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: Not Impressed
Summary: 1 Stars
When I first got the machine, I was assured that it had been researched and was the best value for your money. Removeable water tank, espresso cups, warming tray, stainless steel design, 15 bar pump, etc. It seemed like a great deal.
At first it worked half decent, a little getting used to how the machine operates and we should be fine. But it wasn't. I had noticed that espresso was coming out particularly slowly. I tried tamping less and less but I was barely tamping at all and still less and less flow. I made myself a mocha and the chocolate couldn't cover the bitterness that was due to the over-extraction. I tried to tamp even less, and run it again but nothing came out. I emptied the filter and tried it empty. Nothing. We were using Starbucks pre-ground espresso grind coffee... It evidently clogged the filter. We tried to unclog the filter by running it empty a few times... then prgressed to trying to clean it manually. We cleaned out all the grounds that were acessable and tried to reverse the flow to dislodge any grounds that were stuck. No luck. We are unable to use the machine to make espresso now. They should at least warn you that too fine a grind will make the filters garbage. You figure Starbucks should know how to grind espresso...
The steamer is very flakey. It can work well, but because the machine is not steam powered, it has to make steam as it goes, when it works it's only just satisfactory. It's slow, due to the fact is has to make steam on the fly, but when it doesn't work, it's a disaster: It spits water out. Not cool. It's not a cheap machine, and that kind of operation is unacceptable.
I am packing up this machine and returning it.
Customer Review: Wonderful craftmanship. Elegant on counter
Summary: 5 Stars
So far I love this machine. I bought it at Bed Bath and Beyond. The only reason I didn't buy here was I had a coupon for 20% off so I picked up the machine for $200 without having to pay shipping! Although in fairness Amazon offers free shipping.
This unit was sitting beside a much higher priced unit $329 made by Delognhi or something like that. I liked the other machine but I could only see a few minor differences. The major difference the frothing arm on this machine will not move. Can be a plus. I don't mind. The other machine's was somewhat moveable. The other machine had an adjustable pressure arm for the steamer. I like this feature but I felt it was for those that care about froth much more than I. The only other thing that made me think should I get the higher priced machine was it came with a can of 18 Lilly coffee pods. Sold at the store for $9.99.
After about 20 minutes worth of deliberating I finally bought this unit. My first run was flawless. I made a great espresso with ample crema. I think turned on the steam for some frothed milk. Added some hazelnut syrup and I had my favorite latte right at home. Some pointers. Use the single filter NOT the pod filter. Gives more flow. Also, make sure water tank is pushed all the way down on first use. I made that mistake. Very loud noise told me something was wrong.
Only draw backs:
Machine was louder than I expected.
Double shot head on the dispense wand.(I would like to have them include a single shot head.)
Great value. Shop around. I saw this on popular acution site for $175 plus shipping.
Customer Review: An Excellent Machine
Summary: 5 Stars
All I can say is WOW! My teenage daughters and I love espresso & designer lattes, This machine made it a BREEZE for us to give up all the overpriced designer cafes in our area. My brother is a coffee snob and spent literally thousands on a fully automated Capresso machine. You could buy a couple dozen of these Breville machines for the price of his.. and you know what? It's a few seconds more work but the coffee is JUST AS GOOD!
One of my daughters is visually impaired and she can work the machine and clean it with no problems.
Assembly was easy, cleanup is easy, and making three different beverages in seconds is a breeze, too. We have three completely different tastes so we've managed quite a few different drinks. I make sugar free soy lattes using Soy Slender and sugar free DaVinci flavors. We've frothed skim, 2%, whole and soy milks of every type. Even heavy whipping cream and half & half froth perfectly.
The only issue we had was that one time we tamped the espresso a little too firmly and nothing would come out. If you tamp lightly, you'll have no problem at all and the crema is absolutely superb!
As for the reviewer that said their espresso was watery, if you use a fine ground espresso, that definately won't be a problem. The two-serving filter makes a great double shot, but if you try to make more than that, I can see how you could end up with something watery. The drip tray does need emptying once in a while, but that's the same with every espresso maker I've ever used.
I DEFINATELY recommend this machine!!
Customer Review: Very disappointing
Summary: 2 Stars
Very disappointing. I had just bought my parents a Saeco Aroma for X-mas and had used it extensively just weeks before I bought this machine so I had a good reference point in mind and I will compare it to that espresso maker. I believe this is fair because they have similar prime points. This machine had a superior esthetic design however the under machinery is inferior. The espresso that this machine made was much weaker that the Aroma's espresso. The Saeco also produced espresso at a faster rate. These two finding make me believe that the Breville isn't achieving as high a pressure as the Saeco. Whether this is actually true or not, the Saeco made the better, stronger espresso.
The other problem is that the Breville did not make stream as well. On the Saeco machine there is one setting to get the water up to temperature for espresso brewing and another setting to heat the water further to get it up to steam setting. On the Breville there was only one heat setting from which you make espresso and steam. When you turn the steamer on, the Breville thumps loudly and hot water is expelled for 5-10 seconds before a small amount of steam is made. The Saeco was just much more capable.
After half a dozen uses I decided to return the Breville for the Saeco Aroma. Before repacking the machine I decided to make one last cappuccino but when I flipped the machine on no espresso came out. I think the filter was clogged. After only 6 uses! Do not buy this machine. I only gave it the second star because I like its looks but its internal as useless.
Customer Review: YUMMMM
Summary: 5 Stars
I have had my Breville Cafe Roma for about two and a half now and I still have never had a problem with it.
In regard to the negative reviews about clogging: I have only had this happen once, when I used VERY fine grounds to make my espresso. If you do not use ultra-fine grounds and if you pull the filter out and rinse it after every use, you will not have this problem. Also, if you wipe off the frothing wand and blow a little steam through it after every use, you will not have a clogging problem with the frother.
This machine makes really good espresso! My husband says it is very smooth and is the best he's ever tasted. I also love it and I make lattes and mochas with it. The frothing wand is very efficient, though it is on the short side, but it is definitely possible to work with (note: mine doesn't have the pictured black plastic tip on the frothing wand, but it is not needed, to make froth all you have to do is hold the tip just on the surface of the milk and it bubbles up very nicely). The machine comes with 2 stainless steel espresso cups with saucers and the steel frothing mug (which saves you $20-$30 as other machines do not come with these accessories).
Oh, and it is true, you can't really fit a coffee mug under the spout. I fix this problem by using the stainless steel frothing mug, and then dumping the espresso into my mug before filling the frothing mug with milk. Not a big deal at all.
In all, if you purchase this machine, you will be buying a very good machine for the money.