This review is for a Saeco Super Idea that I happen to own. This is an older Saeco model that is not well covered on the Web, so this review is for someone who is undecided whether it makes a good used buy. Well it does.
Overall, the Idea line was the most basic and the cheapest in the Saeco lineup. As you know, everything gets worse all the time, so by now it's far better then their cheapest Via Veneto (Melitta something)
It comes with a usual Saeco pressurized portafilter, so you know what to expect. It has a stainless steel boiler with the single screw on the underside, as opposed to the the aluminium boiler with three screws on the Veneto It has a great easy-to-use removable water reservoir with a floating level and a valve on the underside, as opposed to the stupid contraption with water pipes on the Veneto. It has nice industrial-feeling switches and lights, Gaggia-Classic style, as opposed to awful pushbuttons on the Veneto It has a great driptray, holds close a liter, easy to take out and clean I took it apart, it has that Ulka-something E5 with brass, not plastic fittings. Brass pipes everywhere. It's a shame it does not have any type of adjustable OPV. Pump runs a bit too high because of the PPF
Other than that, it's a typical Saeco and makes decent coffee on a budget. Steam is not great but you know how to trick it - start steaming when the lamp is still not on "ready", i.e. heat ON
Buying Experience
private sale from a newspaper ad
Three Month Followup
Working fine. The portafilter got dirty inside, so I removed all the plastic parts as described elswhere. Easy, reversible mod. Coffee tastes better and has real crema now, not artificial stuff. Saeco FTW!
