Pros: Makes reasonable espresso, especially for the price. Compact design.
Cons: Compact design cramps frother. Doesn't finish with rich "crema" like a pump-driven machine.
The Bottom Line: Highly recommended for home or other personal use. High-brow consumers might be happier with a pump-driven machine (at a much higher price).
pilotpat's Full Review: Krups Bravo 871-42 Espresso Machine
I'm a coffee addict - I've got a Melita grind 'n brew that starts every morning with a pot of fresh-ground joe to down before my commute to work each morning, and this little gem (received as a birthday gift) in my office to keep my eyes open during the day. I love 'em both.
OUT OF THE BOX
After unwrapping my gift (and saying some heartfelt "oohs" and "ahhs"), I took inventory of what's inside. The base unit (with a tasteful black plastic finish somewhat marred by the huge red-and-white instruction label for the "perfect froth" attachment), a 4-cup pot with handle and cover, the filter holder, a metal filter, a steam-only insert for the filter holder, plastic two-cup separator attachment, directions, and a combination measuring cup-coffee tamper-froth nozzle wrench.
SETUP
Pretty easy and self-explanatory (though I read the instructions like a good little boy). Remove the packing, fill the resevoir with water, put the filter holder in place, put the pot underneath, and run some clean water through it to evacuate any nasties that have accumulated during shipping.
OPERATION
Now on to the first cup of espresso, OK... 4 cups of espresso (note, all subsequent tests were accomplished within an hour, and all test materials consumed by the author - ever seen "Java man" from Saturday Night Live?). Says to let the machine cool down for 15 minutes... one, two, three... OK, that's long enough. Fill the tank again. Screw the top back on. Fill the filter to the 4-cup mark with espresso-ground/roasted coffee. Install the filter housing. Put my coffee cup underneath. Turn the switch on and wait. The Instructions say it takes about 4 minutes. Two minutes later, and all types of steam is shooting out the top of my machine. Oh... the instructions also say to "tighten the cap securely" - I grab a dish towel to shield my hands and finish the job. A couple minutes later, true to the instructions, I've got 4 cups of espresso ready to go. 10 minutes later, I'm ready to try cappuccino.
CAPPUCCINO
For cappuccino, I decide to take it easier - only 2 shots. I notice that the combo measuring spoon-tamper-wrench doesn't work as well when you're not filling the coffee filter all the way. I replace all the elements and this time tighten the cap securely. Turn it on, and in a few minutes, the espresso is dripping into the cup again. As it approaches the 1-cup mark, I start to froth the milk. This works pretty well, but the frother is positioned too close to the housing, making it hard to move the frothing pitcher around and avoid burning the milk. But, in a few minutes, I've got some pretty nice froth and the aluminum frothing pitcher is hot to the touch - a good sign. I let the coffee finish, and soon I've got a rich cup of cappuccino in my hands. Pretty nice.
HOT CHOCOLATE
Oh, yeah, baby! Easy as pie. You just put the steam-only adaptor (basically a plate that replaces the filter in the filter housing) in, put a cup of water in the basin, and turn it on. A couple minutes later, you're ready to start frothing. Just mix some chocolate syrup into the milk, and froth away. If you run the nozzle deeper instead of just on the surface, it heats the milk a bit quicker. Mmm...
CLEANUP
Cleanup is very easy. Dump the chunk of spent grinds into the trash and wipe the filter housing clean, then wipe the drips up from the machine itself. The froth attachment disassembles easily, and a fine needle is all you need to completely clean the tubing. I recommend you do this immediately after using the frother, as the milk becomes more difficult to clean off after it cools.
OVERALL
Super for the price. You don't get the really nice "crema" on the top of your espresso like you would in an expensive pump-driven machine, but I've never been able to notice that it tastes any different.
SHAMELESS LINK
If price is no object see my review of Marcello, the ultimate source for cappuccinos and espressos.
Ideal for specialty drinks Lightweight construction 10-1/2 by 9 inches Attachment for brewing into one or two cups One-year warranty, Weight: 3.2 lbs....More at Amazon Marketplace
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