ICUIRE Espresso Machine 20 Bar, Stainless Steel Espresso Maker with Milk Frothing Pitcher, Professional Cappuccino Machine with Milk Frother, 1.1L Water Tank

My 30 year old, very expensive all in one machine finally died, and being dependent on a robust double espresso to start the day, the hunt was on for a replacement under a very tight budget. I settled on this machine because reviews were ok and the price was matched my available cash 😄.Had I reviewed this on the first day, using the presets which yield weak, foamless dishwater, I would have rated it 1 star. However I found that you can get a decent brew using the manual button. And the steamer/frother works pretty well. And comparing this machine to a $1000 machine is just mean.Pros: very affordable, can make a good brew (see below*), steamer steams/froths well. The filter funnel must be smaller than that of my previous machine as I go through less coffee, although this might be a negative, not a pro, if you like strong coffee.Annoyances: very drippy, steamer takes a hot minute to warm up meanwhile your coffee cools down, presets yield weak, foamless coffee. Awkward to use. Obviously it’s cheaply made so it might not last very long.I experienced none of the taste issues described by others after running the machine several times to clean it thoroughly.* I find that you can get a decent foamy brew by … maxing out the coffee grounds using the double cup filter funnel, running the manual button for about 3-4 seconds, waiting for 15-20 seconds, then running the brew using either the double espresso preset or eyeballing it using the manual button.

The media could not be loaded.  I am no coffee expert. I love coffee but don't drink it everyday. If I do, it's usually instant coffee. Every now and then I splurge on a latte or flat white. But my bf is an everyday coffee drinker and after a trip to Italy, we realized it was time to upgrade our coffee routine with an espresso maker to give us the capability of making things like lattes.I did a lot of research and landed on this one because it was small, had a great price and seemed easy enough to use.Price:I didn't want to pay for the ridiculously priced machines, especially as an espresso beginner. For a little over $100, this gadget is a steal!Size:I don't have much counter space so the size of this thing is perfect. It doesn't take up too much space.Ease of use:As I mentioned above, I am no coffee expert and I was nervous about having to become a rocket scientist to figure out how to make good coffee. My friend has a fancy $700+ Breville and it did seem like he was performing rocket science when using that one.This machine is so simple to use. You just have to fill up the water tank, hit the power button, wait for the single and double shot buttons to stop flashing to indicate that the preheating process is complete(just a few seconds), put the coffee in the filter and lock it in place, and then select the single or double size. You'll have your coffee ready in less than 30 seconds! Can't get any easier than this!If you want to make some kind of latte or other espresso based drink, the milk steamer is also easy to use. Just pour the milk in the pitcher that already comes with the machine, click the steam button and wait a few seconds for it to stop flashing (preheating), turn the lever on the side to steam and you'll get steam! Move the pitcher up and down until your milk is as foamy as you want it. Just make sure the pitcher is already under the steamer when you turn it on because water and steam will go everywhere.I've had the machine for a few days now and have made a couple cups of coffee and it's so good! There's good amount of crema on the espresso and it's not bitter.I also found the manual to be very helpful, but it doesn't have recipes. So there is a little trial and error period/learning curve regarding the milk/coffee ratio. Not a huge deal as I've managed to eyeball it and still get excellent results but will be something I continue to research and play around with until I find the perfect balance.I definitely recommend this machine to other beginners.

It looks nice that's about the only good thing I have to say about this machine. Don't waste your money! I do a double shot and that's about the size of a normal single shot. Trying to lock in the metal funnel it's ridiculous if you're under 20 and work out you may have a chance. I have to turn the machine sideways grab on to it and fight with it to lock it into place. Oh yeah and don't forget to unplug it because half the time if you don't you end up pushing the on button and fluid starts running everywhere.. Amazon needs to start a demerit system if your product can't meet a minimum standard you don't get to sell it on Amazon.