It's a work of art, a joy to use, and I have heard "this is the best coffee I've ever tasted" from everyone I've made a coffee drink for - with NO previous experience!
Positive Product Points
It looks like a cool machine. It warms up pretty fast - 10 minutes. I got creamy foam from the beginning and good shots. It's easy. Maintenance is easy.
Negative Product Points
A bit noisy at start-up - if someone is sleeping on the couch, they will be annoyed.
Detailed Commentary
I am a novice espresso maker and don't like plain espresso - I'm a latte fan, so I haven't been deep into pulling the perfect espresso. I was a little intimidated, but invested because in just buying 2 lattes every day (my husband's and mine) at the local stand computed to nearly $2500 a year, so investing in a nice espresso machine seemed like a good deal. The steamer seems really great - I've been able to make great steamed milk with either very creamy or more frothy foam. The espresso pulls are good. It's been easy to learn. I'm careful about following the instructions for maintenance, including using the proper water for PH content. I love it and would totally recommend it.
Buying Experience
I searched on line and found Chris' Coffee Service. Though I thought I'd like to buy the machine from a local vendor (Seattle area), I kept coming back to Chris' site for the selection and because of the great reviews. It was a great experience. I ended up calling to ask some questions when I ordered, and the person helped me pick out the appropriate accoutrement, including a coffee grinder, and it wasn't the most expensive articles in the line. The instructions and the one call I had to make after I received it (for help) were very helpful. I highly recommend Chris' Coffee Service.
