Unless you're a serious coffee geek this should be enough machine for you.
Positive Product Points
Does everything you need a basic home enthusiast espresso machine to do. It's not for the aficionado, but for those who want to bring a true espresso or cappuccino experience into their home environment, with enough oomph to serve coffee drinks for a small dinner party, it's perfect.
Negative Product Points
There's a bit of plastic in the machine that could over time fail (tank, platform and drawer under brewing head). But in four-plus years at our home it's been fine.
Detailed Commentary
I found this on sale at Starbucks in 2007 and couldn't resist. At about $250 it was a steal. I like that it is easy to use, clean and looks good on the counter. The quality of the drink you can make is as good as at most coffee houses, but i remain amazed at what a true Barista can do. Anyway, the machine holds up well, can go for a couple of months between uses without much startup issue (remember to prime it), and has been very reliable. And it impresses friends when you can make them a real cappuccino at home.
