I just recently purchased the Cuisinart EM 200 model espresso maker. I am still waiting for it to be delivered later this week. This is my very first purchase of an espresso maker and I did not do all the research that I should have before purchasing. I came to discover that it has a pressurized filter. After doing some research, I discovered that the pressurized filter is not as good as a standard single wall filter. I have researched two options for this situation. First is to cut off the bottom of my current filter which I have heard people have done successfully. Second is to purchase a Breville filter which is supposed to fit the Cuisinart. I have been trying to find a Canadian source for the Breville filter, but so far I have been unsuccessful. If I cannot find a replacement for my pressurized filter, does anyone in this forum have a suggestion for the type of coffee that I should be using? I have read that a standard fine espresso grind will not work in such a filter and will probably plug it. I look forward to any and all advice that can be given to me.
It's easy to be fooled. I bought one of these 2 years ago and then, like you discovered it wasn't exactly the fine espresso machine I thought it to be. I bought a Cuisinart grinder to go with it. They were sitting side by side at BB&B so I figured they must work well together. I didn't like the results so I took them both back and went on to Gaggia at WLL. The truth is, it probably made okay coffee. But, the more I read here and on other sites the more dissatisfied I became. My advice: take it back if you can. If you can't take it back, do what Abe Lincoln suggested: when you make a bad deal, hug it all the tighter. I mean, I used a steam toy for a long time and was perfectly happy with it using that canned Mexican coffee. I'm afraid that wouldn't do anymore.
RichardCoffee, Yes, I was a real novice when I looked into purchasing an espresso machine, and the only thing I did was learn the difference between the cheaper models that use steam to extract, and the more expensive models that use hot water and pressure. I chose the latter, and was quite proud of myself. Then I found out that many people in the "know" seemed to believe that pressurized filters were a "cheat" that did not give the best results. By this time it was too late for me to return the Cuisinart without loosing a good chunk of money, so I am hugging it very tightly. After going to quite a few forums it seems people are split on the EM200. Many people said it was a piece of junk that made good coffee when it worked, but was unreliable. Others have said that with some time to get used to the machine, they get consistent results and very good shots. So I am going to give it a try and see how it goes. Since this is my first time doing this at home, as long as the machine does not break down on me, I am sure I can achieve very acceptable results and learn a great deal at the same time.
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