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: Was good, needed new seal after year's use
Summary: 3 Stars
I was happy with this machine for making expresso and frothing milk, although it makes a loud noise. However after 14 months the expresso seal broke and it sprayed hot water instead of making expresso. The froth part still worked. The machine was used about 300 times. It was cleaned regularly and properly. I contacted the manufacturer and initially got a very poor response.
I am adjusting my review. After Christmas, I sent an email to Breville complaining about the customer response I received. They responded back and elicited more information. They then sent me a new silicon seal, which fixed the problem with the spraying hot water. I had to unscrew the filter, take out the damaged seal and replace it. After that it has worked fine. I would give this four stars, except, that although they replaced the seal for free, I don't think it should have deteriorated after a year's use. Buying such parts over the internet is expensive. The machine makes good coffee and after some persistance the customer service came through for me. So I am happy now. Maybe 3.5 stars given that customer service finally responded and provided the needed part.
On the other hand, I had a Gaggia that worked for 14 years, but needs some parts no longer made. My son has an inexpensive Mr. Coffee expresso that has worked perfectly for years.
Customer Review: Like having a coffe shop in your kitchen
Summary: 5 Stars
I first would like to say that if you are the occasional esspresso drinker, then this machine is to costly to use every once in a while go with a cheaper brand. Now for the rest of you that are die hard esspresso drinkers this is the machine for you.
I moved from AK to NY a few months ago, while I lived in AK (ALASKA) there were coffe shops on every corner, to say the least I was addicted to mochas, and moving to NY they are few and far between. I was going into withdrawl. After doing some research I found this great machine. I wanted to use it for a while before writing a review about it. I love this machine. This machine is fast and the esspresso is great. I am a fan of regular esspresso as well and it comes out at a consistanly high quality, the Crema is perfect, however I found if you are using the single shot it doesn't come out that great so always use the double shot. The machine heats up quickly and everything is provided for you, two cups, two saucers, a pitcher and a frothing attachment. I can see that this machine will pay for itself withing no time. I have owned cheaper models in the past and you can really tell the difference in the quality of the esspresso. I have not used the pod attachment so I can't comment on that. If you buy the machine in my opinion you wont be disappointed.
Customer Review: Perfect - Taste Functionality Features Looks and Style
Summary: 5 Stars
I've owned several machines over the last ten years, from the $49.00 'wait for the steam', a $4000 Venezia VAE-22, an 'all-in-one' $1000.00 Starbuck machine along with my current (broken) Starbuck Barista. None of the machines I've owned come close to the Cafe Roma ESP8XL for quality and design. From the water feed systems removable, cleanable, replaceable, easy to access water tank to the three tang filter holder, precision and functionality was first for the designers. The frothing system, the drip tray, the simple controls are all top notch and the cup warming plate is over the top! The pop-up button that shows you the level of the water in the drip tray is a really nice feature. By adding the stainless demitasse cups and saucers Breville created the best machine on the earth. For those that have problems with getting the grounds out of the filter I found a stainless steel Knockout tray with 49mm Tamper that matches the machine and is easy to clean. The first espresso I made was perfect, it took several cups in our stores Venezia VAE-22 to get everything right. Some of the other reviewers seem to have issues with the 'taste', part of learning how each machine functions is the issue. The filter on the ESP8XL is one of the easiest to maintain I've ever used and one of the reasons for the perfect Espresso.Customer Review: Wow, what a machine!
Summary: 5 Stars
So glad I went for the best! Cost a bit more than the other brands, but what you get is a first class machine, short of buying a commercial model. Friend of mine had a Krupps Expresso Maker, which after a few expresso's got me hooked on expresso's, but it was a piece of junk compared to this Breville. The Breville is a heavy/solid machine which I like, and the stainless steel design makes it an eye appealing counter addition. Its use is straight foward, simple, and efficient. After a few tries, I have it down pat. The steamer/frother does its job wonderfully, although it would be nice to have the tube a little bit longer to reach further into the cup. Frothing and steaming required a few attempts with milk flying all over until I got it right. So if you don't want to make the same mistake...if you steam the milk..only steam the milk!! Don't steam and then add the froth attachment to then froth...or you will end up with milk splattering all over. Use the froth attachment from the beginning of the procedure if you want both steamed milk and the froth.
Normal clean up is a cinch, as the stainless steel is so easy to clean, and the whole expresso experience makes the little bit of clean up required after making an expresso or two well worth it. Breville has its' act together on this machine!
Customer Review: 1st one defective, 2nd one works as expected.
Summary: 4 Stars
I ordered this Espresso maker after reading reviews on the internet. This Espresso maker is not the best one on the market, but I thought one of the better 'bang for buck' units available.
After getting the Roma out of the package (the second one) and cleaned, I was able to make my first Espresso without any difficultly.
One note about the measuring spoon, I might be using too much force pressing the coffee in the cup holder as I'm starting to see stress colorations in the plastic spoon at the point where the press and the spoon handle are formed together. I've changed my technique of pressing the coffee with the measuring spoon/coffee press combination. Originally, I held the spoon/press by its handle while pressing the coffee. Now I press the coffee by putting my fingers directly behind the part of the spoon/press that presses the coffee. Using this method, I can apply greater force without concern of destroying the spoon.
As a newbie Espresso drinker, I really cannot judge the quality of the Espresso except that it works for me and meets my expectations.
The first Roma was delivered in a defective state. After getting on the phone I was able to have customer service send me a replacement the next day without any hassle.