Krups 985-42 Il Caffe Duomo Coffee and Espresso Machine Review

I have had my combo unit for 6 months and have used it constantly since purchase.I am not a true coffee geek. Therefore, my opinion of espresso's and the ability is that of a novice.With this said though I am actively searching for an affordable espresso machine, under $[...].

The good.

1) It was cheap.I picked up mine on clearance for about $[...].
2) The frothier, it works like a champ (once you figure it out)
3) Not too difficult to clean the frothier
4) It is dependable.The first 2 months I owned it; i got on an espresso/cappuccino/latte kick and made about 8 a day for family and friends.I am not kidding, at least 8 a day.
5) If you want to learn how to make espresso and cappuccinos then this will make you learn.

The Bad:

1) The coffee pot is a pain to use.Whenever you pour water into the unit, it spills. Whenever you pour coffee, it spills.It makes a mess no matter what.Maybe I am used to Mr. Coffee and the ability to pour coffee without it catching on the lip. (This is the most annoying thing and the main reason why I am getting rid of it)
2) The espresso side takes a little work to figure out the right amount of water to use to make an espresso to your liking.
3) Mineral build up in the espresso "boiler".If you have hard water, buy distilled water
4) In order to produce enough froth for 2 cups of cappuccino, you need to utilize the "steam" disk and run the espresso machine.Until you get good at this, the milk gets cold before the espresso is done or vice versa.
5) The plastic clip will break off easily.
6) NO AUTOMATIC power off on either the coffee or the espresso side of the device.

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Product Description:
Love all manner of coffee drinks? Then consider this combination machine that allows you to brew coffee in the morning, cappuccino in the afternoon, and espresso after dinner (or the other way around depending on your sleep schedule). In this steam espresso maker, water is heated in a sealed boiling chamber and then released through the brew head for espresso or the steam arm for frothing milk. Once the steam has been exhausted, the machine must be allowed to cool prior to opening the sealed boiling chamber and refilling with water. For this reason steam powered machines are best for those who don't want to brew larger amounts of espresso at one time.

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West Bend 55109 3-in-1 Coffee Center Review

It takes forever to brew regular coffee, and its 99% plastic. Add onto that the spring loaded thing to stop drips while pouring mid brew doesnt work. But the espresso part works great, super fast (unlike the 2+ min it said it needed in the manual). I paid $19 at Christmas Tree shop, so in all honesty, thats why it got 4 stars. If I paid Amazon price of $90 it'd get 1 star

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Product Description:
Makes 4 cups of Espresso/Cappuccino and 10 cups of coffee.Espresso has 10 minute auto shut-off.Coffemaker has 2 hour shutoff and a Pause 'n Serve feature.Swing out filter basket and steam nozzle to froth milk.

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Mr. Coffee ECM21 4-Shot Espresso Machine and 8-Cup Coffeemaker Combo, Black Review

I have had this machine since February and use it nearly every day.This is definitely one of the best coffeemakers I have ever owned, and I haven't had one single problem with it.

When I was deciding whether or not to buy it, some of the negative reviews had me a little skeptical.But I am SO glad that I took a chance.It was absolutely worth it for me.

I honestly don't see how some of the reviewers have had some of the problems that they have.Reviewer 'Joan of Arc' seemed to have quite a bit of leakage problems.It must have been a defective machine, because ours hasn't leaked one time -- not even a little drop.I'll go over a few of the issues she and some others had:

- The removable water reservoir (or "bucket" as she called it) for the coffeemaker is easy to remove and replace.If you don't want to take it out to fill it with water, just pour water into it.It is marked clearly and is easy to read even when stationed on the machine.No problem.

- The showerhead over the filter basket swivels outward to allow you to change the coffee filter.When you're done, you just swivel it back into place.I don't see how you can forget to do it, because the lid is designed so that you can't even close it if the showerhead isn't moved back into place.It really isn't even something you have to think about.

- Some people have had problems with the carafe lid.It doesn't open fully, but opens wide enough for me to clean it with little problem.We haven't had any problems with it dripping or leaking at all.It's like any other carafe that I've used over the years.

- 'Joan of Arc' mentioned that it was easy for her to forget to put the 1st lid on the espresso side before putting down the second lid.I'm not exactly sure what she was referring to, but I think she meant the water reservoir cap and lid.Again, I don't see how you could forget to screw the cap back on after you fill it with water.I suppose it's a learning curve.The first few times I used the machine, I referred to the instruction manual to make sure I did everything right.Now I can crank out good espresso and cappuccino in minutes without really even thinking about it.It just takes a little practice, like with anything else.

- Some people wished for a frother that was a little more accessible to make it a little easier to froth milk in a larger pitcher.That would have been a nice feature.It isn't too difficult to use, however, and seems to work just fine.The milk is always steaming hot, and the froth doesn't get cold for us.

- The coffee and espresso COULD be a LITTLE hotter.I don't like scalding hot coffee anyway, so it doesn't bother me too much, but for someone that does, it might be a small issue.Again, it doesn't seem like a deal-breaker, though.

- A clock or timer would have been a nice addition as well, but not having it doesn't affect the quality of the machine.It would have made a good product even better.

We have used both the coffee side and espresso side many times, and have yet to have any problems.I think some people may have received defective machines, but any product can be purchased defective.Some issues can easily be resolved with a little practice in getting used to the controls and operation of the whole machine, but once you do, it's more than easy to make good quality coffee and espresso.

I would definitely have to say that I got a great deal on a sleek, stylish machine that also works very well and makes good quality coffee.If you 'get what you pay for', then I made out like a bandit.Perfectly satisfied and VERY happy I bought it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Mr. Coffee ECM21 4-Shot Espresso Machine and 8-Cup Coffeemaker Combo, Black

Product Description:
Ideal for entertaining or everyday use, this convenient two-in-one appliance can brew up to 8 cups of coffee or up to 4 cups of espresso at the same time. The espresso/coffee machine's removable cone filter basket and removable water reservoir provides easy filling, while its brew-strength setting accommodates individual preferences. And frothing or steaming milk for cappuccino and lattes is quick and easy with the variable steam control and swivel steam valve. Other useful features include a lighted "on/off" switch, a pressure safety valve, and a pause-n-serve function for pouring a cup midbrew. The unit's dishwasher-safe glass carafe and removable drip tray make cleanup a snap. A measuring scoop is included. The espresso/coffee machine measures approximately 10 by 12 by 11 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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