The Spidem Super Automatics (Other) has been rated 8.20 overall by our member reviewers
This product has been in our review database since February 2, 2002.
Spidem Super Automatics (Other) reviews have been viewed 8,836 times (updated hourly).
Ratings and Stats
Overall Rating: 8.2
Product Reviewed:
Spidem Trevi
Manufacturer:
Saeco, others
Quality:
7
Average Price:
Varies
Usability:
9
Price Paid:
$375.00
Cost vs. Value
9
Where Bought:
ebay
Aesthetics
7
Owned for:
1 month
Overall
9
Writer's Expertise:
Professional
Would Buy Again:
Yes
Similar Items Owned:
DeLonghi Bar14
Bottom Line:
Excellent value for money. Very nice coffee. This is the best thing I've bought for the kitchen in years. Highly recommended for all except serious efficionados who like the ritual. Check ebay for good prices.
Positive Product Points
Automatic - coffee in a hurry Little mess Good shots Adjustable water and coffee quantities Efficient and adjustable grinder Brew group easily cleaned Excellent value
Negative Product Points
Plastic cover not as good as metal Have to be certain when pressing buttons and turning knobs as they have some play No by-pass option with grinder, so cannot change bean type on the fly as a one off Cannot pull a blank shot for cleaning purposes Durability may be an issue for some, though I am careful so should be ok
Detailed Commentary
This model is identical to the Saeco Vienna De Luxe as Spidem has for some time been a subsidiary of Saeco. The Spidem badged version is less expensive than its Saeco brother. This is nearer £350 ($500) here in the UK even online. In specialist stores it is a lot more again. I got mine for a really good price from a German company via ebay and am very pleased with it.
The machine is easy to use, with little mess and produces, for me, very good espresso. Yes I know a decent manual machine like A Rancilio Silvia can do more, but who has the time? I want a quick coffee anytime, not to have to plan when I can find the time to make one and then have a massive clean-up. Don't get me wrong, a manual coffee ritual is great, but I need the option of a quick shot.
I have managed to re-create the fantasticly rich and nutty cafe con leche drinks served in the tiny village cafes deep in the Alpujarra Mountains of Spain using this machine, which is great as I have never had coffee drinks containing milk quite as nice as these, even in other parts of Spain, where the coffee is lovely but somehow has less body. The mountain people are serious about their coffee and have fuelled an addiction in me for what they serve.
This is a million times better than my old DeLonghi BAR14 manual machine, not just in convenience, but quality of the brewing as well.
Buying Experience
Bought from a German company via ebay. Quick service and an excellent price. Shipped to the UK in double quick time. http://www.internetshop-weiss.de/
Three Month Followup
I still love my Spidem. It is used on a daily basis - usually many times a day by several people and it produces consistant high quality shots that are way above anything available in coffee shops locally. We have settled on a brand of Columbian beans that produce a full flavoured but not bitter cup of coffee with a well rounded finish of nutty and chocolatey undertones.
We are into a routine whereby the entire machine is cleaned out every Friday. I think that goes a long way to ensuring maintenance free working and a high quality coffee drink.
The Spidem had its first decalcification clean a while back. Gaggia cleaner for aluminium boilers was used and seemed to do the job, though the process was quite long winded having to draw through a whole tank of water cup by cup at 20 minute intervals, followed by a tank full of plain water to rinse. I still think that is a small price to pay for the delicious coffee the machine makes.
The Spidem recently received some presents - a lovely new Italian stanless steel milk jug, because the old one is too small to handle the froth during humid weather, and a Brita water filter jug, so it solely deals with filtered water now.
All things considered, the Spdem has been a fantastic buy. It has paid for itself already and I hope we will get many years of service from it. This Spidem is the best thing to enter our kitchen for years! I'm off for a double .........
