If you like a straight jacket, you'll love this machine
Positive Product Points
Slick looking machine, will impress the "wantabee's you hang out with"
Negative Product Points
first of all the head height of the dispenser is way to low, you can get a standard cup underneath but not much more. The nozzle for the frother is also too small, better buy special container for frothing. Coffee not that hot, and cannot be increased, only by heating the cup per the directions.
Detailed Commentary
I just purchased this machine since my old Saeco Vienna went on the blink after reading several positive reviews on this site. First of all the directions are poor, you have to watch the video several times and read the directions to compare notes. But the biggest problem with the machine is its lack of flexibility. The head height of the dispensing nozzle is too low, forget about using a tall cup. The nozzle on frother is unusually short with a quick bend, less than 3" long, thus you cannot manipulate the milk your trying to steam very well. After your finally done frothing the milk, you have to "reset" the machine if you want to make another cup, its a quite messy purging process(actually before you even froth, you have to go through a mini purging). This step could be eliminated if they had a second boiler unit, which it should have for this kind of price.
Buying Experience
Williams Sonoma is great, they will take the machine back without any hazzle, better than buying online. I plan on taking it back.
Three Month Followup
I'll stick to my original review, the directions are irratating really cryptic to European with those funny diagrams, the word flow is confusing. Secondly, you have to use these tablets to clean the machine often. I would not buy this machinge again, the most irratating thing is luke warm coffee, they say in the directions its made at the optimal temperature, but how come Starbucks is so Hot! BUY AMERICAN NEXT TIME.
