Easy to use, easy to set up. It heats up from cold in less than a minute and it‘s about 30 seconds from hot water to steam. The machine is smart enough to tell you it‘s low on water before it will run out while making something.
Negative Product Points
The manual could be a bit clearer. It took me several passes to understand what all the features were and how they were used.
Detailed Commentary
I had a manual espresso machine (Krups Semi Commercial) that I had programmed myself to use at oh-dark-thirty to crank out an Americano. It took me a while to find a technique for producing good frothed milk for cappucinos &c.
Now, I just turn it on in the morning and when the temp light comes on in a minute, one button gets me my first cup. What a luxury! I just had the family over for Thanksgiving, we went through 2lbs. of coffee, and everyone wants one of these.
Other reviews have complained about the amount of steam available, but I have had no such problems. My wife doesn‘t drink coffee, but I often make steamed milk for her. Also, the cup heater works for me, if it has about 5 minutes to operate. If it doesn‘t work right, they should get it fixed.
Tip: you can get back to hot water temp from steam temp quickly by dispensing some water from the wand after turning off the steam switch. It will cool down in just 5 seconds or so.
Look for the automatic milk frother that Saeco makes. It‘s great! It makes very stiff froth immediately, with no technique required. Dip the tube into a pitcher of milk and it sucks it up and produces a stream of frothed milk to your cup. It takes me back to the cafes in Austria and Italy.
