A beautiful, well built, well appointed machine that will never let you down.
Positive Product Points
Beautiful machine; powerful steam wand; can be plumbed in for water and drain if you like; enjoyable to use; consistent results; built quality is very high
Negative Product Points
Drain needs to be plumbed in as the drip pan fills up daily; feet are not adjustable. There is nothing really negative about this machine.
Detailed Commentary
I am very impressed with this machine. It does what it's supposed to do very well, and with style. I even feel like a pro when I'm using this machine, and I enjoy perfecting my skills with every use. Take my advice ...... hook the drain hose up before you do anything with this machine. If you're not handy or don't have a drain nearby; then use a container that will hold at least a gallon of liquid. And preferably one that you can see when it's full. My previous machine was a Breville Ikon, and although it did a surprising job of turning out good coffee, you cannot compare the two. This is a serious machine! I thought I wasn't very good at steaming milk, but with the Evo, my steaming abilities are pretty good. I plan on plumbing in the water supply in the near future, as I find myself filling the tank frequently. Turning the Evo on is the first thing I do every morning, and I enjoy hearing the subtle sounds it makes as it's waking up.This machine is exactly what I was hoping for. Not only did I want a machine that makes great espresso, but also a machine that allowed me to become more involved with the coffee making process. I will pick up a VST filter as well as a brew head thermometer to help me dial in the correct brew temperature.
Buying Experience
I drove to idrinkcoffee in Milton, as I needed to see the machines in person. The store was busy like always, but I didn't wait very long. Richard helped me finalize what machine I should get, as well as teaching me some things along the way. Knowledgeable, professional, courteous and just a pleasure to deal with. He went above and beyond to see that I was completely satisfied with my purchase. I have dealt with all the popular coffee equipment stores in my area. Some are OK, some are rude and at least one is incompetent, but I will not deal with those stores again. I highly recommend you give this store a try. The Rocket was in stock and loaded into my truck for me.
Three Month Followup
The machine has worked wonderful from the moment I got it home. In fact I've found the Mazzer grinder more challenging to master, albeit an amazing grinder. The Rocket has become my most prized possession and I have made up a bit of a Rocket shrine with all the branded accessories from Rocket. There really are no negative points with it. The grate for the drip tray rattles when the unit is in operation. this took less than a minute to resolve with the use of some thin plastic spacers that cannot be seen. Shortly after I bought the machine the R58 Rocket machine came out. I bought the Evo because it was the best they made at the time. If I had known, I would have waited for it. I'm not sure it's worth the additional cost for me and it does not have the angled Giotto sides. I cannot recommend this machine enough. I look forward to every use.
