Restaurant espresso/cappuccino the easy way
Written: Jun 17 '00 (Updated Jun 26 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: easy to use, restaurant style results, quick clean-up
Cons: high price tag for the coffee novice
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| thebooge's Full Review: |
Originally, we owned a Salton steam-pressure espresso machine we bought at a garage sale for 4 dollars. After a year, we purchased a Krups pump-driven, counter-top espresso machine. This lasted through daily use for over 5 years, but finally gave up the goat. The next step has been the Saeco Magic Cappuccino Combi. Now there is no turning back.
After searching the internet and doing some independent research in Ottawa, the finalists were Rancilio, Gaggia, and Saeco. We decided on the Saeco brand for several reasons. One is the steel boiler. Most cheaper brands (and several expensive ones) use aluminum as the boiler material, which can suffer from degradation in performance as well as corrosion over time. While all three brands produce sufficient pressure for restaurant-style espresso (> 15 bars), the Saeco comes with the Gran Crema pressurized portafilter. This modification allows the machine to produce greater pressures when preparing the espresso and then releasing it from the portafilter once ready. As well, this modified portafilter lets less coffee drip out after making the espresso shot, making for less mess when transferring to the garbage. Finally, this Saeco machine possesses a combined coffee grinder within the unit. A hopper is filled with coffee on the top of the machine and automatically grinds and stores enough coffee for a single shot of espresso. Inserting the portafilter under the grinder automatically releases the coffee into the portafilter and a second shot is ground. The grinder is adjustable so that different grind levels can be selected (for personal preference or to adjust to different bean types). The unit also possesses a large water reservoir, an easy removable drip tray, a cup warmer on the top of the unit and a detachable cappuccinatore (attaches to the steam nozzle and automatically draws milk out of a cold container and dispenses steamed/foamed milk).
The machine possesses several switches. A main power switch, a switch for starting the coffee brewing and a switch for starting steam production are located on the front. As well, the grinder can be turned off with a separate switch so that a ground coffee is not left inside the machine between use (to prevent it from going stale). All switches are lit, so it is easy to tell if a switch is on or off. A knob is also on the right hand side of the machine to turn on/off steam or hot water production.
Using the machine is dead easy. After switching the machine on from cold, it heats up in less than a minute. A shot of ground coffee is obtained by inserting the portafilter under the grinder and removing (this can be done again if a double shot is required). The portafilter is placed onto the filter holder and a rocker-switch is flicked allowing the pressure to build and the espresso brewed. The switch is turned off once enough espresso has been brewed. From this point, milk can be steamed by turning on the steam switch, opening the knob to allow the steam to escape from the panarello and then closing the knob once finished. The machine is ready to make a second cup of espresso very quickly after the first, allowing several espresso shots to be made back to back with minimal cooling.
After several years of putting up with substandard espresso/cappuccino from our Krups machine, our problems are over. The Saeco produces delicious espresso with plenty of good, thick crema. I would definitely recommend this machine and give it five stars. The only problem is the relatively large price tag may dissuade the novice coffee drinker. Personally, after waiting over 6 years for good espresso at home and due to my satisfaction with the Saeco Magic Cappuccino Combi, I think it was well worth it.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
thebooge
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Reviews written: 11
Trusted by: 1 member
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