12.1.2020

I enjoy a decent espresso but it’s not always easy to find one and, at home, I haven’t had great results in the past. I used to own a Gaggia bean to cup machine a few years back but it didn’t work well for me as the coffees it produced just weren’t very nice.... I think some of the issues are because you can never clean everything in a bean to cup quite as well as you’d like and so after a while there is a hint of damp ashtray to the coffee.... Cleaning aside, I now realise that many of the problems I had with that machine could have been solved if I’d known what I was doing as below. Buying this machine has forced me to educate myself and I’m now getting excellent results that I’m very happywith.This is my first attempt at a manual machine - if you’re reading this and your need is a machine that makes you a coffee at a button click then this machine is absolutely not for you. Personally, I wanted manual and I knew it was ‘manual with an integrated grinder’. Hiwever, when I first got it, I was convinced it must be faulty. The instructions explain how to grind, tamp and extract the coffee. There is a razor tool that comes with it to help you get the coffee puck level and the correct size. It is then trial and error..... you grind the beans into the basket, do all the right things as per the instructions and then push the button. There is a gauge to show when you’ve hit proper pressure and, if the gauge doesn’t reach that ‘espresso zone’ then the coffee will run through the machine really quickly and probably be awful. So you adjust the grinder and try again. And again. And again. My problem was that, even at the finest grind setting and tamping like a power lifter, the machine just wouldn’t come up to pressure, the coffee ran through too quick and the results were bad. My default thought was that it still wasn’t grinding fine enough or ‘something else was wrong’ but, watching videos, everyone stressed the importance of fresh coffee. Me, being an entirely green newcomer to this world, thought that stale coffee would just taste a bit off. What I did not realise was that:-1. Stale coffee means that no matter how fine you grind it or how hard you tamp it, you won’t get up to espresso pressure and the results will be disappointing2. Coffee goes stale really, really quickly. You are unlikely to find anything in a typical supermarket that is fresh enough. To work well for espresso it seems you need coffee that has been roasted within the last few weeks.....I had been using Lavazza beans and believed that, being a well known Italian espresso brand, they’d be fine. No. They’re not. I ordered a bag of the Spiller and Tait from Amazon and the difference is staggering. The grinder needed to be made a fair bit more course otherwise it goes over pressure.Queue further advice from a friend and more videos (there are loads out there on this machine). I bought some scales that weigh to 2 d.p. and now I know that 18g of coffee that is tamped level makes an excellent Espresso. I have never really got on with Americano (prefer filter / cafetière) but, out of this thing, it’s actually lovely. Just a double espresso and then turn the hot water switch. It puts in the perfect amount of hot water then shuts off. Steaming milk takes a bit of practice but I have now made decent latte and excellent cappuccino.Practicality? It comes with a single water filter that lasts 3 months and it’s apparently changed design fairly recently. Replacements are 3 monthly and expensive. Internet wisdom seems to suggest you can use the machine without one and simply use filtered water which would likely work out far cheaper. There are also cleaning tablets but these aren’t too bad.So overall a great machine. However, expect a learning curve if you haven’t done this before and you’ll need to invest more money on coffee than you are used to if your usual coffee is supermarket. My Lavazza always came in a big bag from Costco at around £9 for a kilo. Typical online prices (there are tons of different roasters out there to try) are typically double that or worse. If you’re not willing or able to throw that much extra cash at the running costs this machine is unlikely to make you happy. It does come with pressurised baskets (if you’re not familiar, these try and help with supermarket pre ground coffee by artificially pressurising things when the coffee itself isn’t fresh enough to do so) which might help you but, for best results, a pair of scales, fresh coffee and patience is needed. Once you’re there it is well worth it in my opinion.

13.10.2019

I've had this machine for a few months now and thought I'd write a review of my findings.I think the first thing to note is that if you're just after a quick and easy, decent cup of coffee as part of your morning routine, this might not be the machine for you - it takes a bit of effort - so maybe a fully automated bean to cup machine is better for you. However if you want the option to get the very best you can from your coffee, then this machine is a great way to go. You'll need to treat the purchase as a little hobby.The machine comes with 4 baskets that you dose the ground coffee into:2 "dual wall" baskets, one for a single espresso, the other for the double espresso2 "single wall" baskets,again in single and double size.The dual wall baskets are designed to be more fuss-free, in that your technique and your grind don't have to be perfect, the baskets compensate slightly. You can even use pre-ground coffee in these baskets. These will give you a decent result. They're also the recommended to use these baskets if you want to use normal beans from a supermarket, or Amazon - this is because typically they will have been roasted several weeks or months ago and don't have much oil left in them - so these dual wall baskets help to compensate slightly and improve the crema you'll get.But if you want to move up to an even better experience you need to use the single wall baskets and purchase some freshly roasted beans.To use the machine you grind some beans into the portafilter (with your chosen basket in it), then you need to press the ground coffee down, this is called tamping. Then put the portafilter into the machine and choose the single or double dose of water by pressing the appropriate button.Finding the right grind setting and tamping pressure takes a bit of practice, so be prepared to waste quite a few beans. Each time you switch to a new bean type, you'll need to repeat this process.I would highly recommend watching some videos on YouTube as to how to do all of this.My wife drinks caffeinated and I drink decaf, so we also purchased a separate grinder for my beans.Having been very disappointed with some shop-bought decaf I decided to purchase freshly roasted beans and move up to the single wall baskets. I found a massive improvement in taste and am now really enjoying my coffee. My wife was happy with the decent shop-bought beans but is also much happier with the freshly roasted beans.One thing I found very surprising is that when you're using the single wall baskets, switching between single and double espressos is not straightforward - the grind size and tamp pressure are different, so you can't easily switch over. We've now settled on single espressos, but if ever I need a double espresso I can just do it twice, or I could use the dual-wall basket, so I don't have to change the grind size.We tend to make flat white coffees each day, and hence we've been slowly perfecting our milk frothing technique, which is a great learning experience. Again there are lots of videos on YouTube on how to do this.I would recommend having a small container into which you can run the steam wand for a few seconds, to purge the wand of water i.e. run it until you get a good flow of steam.The supplied milk jug is great as it has the temperature marker on the side.The machine requires a bit of daily maintenance, such as cleaning up the left-over coffee after you've ejected the coffee puck, cleaning the portafilter head by flushing a bit of water through it, wiping down the steam wand, re-filling the water tank and emptying out the drip tray.I typically top-up the water tank each day but you could go for about 3 days of making 2 coffee's a day before needing to refill it. The drip tray has to be emptied about twice a week.After about 3 months of owning the machine it asked for me to 'clean' it. This involved putting in a special rubber disk and tablet (they supply the disk and 2 tablets) and running a cleaning program. So make sure you buy some spare tablets.The instructions don't tell you which way up to insert the rubber disk, but I believe you should do it with the rectangular lump facing up, as this is how you can grab the disk when you need to remove it later.So whilst this machine is nowhere near as simple and convenient as an automatic bean to cup machine, I think you can get a better coffee and in the process, take pride in perfecting your coffee each day, as you're fully in control.

5.4.2019

This isn't a one push button instant coffee machine. If that's what you're looking for, click away now.This coffee machine does most of the hard work for you. It will allow you to pour a bag of freshly roasted beans into the grinder and have it dispensed into a cup within a few minutes. There is some manual attention to detail required for best results. This can make awful coffee. This can also make some fabulous coffee. I'm not here to tell you the exact answer, because it's something you will learn through using it. I'm here to tell you that it's entirely possible to learn how to make great coffee within just a few weeks of using it and what I personally discovered.So, what did I learn?1.

19.5.2020

I am a coffee addict! If Coffee Anonymous existed, I'd be a member! :)I had a filter machine with a little espresso one-cup part, and could never be bothered filling up the system for one cup.This bad boy! Oh wow! Fill it up in the morning with 2l of clean fresh water, and 1.75l later, which is a LOT of cups of coffee, fill up again. There's a water filter built in, but I live in Birmingham, UK and we get lovely Welsh water (thank Wales!) which is very soft and doesn't really need filtering (IMO).It comes with 2 sets of filter baskets. 1 set for ground coffee and newbies. If you use these baskets with the Dual Wall, you'll almost always get a nice espresso with a good crema, but it can seem a little aerated.

17.1.2019

I say to record the batch code before you set the machine up as its on the bottom of the machine and its very very hard to read. This is for Registration Purposes.I have to admit, this machine is great. The stainless steel version looks so classic in my opinion and ties in well with our kitchen. Now if your new to making espresso`s, lattes, cappuccino`s etc on this machine, you will think that its lukewarm and that might be because your obsessed with keeping it clean or trying too hard to get it right first time and so on “i.e. latte art” as you might have seen a few videos online prior to getting the machine. This happened to me when I got my first Bean to cup machine years ago.The Sage model also heats the milk faster as well.

28.4.2019

First off, Delonghi Magnifica ESAM 4000.b for last 5 years. It served me well but was annoying to clean, too hands off for my liking and the steam wand is useless for texturing milk for latte art.This machine is everything I thought it was going to be and more. My milk texturing is already 10 fold better. Whilst it does take a bit of time to dial in grind settings, tamping and shot length etc the results are well worth it.Now disclosure, I have only had this for 3 days so this is in no means a full review of life with the Barista Express. Cleaning is easy but it does need careful care and attention. I found the instructions decent but I'm not sure how much I trust the guage for dialing in my shot.

26.4.2020

A bean to cup machine which requires you manually froth and add your own milk to your coffee.The machine is not a one touch wonder, you need to grind the beans and then when your “portafilter” is full move it along to make the coffee, finally when you have your espresso you move it on to the next position on the machine to add hot water for your americano or the steamer to create warm frothy milk.Everything you need is included in the box and even a first time coffee maker can achieve a cup of decent coffee easily, the grinder has several options to allow you to choose the grind you want for your cup ( this really does make a difference with finer grinds giving a strong taste)

1.1.2020

This was my first REAL espresso machine and after 2 months of scouring the internet, Reading reviews and taking advice from dozens of friends who have had various other machines including. I decided to take the punt, and buy it my girlfriend as a present.(She could be the guinea pig).Note.It’s super simple to use. Has very Clear instructions and makes incredible coffee.Water filling is a sinch. And it looks fantastic.Easy to clean. Has a spill tray that catches the stray drops well.I would make sure you have place near by to dispense of the spent coffee after making each couple of cups.The grinding of the coffee beans is super easy but you need to practice to get the right grind.

21.6.2019

Firstly, we got this to replace a Nespresso that had given years of great service. Prior to the Nespresso we had a Gaggia espresso and thought we'd go back to a 'proper' coffee machine. The missus wanted a bean to cup but I just cannot warrant spending over a grand on a machine to make coffee so we compromised on this one.So, on to the review of the machine itself. It's quite a big old unit but very stylish so looks good on the work surface.Making coffee is dead easy, you push the portafilter into the grinder part, it automatically grinds and dispenses the coffee, you tamp the coffee donw,, screw the portafilter into the group head, press the button and out comes the coffee.

23.11.2018

There are a multitude of machines out there, and after many years of pod use, the time had come to step my coffee making up a gear. This machine is the one for you if you want to have some control over the making of the coffee - it isn't a bean to cup type and you will need to get to grips with it. And that's part of the fun surely.Other reviewers have gone through the basics so I won't repeat. Things that I have noticed that might be useful however:1. This machine uses a lot of water. Somewhat amazing how much it gets through - if you want to take things seriously and get a Brita water jug (as recommended) then you need to consider the additional costs there.

16.5.2020

I purchased this coffee machine from another store, however it really is an impressive machine.It comes with a cleaning kit, milk jug, filter, 4 x filter baskets (2 for pre-ground and 2 for coffee you have just ground), a tamper, and The Razor, to skim over your coffee to ensure it has the right amount of coffee.You can alter the settings from coarse to fine ground to strengthen the flavour of the coffee and edit the grind time to ensure you have the required amount of coffee for your chosen drink, increase and decrease the temperature of the espresso shot, and the drip tray informs you when it needs emptying as when it gets full,

29.4.2019

Upgraded to this machine and once I'd got the hang of things - wow, what a difference. Suddenly my coffee at home is on a par with my favourite local coffee shop. Getting things right can require some patience, and definately some practice. Results can vary with the beans (type, age) so it's not like you can get it dialed in and just leave it unless you're using the same beans all the time (and where's the fun in that?).From turning it on to sitting down with your drink is also very quick indeed.Couple of points to be aware of that makes it a four, rather than five star:1. The milk frothing jug is ace, but it's too small. It's possible to get enough for two small cappuccinos out of it,

2.12.2019

I've used many coffee machines over the years, both as a professional barista and at home. I started with a De' Longhi in 2006 (failed after 2 years use), a top of the range Villaware (which blew an internal pipe after 4 months use) and then finally, in 2014, my first Sage Barista Express. The latter was a dream and for me, made the very best coffee I had sampled anywhere. Sadly, just over 5 years later, it ceased to function. I now realise - due to living in a very hard water area- I needed to be cleaning and descaling these machines on a much more regular basis, so hard water consumers be warned; de-scale, de-scale, de-scale! I didn't have the budget to replace my Sage at the time,

6.12.2018

Love this machine. It’s a bit of an art getting it right, with everything being manual, but once you get it right, the coffee is epic. Very satisfying to use and j. A different league to the mainstream pod machines.I use a relatively cheap but good bean from Grindhouse which suits my taste, and suits the machine. (Different beans mean tweaks to the settings). Like Adam (aug 18), I trot out 3 or 4 doubles daily, and also steam milk for flat whites. I rarely go to high street coffee shops anymore as frankly their coffee no longer stands up to what this machine is capable of producing.Had the machine for a year now, and also like Adam, the O-ring seal just appeared one morning lying on the drip tray.

13.7.2019

Had this machine for 2 months now and we could not be more pleased. Was recommended by a professional barista for my son as a machine to train on while he is learning to be a barista. It looks beautiful and the stainless steel is easy to clean. Everything is well thought out and considered. The machine is professional quality and has an integrated PID (temperature control) which is not always found on professional machines. The water tank is ample for our household use and the water heater start up time is very quick. Warning: This is not a ‘plug and play’ machine - if you want to press a button and get your coffee then this is not the machine for you. However,

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