Great shots, intelligent automation, solid construction, easy to clean, fast steam, energy saver mode, rinse before loading shot after sitting for more than two hours.

Cup warmer heats unevenly (hot side and warm side). Requires propretary water filter. Gray metal panels are kind of dull... would prefer stainless steal. Only sides are metal, the front / face is plastic. Opening the thing up is kind of shocking - there is not much too it when you look inside... but it sure works great.

I've visisted Starbucks when I have been in a country with a Starbucks almost everyday for the last eleven years. After a month of tweeking with this puppy I could not tell the diffrence between a doppio from my local Starbucks and a doppio from this thing in a blind taste testing. That said, I like my shots a bit fuller and more intense than thte standard Starbucks shot, and the amazing tweekability of this makes pulling those shots easy. Super fast warm up time. Nice energy saver mode. I love the fact that it rinses it self out every morning before actually starting up. Intilligent automation. Cleanup is a breeze. Fast even steam. Great support from Saeco.  Great grinder.

Costco... reall good costco deal. I wanted a Saeco anyway, buying it from Costoc, where you can return anything without box or manuals for any reason for up to six months made it that much easier.