The DeLonghi EC155 will allow you to make a delicious cappuccino or espresso from the comfort of your own home.

Featuring dual thermostats for controlling water and steam pressure and a 15-bar pump, the EC155 will deliver a fresh, hot, cup of coffee without you doing barely anything at all.

Italian designed and engineered, you also get to take advantage of a 1 year warranty from this 1000-watt machine.

What will you like about this DeLonghi espresso machine?

• This unit will look good in your kitchen. As you can see from the picture above, it is quite a distinguished machine with the silver accents and black finish.
• Decent sized water reservoir with handy water level indicator which is clearly visible upon opening the lid (see the video below).
• Fast start up time, the DeLonghi EC155 will be heated and ready to go in about 1 minute.
• Ability to consistently produce a thick layer of crema for your enjoyment.
• Easy to froth milk with the powerful steam wand.
• Easy to clean and maintain.

Ready to buy? Click here for the lowest price online! 

DeLonghi EC155 review

Perhaps one of the main selling points of the EC155 is the fact that it is pump driven. This is opposed to more typical steam-driven units that you can purchase for very cheap in your general sort of department stores.

The advantages of a pump driven machine are that it will be able to produce pressure that is in the vicinity of 5 times greater than pressure that is generated by steam alone.

This has the flow on effect of being better able to extract flavor from the espresso (resulting in better flavor of course and the sought after crema).

Unfortunately, pump driven espresso machines aren’t the cheapest. The good news is that the DeLonghi version mentioned in this review is perhaps one of the cheapest and easiest ways to experience cafe quality espresso in your own kitchen and start to recoup some of the cost of those frequent coffee shop trips.

The convenience of E.S.E.

E.S.E stands for easy serve espresso and is a similar concept to the now extremely popular K-Cup coffee maker that utilizes pre-ground, pre-packaged coffee that is inserted straight into the associated coffee machine for immediate extraction.

The DeLonghi EC155 is actually one of the few espresso machines to offer this feature and it is something that a lot of the higher priced machines do not offer either.

Using espresso pods to make your espresso is so convenient and there is little to no mess either. The only downside is that they tend to be more expensive than buying coffee in bulk.

What price you put on convenience and ease of use is really up to you, but it is something to keep in mind!

Ergonomics and weaker points

As far as handling and ease of use go, several people commented that the steam wand could be a little longer and that there isn’t much room between the top of the cup and the output nozzle, but I guess that really depends on the size of your cup.

The lack of a heated cup warmer may also discourage some people from seriously considering the EC155, but in most cases a quick zap in the microwave will improve the situation remarkably.

What are others saying about the DeLonghi EC155?

The overwhelming consensus is excellent, with close to 500 four and five star reviews on Amazon. There is lots and lots of information in the review section about how to deal with the aforementioned shortcomings of this machine – most notably the closeness of the nozzle to the top of the cup, the lack of a cup warmer and proper tamper.

One example of such a review was from Joseph Jenkins of Tampa, FL:

I was skeptical that a low- (or medium-low)priced machine could work well, but it turns out that it works brilliantly. Some previous reviewers have noted a few areas of concern (all very minor), and I will offer my solutions to them:

1. The spout doesn’t allow for anything taller than an espresso cup or very short coffee cup: Not a big deal for me (our cups are short and wide and hold all the espresso you could handle and still hope to get to sleep that night), but if you want to use a standard-sized mug, simply pick up the perforated steel plate that the cups sit on and place your mug into the well below. If there’s liquid in the well, just wipe off the cup when you pick it back up…

2. No cup warmer: Two solutions here. I use the “quick” warm-up method stated in the manual by running two cups of water through the machine before inserting the grounds, and the hot water easily heats up the cup. Otherwise, if you let it warm up for the traditional 15-30 minutes, sit the cups on the steel area on top of the machine, which serves as its cup warmer, just like it says in the manual…..

….Anyway, even at full price (which I didn’t pay), this machine will pay for itself after 25-30 cups of $4 fill-in-the-blank-coffee-shop cappuccino/latte/whatever, counting consumables.

Read the rest of this great review here!

Conclusion

Overall, the DeLonghi EC155 espresso machine is a fantastic unit that delivers outstanding espresso for a bargain basement price.

Of course, the benefits don’t end there. You also get the added versatility of the option of using pods instead of grounds and by all accounts, the EC155 is reliable if looked after properly and thoughtfully.

For all of the minor negative points which seem insignificant (and easily fixed or dealt with) when compared to the wealth of positive points, it is nevertheless the #1 selling espresso machine on Amazon. That has to count for something!

One of the things that strikes you about the Hamilton Beach Brewstation 47454 is its striking appearance.

The almost blue neon digital interface and sleek, streamlined design would work well in any kitchen.

However, we all know that looks are only half the battle. Is it any good at producing decent tasting coffee?

10 things you will love about the Brewstation 47454

1. When you take this unit out of the box, each and every part will be in the right place and have a job to do.
2. When it does come time to prepare the unit, the aforementioned parts are easy to assemble and put back into their proper positions.
3. Futuristic looking blue display which is easy to read, day or night.
4. The coffee is brewed hot and more importantly, stays hot. It has a gentle warming heater that will keep coffee hot and fresh for hours.
5. Easy to program to your preferred settings, even for the digitally-challenged among us!
6. Too hot for a coffee? Then easily make an iced coffee or even an iced tea.
7. No annoying spillage from the dispenser.
8. No annoying spillage from the water tank either.
9. Choice of regular size or travel sized mugs
10. The Hamilton Beach Brew Station 47454 is equipped with miniature rollers on the underside of the machine, which makes you can maneuver it any way you want without scratching the counter surface.

Read to buy? Click here to get up to 15% off!

Hamilton Beach Brewstation 47454 review

Unlike traditional 12-cup coffee makers where the whole batch is made at once, the Brewstation delivers the 12-cup amount one cup at a time.

The absence of a carafe means there is no spillage and the fact that the excess coffee is kept internally means there is less opportunity for it to react with the air and go stale.

If for whatever reason you don’t want 12 cups worth, then you can program the machine using 4 other presets:

• 1 to 4 cups.
• decaf.
• normal.
• flavor plus.

In general, installation is relatively easy although it does take a while for the machine to cycle through 3 or 4 times initially.

Furthermore, make sure you use the recommended paper filter in conjunction with the gold filter as this will help prevent fine coffee grounds from settling on the bottom of your mug or becoming lodged in the mechanics of the unit.

While Hamilton Beach state that it is not essential, a lot of users have reported impure coffee without the use of the paper filter.

Click here to buy the Hamilton Beach Brewstation 47454 now!

Potential problems

Even though a few people have reported problems with the performance or reliability, a lot of those problems could be avoided by proper usage in the first place.

One particular user suggested cleaning the machine at the beginning of each month, without waiting for the machine to tell you to clean it. It is as simple as flushing the thin and potentially delicate water intake hose with vinegar and water and will prevent a lot of problems from ever occurring.

Leakages

A few people have also reported leakages from this machine, but it also was probably due to small coffee grounds becoming lodged in the dispenser, causing it to drip. Just make sure you grind your coffee properly or use fine pre-ground coffee to start with.

M. McKim from Utah, USA expands on this point:

If you grind your own coffee, don’t grind it too finely. Very finely ground coffee will not allow the water to flow properly and the coffee basket will fill with water and overflow. In a regular coffee maker, this just causes a mess. In a BrewStation, it can be a disaster, since the coffee saturated overflow can go back into the intake tank.

What are others saying about the Brewstation 47454?

The general consensus is that this machine is a good performer. A couple of users were slightly concerned about a lot of steam coming out of the top of the appliance during the brew process, but they were assured by a Hamilton Beach representative that it was normal. Regardless, it hasn’t affected the quality or taste of the coffee.

Richard M. Young from Mesquite, Nevada praised the machine for being easy to use and operate:

It is completely intuitive and user friendly.
Most importantly though the coffee pot does a great job. We love being able to put a cup under it and dispense a single cuppa joe. You can set the keep warm feature for up to 4 hours without scorching or burning the coffee.

P.J. Preston from Lexington, KY had some advice for people that may have been stung in the past by leaking carafes or flimsily constructed coffee machines in general:

Our friends and family were actually enthused with the sleek design and simplicity of dispensing their own coffee straight into their cups….

After spending 4 years cleaning up spilled coffee from the counter top, side of the cabinet and down to the floor from a badly designed pot/carafe and the leaking unit of my old Kithenaid, it was time. And I couldn’t have made a better choice.

The Brew Station Deluxe offers 4 Brew Modes: Normal/Decaf (this does NOT decaffeinate regular coffee)/Flavor+/ and 1-4 cups.

…I am very pleased with my new Brew Station Deluxe and I highly recommend this product for those struggling with badly designed pots/carafes.

Read the rest of this great review here!

Conclusion

The Hamilton Beach Brewstation 47454 has won over a lot of people by the fact that its design completely eliminates some of the more unappealing characteristics of coffee making – a leaky carafe and easily split coffee grounds that go everywhere.

As a result of the more unusual design features, it is important that you care for the Brewstation in a different way than you would a traditional coffee machine.

All in all though, this appliance should give you great tasting coffee without a lot of the associated hassles that usually come with making it. A highly recommended addition to your kitchen counter space.

Black and Decker make a range of different coffee machines ranging from personal to 5-cup and 12-cup variations. They also produce a couple of 12-cup space saver versions which are able to be attached to the underside of your kitchen cupboards to save counter space.

Black and Decker coffee maker (one cup)

The company makes a few one cup coffee makers, which they call personal coffee makers. Here are some of the most popular models.

Black & Decker DCM18S Brew ‘n Go Personal Coffeemaker

The DMC18S is a great single serve machine that is great if you are the only coffee drinker in the house. It features a permanent filter, meaning that you will never have to buy replacement filters.

It also has the added convenience of brewing the coffee directly into your travel mug, and most importantly it is fast at doing so. You won’t have to wait long before you get to enjoy the fabulous coffee that this machine produces.

The price is also very affordable also, Amazon have it for under $20 at the moment.

Buy it now while the deal lasts.

Black and Decker 5-cup coffee maker

The 5-cup coffee makers are not much more expensive than the personal version, you should expect to pay around $20-$30 for one of the most popular versions listed below.

Black and Decker DCM675BF 5-Cup

As this is a 5-cup machine, you could realistically expect to get at least 2 or 3 large mugs worth from a single pot, which is ideal if 2 people like to drink their coffee in large quantities.

It uses a steel mesh reusable filter which is surprisingly good at keeping impurities out of your coffee and saves you from having to buy replacement paper filters which can be costly over time.

Some people have said that replacement parts can be hard to find, but in reality if something major did go wrong just buying a whole new unit would only be marginally more expensive than the faulty part itself.

Find the best price here.

Black and Decker 12-cup coffee maker

Perhaps one of the best selling variations in the Black and Decker range, the 12-cup is praised for being able to do most of the things that higher end coffee machines can do, but for a quarter of the price.

Black and Decker DLX1050W 12-cup

One of the most-liked features of this machine is the ability to set the coffee machine to make your coffee so that it is ready for you first thing in the morning.

Importantly, the DLX1050W also delivers coffee that actually tastes nice and is very easy to program to get it what you want it to do. You will also be pleased to know that the coffee machine does not leak, which can be a tendency of carafes in these types of models.

Overall this is a very accomplished machine that is easy to use and get good results with. It does not have any of the bells and whistles like auto-cleaning notification or adjustable warming plate settings, but it is very good for the price. Expect to pay around $20-$30.

If you want something with a bit more sophistication, then consider the Cuisinart Brew Central DCC-1200.

Need more convincing? Read some more reviews and find the best price here!

Black and Decker space saver coffee maker

The are best suited to people who have very limited counter space and wish to free up room for other appliances. They are a little more expensive than the standard coffee makers (around $70-$80) and come in 8 and 12 cup capacities.

Black and Decker SDC850 space saver

These types of units may take a while to setup, given that every kitchen is different. You will have to do some research first to make sure that it will fit in the space available and that the cupboards will be able to support the weight.

The SDC850 has been notoriously difficult to install for some people – either the parts are seized together or the instructions are incomplete.

Unless you can get hold of a skilled handyman (or woman) and really need the extra space then I would steer clear of this particular Black and Decker coffee maker. The extra hassle just isn’t worth it in my opinion.

Click here to see what other people are saying.

While this is the only Breville single-cup coffee maker, the BKC700XL allows you to enjoy the same K-Cup system without the typical loudness of a Keurig coffee machine.

You will get all the advantages of a single serve coffee machine like fresh coffee, variable brew strength and temperature, and the fact that it’s almost impossible to mess the whole coffee making process up.

In this case, the BKC700XLknows exactly what it is doing – it will spray a precisely calibrated amount of hot water through the K-Cup grounds using a predetermined temperature and pressure specifically designed for whatever coffee you are using.

Some of the things you will love about the Breville BKC700XL

1. simple, quiet effective brewing process that delivers delicious coffee every time
2. the ability to tap into the vast K-Cup market of over 200 coffee, tea and hot chocolate varieties
3. dedicated compartment on top of the coffee machine for your K-Cup and measuring spoon – a very handy feature for those of you who always seem to lose small items!
4. attractive stainless steel design and easy to use digital interface
5. iced beverage functionality, perfect for those summer days
6. 5 different brew sizes ranging and removable drip tray to accommodate larger mugs

What others are saying about this machine

The general consensus is that the BKC700XL is a well performing machine. Most people who own this machine love it for the fact that it is super quiet and delivers a good cup of coffee in quick time.

A couple of people had problems with leaking water pumps and the like but in all honesty, it is fact of life that you will get 1 or 2 duds in every 1000 that are sold and if the inconvenience isn’t too great for you, just send it back for a replacement or full refund.

Others had been using 12-cup coffee makers and commented that there was a lot of coffee that went stale and undrinkable simply because too much had been made in the first place. What they ended up doing was switching to a single cup coffee maker and found that it was a great decision.

One such user was Ed, from Surprise, AZ who also noted one particular shortfall with this machine:

I think you would be more than pleased with this coffee maker if you are looking for quality, ease of use, versatility and great looks. Every review should have something negative—well, here it is: The plug is three inches long, it has this do-nut hole to put your finger in to make it easy to remove from the wall plug, great idea, but it just makes it impossible to put the coffee maker close to the wall when the plug is behind it.

A thoughtful idea and probably not a problem for anyone else—-just happens, our maker sits in front of the plug. Pathetic I know, but, I just had to get it out!

Read the rest of this review here

Conclusion

The Breville BKC700XL coffee maker is great value for money but what I really liked about it is the quietness. I am one of those people that enjoys coffee first thing in the morning and this way I would be able to turn the machine on without waking everyone else up. A truly pleasurable and guilt-free cup of coffee in the morning is what I love!

Even if the noise wasn’t an issue in your household, you would surely appreciate the large 60 ounce water reservoir and virtually unlimited choice of K-Cup varieties on offer. The good thing about this is that if you ever wanted to switch to a Keurig coffee machine in the future you could still enjoy your favorite coffee varieties in pod form and not be inconvenienced.

Furthermore, the same would apply to current Keurig users who want to switch to this fantastic Breville machine.

Perhaps the main reason they are so popular is because of the ease in which K Cups allow you to make a coffee. The grounds are contained within the cup for immediate insertion into the coffee machine and after about a minute or so the cup of coffee is ready for consumption.

If coffee or espresso is not your drink of choice, you can easily omit the K-Cup from the process altogether and use the hot water function to make a cup of tea or even a mug of soup if you prefer. Even if you didn’t like traditional coffee drinks though, it would be difficult not to find something you liked among the over 200 varieties of coffee, hot chocolate and tea that come in this format.

So how is this painless brewing process achieved? The cup is pierced both on the top by a spray nozzle and on the bottom by a discharge feature and then a specific amount of hot water is made to travel through the mixture. Eventually the hot water will end up in the mug or cup and your coffee will be almost done.

Best selling K Cup coffee makers

The Keurig B60 Special Edition Brewing System is an immensely popular Keurig coffee machine. This is a 1500-watt appliance with a 48-ounce water reservoir and is the mid-luxury model in the series offering a great balance of styling and features.

Because it is a special edition model, it has chrome accents, a blue LED display and three different brew size options to suit everyone.

Expect to pay $150-$200 – check out the best price now or read the full review.

The Keurig B70 coffee maker has 5 different brew sizes and a larger, 60 ounce water supply container. The B70 is extremely well designed and you can enter your own coffee grounds into the K-cups if you don’t enjoy the pre-packaged brand name varieties.

If you are obsessed with quick, easy and delicious coffee then consider this machine!

Expect to pay $175-250 – find the best deal now or read the full review here.

The Keurig B40 Elite is somewhere in between. You have the choice of 2 brew sizes and there is an automatic shut down after 2 hours to save you on energy costs.

Some people complain about the noise on this model, but in all honesty a coffee machine is going to make some sound. There are processes at work like in any other appliance and that is just part of life.

Expect to pay $125-175 – see the best price or read the review.

The Keurig B30 Mini Brewer is the more quiet alternative to the B40. It is the smallest of the range but it is ideal as a backup machine to your primary coffee maker. Consider taking it into your office during the week or bringing it out of the cupboard at home if you are having friends over or entertaining.

The unit will brew one 8-ounce cup of coffee at a time and comes with a 1-year warranty.

Expect to pay $75-$110 – find the best price now or read the in-depth review.

Keurig have really revolutionized the way coffee is produced by managing to make it an effortless process that will not only deliver great results but also leave with you more time to do other important tasks in your day. There are a lot of coffee machines for sale on the market today, but I urge you to check out a Keurig machine, especially if you are considering your first coffee machine purchase.

Coffee vending machines are becoming increasingly popular throughout the United States and beyond as businesses seek to reduce employee turnover rates by adding what they see as low-budget perks to the workplace.

As well as offering extra incentives to employees, vending machines enjoy high profit-margins and popularity thanks to the astronomical levels of coffee consumption in the western world.

Having a source of quick, high-quality coffee in the office is said to boost employee productivity and morale levels

Coffee vending machine benefits

• With a dedicated vending machine in close proximity to your work space, employees will no longer have to leave the building to go to Starbucks for their favorite cup of coffee. Productivity will increase significantly – for just one employee up to 60 hours of time is lost annually by the daily quarter-hour excursions.
• The availability for hot drinks in general is increased to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is particularly useful for night workers or those who work outside of traditional business hours.
• Your lunch room will also be tidier and safer because these coffee machines dispense hot coffee at a constant temperature and they also come with their own equipment like stirrers, cups and sugar supplies.
• The best models will have an integrated bean grinder to ensure the freshest coffee possible.
• Provides all of your favorite drinks including cappuccino, espresso, long black, macchiato, mochaccino (coffee with chocolate), hot chocolate, tea and even soup would you believe!
• Some coffee vending machines can provide up to 1000 cups of coffee per day for those very large companies/gatherings.

Other important considerations – do you really need one?

It may be that you don’t really need a large vending machine in your office at all. Some 12-cup coffee makers are capable of making hundreds of cups of coffee per day and although they may not be as flexible in terms of the variety of coffee produced, they will save you a lot of money in terms of start-up costs.

If you do decide to go for a 10 or 12-cup machine, consider buying a smaller, less expensive unit as a backup in case the primary unit fails for whatever reason.

Furthermore, decide whether you want the vending machine to dispense freshly made coffee or if you want the instant variety with an added tea making facility.

You should also take note of how many canisters the unit has as this will ultimately determine how many different drinks are available for purchase.

For example, a machine with two canisters will only be able to mix coffee with milk or coffee with sugar. A more advanced system that has 5, 10 or 20 canisters will be able to produce more complex drinks like cappuccino, latte and hot chocolate and be able to adjust the strength of these individual combinations also.

Obviously if money is no barrier to your purchase, you should consider a coffee vending machine that has as many customizable options as possible. We all realize that some people don’t like sugar in their coffee and some maybe lactose intolerant and don’t like milk.

The last piece of advice I can give you is to buy from a reputable dealer! The cost may put you off initially, but it will give you the best chance of a having a fully-functioning, reliable addition to your office without costly or frequent repair bills.

Click here to see the bestselling single serve coffee machines!

The quality of coffee that is produced is also very good and equally as vital is the fact that the coffee is consistently good because most of the coffee brewing process is automated meaning that the amounts of coffee ground and water used are the same each and every time.

The brew time itself is also very short and there is minimal mess to clean up afterwards which a lot of time-conscious people will appreciate.

Keurig coffee machines also offer the use of their K-cup system which utilizes over 200 varieties of ground coffee, tea and hot chocolate. The use of the pods is as easy as inserting them into a Keurig machine and pressing the brew button.

The best one cup coffee makers

Everyone will have their own opinion on what they consider to be the best, but the general consensus amongst coffee enthusiasts is that you can’t go wrong with Keurig, Tassimo or Senseo units (in that order of popularity).

Why are Keurig so popular? Many people attribute their success as a coffee machine of choice to the fact that they offer extreme variety in the form of K-cups which are actually from a vast range of recognized coffee brands.

This is is direct contrast to some other manufacturers who only offer an in-house pod system where the coffee is limited to their particular brand. As far as I’m concerned, the coffee machine itself can be the most reliable machine in the world but if I am going to be limited as to what coffee I can actually drink then I will look elsewhere. This is the main contributing factor which leaves me coming back to Keurig one cup coffee makers every time.

Check out the Keurig B70 here – one of the bestselling and most popular Keurig machines.

Tassimo single cup coffee makers

Tassimo are a highly respected coffee company that originated in France and they are similar to Keurig in a sense that they use their own pod system – this time they are called T-discs.

The unique thing about their system is that each T-disc has an individual barcode printed onto it and this tells the coffee machine which drink to make by instructing it to use specific amounts of coffee and water and of course differing brew times.

If you see that the German engineering company Bosch are used interchangeably with Tassimo, it is because Bosch actually manufacture the units for them. One of their most popular coffee makers is the TAS6515UC Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer which is well worth checking out if you are the market for a one cup coffee maker.

Deciding on an office coffee machine can be a difficult task because you have to satisfy a range of people and conditions including the desires of the employees and management, space and office size constraints and the overall amount of money in the budget which is set aside for such appliances.

At the same time, you also want to choose a coffee machine that will stand the test of time and be covered under a decent manufacturers warranty should any part of the machine be faulty. If you are providing coffee specifically to clients or those outside the firm, then the choice of a worthy coffee maker becomes even more important.

There is also the option of a dedicated office coffee service whereby a business will provide coffee to the office on a daily basis from their own machine. In any case, you need to do some rough calculations to determine on average how many cups of coffee will be consumed in the office on a daily basis.

Which type of coffee machine is best for work situations?

Whether or not you would do best with a single-cup coffee maker or one that makes coffee in large quantities really depends on what your intentions are. If you regularly entertain and meet with clients then it pays to have a single serve machine in the office so that fresh coffee is always available should the need arise.

Aside from the quality of the coffee, they also have the advantage of being able to make whatever type of beverage that the individual desires – be it tea, coffee, hot chocolate or something else. They also save money over the long term because there is never a situation where too much coffee is brewed and wastage occurs.

Commercial office coffee machines

Commercial coffee machines are also another valid option, particularly where there are large numbers of coffee drinking employees who need a reliable solution.

Most reputable espresso machine manufacturers will offer a monthly contract to service and maintain your unit but again, you want to make sure you buy from a trusted dealer to avoid any of those unexpected fees or contract loopholes.

Coffee vending machines

Vending machines may offer a convenience and portable solution – but on a cost-per-cup basis they are one of the most expensive options (both in terms of operational and start-up costs) and should only really be considered for workplaces that don’t have dedicated kitchens or facilities for making coffee.

Rancilio Silvia V3

The Rancilio Silvia V3 is a beautifully traditional coffee machine that makes beautiful coffee. Buy it here today.

The Silvia V3 is another quality offering from Rancilio whose coffee machine pedigree stretches back for decades and decades.

The Silvia V3 has been resigned to include a stainless steel steam wand, precision commercial filter and perfectly designed steam control knob.

Of course, you get a sense just from looking at this coffee machine that it is absolutely beautiful in design and appearance. However, it still has to be able to make good coffee.

Craftsmanship meets high quality coffee

Luckily, the V3 does make good coffee, great coffee. There is a high quality 12-ounce brass boiler with a plastic tamper and two filter baskets (one each for single and double cups).

It also has a removable water container, cup warmer and the ability to accommodate pod coffee which is a huge time saver for many people these days.

In a few words, this machine is the perfect blend of design and performance. You will get beautiful, flavorsome and aromatic cups of coffee each and every time and importantly, the unit is actually easy to clean and will look good in your kitchen.

What others are saying about the Rancilio Silvia V3 Espresso Machine

Make Myday from Minneapolis, MN said that it was the best espresso they had ever had, never sour or bitter and the mostly metal construction felt solid and reliable. They also give some sound advice about shipping because the V3 is made of cast iron and is heavy:

Many say – and it bears repeating – that you will only get the results you are looking for at home if you invest in a burr grinder of at least Rancilio Rocky or Gaggia MDF quality, grind right before brewing and use beans roasted within weeks, not months!

I have had disappointing results with other grinders and all preground espresso including expensive Illy, etc.

Shop around and be sure to get free shipping, because this thing weighs a ton.

I have seen good package deals where you can get the Silvia and Rocky together; with no tax and free shipping plus some free goodies such as a stainless steel tamper, you will be in business and might have some cash left over for the beans. Of course the instruction booklet is nearly worthless, but you can find some great videos on YouTube to show you what to do with all that stuff once you get it home.

Other people have praised the Rancilio Silva V3 for its reliability, with many users commenting that their machines were still going strong after 5 years (which is a very good thing to boast about indeed).

C. Hill from Seattle, WA explains the difference between the V2 and V3 as being mainly cosmetic but that doesn’t take away from the sheer robustness and reliability that people seem to love.

It looks like the only changes between V2 and V3 are cosmetic – brew group handle, drip tray design and the steam knob.

I guess why change something if it is working very well. The inside of the machine is built very well, marine brass boiler with a 1Kw heater bring her up to temperature quickly, and a 3 way solenoid to stop spit back.

Fnorgby from Oakland, CA noted that the V3 tended to be a bit temperamental at times and you had to tinker with it occasionally to get the best coffee possible:

As other reviews have said, it’s a bit cantankerous and takes practice to get things right.

It seems to be a bit inflexible as to the amount of grounds to use, and the tamping needs to be firm or it sputters. Sometimes it can be wonky getting the portafilter in right.

But those are minor things that should become habit over time. We’re very excited and are hoping that the legwork pays off.

Conclusion

The Rancilio Silvia V3 combines traditional coffee techniques and skills with cutting edge design and craftsmanship. This is a true semi automatic espresso maker which will give you great results 100% of the time.

As previous reviews on Amazon have mentioned, you can use video sites like YouTube to help you discover what you can do to turn a great machine into an absolutely awesome machine.

Things such as a consistent bean grinder and decent 58mm tamper will go along way to achieving this goal. Coffee purists especially will enjoy the journey to espresso heaven and will never ever regret their investment for the joy it gives them, not only in the coffee making process but also the coffee itself.

Jura Ena 5

The Jura Ena 5 is a one touch solution when you want it to be but the coffee making process can easily be tailored to your individual needs if required. Buy this awesome machine today!

The Jura ENA5 is a fully automatic coffee machine that allows you to enjoy genuine crema coffee, espresso and cappuccino whenever you want from the convenience of your own home.

It will grind, tamp and brew the coffee in under 60 seconds and all it takes from the user is the single push of a button.

The burr grinder offers 5 fineness settings to suit all tastes and there is also a special pre-ground coffee funnel which is great for those of us who like to enjoy a decaf after the evening meal or late at night.

Jura Ena 5 review – fully programmable and customizable

You can alter the strength of the coffee as well as the temperature and amount used – you can select anywhere between 1 and 16 ounces to be precise.

Furthermore, you can easily override all of the predetermined settings by simply using the rotary dial for each cup (note: overriding the system will not affect the original settings in any way and you can easily revert back to them at any time).

There are also two frothing options at your disposal – the dual frother and the patented Jura-Capresso frothXpress system which will automatically steam or froth the milk directly into your cup.

Key facts and features

• 18 bars of pressure – 2 more than most similar high end DeLonghi coffee machines
• stainless steel lined thermoblock to minimize waiting time between brewing and steaming
• environmentally friendly and easy on your wallet – this unit will not use any power whatsoever when turned off in standby mode
• three color LCD display
• removable 37 ounce water tank, 7 ounce bean container
• coffee spout that is height adjustable, rotates and can prepare 2 coffees at once
• there is an automatic cleaning cycle included with this automatic machine, but it’s best point is the Clearyl water filtration system which eliminates the need for decalcification
• three color choices are usually available: Coffee Cherry Red, Ristretto Black, and Blossom White
• 17 x 9 x 14 inches

Jura Ena 5 – what people like and don’t like

Jura Ena 5

As with all higher end coffee machines, the quality of  the coffee and espresso is of a high standard. However, most will agree that it will never quite reach the heights of a manual machine. That’s not to say that you can’t get close with the right settings and decent beans though.

The frothXpress system is good if you are going to be making multiple drinks and admittedly it does looks better as the default wand on the machine. With that said, the standard traditional dual frother is probably more ideal if you are just going to make one cup of coffee – simply because you have more control over the basics like temperature and the froth itself.

While we are on the subject of frothing, please make sure that you rinse them out after every application, otherwise you run the risk of milk hardening within the system and causing a steam explosion.

I have noticed that some people are blaming the above on the machine, when in actuality it is user error and nothing to do with the machine at all.

Andy from the customer review section noted that a lot of user error is down to not maintaining the unit correctly:

As a maker of complicated mechanical and electrical devices and as the guy who writes the owner’s manuals and provides customer service for problems that get escalated, I suspect that many of the complaints are from those who don’t read manuals and have no patience for maintenance of any kind. Keep the steamer attachments clean, make sure you dry out your oily beans and use the filter or good water and the results are fabulous. I highly recommend this machine to careful users. If you can’t or refuse to give it the attention it deserves, buy a Mr. Coffee or ask for Starbucks gift certificates for Christmas or your birthday.

All in all this machine is relatively easy to use and understand and everything is spelled out clearly and concisely.  You are never going to run out of beans or water mid-process and you will always know when to clean because it is spelled out on the screen in front of you.

A few minor issues that must be addressed:

The temperature of the coffee produced can be prone to be inconsistent. Some have reported that the second cup is always hotter than the first. A handy piece of advice is to pre-warm the cups with hot water, this does help a lot.

Water filters can be expensive at around 20 dollars every 2 months.  I’d only be inclined to use filters if the water in your area was particularly hard or if you absolutely feel the need to have filtered water and either don’t want to or can’t be bothered descaling the machine.

Conclusion Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

While the Jura Ena 5 is not the most expensive super automatic coffee machine that Jura-Capresso has to offer, its coffee if used correctly is just as good.

Of course for the lower price and saving of over a thousand dollars over the higher end models, you have to be willing to make a few small sacrifices. Namely, the small water and bean reservoirs and lack of detailed and organized instructions in the booklet.

Just remember to rigorously and fastidiously clean out the frothing units and also get some coffee cleaning wipes and learn how to remove the tray to be able to get your hand up inside and clean the bottom of the ground press part of the brew unit. Do this about once a week and clean rinse the frothing units daily and you give your coffee machine the best chance to impress.