Saeco Espresso Classico
Written: Jan 23 '02 (Updated May 30 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Solid, rugged construction; fast, huge water tank
Cons: Need more clearance between steam wand and table top
The Bottom Line: Excellent.
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| tombarnum's Full Review: Saeco Classico Espresso Machine |
I've owned this machine for five months now, using it twice a day on average, and I'm very happy with it.
Disclosure: this is my first and only espresso machine, so I have no point of comparison to other machines.
Also, I'm not super picky about my espresso. I enjoy most any coffeehouse espresso.
Like many first-time buyers, I started out hoping that I could get by with one of those $70 entry-level espresso makers from Target. After reading reviews on epinions and Amazon, I realized that these machines don't really make espresso, just strong coffee. After reviewing posts on various models, the Saeco line seemed to have the fewest posts from people unhappy with performance or reliability.
So far, so good. The machine has worked perfectly.
The unit is heavy and very sturdy, all metal on the outside. The top of the unit is flat and heats up when the unit is on. You can heat up espresso cups by placing them on the top of the unit. Not too helpful if you're just making a quick cup like I do, but could be handy if you're making a bunch of cups for company or family.
When you unpack it, the instructions make a big deal about priming the system. To prime, just turn it on and then open the steam valve for a few seconds until water comes out. Included is a manual plastic pump to help you if you have troubles, so I'm guessing that this has been a problem for a lot of people. However, I had no problem and was up and running right away, not needing the pump.
The quality of the espresso is excellent, nice crema and aroma, strong but not bitter. I always make doubles, and the unit has no problem making them. I can make a couple of doubles one right after the other and they come out great.
This unit includes the Saeco portafilter, which lets you make a decent espresso with any grind of coffee, and without perfectly tamping down the grounds first. I've made espresso with drip coffee and it comes out decent. (You'll probably want to make a smaller amount than you would with espresso grind, to keep it strong). I wouldn't do this all the time, but it's kind of nice in a pinch when you run out of espresso. Likewise, when using espresso, you don't have to perfectly tamp down the grounds to get a good result. Also kind of handy.
The water tank is huge, over two quarts. When I bought the unit, I thought this might be overkill, but now I realize what a convenience it is. You definitely go through a lot more water than you think you will, between brewing and steaming. It's really nice to not have to fill the water tank every few days. You can fill the water tank by taking off the top cover and pouring more water in, or you can remove the tank, which just pulls out from the top.
Overall, this is an excellent home unit and I'm very pleased with it.
USAGE
It takes only a couple of minutes to heat up the boilers after you turn it on.
You'll get a better espresso if the cup and the portafilter are heated. This is because there isn't much volume in an espresso, so cold implements are enough to bring the final product down to lukewarm. Since I usually only make one or two cups at a time, I don't want the whole affair to be complicated or time-consuming, so I've got the steps down to a fairly simple routine.
1- Steaming the milk
It's better to steam the milk before you make the espresso. I steam the milk in a regular coffee mug. This heats both the milk and the cup that I'll be putting the espresso into. This works fine, but there isn't enough clearance to remove the mug from the steamer wand. You have to tilt the unit back slightly remove it. An inconvenience, but you get used to it.
After you steam, you can go right to making the espresso with no wait. That's nice, as some units need a couple of minutes to switch from steaming to making espresso, which can be annoying if you're only making one or two cups.
2- Preheat the portafilter and the espresso cup
Attach the empty portafilter and put an espresso or small coffee cup underneath. Run the espresso maker, putting 1-2 ounces of hot water into the cup.
3- Make the espresso
Remove the portafilter and fill it with espresso grounds. Empty the hot water from the cup. Make the espresso. Pour the espresso into the cup with the steamed milk.
4- Clean up
Empty the portafilter. Put back onto the machine and run another 1-2 ounces of hot water to clean it. Remove portafilter and rinse under the tap.
I also occasionally run a Q-Tip around the lip where the portafilter attaches. I'm not sure if this is really necessary, but keeping it clean may help keep it running well.
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Update 5/30/02
I've had this now for over eight months, using it almost daily. Still working great. I see there are a couple of other unfavorable reviews complaining about unreliability. I'm not sure if I just got lucky and got a good one, or if the others just got unlucky. But mine's worked great.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tombarnum
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Location: Milwaukee, WI
Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 2 members
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