The money I will save...
Written: Jan 08 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: This machine can pull the sweetest shot of espresso.
Cons: You MUST follow the priming directions for your machine to have a long life.
The Bottom Line: This lovely machine will hold twice the water of most machines. It is easy to use and makes perfect crema each time.
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| rawooten's Full Review: Estro Barista |
I cannot tell anyone that spending $249.00 on an espresso maker is a practical purchase. Of course, if you are spending four dollars a day at Starbucks...this could be a practical purchase. I never dreamed that the best espresso machine would be from Starbucks. Why would they sell a machine that makes such good lattes? Isn't this bad for business? I have not been in a coffee shop since getting this machine about a week before Christmas. I bought it at starbucks.com. It makes the sweetest espresso shot EVERY time. It is a no-brainer.
You fill the machine with 96 ounces of water. Then you turn the machine on and immediately run water out the steam wand. Then you run water through the brew head. Now you wait for the green light to come on. Then you hit the steam button and wait for the green light to come on again. This all takes less than three minutes. Now you open the steam wand into an empty cup so that a spurt of water does not water down your drink. Close the wand. Now you are ready to steam your milk. Remember that milk cooks at 172 degrees. Use a thermometer. The steam on this machine is powerful. Making a shot of espresso is simple. Load the portafilter with good espresso grind. Tamp it. Put the filter on the machine. It snaps back when on correctly. Watch for the green light. Hit the brew button. Out will pour the most beautiful espresso with lovely crema. Hit the brew button when your shot is finished. You will have great crema every time you use this machine. Even my 15 year old can make a great shot every time.
The video that comes with this machine is helpful and amusing. The guy on this video is VERY serious about his espresso. The customer support by telephone is remarkable. These folks will walk you through any problem. The support folks even make you feel like they care about customers. I bought an accessory kit at a discounted price too. The Starbucks coffee was excellent that came with the machine. Cleaning this machine is not tough. The steaming wand must be wiped off right after each use or it will get interesting. Milk will do this to things. If you watch the video, you too will be a competent barista.
I took this machine to work one day and made at least 20 lattes. That 96 ounce water capacity is about double that of most machines. If you are making lattes for a group, this machine can churn out the drinks. It is easy to fill the water reservoir. I do dump out all of the water each day and dry my water container each night. This machine is Italian and heavy. It looks sleek on your counter. I bought the black model because it costs fifty less than the stainless steel model. The insides of this machine just scream quality. I think with proper care I will own this machine for years. My children drink a lot more milk because of our latte habit. It makes a great Americano too. (An espresso in a regular cup filled with hot water from the wand)
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
rawooten
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Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 1 member
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