Fantastic espresso from a beautiful, quirky machine that makes you learn on the fly.
Positive Product Points
This is a gorgeous machine. My children call it my Willy Wonka machine. It is solid, well-built and makes me smile when I walk into the kitchen. The learning curve is steep but once you work it out, the espresso is wonderful I have learned an enormous amount about espresso as a result of working with this machine.
Negative Product Points
You must be willing to invest time and energy to perfect your pulls. Took me a couple fo month to get it down. I can only pull 2-3 shots before I need to turn it off to let it cool off. Shots run on the small side (1-1.5 oz; never see a 2-2.5 oz shot).
Detailed Commentary
This unit is a labor of love but so rewarding in the end. Aesthetically it is a wonderful addition to any kitchen. Unlike any appliance I have. There is immense satisfaction that comes from mastering it and the end result - the espresso - is just delicious. You cannot expect to buy this and immediately pull good shots. I tossed plenty before I figured it out. Also, it will make you fully appreciate the importance of your beans and grinder. Bad beans or subpar grinder = bad espresso. For the physical fitness buffs out there, you can manually grind your beans, give a hard pull on your LP and then get an immediate energy shot to start your day. What could be better?
