Starbucks Sirena Espresso Machine, Stainless and Black
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List Price: Our Price: $180.00 You Save: $419.99 (70%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Starbucks Sirena Espresso Machine, Stainless and Black
Customer Review: A major disappointment
Summary: 4 Stars
Below is the review I wrote shortly after getting the Sirena. I have now had it for five months. Last week, the water started pouring out over the portafilter. I tried every kind of cleaning; the problem persisted. I called Saeco, as the package insert directed, and they issued an authorization for me to mail the machine back to them for repair. The authorization included a mailing label. When I got to UPS, I realized that the shippping was not prepaid by Saeco. I called them and was told that the shipping and insurance to Saeco--a nice chunk of change--is my responsibility.
I am very unhappy that the machine stopped working after such a short time, but even unhappier that I have to pay more for a machine that doesn't work--and of which I'll be deprived for most of the summer--than I would have if the machine were functional. What is the meaning of a warranty if you have to pay to claim its benefits? I will NEVER buy anything from Saeco again, and I'll check the warranty provisions before I buy appliances on Amazon: Amazon's 30 day window for a full refund is too short. If I could send this machine back for good, I would.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
This is a very, very good machine. Those who wrote below about speed of set-up were right; those who noted that the instructions don't make clear that you MUST prime in order for the water to heat and buttons to work are right too. Just push the "on" button, open the steam knob, drain a cup or so of water, and close the knob. The machine will start to work just fine.
I'm still experimenting with the self-tamping feature--exactly how much coffee to put in the portafilter isn't clear. It doesn't hold two full scoops: put that much in it and you can't move it into brew position. But the 3/4 filling recommended in the illustration seems a little paltry for a strong brew. Any advice, anyone?
I'm also trying to figure out how to get a little more "crema" on the espresso. My semi-automatic "Dream Machine," also from Starbuck's, does a slightly better job at this. But for simplicity and effectiveness, this machine can't be beat.
Customer Review: Love it! A true dynamo espresso machine!
Summary: 5 Stars
First off I am not connected with Amazon or Starbucks in any way.
I researched espresso machines before deciding on this not-inexpensive investment. I have not been disappointed with my decision. Each new brew of espresso is consistently 100% PERFECT!
The Sirena produces consistently excellent froth and foam. (By the way, you can make excellent foam using skim, 1%, 2%, whole milk - and my favorite - vanilla soy milk.)
I recommend using decaf French Roast, decaf espresso, and decaf Caffe Verona for the bulk of your coffee making. If you are at all like me - you won't be able to stop making cappuccinos throughout the day. (IF they were all caffeinated brews - you'd be bouncing off the walls and climbing out of your skin.) I make only one or two regular espressos at the beginning of my day and then only decaf for the rest of the day.
Be certain to watch the helpful video on Starbucks' Sirena web site also! You will easily learn how to use the machine and what you can make with it from these videos. Your machine will do everything you see it do on the video. Easy as 1, 2, 3!
There are some very handy features with this machine. You can "program" it to give as little or as much in a "shot" by just holding in the shot button until you have the amount you want. The machine then remembers that setting until you change it again.
After a month of owning my new Sirena machine - I am still very positive about it and the brew it consistently produces for me 5 or 6 times per day! Clean-up is not difficult. Being able to make a double shot OR a single shot espresso is helpful. Heating up the machine is quick and you can also use steam or get hot water easily. The machine is not noisy and it looks good in the kitchen.
I think Starbucks produced a great machine with the Sirena. I suggest you treat yourself by purchasing this machine - you won't be sorry!
I ordered my Sirena from Amazon because I like dealing with Amazon. They also had the best price for a new machine and I could easily have it delivered the next day!
Customer Review: Overrated : Updated
Summary: 2 Stars
I can't believe all the positive reviews about this machine. I've had it for more than 16 months now and wish I had it to do over again because I'd certainly buy something else.
Pros:
Very easy to learn for a beginner (my first machine; I learned to use it by watching a video on Starbucks' web site, which is far superior to their manual).
Looks good.
Heats up quickly.
Other reviewers complain about the water tank sensor, but I haven't had a problem with it.
Keeps me from spending a fortune at the coffee shop.
Cons:
The portafilter fills up with water every time and makes a serious mess.
If you pull two shots, one overflows and the other fills only halfway.
If you pull one shot, espresso still comes out of both sides of the portafilter.
Attempts to adjust the previous two problems have failed, so I never use shot glasses anymore. I either use my mug or a measuring cup.
The steam wand expells a *lot* of water before steam.
You have to pry the portafilter apart with a table knife or screwdriver to clean it, making cleaning a serious hassle.
The longer I've had the machine, the less foam I get. I think the steam wand is starting to shoot out even more water during steaming.
The cup warmer on the top is an utter joke. It gets imperceptibly warm.
Summary: For the price I paid, I should have gotten *way* better quality. Would never recommend this machine, although I have learned to put up with it and will not replace it soon (budget's tight these days!).
Update: Since writing this review, the steamer has stopped working completely. Water continuously comes out of the wand, no matter how long I blow it out. The milk gets ruined and produces absolutely zero foam. Given the problems others have had with getting repairs done, including the cost for shipping both ways, I decided to not sink any money into this machine because even if it's fixed I will have spent a bunch of money and still have a piece of crap machine. I'm shopping for a different machine. Merry Xmas to me!
Customer Review: Miserable experience
Summary: 1 Stars
After several happy years of using the Starbucks Barista, it pumped its last shot. I had seen the Sirena in the Starbucks stores, but couldn't bring myself to spend the better part of $300...that is until the Barista died. I went into the store the day after Thanksgiving and was pleasantly surprised to see the Sirena on sale for about $220. I came home, read a few reviews, and decided that the good ones outweighed the bad ones. Big mistake. After wrestling with the thing for over a week, I finally gave up and took it back to the store.
The good:
Looks great on the countertop
Quieter than the Barista
Programmable shot buttons
The bad:
Messy, messy, messy - it always puked up some milk after steaming. Always. If I didn't remember to move the wand over the grill, I had a puddle on the countertop.
Water in my milk - no matter what I tried, including calling Saeco's miserable support line, it would always pump water into my milk for about 3-4 seconds before the pump would shut off and I would get steam.
Too high - As mentioned in other reviews, the brew head is positioned too high above the base, even after using the extension thingy. This means that you better have very good depth perception when placing shot glasses, or you will see the fruits of your labor run down through the grate.
Foam - If you, like me, prefer to set the milk pitcher down while the steam wand does its thing, be prepared for a LOT of foam. I mean a lot. Like overflowing the pitcher, and creating a puddle on the countertop (that will soon grow...see above)lot. I tried gluing a coaster to the bottom of the pitcher in order to raise it enough to help cut down on the foamage, but it looked too much like a Redneck had attacked the machine, thereby offsetting my number 1 "pro" above.
Now, I am faced with the choice of a $600 Rancilio, or just continuing to visit my friendly neighborhood baristas.
Customer Review: Good machine for home users
Summary: 3 Stars
I received this machine for my birthday in May 08. I love the looks and the quality is great. We use it several times a day and it is still working great. With good quality coffee grounds, it pulls a great shot with a good head of crema. (I have found it to work best on the double setting and with the double amount of grinds.) The steam wand has an adapter end that is meant to automatically incorporate air for frothing. It works well with a full cups worth of cold cows milk and a cold frothing pitcher. I, however, prefer to use about a half cup of unsweetened soy milk and prefer lots of foam, which this machine only sporadically can deliver. (Hunmidity, barometric pressure, and stars must be perfectly aligned.) I much prefer the normal steam wands where one can control the amount of air being incorporated for more or less foam as desired and wish Saeco offered them as a replacement. This is not a problem unique to Saeco as less and less home machines come with the regular steam wands. I guess most home users aren't expected to be able to learn to froth milk.
My only real dissappointment with this machine, which knocked my rating down a star, has been trying to get parts replaced. I lost the support peg down the sink when cleanng the machine and of course it cannot be purchased from Starbucks; it must be purchased from Saeco. The part has been out of stock at Saeco for at least five months. They have been out of stock on the rubber pressure gasket the entire time as well.
Eventually the rubber gasket will wear out and need replaced and who knows when or for how long Saeco will stock it. So keep that in mind if you decide to purchase this machine. The machine can be used without the gasket and peg (they are a team, so don't try to use one without the other - it overruns and splatters everywhere.) I am now using my machine without them and tamping the grounds myself.