My first espresso pump, after 1000's of cups I'm leaving town and passing it on.
Positive Product Points
This was my first espresso machine. I'm still using it. It is a big hit with coffee drinking guests, but not really a machine for finicky connoisseurs.
Negative Product Points
I got a more expensive machine in another country. I like it better. This one takes a little more time to heat up, cools down pretty quickly. Also the space under the beans is small. I use a separate cup for brewing when making my caps and lattes, and remove the drip tray so there is more room for it. After 10 years or so the frothing wand drips water while I pull the espresso shot. I catch it with a dishrag.
Detailed Commentary
This was the low end pump machine when I bought it. I am sold on pumps. I now have a $200 machine with more steel and it has a nicer feel to it overall, but makes about the same coffee when all is said and done :-) One note, I had to adjust the tension on the filter a bit to make the speed and "crema" work best. Also I had to remove and clean this filter after a few years making coffee every day. I got a more expensive machine in another country. I like it better. This one takes a little more time to heat up, cools down pretty quickly. Also the space under the beans is small. I use a separate cup for brewing when making my caps and lattes, and remove the drip tray so there is more room for it. After 10 years or so the frothing wand drips water while I pull the espresso shot. I catch it with a dishrag.
