Crema Master

Author's Rating:

Pros: Great coffee Impressive looks Solid Build

Cons: Cheap basket clip Leaves old coffee as mud in basket

The Bottom Line: 
Great Espresso at home , perfect for the addict

Author's Review
I got the Black ESP6 version of this machine over a year ago , and it has been making great cups of coffee since.

It sits in the kitchen next to the sink , and friends always seem to be dropping in to sample it's delights.

It is at it's best making single cups , and a production run can be a chore as the used coffee has to be rinsed out of the basket . The crema enhancing restrictor stops the pellet from drying out , and leaves the used coffee as mud in the basket that needs to be rinsed rather than knocked out .

The Frother attachment works as it should , and generates ample steam to froth all the milk types I have tried.

After using it for a while I can now knock out a coffee in 3 minutes from go to whoa , and then have the cleaning down to 1 minute.

there is a little clip to hold the basket in that dropped off after a month , but I find it easier with it missing.

the build quality is fantastic , with solid construction , and metal panels , unlike the new cheap plastic BES200 model.

It uses the thermoblock system , which means it warms up very quickly . the purists may decry it , and sing the virtues of a boiler , but the good selection of thermostat temperatures means a great aromatic extraction , with a nice head of crema ( Coffee froth ) .

If it broke tomorrow , I'd go straight out and get the same model.