time. That is just a convenience for guests who want decaf.
This machine also tells you when it’s time to decalcify it, although with some experience you’ll know without it having to remind you. When you forget, that’s the time your coffee will taste weird!
Tip: Use distilled water to avoid fast mineral buildups and protect the boilers.
What Else Matters
The position of the water container was criticized by a reviewer as a glitch in the design, but there are others who liked its compactness and small footprint.
“I didn’t prefer the water container right above the electrical input especially when you had a full container and carefully had to put it in place.” – apjordan, reviewer at Reviewcentre.com.
Overall, Gaggia Syncrony 9004 is a decent super automatic espresso machine for a reasonable price. Click here for more reviews on Gaggia Syncrony 9004.
Those who prefer a higher end super automatic espresso machine, I recommend the Bosch Benvenuto B30. Or try DeLonghi ESAM3300 for good value. Anyway, I have more recommendations in my Best Espresso Machine main page.
Do you know what it means to wake up in the morning, find your barista ready in your kitchen, tell him exactly what you want, then in two minutes just sit down and enjoy a cup of great coffee? Do you love drinking coffee, but couldn’t be bothered to do the grinding, tamping and brewing? If you answered yes to both questions, then you’ve got to have the Bosch Benvenuto B30.
Bosch TCA6301UC Benvenuto B30 Thermoblock
When I married my wife, a close friend gave us this Bosch Benvenuto. It is so easy to use; anyone can use it to make great espresso!
Personal Barista In Your Kitchen
It has an automatic timer function, so I preset it to turn on just before I wake up. When I want my coffee, it’s ready for my instructions, just like my personal barista.
I take my cup which is kept warm on the top of the machine, put it under the spout. Then I choose the size I want by flipping the switch, and it starts measuring and grinding the beans when I push the button. In less than two minutes, my coffee is ready!
You don’t even have to worry about the height of the spouts when you choose a different size coffee, because they are adjustable. How cool is that? Sometimes when I need a super large mug, I just hold the mug to the spouts from the side, without having to remove the tray beneath.
Please Everyone in the Family
Everything about this espresso machine is intelligent. When it’s time to add water, empty the grounds tray, change the filter or clean the machine, it tells you so. Then you just do whatever it says. Cleaning is very easy too, just put a cleaning tablet and run the cleaning cycle by pushing a button!
The Bosch Benvenuto is especially wonderful for families who love coffee. Besides having every size from small espresso shots to XXL coffee mugs, you can choose the coffee strength from mild to extra strong. You can also put pre-ground coffee in another container. In short, it can satisfy everyone!
The only thing is, you have to add water often if you brew a lot of coffee, of course. I didn’t mind that because I want fresh distilled water for my coffee every time.
“It’s been 15 months and 2,699 “brews” since we bought it. STILL works flawlessly…we’ve saved $3,373 by not going to Starbucks.” – Bill Timmons, reviewer at Amazon.com
If you can’t wait to get the Bosch Benvenuto, click here to go to the Amazon page. They’re offering a $271 discount and FREE shipping now.
But if you prefer to do your own grinding and tamping, you can check out my favorite semi-automatics:
My Best Espresso Machine main page has more tips and guides for choosing the best espresso machine.
I bought this steam driven espresso machine for my mum earlier, who is not really a coffee enthusiast, but likes to drink a cup or two sometimes.
I myself wouldn’t have bought steam driven machines, since they never bring out the essence of espressos, but as far as steam driven machines go, this Kalorik EXP25022 makes coffee with the smoothest flavor.
Kalorik EXP 25022 800W 4-Cup Espresso Maker – Best Steam Driven Espresso Machine
Cheap and Easy To Use
For me, the best thing about steam driven espresso machines is that they are very cheap, of course. Can you imagine having a machine that makes “ok” coffee for ten to twenty times less than the high end espresso machines out there?
That just about satisfies my mum’s need for coffee. If she knew I spent $899 on my Rancilio Silvia, I can picture her face before she shrieks the number in a high-pitched voice. But this machine is just below $50!
Since she didn’t care about being a barista anyway, this easy to use machine suits her well. She just had to select espresso, steam or off with the simple function switch.
Kalorik EXP25022 is quite a small and lightweight machine that can make up to 4 cups of espresso. My mum always gets excited about the swivel steam nozzle that tops her cappuccino with froth. She says that makes it look restaurant-served.
Overall this espresso machine is a simple and affordable coffee maker that can make something close to authentic espresso.
A good place to get this Kalorik EXP25022 is at Amazon.com, where they are offering a 17% discount and FREE shipping at this moment. Check it out here:
For real espressos and great fun making them, get a semi automatic espresso machine instead! The best one is my favorite Rancilio Silvia, while the budget one is DeLonghi EC155.
Read more reviews, recommendations and espresso machine tips in my Best Espresso Machine site.
Gaggia Classic is the way to go if you want a great espresso machine but cringe at the price of a Rancilio. This was my “professional level” espresso machine before I upgraded to Rancilio Silvia, and I must say it performs well for its price.
Gaggia 14101 Classic Espresso Machine – Best Value Espresso Machine
Fast and Easy to Use
The Gaggia Classic is comparably easier to use than the Rancilio, so I would recommend it as an entry level machine.
A good espresso machine must make good espresso, of course, and Gaggia Classic does that. The three-way solenoid valve is one of its best features; it lets me prepare the next shot almost immediately!
Now that I’m using the Rancilio, I realized that the Gaggia heats up fast. I can do one or two cups of espresso at once with the handy design. That saved me some time when I had guests over.
I’m also impressed by the fact that Gaggia Classic has sturdy and replaceable parts. My Gaggia has served me the better part of a decade before I turned it in for a Rancilio.
“I’ve worked at two espresso shops with commercial machines, and the parts on this moderately priced Gaggia are nearly as heavy and substantial as the big multiple-thousands of dollars machines.” – Dominika Lepak, reviewer at Amazon.com.
Some Quirks
The steaming wand does take some getting used to. It is one of the most complained features of the Gaggia Classic. Don’t get me wrong, the foam that it produces is splendid! But the design is flawed so sometimes it works badly.
Gaggia has come out with a Turbo Frother wand with the newer version though, which I can’t comment on.
Another thing is the aluminum boiler. I wasn’t so worried about corrosion because I insist on using bottled water for my coffee, but this may be a problem for those who use the machine extensively but can’t clean it so often.
All in all, the Gaggia Classic is a good value espresso machine, the best high end machine for its price. Unless you are a 100% serious coffee lover who prefers the pricier Rancilio, this machine is the one that will give you Starbucks quality coffee.
Amazon.com is giving a 17% discount at this writing so you save about $100. Check it out here:
For those of you who wondered about the oh-so-famous Rancilio Silvia, click here to read my review on it. If you prefer to be kinder to your wallet, I strongly recommend DeLonghi EC155, the best budget semi-auto.
I have also listed my recommendations for super automatic espresso machines in my Best Espresso Machine main page.
Further Information
by Ken on December 27, 2010
The espresso machines from Nespresso always give me the impression of being simple, reliable and foolproof. You don’t have to be any barista to use the Nespresso D290 Concept Espresso and Coffeemaker and make consistently great cups of espressos.
Nespresso D290 Concept Espresso and Coffeemaker
Great Espresso With Zero Mess
The Nespresso D290 Concept is to be used with the Nespresso capsules that ensures that you get great espresso ALL the time. There are 12 flavors to choose from, all of which can be ordered from Nespresso. I always try to get the limited edition capsules for my office machine when they’re available, in addition to my regular Roma and Arpeggio. If you’re not sure which one to buy at first, there’s an online system featured on the Nespresso website that can help you identify the strength of your coffee, but it’s so fun trying out the different flavors that I’ve tried them all!
Besides not needing to worry about the right consistency of the grind, using capsules also means that there will be no mess to clean up afterward. The capsule will automatically be ejected from the machine (to be thrown into the trash) once it is done brewing a cup. The Nespresso D290 Concept Espresso and Coffeemaker is designed so that you will only be doing a minimal amount of cleaning.
Sturdy As A Rock
Users have reported this machine to be very reliable. One user reported that even after 3 years, the machine is working well without any hiccups or broken parts. Of course, normal maintenance needs to be done from time to time to keep this little beauty up and running.
Some people think that an espresso machine is a luxury item and seeing the price tag for many espresso machines, I can’t really blame them. But if you’re an avid espresso drinker like me, you actually save a lot of money in a couple years time by having your own machine. In fact, the price of the Nespresso D290 Concept is only in the medium range of the many espresso machines.
Tempted yet? To get your Nespresso D290 Concept Espresso and Coffeemaker now, click the link.
If you prefer a compact unit of automatic espresso machine, the Nespresso C-100 is good. The footprint is small and it has a separate frother that can be stored away.
Those who prefer a higher end super automatic espresso machine, I recommend the Bosch Benvenuto B30. You can also try DeLonghi ESAM3300 for good value. Do check out more of my recommendations in my Best Espresso Machine main page.
My brother bought the Gaggia 90951 Platinum Vision Automatic Espresso Machine for his office a couple of months ago and he’s now one of the popular guys at work. Must be one amazing espresso machine huh?
Gaggia 90951 Platinum Vision Automatic Espresso Machine
You can Easily Make an Espresso Like A Pro!
If you’re a Starbucks junkie, this can help you save a couple of dollars every week. You can actually learn to make an espresso just like a pro with the help of the Gaggia 90951. One push of a button can result in the most fulfilling caffeinated drink you can imagine. Choose between three options: espresso, coffee and long coffee.
Got Milk?
The milk island froth the milk great. It comes out smooth and creamy – perfect with any types of coffee from latte to mocha. Do make sure that you don’t overfill the carafe. The milk froth will overflow if you fill the milk past the “MAX” line. If you don’t fancy much foam, just turn it off before its cycle finishes.
The LCD touchscreen makes operating the Gaggia 90951 a piece of cake. All the instructions are pre-programmed so that all you need to do is follow the instructions and push the right buttons. You can adjust the strength of the brew and the quantity that you need. You can also adjust the cup tray for any cup size.
Value Buy
The Gaggia 90951 Platinum Vision Automatic Espresso Machine may cost you over $1000 but it will pay for itself in a few months. You will never need to pay $4 for a latte again and perhaps, you can start saving to buy that new car that you’ve always wanted!
If you prefer to do your own grinding and tamping, you can check out my favorite semi-automatics:
My Best Espresso Machine main page has more tips and guides for choosing the best espresso machine.
by Ken on December 20, 2010
Do you just love to drink espresso? Then you should look at my other automated espresso machine reviews. If you don’t just love to drink espresso but think that making espresso is an art in itself, then look at this La Pavoni Professional PBB-16 Espresso Machine.
La Pavoni Professional PBB-16 Espresso Machine
State of the Art
This beauty of an espresso maker from Italy is a fully manual espresso maker that lets you pull your own shot with the steam instead of pumping it through automatically. It does take a lot of practice to perfect the skill!
All the users who bought the La Pavoni Professional PBB-16 Espresso Machine loved it for the looks, the build, the performance, and the satisfaction it gives for pulling a shot of crema-topped espresso.
High Quality for Years of Use
The nickel plated brass boiler and the metal parts are all high quality make that will last you for decades with minimal servicing. There are no electronic parts that will break down on you.
“I have had this machine since 1998, i drink on average 4 espresso a day, that is a total of around 17,500 espressos and it still works like a charm.” – David J. Mosley, reviewer on Amazon.
The difference between getting this and getting an automated machine is like the difference between getting a piano and getting a keyboard. Granted, the latter does have more frills and thrills, but art has more depth than that.
The 38-ounce boiler capacity allows for making two cups of espresso at once, unlike the La Pavoni EPC-8 that has a 20-ounce boiler and makes one cup. This is the main thing that distinguished the two models.
The price is roughly $100 apart though, so unless you need many cups in the mornings or often have guests over, you might want to look into the La Pavoni EPC-8 first.
Are there any downsides? None as far as I can see. The La Pavoni Professional PBB-16 Espresso Machine is going to pay for itself in a year’s time if you use it every morning!
If a fully manual machine like this sounds too difficult for you to handle, you can try a semi automatic espresso machine. I have a few recommendations:
If you like to just press a few buttons and have espresso ready, read my reviews on automatic and super automatic espresso machines:
Anyway, you can find more recommendations in my Best Espresso Machine main page.
by Ken on December 17, 2010
Now this is a semi automatic that would attract my attention. The Breville Barista Express BES860XL is perfect for a home with different levels of baristas, I think. If your wife is the skilled barista and you’re just trying to make your first twenty shots, get this.
Breville Barista Express BES860XL
Everyone can Make Espresso
The reason that this espresso machine allows for varying skill sets is that it has both single wall and double wall filters. The person who’s unsure about the ground and tamp can use the double wall filter while the home professional can use the single wall filter for more control over what comes out in the cup. Nice!
When I saw that the Breville Barista Express BES860XL has an integrated grinder, I thought, come on, a free grinder with a machine at that price? Are you kidding me or what. But there it is, not just some blade grinder but a burr grinder even.
What a helluva bargain! But admittedly, the grinder does have a couple quirks. It would need you to poke the beans through sometimes because it is not sloped enough, and this is usually with the oily beans.
A reviewer mentioned that you should never let water go into the grinder or you’ll end up with a jammed mess that is terrible to clean. I totally agree. Keep the grinder lid on at all times so that you don’t accidentally get droplets in it when filling the water tank.
Besides the Grinder…
I love that the included tamper can be held on the machine magnetically, and I love the hidden compartment that can be used to store cleaning tablets.
After all that is said, this espresso machine makes shots of espressos to die for and the steamer can froth even skimmed milk.
“I’ve always been a coffee aficionado, and have spent more money at Starbucks this year than this machine is worth. Sorry, Starbucks. You just lost a customer. “ – J.A. Konrath, reviewer at Amazon.
Breville Barista Express BES860XL is a wonderful machine. If you can afford it, buy it.
If you can’t, then read my reviews for these nice and affordable semi automatics:
DeLonghi EC155 – Best Budget Semi Automatic Espresso Machine
DeLonghi BAR32
Or maybe you’d like automatic espresso machines for really fuss free operation:
Nespresso C100-US-AERO Essenza – Best Value Automatic Espresso Machine
There are more types of espresso machines and my recommendations in my Best Espresso Machine main page. Check it out!
by Ken on December 16, 2010
Anyone who has been in the espresso club for a couple years would have heard of the Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma. Last year I had debated on getting this espresso machine myself, after finding all the rave comments about it.
Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma
A Bella Signora in the Kitchen
On first glance, this stainless steel espresso machine looks really sleek and compact. Anyone who has little room to spare on their kitchen counter top would love the small footprint of this babe.
Once the Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma heats up, it makes a good cup of espresso with crema and the milk frothing is really good too. The rubber frother head should either be fully submerged into the milk, or taken off to use just the metal part of the wand to get the smoothest foam.
Needs Some Practice
The double filter in this espresso machine is great at producing crema for your espresso, but you’ll have to experiment with a few types of grind to get the right one. Too fine a grind will leave you with clogged filters and a headache for the cleaning.
The machine comes with a plastic tamp, but I’d advise the investment in a good quality stainless steel tamp if you’re serious with espressos.
As with most semi automatics, the tamping also needs a bit of practice. This machine works well with a softer tamp, but if you like a lot of crema, tamp harder until you find the amount of pressure that will give you the most crema without stopping the flow altogether.
Easy Cleaning
Cleaning is not particularly difficult. The portafilter empties easily with a knock, and the drip tray has an indicator to show when it’s full. You need to descale it once in a while, and if you don’t know how to do this, check out my guide here.
One gripe is that the window that shows you whether the water in the tank is running low is always steamed up so it’s actually a useless feature. Oh well.
I wouldn’t recommend Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma as an entry level machine; it would require some barista skills to use, but it would be great as an upgrade from your first one.
Other espresso machines in the similar range would be Rancilio Silvia and Breville 800ESXL. If you are looking for a cheaper but decent alternative, I’d recommend the Gaggia Classic, which is also a semi automatic. If you need something more automated but affordable, go for the Nespresso C100-US-AERO Essenza.
More types of espresso machines can be found in my Best Espresso Machine main page.
