Saeco Aroma Espresso Machine

Pros: wakes me up
Cons: a lot of clean up

I got lucky about a year back and won a Saeco Aroma Espresso Machine from a contest put on by a local radio station. I would never pay the kind of money that this unit costs in stores just for a fancy coffee machine, I mean I checked up on it, and ...

Pros: very easy to work! low cost!
Cons: somewhat of a mess maker

Ok. I work at a coffee shop and i know how expensive a latte can be every morning on your way to work. So instead of paying $3 with my discount i went out and bought my own espresso machine at Bed Bath And Beyond. This machine works just like the 3000 ...

Pros: Great design, large water tank capacity, easy to use, delicious espresso.
Cons: Problems with milk frother attachment, portafilter gets clogged with fine grinds.

We bought this espresso machine after doing a fair bit of research and sifting through reviews. We didn't want to spend $1000 dollars for a machine that had features we knew we wouldn't use.Things we love about this espresso machine: It's very ...

Pros: Easy to use and makes great expressos, lattes, and cappuccinos in your own home.
Cons: An expessive way to get your morning coffee.

The Saeco Aroma Espresso Machine features easy to use controls, a powerful pump system with 15 bars of pressure, a pod adaptable pressurized portafilter, a stainless steel passive heat cup warmer, an 80-ounce removable water tank, large stainless steel ...

Pros: Pressurized portafilter makes excellent espresso with nearly any quality of coffee grind. Easy operation
Cons: Questionable reliability. Vibrations/ratting from normal operation noisy and interferes with water supply.

I purchased this unit through Costco with a limited-time discount. I had read relatively good reviews (elsewhere) so I figured that, for the money, I was making a relatively good decision. The unit came to me and immediately impressed me with its ...

Pros: Makes great espresso, at the right pressure and temp
Cons: Saeco service was a nightmare

I bought the Saeco from Amazon, using Amex points. I picked it after seeing Alton Brown recommend it as an effective, moderately priced espressomaker without too many useless bells and whistles. My machine worked beautifully for about 2 months, and ...

Pros: Made a great latte for about 6 months
Cons: Broke after 6 months. Mailing for repair was expensive, and repair didn't help.

Well, I was happy with this product for the six months it lasted. After I had used it not even once a day for six months, the steaming wand suddenly broke from its mooring inside the machine. I wrote to Saeco to request a repair order, and they referred ...

Pros: Solid construction stainless construction, ease of use.
Cons: None so far.

I read numerous reviews about many expresso makers at Epinions, and saw numerous accounts about the degree of difficulty others had making expressos and latte's. Special grinds, paying attention to pump times etc.

I selected this model after reading that it is easy to use, and you get a good result. I buy coffee at the store and expresso grind a week's supply at a time.

I turn the Main Switch on as soon as I walk into the kitchen every morning. Turn the pump on and open the steam knob to prime the pump. Load the porti-filter with a scoop of expresso grind. About a minute later I have a double shot. Steaming milk for latte and cappucino is as simple as flipping on the steamer switch, opening the steamer knob and placing in into a small pitcher of milk.

No problems creating froth, even with non-fat.

The results are excellent. Considering the price point of around $300 at COSTCO, I feel that I received an excellent value.

Pros: Classic look, easy to use, easy to clean, beautiful crema, great cup of espresso coffee.
Cons: None

I use The Saeco Aroma Espresso for espresso coffee only.  I’ve been drinking espresso daily almost all my life, (55 + years) and have used many different coffee makers.  I have a collection of stovetop pots from 1cup to 12 cup and one with a hotplate dating back to WW ll.  I have had many electric makers including the La Pavoni machine, but the Saeco Aroma is my favorite.   I like the classic look, it’s built solid, easy to clean when you get the daily routine down, and best of all you get a great cup of coffee every time.  Unlike the expensive La Pavoni which gives you nice crema sometimes, the Saeco Aroma gives you a picture perfect cup of espresso coffee every time.  So every day around noon, you will find my wife and I on the back patio with a bottle of Sambuca, two biscotts, and 2 great cups of espresso coffee on the table.

Pros: Construction/brew quality, ease of use, compact, economical, big resevoir
Cons: requires priming of the pump, not the most stylish

I've had my Aroma for about 3 months and am very happy with the speed, looks, construction quality and consistency of the brew. As with the prior review, I just flip it on in the a.m., prime the pump, and within minutes I have a perfect doppio with a beautiful crema.

This machine far exceeds the previous Krups I had, and is the just right size and at the right cost-point to make it perfect for the home user. I also got mine at COSTCO and found that was the best price out there. Plus, you have their unbeatable return policy if you're not satisfied with your purchase.

By the way, Alton Brown on his show Good Eats (food network) featured the Saeco Aroma as his "choice" for the home brewer, albeit the name was masked, it was easy to identify the machine with its 3 large toggle switches and large, clear resevoir in the back.

You won't be disappointed. Others may be fancier, have more buttons, be shinier, but simplicity trumps all.

Pros: Hmm. Hard to say.
Cons: Difficult to put in place and change the frother and the steamer.
Not a good filter.

I received a Saeco espresso/cappuccino maker as a present from my husband. The machine gave us trouble from the start. It is uncomfortable to keep changing the nozzle for steaming with the one for frothing. The coffee filter doesn´t allow the same amount of espresso to fill the two cups so we end up with one less full if we want to save the flavor.
In the end it happened. One wrong turn of the handle and I was left with half of the nozzle for the frother in my hand while the other half was still hanging from the machine. Now we can only drink Lattés. You only need steamed milk for that.

Pros: Easy to use, instructions are easy to follow and adequate.
Cons: None

I purchased an Aroma after watching the Alton Brown episode and am very happy with the product. This is my first machine except for the steam pressurized Krups that I have had forever. I have had good success with the pressurized portafilter, which eliminates the need for a precise grind, but I did purchase a non-pressurized one to play around with after I get my Gaggia MDF burr grinder and Intellengesia Black Cat beans.

A helpful hint: When you get ready to froth, hold a cup under the steam wand and open the valve to allow residual water in the system to run through. Then shut the valve, remove the cup, pour out the water and froth the milk.

Pros: Excellent espresso
Cons: None

My first espresso machine was a Gaggia basic (less than $200) which died after 2 years of daily use. I replaced it with the Saeco Aroma (stainless version, $300 at Costco) which I highly recommend. It outperforms the Gaggia in every respect: excellent brew with good crema and froths the milk quickly and easily; it's also a bit smaller and the stainless steel version looks good on the counter. After using the steam wand, make sure to prime the pump for the next cup. Once I got the hang of this, it works flawlessly. It's been 4 months and I'm still very happy with this purchase.

Pros: really no pros that I can find with over $200 for a machine
Cons: The directions are horrible. Not a good enough cup of coffee for $200 dollars.

I received this for a Christmas present. I used it once and the little piec'o'crapo aka Panarello attachment will not stay connected to the metal wand for the frothing attachment. Now that it does not work I cannot find anyone to help. Oh, I can find a lot of them for sale on the internet and everywhere else. But, NO HELP. I will NEVER buy another thing from Saeco or their parent company if there is one. I will find out. Thanks for wasting my family's money SAECO, that was a great Christmas gift to give them!

Pros: Excellent espresso
Cons: Broke after 30 days of normal usage (1 coffee/day).  Terrible customer support.

I  loved this machine until the milk frother decided to quit.  Steam would come out for 2 or 3 seconds than run out.  I primed, talk to customer support, etc...Finally they told me to return it for repairs, shipping at my own cost AND it takes up to 8 weeks to get the machine back!

This is ABYSMAL customer support from Saeco...Run away while you can!