Advantages: Compact for it's functions, easy to use Disadvantages: Had major problems with it leaking
...This was our first Saeco espresso machine purchase about three years ago. The first 8 months were a dream until it started to develop problems, which I'll detail below. But first how it all works.
Why Automatic?
This is an automatic espresso machine, what sold us was the fact that any body can use the thing, it's compact, and creates less mess than manual machines. We were also sold this version 'Rapid Steam' as it has two boilers as opposed to one in the straight Incanto machine. The idea behind this is that one boiler is dedicated to the temperature of the water for the coffee shot, the other to the steam for frothing the milk. Therefore you don't have to wait the 30 seconds or so for the machine to heat up/cool down between functions.
How it works
There's a tank at the back to fill fresh water and a bean hopper...
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Advantages: Fast, top quality espressos quickly, childs play! Disadvantages: May be a bit of an overkill for many, quite large
...I purchased this machine last year and we have been very happy with it. We are seriously coffee lovers and didn't mind paying a bit extra for a top quality machine, that was easy to use that would last us a long time - if these are your requirements then this is the machine for you. We have an office based home and often entertain clients and we've found this is a great machine to impress them with! This was our second Saeco purchase, we traded in the old model for an upgrade.
The big selling point is everything can be done with the touch of a button. You also don't get the mess that we've encountered with manual machines.
Here's how the process works:
Choose your coffee size (small, medium, large buttons), choose your coffee strength (by a dial) and press a bottom. The machine grinds it's own beans, tamps and extracts...
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Advantages: It was the right colour for my kitchen. Disadvantages: Spills everywhere.
...“Coffee anyone”, I asked like the real hostess, proud of my new acquisition. It smelt really nice, freshly brewed and I was out to impress. No peasants instant coffee here. This was the real thing made with real coffee grains in my new Bright yellow coffee maker that blended in with my bright yellow and dark blue colour scheme.
I thought it was a pretty cool gadget. It had a makers name that I trusted and I thought that I could not go far wrong with a purchase at £12.00 equivalent. Coffee makers tend to be on the cheap side in France, as they play an essential role in entertaining where instant coffee is not really an option.
I took this little beastie out of its box, glanced at the instructions briefly (which were full and complete although idiots like me think they know what they are doing and tend to throw them away the first...
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