My next machine (must be this year) will be a semi-automatic italian one.
Positive Product Points
Makes good espresso with a good crema (but this depends also on the coffee you use)
Negative Product Points
You normally pay the machine twice! The main parts inside are made of plastics und the brewing unit will brake down every year by daily use. That is not extraordinary, but inherent to the system. If the sound of the machine is changing / is getting louder the brewing unit needs a complete replacement.
Detailed Commentary
Overall this machine makes a wonderful espresso, if it works. Full-automatic Espresso-makers in this price-level cannot have all parts made of steel. The overall quality in my experience is very low. You have to pay a lot more then the price in the shop for the luxury of filling beans and water in an just pressing a button. Cleaning and descaling procedures are a little bit complicated, obscure and expensive if you use the original material from Krups/Jura. The cycles for cleaning and descaling appears too short and need a lot of time.
