Great looks - finish, form, substance.  Solid as a rock - same shots today as first day I used it one year ago.  Easy to maintain - daily rinse, weekly water backflush, monthly cleaner backflush.  Best of all?  Exceptional service from Chris' Coffee.

Regarding product?  None.  But have you ever tried to get a plumber to hook up water line & filter system for an espresso machine in rural Maine???

I elected to wait until our one-year anniversary with the machine, allowing time to truly break it in and get through any post-purchase euphoria or later buyer's remorse (there has been none of that!).  

Unit was ready right out of the box.  I plugged it in, filled it up, ran one seasoning shot and - from that point forward - it was espresso bliss.  Unit is larger than anticipated, but easily fit on counter with plenty of rooms to spare for cups on top.  With light weekly wipe-down cleaning, unit looks as good as it did the day I set it up.  Some complain that the unit is noisy - it may be, but well worth it.  We keep it on 24/7, avoiding having to wait for the boiler to heat up if I want a latte or my wife wants hot water for tea (she still hasn't tackled pulling shots!).  

Loading a Lavazza Grand Espresso through my Rancilio Rocky (set at 6), I can consistently pull double shots down in 26-28 seconds - day after day, week after week, month after month.  Frothing milk for a 16 oz. latte (skim only, please) requires approximately 40 seconds.  Working in parallel, I can get the unit flushed, beans ground, portafilter pressed, shot pulled, milk frothed, and unit flushed in less than 3 minutes - try doing better than that at Starbucks!  Shots are consistently beautiful, milk is frothed with microfoam - when the two come together, it is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!

In summary, this is a purchase for life.  Short of some major malfunction - and Chris' Coffee service department going out of business - this is my one and only espresso machine.  For home usage, why would you need more?

Chris (of Chris' Coffee) is unbelievable.  When I was on the hunt for a unit, I sent an email through the business' customer service website on a Saturday - and got a detailed answer back from Chris later the same day.  I've had several occasions to email or call since - asking questions, seeking wisdom (Grand Espresso vs. Super Crema vs. Top Class), etc.  In each case, I get responses promptly - usually from Chris.  I've gone back since the initial purchase to order beans, filters, etc. - each experience equally exceptional.  If only other businesses work as Chris' does.