Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I trekked home Friday evening, high with anticipation of the package waiting for me on the front porch. My first espresso machine. You see friends, gingerbread lattes are my love and my life. The only local coffeeshop serving homemade gingerbread shuttered it's doors as its owners moved back to Scotland. Starbucks also let me down by choosing not to serve Gingerbread lattes this past season. I was lost. Listless. Undeserving of all this beautiful life has to offer without my Gingerbread lattes to carry me through. After much deliberation, I purchased this espresso machine in hopes of brighter days to carry me through the March fog in Ohio. Day One: - I have no idea what I'm doing - I don't have any espresso roast, only Chock Full O' Nuts - I have Torani Gingerbread Syrup - I have Planet Oak extra creamy oat milk - I'm ready to roll - I follow the instructions and still make a mess on my counter - Lattes taste kind of like... Burnt plastic... but still, there is something glorious about it - Fiance gets a caramel maple latte, he swears it's the best he's ever had (he may be biased) - Defeated, I watch the how to video shown here by some kind reviewer. Armed with new knowledge, I pledge to try again tomorrow. Day Two: - Wake up and use leftover CFON "espresso" I'd brewer last night to make an Iced Oatmilk Gingerbread Latte - Run multiple empty cycles of water and vinegar, then just water through the new machine - My morning is officially the best morning I may ever have had - While running errands, I pick up Gevalia Espresso Blend - Upon return home, I demand my fiance watch as I build our new lattes - They are perfect. Life is now perfect. I feel that I have fulfilled a lifelong quest for something, I just never knew what that something was. I recommend watching the how-to videos posted here by other users if you are new to espresso machines like I am. Otherwise you may end up with messy counters!