I got this little machine as I''m always in Starbucks. I wanted a nice little alternative for nights and weekends when I felt like having an espresso based drink without having to drive to a coffee shop and shell out cash.First, the good points of this machine:
-It''s small, so you can easily store it inside a cabinet. It''s not bad looking, however, so if you can sacrifice a little counter space, that works just as well.
-The machine is very simple to use. I have my own bean grinder, but you can get yours ground at Starbucks if you buy it there. You simply scoop the beans into the holder, screw into the machine, put water in the reservoir, turn on, and there you go.
-It''s relatively quick to brew the espresso and it doesn''t take too long to clean most of the parts.
Now, the bad:
-The biggest issue I''ve had with this machine is that it basically brews strong coffee, not espresso. I''ve tried a variety of ways of packing the beans, etc, but getting a crema with this machine eludes me. If you''re a beginner at this stuff, it''s not a big deal as the drinks will still taste alright. However, it''s not really espresso in the full sense. You may as well just buy a coffee maker.
-The frothing wand is of okay size, but it seems like it takes forever to heat milk up to a desirable temperature for a drink.
Overall, not bad for a starter machine, but it''s just that. If you want anything that will give you a crema and legitimate shot of espresso, shell out some more money and get a Delonghi. They''re by no means perfect, but it will give you a more legitimate shot of espresso than this machine. However, if you''re just starting with all of this and want to make a decent cappuccino occasionally, this isn''t a bad machine.
I noticed that several people commented about leaking and the instructions warn that this can occur if there are grounds around the top of the filter or if you over-fill the filter. The frothing arm is very short but I found a small frothing pitcher at World Market that works well. As far as worrying about aluminum in your espresso, the instructions also warn that you shouldn''t leave water in the reservoir when you''re not using the machine. The only other thing to remember is that you MUST de-pressurize the system before removing the filter holder or water reservoir cap!! To do this, unplug the machine, wait for it to cool off, then turn the knob to "steam" until you hear the hissing stop.
I think that for the price, this machine produces a nice cup of espresso in a relatively short amount of time.
Buy Mr. Coffee ECM250 4-Cup Espresso/Cappuccino Maker Now
I used this espresso machine a couple times a week for about 3 years and liked it a lot; however, yesterday morning I was frothing the milk and it exploded. I looked at the cap (over the water reservoir) and it was split. Scalding water shot out of that split, luckily it went all over the wall and not toward me. If you have this machine, consider releasing the pressure from the water reservoir after every use and the cap may last longer, but I for one am switching brands. This scared the heck out of me and after looking online, I see that it has happened to others. Be aware.Read Best Reviews of Mr. Coffee ECM250 4-Cup Espresso/Cappuccino Maker Here
This is my third espresso maker. The other two machines were a different brand and worked well for many years. This Mr. Coffee unit worked well for about 5 months and then started failing. It now makes only about one third of a caraff, and then just spits out weak steam. I will never buy a Mr. Coffee product again. It takes me a while to get used to a new machine, and I find it galling to have the thing fail soon after I get used to it. Better to spend a little more and have a product that lasts. My last K---espresso maker lasted for over 5 years before it developed a pin hole leak in the pressure chamber. UPDATE; I just realized after looking inside the boiler and seeing that it was slightly eaten away that we have been ingesting aluminum over the past few months. When I opened and took apart my my last K---s espresso maker, I noticed that the bottom of the boiler was eaten away to the point that it had developed a pin hole leak. I think most of the less expensive machines use aluminum boilers which slowly dissolve into the water over time and use. Even distilled water is slightly acidic and will cause this to happen. There is NO way that I will ever again buy an espresso maker that has a boiler composed of aluminum!! Stainless steel might cost a little more, but at least you don''t wind up eating aluminum while drinking your espresso. It''s just one more thing to check when you make your purchase.Want Mr. Coffee ECM250 4-Cup Espresso/Cappuccino Maker Discount?
I''ve been a barista at Starbucks for 1.2 years now, and when my room mates found this little espresso machine in the basement, I have to say, I was not only REALLY excited but also a bit surprised by how well it steams milk. It is difficult to clean the steam wand, though. You have to wipe the milk off of the wand immediately after steaming the milk otherwise it cakes on. I''ve also noticed the steam wand nozzle is a bit prone to clogging. To solve this, fill the pitcher 3/4 full of water, and steam the water for about 2 minutes until it clears.This is great for people who want to save money but don''t want to give up their morning latte. Check your local Starbucks to see if they''ll sell you a bottle of your favorite syrup or maybe even give you hints on steaming the perfect milk! Not to mention Starbucks sells espresso pounds and will happily grind them to your machine.Pros:
-CHEAP. Holy crap this is so cheap in comparison to the nice espresso machines I''ve seen elsewhere.
-Good foam! Huge plus for people who like cappuccinos. For those of you who hate foam, you''re better off warming a saucepan of milk on your stove.
Makes a lot of espresso. I forgot that my work machines time shots and stop pouring. I left it for a minute and came back to a mug full of espresso.
You can use any milk you want! Starbucks only has soy, so if you prefer almond or coconut milk, here''s your chance!
Compact. The size is pretty darn small. It''s about the size of a gallon of milk.
Cons:
Tricky to clean. Pretty huge con with the steam wand. Not impossible, though. Just takes a little muscle. Everything else wipes off pretty well. I use a butter knife to get the espresso out of the espresso... thing.
A bit on the messy side, but as I just found the bottom tray for the machine, I think this will be a bit less of a problem. Watch out for hot water spitting out of the steam wand.
Definitely not child friendly. The steam wand heats up, and the steam can burn if you''re not careful. Not to mention the metal pitcher heats up for milk (this should go without saying, though).
Bonus recipes:
Americano: espresso and water
Latte: espresso, steamed milk, flavor if wanted, light foam
Mocha: espresso, steamed milk, chocolate sauce
Cappuccino: espresso, light steamed milk, lots of foam
Chai latte: chai concentrate, steamed milk
My favorite is a soy latte sweetened with honey and some cinnamon :9 Made on this morning, in fact.
Protip: It''s ES-presso, not EX-presso.
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