OK coffee, sometimes not hot enough. Modest steaming capacity. But it‘s not expensive and the service is great.
Positive Product Points
Crema is usually pretty good (though enhanced, I think, by the portafilter construction.)Reasonable price, especially on frequent reduced-price sales. Compact, and easy to maintain. Moreover, I‘ve found Starbucks service to be without par. I actually broke the handle of the portafilter after the warranty period expired, and they sent me a new one FREE. (I received it right away by Fedex and they enclosed a free shipping return label. How much better can service get?)
Negative Product Points
Coffee is sometimes not hot enough. I actually engage the steam button to boost the boiler temperature before making coffee, and I still occasionally have to put the resulting product in the microwave. Steaming capacity is modest.
Detailed Commentary
In fairness, I should say that this product actually has the Saeco label on it. But it was bought at Starbucks, and when I bought it they told me they were going to begin private labeling the machine;and there are no external changes in the version with the Starbucks name; I doubt there are really any internal changes.
Basically it‘s a pretty good starter machine for the money, certainly easier to use than La Pavoni Europiccola. But make no mistake about it; the Baby Gaggia makes better coffee and better steam for not much more money.
