If you love espresso, you live for it, you like to please your eyes, and you can afford it (even if you first think you can't), you must buy this machine.
Positive Product Points
Opposed to many critics, we find this machine easy to use. Tea makes consistently good coffee, coming closest to Italian bar coffee. (Coffee beans have to be right)
Negative Product Points
Lack of water level indication.
Detailed Commentary
The look is the nicest, real Italian design pleasing the eyes, decorating the kitchen, inviting everyone for espresso. Even people who can not spell espresso want one. Chris' price is very good for the type of machine. In Europe, the price is almost twice higher. It is nice to have the gauges to adjust for best coffee and check for consistent quality. For home use the water tank is big enough;- it is not good to have old water for coffee (over 3 days). For semi-professional use water connection is the right way to go. As everything, this machine is a compromise: - it is relatively costly to make the first coffee (in terms of energy costs), since the relatively big boiler, and othe copper parts have to heat up. But, the quality of coffee compensates for this by far. It is much easier to use this machine than $400-500 price range ones for similar results. With cheaper machines it is much harder to make good quality espresso, not to speak about consistency. We are very pleased with this new acquisition!
Buying Experience
Chris' service was excellent so far: packaging was adequate, - nothing bent or damaged; the user guide and Chris' instructions are satisfactory (with espresso machine experience); the delivery was on time; everything as promised. This kind of buying experience is not very common today. Thanks!
