Steam wand stopped working on second unit, so can no longer descale the machine
Espresso is somewhat "thin" on certain settings
Noisy grinder, though less so with the second unit I purchased
Detailed Commentary
I have owned two of these, one as a replacement after the first one fell off a shelf. They were my first super automatic machines, and did what they were advertised to do--make decent espresso and espresso drinks from beans with little fuss. The brewing controls are easy to understand, and the second machine was very fast to warm up and produce espresso. The second machine also was also a bit quieter when grinding.
The quality of the espresso is best when the volume is set low. Steaming worked well on both machines. I descaled them regularly, but the second machine stopped producing steam after a little more than a year (outside the warranty period). But we've continued to enjoy the coffee. The brew unit is very easy to remove and clean, and I like that it can be replaced rather than having to repair or replace the whole machine.
Both units have leaked water, which drips slowly but steadily from below the units. I pinned this down to accumulations of coffee grounds below the brew group, and even regular cleaning and dumping of the drip tray doesn't avoid the problem. It's not a big hassle, but annoying.
Buying Experience
i really like this company. They offered a very good price and fast service, then stayed in touch in a gentle, non-pushy way. They have a very fair initial return policy. I'll buy from them again
