As brands go, Capresso seems to make decent enough espresso machines to satisfy a number of people. The Capresso 303.01 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Machine is a steam driven espresso machine at 800-watt and makes 4 cups at one turn.

Capresso 303.01 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Machine

I don’t go for steam driven machines myself, because they don’t make good espressos, and some produces a bitter taste that is the result of burnt coffee grounds caused by the hot steam. But I acknowledge that some people don’t need strong espressos, and therefore it’s wiser to buy a cheap steam driven machine instead of an automatic that costs $300.

As far as steam driven espresso machines go, the Capresso 303.01 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Machine is easy to use, makes a decent strong coffee, and if you use very fresh grounds you might even get some crema on the espresso.

Get the tamp right
The thing with this machine is, you might have to use coarser grounds and don’t tamp it too tight so that the steam doesn’t take too long to get through and burn the coffee. But too coarse and too loose a tamp might result in weak coffee instead. I guess it takes practice, just like every other machine that uses grounds and needs you to tamp.

Frothing also takes some practice for beginners, and a tip from many espresso fans is to take off the plastic/rubber attachment of the steam wand and use the metal wand by itself. That will make frothing much easier despite the repeated claims by manufacturers that the plastic part is what makes frothing easier.

Other than the learning curve, I’d say the Capresso 303.01 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Machine is a decent steam driven espresso machine. Cleaning up is easy and if you remember to wipe off the steam wand after each use you’re fine.

For even cheaper alternatives, read my reviews on

• Kalorik EXP 25022 800W 4-Cup Espresso Maker – Best Steam Driven Espresso Machine
• Mr. Coffee ECM160 4-Cup Steam Espresso Machine

Or if you’re looking for cheap pump driven espresso machines, go for

• DeLonghi EC155 Espresso Maker – Best Budget Espresso Machine
• DeLonghi BAR32 Retro Pump-Driven 35 ounce Espresso Maker

My Best Espresso Machine main has more guides and reviews.

This semi automatic espresso machine surprised me by the fact that it has automatic tamping! If you don’t like the idea of spending over $1000 for a super automatic, this is the closest convenient machine that you’ll ever get. The Capresso 121.01 Ultima Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine costs less than $300!

Capresso 121.01 Ultima Semi-Automatic Coffee and Espresso/Cappuccino Machine

Despite that it looks kinda ‘different’, this semi automatic works all right. More of its users like it for making cappuccinos, but it does make a reasonable espresso with crema.

Very convenient
Like I said, the best feature of the Capresso 121.01 Ultima Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine is its automatic tamping. Just put in the grounds using the included scoop, close it as per instructions, and turn on the switch. What’s even better is you can make another cup immediately after by turning the knob that discards the used grounds automatically!

The frother is easy to use but it spurts out a bit of water at first before it starts to let out steam. That’s a small flaw that can be corrected by catching the drips before you put the frother in the milk. I think this is caused by a loose frother and the steam condensed. Maybe screwing it tighter will help.

Doesn’t look like a keeper
If you ask me, the only downside of this espresso machine may be it’s less durable looking build. It has many vulnerable parts that don’t look solid enough to last many years but I can’t tell for sure that it won’t. My strategy with all espresso machines is to maintain them as best as I could. For cleaning and maintenance tips, click here.

At only $287, the Capresso 121.01 Ultima Semi-Automatic Coffee and Espresso is worth a try, unless you’re the sort who believes in getting the perfect espresso or having a lot of control over the machine, then I’ll recommend you something else, like the Best Automatic Espresso Machine or the Best Manual Espresso Machine.

More recommendations can be found in my Best Espresso Machine main page.