Great machine that does its job flawlessly and consistently at a price point that cannot be beat.
Positive Product Points
- First and foremost, the E61 brew group - Nice fit and finish to compliment the stainless steel construction - A steam capability that could blast barnacles off a battleship, not to mention really decent steam and hot water valves - Pump pressure gauge and a boiler pressure gauge (it's nice to know what's going on inside)
Negative Product Points
- The vibratory pump is loud and I sometimes have to be careful about turning it on early in the morning if people are still sleeping (I live in a small condo). Had I known this beforehand, I may have considered the Vetrano Rotary instead - Filling the water reservoir is a pain - I can't use the holes in the lid and have to remove it to fill the reservoir. To me, this makes the cup heater function useless because you have to take any cups off the lid to remove it, etc. I've gone back to putting a splash of water in my cup, heating it in the microwave and discarding it just before I draw a shot (this process makes the cup hotter anyhow). If direct connect is an option for you, definitely consider it.
Detailed Commentary
I went from the Gaggia Titanium to this baby (and before that it was drip) and so, obviously, I had a lot of things to learn. But I really do believe I learned what I had to because I can draw some of the best coffee I've ever had from this machine - it's super! I typically research what I'm going to buy and in this case, my research (and procrastination) paid off - I am convinced that I finally selected the best quality and feature-rich product on the market that I could for the price I paid for it.
Buying Experience
Buying from Chris' Coffee was a great experience. All the shipping and billing stuff was uneventful - which is what I want when I order something via the web. But mostly, the experience was a pleasure due to the information on his website that lays out all the details about the machines they sell so that you can really compare and contrast features and capabilities.
