Briel ED132AFB Sintra Espresso Machine with Drip Coffeemaker
by Briel
List Price:
Our Price: $319.95
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Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: BrielBrand: Briel
Release Date: 2001-06-18
Product features:
- 15 bar pump pressure; brews 2 cups in about 35 seconds
- Jet frother produces robust steam, thick froth
- Large removable water reservoir; automatic shut-off
- Automatic shut-off adds safety
- Measures 14 by 11-1/2 by 10 inches
- Espressione Classic Espresso, 150-Count Pods
- Espressione 100% Arabica Coffee, 150-Count Pods
- Espressione Decaffeinated Coffee, 150-Count Pods
- Briel CG5B Java Heavy-Duty Coffee Grinder
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Briel ED132AFB Sintra Espresso Machine with Drip Coffeemaker
Customer Review: Fatal Flaws Fixed! - Update and take the stars back.
Summary: 5 Stars
I won't repeat what has come before but first I will inform how to avoid the challenges that other reviewers label flaws.
First: space under coffee holder is too small for a mug. True, but the plastic tray and stainless steel grill slide out easily leaving plenty of room for a mug. When I discovered it I thought it was an intentional design feature. Also, even with the top tray out there is still another below to capture spills.
Second: filling water reservoir. I prefer the squat frothing jugs by Krups which hold a lot of milk and water. They are perfect for filling the reservoir without moving the machine and with plenty of clearance between the machine and the cupboard above. Only two jugs will fill it up as they do hold a lot.
Other Comments:
It does use pods but of the filter type (Starbucks) not Nescafe. One feature not spoken of in detail is the cup size control. With other machines you have to turn them off when enough coffee has been made. If you are like me and multitasking, you may forget and make a watery cup at best or empty your machine on the counter at worst. The Briel has a dial to select the amount of coffee produced creating a very consistent cup. In addition, the steamer produces steam nearly immediately with just a tiny dribble so small you can ignore it. The steam volume is incredible. Sloppy steamed milk production will make a mess, as it should.
The real flaw: It should come with two coffee holders for production line results. When you are having a party and everyone wants espresso the machine is fast, with you as the limiting factor. Your own speed of emptying the coffee holder, rinsing it out, filling it, tamping (the machine has a great built in tamper which I have never seen on any other brand) and pushing the button is the problem. Lastly, the front panel may be plastic but it can take repeated scrubbings with mild abrasives without harm. Treat it nicely and it should look good forever.
UPDATE
After 4 years it died. I must say that I am mechanical and while the machine had problems from time to time most were related to cleaning. Occasionaly it acted strangely and I recycled it with success. All of my efforts weren't covered in the manual. Did I get my money's worth? Yes. Would I recommend it to someone without a clear understanding of a coffeemaker and its internals? No.
Would change it to 3 stars at best, but Amazon doens't allow that to be edited.
Description of Briel ED132AFB Sintra Espresso Machine with Drip Coffeemaker
Briel Sintra ED132ABF Combo Coffee MachineBriel's Sintra espresso machine with drip coffeemaker is backed by the company's 30-plus years in the coffee business, and it shows--this model's designed to present café-quality drip coffee, espresso, and cappuccino to the home user. To get this high quality, the Sintra has a number of extraordinary features. To start with, it gives you the ability to match most coffee preferences in one machine, due to its dual nature: drip coffeemaker and espresso maker. On the drip side, it has a 10-cup-capacity glass carafe and a nice "stop-and-serve" feature that allows you to remove the carafe during the middle of the brewing cycle.
The Sintra also has some nice functionality on the espresso/cappuccino side, starting with its Auto Espresso Flow system. This system lets you set the coffee strength according to taste, from a stronger, Italian-style short cup to a larger, less robust brew. The espresso is brewed at the required 190 degrees F, and the machine has 15 bars of pump pressure. And it's speedy, brewing two cups in about 35 seconds. It also makes good cappuccino, because of its steam nozzle, which lets you froth the milk. Some other nice features include its Cremaker filter, which provides a richer crema on each espresso, an exterior water-level indicator, and a cup warmer. In shining stainless steel and sturdy black plastic, this machine won't shame any counter. It has 2,010 watts of power and measures 14 by 11-1/2 by 10 inches (length by height by depth). --A.J. Rathbun
Editor's note: This item may arrive with water inside from the manufacturer's pressure test. This is a normal occurrence and doesn't point to a problem with the machine.
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