You can wrangle decent espresso out of it if you're creative, but otherwise, just get a better machine.
Positive Product Points
Super cheap for what you get. Very easy to use.
Negative Product Points
Tiny filter basket - only 46mm. Amost impossible to find a tamper that size. The boiler is also really small and temp stability is spotty
Detailed Commentary
I got this machine 3 years ago when I just started getting interested in espresso. Recently moving from a $150 machine/grinder setup to a $1500 machine/gridner setup, I can look back and say I was glad to have bought the Bar 140. Despite its weaknesses, it's a good intro to home espresso making if you're not sure if it's your bag and you don't want to spend much money.
The first thing you must know is that when it says it's hot - wait another 20 minutes. Your shot will thank you. Also try and find a good stainless steel tamper that fits. Here's how you make a REAL shot. First you fill up the basket with grounds. level, then tamp with 30lbs of pressure. Then top it off with more ground coffee. Level, and tamp again, then finally give it one more topping off, level, and tamp. This series of topping up and retamping is the ONLY way you can get the proper 15 grams of coffee into the tiny filter basket. Top the basket with the little ruber thing that makes up for the lack of dispersion screen, lock and load (this is NOT one of those phony crema enhancers, it's just making up for the fact that instead of a dispersion screen in the group head, there's just a jet of water). Then open the steam wand and turn on the pump. This is to bleed off the boiler since by this time it's too hot. As soon as the ready light goes off, close the steam knob and then about a second after that, stop the pump (this somewhat preinfuses the puck). Then as soon as the ready light comes on, turn on the pump and you've got espresso.
This may seem like a lot of jimmying to get your shot, but it's the only way to squeeze the potential out of the machine. For less than 100 bucks though, (mine's still working after 3 solid years - that's pretty good considering all the plastic) it's worth it. That being said, if you can afford it, and you know for sure you want to get into espresso, get a better machine.
Buying Experience
Bought it from Overstock.com as a refurb. Not much to say. Enter credit card number, and the machine magically shows up at your door a few days later.
