Saeco S-TRP-ST Talea Ring Plus Super Automatic Espresso Machine Review

I owned a Jura Impressa S90 for 6 years at a daily rate of 8 espressos . No problems , I sold it to upgrade it for a professional like machine.. Bad decision, The Talea Ring Plus has a beautiful design and is relatively small for a full automatic, but...
After 4 months it was leaking (faulty 0 rings ), it wastes more water that it goes into the coffee, it is very high maintenance to clean (new filter every 2 weeks, cleaning tablet every 3 weeks, descaling twice in 3 months), but most important if you have a problem forget about Saeco customer service:rude, incompetent and they don't return emails or calls, so you better have a good relationship with your retailer to enlist their help. After the repair of my NEW machine, Saeco lost my original box and protective pads, they scratched the led display and plate and the serial number sticker was missiing...
After 8 single coffeesyou must empty the grounds and the drip tray! the container is flooded with water.
What about the coffee? Just OK , not any better that one could get with a machine one third of the price.
If you are thinking superautomatic forget Saeco( at least this model)

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Product Description:
The Talea Ring Plus offers all the convenience of a super automatic espresso machine, but includes more options for frothing and steaming milk for cappuccinos and lattes, as well as click wheel technology--programming and brewing with the Talea Ring Plus is as simple as using an ipod.The Talea Ring Plus has a LCD display with a click wheel interface for simplified operation of programmable settings. The Talea takes care of the grinding, dosing, tamping and brewing, but allows for personal taste in the programming of coffee size, strength and temperature.The LCD display lets you know what is happening in the machine at all times and will even tell you when maintenance and cleaning are needed. The Talea Ring Plus offers a new technology with its milk island for automatic frothing, but also comes with a manual steam wand.The 13.5 ounce glass milk island plugs into the side of the machine and actually draws steam from the Talea to make its steamed and frothed milk.Best of all, it's easy to clean. The Talea offers the patented technology of the Saeco Brew System--turn the dial either right or left and change the strength and consistency of your coffee by either increasing or decreasing the water pressure as it moves through the grounds.Saeco Opti-dose has an adjustable 7 - 10.5 gram doser regulating the amount of beans to grind per serving.Talea Ring Plus includes a pre-ground doser, adjustable built-in ceramic disc grinder, automatic cup warming surface that holds up to 6 espresso cups, a removable 57 ounce water tank, motorized drip tray that moves up and down with the touch of a finger, sliding wheels on the base of machine for convenient rotation and rapid steam technology---no waiting between frothing milk with pannarello attachment and brewing espresso.

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Breville Barista Express Metal Espresso Coffee Maker BES860XL Review

I spent my Christmas 2009 reviewing expresso machines. I had just returned from a trip to Europe and finally was going to fold and get an expresso machine.I missed the expresso from Italy and France.1oz of crema delight.

So, I liked the Breville from all the reviews but was worried about some of the negativity on the "wet puck" I had read.All the reviews mentioned excellent coffee though, so it was on my short list.

Then I saw the Breville BES860XL, also known as the Barista Express Programmable Expresso.From the looks you can tell this unit has exchanged the hot water dispenser for a bean grinder.This unit is a fully automatic expresso machine with the super automatic feature of grinding a pre-measure of beans for your brew.Note, it is not a super automatic machine as you still need to manually mount the portafilter into the group head, and clean the filter afterwards.This is as automatic as you will want to go if you want to really control your coffee.

But, let me walk you through the pleasure:
1. the box.this has excellent graphics -- even as you open, the getting started guide and pictures guide you along.The unit removes easily.
2. The tamper is magnetically held in place on the front of the machine -- you can use it in place or remove for manual tamping.
3. New: -there is a dry puck feature now for all the fussy reviews -- this removes excess water so you get, a dry puck
- an excellent burr grinder -- you can dismantle this for cleaning, and it has a wide range of control
- for those that previously complained about the "cheat" dual wall filters -- the unit comes with single and double dual wall AND single wall filters
- there is a hideaway storage tray to hold all the small goodies
4. Steaming -- excellent steam temperature and pressure -- works very well with the provided frothing jug, very minimal excess water to start
5. The real test.I am using the dual wall filters, and the Illy whole expresso beans I got from Italy were made into pure heavenly expresso. Nice crema. This is the real thing.

This is one finely engineered machine.From a mechanically inclined electrical engineer to the folks at Breville: you have created an exceptionally functional piece that does the job.Did I mention it is beautiful on the counter as well?I have it on an island, no bad sides.

Drawbacks: none.BUT, when making a real expresso shot, make sure you pre-warm your demitasse.Otherwise the expresso will heat up your cup and your coffee will not be hot.I run a water cycle first into my cup to heat up the group head and the cup.

In my opinion this is the best buy in the market under $1500.At the office, daily I use a super automatic machine that is at that top end.

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Product Description:
Programmable espresso machine with integrated conical burr grinder. 15 bar of pressure . Adjustable dose. Large 230 gram hopper holds beans for up to 28 shots of espresso. Hands free coffee grinder. Programmable or manual coffee settings. Pressure pump made in Italy. High quality pressure gauge. Multi-access swivel steam wand. Large capacity 2 litre water tank with a water filtration system. Accessories: Cleaning kit with brush, tool cleaning cycle disc and tablets, measuring tamping spoon and stainless steel frothing jug. 1-year manufacturer's warranty.

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Rancilio Espresso Machine - Rancilio SILVIA Review

I have owned several different expresso machines in different price ranges. Hands down, this machine is the best I've ever used.The machine works exactly as it is supposed to - I use it every day, sometimes a couple times per day and the espresso never changes - it's always delicious, and the steamed milk comes out perfectly.I've even left the machine on all day a couple of times, and it still does not affect the machine - it keeps working like it's brand new.The only downside is that it takes about 45 minutes for this machine to heat up.HOWEVER, there are websites out there that can tell you how to get around this and have your shot of espresso in about 10 minutes.

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Product Description:
Rancilio is a company with a long tradition and our production of high-quality espresso machines dates back to the twenties. After decades of growth and learning, we proudly continue to offer products that are first in their class in design and technology

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DeLonghi BAR32 Retro Pump-Driven 35 ounce Espresso Maker Review

Despairing of ever finding decent espresso in the Midwest, I finally broke down and decided to get a home espresso machine.I had worked as a barrista, and had sipped espresso in Italy, so I had some idea of how it should taste.

Being relatively poor, I wanted a machine that would deliver a decent espresso, at a decent price.Though I was willing to consider a system with proprietary coffee pods (K-cups, Tassimo, etc), it would have to be cheap enough that I wouldn't mind shelling out the extra bucks for the coffee itself.And I also wanted to make sure that it was pump-driven, not steam-driven.

After checking reviews and looking around, I finally settled on the DeLonghi BAR32.It's a pump-driven maker, not steam driven, so it's not scorching the grounds as it brews.And it comes with a single and a double espresso filter.

The DeLonghi uses either ground espresso, or E.S.E. espresso pods.The E.S.E. pods are not proprietary - any company can make them.The DeLonghi comes with a package of 18 Illy pods (retail - $12).The pods are convenient, but still expensive.

I've had the espresso maker for several days, and I'm happy with it so far.With the pods, it pulls a good single espresso with a satisfactory crema.Sugar floats on top of the crema for about 2-3 seconds, and it has a nice golden color.The espresso tastes very smooth.

Pulling a good single espresso, either with the pods or loose coffee, is pretty easy.Use the pods as a good judge of how tightly to pack the grounds in the filter.Use a level, loosely packed scoop of coffee for a single shot.

Pulling a good double, on the other hand, still eludes me.The best I've come up with is to use 2 scoops, 3/4 full and loosely packed, and pressed looser than for a single.Even then, it still dribbles out slowly, with a less-than-satisfactory (though present) crema.

The steam wand works very well.I've made several excellent cappuccinos and lattes with it.It's a little cramped to use, so I pull mine to the edge of the counter so that I can get a good mug under it.I steam straight into the mug of milk, and then add the espresso.Make sure to blow some steam through it to clear out condensation before putting it in your milk.Start with the steam wand nearly submerged in the milk, and then slowly pull it out (lower the mug) until you hear a gentle "sipping" sound.That means that it's frothing.If you see noticeable bubbles on top of the milk, that means you've pulled it out too far - dip it back in slowly and you should be able to whip the bubbles into froth.Once the froth is just below the level you want it, submerge the wand back into the milk to finish heating it.Listen again - once the milk starts to sound "hollow," it's nearly hot enough.Let it go for a few more seconds, then shut off the steam, and remove the mug.The wand will drip a bit, so put it over the drip tray or an empty mug.

Making espresso is fairly easy.Turn the machine to "Heat" to start heating the water and priming the pump.Make sure the filter holder is screwed into the machine.Once the "Hot" light comes on, run an espresso cycle without coffee into the cup you'll use - pulling espresso into a cold cup will ruin the flavor.Fill the cup half-way with hot water, and turn the machine back to "Heat."Empty and quickly dry the espresso cup.Put the E.S.E. pod or ground espresso into the filter (tamp down the loose espresso) and twist it into the machine.Turn the machine on, and wait until you've got your cup of espresso.A single espresso should be 30-40ml, or 1-1.5oz.I used a measuring cup to see what that looked like in my demitasse cups.

Looking back over what I've written, I suppose I do make it look a little complicated.And it is a little bit more complicated that popping the K-cup into the machine, and hitting "Go."But it really is pretty easy, and less than 5 minutes pass between "You know, I could go for a cappuccino," and "Man, that's a tasty cappuccino."

Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Good pressure
- Easy to make a good single shot of espresso
- Uses pods or loose grounds
- 2 dials + 0 buttons = easy to use
- Outstanding steam wand
- 32oz water reservoir lets you make 3 or 4 cappuccinos, or 6 to 8 espressos, without refilling
- Built-in tamper means one less part to lose
- Pre-heat cycle helps make good espresso

Cons:
- Hard to make a good double espresso (might just be me)
- Steam wand leaks slightly (usually at the start of a brewing cycle - I just keep mine over the drip tray)In the end, the machine makes a good espresso, especially for the price, but remember that you're not going to be running a coffee shop with it.I definitely recommend it for anybody who wants to make their own espresso, but wants to do it for under $200.

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Product Description:
DeLonghi is proud to present this unique and popular BAR32 Retro Pump-Driven 35 ounce Espresso Maker.Just a few of it's features include pump driven, makes coffee in mug-size or smaller cup-sizes, brews standard or with pods.With ESE (Easy Serving Expresso) espresso making has never been easier.The Sempre Crema filter produces a rich, creamy froth and the swivel jet frother makes frothy milk for cappuccino, latte and other beverages.The easy cleaning 35 ounce water tank is removable and fills easily right at the faucet.This model features an exclusive anti-drip design.

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DeLonghi EC155 Espresso Maker Review

I love espresso, and this little baby makes a great cup.Here are a few points that might be useful for you to know:

Good points:
*It doesn't take up too much room on the counter and looks nice with it's silver metal accents.
*The water reservoir is a good size, you can make about 8-10 shots before you need to refill it, which is very easy to do, and there is a clear section behind the basket which shows the water level.
*Fast heat-up time (only about a minute), good frothing wand, no wait time between frothing and brewing (though you do have to wait a little between brewing and frothing).

Be warned:
*Frothing wand is only 3 1/4 inches from the counter top.Not abig deal, I just went and bought a frothing cup that is about that height.
*Distance from grounds basket to tray is only 2 1/2 inches, I usually use a small espresso cup.
*Built-in tamper sucks, buy a good metal one.
*You don't end up with a nice dry puck, the grounds basket is a watery soup after your espresso is made, so I dump it down the disposal.
*You will end up drinking more espresso than you mean to, it's that good!

Seriously, I chose this machine after a lot of online researching, and decided on this one based on its outstanding reviews and great price.What led me to it were the reviews of another DeLonghi, the EC140B, which is an older and less attractive model, but had reviews from people who had owned theirs for 6 and 10 years!I'm hoping that this one will have the same longevity.

-----> UPDATE: I've now had this machine for 8 months and it started running very slow.I'd been using only distilled water, so I knew it wasn't a calcification issue, so I looked into it and it turns out machines like this one (no backflushing) need to be cleaned every month or so to remove built up grounds that work their way inside the machine.So I ran some cleaner through it and all this nasty brownish liquid came out, and now it runs great again!So remember people, take good care of your things and they will take good care of you.A lesson I am still learning...
- and to answer a question commented on this review, my tamper is 2 inches in diameter.

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Product Description:
With two thermostats for separately controlling water and steam pressure, this convenient appliance makes espresso or cappuccino at the perfect temperature for both. The 15-bar pump-driven machine features a durable stainless-steel broiler, and its self-priming operation allows for brewing a favorite beverage without annoying start-up preparations. In addition, the unit's unique dual-function filter accommodates both E.S.E. pods and ground espresso. Used with ground espresso, the filter mixes air into the brewing process to produce a perfect crema, which, distinguished by its caramel color, is the essence of authentic espresso. And for excellent cappuccinos, the espresso maker�s adjustable swivel jet frother mixes steam and milk to create a rich creamy froth. Other highlights include a removable 35-ounce water tank for simple cleaning and filling, an "on/off" switch with an indicator light, and a removable drip tray. Designed and engineered in Italy, the 1000-watt espresso maker measures 7-1/2 by 9-1/2 by 11-1/8 inches and carries a one-year warranty.

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