★★★★★ 5
Fast and Easy! Great Taste!
Color: A-Silver
This is my first espresso machine. The first thing you should know is to select the right beans -- especially if you choose the bottomless portafilter (optional, but recommended.) I bought a bag of Starbucks non-espresso dark roast beans, and it couldn't get to the espresso pressure in the bottomless filter; those beans are too oily for espresso. Their dark roast espresso beans work great, though.
Here's why this is the best Casabrews machine (in my opinion.) The "Flash heat" tech is ready to brew FIVE SECONDS after hitting the power button (feels more like 3.) There are machines that take anywhere from 30 seconds to about 20 minutes to heat up. I don't know about you, but I don't like waiting. This same tech is ready to froth milk 5 seconds after brewing. You can't froth at the same time, but you're already potentially on your daily limit of caffeine while your "friends" are still waiting for their clunky machines with double boilers to warm up..!
I've used mine daily since late November. If you have hard water, you will have to descale more often (I've done it once so far.) In my case, I use a Kangen filter on the 11.5 (alkaline) setting. This causes faster buildup, but the taste is worth it, and I've always used 11.5 pH for all coffee--drip and Keurig.
I use 17.5g of those Starbucks beans -- different beans may require different amounts. If you overfill the basket, you will get more steam and dripping. If you underfill it, you won't hit espresso pressure and it will taste weak and sour due to underextraction. I prefer tending toward overextraction. This could cause some bitterness, but that's easily-fixed by adding a few pinches of salt (I use Himalayan Sea Salt) or some almond milk. The punch and complexity are worth it, though -- it's the SOUL of the beans! ⚡😍🤩💪🏼
I've also used preground espresso, but it won't be quite as strong. That works fine with the pressurized double basket that comes with this machine -- but it won't reach pressure with the bottomless basket. The long-ground grains have lost their potency. I drink this if it's already early evening or later--so I could actually SLEEP!
Two things you'll want to get right away are a WDT tool (a bunch of needles like a long comb) and a "knock box" (where you tap the filter to remove the leftover coffee puck.) I 3D-printed a knockbox from Thingiverse.com Make sure you select enough infill and 4 walls because it'll have to take a lot of abuse. It also helps to have a dosing funnel (also 3D-printed from there.) Any concerns about food grade stuff is addressed by either buying PET-G food grade filament or wet-sanding (which I opted for.) The WDT tool breaks up the coffee clumps, and you'll want to stir it down and into the arcs of the filter to prevent sputtering, uneven flow, and bad espresso.
I also have a 3D-printed distributor--but many consider it unnecessary. I like it because it helps to center the grinds and then I tamp it down (I got an aftermarket tamper--one that has ridges; it works better than the flat ones.) I have a flat metal tamper, too. I just don't use it.
Making a double takes about 5 minutes--starting from grinding beans, weighing, transferring, stirring, tamping, putting on the included puck screen and attaching the portafilter. After that, you just press the button. I always get 3 streams that consolidate into one, and good crema (a bit of foam.) I use a digital Etek scale (~ $10.)
On scale use... My Etek can measure volume. But there are TWO settings. One is for milk (slightly different density) and one is for water. The one for water is approximately the same as the gram unit setting--as water is 1 gram per milliliter. Make sure if you are leaving it on the milliliter setting that you are using the water one. It has a drop icon. The milk setting has a cup with an "M" on it. You will put too much coffee in if you try to measure it with the milk setting. I found that out recently, as I was not aware of the separate setting for milk. So LIVE and LEARN! 🤓📈📊
If the machine gets accumulated mineral deposits, I take a straightened paper clip and carefully (VERY) insert into the hole in the mounting plate. I then run 2-3 doubles without the portafilter. If it gets more far-gone, I use citric acid (1 tablespoon per liter of water.) You could buy some descaling powder from a dollar store, but I think citric acid is more economical. I use it on my Kangen machine which is why I had it. You will then want to run a few cycles of doubles through to get rid of any aftertaste. You might be tempted to use vinegar and water. I used that on my Keurig and I had to run probably 6 or more cycles to get the vinegar taste out; I don't recommend it!
Make sure you run some hot water through the frothing tube after each use -- and wipe it down to remove the milk before it gets too solidified. This is done by turning the dial all the way back to the left, having the machine on, and then turning it all the way to the right. After you see the flow is constant (not sputtering or uneven--I watch for about 5 seconds), turn the dial back to the far-left.
That's it! This machine has changed my morning routine. I eat grits and a fried egg with it so I don't bounce off into the stratosphere on a caffeine high. The taste is quite good. I very rarely drink drip coffee (or even use it or the Keurig for coffee) since having this resource.
Being away from home is hard, because it's hard to find good espresso -- especially at those licensed "Starbucks." Those are the ones that just pay to use their materials, but are not the genuine deal.
Let me know how yours works out, how it tastes, and if you have any questions! 💯
Note: I made the video before I started using other tools mentioned, above.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2026
