Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Written entirely by a espresso-maker novice. I am, however, quite the Starbucks lover. I am married to an ex-barista who is quite the snob about drinking coffee at home. I am not as picky, but I know a good cup of coffee when I have one in front of me. I figured between the two of our tastes and experiences that we could provide a well-rounded review. Setup was fairly simple. After yelling at my husband to read the instructions for the fifth time, it got cleaned & put together in about 20 minutes. This machine does not include the water softener filter so if you deal with hard water, plan to buy one in addition to the price of this machine. We’ve made two drinks so far and both have been amazing. We’ve made an iced caramel macchiato and a vanilla latte. The flavor is strong and brewed just right. Even for me, with no experience working an espresso machine, it was easy enough to figure out. Prep, brew, & clean up time took a total of 6 minutes from whole beans in the grinder to finished grinds in the trash. To compare to how much you’re spending on coffee already, when broken into daily payments over a year, it ends up being about $2.05. Way less than a grande or vente Starbucks drink price and according to the hubs way better in taste! I spent maybe $15 on Starbucks coffee beans, more almond milk, and some caramel drizzle that will last me over a month. Although it’s a lump sum in the beginning, you will be glad you made the investment. This machine is well worth it. UPDATE ON 8-11-19: I’m updating my review to add a few very important notes that I have learned since I posted my original review: 1. Any coffee beans are “espresso” beans. This is probably basic knowledge to some, but I didn’t know that! I spent a good 30 minutes in publix looking for “espresso” beans. Lol.. live & learn. 2. Watch all the YouTube videos! Making the perfect shot of espresso takes practice. I went to Costco & bought a big bag of beans and made about twenty shots just trying to perfect my skill! 3. Only put the beans in the grinder before you go to make a cup. It makes for a much fresher tasting espresso. 4. If you’re going to be making lots of espresso, invest in a good set of espresso glasses. I originally was using a stainless steel shot glass I had and my finger tips about burned off! I ordered JoyJolt double walled espresso glasses (the 2 oz ones) on Amazon and they have been a lovey addition to my morning espresso routine. 5. The machine will stop grinding depending on where you turn the knob. I have found for a single shot of espresso, turning the grinder knob to the center and just a tad to the left that it makes the perfect amount for a great shot of espresso. 6. The closer the espresso glass is to where the espresso is coming out is important! It creates a thicker level of crema. That’s about all I can think of right now. It truly is an amazing machine and I have enjoyed waking up knowing I get to go downstairs to this bad boy.