Saeco Magic Comfort Plus SuperAutomatic Espresso Coffee and Cappuccino Machine, Silver
by Saeco
(Click here)
Product Summary
Manufacturer: SaecoBrand: Saeco
Model: 01024
Color: Silver and Black
Product features:
- Highly innovative, fully automatic machine with convenient digital display
- Opti-Dose for adjusting coffee amount to be ground for each cup, from 6 to 9 grams
- Froth and brew without waiting or changing the temperature
- Easily accessible, removable brew group; heating surface for preheating cups
- Ships within US only; does not ship to Canada
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Saeco Magic Comfort Plus SuperAutomatic Espresso Coffee and Cappuccino Machine, Silver
Customer Review: Makes great coffee, cappucino and espresso, but has some quirks
Summary: 4 Stars
I've been enjoying my Saeco Magic Comfort Plus machine for several days now. The machine works as advertised, but it does have some quirks. Fortunately none are very serious.
The first thing you will find when you unpack the box is that, in addition to three instruction manuals (one each in English, French and Spanish), there is also a "quick start" guide, a packet of errata pages for the detailed instruction manual, and a separate packet containing the warranty booklet and descaling instructions, along with a couple of strips of colored paper containing other sundry notes. The guide, manual and PDF files found on Saeco's web site don't always agree with each other (even factoring in the errata). Fortunately these discrepancies are minor and it isn't difficult to figure out which instruction is the correct one. (For example, the manual tells you that the package includes a "brew group key [wrench]", but a separate piece of paper informs that, since the brew group is removeable and washable, this item is no longer needed and hence not included.)
Having read the other reviews here, I was prepared for the cryptic "VENTILATE" message. (The manual refers to this procedure as "Loading the circuit", which doesn't help to clarify things.) Of course this refers to what Americans would call "priming" the machine. As mentioned in another review, there is a plastic hand pump supplied for priming, but that is only needed in the event that the electric pump fails to self-prime. All I had to do (following the quick-start instructions) was to select the Hot Water function; the internal pump quickly primed itself.
Another quirk is the so-called "Dregsdrawer", or dump box (where the spent grounds are collected). If this drawer is removed and replaced even while the machine is powered off and unplugged, when powered on you will receive the "DREGSDRAWER MISSING" error, and the machine won't operate. To correct this, you must remove the dump box for a few seconds with the machine powered on, and then replace it.
As mentioned in another review, when brought out of "energy save" mode for the day's first use, the machine rinses itself after completing a warm-up period (it's ready to brew in about two minutes). However, I've discovered that if the machine is in energy save mode for only a relatively short time, it skips the rinsing step, shortening the start-up time by quite a bit. So one shouldn't be shy about putting the machine into energy save mode (two presses of the Menu button will do this, a nice little design detail) whenever you think you won't be using it for a while. The machine goes to sleep by itself after the factory-programmed time of three hours, but this can be reduced to as little as 15 minutes, in 15 minute increments. (It can't be disabled.)
The machine apparently only checks the water tank sensor when you select a function. So even though the machine could tell you to refill the tank at the end of the brew cycle that drained it, in fact it will instruct you to refill when you try to make the next cup, although this might be considered a feature (as you will be starting with fresh water).
The machine comes with a swivel base which allows you to rotate it for easy access to both the removable water tank and the bean hopper (which is not removable without use of a screwdriver), as well the service door for cleaning. This is a very nice feature, although it requires even more clear space around a machine with an already large footprint.
Another interesting feature is the Hot Water function. The machine will supply hot water through the steam tube with the push of a button on the front panel. Through the programming menu, it is possible to set the machine to deliver a programmable quantity of hot water and then stop. (This would allow you to, for example, start the machine filling a cup for tea or hot chocolate, and then walk away without fear of overflow.) As it comes from the factory, the hot water function must be stopped manually, by pressing the hot water button a second time. This of course allows the dispensing of arbitrary amounts of hot water, up to the capacity of the water tank.
Steam, on the other hand, is made available by turning the knob on the front of the machine. (For some reason I found this a little bit counter-intuitive, since every other function is controlled by the buttons.) You need to purge the steam tube of water by turning the knob for a few seconds until only steam comes out. Once that's done, continuous steam is available up to the capacity of the water tank.
I've become spoiled by the ability of the Comfort Plus to make a single cup of cappucino in about a minute. You simply fill a cup about 1/3 full with milk, purge the steam tube (as just described), then froth the milk. The Panarello device makes this simple and foolproof. You then place the cup of frothed milk under the nozzles and brew; your fresh cappucino will be ready in under 30 seconds!
Prior to the Comfort Plus I owned a manual (steam) espresso machine. I never had very much luck frothing milk with it, and since it required grinding in a separate device, transfer of the ground coffee, tamping, filling the boiler with water, not to mention the cleanup, it never got used very much.
The Magic Comfort Plus is used every day, throughout the day for coffee, cappucino and espresso. I'd like to second the other reviewer who said that while you might by it on a splurge, you will quickly come to think of it as a necessity.
One final comment: Another reviewer said that the machine is mostly plastic. This isn't true. While the drip tray, dump box and upper fascia are plastic, the body of the machine is constructed on a sturdy welded metal frame, which can be seen when the drip tray is removed. The side panels are also metal. The plastic used is ABS, which is exceptionally strong, yet flexible (not brittle). There isn't anything about the machine that I would call "flimsy".
More Saeco Magic Comfort Plus SuperAutomatic Espresso Coffee and Cappuccino Machine, Silver reviews:
1 2 3
1 2 3
Description of Saeco Magic Comfort Plus SuperAutomatic Espresso Coffee and Cappuccino Machine, Silver
For those that want the best! This highly innovative fully automatic machine has all the advantages of the Magic de Luxe, but goes further to take its place at the top of the range. Its digital display will tell you at any time the actual mode and status it is in. Extra programmable functions allow you to change the language of the display, adjust the water temperature, use an additional rinsing cycle, do automated de-scaling, and numerous other features detailed on the technical data page.Espresso Machines
Kitchen and Housewares
Most talked about in Saeco
Saeco Focus Automatic Espresso MachineSaeco; Saeco; Release date: 2011-02-03; Kitchen
Best price: $870.00
Price in other shops:
Saeco 10059 Mexican La Laja Whole Bean CoffeeSaeco; Saeco; Kitchen
Saeco 00354 Aroma Espresso Machine, Stainless SteelPhillips Saeco; Saeco; Release date: 2008-01-28; Kitchen
Best price: $299.00
Price in other shops:
Saeco AC-IN-CAP Cappuccinatore KitSaeco; Saeco; Kitchen
Saeco Dezcal Coffee and Espresso Maker Descaler - 3 packsSaeco; Saeco; Kitchen
Saeco Magic Comfort Plus SuperAutomatic Espresso Coffee and Cappuccino Machine, SilverSaeco; Saeco; Kitchen
Price in other shops:
Saeco 109010 True Love and Citizens of Verona Set of 2 Cappuccino CupsSaeco; Saeco; Kitchen
Update International S/ S 20 Oz. Frothing Pitcher / Milk SteamerUpdate International; Update International; Kitchen
Best price: $6.50
Price in other shops:
Saeco Vienna Deluxe SuperAutomatic Espresso Coffee and Cappuccino MachineSaeco; Saeco; Kitchen
Price in other shops: