Description
From the manufacturer
Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Stainless Espresso Maker
SELECTOR DIAL
When the dual-action dial is turned to the right, espresso is extracted. In the left position, the steam wand is activated for texturing milk.
ESPRESSO EXTRACTION
Three Stainless Steel filters are included: single shot (7g), double shot (14g) and pod. Each filter incorporates Breville’s unique dual wall crema technology to ensure a rich, smooth flavor.
STEAM WAND
The professional-grade adjustable steam wand for third wave specialty coffee at home. Also features a finger looper for easy control.
WARMING TRAY
The warming tray is cast from a single piece of aluminium and can heat up six espresso cups.
Amazon Customer –
It will pull a fast shot but tastes as good as Starbucks
I spent hours watching YouTube videos, as well as reading reviews almost to the point where I almost lost all interest in buying an espresso machine, but I do not regret getting the ESP8XL. My main goal was to find a machine that could pull shots that taste “near as good” or “close” to Starbucks, and I have to say that the ESP8XL has done it! Granted, this is subjective. I don’t mean to say that a double shot of espresso from a $200 machine will match that of a $1K machine, but if I cannot tell the difference between a shot from the ESP8XL and a shot from Starbucks, I have what I need – and that is what I got with the ESP8XL. But I give the ESP8XL 4 out of 5 stars because it has more potential than it presents with. Basically, it pulls really fast shots. I have yet to be able to achieve a 1:2 ratio of grounds to espresso. Currently, I am about 1:5. I start with 9 grams of grinds in the double basket and turn off the brew at about 40grams of espresso (with 10 more grams of espresso dripping in afterwards). I know this is not correct. Just watching the espresso come out from the portafilter – its clear that it is coming out faster than it should. At first I thought it was a malfunction. But when I ground the esspresso beans to a near pulp akin to a turkish blend (baking flour consistency) I was unable to pull a complete shot (only got a few grams of liquid), so its not like you don’t have control over the draw time and cannot achieve the correct draw time. The problem is that the difference in grind time between what is a good espresso grind (find sand feel with clumping and a slight residue on the skin when pinching it) and baking flour consistency is a few seconds with my grinder. Granted, my grinder is a cheap Mr. Coffee grinder that beats the beans into oblivion rather than “cutting” as good burr grinders do. I have not tried to find this perfect grind “spot” but I believe if I had an “equally good” electric burr coffee bean grinder, I could hit this sweet grind consistency and achieve a 1:2 ratio. As of now, my 1:5 ratio tastes absolutely perfect – not bitter, not sour, full of boldness and flavor. That is what is so crazy. It makes me think that the whole 1:2 ratio is not “just” what makes a good shot of espresso. As for the other elements of the machine, the ESP8XL heats up (from a cold start) quickly. From the moment of turning on the machine to the heating light going off (meaning the water has reached the correct temp) I have ground my beans and filled the portafilter. At first I thought I would not like the fact that you are in complete control of the amount of water dispensed. Like, there is no one or two shot button that you can push and the correct amount of water is used. There is only a dial that has three settings: on (brew), off, and steam wand. This means that you have to start the shot and turn it off yourself – the machine will not do it for you. But I quickly found that I enjoy this feature as I can tinker with brew times as I please. In terms of water temp, I am not hitting the 195-205f temps that are best for espresso. The water temps fluctuate between about 150-170 depending on the timing of the shot. Again, despite this, the shots are still coming out very tasty! I like the weight of the machine. With a full tank of water, I barely need to hold it to get the portafilter in. Clearance between the bottom of the portafilter and the drain tray is 3.5 inches, so you are not going to get a traditional coffee cup under the portafilter (removing the tray gives you an extra 1 inch) but I drink straight espresso so my cups are smaller and there is never a problem (for me). The ESP8XL is not loud in my opinion. I have owned other machines that sound like a rocket blasting off. I like the build materials too – mostly all stainless steel – feels solid, especially when you slide it around on top of the counter as I have to do to save space – feels like a rock, but not hard to move. The basket diameters are documented at 50mm, but they are bigger – more like 51.5mm (at the brim) so if you are looking for a good tamper, don’t get a 49mm (as I did) you will want more like a 50mm if you are a perfectionist. I have only used the steam wand twice. It seems to work well without the metal attachment piece that it comes with. The ESP8XL never slows down either. It is also making sure that there is adequate heated water/steam when needed. In between shots or between a shot and then using the steam wand, it quickly re-heats in seconds so you never seem to be waiting for it to “heat up”. All in all I am very impressed and glad that I bought the ESP8XL. I never write reviews but I was so happy (mostly to have found something after all of my research and reviews) I had to let everyone know.
30 people found this helpful
Farm Baker –
Perfect kitchen counter espresso Maker
I bought the Breville ESP8XL in early 2012 after much review reading and procrastination. I’ve only used large professional/commercial style 2-4 group machines in my bakery and struggled with the thought of not quite as much steam head and big boiler mechanics in a small espresso maker.One particular review captured my attention because it outlined the parameters of using the Breville and I expect many others in this price class. I was so thankful for the review and thought I could expand on it a bit more and add my process for making espresso in the Breville.I’m extremely happy with the machine and almost a year later still am. In that time every couple of days I make two cups one right after the other. Cleaning it immediately after use, especially the steam wand & wand cover have kept me from any deep cleaning since I’ve owned it.Steps to a great espresso brew:1. Check water amount in water well- fill as needed2. Turn ON Breville3. Grind your coffee, I use a little blade coffee grinder and drip sized grind espresso coffee which I spin around until it has some fines and a little bit coarser coffee. (mix the fines that fall under the blade with the above blade part.) Experiment until you can execute this every time to the right consistency.Note: too finely ground coffee will not allow the water through the group head (where you put the coffee) So if you ground the coffee to a powder by mistake – toss it out and try again.4. Heat a some water in your electric kettle, microwave or stove/pot and pour into your espresso cups to pre-heat them.5. Put your group head WITH OUT any coffee in it on the machine and run a little water through it. Keep it on the machine while you go to the next step. (this preheats it so the steam pressure and heat doesn’t dissipate when you brew your espresso)6. Steaming your milk or soy. I fill the pitcher that came with the machine about 1/3 full of milk. (leaving room for foam when it forms) Blow any water out of the steam wand into a clean towel-Watch out it’s hot coming out. When it’s sputtering without water squirting out put steam wand into your pitcher. Keep it well into the milk and keep a hand on the bottom of the pitcher to track temperature. When it begins to get warm you can move the steam wand near the surface and it will generate more foam.–My past experience was to foam cold milk first then heat lower in the pitcher, but this reverse system works better in a small pitcher.When milk is hot to touch and foamy turn steamer off, remove pitcher. Now blow the milk residue out of the wand with a towel over the end of it. Watch out it’s hot coming out. If this is the last coffee your making pull the outer metal cylinder off, toss in sink and clean the wand thoroughly with a wet hot towel. Getting the cooked milk of now will save time later I guaranty.7. Take your heated group handle off the machine and measure out your coffee from the grinder into it. Using a metal (my preference) or plastic tamper, press down firmly and twist. You might want to do this twice.8. Stick into the machine, pour the hot water out of your cup and stick it under the group head, turn on the brewing switch. Rule of thumb on a professional machine is a 20 second pour. The pour should be slow to start and build more volume as it continues. Color should be dark and rich. On the Breville with it’s special group cup I find a 30 second pour is good. When the stream of espresso turns a lighter color turn it off. Lighter color tends to be bitter (a over extracted coffee)If all you are getting is a faint drip… drip…drip out of the group your coffee is to fine. Try grinding again.You may have to work a little bit to find the perfect grind to pour time when you first get started with this machine. Moisture in the air, in your coffee etc. play into the grind size as well. Patience is good and a better Burr style grinder if you can afford it!9.Mix up your steamed milk and foam, gentle pour it in your cup and sit down and enjoy!10. Remember to Turn Off your machine and clean all the parts, group, up inside where the group sits, bottom tray, wand & cover thoroughly after using.Please note that with any espresso machine if your cup & group is hot before you brew you’ll have a far better espresso making experience!This is not a heavy duty machine but very adequate for your daily cups. Making two cups in succession does not over tax the boiler.Hope this helps in your research of counter top espresso makers. Cheers!
54 people found this helpful
Juan Rivera –
Great Espresso maker
I have been using this espresso maker for about a week and so far I am very pleased with its performance. I have been visiting the local espresso shops for the past couple years without a espresso budget in mind, i was just buying when I felt the urge. I didn’t realize how much I was spending on espressos weekly. The machine has a beautiful stainless steel design looks much better in person. It pours out the espresso perfectly based on reviews and videos I have used to compare with other high end machines. The taste is consistent not watery or strong. I matched it up with the Breville smart grinder and that too does excellent work. The milk steamer is powerful and heats up the milk quickly. I usually put my milk in the metal milk container and stick it in the freezer for about 5-10 min prior to making the espresso this helps with the frothing. Very easy to clean. I will get back in time with an update after a few months of use. So far I saved $40 on espresso this includes making a few cups for co-workers. So far 5 stars and I recommend.10/16/13 updateOK I had an issue with espresso machine the other day. Here is what happened; I thought I blew a gasket or something. I was so irritated. I switch to a new bean Ethiopia from Starbucks and used the same grind as the previous bean. I ran the espresso machine and the coffee was coming in slow drips. I thought for a moment and decided to clean the portafilter. I ground some the same coffee and ran the espresso again. I hear a pop and water and coffee was squirting around the area. I stopped the machine and thought about the reviews I read about leaky espresso machines and blown gaskets and I thougt…That was mine and I will need to send this back or get a new gasket. I also read reviews about coffee being too fine and clogging the portafilter. So I tried it again. I gave the smart grinder a couple of clicks to the left and ran the espresso again and man the coffee came out fine. I was so relieved and glad that I took the time to read and learn about espresso makers before I purchased one.That experience has taught me a lot about espressos makers, grinders and beans. It has become apparent to me that some beans can grind finer than other brands of beans and some espresso machines cannot handle too fine of a grind. The bean well I think its because how they are grown, the locations and elevations.I see why some may have issues with espresso machines. I would say take the time to read or view some youtube videos on espresso machines. They are very insightful.UPDATE 2/08/14 my espresso machine is doing great and it’s been five months.It still puts out great creama and has been doing great on a variety of beans as if it has gotten better every time i use it. No clogging and it is still performing well. At this price, which is cheaper than what i bought st, I highly recommend this product. you will not be disappointed.The machine is doing great and my coffee still taste great. Still a five star.UPDATE 10/2/15It’s been a 3.5 years since I purchased the Breville espresso maker. I stopped using the steam wand over a year ago because it added water to the milk, but this was a blessing because I purchased the Breville milk cafe frother and I am so glad I did. The frother does an excellent job frothing. No more holding the container under the steam wand waiting for the steam to do it’s job. I now just have to press a button on the frother and it’s in it’s own but not only that, I can add ingredients to the frother while it’s frothing and also add the espresso shot for a perfect stir. So now I can froth and pull my espresso shots without having to wait for one to be done before the other. No matter what espresso machine you have of this type you may want to look into an external frother so it’ll save you time. The Breville milk cafe is highly rated.UPDATE 06/12/16Ok I am blessed and happy to say that the expresso machine has been doing great in my opinion. It still perfoms and pulls shots like new. Has had no issues what so ever. This machine is great for the money. Breville makes some great products. I still make espressos for co-workers and they love it always ask when I will bring in espressos. I maintain it like recommended.Last comment 11/2021This cafe roma is about 8 years old and still running like a champ. I may purchase another for my cabin up north.
27 people found this helpful
Meghan King –
A little disappointing
I purchased this for my son for his birthday and was a little surprised at just how little you could do to control it’s functions and how it doesn’t even control certain functions. The knob turns from brew to froth, there is no built in control on shot size so you have to eyeball it unless you have measurements on your espresso cup and nothing that measures the temperature or allows you to control the desired temperature of the milk frother. Frothing takes way longer than it should, it’s very loud and the length and limited mobility of the frothing wand makes the process a range of slightly irritating and uncomfortable to a huge effing mess and rather agitating. My son isn’t unhappy with it (his first espresso machine) and is still trying to master his perfect shot, so I give it 3 stars instead of of 1. In it’s defense, it wasn’t my first choice, so that was it’s first let down. The one model made by de longhi that I wanted to purchase was out of stock everywhere including de longhi. If you are looking for a base model espresso machine with on off function there are much cheaper options than this.
AmazonReviewer0068 –
My first two days with the Breville Cafe Roma
Day 1:Overall Feeling with my purchase: 4/5 stars =>espresso quality: 5 stars + machine quality: 3 stars, for a total of 4 starsThe Look: the machine looks good, not fantastic. Ive used a 200 dollar krups machine that looked more solidly built, specially the brew head and filter system. The breville unit has a rather plasticky brew-head handle and a very very simple brew head upon which you must insert the individual filters for either a single or double shot of espresso. This system in the breville looks a little more cumbersome than the krups for 200 dollars which has a one-piece brew head + filters. The water container looks good, but the water-level window will get fogged up upon steaming milk, luckily this will clear up after 20-30 minutes.Vibration: The unit micro-vibrates, and it does it a lot although it’s barely noticeable to the eye. You will notice this if you have light-weight cups or plastic glasses. You do need to keep the cups/glasses in place with your hands as these will tend to slide from under the espresso dripping tubes.The Puck: I got my first shot of espresso and I immediately noticed how cumbersome it is to get the puck of espresso out of the brew head. You literally have to push it out of the filter by means of pounding on it with your fist or by aggressively shaking it back and forth over the garbage can, my first attempt resulted in the filter and puck flying out of the brewhead into the garbage bin together. A second attempt, in which I removed the filter with puck from inside the brew-head first, proved successful. I miss a button I can press to force the puck out of the brew head. Again, I have seen this in the Krups for 200 bucks.The Espresso: my first shot of espresso took a long time to come down, I wondered if this would be the routine moving forward. I think this delay could take some points away from the breville unit. The shot itself was rich with good crema, no complaints here, the machine does a good shot of espresso, BETTER than the krups for 200 bucks.The steaming: the unit comes with a nice steaming/frothing wand. Much better built quality than other cheaper units. The unit’s frothing jug though is tiny and it will only accommodate enough milk for up to two cappuccinos, or one latte. I think I will need a bigger frothing jug, with a thermostat to go with it (not included in this breville unit).Day 2:Overall Feeling with my purchase: 4/5 starsThe look: im growing into it, Im getting used to the whole brewing head process and I kind of don’t mind it anymore, now that’s me, and I like the feeling of “working” for my espresso (that’s why I got a machine in the first place). My filters remain clear and unclogged after using freshly ground coffee at a setting of “very fine” in my grinding machine (my conical burr machine could do 5 finer settings, all the way to Turkish finest) I’ve noticed some roughed up edges on the punch-holed stainless platter upon which you place your cups for brewing. I hope (since this is supposed to be stainless steel) that no rust will show in these areas.Vibration: I placed a bigger ceramic cup this morning for a latte and the vibration although there didn’t really slide the cup in any direction. Again, I think this problem is only present when you use very small (shot size) glass or small more-plastic cups.The Puck: I’ve gotten used to removing the filter from inside the brew header and to (still) firmly pound on its back so the puck can be released. I still don’t think this is very smart and I still miss a feature to gently push the puck out of the filter. A flaw in design but not an appliance killer.The espresso: wonderful flavor, good crema, and much MUCH faster brewing time than the first attempt on day 1. I think the machine needed one or two shots brewed to “break in”.The steaming: no complaints here, it does what it’s supposed to do. Make sure you let it run a little before steaming the milk, so it can expel excess water and milk that might have accumulated inside from previous steaming sessions.
2 people found this helpful
Patrick L Boyle –
Quality machine – but obsolete?
I had my first cappuccino about forty years ago in a cafe on the Piazza del Campo in Sienna. I was hooked.Since then I have had many espresso makers. I had one for the last decade or so from some maker who built them for Starbucks. Last month it finally gave up the ghosts. As it happened my kitchen TV died the same day and both were hauled away by the scavengers. I got a new model TV with a zillion features and I looked around new espresso maker. The TV (18″, color and HDMI) for $67. Amazing price.But all the espresso machines I could find that were at all comparable to my Starbucks branded machine were at least $400. Then I saw this Breville machine for around $200. It make good coffee but it has some flaws.First of all it isn’t really even semi-automatic. My old machine had buttons . If you wanted a single – you pushed the single button and the double button for a double. The machine would dispense the appropriate amount of hot water. So when I got this new little Breville I put in the double basket and turned the dial to espresso.Wrong. It filled up the cup and continued with more coffee and that ran all over the counter. You have to stand there and watch and be ready to turn the dial off. I know how to do it now and it doesn’t really take very long. But it isn’t very automatic. You can not just push a button and walk away.The next shock was that I had no cups that fit under the spout. I have a lot of cups. This machine only accepts very short cups. Now I run the espresso into a little carafe and pour the liquid which I have measured by eye as it came out and then pour that into a cup.The steam frother works well. It make s lot of foam very quickly. But you can’t do all those fancy patterns that the baristas can produce. It is just simple voluminous foam. This foam tends to be a little bit too cool and I never could do all those fancy tricks myself anyway. I had after a while used a simple ten dollar foam device which is just an electric whisk. The steam frother on this machine is better.So how is the cappuccino? Good. I just though it was going to be little more automatic.If I had do it over again I would probably buy a Nespresso machine. I have a knock box (for the used grounds). a burr grinder (for the right grind) and a 51 mm metal tamper. With Nespresso I would need none of those.This machine does make a good cappuccino. When I got my first espresso maker forty years ago that was hard – unless you were in Italy or near North Beach in San Francisco (where I lived). But today appropriate coffee, grinders and machines and espresso houses are everywhere.I never considered Nespresso because I figured if George Clooney liked it – it couldn’t be too good. I think was wrong – not about Clooney but probably about Nespresso.
8 people found this helpful
June A –
Best expresso maker
I purchased this same expresso maker that amazingy lasted 20 yrs. It finally broke last year. I purchased a different brand that broke after 10 mos. Went to Amazon and saw that Breville brought this older model back. It doesn’t have auto shut so you can’t walk away while brewing but this fair priced sturdy nice looking machine makes the best coffee. Rich creamy flavor. And it never leaks. It’s solid metal, not cheap plastic. Plus Breville includes instructions & tips how to make the best coffee.
4 people found this helpful
Brandon Gresham –
LOVE THIS MACHINE (replaced my old Krups)
I have to say, I absolutely love this machine! This is a preliminary review since I just got it today — I will try to remember to do a follow-up review in about a month concerning the issues that others have brought up that seem to mainly appear only over a few weeks of use (i.e.: clogging filters). For now, these are my first impressions after having pulled 3 shots with frothed milk.Up-front, this is not my first espresso machine; this one replaced my old, small, a little beat-up (but still functional!) Krups. It made a decent cup — but the Breville puts my Krups to shame! I also tried another couple brands from some big-box outlets and took them all back, unsatisfied. So I am familiar with brewing espresso, even if I’m not a full-fledged barista. :)These comparisons are mainly made as opposed to my Krups.1) The warming plate gets noticeably hotter2) The crema extracted is noticeably thicker and richer looking 2a) In order to achieve this result, I don’t have to grind as finely nor tamp nearly as hard — indeed, I haven’t had to tamp with much pressure at all3) The crema extracted stays a LOT warmer for longer4) The shot is noticeably less bitter (ie: not bitter at all)5) The frothed milk is absolutely better. My Krups required 2-3 frothing cycles per batch in order to get anything close to acceptable. This machine accomplishes MUCH BETTER… and in only 1 frothing cycle6) The drip tray is WONDERFUL… 2 holes for the grouphead to drip it’s excess into without dirtying the tray-top and an overflow indicator to warn you before you create a mess7) With the exception of the measuring spoon/tamper, all of the other accessories were AWESOME. I love the double-walled espresso cups (2 included), and though I probably won’t use the matching saucers, they are nice too. The included cleaning tool is SUPERB as it contains (all in one piece) the right sized tool to clean the froth-hole, a smaller tool to clean the pores of the filter-baskets should they become clogged, and a wrench to remove the frother-tip for periodic cleaning. The included spoon/tamper is “OK” — it’s certainly more durable than my Krups one, but it’s still just plastic… I would have liked a nice stainless one to match the machine.8) The water reservoir is a bit larger… and easier to read the fill-level (still not ideal, though, it really should have had a small LED light shining out from inside… but it can be read with a little care… my Krups one pretty much I couldn’t ever see the water-level.This machine is easy to use, easy to clean, and consists overall of less work than my Krups. It’s obvious from just a few uses that when it comes time to give it a thorough cleaning (I usually do that about once/month) this one will be MUCH EASIER and the results will be superior.But in the end what matters most are the results: the product I produced from this machine tastes JUST AS GOOD (if not better) AS MY LOCAL BARISTA. I am *VERY* satisfied! :)All of that being said, let me emphasize that I am not comparing this to my old Krups as a way of suggesting that NEWER Krups’s wouldn’t also fare better; I’m sure they would. But my old Krups is what I have to compare this new machine to.Also, I am sure many of the complaints of other reviewers are probably somewhat valid; however, it should be remembered that this is NOT a $1000 machine… it’s not going to do everything for you. You are still going to have to do much of the work, especially clean-up & maintenance. But you are going to get a FANTASTIC product if you are just willing to put forth a little effort… and all for a reasonable price!I am absolutely satisfied. I’ll post my thoughts again in about a month.
6 people found this helpful
J Field –
Completely happy with this purchase
I received my Breville ESP8XL espresso machine three days ago and I am absolutely pleased with it. It’s a solid machine and looks great on my countertop. It replaced a Starbucks Barista machine which finally died after 15 good years of almost every day use. I spent weeks searching for the best value in the price range of $100-200 hoping to pay no more than $175. There are a lot of machines out there in that price range, many brands I’ve never heard of. I actually ordered one that was temporarily out of stock. It seemed like good machine with good reviews but as I continued to look around I noticed the same exact machine under different brand names, none of which I’ve heard of. I decided to cancel the order. Short story long, I paid $207 for this one but I figured what’s an extra $31 for something I will use every day for a few years? I have a Breville juicer that is a workhorse so I decided it’d be worth it.This machine is easy to use. I’m still experimenting with the grind and tamping pressure but in the mean time it pulls a decent shot. I don’t use the frothing attachment as it does a great job without it. One minor issue is that the steam wand only swings right and left. It doesn’t swing down thereby requiring you to hold the pitcher while you’re steaming or put something underneath it, which is was I do. Fortunately it reaches 140 degrees F pretty quickly so even if you’re holding it the whole time it’s not a big deal. The only other thing I’m not sure of is that the steamer uses a pump which thumps while you’re using it. My other machine didn’t do this. My concern is that it’s a moving part that may wear out within a short time. That may not be the case but we’ll see.Two final notes: The Breville website doesn’t have this machine, in fact it has no machines under $400, so my guess is that they made this model for the big box retailers. Secondly; today on Amazon I can’t find the machine I bought for less than $245. Not sure what’s up with that.. Cheers…
4 people found this helpful
acerfacerf –
Would NOT Buy Again
I’m returning my Breville Cafe Roma one week after receiving. Much of the blame falls on Breville for LOUSY, incomprehensibly foolish instructions. Is it possible I got a lemon – sure. In fact I was certain this was the case. In reading other reviews, I don’t think so.I’m not a barista but I know what good espresso is supposed to taste and look like. Breville says in the instruction manual not to use a COMMERCIAL espresso grind. In other words, don’t go into Starbucks and ask them to do it. Incredibly, the manual has two color photos depicting a home espresso grind versus a commercial espresso grind. NO ONE, short of Superman, or an X-Ray machine, can tell a difference.The first grind I tried was a Starbucks Commercial Espresso grind – as I had bought some in anticipation of the unit’s arrival. It made one very slow cup of very good tasting espresso. Within three shots the filter was essentially clogged. MY FAULT. So, I returned to Starbucks to buy a different grind who seemed baffled by Breville’s advice.So despite my original grind looking EXACTLY like both pictures and fitting Breville’s absurd description: “Should be like sand that adheres to your fingers” (and slightly turns them brown,) wrong grind. Starbucks told me the next grind was a ‘4,’ that is the next THICKER grind. Thinking that would be too coarse, we chose halfway between Espresso and ‘4.’ Now the shots are weaker BUT – AND THIS IS THE CRITICAL THING, the shots still pull too slowly. Worst of both worlds.Other grinds don’t work either. I’ll be honest, the espresso still tastes pretty good and that’s the sad thing – the potential for great espresso from this machine seems to be present.I talked to SIX professional espresso repair shops in Washington, Oregon and California after my first 3 shots – all on the first day! I was so mad I wanted professional advice. All said that the grind was too fine. Yet going coarser did not fix the problem.Two of the six recommended the Philips Carina Superautomatic Espresso Machine – and one of those two did not carry Philips; both recommendations seemed quite informed and sincere. It costs a hundred bucks more than the Breville Roma. The repair shops said operation would be trouble free and I’ll spend 39 bucks for an extra year protection plan. My former boss’s ancient Philips coffee machine (not espresso) produced “best coffee I’ve ever had” type of results, so I’m hopeful.Of the six repair shops I consulted, the most famous (in Portland) in terms of youtube hits (hundreds of thousands) was honest when I said “how much to spend for completely reliable results?” Their answer: “About $1000.00.” While this business did not recommend the Philips when I told the owner I’d probably buy the Philips, he told me to expect good results.Two other of the six said home espresso machines were notoriously unreliable. The gal at my local Bed, Bath, Beyond (and I realize this is not scientific whereas the shops I spoke to are probably truly expert advice) said she’d tried almost every model Bed Bath sells and at the $700.00 price point is where she felt the machines were finally somewhat reliable.Breville gave me an RMA with a sincere apology. Unfortunately, the terms of the return – not ONE THING including original packaging can be missing, or no return, were presented very rudely.For me, this was a strikeout and not a base hit. From the moment the machine arrived…
3 people found this helpful
Byron –
Just Ok
Makes a decent expresso. But if you’re buying this to get a real expresso machine experience and make cafe quality drinks, skip this and get a gaccia classic pro like I did. This machine has a 53mm pressurized portafilter, real coffee shop machines use 58mm unpressurized portafilter. the steam wand doesn’t produce very good pressure to really froth milk like the cafes, it uses a sleeve to help produce more bubbles to make the foam so it’ll never be the type you can use for latte art. But if you don’t care and just want to make a good but not great expresso drinks, this will be enough.
5 people found this helpful
HristovV –
… for about half a year and so far very satisfied with the results
Had this machine in our office for about half a year and so far very satisfied with the results. It’s good for the price but not professional grade. There are ways to compensate and still get a robust espresso.My tips for getting the most out of this machine: Because this machine can’t quite extract as much as a professional grade unit, it’s best to start with a dark roast espresso bean to compensate for some loss of flavor. Grind using your preferred method, but I go for 30-35 seconds in a cheap blade grinder. Grinding finer might start clogging the filter, but can lead to better extraction. Whether making a single or double shot, I fill the large filter basket to the top. Then I apply a fairly large amount of force (>50lb) onto the tamper three times, spinning the tamper in between. The next thing to watch is the color of the espresso coming out. It starts out dark, then brown, and finally turns tan. You want to stop the machine before it gets tan because the tan portion is basically murky water. If you want to go one step further, you can pre-heat the portafilter and cup by running it without coffee for a few seconds.Overall I’m satisfied with this purchase. Once I adjusted my technique, the machine has reliably produced good espresso for the entire office over the past few months.
73 people found this helpful
chicago esquire –
So far, this thing shines. Pulls a great espresso shot.
I was initially skeptical buying another Breville product as two smart ovens failed within two years, but decided to give this a shot. So far, I am very impressed. It is very well made and nothing on the body seems flimsy or cheap. The price point is very good. Most importantly, it makes an excellent espresso. I’ve read some of the comments about it not making a good shot, and based on my experience, I can’t really understand those comments and instead attribute the weak shot to user error / inexperience. Pulling a great shot of espresso is an art, and you have to master the grind, the tamping and the time to pull the cup when the shot is ready. A few cons is that it is hard to read the water meter (suggest having a floating indicator to better highlight the water level in the tank) and my puck is always wet. Well, I’ve only had this for a few days, and so far I’ve pulled about a dozen shots so far. The frother works well. I will update soon should the performance be compromised in any way.
M. Grish –
good espresso, low price
Looked for quite a while before purchasing this unit, my thing is finding the ultimate balance between cost and functionality. It has some issues: the steam wand discharges water initially. I use a cup to catch the initial water discharge before the steam gets going. This is often about a 1/4 cup and I don’t want it in my milk. Another is, when pulling a double shot to two cups, the right side cup ends up with about 25-35% more liquid in it than the left after 25 seconds or so. Still another is that when timing the pull for 25-30 seconds per numerous recommendations I’ve read, the period from 25-30 seconds seems watery. Otherwise, the price of the Cafe Roma was good for the quality of the coffee produced once you get familiar with the quirks, and it’s an attractive and seemingly durable appliance (we’ve had it for about six months). The milk steamer works fairly well, producing a dense foam. The pod filter is nice for a quick cup. Clean-up is relatively easy: the additional collar for the steam wand seems like an extra step, but I’ve gotten used to it. I should mention I bought a conical burr grinder to go with it, and the two together make some good coffee. The setting for the grind I use is between Turkish and Espresso, and have had zero problems with clogging.
ClarenceZ –
Great machine until the filter closes up
I have had this machine for a bit over one year – received it as a Christmas present 2018 – and it worked fine until today. Espresso quality was a bit inconsistent but I think that has to do with me even tough I was doing the same thing every day. However the big one is that the filter totally closed up – as if it is melted shut. I am calling Breville today to see what they can do and what I need to do (i.e. buying a new filter etc…) however when I just went to the Breville page I see that this machine has been discontinued. So we will see what they say about my filter issue. That is why I am giving it 4 stars.
carmela c –
i love this machine
I was looking for a machine that was a sturdy build that made espresso similar to commercial types. Well, this machine caught me by surprise and had to have one. While at my sisters home i was offered an espresso as she was explaining the new machine that she purchased. I did not pay any mind to it until i tasted this delicious italian espresso with my favorit cream on top. Just like commercial types.i made one myself and saw the ease of use. Water reservior was a good size and the delicious hot espresso cream was incredible. So i had to buy one and i did. I cannot stop talking about this machine. For those that never made please note that the coffee bean must be grinded for expresso not course but fine, the correct amount of espresso grind must be placed in the filter just shy of the top and lightly pack it and ready to brew. The instructions are clear. So read the step by step instruction and you too will be pleasantly surprised on how deliciouse your coffee will be. I continue to enjoy espresso, cafe latte, capuccino, etc. I love this machine.
Jesse Janes –
Short frothing wand
This machine replaced the identical model that was about 4 years old. The old machine had a frothing wand that was 2 inches in length before attaching the stainless steel sleeve (sleeve protects against accidental burns to fingers). This new machine has a frothing wand that’s one-half inch shorter, and if the sleeve is probably attached, the nozzle tip is too far from the milk and major bubbles fill the pitcher. I did froth without the sleeve; with a pitcher filled half full, I was able to get the tip of the wand just below the surface to draw some air for foam, and create the vortex whirlpool effect. The top edge of the pitcher was up against the rubber elbow/wand handle. The wand needs to be at least 2 inches in length. I will be calling Breville tomorrow, and if they cannot send out a longer wand, it goes back. Wife not happy.
DW –
Not bad for the price, but could be better
If you want espresso in the morning, then this is definitely for you. With that said, there are some flaws with it that I’ll be considering in the future if I buy an espresso machine again. First, there is the manual control for the espresso and steamer. This isn’t terrible but it is something to consider as I have seen machines do it completely automatically and give perfect shots/doubleshots. If you want the perfect shot then you have to master the manual controls on this machine. The second point is the heating element is very weak and after every shot you make you need to let the machine reheat in order to steam milk/soymilk for a latte. Additionally, the steamer does an okay job. You could probably do a similar quality job frothing/heating your milk with a microwave and a silly straw. In fact, I actually do microwave it before I use the steam wand otherwise I get a cool to luke-warm latte.
7 people found this helpful
S. ApodacaS. Apodaca –
Stainless Steel Lined Thermoblock – Awesome machine!
I am in love with this machine. At first I was thinking it might not be for me because I had read in the reviews and answers that it has an aluminum heating element. And it does. BUT it’s a THERMOBLOCK which means it is an aluminum block with a STAINLESS STEEL LINED COIL. I learned about this by searching for the word thermoblock on youtube which took me to a Seattle Coffee Gear video (from 2012) which shows the block sawed in half. For me that sealed the deal (so to speak) because the reviews aside from that misconception were stellar. And I am really impressed with the espresso maker and the milk frother. Although I usually operate the wand without the little stainless steel tube. It gives me better results and makes cleaning easier. And cleaning by the way is very easy.Mine came with two ceramic espresso cups with saucers, the measuring spoon and tamper combo and the frothing cup. Nice touch. And the tamper is really sturdy. It’s not a flimsy plastic job. It’s thick plastic.All in all I was very impressed. I made a great latte out of the gate with some pre-ground Lavazza espresso coffee. I will eventually move to a burr grinder. First things first.
25 people found this helpful
Tamara S. Tamara S. –
Great espresso machine!
I have had several pretty inexpensive espresso machines in the past, but this one is a step above the basics. It’s very easy to use, and it makes a great shot. In fact, this is the 2nd one I’ve owned. My friend gave me the first one, her husband wasn’t using it any longer. We lost it during a flood, and when I went to replace it, I bought the exact same one. Didn’t even want an upgraded version. It cleans up easily, the bottom slides out and apart for a quick rinse, and the water reservoir holds quite a bit, enough to make everyone a round. It’s not too big to sit on the counter, it’s about the size of a regular coffee pot. This is one of my favorite small appliances. It gets used quite a bit for iced coffees around here. It did NOT come with the stainless espresso cups, but it did come with the stainless milk frothing pitcher. I just ordered some little espresso shot glasses which work great
124 people found this helpful
Terry –
Good with caution
I love having a latte in the morning, and having the ability to do that is enough for 5 stars. However, perhaps my fault, I wish it:Would have a larger water tankWould automatically dispense a single or double cup of espressoThe frother would be more powerful (steam harder and hotter, it takes a couple minutes for a latte)The portafiller would be a standard size to I could get a tamper/leveler, etc.You don’t know until you know, right?
David Dean –
Good machine, great service, good price
I bought this machine in (March 06) and have been overall very pleased with my purchase. Both the espresso comes out hot, creamy, and delicious. The brushed metal design makes it an elegant addition to my kitchen and I love the durable feel. The machine warms up quickly, usually it is ready to go before I am done with prep. If I fill the filter completely with grinds, then the depleted grinds fall into the trash like brick. This is nice because I want to perserve my plumbing by not washing grinds down the sink.As I was learning how to use my grinder (separate machine) I used a grind of coffee that was too fine (a floury consistency) and clogged my double-shot filter. At first I sent an email to their service center (askus at brevilleUSA) and never received a reply. A couple days later I called Breville (866 BREVILLE) and was surprised when a technician immediately answered the phone. If you need service I recommend calling them and make sure you have your questions and complaints prepared because you may not have time to mull them over as you wait on hold. He instructed me to soak the filter in a water/vinegar solution overnight, which fixed the problem, but then a few days later a new double-shot filter arrived in the mail. I presume the new part was in response to my email. It would have been nice if they communicated better through email but my problem was resolved twice over, with no cost to me, even though it was my fault.I have two complaints about the machine. The most disappointing aspect is the steamer. It isn’t hot enough and doesn’t have the power to make a perfect latte. It also isn’t pointed into the drip tray, but rather extends out the side. My second complaint is about the dossier, the thing that holds the coffee grinds. It has a sliding piece of plastic which holds the filter in place when throwing out the grinds, but the plastic is inadequate and often falls off.Summary: Good machine that makes good coffee at a good price.
10 people found this helpful
Amazon Customer –
Really loud!
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1st: please excuse the giant cup. I am descaling the machine. While i am waiting, i thought humm… when did i buy this machine. I brought this on July, 2019. And it’s still working ok. But it is LOUD. I only used the coffee part and i cant even use the milk frosting part. It is so LOUD that it is hurting my ears each time i am frosting the milk. But the coffee part works. I used this machine 2-4 times per week. Will i buy this again? Probably not. It likes: i can only use 50% of the money i invested.
2 people found this helpful
Mohammeed Alghamdi –
The quality has changed
I bought one in 2016 and I was impressed by its functions and the quality of the steaming. 2 years later, when I went back home to Saudi Arabia, I had issues with the mechanism and steaming. I went to the exclusive agent in Jeddah to get this machine fixed. I was disappointed at all levels starting from the service provided to ending up running away from the agent ( poor service – high cost – refuse to check up – ignoring contact).I came back to the US in 2021 and bought another one again. It has been 9 months since I bought it. Low quality and poor steaming.I encourage you to find something else.
3 people found this helpful
Tammi –
Espresso Crema with Steamed Oat Milk?
Temperature of the espresso is perfect! Steamed Chobani Vanilla Oat Milk for Crema and steamed milk! Brewed two cups of espresso perfectly this morning!! The arm loads to left and tightly to the right. Beautiful Espresso Machine!!! Stainless steel is so pretty sitting on my counter top!!! Everything is included from Breville to brew even a scoop / tamper for espresso. I used Starbucks Espresso roast pre-ground coffee. Machine brewed so well!! I am so happy!! Clean up is easy!!
Vantageshop-com –
Good starter machine for teen coffee enthusiast.
The teens in the house became interested in coffee and the more gourmet of them wanted to make coffee beverages at home. We selected this machine based on brand familiarity and price range. I knew that lower priced machines would probably fail to satisfy because a friend had worked his way through several inexpensive machines years back.So far we are happy with this machine. I have had various forms of coffee including some with heavy frothed milk and or cream. I am sure we have saved more than the cost of the machine by not patronizing famous coffee stands that require jargon to order.The device looks nice and seems unlikely made. It’s sturdy and easy to clean. It is surprisingly compact and has a small foot print on the counter which is a plus.
DisseminateJoy –
An Excellent Machine
All I can say is WOW! My teenage daughters and I love espresso & designer lattes, This machine made it a BREEZE for us to give up all the overpriced designer cafes in our area. My brother is a coffee snob and spent literally thousands on a fully automated Capresso machine. You could buy a couple dozen of these Breville machines for the price of his.. and you know what? It’s a few seconds more work but the coffee is JUST AS GOOD!One of my daughters is visually impaired and she can work the machine and clean it with no problems.Assembly was easy, cleanup is easy, and making three different beverages in seconds is a breeze, too. We have three completely different tastes so we’ve managed quite a few different drinks. I make sugar free soy lattes using Soy Slender and sugar free DaVinci flavors. We’ve frothed skim, 2%, whole and soy milks of every type. Even heavy whipping cream and half & half froth perfectly.The only issue we had was that one time we tamped the espresso a little too firmly and nothing would come out. If you tamp lightly, you’ll have no problem at all and the crema is absolutely superb!As for the reviewer that said their espresso was watery, if you use a fine ground espresso, that definately won’t be a problem. The two-serving filter makes a great double shot, but if you try to make more than that, I can see how you could end up with something watery. The drip tray does need emptying once in a while, but that’s the same with every espresso maker I’ve ever used.I DEFINATELY recommend this machine!!
125 people found this helpful
LP827 –
In my opinion best espresso machine in this price range
I have had the Breville Cafe Roma for 5 years and it is still going strong. It makes great tasting cappuccinos. It steams the milk quite well especially if you use great tasting organic milk. The coffee comes out a little weak but I am willing to accept that until I am willing to buy a more professional quality machine with a non-pressurized portafilter like the Rancilio Silvia for $600.Right now I am using pre-ground Lavazza coffee and do not have a problem with the filters getting clogged. The only time I had a problem with the filters getting clogged was when I tried whole beans without a good quality grinder. It was the cheap Krups grinder’s fault–not the Cafe Roma’s.I like the machine so much that I bought one for my office too. Originally, I was looking online for a different machine for my office just to switch it up a bit. I ordered a Gaggia Baby and sent it back because it was made of almost all plastic. Then I ordered a Saeco Poemia and returned that one too because it was very cheaply made and would not function properly. I was comparing the machines to my Cafe Roma that I had at home. I wound up ordering another Cafe Roma because you get a better quality machine for the price compared to Gaggia and Saeco.Also, my father has had his Breville Cafe Roma for about 6 years and his is still functioning properly too and he is very satisfied.
5 people found this helpful
Cynthia Farr-weinfeld –
Good espresso but some problems
This espresso maker makes better than average espresso WHEN it works. It makes nice crema and nice flavored espresso. We have had ours for several months and I was quite happy with it. But suddenly, the double-walled filter started clogging up constantly. By this, I mean that the espresso would start to flow slowly and then just start dripping instead of freely flowing through. Pressure would build up so much in the filter basket that it was almost impossible to take it out to try to clean, and when you finally got the filter handle to turn, it made a POP sound and coffee and grounds spilled all over everything!We have used a burr grinder as the package insert suggests and ground the coffee on exactly the fineness they suggest, to no avail. I also have run through their deep cleaning procedure over and over and get a couple of good cups but it clogs up all over again. I even set my grinder to just grind at almost a medium grind so it wouldn’t clog up the filter, but it is still happening.To me, this feels like a deal-breaking design flaw. I am going to ask for a single-walled filter, which some people, who have experienced the same problem, have indicated really helped. But as the filters cost $39, it only adds to the cost of an already overly-expensive, poorly designed machine.Other problems with this machine is that the brewing area needs to be a bit taller, as you cannot fit anything but very low mugs under it with the coffee filter in place.Would I buy this again? No.TLDR: Good coffee when it works as Breville gives you a filter designed to fail and cause lots of irritation.Update 2/10/20 After many more of the same problems, I called the company and was told, “Oh, we discontinued that line, so there aren’t any parts anymore.” They wouldn’t help me in any way and insisted that I go to Amazon, which I did. Amazon made it right and gave me a full refund. Once again: DON’T waste your money on this piece of junk…
One person found this helpful
JNW82 –
Initial Review: In general, why is it so hard to find a quality espresso maker?
An initial review: To start, this machine is VERY VERY loud and like other reviews stated the steam wand makes a VERY VERY loud thumping noise “like a heartbeat”. I washed all the parts and ran water through the first cycle. I do enjoy the cup warmer because I can put the espresso I want to use for my second latte on top of the machine. I have figured out that if I use my espresso cups to measure the water then it has the exact amount needed to make two nice cups of creme espresso. This is a discontinued model as other reviewers stated and if you look at the product description section it was first available for sale on Amazon in March of 2004 (I knew this before making the purchase). I purchased this machine to replace an old school Krups espresso machine that I loved but died due to old age. I probably won’t try the steam wand due to other reviews on it and because I absolutely love my Fantasy Life Milk Frother Wand. Please comment below if you know of a well made espresso machine that has a good price tag aka is not thousands of dollars and has a good no-hastle warranty that backs the product.. Thank you.All in all, so far so good.
Sharon K. –
Still working on the perfect cup
I’ve had the machine for 4 days now and these are my initial impressions. Its heavy and seems very well made.It heats up quickly (I feel) and doesn’t have much lag time after brewing espresso and then switching to steam.I’m still working on the espresso taste and in defense of the machine, I only have San Francisco French Roast beans.The beans are quite dark and I figured would work decently. The espresso comes out quickly which I read meant my grind might not be fine enough, but it does have the nice little crema on top. I’m using a glass measuring cup until I get a feel for what is 2oz. So that is one thing I didn’t realize. You put it into standby when you want to stop the flow of espresso. Not a big deal for me, but you do have to pay attention.The steamer works very well, almost too well. It easily makes foam, so much so that the milk hasn’t reached the temperature I want, but I have lots of foam. I will have to figure this one out a bit, but for now I pop it in the microwave for 20 second after combining it all. Anyway that is the main reason for 4 stars instead of 5.
One person found this helpful
T.Keller –
New and improved?
I have made my own cappuccino for over ten years. I have always purchased cheap machines that lasted about two years, but I decided to step up to a ‘better’ machine. I used the reviews here on Amazon to help make my decision. Even though I used cheap machines I can honestly say that I can foam the milk at least as well as a Starbuck’s barrista without using the typical foaming attachment.So, what do I like about the machine? It makes really good espresso. I have no problems with the coffee holder plugging up as I saw in other posts. I like the water holder. I found that if I turn on the machine, by the time I fill the coffee holder the machine is hot enough to make me a bowl of cappuccino. Sometimes I have to let the steam wand pass water before using, but it doesn’t take long to build up steam. I also like the little pick tool for cleaning milk from the steam wand that also has a smaller tool for the coffee holder (which I haven’t had to use yet.)So, what makes this a less than stellar review? Breville decided to improve two parts: the coffee holder and the steam wand. In my opinion neither of these items were improved, but Breville made sure you know they think it was by including a large brochure on the improvements in the instruction manual.The coffee holder does not have a mechanism that slides over small cup. The cup is now held in place by a spring mechanism. When you bang the holder on the side of the coffee ground can the cup falls into the can. Have you ever tried to pick up the hot cup out of a can full of grounds? Also, the large (2 scoop) cup does not hold two scoops of coffee (not even their cheap plastic scoop). I make a large cappuccino each time and invariably the coffee spills over the side of the little cup. After only two months of use the plating on the inside of the coffee cup holder is flaking off – must have gone into my coffee at some time. I thought it was coffee stains at first until the spots wouldn’t clean up – I took a closer look and saw that the plating was gone and whatever is under the plating is corroding.The new steam wand does not come with one of those silly plastic/rubber things to foam the milk. That’s the only good thing about it. The steam hole is just a little too large to really make a fine foam. All I get is really large bubbles. You would think the wand would stick over the side just a little so you could remove the milk cup. But if you put enough milk in it for a nice large cup of cappuccino or latte it will spill over the side as you tilt the milk cup to remove it from underneath the wand. Due to being on a diet I’m restricted to 1/2 cup of milk at a time now, but if I used a full cup like I used to do I would be spilling milk everytime I used it. As it is I still manage to spill some foam over the side.I often wonder if the designers of some of these things ever actually use them. Once this machine dies I will definitely seek out a different brand.
4 people found this helpful
CF –
Learning curve (updated)
I guess with every espresso machine there is a bit of a learning curve, but I didn’t expect it to be quite this difficult. The espresso turns out really yummy, but you really do have to get the grind right.The annoying thing about this machine is that when turning on the steam wand, it spits out quite a bit of water before it starts to actually steam. I’ve tried just about everything I can think of, but no matter how long I leave it in heat mode or steam first then espresso, it still spits out a lot of water in a stream before it actually just steams. So, I end up holding a towel under it until it starts steaming before putting the cup of milk up to it.Also, not happy about water pushing through the coffee while steaming the milk. I just keep the cup in place after I press the coffee to avoid a dripping mess.It’s a really sturdy machine and is mostly stainless, which is nicer than I expected. I do wish there wasn’t as much plastic in areas like the coffee area where hot water moves through and in the water chamber (still smells like plastic), but it seems most machines at this price range have that.Overall, it’s a nice little machine if you have the patience and are diligent about cleaning after every use.(UPDATE) At first, this machine was pretty good. I could tell something was going to go wrong with it, though, because the steam wand spits out a stream of water every time I turned it on. I would have to hold a towel under it for about 30 sec. until it started to steam. This is after waiting for the “heating” light to go off. Now, even though it is coming to a steam, it does not froth the milk, so all I end up with is hot milk with no foam. I’ve looked all over their website and can’t find anything to explain why this is happening. I am extremely clean and have immediately taken everything apart and washed every single part of this after every use, so it is not a clog in the wand. I can also see that it is blowing out steam (not clogged), so I am not sure what is going on. I use full-fat milk which is recommended for the tiny bubbles, but it does not work, even though it worked the first week or so with the same milk. I also tried to contact support and it is sending me to an error page.Not sure if I can return this thing, but I would not suggest buying this.
JasonJason –
In love with my breville espresso machine:)!
My husband got me this for my birthday and I am In love with my breville espresso machine it’s like having Starbucks in your house. My lattes taste amazing ! One tip I will give is with this machine is make sure you get whole coffee beans and have them grind the beans as course as possible the finer the grains the less likely your machine will work properly if you get the grains to fine your coffee will explode all over your kitchen lol also make sure you get some small espresso cups that are 5.6 oz other wise they won’t fit under your machine. I highly suggest suggest the joy jolt Disney Mickey and Pluto glass mugs set of 2 glass coffee cups 5.4oz . They fit perfectly .
One person found this helpful
Lake_lj –
Obviously not their renowned product
After absent from several prior searches for an upgrade from my De’longhi this unit finally appeared. As their entry-level espresso machine, I expected the same performance and quality (but hey, even Cadillac made a cheap model once). But alas, that was not to be. Unit does not heat water to proper temp, and the frother was weak. The unit was not of quality construction like the rest of their models, obvious from the first glance, it looks entirely different. And don’t wait on the cup warmer, that may take all day. Replaced this with the Calaphon machine, totally happy now.
One person found this helpful
Sean M. –
Perfect if you know EXACTLY what you want
This is a perfect machine IF YOU KNOW EXACTLY what you want. I’ll start the review off by describing what this machine really is. If you haven’t done you’re research there are two types of espresso baskets, pressurized and non-pressurized. Non-pressurized is what the standard espresso basket is. The cafe roma is a PRESSURIZED basket, this basically means the basket controls the water flow and produces a mimic crema. While this is very easy, you lose most of the personal touch of making an espresso. This is a good option for people who can’t afford a true conical espresso grinder.Now, on to the machine. This machine is wonderful, easy to use, and effective. It makes good espresso with ease, perfect for people not too invested in espresso. To me, almost everything is perfect and I haven’t had any issues aside from a weak frothing wand. The only things I wish I had known before purchasing was that the steam wand is slow and weak, and does not work at the same time as the espresso, so you have to wait a little until it’s fully hissing after pulling your shot to froth your milk. The other thing I wish I knew was the difference between pressurized and non-pressurized baskets. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in a cheap machine that produces tasty and fast espresso but does not have a real interest in espresso and it’s process.
3 people found this helpful
J. L. Wedge –
Exactly What I Wanted for a Good Quality Machine
This unit ended a long search and trial of two other machines before finding this one and liking it. It’s not great–but it’s good, and for the price I’m happy with it.What I Like:It comes with two cups and saucers plus a milk pitcher.It’s quiet (much quieter than a Nespresso).It has an easy to remove and install water container.It’s attractive.And best of all, it makes good espresso and lattes.Disappointments:The steamer “spits” a stream of water at first until working up to steam. I’ve solved that by placing a folded paper towel on the counter to “catch” the water–and that wet towel becomes my cleaning towel.The shroud around the steam wand has no purpose that I can see and makes cleaning much more difficult. So I’ve removed it and have shaved minutes off my clean-up time with no difference in performance that I can see.And lastly, the unit arrived in used condition which was unexpected and unadvertised. It was clean, except for water spots on one area and the manual had been wet and had coffee stains on it. I thoroughly washed and cleaned the entire unit and ran it several times to test it–finding that it worked okay. I paid for new and wanted new. But as someone who has returned units after trying them, I figured I’d bite the bullet and keep this one. But I would have expected that Amazon or the seller would have put this unit out as a “trial” or “used” unit rather than selling as new.At the end of the day, life’s too short to mess with it and it’s working fine.
5 people found this helpful
AmeriMec –
Give it proper grinds, and it is idiot-proof, giving a beautiful crema
‘ll try to make this short. I’ve made thousands of espresso shots (under the eye of a Michelin-chef and culinary expert/diva) using finicky big European restaurant machines that always had to be serviced just to be able to function at all. For good espresso one needs: (a)good beans (b)consistent and proper grind, and a close third, assuming we’re talking about an actual espresso machine (not some similarly-shaped-object like a Kraps steam-joke), (c) a functional espresso-maker. I have used this hundreds of times and if we have taken care of variables (a) and (b), this machine, IMHO, is idiot-proof. Seriously. Give it fresh grinds from a REAL burr grinder, (the cup-clogging only occurs if you have a Turkish-grind or an inconsistent powdery mess from a blade grinder) and it will never let you down. If anything, I WISH it were more finicky, just to make me feel more like a real barista – like the machine needed my help somehow. Thick, consistent crema EVERY time. NEVER “cooks” the coffee. The steamer is ferocious. PROs: idiot-proof crema production and never a lack of power, aggressive steam wand and a proper thermostat to lower the temp when pulling a shot, and raising it only to steam, resulting in espresso that shows the color of the roast, not just a boring tobacco-earth espresso all the time as is often the case even with much more expensive units. CONs: it DOES shake the demitasse around, so one has to hold it in place below the head. Every few uses, (as stated in the manual) it is advisable to “dry-run” a pull sans-beans, as this serves to keep the filter interior (it is double-walled) clean. But, again, if you have a real grinder (like in the $95+ range), clogging has never occurred once, even with my ferocious tamping, and taste is not affected. CONCLUSION: A foolproof shot of espresso with gusto, crema, and flavor intact. If this machine lets you down it is not the machine. Blame your beans, blame your grinder, but seriously, you can’t blame this unit.
9 people found this helpful
MB –
… had it for about 2 months now and I love it. I’m not an espresso connoisseur so I …
I’ve had it for about 2 months now and I love it. I’m not an espresso connoisseur so I can’t speak from that point of view, but I love coffee and lattes and this machine works for me. You can use single shot, double shot, or e.s.e pod inserts. I use the double shot mostly, and the pod whenever I’m in a hurry. It’s easy to clean: after I empty the grains, I rinse the insert and then put it back on the machine to run a little bit of hot water through – I also wipe the dispenser where it connects at the top, and I finish by cleaning my steam wand (I don’t even think I rec’d the black cover thingy and if I did…I don’t use it and am fine with that) by wiping it with a damp cloth and letting a little steam flow through – sometime I remove it just to make sure there is no build up…there never is). The tray is easy to empty and clean underneath too. This is a really sleek looking machine and not too big for your counter top either. I have nothing on my counters except this and a toaster…though I have tons of gadgets…so I assure you, it’s not too big for a counter top, nor does it mess up aesthetics. If you position the machine to sit underneath standard kitchen cabinets, expect to have to either move the entire machine in order to remove the removable water tank, or…in my case, I fill a container and pour water into the tank without removing it (so basically I don’t use the removable water tank because I can’t get it out without moving the machine from underneath my kitchen cabinets – but I don’t want the machine to sit anywhere else so it’s a small price to pay). I’d buy this again in a heart beat!
3 people found this helpful
Poodle Girl –
Would like a life span longer than 3 years!
I purchased 2 Cafe Romas 3 years ago- one for home and one for my cabin- and loved how easy and wonderful it was to make a latte in the morning. Because of traveling, neither of my Cafe Romas got daily use so one would think they would surely last longer than 3 years. The problem with BOTH and within 3 months of each other, was they failed to heat. Of course they weren’t on warranty any longer so my options were to buy 2 more at a discount from Breville, attempt to repair and if not, trash them. I went out online and found a blog that addressed my issue- a failed wire clip is frequently the culprit. The blog had detailed instructions how to remove the screws to loosen the top to access the wiring. Poor design by Breville meant I had to go to the local hardware store to find a slender, long phillips screw driver and rachett to remove the screws up under where the coffee is made. After opening the top, I found the spade clips were fried and 2 were detached. I don’t know if they used high heat spade clips but they are available. Being made in China makes it suspect for me. Soldering the one clip to the heating terminal as suggested didn’t work- the solder wouldn’t stick. So I replaced a total of 3 clips, made sure everything was solidly on its terminal, and closed it up. This was THE most frustrating part. Those long, tiny screws that go into the posts that you cannot see.. are still not screwed in. I finally duct taped the openings to prevent moisture and to hold the black plastic sleeves in place. I carefully turned the machine over, plugged it in and waited with baited breath. Ta Da! I had heat and made a cup. Now, I figure at this point I have nothing to lose except to spend more money and find a replacement. We’ll see how long it lasts and now I know how to try to fix my other one. The moral of this story.. if you want a machine to last longer than 3 years..look elsewhere.
7 people found this helpful
Guy Pellitteri –
Oldie but goodie
My Cafe Roma is 12 years old and still makes great espresso. I’ve only done minimal maintenance and of course regular cleaning. Mostly, I’ve just changed the gasket every year or so. I highly recommend it. And it’s less expensive now that when I originally bought it.
Don R.Don R. –
Paying attention to details makes a great cup
Nice machine! The only blemish was a curious discoloration that looked like a drip/stain on the exterior of the basket holder. This machine is a step up from my last machine and makes a great espresso but practice is needed to get it just right. First I rinsed out the water container several times before using it and even used some baking soda to minimize the plastic odor. I still rinse it and put in fresh, filtered water every morning before making my cafe. After turning the machine on and when the heating light goes off, as directed, I run a bit of hot water through to prep and then wipe with a paper towel from where the water comes out paying attention to be sure I am also wiping in the groove where the basket goes. Then I measure my ground espresso roast (Lavazza Perfetto for me) as directed (one level scoop for a single and two level scoops for a double) using the appropriate baskets. Then tamp it down with medium pressure. Adding extra grounds doesn’t make it better. I use my Italian ‘Jolly Cafe’ espresso cups and fill to the line on them. It measures just the right amount of water through the grounds and I recommend finding something to measure like this for yourself. One cup for a single and two cups for a double. When almost full to the line I click the switch to standby and wait for the heating light to go out again before I use the steam milk frother. This isn’t in the directions but I found that if I don’t initially point the wand into an empty pitcher, the spurts & dribbles of water that come out first will dilute the milk and instead of good froth you get bubbly thinned milk. So, after a good stream of steam is coming out, I insert the wand into the vessel with the milk and hold it deep to warm the milk then move up to just below the surface to create a nice foamy froth. You can tell by the sound when it is right.After all this, make sure to undo the basket, run more water through to clean and wipe again, then remove the metal extension from the steamer wand, wipe the wand clean, squirt out some more steam to clear the nozzle, rinse everything, and you are ready for next time and can relax with a delicious cafe drink adding just the right amount of frothed milk to your liking. I usually froth my desired amount of milk directly in my cup, then add the cafe. I know that is backwards but it works.
6 people found this helpful
Kienan –
I will say that it is probably the best machine on the market for the price
I’ve been in the coffee business for over ten years, and have had a variety of home espresso machines. I did a lot of research when looking for a home machine that wouldn’t break the bank, and decided upon the Cafe Roma by Breville. I will say that it is probably the best machine on the market for the price, however, it has a lot of problems. I also have only had it for a couple weeks now so I can’t speak on longevity. But here are my pros and cons list:Pros: It actually pulls a (surprisingly) good shot. It can also pull a really bad shot. I had to play around with it for a while until I cemented my recipe, and I will say that getting a perfect shot of espresso without a background or knowledge in espresso dialing in might be difficult. I use a Baratza Encore grinder (the grinder is the most important part to espresso), using a grind setting of anywhere between 6-10 depending on varietal density of the coffee I’m using. Anything finer than that I’ve noticed pulls way too long, and anything courser will be under extracted. I weigh 20 g of coffee (again depending on varietal) and typically do a 40g double shot within 20 seconds. That’s what I’ve found works for me, but I think up to 28 seconds would even do fine. Aside from good espresso, it doesn’t take too long to heat the boiler, it’s easy to clean/operate. From the looks of it, it seems pretty well built and sturdy as well. The top of the machine is stainless steel and heats up when the machine is turned on, also great for preheating your vessel.ConsThe biggest con for me is the steam wand, so much so that I would probably not buy it again. The pressure of the wand is not very concentrated or powerful (which makes sense given the price point) and basically just blows bubbles into your milk. I’ve tried steaming a few different ways and it seems impossible to get that velvety, honey-like consistency needed for pouring latte art or just a good latte/cappuccino. For those who don’t care as much, it does, however, steam you milk to temperature and froths it. It would be fine for someone who didn’t mind as much about microfoam and practicing art. The other only problems I have with it (so far) is that the portofilter is plastic (aside from the basket). Not only do I feel like I’m going to crack it on my knock box every time I knock out the puck, but something about 200 degree water pouring through plastic just irks me the wrong way. I should also mention that the website says it includes a “tamping tool”, but this is literally just a plastic spoon with a flat “tamp” at the end. I bought a RSVP Terry dual sided tamper (just a cheap aluminum one – but it fit the small basket size of this machine) just to have as an extra, and that works great. The included plastic tamper, however, does not. It’s difficult to get proper distribution and pressure with it. Just to keep in mind.All-in-all, I would have to say that I agree this is the best espresso machine for $200. It has its problems, but that’s to be expected given the price point. If you’re not picky about your espresso, are like me and spend most of your time in a cafe with a commercial grade machine, drink straight espresso without adding steamed milk, or don’t drink coffee often enough to spend more – then I highly recommend. But, per my rating, it’s just “ok”.
8 people found this helpful
Lifes2short –
I had hoped for a better machine
After going through 3 De’Longhi ECP 3420 machines in about 4 years, I purchased the Breville machine in the hopes it would last longer than a year. Don’t get me wrong…I loved everything about my De’Longhi machines EXCEPT the fact that they died after about a year! I tried another brand, at about the same price point, but it wasn’t as good and didn’t last any longer. The point I make is that I have had enough experience with home espresso makers to know what to expect. The first Breville I received made an ok pull of espresso, but the steamer made an awful pounding noise, not unlike a bass drum banging at the rate of my heartbeat, took forever to actually produce steam, and took even longer to ever get the milk heated up…let along hot enough to produce a decent latte. So I called tech support at Breville and let them listen to the noise. I was immediately assured this was not a noise the machine was supposed to make and, because I had only had the machine for 5 days, to contact Amazon and exchange it for another machine. No problem….sort of. I set up a return for UPS pickup the next business day, and have been waiting for my replacement for 10 days (yes, I am a Prime member). Okay, I understand that Covid-19 has messed with everything, and I have tried to be patient, awaiting the morning I would be able to savor my morning latte again. Well today, my new machine arrived. With giddy anticipation, I cleaned it, ran the suggested cleaning pulls through it, and pulled a double shot of espresso….yes, nice color, aroma, taste, AND a beautiful creama. Turned the knob to steamer and….the exact same banging noise and ungodly amount of time to heat the milK! So here I sit, writing a review on a machine I really want to love. Did I get TWO duds, or is this the way this machine is destined to operate. I have read tons of reviews and questions, and yes, there are always people who complain about the noise of these machines. But that is the nature of the beast, and something I expect from a small machine producing an enormous amount of pressure and steam (hopefully.) But when the company representative listens to the noise over the phone and assures me this is NOT the norm, I am at a loss as to my next step when I receive a machine with the identical problem. So buyer beware. Maybe I DID get 2 duds…..or maybe I just expect too much, and need to order another De’Longhi and know that I will have to replace it in 12 months…both depressing thoughts during an equally depressing period in the US.
4 people found this helpful
Jeff –
Durable Build and Nice Touches
Granted, this is a older model, but it is a tank and I love the metal build and design features that have some thought behind them. This wasn’t made with budget in mind, it was made for quality. It lacks whistles and bells, but I’ve usually do manual shots anyway, so it makes it easy for that. Just have to remember to fill the water prior to use, the machine won’t tell you it’s getting low.
3 people found this helpful
variety onevariety one –
Solid home espresso machine for the price
After many years using a Mr. Coffee espresso machine I was looking for a better made product which would not leak. For only a bit more money I chose the Breville as their hot pot we own has performed very well for many years. At first use I was getting inconsistent espressos and watery pucks. I wrote Breville customer service and received a quick detailed response on getting the best out of their machine. I kept practicing and finally discovered that I was not filling the cup full enough. Now I am making delicious espressos and while a novice barista I am delighted with our purchase. Of course I use whole beans ground fresh for each use. I have used a variety of coffee roasts and they all seem to work well to make espressos.I am happy with attractive design, solid quality of materials, and ease of use and clean up. The drip tray is easy to remove and clean out. The milk steamer works well.A couple of critiques. I am not able to see the water level through the view window. I thought about putting a cork to float on top of the water but did not want to risk damaging the machine. So I just keep an on the level from the top. I also found that my espresso container tends to move about from the vibration as it sits on the drip tray. As it always seems to move left to right I resolved this by placing a wet sponge next to the cup. I wish a heavier steel tamper was included with the machine but I may treat myself and buy one.A few words of caution. The machine is designed with a handy removable water container. However my machine receives a lot of use so to reduce the wear on the rubber gasket and avoid any premature leaking I have decided to fill our reservoir via a pitcher. Although we use filtered water we still adhere to best practices by cleaning our machine out regularly using a vinegar solution.Good product Breville.
One person found this helpful
Clifton Magra –
4 years later, still going strong.
Bought this in 2016. I am not a snob for coffee but I have used this nearly every day for 4 years (~1,460 operations) and it’s become a family member. It’s not “professionally pulled” espresso but it’s close enough for rock ‘n roll. The trick for me was getting the right grind for coffee – if it’s too coarse it’ll spray maniacally everywhere and if you get it too fine, it’ll struggle to push water through and get stuck. I tell the baristas to grind it just enough to not stick together, somewhat near the consistency of regular ‘ol beach sand. You’ll figure it out.I’ve never had a mechanical problem with this unit. Sure, the pressure isn’t quite professional strength and the steam wand doesn’t produce the full luxurious foam that you can draw unicorns/ferns with, but I’ve been able to get the right soy milk and produce abstract impressions of a screaming duck on a unicycle. The trick for me was to put the end of the steam wand *just* below the surface of the liquid I’m steaming, wait for the screeching to stop, and then set the steam cup down and let it do it’s thing until it hits the top. It might spurt a little bit after you shut it off, so be mindful of that.Just maintain the thing – every couple weeks flush it all with white vinegar. Take apart the steam wand and clean it with pipe cleaners. Wash the trays. Rinse the espresso stick and cups after every use. Get two espresso cups for each spigot and get double the fun.Probably the 2nd absolute best thing about this is it comes with a tool to clean/poke the steam wand. Let me say this tool is absolutely perfect for opening the SIM card trays on iPhones. Like suspiciously perfect. The other thin (and sharp!) end of the tool is great for cleaning earpods and stabbing yourself accidentally.I love this machine. It makes my mornings good. I have no idea why the Amazon Review rating features includes “blending power” but screw it, 5 stars for blending too.
109 people found this helpful
Heidi N –
Great flavored espresso but some challenges
My old Saeco finally gave out and needed to replace. This machine had lots of great reviews but I wish I had read them more thoroughly. I have had this for 2 days, the espresso its brewing is fabulous, so now I have to decide if that outweighs the cons.Cons include messy – after pulling a shot and moving to standby, the drip factor is large. I pull 2 shots for my preferred drink and so I have to go through this entire thing 2x. The drips keep coming after turning to standby, and removing the basket to dump into sink leaves a large trail of drips. Basically I will need to empty the drip tray every day, as I usually have 2 or 3 of my espresso drinks a day.As for the frother, yes, the machine pumps and therefore makes this rhythmic beat, thumping sound. While I didn’t read enough reviews apparently to understand this, it caught me by surprise in the first use. I understand it and am willing to get past it. But the process which you have to go through to successfully froth is a bit more challenging. My old machine would heat up more for frothing ahead of time, as you pushed a button and waited until the light came on. So now I get it, another reviewer noted they place an empty container under frother wand for a minute while this machine is heating up, and swap out to milk when the heat has increased enough for the steam. Where I’m seeing another problem with mine is while I’m frothing the milk, there is water dripping out of the screw head in the frother arm. Now I have more drips in my drip tray.Another reviewer commented they removed the silver sleeve on the frother and simply steam their milk without it. I may try that, not sure that this will alleviate the drips from under the screw head on the frother.So I have to weigh the messy dripping and awkward frothing technique against the exceptional flavor of the espresso.
S. Rigby –
Good Basic Espresso Maker
I have had this machine for about a month. I use it almost every day to make two lattes. It is very basic so it is easy to use. You turn it on, wait for the heating light to go off and then either turn the dial lever to espresso or to steam. You can put one or two cups under the espresso side, but I like it strong so I put it all into one cup. You turn the dial back to the center when you have enough espresso. I have noticed that it will drip a little after I stop it, but it isn’t much.I did find that when I want to steam milk, it is best to put the milk in the microwave for 30 seconds before steaming it so it is hot enough. Maybe if I steamed it longer, it would get hot enough just through the steamer, but I usually turn on the steam for 30 seconds or less. I let the steam continue for another 15 seconds or so to clean it out a little and wipe down the wand with a damp cloth.When steaming, the pump is pretty noisy and I don’t know if that is how it is designed. It sounds like a parade is heading toward my kitchen, drummer in front of the line! But again it does what it is supposed to do, so I am satisfied.I do like how easy it is to fill with water. Because the water is so clear, I often can’t tell how far it is filled until I open the top. The directions say not to use distiller water – not sure why – but I do use purified water because we have very hard water here. This machine makes the best crema of all of my old espresso makers. Since I bought the refurbished machine, the price was right and so far it is exceeding my expectations.
Sederman –
Well worth $200
I bought a different espresso maker for $100. As soon as I took it out of the box I knew it was going back. Was it worth a $100? Maybe, but I didn’t like the way it looked, felt, or the taste of the espresso. I decided to pay a little more and bought this one for $200 and I love it. Sturdy, mostly made of metal, easy to use, makes great espresso for a lower priced machine. You’d probably have to pay $1,000 to get better coffee. Only 2 minor complaints–it doesn’t suck the water out of the puck when the coffee is made, so you can’t eject the puck like most espresso makers. I have to take it to the sink and rinse the grinds out (very strange). The other issue is that there is no timer, so you have to stop the machine manually when enough coffee has been created (also very strange). That said, it gives me total control of the pour which is actually nice. Sometimes I make it perfect and other times I’m willing to make an imperfect pour to get a little more espresso in my cup. All in all, I really like this machine and if you are looking to make good espresso for under $200 you won’t find a better choice. One more thing. I only use Illy coffee and grind it fresh or use their pods, which make perfect espresso.
3 people found this helpful
Edward Way –
After 4 years – my experiences
I have to give it 5 starts for its quality and easy to use.After diligently serving our family 4 years and 20 days, the Breville Cafe Roma began to act up this morning. I made an espresso and turned the nob to froth the milk, but it only sprayed hot water without steam. We had to drink americano instead.After breakfast, I took it apart and tried to figure out the problem. I suspected the valve failed. However, there appeared no water spills, no erosion and nothing appeared obvious to me. So I checked the silicon seal under the portafilter. It had a crack. And there were some sticky dark stuff underneath. I replaced a new seal, clean up and put it back.Then I tested it again. It worked!For 4 years, I had not descale once. I always used filtered water using Barista filter that can soften the water. We usually make 6 cups espresso/latte every week. The only maintenance in the 4 years is what I did today, replace a silicon seal.I appreciate Breville quality, endurance, and easy to use. It saved us thousands of dollars in these years. If you plan to buy an espresso machine, don’t hesitate. Breville is a dependable product.
p4song –
It lasted 4 years but I expected more
Two things about this machine are irritating: it drips water alot and the steam function is not reliable, so I get decent foam sometimes and mostly water other times, but I rarely get silky smooth foam. The main problem with this machine is the control knob which began to be very hard to turn after just a couple of years. I contacted Breville when the knob became so stiff that it took two hands to turn it (meaning I can’t make foam any longer) but they told me it would cost $109 to send it back to have it looked at–that’s over half the price of the machine! After looking online, I see the stiff knob is a big problem for many owners of the machine. I would have to completely take it apart to fix the knob. So, I’m not going to buy another Breville when I replace this one.
AV Guy –
For Espressos AWESOME! For Lattes, not so much
My wife and i have had this for a while now. This product is rock solid. After carefully reading all reviews of comparable products, we decided on this one. We have not been disappointed. We make cups each morning and it is not a hassle.Maybe 15-25 second warm up time and she is ready to pump out some rocket fuel!!! It comes with a little tool to get and grit that might get caught in the cup holes. I have only needed to use it once. BE CAREFUL! That tool is sharp and you WILL stab yourself with it if you aren’t careful!Cleaning is a breeze with the removable tray. It gets pretty grungy under there so a weekly wipe down is probably something to consider. As far as internally, it seems to hold up well. have had for a year and no need for de-scaling.The removable tank is a great idea and easy to remove and fill. I wish it would have a bit more of a notification when it is latched.My only complaint is the milk steamer. It seems to take forever to get pumping and comes on slow. Also doesn’t seem to heat up the milk well and to get the milk hot enough, it ends up bubbling over. Luckly, i dont care much for Latte’s so it doesn’t weigh much on my decision.
4 people found this helpful
Brad Deamer –
Good tasting black coffee without mud in the bottom of the cup
This is the second Cafe Roma I have owned. The first one lasted over 10 years. The machine will extract all the coffee flavor from the fine grindings. Very easy to use and keep clean. The steamer head works good, but not what I really use. If you like good tasting Espresso coffee without the high cost of a bigger machine, a Cafe Roma is really all you need.
SCOTT –
I’ve been very happy with this espresso machine
I’ve been very happy with this espresso machine. By far this has to be the best bang for the buck out there for true espresso. I haven’t had a bad cup of coffee with this machine. I’m using a Cuisinart burr grinder and have used a few different coffee beans with it. The basket is not too difficult to insert or remove for cleaning. The filter basket attaches very securely to the brew head. The pressure and temperature seem to be spot on for great results. The only thing I’ve found slightly annoying is that the water heater doesn’t seem to keep much water in its reservoir. So, I find myself running a 2 shot extraction for about 10 seconds and then the heating light comes on and I stop it to wait for it to heat the incoming water before running it for another 10-15 seconds. If I’m brewing 4 shots that can be a little bit tedious to achieve the right temperature. I usually pre-heat my water for about 2 minutes, since I use filtered water out of the refrigerator. If I don’t pre-heat the water, the machine appears to be in a state of constantly running the heater. The last thing I want is lukewarm coffee.
2 people found this helpful
jzehaz –
Almost 3 Years And A Happy Espresso Drinker
I bought this machine in December 2006 as my son was spending quite a bit of money at Starbucks on specialty coffee drinks. I would absolutely purchase this unit again. I am very pleased with the service it has given me. I did had to experiment to find what the best technique/procedure was for my taste (grind, coffee type, amount of steamed milk) but I am at the point where I think I make the best espresso compared to any coffee shop. I use this machine every day and on weekends 2-3 times a day. I but coffee beans and purchased a Cusinart burr grinder at Costco as I prefer a fresh grind (It was on sale – it is ok but not one I would buy again – it occasionally clogs with finer, oilier grinds). The Breville also makes very good decaf espresso – in my experience this is dependant on the quality of the beans. I have descaled this machine every 6=7 months as preventative maintenance but have never had a problem with clogging/low pressure. I would rate this machine 5 stars but milk steaming is a learned technique – the steam pressure ramps up and it not at immediate full pressure. Also, steaming works best for me when the tip of the steam wand is about 1/4 inch into the milk you are steaming to get a great froth and not a sea foamy mess. I found that I can take almost any bean coffee and make a better espresso than any coffee shop. I look forward to my first cup every day. I have gotten my moneys worth out of this machine.
3 people found this helpful
Hugh LockeHugh Locke –
Chasing a transcendent cup of coffee
For some time I have been in search of that elusive cup of transcendent coffee that does not require the outlay of huge amounts of money to achieve. I set my spending limit at $300 and, after sending back a stunningly bad machine to a different brand, I settled on the Breville Cafe Roma. For well under my price limit this espresso maker is truly excellent. The crema is terrific and the flavor top notch. I also invested in a surprisingly affordable Capresso conical bur grinder which is the perfect complement to the Breville. I am enjoying a cup as I write… and am grateful to have one of life’s great pleasures restored.
One person found this helpful
Dylan –
I wasn’t too worried about that though because I bought this machine mainly for lattees and cappucchinos and I can say that it was the best cappucchino I’ve ever made
For the past couple of days I’ve been researching what espresso machine to buy. I stumbled upon this one andafter making my first cappuccino today, I can tell I made the correct decision. I am an avid coffee drinker, but am by no means an espressoaficionado. I can’t ever recall ordering a plain espresso in a café so if you are ordering this machine particularly for espresso, I couldn’treccommend it one way or another. I can say though that the double espresso shot came out well from my point of view. It had half a centimeterof crema, and the espresso wasn’t especially bitter. I wasn’t too worried about that though because I bought this machine mainly for lattees and cappucchinos and I can say that it was the best cappucchino I’ve ever made. It was truly as good if not better than Starbucks. I’m not going to compare it a ‘good’ cafe, although that’s subjective, but if you are planning on making mainly milk-based drinks, this is definitely a product worth investing in. Don’t buy into all the hype on how one needs to spend at least x amount to produce a good espresso. If you have a good grinder and are somewhat competent, this machine will be more than adequate for you. I truly believe the vast majority of people who claim to produce better espresso with a more expensive machine are simply trying to justify the amount of money they spent on said product.
37 people found this helpful
Bobbie Jo Tacoma –
I Rue the Day!
I previously owned a Saeco and a Starbucks Barista espresso machines. This machine is nowhere near the quality of my previous espresso makers. I had the pleasure of using the Saeco and the Barista for approximately 15 years each. I’ll be shocked if this new one lasts a year. This new machine is a pain to use and clean. The taste does not compare. The creme is nearly non-existent. I wish I never purchased this espresso maker.
cd –
Works sometimes, if you baby it.
I baby the hell out of it, and so I manage to get some cappuccini out of it. But the O-ring last only a few weeks or months, and replacement o-rings are a complete crap shoot–you never know if they will work for a week or a month. They’re not cheap either. When the o-rings fail, the machine sprays coffee all over and makes a horrible mess. I don’t know why so many of these expensive machines (read around, so many of the other c machines have the same problem) are incapable of fixing this seal issue. I suspect most people use their c machine just once a month, and the manufacturers know that, so they just sell crappy machines knowing most people won’t get into any issues. Either that or the Chinese manufacturers just can’t make quality machinery at these price points.Anyone know a more reliable machine? I’d be willing to pay more if I could get a machine that I knew wouldn’t just fail after a 6 months or a year.PS: I should add that I bought some single wall filters after having this just a little while. They provide you with double wall filters and those are a joke. They push all the coffee through one tiny hole, which will immediately clog and the machine will spit coffee grounds all over your kitchen after just as few months. You have to get the single wall filter so that the water can pass through. This is what I mean by babying it–replacing the o-ring, getting new filters, etc.UPDATE: it died 3 years and 1 day after I bought it. It’s heating dangerously hot, but the on light is not on and the pump doesn’t work. If anyone knows a capuccino machine that would last ten years, I’d buy it. Every one I buy dies in a few years after daily use, so I’m afraid to spend more money for the same limited lifetime.
25 people found this helpful