Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker
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Our Price: $324.97 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $199.00 (click here) Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker
Customer Review: Great item, if used correctly
Summary: 4 Stars
I've had my Breville Cafe Roma for almost 2 years now, and I can say with confidence that I am satisfied with my purchase. I do have one large caveat to this machine, and honestly, almost any espresso machine out there you would buy: You are buying an espresso machine, NOT a coffee shop. A Barista is NOT included in this purchase. I know this sounds obvious, but it's a necessary preface to my review.
The machine makes both excellent espresso and frothed milk, as good as most local coffee shops, better than most chains, if you use it correctly. I can only write this review after using this machine for 2 years, because that's almost as long as it took to really adjust all the right parameters to get every aspect of the machine just right. I'll start by saying that ingredients are almost more important than the machine itself. I've been a Barista for 3 different coffee shops and worked with many different machines, brands, etc; the difference in taste starts with the ingredients. You need to buy good whole bean espresso and grind it yourself either the day of or the day before with a consistent burr grinder (important) to get a consistent quality espresso. You also need good quality flavoring for lattes (Routin, Monin), as well as a good frothing technique to get the milk right. I'll say that after using this machine for a while, how fine your coffee is ground is as important as what quality of coffee you get. There are good instructions in the manual as to how to achieve this, but even for an experienced Barista, this was difficult. Also, it needs to be well maintained. You need to rinse the porta-filter with water regularly, use a cleaning agent like cafiza about once a month, and descale about twice a year, otherwise the machine will go bad eventually. Filtered tap water helps as well.
As far as the performance of the machine, it's been great. I'm a perfectionist and I've been trying to grind the grounds too fine to get a good brew, and I popped the steam o-ring, but it can be easily replaced. Otherwise, it works well. It requires a lot of maintenance, more than I would prefer, but it makes a good brew, and if you can put the time and effort into it, it's a good purchase.
Beware of reviews who gave this product or 1-2 star rating and complained about it's pressure or it's malfunctioning. I guarantee most have used the machine improperly.
Customer Review: This is a Great Little Machine!
Summary: 5 Stars
I read a lot of reviews and checked a lot of machines and prices before I selected the ESP8XL. I read both good and bad reviews on this machine and was torn between purchase or passing on to another machine. However, given that the place I bought it had a liberal return policy, I decided to take the chance. I am now glad I did. Based upon my research, I don't believe there is a better machine in this price range. Also, I would compare the espresso made with this machine with that of the most expensive you can buy. My experience is based on having used the ESP8XL almost daily for about a month. I have not had any of the bad experiences reported in other reviews. I have not produced inconsistent cup of espresso nor have I had a single incident of clogging.
This may have as much to do with my care in making espresso as in the machine itself. I think that everyone would have to admit that this machine makes a good cup of espresso. But why am I not experiencing the problems that others have reported here?
Well, for one thing this is not my first espresso machine. It is my third. I have had my own espresso machines since the late eighties and have learned a few things in their care and use. I start with a premium espresso bean. Remember the flavor is only going to be as good as the bean you use. Secondly, I use a burr grinder set on espresso grind for my coffee beans. Even before I purchased this espresso machine, I had purchased the Breville Burr grinder. It is capable of a number of grind settings from which I get an uniform espresso grind every time. If you don't use a good grinder, you may be getting an uneven grind which can clog this or any machine. Thirdly, I use distilled drinking water. I live in an area with very hard water and I know from experience that any machine using our drinking water is going leave mineral deposits in a very short time with repeated use. Keep in mind that without proper care and maintenance the most expensive machine is going to have same kinds of problems.
As mentioned above, this is my third machine. The other two cost more than twice as much as this one but I cannot say they were better constructed or made a better espresso. You can pay more, but if you are looking for a basic espresso machine which makes an excellent espresso or latte, then based upon price and quality, I highly recommend this one.
Customer Review: The good reviews are right...unfortunately, the bad reviews are even more so
Summary: 2 Stars
I know about coffee, espresso, steam machines, pump machines and all. This machine makes almost perfect espressos. This is due not to the quality of the machine but to the double wall filters that come with it. That being said, people who are thinking of buying this unit have to know that the same filters that produce the great crema they love will get clogged after 2 or three uses, and cleaning them will require a lot of work (unclogging the tiny holes with a pin, soaking the filters overnight in vinegar and/or running a lot of pressurizedboiling water through the empty filter), wasting a lot of unused coffee, and worst of all...wasting a lot of time to do all this (which hardly anyone has these days). I guess this problem would be solved if the pump was strong enough to push through the clogged filter, but that is not the case. When the pressurized water builds up, instead of going through the filter and coffee, it will go backwards and down to the reservoir in the bottom of the machine (picture trying fo inflate a balloon with a hole in it.) wasting tons of water in the process. Also, do not think that you can clean the filter after each use.....you cannot, because as I said earlier, the filter has two walls, the first one with a lot of tiny holes and the second one with a very small one. Whatever gets trapped within the two walls will likely stay, clogging the tiny holes and rendering the machine useless. Nothing will come out of the machine even with an empty filter!!!!!!!
In the end, the price seems good and the machine looks great but, and this is a huge BUT... you will end up drinking the most expensive cups of coffe (about $25/cup, not including all the wasted coffee, water and time) in your life after the machine stops producing coffee after 10 cups.
I read all the reviews here before buying, but since I really wanted this handsome machine, I ignored all the bad ones. Something most consumers do...they want something so bad their brain will soak up on all the good opinions and filter out the bad and dismiss them as "exceptions" Well, the exceptions are too many and the reason is always the same. Clogged filter...clogged machine....no coffee...big frustration.
I will try to return the machine and if I can't, I guess I will be another disatisfied customer whose only option is to write reviews like this.
Customer Review: Portafilter Clogs! Don't Buy...
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this item at a local (large, well known) retailer for $200 and made sure I could return it as I read a review here about the clogged portafilter (PF). Sure enough, my 2nd shot through the machine and the PF clogged. The water started to get slow and then it completely stopped.
One of the FAQ's on the instructions that came with the machine said if the water stops then the grind used may be too fine. I used espresso beans from Starbucks and had them ground for an espresso machine.
The machine comes with an unclogger tool that is supposed to clean the PF should it get clogged. I re-poked each hole on the PF with the tool (basically just a small needle) including the 1 exit hole on the bottom, tried a larger grind for a drip machine and it was still clogged. How did this machine get past testing? Once clogged, forever clogged it seems... but for $200 I don't feel a machine should be this fragile at handling something as common as fine coffee grinds. Unless you can grind the perfect size from the first shot to the last, this machine is useless. Keep in mind any smaller grinds that come along with larger grinds may eventually render the PF useless.
I hardly leave reviews, but I felt the need to reiterate the comments found here and elsewhere online to warn about the PF design.
I went with the Saeco Aroma and it is much better in comparison. The PF uses a spring system to build up the pressure in the group head vs this stacked aluminum/one exit hole design of the Cafe Roma. The build on the Saeco is much better too, stainless steel throughout and very little plastic. The Cafe Roma has a plastic base that feels cheap when pulling out the drip tray.
As an engineer, I can understand the appeal of the PF design on the Breville. It is a simple design that works (with the perfect grinds) and cheap to manufacture. Good for them (margins), bad for you (quality). The Saeco design is robust; it won't take fine grinds to defeat it.
I found the Saeco Aroma for $20 more than the Breville, much better deal. I hope this helps, good luck!
p.s. When I took the Breville back to the retailer they chuckled when I told them what was wrong. They admitted that this machine is returned regularly.
Customer Review: Feedback from a long-term owner
Summary: 4 Stars
Lavazza Qualita Rossa, Caffe Ground Espresso, 8.8-Ounce Bricks (Pack of 4)I have owned this machine for about a year (my third machine after returning two others, made by different manufacturers).
When buying this machine, I was afraid of all the negative feedback regarding the filters getting clogged. In my experience (touch wood), after using this machine about 150 times... I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED A CLOGGED FILTER.
I have my own burr mill (to grind the coffee) and also have used powdered coffee, I have ground coffee to various levels of size (fine to coarse), used various types of whole and powdered coffee and STILL have never had a clogged filter.
The only factor that I can attribute to those clogged filters seems to be the quality of water used; The water I use has no sediment (I also make sure I use only filtered water).
Couple of helpful tips... (stated by others and adopted by me)
#1 When preparing to steam/froth milk, I have found the first few seconds of "steam" is actually a stream of water as the pump seems to be building pressure. I have sidestepped watery milk by allowing it to initially pump briefly into an empty cup. Once the steam is established, I then move the steaming pitcher into place.
#2 The water resevoir window is worthless. I can't see the water level unless I shine a flashlight directly onto the window.
#3 The most important tip to improving the steam pressure (and quality of brew) is to do the following... After turning on the power and the 'heating' light goes off, turn the dial a little to the left (enough to start the heating light but not enough to start the steam pump). Keep this light on for about 20-30 seconds (keeping it on longer may blow up the machine due to pressure buildup). You will get a PERFECT cup of Coffee.
The best espresso IMO is Lavazza (Oro or Rosso), http://www.amazon.com/Lavazza-Qualita-Ground-Espresso-8-8-Ounce/dp/B001E5E0DI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1254512103&sr=8-4 or http://www.amazon.com/Lavazza-Italian-Coffee-Qualita-Oro/dp/B001EO5YAC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1254512103&sr=8-5