Espresso machines: what YouTube's top 10 reviewers actually say

Reviewers broadly see the Gaggia Classic Pro as the durable, repairable, best-value tinkerer's machine: stock it needs an OPV mod and temperature surfing and its steam divides opinion, but modded it rivals far pricier machines (retailers Whole Latte Love and Seattle Coffee Gear, which sell it, are the least qualified in their praise).

US price: $549 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$600 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsJames Hoffmann: Well built and good value, but stock shots are harsh from high pressure, temperature wanders and steam is slow; a used, modded unit is a good budget route only if you can repair it yourself. ▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsThe Real Sprometheus: A good, imperfect entry machine that makes solid espresso and improves a lot with a 6–6.5 bar spring, but he finds steam weak and calls it essentially 'disposable'; he still listed it as a budget pick in 2024. ▶▶▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsLance Hedrick: Consistently calls it a modder's machine: mediocre stock (graded C, he'd take a Bambino or ECP3420 unmodified) but A+ once modded; later videos add concerns about aluminum boilers and boiler gate. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsKyle Rowsell: His pick for most beginners: good value, 58mm portafilter, milk steaming and a big modding community, though he strongly suggests the OPV mod. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: His favorite prosumer machine under $500, built like a tank and capable of excellent espresso, but it is fully manual, steaming takes practice, and the water level and cup clearance annoy him. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: A durable, repairable, value-holding tinkerer's machine that needs temperature surfing or a PID plus a 9-bar mod. He was very enthusiastic in 2020, but by 2024 the Evo boiler-coating flaking made him mixed, and he advised UK buyers to choose the uncoated 2024 stock. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsHoon's Coffee: Would choose it over the Breville Infuser for its metal build and 58mm portafilter, but notes you must also budget for a grinder. ▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsWhole Latte Love(retailer): This retailer, which sells the machine and says it worked with Gaggia on the North American 9-bar Evo, repeatedly names it the best-value entry-level machine. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsSeattle Coffee Gear(retailer): This retailer, which sells the machine, calls it simple, reliable and capable of cafe-quality drinks, though it needs temperature surfing. ▶

Consensus

• Stock brew pressure is too high and an OPV spring swap to about 9 bar is a cheap, worthwhile fix (Hoffmann, Sprometheus, Lance Hedrick, Kyle Rowsell, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• Brew temperature swings, so you need temperature surfing or a PID mod (Hoffmann, Sprometheus, Lance Hedrick, Kyle Rowsell, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• Highly moddable, with spare parts and a large community (Hoffmann, Sprometheus, Lance Hedrick, Kyle Rowsell, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Whole Latte Love)
• The standard 58mm portafilter is a big plus at this price (Hoffmann, Sprometheus, Kyle Rowsell, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Hoon's Coffee, Whole Latte Love, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• There is little clearance under the portafilter for cups and a scale (Hoffmann, Sprometheus, Kyle Rowsell, Tom's Coffee Corner, Lance Hedrick, Whole Latte Love)
• Steaming needs technique, such as starting before the ready light, and practice (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Whole Latte Love, Kyle Rowsell)

Disagreement

• Steam power: Hoffmann found it underpowered and the slowest in his group. Sprometheus, Lance Hedrick and Tom (on the older model) call it weak. Coffee Kev found it surprisingly strong and quick when steaming starts early, and Whole Latte Love had it fastest in its group at 25 seconds. Seattle Coffee Gear got milk almost too hot.
• Longevity / build durability: Coffee Kev, Kyle Rowsell, Tom's Coffee Corner and Whole Latte Love say it is built like a tank and can last decades. Sprometheus says it wasn't built to last ('disposable'), and Lance Hedrick flags aluminum boiler pitting. Coffee Kev himself later said boiler gate puts the 'tank' reputation in danger.
• Out-of-box quality: Sprometheus calls stock espresso 'pretty solid', Tom got good shots on stock parts, and Whole Latte Love says it matches prosumer machines. Lance Hedrick says it isn't that great stock (C grade, prefers a Bambino or ECP3420 unmodified), and Hoffmann found stock shots 'frustratingly close to great' and harsh.
• Suitability for beginners: Kyle Rowsell recommends it to most beginners, and Whole Latte Love calls it the best place to start. Coffee Kev says it is not beginner friendly, Tom finds its steaming hard for beginners, and Lance Hedrick says it is not better than the Bambino Plus stock.
• Modding vs upgrading: In early 2020 Coffee Kev said anyone wanting better espresso should upgrade to another machine rather than mod the Classic. Lance Hedrick and Kev's own later videos praise mods such as PID and Gaggiuino as making it excellent.

Startup / heat-up

Timed: Tom's Coffee Corner measured about 1:20 (older model) and 2:00 (newer model) to brew temperature. Coffee Kev timed the Evo's ready light at just over a minute. Whole Latte Love (retailer) measured the aluminum Classic about 20 seconds faster to the brew-ready light than the brass E24. Estimated: Tom also estimated about 1.5–2 minutes for the Classic Pro, Lance Hedrick about 1 minute, and Sprometheus 'a few minutes'. Several advise a longer equalization: about 10 minutes (Lance Hedrick, Whole Latte Love), 10–15 minutes (Seattle Coffee Gear), and at least 15–30 minutes with the portafilter in (Kyle Rowsell). Steam is usable about 6–15 seconds after flipping the switch if you don't wait for the light (Coffee Kev, Tom's Coffee Corner), or about 20–45 seconds by Whole Latte Love's estimates. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): 15-20 minutes recommended (retailer/blog guidance, not an official manufacturer spec).

Finish & fingerprints

Brushed or pressed stainless steel body praised (Hoffmann, Kyle Rowsell, Tom's Coffee Corner); Hoon's Coffee notes a metal build. Plastic portafilter handle, steam wand, knob and drip tray feel cheaper (Kyle Rowsell, Hoffmann on the portafilter finish, Coffee Kev on the 2019 handle, Tom's Coffee Corner). Coffee Kev prefers the Evo's unplated stainless portafilter because chrome ones end up looking beat up. Multiple colors are available (Sprometheus prefers white; Coffee Kev; Whole Latte Love). No reviewer mentioned fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Industrial Grey (per Amazon listing); coloured models available for +$50 (per CoffeeGeek).

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +James Hoffmann: “the build is solid brush stainless everywhere” 6:28
• +James Hoffmann: “overall for 3.99 the kind of build you would expect from a premium machine” 6:56
• +The Real Sprometheus: “with a six bar Spring was pulling shots that were on par with my mini at the time” 2:50
• +The Real Sprometheus: “that has a ton of options depending on how handy you are” 2:50
• +Lance Hedrick: “you can get a Goa classic Pro for 500 and you can modify” 17:39
• –Lance Hedrick: “it becomes a bit of a nuisance for those who don't want to open their machine voiding their warranty” 1:51
• +Kyle Rowsell: “for what it offers is actually a pretty good deal” 3:33
• +Kyle Rowsell: “it also has a 58 millimeter commercial portafilter and at this price point that's actually kind of hard to find” 3:33
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “this thing is really built like a tank” 2:23
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “this is just really nice haptic feedback on these buttons that is wonderful” 3:18
• –Coffee Kev: “trying to learn to steam milk on the Gaja Classic, for example, is a bit not pitted.” 12:30
• –Coffee Kev: “this one isn’t modded with a PID, I’m temperature surfing” 2:08
• +Hoon's Coffee: “that's the 58 millimeter 40 filter that's kind of like commercial grade” 1:01
• –Hoon's Coffee: “with that machine you have to buy a separate coffee grinder that it can be costly” 1:01
• +Whole Latte Love: “The Original Classic has been the definitive Best Value in entrylevel espresso machines” 1:05
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “nice and compact footprint and it's been around for over 20 years” 0:01
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “the classic is very simple it's three buttons” 0:01
• +Whole Latte Love: “there's just no other true machine at this price that comes close in capabilities” 1:47

Reviewers broadly recommend the Flair 58 as an excellent, good-value 58mm manual lever for espresso-only enthusiasts who want profiling control, with common caveats about cheap-feeling electronics, no milk steaming, limited chamber capacity and some frame wobble.

US price: $699 — retailer page (checked Oct 13, 2026) (source)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsJames Hoffmann: It makes very good espresso and is hard to beat at $575, but the preheat cabling, cheap-feeling control box and unplugging sequence frustrate him. ▶
• RecommendsKyle Rowsell: He was positive from first look onward and picks it over both the Flair Pro 2 and the Cafelat Robot for its button-press preheat and 58mm workflow, despite no steaming and middling electronics and wood. ▶▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsLance Hedrick: He consistently praises its control, heated group and 58mm portafilter but cites wobble, frame flex and small capacity. He called it 'the king' in Feb 2024, said the Alm Kopi had replaced it as the best budget endgame lever by Apr 2024, and still rated it highly but not a must-buy in 2025. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsThe Real Sprometheus: He sees a big workflow upgrade with excellent shots and prefers it over the Robot, though the controller feels cheap and yield is limited. ▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: It is great for espresso-only tinkerers who like to experiment, but it is a poor fit for milk drinks and pricey once you add a kettle. ▶
• RecommendsHoon's Coffee: He calls it his endgame machine under $1,000 for true manual pressure profiling, with a learning curve, and prefers it with step-down baskets over buying a Flair 49. ▶▶
• RecommendsSeattle Coffee Gear(retailer): A brief mention: it was a good hands-on introduction to espresso as his first setup (note: SCG is a retailer). ▶
• No verdictCoffee Kev: He only notes that it is E61 compatible in an S7 review. ▶

Consensus

• Makes very good to excellent espresso (Hoffmann, Kyle Rowsell, Sprometheus, Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Hoon's Coffee)
• The standard 58mm/E61-style portafilter, which lets existing baskets and accessories fit, is a major plus (Hoffmann, Kyle Rowsell, Sprometheus, Lance Hedrick, Hoon's Coffee, Coffee Kev)
• The electrically heated group is a key advantage for thermal stability and workflow (Hoffmann, Kyle Rowsell, Sprometheus, Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Hoon's Coffee)
• Manual pressure/flow profiling gives a lot of control (Kyle Rowsell, Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Hoon's Coffee)
• Espresso only: it can't steam milk (Hoffmann, Kyle Rowsell, Tom's Coffee Corner)
• The electronics, control box or buttons feel cheap (Hoffmann, Kyle Rowsell, Sprometheus, Lance Hedrick on the 58+2)
• The small water chamber limits yield and long shots (Sprometheus, Lance Hedrick, Hoon's Coffee)

Disagreement

• Temperature behaviour during the shot: Kyle Rowsell found it incredibly consistent with the electronics on, and Tom's Coffee Corner says the heater holds chamber temperature steady. Hoffmann measured brew temperature peaking just above 93°C, below the 95°C high setting, with a slightly rising profile. Lance Hedrick (58+2) dislikes a temperature spike near the end of the shot.
• Looks: Kyle Rowsell calls it beautiful. Sprometheus says its industrial look is 'not ugly, just not pretty', and Hoffmann finds the three-piece preheat setup a little ugly.
• Lever effort: Kyle Rowsell never strains, and Lance Hedrick's tier list says the long lever makes pressure easy. Hoffmann says reaching pressure takes a bit more work than on the Flair Pro, and Lance (2024) found pressure harder to build than on the Sonic S7 or Superkop.
• Is it still the best value lever?: Hoon's Coffee calls it his endgame under $1,000, and Lance Hedrick called it 'the king' in Feb 2024. By Apr 2024 Lance said the Alm Kopi had replaced it as the best budget endgame lever.
• Need for electronics: Kyle Rowsell and Sprometheus see the electric preheat as a core advantage. Lance Hedrick was a 'huge fan' in 2021 but in 2025 said he dislikes needing electrics on this kind of machine. Kyle also noted at first look that it may divide enthusiasts.

Startup / heat-up

Sprometheus estimated about 5 minutes on high in his review and about 2-3 minutes in his Robot comparison. Kyle Rowsell estimated 5-10 minutes and also said the group heats in a few minutes, citing Flair's recommendation of about 10 minutes. Lance Hedrick (58+2) and Tom's Coffee Corner note it beeps when at temperature (Tom says it overshoots then settles); neither gave a duration. Lance measured the unheated group at about 80°C, about 86°C after a 40-second preheat and just under 90°C after a further fill. All durations are estimates, not timed. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): preheat system five minutes to bring your brew chamber and portafilter up to temperature.

Finish & fingerprints

Nobody mentions fingerprints or smudges. The frame is matte black die-cast aluminum (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner), described as mostly metal (Kyle Rowsell) and weighty with good metals (Hoffmann). Wood accents feel middling or not up to the price (Kyle Rowsell). The drip tray is rubber or silicone (Kyle Rowsell, Sprometheus). The controller and brick plastic feel hollow (Sprometheus, Hoffmann). Lance suggests aluminum buttons instead of plastic.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +James Hoffmann: “So I like the fact that they've gone to 58.” 1:49
• +James Hoffmann: “The build quality for Flair stuff has always felt good in terms of the componentry and the metals” 1:49
• +Kyle Rowsell: “with this you hit a button in the morning you decide what kind of temperature you want and it heats up” 6:38
• +Kyle Rowsell: “having that commercial 58 millimeter portafilter really is game changing” 6:38
• +Lance Hedrick: “I do quite enjoy this thick rubber at the end of the Flare 58 that just feels rugged and nice when I'm pushing down.” 3:42
• +Lance Hedrick: “once you loosen the worm screw you can actually twist out the group head completely” 6:25
• +The Real Sprometheus: “pulling shots back to back with a single portafilter is a breeze” 3:48
• +The Real Sprometheus: “it's actually one of the most welcome additions in my opinion” 2:00
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “you can do whatever you want with this and that is the really nice thing you can experiment experiment experiment” 0:28
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “what's really nice about this machine also before I forget is that it's nearly silent” 1:27
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “That setup was a really good introduction to the hands-on side of espresso.” 0:55
• +Hoon's Coffee: “So you can have a 58 and you can 49.” 5:03
• +Hoon's Coffee: “uh step down basket, nom or graph uh works both of them.” 2:01
• +Coffee Kev: “the Flair 58 and 58+ is also E61 compatible.” 3:54

Most reviewers see the Barista Express as a reliable, good-value all-in-one for beginners willing to learn, with slow steaming and a limited built-in grinder as the main trade-offs; Lance Hedrick has grown sharply critical of that grinder.

US price: $700 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$1,000 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• RecommendsJames Hoffmann: In passing, he says to buy the Sage instead of the £299 Aldi machine if you want this type of machine. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsMorgan Eckroth (Morgan Drinks Coffee): She gets cafe-quality milk and drinks at home, but steaming takes patience and the machine takes practice. ▶
• No verdictKyle Rowsell: Only a passing mention, but he calls it very durable and says friends' 10+ year-old units have had few or no problems. ▶
• RecommendsSeattle Coffee Gear (retailer): A retailer that sells it: it calls the machine a classic, beginner-friendly all-in-one and a great deal on sale, while noting slower steam and heat-up than the Pro. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsTom's Coffee Corner: He calls it the complete package for a reasonable price with a slight espresso edge, but finds steaming slow and dislikes that there is no tank sensor. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• MixedLance Hedrick: In 2023 it was his top beginner pick under $1,000 despite the grinder; by 2025 he graded it C, calling the built-in grinder trash and unreliable. He also discloses consulting work for Breville. ▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsCoffee Kev: He calls it a reliable workhorse and the best-value integrated-grinder machine, but not for people who expect automation. In 2021 he said he would pay extra for the Pro; by 2025 he called it still very hard to beat. He also sells his own coffee beans and uses affiliate links. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsHoon's Coffee: It is his daily, 'favorite' machine with no issues over about two years, but it has a learning curve, coarse grind steps and imperfect shot consistency. ▶▶▶▶▶▶

Consensus

• Strong value as an all-in-one with a built-in grinder and a good beginner machine (Seattle Coffee Gear, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Hoon's Coffee, Morgan Eckroth, Lance Hedrick in 2023).
• Steaming is slow because of the thermocoil and single-hole tip, and steam takes a while to build (Morgan Eckroth, Seattle Coffee Gear, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Hoon's Coffee).
• Reliable and long-lasting (Kyle Rowsell, Coffee Kev, Hoon's Coffee, Lance Hedrick in 2023).
• Grind settings are limited or coarsely stepped, which makes fine dial-in harder (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Hoon's Coffee, Lance Hedrick).
• It has a learning curve and offers no real automation; you control each step yourself (Coffee Kev, Hoon's Coffee, Morgan Eckroth, Seattle Coffee Gear).
• You can't brew and steam at the same time, and you have to wait for a purge/cool-down when switching (Seattle Coffee Gear, Coffee Kev, Morgan Eckroth).

Disagreement

• Built-in grinder quality: Lance Hedrick (2025) calls it trash and says it often strips its gears. Hoon's Coffee calls it really good and says it is internally the same as the Smart Grinder Pro. Seattle Coffee Gear calls it solid for this machine. Coffee Kev rates its burrs above those of the Dualit and Breville Signature, and notes that the grinder gears are the usual failure point but cost about a tenner to fix.
• Usefulness of the pressure gauge: Tom's Coffee Corner, Kyle Rowsell, Morgan Eckroth, Hoon's Coffee and one Seattle Coffee Gear video find it helpful for dialing in or simply like it. Coffee Kev and another Seattle Coffee Gear video say it gives little real feedback; Kev would rather have a shot timer and is annoyed that it has no bar markings.
• Does it save space and money?: Seattle Coffee Gear says the integrated grinder means a smaller footprint. Coffee Kev's 2021 comparison found it bigger than a Bambino Plus plus grinder combined and no cheaper, though in 2024 he said it can save space and money. Lance Hedrick says the integrated grinder makes it a bigger machine.
• Slow steaming: drawback or benefit: Hoon's Coffee, Tom's Coffee Corner and Morgan Eckroth treat the slower steam as a downside. Coffee Kev and Seattle Coffee Gear say it is more forgiving and gives learners more time to texture milk.

Startup / heat-up

Coffee Kev timed about 30 seconds (2025) and elsewhere estimated 30–40 seconds; he suggests a further ~10 minutes with flushes to warm the group. Hoon's Coffee timed about 38–40 seconds to the ready signal but measured the water at only about 180°F then, and recommends waiting 30–60 minutes or running 4–5 blank shots. Tom's Coffee Corner estimated 30–40 seconds, with the brew group passively heating over 15–30 minutes. Lance Hedrick and one Seattle Coffee Gear video estimated about 1 minute; Seattle Coffee Gear also says it is slower than the Pro but faster than the Lelit Anita. Morgan Eckroth estimated about 10 seconds for steam after a shot. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): 40 seconds (per manual, ready when power button stops flashing).

Finish & fingerprints

Tom's Coffee Corner likes his shiny jet black unit more than the stainless steel, thinks the matte Black Truffle looks even slicker, and names sea salt as his favourite colour. Hoon's Coffee describes a plastic top with a stainless bottom and a rugged look, and notes only two colours on Breville's website. Seattle Coffee Gear notes a lot of plastic casing. No one commented on fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Brushed stainless steel.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Morgan Eckroth (Morgan Drinks Coffee): “on top of the breeze to express you have a hopper and a grinder” 0:27
• +Morgan Eckroth (Morgan Drinks Coffee): “you can also set the grind size which is great” 1:21
• +Kyle Rowsell: “I have friends who have 10 year old plus machines no issues they are built like tanks” 1:04
• +Kyle Rowsell: “on my brace to express from years ago it was consistent to know when I was pulling the perfect shot of espresso” 13:39
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “so it can grind, brew, steam, it even has a hot water spout for your Americano or for tea” 2:18
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “honestly some people never feel the need to move past it” 1:49
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “this is their most popular machine, probably the most” 0:27
• +Lance Hedrick: “the machine itself though has multiple pids inside controllable pre-infusion” 11:13
• +Lance Hedrick: “giving you the capability of essentially pre-infusion or just changing the flow rate coming out which is a great thing” 11:13
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “despite the fact that it looks similar, the build quality is not the same.” 1:51
• +Coffee Kev: “The Bristo Express is one of the best integrated grinder espresso machines on the market.” 25:15
• +Coffee Kev: “it'll make flipping good espresso and espresso based drinks” 25:43
• –Hoon's Coffee: “barista express use the thermal black okay so thermal jet means it's so much faster” 5:42
• –Hoon's Coffee: “seems a lot faster than breast express” 12:18

Reviewers broadly see the Silvia as a tank-built, mod-friendly machine with superb steam, but most say it really needs temperature surfing or a PID, which pushes the cost up; both retailers that review it most enthusiastically sell PID versions they install themselves.

US price: $995 — retailer page (checked Oct 13, 2026) (source). Canada: CA$1,545 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsJames Hoffmann: He loved the tank-like build and near-commercial steam, but temperature wanders and he'd want to add a PID costing £100+ on the priciest machine in his test. ▶
• MixedLance Hedrick: He prefers it to the Gaggia Classic Pro for temperature, steam and its tidy, mod-friendly interior, but says it isn't worth the US price gap. By May 2025 he had become harsher (a C on his tier list) over the missing PID, plastic tamper and poor baskets. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsSeattle Coffee Gear(retailer): This retailer calls it a durable, repairable legend. It warns about temperature surfing, very strong steam and the single-boiler workflow, and pushes the PID version, which its own techs install. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsTom's Coffee Corner: He mentions it only in passing, as a well-known, well-regarded step-up option, though he dislikes its milky plastic tank. ▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: He finds it great value with amazing steam, but would only buy it if you'll fit a PID or follow a temperature-surfing routine. Once those fixes are added it is less of a bargain. ▶▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsHoon's Coffee: He owned one, called it a pretty nice machine and measured about 9 bar on a pressure test, but it cost him close to $1,000 with an added PID. ▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsWhole Latte Love(retailer): This retailer praises the build, steam power and community, but notes temperature surfing, a slow wait for steam and a shallow drip tray. It says the PID version it installs is absolutely worth it. ▶▶▶▶▶▶

Consensus

• The stock thermostat lets temperature swing, so consistent shots need temperature surfing or a PID (Hoffmann, Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear, Whole Latte Love; Hoon's added a PID to his)
• Steam power is very strong, close to commercial (Hoffmann, Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear, Whole Latte Love)
• Steam can be too powerful or intimidating, especially for beginners (Hoffmann, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear, Whole Latte Love)
• Build quality is excellent and long-lasting (Hoffmann, Seattle Coffee Gear, Whole Latte Love; Lance Hedrick praises the interior)
• The drip tray is shallow or small and messy (Hoffmann, Lance Hedrick, Whole Latte Love)
• A large owner and modding community supports the machine (Hoffmann, Lance Hedrick, Whole Latte Love)
• The shower-screen screw can dent the puck and cause channeling (Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear)

Disagreement

• Out-of-box brew pressure: Lance Hedrick says it ships at 9 bar, and Hoon's gauge test read about 9 bar. Whole Latte Love's 2026 review says it is set to 11 bar, and another Whole Latte Love video cites about 12 bar static pressure.
• Stock tamper and baskets: Seattle Coffee Gear (2020) and Whole Latte Love (2021, 2026) praise the newer wood-handled tamper; Whole Latte Love calls it one of the nicest stock tampers at the price. Lance Hedrick's 2025 tier list complains of a plastic tamper and terrible baskets, even though his head-to-head called the basket nicer than the Gaggia's. Hoffmann, Coffee Kev and Seattle Coffee Gear (2026) all found the stock basket lacking or small.
• Suitability for milk drinks: Whole Latte Love (2023, 2025) calls it a nice machine for milk drinks and good for multiple larger drinks thanks to its bigger boiler. Seattle Coffee Gear (2025) wouldn't recommend it for frequent milk drinks because the single-boiler workflow is overwhelming. Whole Latte Love's own 2019 comparison said milk drinks take far longer than on the Gaggia Classic Pro.
• Value for money: Seattle Coffee Gear calls it affordable with high-end performance, and Coffee Kev calls it a lot of machine for the money. Hoffmann is frustrated that the most expensive machine in his test still needs a PID. Coffee Kev says adding a PID and other fixes makes it less of a bargain. Lance Hedrick says it isn't worth the roughly $400 US gap over the Gaggia.

Startup / heat-up

Full heat-up: Lance Hedrick and Seattle Coffee Gear both estimate about 10 minutes; Seattle Coffee Gear calls this relatively quick, while Lance blames the big brass boiler. Steam readiness: Coffee Kev estimates about 2 minutes for the steam light, or 2–2.5 minutes before steaming. Whole Latte Love estimates about 2 minutes to full steam temperature (2025), 'a minute or two' (2026) and 'a minute or more', at least double the Gaggia Classic (2023). Only Whole Latte Love's 2019 test was actually timed, at over 2 minutes, the slowest of its group. Lance and Hoon's note you must wait longer for steam than on the Gaggia, without giving times. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): about 20 minutes.

Finish & fingerprints

Seattle Coffee Gear describes a brushed metal case with a black group cover and offers stainless, black and white. Whole Latte Love says it is painted steel plus stainless, with newer black, white and sage green finishes, and calls the look utilitarian or boxy. Seattle Coffee Gear praises the casing over rivals' plastic. Lance Hedrick likes the steel drip tray but notes a plastic portafilter handle. Tom's Coffee Corner dislikes the milky plastic tank. No reviewer mentions fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Stainless Steel, Black.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +James Hoffmann: “the ranchero silvia is built like an absolute tank” 3:42
• +James Hoffmann: “buttons switches very nice high quality stuff on here” 4:10
• +Lance Hedrick: “you get a lot more temperature stability in theory and you get a lot more steam pressure” 4:40
• +Lance Hedrick: “it's nine bar right out of the box for this one easy peasy” 23:56
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “a much needed upgrade over the previous plastic tampers that came with the silvia” 0:55
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “definitely has a little better heft in your hand” 0:55
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “a very well known and well regarded machine” 4:51
• +Coffee Kev: “it's a great machine for the price it's capable of great espresso” 1:08
• +Coffee Kev: “the steam power is amazing” 1:08
• +Hoon's Coffee: “so that was pretty nice machine” 1:12
• –Hoon's Coffee: “syia that cost me close to th000 Bucks” 1:12
• +Whole Latte Love: “definitely has very powerful steam temperature” 11:53
• +Whole Latte Love: “it would be a really nice machine for the milk-based drinks” 13:00
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “the boiler inside the ranilo is a different material I can't remember what but that also uses more metal” 4:46

Reviewers broadly recommend the Bambino Plus as the go-to budget, beginner-friendly machine for fast, easy milk drinks thanks to its excellent steaming and 3-second heat-up, with caveats about its light, plasticky build, tiny drip tray, fixed temperature for light roasts and limited repairability (note that Seattle Coffee Gear and Whole Latte Love sell it).

US price: $500 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$650 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsJames Hoffmann: Milk steaming was a pleasant surprise and suits learners, but the build is light and plasticky and the espresso was hard to optimise with light roasts. ▶
• RecommendsSeattle Coffee Gear (retailer; sells it, including an exclusive bundle): Across six videos it is consistently pitched as a compact, forgiving, low-cost starter machine with good auto steaming. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsLance Hedrick (has consulted for Breville): He rates it the best sub-500 machine out of the box and grades it B, but it is cheaply built and held back by longevity, parts and repairability; his view stayed the same from 2023 to 2025. ▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: He praises the fast heat-up and strong manual steaming but finds it runs cool for light roasts and has a tiny drip tray; in 2024 he softened to roughly a tie against the Dedica Maestro Plus. ▶▶▶
• RecommendsCoffee Kev: After one and nearly four years of use he calls it the best machine for the price for most people, though later comparisons frame it as mainly worth it over the Bambino for auto steaming, and he stresses it is semi-disposable. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsWhole Latte Love (retailer): Great convenience and auto frothing for total beginners, but the build is lighter and less robust and the automatic features are potential failure points. ▶▶

Consensus

• Very beginner-friendly and easy to use (Hoffmann, Seattle Coffee Gear, Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Whole Latte Love)
• Automatic milk steaming is a standout feature for people who don't want to learn to steam (Hoffmann, Seattle Coffee Gear, Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev, Whole Latte Love)
• Manual steaming is also very good and easy to learn on (Hoffmann, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• Heats up in seconds, about 3 s (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear, Whole Latte Love)
• Light and plasticky; it moves on the counter when locking or unlocking the portafilter (Hoffmann, Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear, Whole Latte Love)
• Drip tray is tiny and fills fast, worsened by auto purge and the solenoid (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• Fixed brew temperature makes light roasts difficult (Hoffmann, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• Longevity and repairability are a concern; not a machine to tinker with or mod (Hoffmann, Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev, Whole Latte Love)

Disagreement

• Auto steaming quality: Coffee Kev, Lance Hedrick, Seattle Coffee Gear and Whole Latte Love say it makes near-latte-art or cafe-quality milk. Tom's Coffee Corner found auto milk hit and miss and, in 2024, too thin for latte art. Kev also notes auto steaming can't handle small volumes (minimum about 170 ml with the stock jug).
• Steam speed and power: Tom's Coffee Corner calls the steam incredibly powerful and Lance Hedrick calls it fast. Coffee Kev finds it gentler and about 15-20 s slower than the Gaggia Classic, and Hoffmann says it is 'not the quickest'. Kev and Hoffmann see the gentler steam as giving time to texture milk.
• Portafilter: Hoffmann, Coffee Kev and Tom's Coffee Corner (2024) call it cheap or plasticky. Seattle Coffee Gear, Lance Hedrick and Tom's Coffee Corner (2022) say it is heavier and nicer than the base Bambino's or Dedica's.
• Brew temperature adjustability: Seattle Coffee Gear presenters describe three shot temperature levels or an adjustable PID. Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev and Lance Hedrick say the PID is fixed at about 93°C and cannot be changed by the user.
• Hot water: Coffee Kev first said there was no hot water, then showed a button-combination workaround, then said in 2023 that the hack doesn't work on the latest version; his 2023-2025 videos again describe it as available. Seattle Coffee Gear says it has no hot water function. Tom's Coffee Corner uses it for tea but says it isn't kettle-hot.

Startup / heat-up

Most cite about 3 seconds. Tom's Coffee Corner (2023) and Coffee Kev (2020, 2021) timed it at about 3 s. Lance Hedrick, Tom's (other videos) and Kev (other videos) estimate about 3 s, and Kev and Whole Latte Love also cite the manufacturer's 3 s spec. Coffee Kev and Tom's Coffee Corner warn that only the heater is ready while the group stays cold (Tom's measured about 22.8°C), so a flush is advised; Kev says it is really ready in about 10-15 s after flushing. Seattle Coffee Gear estimates seconds to brew and about 10 s to steam, while one SCG presenter estimated 10-12 s. Whole Latte Love tested steam-ready at about 8-10 s. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): 3 seconds (ThermoJet).

Finish & fingerprints

Hoffmann and Whole Latte Love note lots of plastic and an appliance-grade build. Tom's Coffee Corner describes stainless steel top and sides mixed with plastic. Lance Hedrick says the brushed steel version is a pain and recommends colorways like black truffle or sea salt. Seattle Coffee Gear finds the casing slightly more premium than the base Bambino and prefers its cup-warmer material to the Solis's. Coffee Kev calls it good looking. No one specifically mentions fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Brushed Stainless Steel.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +James Hoffmann: “the water tank easily removed and it does have instructions for cleaning printed on the back” 5:07
• +James Hoffmann: “there's a ton of distance from spouts to drip tray” 11:59
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “It does have an automatic steam wand with some limited programming, but you can also use the steam wand manually if you want.” 0:26
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “without having to have a huge cost outlay right up front” 0:26
• +Lance Hedrick: “you don't really need to do anything other than put the coffee in and hit go and it's going to pull a really nice coffee for you” 3:40
• +Lance Hedrick: “my thermal testing shows that it is more than adequate without having to do anything crazy” 3:40
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “what you're going to notice is that this is up and ready in 3 seconds” 1:27
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “you see it stopped dripping that's kind of a good thing” 7:43
• +Coffee Kev: “The big difference though is the fact that the plus has auto milk steaming. This is very convenient.” 8:20
• +Coffee Kev: “if you're someone who can't be asked learning to get the knack of steaming milk, there really is a knack to it, then you'll probably want to go for the plus” 8:20
• +Whole Latte Love: “The Bambino Plus does have a 3 way solenoid valve so used coffee is easy to knock out.” 3:47
• +Whole Latte Love: “with the Bambino we move into machines with both pressurized and the non-pressurized baskets” 3:47

Most reviewers see the Dedica as a compact, cheap, fast-heating entry machine that is best after swapping the pressurized baskets and panarello, while Hoffmann and Lance Hedrick (in 2025) argue it is worth spending more.

US price: $500 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$400 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Doesn't recommendJames Hoffmann: He says it is okay for the money, but spending more gets better milk, shots and build, though he understands it on a very tight budget. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: He calls it a great, compact, cheap entry machine that he still uses after years, but he says it really shines only after swapping the pressurized baskets, portafilter and panarello; he flags its heavy plastic use as a drawback. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• MixedLance Hedrick: His view soured over time: solid value with a cheap basket/portafilter upgrade (2023), a longer-lasting step up from the SilverCrest (2024), then a D grade for an inconsistent thermoblock, poor longevity and hard repairs (2025). ▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: He sees it as a small, good-value machine with an unusually capable panarello, but he would rather wait for a discounted Bambino Plus and later felt the Gaggia Espresso offers more for the money. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsSeattle Coffee Gear(retailer): This retailer, which sells the machine, calls it easy, affordable and compact for basic or pre-ground espresso, but says it has little room to grow, gives limited milk control and may not last long. ▶▶▶

Consensus

• Very small, slim footprint suits small kitchens (Hoffmann, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• Stock pressurized baskets limit shot quality; a non-pressurized basket and/or bottomless portafilter gives much better espresso (Tom's Coffee Corner, Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear; Hoffmann had to modify the portafilter)
• Heats up quickly thanks to the thermoblock (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear, Lance Hedrick)
• Brew temperature is low and/or not very stable (Hoffmann, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Lance Hedrick)
• No solenoid valve, so it drips, leaves wet pucks, or needs a wait before removing the portafilter (Tom's Coffee Corner, Lance Hedrick)
• Light build means you must hold the machine when locking the portafilter (Hoffmann, Seattle Coffee Gear, Tom's Coffee Corner)

Disagreement

• Milk steaming with the panarello: Hoffmann found it the hardest machine to get great texture from. Seattle Coffee Gear says perfect latte microfoam is hard. Tom's Coffee Corner says he never got good milk from the stock panarello, though it steams well once removed. Coffee Kev calls it the best panarello he has used, capable of latte-art-quality milk via the hot milk/cappuccino settings.
• Overall value vs alternatives: Tom's Coffee Corner says nothing up to €500 comes close once upgraded, and Coffee Kev (2024) calls it one of the best-value machines. Hoffmann says spending more is worth it. Seattle Coffee Gear says the Perfetta offers a lot more for not much more money. Coffee Kev (2023) felt the Gaggia Espresso gives more bang for the buck. Lance Hedrick graded it D in 2025.
• Build, repairability and longevity: Tom's Coffee Corner calls it better built, grounded and easy to service internally, though he also says getting inside takes 30–60 minutes. Lance Hedrick (2025) says it is hard to open, its aluminum thermoblock scales and corrodes, and longevity is poor, though in 2024 he said it outlasts the SilverCrest. Seattle Coffee Gear calls the internals solid but says it probably won't last long.
• Pressure / OPV: Coffee Kev says it pulls at 15 bar with no over-pressure valve. Tom's Coffee Corner measured about 11–12.5 bar, calls the 15 bar claim marketing, and mentions a non-adjustable OPV. Lance Hedrick says the OPV sits at 12 bar.

Startup / heat-up

No one timed it precisely; all figures are estimates. Tom's Coffee Corner says about 30 seconds, but he measured the group at about 25°C in standby and recommends running one or two empty shots first (ready within about a minute). Lance Hedrick estimates 30–45 seconds. Coffee Kev says it heats up really quickly. Seattle Coffee Gear says it is ready within a few moments and is pretty quick. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): approximately 45 seconds to warm up.

Finish & fingerprints

Hoffmann notes lots of plastic with a chrome finish on top. Tom's Coffee Corner says the housing and top are stainless steel with plastic sides, base and tank, finds it handsome, and lists colors (red, black, white, stainless; pink, beige and gray on the EC785). He also flags heavy plastic use inside, including the brew group and hot-water path. Seattle Coffee Gear says it has a lot of plastic casing. No one mentioned fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Stainless steel; also available in colors such as Vanilla, Pistachio, Rosé.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +James Hoffmann: “its footprint is tiny and that might be a big advantage for a lot of people” 3:13
• +James Hoffmann: “it has the convenience at least of having a float” 3:42
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “the DeLonghi is the safer model” 17:40
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “there are companies dedicated to making uh aftermarket components for the DeLonghi dedica” 20:00
• +Lance Hedrick: “this has three temperature settings which is actually kind of nice” 5:28
• +Lance Hedrick: “you could do a blooming style shot on the delongi dedica outside the box” 5:28
• +Coffee Kev: “the dedica I think has been the best machine at this price for quite some time” 10:42
• +Coffee Kev: “it's very simple to turn this into a standard basket” 1:47
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “this is going to be the lowest priced offer of these four machines” 0:38
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “it's really affordable and it has a very small footprint” 1:58

Reviewers broadly recommend the Bambino as an excellent, tiny, fast-heating budget machine with surprisingly good espresso and milk, held back mainly by its lightweight build and accessories, fixed brew temperature, and modest steam power.

US price: $300 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$330 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• RecommendsMorgan Eckroth (Morgan Drinks Coffee): She was very impressed by the espresso and steam power and called the flaws (plastic portafilter, small wand, a light machine that moves) minor. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsLance Hedrick: He has called it a great budget machine since 2021 (graded B in 2025) for its PID, OPV, fast heat-up and milk quality, but it is not for espresso snobs, and its build and proprietary parts hold it back; he disclosed separate consulting for Breville. ▶▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsSeattle Coffee Gear(retailer): Across several videos this retailer, which sells the machine, calls it a capable, compact, simple machine with good shots and milk, with caveats about steam power and pressurized baskets for hobbyists. ▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsTom's Coffee Corner: In a brief mention, he suggests it as a well-rated alternative to the Dedica Arte that gives good espresso and latte-art foam. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: He consistently calls it a superb value machine (his own pick over the Plus unless you want auto frothing), but its fixed brew temperature makes it less suited to light roasts, and he dislikes the tamper and portafilter; early videos noted it wasn't sold in the UK. ▶▶▶▶▶▶

Consensus

• Espresso quality is very good for the price (Morgan Eckroth, Lance Hedrick, Seattle Coffee Gear, Coffee Kev, Tom's Coffee Corner)
• Heat-up is extremely fast, around 3 seconds (Morgan Eckroth, Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• The steam wand can produce good microfoam for latte art (Morgan Eckroth, Lance Hedrick, Seattle Coffee Gear, Tom's Coffee Corner)
• Very small, compact footprint (Morgan Eckroth, Lance Hedrick, Seattle Coffee Gear, Coffee Kev)
• The included tamper and portafilter are lightweight and plasticky (Morgan Eckroth, Lance Hedrick, Seattle Coffee Gear, Coffee Kev)
• The machine is so light it moves when you lock or unlock the portafilter (Morgan Eckroth, Seattle Coffee Gear, Coffee Kev)
• PID, 9 bar OPV and low-pressure pre-infusion are standout features at this price (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev)

Disagreement

• Steam power: Morgan Eckroth argues the steam wand is the machine's best part and praises its steam power. Seattle Coffee Gear says it is clearly less powerful than higher-end or commercial wands. Coffee Kev finds it slower than the Bambino Plus (52 s vs 40 s). Lance Hedrick found the Solis easier to steam on.
• Build quality: Coffee Kev calls the build slick and professional with no rough edges, though he faults the portafilter and tamper. Lance Hedrick says the construction 'leaves a little bit to be desired', and Seattle Coffee Gear notes a more plasticky feel than the Plus.

Startup / heat-up

Most reviewers cite about 3 seconds. Morgan Eckroth, Lance Hedrick and Coffee Kev give this as an estimate or from experience. Coffee Kev also timed it: 3 seconds for the heater and 4 seconds to steam-ready. He cautions that only the ThermoJet is hot at that point and says that in practice, with warming flushes of the group and portafilter, it is more like 30 seconds. Seattle Coffee Gear estimates 'a few seconds', slightly faster than the Dedica, but notes the thermoblock takes a moment before steam and hot water are ready. Lance Hedrick found it a little faster to heat than the Solis. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): ready to start in 3 seconds (ThermoJet heating system).

Finish & fingerprints

Morgan Eckroth, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear and Lance Hedrick describe the portafilter as mostly plastic or light coated aluminum with a plastic handle, and the tamper as light plastic. Seattle Coffee Gear notes a more plasticky feel than the Plus. Coffee Kev calls the overall build slick and professional with no rough edges, while Lance Hedrick says the construction leaves something to be desired. No one commented on fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Brushed Stainless Steel.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Morgan Eckroth (Morgan Drinks Coffee): “so it leaves a very small counter footprint” 0:00
• +Morgan Eckroth (Morgan Drinks Coffee): “can hold 1.4 fluid leaders which is pretty impressive for something of this size” 0:28
• +Lance Hedrick: “it already is built in with a p controller and it has an opv” 18:23
• +Lance Hedrick: “the Bambino has a little bit better temperature stability” 18:57
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “this one is uh less expensive which is nice for people who are maybe getting in for the first time” 2:31
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “you do kind of as a trade get a hot water button that's dedicated here” 2:31
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “those are both nice machines well rated and have ample videos of use” 4:22
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “will give you a good espresso and nice foam for making latte art” 4:51
• +Coffee Kev: “Dealing with the excess moisture by having a slightly wetter puck means less trips to the sink with the very small drip tray.” 10:05
• +Coffee Kev: “they're both capable of outstanding espresso quality as long as you do two things” 11:17

Reviewers broadly see it as an easy, beginner-friendly all-in-one whose assisted tamping and dosing deliver good espresso, held back by slow steaming, a light-roast-limited grinder, no water sensor and, for Lance Hedrick and at times Tom's Coffee Corner, questionable value against the Express and its rivals.

US price: $700 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$1,150 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsKyle Rowsell: He calls it the simplest all-in-one for low-fuss coffee, but notes it blocks puck prep, struggles with light roasts and steams slowly. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: He likes it as a clean, easy machine he has used for about two years, but the missing water sensor and inconsistent shot volumes bother him. He cooled on it in comparisons: harder to recommend over the Ninja Luxe Cafe (2024), and he'd pick the DeLonghi Opera (2025). ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• MixedLance Hedrick: In 2023 he called it the best-value beginner machine (with caveats), but by 2025 he graded it C for a poor grinder, bad in-machine distribution and a $250 premium over the Express. ▶▶
• RecommendsCoffee Kev: He consistently calls it great for easy, good espresso with little skill and versatile for mixed households. He shifted from 'not for hobbyists' (2022) to 'can be used fully manually and grown into' (2022–2026). ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsSeattle Coffee Gear(retailer): Retailer that sells it; recommends it for people moving up from pod or super-automatic machines who want better coffee without barista skills, especially espresso and americano drinkers. ▶

Consensus

• Assisted tamp lever and adaptive dosing make espresso easy, clean and consistent for beginners (Kyle Rowsell, Tom's Coffee Corner, Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• Steaming is slow or takes time to reach temperature, with a single-hole tip and the same steam power as the original Express (Kyle Rowsell, Tom's Coffee Corner, Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev)
• Steam wand produces silky milk and is forgiving for learners (Kyle Rowsell, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• Steaming is manual only, with no automatic milk option (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• Built-in grinder is limited and best suited to medium/dark roasts rather than very light roasts (Kyle Rowsell, Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev)
• Grinding and tamping in the machine limits puck prep or WDT (Kyle Rowsell, Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner)
• 25/26 grind settings give finer adjustment than the original Express (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)

Disagreement

• Overall value: Coffee Kev calls it probably the best answer at its price, and Lance Hedrick (2023) called it hard to beat at $700–800. Lance Hedrick (2025) graded it C, saying the $250 premium over the Express still buys a poor grinder. Tom's Coffee Corner found it hard to recommend over the Ninja Luxe Cafe given fewer features at a higher price.
• Dosing / shot-volume accuracy: Coffee Kev measured doses within 0.1–0.2 g. Tom's Coffee Corner found adaptive dosing sometimes over-doses and volumetric output inconsistent (set 35 g, got 28 g and 21 g). Lance Hedrick says dosing works but regrinding after a tamp leaves uneven puck density.
• Shot temperature on first shots: Coffee Kev found the shots hot with no cool-shot issue. Kyle Rowsell says the first shot or two can run cool, so he flushes first. Tom's Coffee Corner says shots improve as the group passively heats, and Lance Hedrick says temperature climbs over back-to-back shots.
• Pressure gauge: Tom's Coffee Corner and Coffee Kev praise having a manometer. Kyle Rowsell found it calibrated differently from the Express, and Lance Hedrick found his unit's gauge inaccurate.
• Tamp-lever polishing twist: Coffee Kev loved the puck-polishing twist in his 2022 unboxing, but by 2026 he said it doesn't really do much, which Lance Hedrick also found.
• Suitability for hobbyists: Coffee Kev (early 2022) said it isn't for people who want to learn and keep control, but he later said, as Lance Hedrick did in 2023, that it can be run manually and grown with. Lance Hedrick (2025) says in-machine tamping gives terrible distribution.

Startup / heat-up

All figures are estimates, not timed. Kyle Rowsell says it warms up in about 15 seconds or less. Tom's Coffee Corner says about 30 s (2024) or 30–40 s (2023), with 15–20 s to reach steam temperature; he adds the group and portafilter only passively heat over about 10–20 minutes. Coffee Kev says 30–40 s, slightly slower than the Barista Pro and Touch Impress. Lance Hedrick says it is slower than Thermojet machines (2023) and gives a 40-second heat-up (2025). Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): preheat for at least 20 minutes (portafilter needs time to heat up).

Finish & fingerprints

Kyle Rowsell says the plastic components have a stainless steel wrap: not plasticky, but less durable than pricier machines. Tom's Coffee Corner praises the pearly sea salt white and says the rounded, smooth surfaces are easy to wipe down. Coffee Kev likes its traditional espresso-machine look. Nobody specifically mentions fingerprints. Finishes listed by sellers: Brushed Stainless Steel, Black Truffle, Black Sesame, Almond Nougat, Black Stainless Steel, Damson Blue.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Kyle Rowsell: “pretty neat very smart and for beginners I think it's one of those features” 3:38
• +Kyle Rowsell: “the good parts here is that we know it's going to be durable it's going to be reliable” 10:05
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “I would say the Breville has a little more fidelity.” 7:18
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “It tastes a bit more like bittersweet chocolate, so it's not as dry.” 7:18
• +Lance Hedrick: “you get consistent pressure every time you're never going to under tamper over Tamp” 4:44
• +Lance Hedrick: “it tells you where you're at in the basket which we're going to use here in a second which I think is an incredible tool” 4:44
• +Coffee Kev: “it also has the Express Puck system, the dose sensor and assisted dosing and the tamp lever.” 5:04
• +Coffee Kev: “This is my favorite top lever on the Express Impress because of the feel of it” 5:33
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “the lever not only makes it easier to Tamp and get a consistent level Tamp at an even pressure” 2:54
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “it also communicates with the grinder in the machine to help you find the right amount of coffee to use per shop” 2:54

Most reviewers praise the Barista Pro's instant ThermoJet heat-up, strong steaming, finer grinder and LCD over the Express, but caveats include no pressure gauge, weak thermal mass and a lean towards darker roasts, and Lance Hedrick prefers a separate Bambino plus grinder.

US price: $850 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$900 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: In 2021 he loved it as a near-perfect all-in-one that beats the Express. Later videos (2023–2025) say it suits hobbyists, developing home baristas may outgrow it, and casual beginners may do better with the Express or Express Impress. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsHoon's Coffee: His long-time favourite home/family machine: easier, faster and better at steaming than the Express, though he'd pick the Express if the price gap were $200. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsSeattle Coffee Gear(retailer): This retailer sells the machine and praises its speed, display and steaming. It cautions that it brews cooler than the Express (harder with lighter roasts) and builds no thermal mass. ▶▶▶▶▶
• MixedLance Hedrick: He grades it C: a Bambino with a better grinder but bigger and pricier, so he'd buy a Bambino plus an Encore ESP instead. He discloses consulting for Breville on a separate project. ▶▶
• No verdictTom's Coffee Corner: He makes no overall pick, but calls it the fastest and most intuitive of the Barista models, while noting no group warming, no manometer and limited pre-infusion. ▶▶

Consensus

• ThermoJet makes it ready almost instantly, about 3 seconds (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Hoon's Coffee, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• Steaming is stronger and faster than the Barista Express, helped by the four-hole tip (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Hoon's Coffee, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• The grinder offers finer adjustment than the Express (30 vs 18 steps) (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Hoon's Coffee); Lance Hedrick also calls the grinder good for espresso
• The LCD and shot timer make temperature, cleaning and dialing in easier (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Hoon's Coffee, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• There is no pressure gauge (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• The group, portafilter and cup tray aren't kept warm, so heat-up or blank shots are needed (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Hoon's Coffee, Seattle Coffee Gear)

Disagreement

• Value vs separate machine + grinder: Lance Hedrick says a Bambino plus an Encore ESP is cheaper and better. Coffee Kev (2025) says the integrated grinder is far cheaper than buying both separately, though in 2021 he noted it cost about £100 more than a Bambino Plus plus Smart Grinder Pro. Hoon's Coffee calls it the best home machine.
• Suitability for beginners: Hoon's Coffee recommends it for people new to espresso or in a hurry, and Seattle Coffee Gear suggests it for beginners who want to start bigger. Coffee Kev (2025) steers beginners who just want a means to an end towards the Express or Express Impress, and (2023) warns developing home baristas will outgrow it.
• Warm-up time: Most reviewers cite about 3 seconds (Coffee Kev, Hoon's Coffee, Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner), as does Seattle Coffee Gear in 2024 (3–5 s). Seattle Coffee Gear's 2021 comparison instead estimated 20–30 seconds.
• Importance of the missing pressure gauge: Coffee Kev and Seattle Coffee Gear say the shot timer matters more and the gauge isn't needed. Tom's Coffee Corner lists its absence as a downside, and Seattle Coffee Gear notes customers push back on it.

Startup / heat-up

Hoon's Coffee timed about 3–4 seconds side by side against the Express. Coffee Kev repeatedly says about 3 seconds, sometimes citing the manufacturer's claim, and measured steam-ready time as marginally slower than the Bambino Plus. Lance Hedrick (about 3 s) and Tom's Coffee Corner (a couple of seconds) gave estimates. Seattle Coffee Gear estimated 3–5 seconds in 2024 but 20–30 seconds in a 2021 video. Coffee Kev, Hoon's Coffee and Seattle Coffee Gear note the portafilter and group still need warming via blank shots. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): 3 second heat up time (ThermoJet).

Finish & fingerprints

Coffee Kev likes the mirrored chrome back and finds it a bit nicer looking than the Express. Hoon's Coffee notes a clean look with a plastic top, stainless/chrome bottom and seven colour options. Seattle Coffee Gear showcased the new black truffle colour. Tom's Coffee Corner likes sea salt but doesn't say which machine was which colour. No one commented on fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Brushed Stainless Steel.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Lance Hedrick: “that is a very efficient incredibly quick heating system where it's ready in about three seconds” 2:57
• –Lance Hedrick: “you only have a certain amount about eight to nine seconds of pre-infusion” 23:32
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “the bista pro is definitely the fastest of the machine machines” 0:55
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “the display is also very nice it's got big advantages” 1:50
• +Coffee Kev: “if you're thinking of going for one of these to save a bit of space and money that's great” 3:39
• –Coffee Kev: “there's no automation or assistance they're no easier or more convenient to use than a standalone Porta filter espresso machine and grinder” 3:39
• +Hoon's Coffee: “Bravo machines you just print the hopper” 7:13
• –Hoon's Coffee: “the thing about uh Bravo machines they're 54 mm uh” 2:27
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “obviously this machine has the built-in grinder so you're going to be able to use it right out of the box” 2:20
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “it's also got a thermo jet heating element in it that makes for really really fast heating” 2:20

Reviewers like it as a fast-heating, touchscreen machine with good auto milk, but independent reviewers (Coffee Kev, Lance Hedrick) caution that the espresso side is no easier than cheaper Breville models and that alternatives may offer better value, while only the retailer Seattle Coffee Gear recommends it without reservations.

US price: $800 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$1,200 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• No verdictTom's Coffee Corner: He mentions it only in a group: the screened models steam better, but there is no manometer. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: In his 2025 full review (machine on loan from Sage) he calls it easy, solid and well supported, but warns the espresso side is no easier than the Express or Pro and it is pricey at RRP. In 2023 he leaned mixed, saying most buyers would prefer the Touch Impress. ▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsSeattle Coffee Gear(retailer): Good for milk-drink fans who want good texture without learning to steam. Note that they are a retailer that sells it. ▶▶
• No verdictHoon's Coffee: He only tested brew pressure and found it much improved over the Barista Express. ▶
• MixedLance Hedrick: It is nice out of the box, but the built-in grinder is clumpy, and a Bambino Plus with an Encore ESP is better value unless you want the touchscreen. ▶

Consensus

• Automatic or assisted milk steaming is a key strength (Seattle Coffee Gear, Coffee Kev, Tom's Coffee Corner)
• The espresso side gets no assistance and you still dose and tamp yourself (Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• Heat-up is very fast thanks to the ThermoJet (Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear, Lance Hedrick)

Disagreement

• Overall recommendation: Seattle Coffee Gear (retailer) recommends it outright. Coffee Kev recommends it with caveats and earlier said most buyers would prefer the Touch Impress. Lance Hedrick thinks a Bambino Plus with a separate grinder is better for the same or less money.
• Ease of use: Seattle Coffee Gear calls it 'super easy to use'. Coffee Kev says it is easy once dialed in, but its espresso side is no easier than the cheaper Barista Express or Pro, so it is easy to buy by mistake.

Startup / heat-up

Coffee Kev timed a 3-second ready time in 2025, noting this is just the heater. He recommends a flush before the first shot and found steam ready in about 1–2 seconds. In 2021 he had cited the 3-second figure as a manufacturer claim. Lance Hedrick states 3 seconds as an estimate. Seattle Coffee Gear says only that it heats up 'very quickly' (estimate). Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): 3 second heat up time (ThermoJet).

Finish & fingerprints

Seattle Coffee Gear covered the new black truffle color, which they think looks great; they previously stocked only stainless steel or silver. No reviewer commented on fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Stainless Steel (Brushed Stainless Steel).

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “any model with a screen on it is going to be a better steamer” 6:43
• –Tom's Coffee Corner: “you don't have any manometer at all on either the Barista touch impress or the Barista Pro or the Barista touch” 4:50
• +Coffee Kev: “an integrated grinder espresso machine with a touchcreen and some handy interactive guidance” 4:07
• +Coffee Kev: “the only physical assistance it offers is to autof fro the milk” 4:07
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “I've been really happy with the automatic steam wands from these machines” 5:43
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “about the equivalent to somebody who's been practicing steaming milk for a few months” 6:12
• +Hoon's Coffee: “if we don't have any lick from it uh most lik it's going to be nine bar for sure” 0:33
• +Hoon's Coffee: “so this is a huge improvement from Bravo bista Express I'm talking about” 0:33
• +Lance Hedrick: “P control from 86 to 96. So, a really nice range there.” 41:18
• –Lance Hedrick: “Clumpy, very annoying to use.” 41:18

Reviewers broadly praise the Robot's indestructible build and sweet, textured shots, but note awkward ergonomics, a hard-to-read gauge and a proprietary basket, and they disagree on whether it needs preheating and on whether it beats the Flair 58.

US price: $570 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$549 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• RecommendsJames Hoffmann: In his first look he found it beautiful, well made, worth the money and able to make sweet, well-extracted shots, with minor gripes about scale fit, gauge visibility and effort; a later comparison noted it has preheating issues. ▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsKyle Rowsell: He loves its superb all-metal build and thick classic shots, but finds the workflow quirkier than the Flair 58's and picks the Flair for himself. ▶
• MixedThe Real Sprometheus: His 2020 review praised its consistent, dense shots once he adjusted technique, but in 2021 he said its ergonomics hold it back and recommended the Flair 58 instead. ▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsLance Hedrick: He loves it as a robust, simple, historic machine that makes great espresso easily; his view on preheating changed from 'must preheat heavily' (2022) to 'no preheat needed' (2024-2025). ▶▶▶▶▶▶

Consensus

• Build quality is excellent: solid, all metal with no plastic, few parts (Hoffmann, Kyle Rowsell, Sprometheus, Lance Hedrick)
• Shot quality is very good, with sweet, dense, textured espresso (Hoffmann, Kyle Rowsell, Sprometheus, Lance Hedrick)
• The stock pressure gauge is small or hard to watch during a shot (Hoffmann, Kyle Rowsell, Sprometheus, Lance Hedrick)
• Ergonomics are somewhat awkward: physical effort, unergonomic two-arm press, less smooth than the Flair 58 (Hoffmann, Kyle Rowsell, Sprometheus)
• The proprietary/deep basket limits standard 58mm accessories and prep tools (Kyle Rowsell, Sprometheus, Lance Hedrick)

Disagreement

• Preheating and heat retention: Kyle Rowsell measured only a 2-3 degree difference with or without preheating. Lance Hedrick (2024-2025) says no preheat is needed, with about 86-88°C using boiling water, though in 2022 he said it must be preheated heavily. Sprometheus says it needs a 2-3 minute preheat, has poor heat retention, and disagrees with fans who say preheating is unnecessary. Hoffmann first said thermal management is less of a worry, but later noted it has preheating issues.
• Aesthetics: Hoffmann, Kyle Rowsell and Lance Hedrick find it beautiful or stunning. Sprometheus says it is a charming conversation piece but personally doesn't like its looks.
• Robot vs Flair 58: Kyle Rowsell and Sprometheus prefer the Flair 58 for its smoother workflow and ergonomics. Lance Hedrick prefers brewing on the Robot because it is more fun.

Startup / heat-up

It has no heating element; you add boiling water. Kyle Rowsell measured only a 2-3°C difference between preheated and unpreheated shots and calls preheating unnecessary. Lance Hedrick estimates about 86-88°C with boiling water and no preheat in his 2024-2026 videos, though in 2022 he preheated it thoroughly on his kettle. Sprometheus estimates about 2-3 minutes of preheating via a hot water soak or kettle steam and says it doesn't hold temperature well. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): No heating element — user pours hot (just-off-boil) water into the basket to heat it; no stated warm-up time.

Finish & fingerprints

Hoffmann reviewed a green unit and notes a silver version also exists. Kyle Rowsell says it is all metal with no plastic and comes in fun colors like red. Sprometheus says there is not one plastic piece, notes glossy paint with retro charm and calls the fit and finish very nice. Lance Hedrick says it is all stainless and owns a mint green one. No one commented on fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Multiple color/finish options mentioned across listings, e.g. green and orange (specific body finish materials not stated in snippets).

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +James Hoffmann: “I think this thing looks really really good” 0:57
• +James Hoffmann: “that is a good shot that is sweet it's well extracted” 7:04
• +Kyle Rowsell: “i love this thing it's an art piece” 8:55
• +Kyle Rowsell: “everything is metal there are no plastic pieces and everything just feels absolutely sturdy” 12:05
• –The Real Sprometheus: “both the flare and the robot use a method that tends to allow water to make some contact with the puck prior to brewing” 6:47
• –The Real Sprometheus: “both the flare and the robot have or require an additional screen” 6:47
• +Lance Hedrick: “the robot one does show every two bar of pressure” 3:39
• +Lance Hedrick: “because it doesn't require much preheating” 6:53

Reviewers broadly see the Anna as a solid, good-value single boiler with PID and a pressure gauge, held back mainly by its 57mm portafilter, with a split on how good its steaming is.

US price: $475 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$1,075 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsJames Hoffmann: Very good value at £350 with tasty, balanced shots, but steaming is underpowered and the stock basket and 57mm portafilter hold it back. ▶
• RecommendsCoffee Kev: In his 2024 dedicated review he called it outstanding value with features that punch above its weight. In a 2026 Bambino comparison he was mixed, citing the 57mm accessories, manual-only shots and slower heat-up and milk workflow, and in a 2026 Anita video he named it the obvious alternative. ▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsLance Hedrick: Graded it B, almost an A, for its brass boiler, build and out-of-the-box PID, but was annoyed by the plastic tamper and 57mm portafilter. ▶
• No verdictHoon's Coffee: Looked it up live, said he doesn't know much about it but it sounds really good. ▶

Consensus

• The non-standard 57mm portafilter is a drawback because aftermarket baskets and accessories are hard to find (Hoffmann, Coffee Kev, Lance Hedrick)
• Build feels solid and substantial for the price (Hoffmann, Coffee Kev, Lance Hedrick)
• It offers good value for its features (Hoffmann, Coffee Kev, Lance Hedrick)
• The pressure gauge is a useful inclusion (Hoffmann, Coffee Kev)
• The water tank is awkward and its cutout makes the level hard to read, and the drip tray has no float indicator (Hoffmann, Coffee Kev)

Disagreement

• Steam power and ease: Hoffmann found steaming 'not super well powered', though it gave reasonable texture. Coffee Kev called it one of the easiest single boilers he has used for steaming milk and more powerful than the Bambino, timing 38s for 170ml at max temperature.
• Heat-up time: Coffee Kev estimated 'a few minutes' to heat up and timed 1 min 36 s to steam readiness. Lance Hedrick estimated about 10 minutes for the brass boiler to fully equalize.

Startup / heat-up

Coffee Kev timed 1 min 36 s to steam readiness (2024), estimated a few minutes to heat up overall, and noted about 30 s to switch to steam (2026). Lance Hedrick estimated about 10 minutes for the brass boiler to fully equalize. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): ~10 minutes (including grouphead and portafilter).

Finish & fingerprints

Coffee Kev described it as polished stainless steel ('thin steel but still... not plastic') that looks decent for the money but becomes 'one great big fingerprint' and acts like a mirror. He later called it traditional-looking, which some may find old-fashioned. Hoffmann and Lance Hedrick praised the weighty, nice build, though Hoffmann said the water tank feels cheap. Finishes listed by sellers: Polished stainless steel / silver stainless steel.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +James Hoffmann: “it's got a nice weight to it” 2:19
• +James Hoffmann: “what is a nice inclusion is the pressure gauge here that is very helpful” 2:45
• +Coffee Kev: “It's heavier weight. It does feel a lot more substantial.” 11:05
• +Coffee Kev: “Adjustable pit versus fixed, meaning you can adjust the brew temperature.” 11:32
• +Lance Hedrick: “brass boiler, nice build, really nice build.” 37:05
• +Lance Hedrick: “And it has P control out of the box.” 37:41

Reviewers broadly see the brass-boiler E24 as a sturdy, great-value, highly moddable entry machine, with retailer Whole Latte Love the most enthusiastic and independent reviewers (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev, Tom's Coffee Corner) recommending it with caveats about no PID, finicky steaming and European OPV pressure.

US price: $499 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$799 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsLance Hedrick: He sees it as the best machine at about $500 or less, citing better temperature stability from the brass boiler, though he flagged the proprietary portafilter, wet steam that fades on big drinks, a plastic tamper and a cramped interior; he grew warmer over time, noting 9-bar OPVs shipping by May 2025 and preferring it over the Classic Up in 2026. ▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: He finds it excellent value with excellent espresso, but cup clearance is poor, it has no PID or manometer, and steaming is challenging. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: He calls it a durable, easy-to-mod workhorse with great shots, but in stock form it lacks a PID, needs temperature surfing and is a pain to steam with; he rates it mixed against a Bambino and is most enthusiastic about it as a base for the GaggiMate mod. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsWhole Latte Love(retailer): This retailer, which sells the machine, repeatedly calls it the best-value entry-level machine, praising its stable brew temperature, strong steam and repairability. ▶▶▶▶▶▶

Consensus

• The new brass boiler is a real improvement over the old aluminum one for heat retention and steam (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev, Whole Latte Love)
• It is very good value at around $450-550 (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Whole Latte Love)
• It is a good base for modding and DIY repair, with a big community (Coffee Kev, Tom's Coffee Corner, Whole Latte Love, Lance Hedrick in 2026)
• There is no PID, so consistent shots need temperature surfing or a flush-and-wait routine (Coffee Kev, Tom's Coffee Corner, Lance Hedrick, Whole Latte Love)
• The included tamper is weak or missing and worth upgrading (Lance Hedrick, Whole Latte Love, Coffee Kev)
• Build is solid, mostly metal and long-lasting (Coffee Kev, Whole Latte Love, Lance Hedrick)

Disagreement

• Steam performance: Whole Latte Love (retailer) calls steaming stellar, forgiving and close to commercial. Lance Hedrick found it wet, losing pressure on larger drinks, though in 2026 he called it as good as the Classic Up. Tom's Coffee Corner found it challenging and says it sometimes ran out of steam. Coffee Kev's early test found it faster and more consistent than the Evo, but he later called it a pain to steam with, unpredictable, and a downgrade from the Bambino.
• Temperature stability: Whole Latte Love measured about 2°F variance and calls it very stable. Lance Hedrick says it needs much less temperature surfing. Coffee Kev later called it not very temperature stable and says it needs surfing, though his early impressions had suggested less surfing was needed.
• Ease of working inside: Tom's Coffee Corner says there's a ton of space and it's easy to open up, and Coffee Kev calls it one of the best home machines for modding. Lance Hedrick found the interior cramped and difficult to mod, though he still praised top access.
• European OPV pressure: Lance Hedrick measured about 14 bar on an early European unit, then said in May 2025 that Gaggia had started shipping 9-bar OPVs. Coffee Kev (2025-2026) still says UK/European units are not 9 bar and need an OPV mod.

Startup / heat-up

Coffee Kev timed the brew-ready light at just over a minute (about 20 s longer on first use) and the steam light at about 65 s; he notes the usual advice is 10-15 minutes to fully heat. Lance Hedrick estimated about 90 s for brew water with about 10 minutes to stabilize, and said steam is ready faster than on the Silvia. Whole Latte Love estimates 'a couple minutes' to heat and advises about 10 minutes with the portafilter in for a full warm-up; their review also notes brew-ready comes about 20 s later than on the aluminum version. For steam, Whole Latte Love estimates the light takes about 45-60 s but steaming can begin after about 20 s, and they timed a start at 25 s in one test. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): 15 minutes (portafilter reaches 65–70°C).

Finish & fingerprints

Whole Latte Love describes an all-metal, one-piece steel housing in nine colors (some powder-coated) with a polished group surround that won't flake, plus optional wood accents. Lance Hedrick says there's little plastic beyond the drip tray grate, portafilter handle and OPV. Tom's Coffee Corner had the brushed stainless version, which his wife found ugly. Coffee Kev says its traditional looks may divide people. No one commented on fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: brushed stainless, Industrial Gray, and several color models mentioned.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Lance Hedrick: “they've made the change yet again and it seems to be a very wel change” 2:20
• +Lance Hedrick: “thick syrupy chocy caramelly little bit of stone fruit popping through uh I mean really nice balanced shot” 10:05
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “It makes excellent espresso.” 0:00
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “there's a ton of space inside. Easy to work on, easy to open up.” 1:24
• +Coffee Kev: “someone like this could probably turn the E24 into something they'll enjoy more for a similar for similar or probably quite a bit less” 12:32
• –Coffee Kev: “No pit, only one drip tray height.” 15:15
• +Whole Latte Love: “so the temperature stability has gone up” 8:49
• +Whole Latte Love: “the classic was the fastest to be steam ready” 9:28

Reviewers broadly see the Victoria as a good-value Italian PID single boiler that makes good espresso out of the box, held back by a plastic steam knob, basic pre-infusion, an internal OPV and debated build and steam performance; the two most positive voices on fit for buyers, Seattle Coffee Gear and Whole Latte Love, are retailers that sell it.

US price: $1,000 — retailer page (checked Oct 13, 2026) (source). Canada: CA$1,745 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsLance Hedrick: He finds it a great-quality, easy machine roughly equal to the Profitec Go, but dislikes the plastic steam knob, weak pre-infusion and hidden OPV, and now prefers the Quick Mill Pop Up in this range. ▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsSeattle Coffee Gear(retailer): This retailer consistently recommends it as a competitively priced PID single boiler for mostly espresso or Americano drinkers who steam milk only occasionally, noting rattles, a learning curve and limited longevity data. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: He calls it a great machine for the money and arguably one of the best premium single boilers, but dislikes the plastic steam dial, the internal OPV, the fixed pre-infusion and the awkward tank. ▶▶▶▶
• MixedWhole Latte Love(retailer): This retailer found it consistent and capable of good shots, but in testing it brewed below its set temperature, steamed slowly and was loud, and the build felt lighter. ▶▶

Consensus

• The plastic steam knob/dial is a weak point (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev, Whole Latte Love)
• Pre-infusion/pre-brew is basic, short or not adjustable (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear, Whole Latte Love)
• OPV adjustment requires opening the machine and should be external (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev)
• It is good value or competitively priced for an Italian PID single boiler (Lance Hedrick, Seattle Coffee Gear, Coffee Kev)
• Being a single boiler, it can't brew and steam at once, so you must wait or purge after steaming (Seattle Coffee Gear, Whole Latte Love, Coffee Kev)
• It makes good espresso out of the box (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev, Whole Latte Love)

Disagreement

• Steam performance: Lance Hedrick says it steams milk fantastically well. Coffee Kev says it has more powerful steam than the Gaggia Classic Up and steams 170 ml in about 35-36 s. Whole Latte Love's test found steaming took about twice as long as the Classic UP (about 50 s).
• Who it suits (milk drinkers): Seattle Coffee Gear repeatedly positions it for people who rarely steam milk. Lance Hedrick says it suits people who steam a lot and switch quickly between steam and brew because it sheds heat fast, and his tier list names people who like milk drinks a lot.
• Build quality / fit and finish: Lance Hedrick calls it great quality and solidly built in Italy, and Coffee Kev calls it stunning. Whole Latte Love finds the steel thinner, the seams sharper and the buttons lacking a click. Seattle Coffee Gear notes the reservoir cover and drip tray grate rattle.
• Drip tray: Seattle Coffee Gear praises an exceptionally large drip tray that can go a couple of days without emptying. Lance Hedrick finds it shallow and easy to spill when even partly full.

Startup / heat-up

Coffee Kev timed 7 min 40 s from cold on 220 V and estimated a couple of minutes longer on 110 V. He calls this fairly quick for a boiler machine, with steam ready in about 90 s and a shot ready about 35 s after steaming if the steam valve is opened. In a separate video he says it takes longer than the Gaggia Classic Up to heat up again. Lance Hedrick estimated it is slightly quicker to heat than the Profitec Go because of its smaller boiler, and cited a 10-minute heat-up in his tier list. Seattle Coffee Gear notes the display shows a loading bar during heat-up. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): Approximately 6 minutes.

Finish & fingerprints

Lance Hedrick: brushed stainless that still picks up fingerprints everywhere; the rubber-gripped lid avoids prints; the portafilter handle is thin plastic. Seattle Coffee Gear: traditional stainless and black plastic, almost-matte stainless with rounded edges, and an industrial/brutalist look that may not suit every home. Whole Latte Love: thinner steel, sharper seams and a brown all-plastic steam knob. Coffee Kev: stunning looks, let down by the plastic steam dial.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Lance Hedrick: “I gave the edge to Victoria based off of the slightly lower price than the Profitech Go” 30:20
• –Lance Hedrick: “which has an awful plastic steam knob. I hate it.” 8:44
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “the Victoria is priced out very competitively compared to other Italian single boiler machines with a p” 1:41
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “you also get a shot timer built into the face of the machine and some pre-brew” 1:41
• +Coffee Kev: “It's easier when it comes to dispensing hot water cuz it's got a hot water button.” 19:54
• –Coffee Kev: “So whether it really makes a huge difference is up for debate.” 19:54
• +Whole Latte Love: “Consistency across the shots was good” 20:36
• +Whole Latte Love: “although it does win by a few% in the water added metric” 22:27

Reviewers agree the Infuser is a capable, proven Barista Express without a grinder that makes good espresso, but Tom's Coffee Corner and Hoon's Coffee question its value at its price, and Lance Hedrick says it appears to be discontinued.

US price: $600 — search snippet (unverified) (source)

Where each reviewer lands

• MixedHoon's Coffee: He loves it and says it makes great espresso with good steam, but at roughly $500-580 in 2020 he would lean toward a Gaggia Classic Pro, though it would have been his top pick years earlier. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsLance Hedrick: He calls it a fantastic machine that would probably get an A, but notes it appears to be discontinued. ▶
• MixedTom's Coffee Corner: He sees it as a Barista Express without the grinder and isn't sure $400 is a good deal. ▶
• No verdictCoffee Kev: He finds it a really interesting machine but gives no verdict and is annoyed it isn't sold in the UK. ▶

Consensus

• It is essentially a Barista Express without the built-in grinder (Tom's Coffee Corner, Hoon's Coffee, Lance Hedrick)
• It is a capable machine that makes good espresso (Hoon's Coffee, Lance Hedrick)
• Its value at the asking price is questionable (Tom's Coffee Corner, Hoon's Coffee)

Disagreement

• Value / overall rating: Lance Hedrick says it would probably get an A on his budget tier list. Tom's Coffee Corner doubts $400 is a good deal. Hoon's Coffee says its price is his main problem and he would rather buy a Gaggia Classic Pro.
• Temperature control: Coffee Kev describes it as having a programmable PID that changes brew temperature. Hoon's Coffee measured the settings and says the adjustment works but is not exact and is 'not a true PID'.

Startup / heat-up

Only Hoon's Coffee addressed this. He timed about 17 seconds for steam to start (steam readiness, not machine warm-up). In a separate video he measured the first flush at about 170°F at the portafilter and the second flush, once warmed up, at about 195°F. No one timed full machine heat-up. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): ~20-30 minutes (user reports; manufacturer time not stated).

Finish & fingerprints

Hoon's Coffee says it uses a lot of plastic and feels somewhat like an appliance. No one commented on fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Brushed Stainless Steel.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• –Tom's Coffee Corner: “I'm not really sure that that's a good deal.” 1:23
• +Coffee Kev: “a pressure gauge a hot water spout and a programmable pid meaning that it can change the brew temperature” 6:14
• –Coffee Kev: “i'm really annoyed that this machine isn't available in the uk” 6:14
• +Hoon's Coffee: “definitely the temp adjusting temperature definitely works for sure” 3:39
• +Hoon's Coffee: “so we are right on the different temperature range there so i'm very comfortable with that” 1:51
• +Lance Hedrick: “steel, easy to descale, easy to maintain.” 32:40

Reviewers broadly praise the Perfetta Plus as a well-equipped, quick-heating starter machine with a real steam wand. Enthusiasm comes mainly from retailers Whole Latte Love and Seattle Coffee Gear, while independents Tom's Coffee Corner and Lance Hedrick flag low or unstable brew temperature, value against cheaper rivals and, in Lance's 2025 tier list, reliability concerns.

US price: $299 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$650 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• MixedLance Hedrick: In 2023 he praised it as the best-equipped budget pick with caveats, but by 2025 he graded it C over widely reported durability issues, problems with his own unit and a hard-to-repair thermoblock. ▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: Well built and a better milk steamer than the Dedica, but its espresso is about the same, he measured brew temperature too low, and it costs two to three times as much; he recommends it only for milk-drink lovers. ▶
• RecommendsWhole Latte Love (retailer): Repeatedly named a strong entry-level pick for its quick heat-up, PID presets, programmability, good wand and accessories; one video notes build and thermal limits for specialty-grade shots. ▶▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsSeattle Coffee Gear (retailer): A well-built, well-equipped compact thermoblock for small spaces and a 'crowd pleaser' starter that works with pre-ground coffee or a good grinder. ▶▶

Consensus

• It comes with generous, good-quality accessories, especially a heavy stainless tamper, plus several baskets (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Whole Latte Love, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• The proper/commercial-style steam wand produces good milk for latte art (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Whole Latte Love, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• The three-way solenoid valve is a plus, giving drier pucks and allowing backflushing (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Whole Latte Love, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• Its thermoblock heats up quickly, roughly 40–50 seconds (Lance Hedrick, Whole Latte Love, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• The 54 mm group works with third-party/54 mm accessories and upgrades (Lance Hedrick, Whole Latte Love)

Disagreement

• Brew temperature / thermal stability: Tom's Coffee Corner measured it leveling off around 78°C, 'too low for espresso'. Seattle Coffee Gear cites 'good brew temperatures'. Whole Latte Love notes a small temperature drop during extraction and says it may lack the thermal characteristics for specialty-grade shots. Lance Hedrick says temperature stability is slightly worse than the Bambino's.
• Steam power: Lance Hedrick and Tom's Coffee Corner found steam power good, and Lance found it easier to steam on than the Bambino. Seattle Coffee Gear (2020) found steaming a bit slower with its one-hole tip. Whole Latte Love says thermoblock steam pressure can be lower and is weaker than the Gaggia Classic E24's, though another of its videos says it steamed surprisingly well.
• Build quality and reliability: Tom's Coffee Corner, Seattle Coffee Gear and Lance Hedrick (both videos) call it well or thoughtfully built with quality parts. Lance's 2025 tier list adds that durability issues are widely reported, he had issues with his own and the thermoblock is hard to repair. One Whole Latte Love video says its build quality is not on par with the other machines it compared, while another calls it durable.
• Value vs alternatives: Tom's Coffee Corner says buy the much cheaper Dedica unless you're focused on milk drinks. Lance Hedrick (2023) thinks the Breville Bambino is a slightly better deal out of the box. Whole Latte Love calls it a good-value, more approachable alternative to the Bambino Plus.
• Pressure regulation (OPV): Lance Hedrick's 2023 video says it has no OPV and hit 13 bar, making repeatability harder. His 2025 tier list lists a 9 bar OPV.

Startup / heat-up

All heat-up figures are estimates; none were timed. Lance Hedrick estimates about 40–45 seconds and says it is a little slower than the Bambino but very similar. Seattle Coffee Gear estimates about 40–50 seconds. Whole Latte Love says about 40 seconds in one video, 45 seconds to brew temperature in another, and 'very very quickly' in a third. Tom's Coffee Corner says startup is similar to the Dedica, with no time given. Separately, Whole Latte Love timed the brew-to-steam transition at 29 seconds. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): 40 seconds.

Finish & fingerprints

Tom's Coffee Corner calls it a handsome machine with an all-metal portafilter. Lance Hedrick notes stainless steel construction. Seattle Coffee Gear shows brushed stainless and mentions a matte black option. Whole Latte Love mentions four colors, a Red Dot design award, a stainless portafilter and 'fewer plastics'. No reviewer commented on fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Black, Silver.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Lance Hedrick: “it had good power it was easier to steam on this than on the Bambino” 16:27
• +Lance Hedrick: “being able to see your pressure is a big advantage over the other two” 10:05
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “the advantage of the Solis is that these are non-pressurized baskets that is quite an advantage over the DeLonghi Delica” 0:58
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “this does have nice steam power but it's not so powerful that you're done too quickly” 8:28
• +Whole Latte Love: “I got really nice latte art and also milk consistency.” 6:55
• +Whole Latte Love: “was super quick too with some of the automations which I enjoy” 6:55
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “comes with a portafilter that i noticed is stainless steel that is a very much of an upgrade in portafilters” 2:00
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “comes with everything you need what more could you want to get going with a machine” 3:58

Reviewers agree the Classic UP is a solid, more convenient Classic with PID, auto-on and a better drip tray, but the independent reviewers question its price versus the Classic Pro or E24, while only the retailer Whole Latte Love calls it the best value.

US price: $849 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$849 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• MixedLance Hedrick: He finds it well built with good coffee, but says the upgrades don't justify a roughly $325-400 premium over the Classic Pro or E24, and he would pick the E24. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: He calls it a nice upgraded Classic Pro for people who don't want to tinker, but finds the price high since modding a Classic Pro costs less; his later settings video gave no verdict. ▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: He says it is good for Gaggia fans who want PID and convenience features without modding, but it's not for tinkerers and he would pick a GaggiMate-modded E24 on value; his stance stayed consistent across videos. ▶▶▶
• RecommendsWhole Latte Love(retailer): He calls it the easiest to use and most feature-rich single-boiler PID machine and the best value in its class; note this is a retailer channel that sells the machine. ▶

Consensus

• The PID gives stable, usable brew temperature without temperature surfing (Whole Latte Love, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev; Lance Hedrick calls it 'good enough')
• The lower-profile drip tray is a welcome change that makes room for scales (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Whole Latte Love)
• The scheduled auto-on and standby timer are useful (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Whole Latte Love)
• It is not aimed at tinkerers or modders (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev, Tom's Coffee Corner)
• The price is high relative to the Classic Pro or E24 (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)

Disagreement

• Value: Whole Latte Love (retailer) calls it easily the best value in its class. Lance Hedrick calls it 'a huge upcharge for such little changes.' Tom's Coffee Corner isn't sure it's worth it versus modding a Classic Pro. Coffee Kev would pick the GaggiMate-modded E24 on value.
• Steam performance: Coffee Kev finds steaming better and more consistent than the E24. Lance Hedrick finds the steam very wet and no better than the Classic Pro. Tom's Coffee Corner finds the power lacking and microfoam hard to get. Whole Latte Love reports 5 oz of milk steamed in the upper-20s seconds with the stock tip.
• Soft/low-flow pre-infusion: Whole Latte Love says it gives 'dramatic flavor improvements', and Tom's Coffee Corner and Coffee Kev like having the presets. Lance Hedrick says it only wets the top of the puck and adds inconsistency.
• Temperature accuracy: Whole Latte Love measured a 10-shot average of 198.6°F at a 200°F setting and calls it impressive. Lance Hedrick measured shots below setpoint (about 1.5-2°C under at 90°C; peaks of about 91.5-93°C at 95°C) and says the probe position doesn't reflect actual output.
• Switches/buttons: Lance Hedrick finds the new plastic buttons cheap-feeling. Tom's Coffee Corner is neutral but worries about their durability. Whole Latte Love says the switches are built to last and repairable.
• Top-mounted screen: Coffee Kev finds the flush screen clever and discreet, though he notes it could be hard for shorter users to see. Lance Hedrick calls the position weird and hard to see. Tom's Coffee Corner notes it may be hard to see for short people or wheelchair users.
• Wait for steam: Tom's Coffee Corner calls 'over a minute to wait for steam' ridiculous. Coffee Kev says full steam is usable in 15-20 seconds if you watch the gauge. Whole Latte Love measured 75 seconds to full steam but says good steaming is possible after 20-30 seconds.

Startup / heat-up

Coffee Kev timed about 5 min 30 s to reach 94°C and suggests scheduling it 20-25 minutes before the first shot for stability. Tom's Coffee Corner estimates about 5 minutes to brew temperature plus a few more for the portafilter to heat, and says the brass boiler heats slower than before. Whole Latte Love (retailer) claims the 'fastest heat up and ready to brew time in its class' but gives no brew-ready time. For steam, Whole Latte Love measured 75 seconds to full steam (a colleague puts it at about 45 seconds from brew mode, with good steaming possible after 20-30 seconds). Tom's Coffee Corner estimates 50 s to 1:15. Coffee Kev cites about 50 s officially, or 15-20 s if you start just under 3 bar on the gauge. Lance Hedrick and Tom's Coffee Corner mainly highlight the auto-on timer as the way around the wait. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): approximately 40 seconds to heat fully to steam temperature.

Finish & fingerprints

Lance Hedrick notes stainless steel portafilters and tamper but plastic buttons and drip tray, and finds it less premium than the Quick Mill Pop-Up, Victoria or Profitec Go. Tom's Coffee Corner had the painted version, which his wife prefers to the old brushed stainless; he noticed some paint overspray around the water funnel hole and plastic portafilter handle and switches. Coffee Kev likes that the flush screen keeps the classic look and mentions a black portafilter handle. Whole Latte Love describes a one-piece stainless frame in black, with brushed stainless coming soon. No one mentioned fingerprints or smudges.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Lance Hedrick: “No, it's not. Uh but it's good enough.” 15:18
• +Lance Hedrick: “This one is nice and tightly in there.” 4:38
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “You can see it's got this nice panel on top” 0:00
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “you've got the temperature setting, which is really easy, just minus and plus” 0:27
• +Coffee Kev: “I like the fact that it has a pit, so the brew temperature is stable and you don't need to temperature surf” 13:00
• +Coffee Kev: “I like having the choice of pre-infusion settings and the fact that you have a time shot option if you want it.” 13:28
• +Whole Latte Love: “that's really impressive and similar to what I see on high-end dual boiler machines” 20:08
• +Whole Latte Love: “what I really like here is how easy it is to use and the dramatic flavor improvements it provides” 17:46

Reviewers broadly see it as remarkable value for assisted espresso and milk drinks. Tom's Coffee Corner is enthusiastic, Coffee Kev is positive but warier over time because of unit-to-unit volume faults and Barista Assist quirks, and Hoffmann is mixed because of the build, ergonomics and filter coffee.

US price: $500 — search snippet (unverified) (source)

Where each reviewer lands

• MixedJames Hoffmann: Grind-by-weight and barista assist are great for $500, but the build feels plasticky, the ergonomics are cramped, filter coffee is poor and he worries about longevity. He calls it 'maddeningly close'. ▶
• RecommendsTom's Coffee Corner: He made it his product of the year for 2024 because it makes real espresso, good milk and extra drinks for about $500, and he stayed positive from 2024 to 2026 despite minor gripes. ▶▶▶▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: He first called it brilliant for the money for everyday drinkers. By 2025-2026 he grew more critical, citing shot-volume faults on some units and a barista assist that gets confused over time, though he still suggests it for people who want a big drinks menu. ▶▶▶▶▶▶

Consensus

• Weight-based dosing from the built-in scale is unusual and consistent (Hoffmann, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• Strong value at around $500 for a machine with real non-pressurized espresso and guidance (Hoffmann, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• Milk texture is good, and the steam is dry (Hoffmann, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• The drip tray fills quickly because the machine purges a lot of water (Hoffmann, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• Pucks knock out cleanly (Hoffmann, Tom's Coffee Corner)
• The dosing funnel is flimsy or breakable (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• The US model lacks hot water dispensing (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• Long-term durability and repair support are uncertain (Hoffmann, Coffee Kev)

Disagreement

• Build quality: Hoffmann finds it plasticky, lightweight and empty-feeling. Tom's Coffee Corner thinks the build is pretty good and finds the plastic nicer than expected. Coffee Kev says it is better than expected for the price, with a fair amount of metal.
• Ergonomics: Hoffmann calls the ergonomics cramped and says the side-mounted tamper and basket door need extra counter width. Tom's Coffee Corner praises its 'great ergonomics'.
• Filter/brew coffee: Hoffmann says the filter coffee is extremely flawed and never tasted good. Coffee Kev enjoys it as a strong big cup and calls it 'really quite good', though he says pour-over fans won't be impressed.
• Barista Assist reliability: Hoffmann and Tom's Coffee Corner say it works well. Coffee Kev initially praised it, but later said it gets confused over time, sends users on 'wild goose chases' and should be turned off or reset.
• Shot volume consistency: Tom's Coffee Corner found yields close to target and more consistent than the Breville Barista Express Impress. Coffee Kev's unit was 'wildly inconsistent' (58-80 g on the 1:2 setting), and he reports a brew-volume fault on some units.

Startup / heat-up

No reviewer formally timed startup. Hoffmann noted the machine doesn't heat the thermoblock until you grind, so there's a noticeable wait ('takes a while to get going'). Coffee Kev first said there's no apparent heat-up time, because the block heats while you grind, and later called it 'pretty fast' though not as fast as Breville/Sage's ThermoJet. In a later video he estimated a variable 10-12 second delay per shot before pumping starts. Tom's Coffee Corner said the brew group gets warm after a little time, and in a demo saw a 15-20 second wait before steam started.

Finish & fingerprints

Hoffmann finds it plasticky and lightweight, and the look isn't to his taste. Tom's Coffee Corner describes a mix of ABS plastic and stainless steel that feels nicer than expected, and notes it comes in blue or gunmetal grey. He also finds the many different surfaces harder to keep clean than the Breville, though he calls this subjective. Coffee Kev says there's quite a lot of plastic but also substantial metal parts, including the drip tray cover, cup riser and portafilter. Finishes listed by sellers: Midnight Black, Grey, Stainless Steel, Cyberspace.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +James Hoffmann: “It grinds by weight, which is fascinating, something you do not see in a lower end, lower price point kind of thing.” 3:09
• +James Hoffmann: “To have the barista assist at $500 is great.” 24:54
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “you can get the Costco variant, which is the ES 601 for 450” 2:49
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “this machine has real baskets” 0:39
• +Coffee Kev: “I was always really impressed with it on the 601 and 701 with the uh the filter.” 10:25
• –Coffee Kev: “seem to have had an issue with delivering higher volumes of water than I'd expect” 3:46

Reviewers agree the ROK GC is sturdy, easy to clean and good value, but its espresso quality depends heavily on managing heat: Lance Hedrick recommends it outright, Hoffmann recommends it with caveats (on a unit loaned by ROK), and The Real Sprometheus found its shots underwhelming.

US price: $179 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$285 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsJames Hoffmann: He finds it well built, compact and able to make good espresso, but only if you manage heat carefully and accept the extra manual work; his later 2020 mention again flagged preheating issues, so his view stayed consistent. ▶▶
• MixedThe Real Sprometheus: It beat the Flair Pro on easy cleaning but lost on workflow pace and made thin, watery shots he rated 6/10. ▶
• RecommendsLance Hedrick: He graded it A for its sturdy diecast body, plastic-free water path, pressure gauge and real portafilter at about $250. ▶

Consensus

• Solidly built with good materials (Hoffmann, Lance Hedrick)
• Easy to clean (Hoffmann, The Real Sprometheus)
• The portafilter locks in the opposite direction to most machines, which can catch you out (Hoffmann, The Real Sprometheus)
• Heat loss and preheating are a concern (Hoffmann; The Real Sprometheus measured a large temperature drop, though it tied with the Flair)

Disagreement

• Shot quality: Hoffmann says it makes good-tasting coffee as long as you manage the heat. The Real Sprometheus found shots thin and watery with weak crema, body and mouthfeel (6/10), and blamed spurting on a loose seal.
• Overall verdict: Lance Hedrick gives it an A and calls it an insanely good deal. The Real Sprometheus says it is 'no slouch' but falls short on espresso quality against the Flair Pro. Hoffmann sits in between: good, but only for people willing to do the extra work.

Startup / heat-up

There is no heating element. Hoffmann (from experience, not timed) preheats by pulling a blank shot with water just off the boil, and finds the second or third shot is often better than the first. He flagged preheating issues again in his 2020 Aram review. The Real Sprometheus measured water starting around 160°F and the shot landing around 110°F, which tied with the Flair Pro.

Finish & fingerprints

Hoffmann likes the new glass composite material on the top of the maker and calls it an improvement over the original. Lance Hedrick praises the high-quality diecast aluminum body and the BPA-free glass composite chamber. No reviewer mentioned fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Black, Classic.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +James Hoffmann: “something like the Flair or the robot or the rock” 10:07
• –James Hoffmann: “those all had issues with preheating” 10:07
• +The Real Sprometheus: “it has a porter filter with the handle it makes cleaning up a little bit easier” 2:31
• +The Real Sprometheus: “the drip tray itself is a really easy clean” 2:59
• +Lance Hedrick: “It is made from diecast aluminum, so really high quality body there. Very sturdy, very nice, very robust.” 14:51
• +Lance Hedrick: “it uses a BPA free glass composite chamber” 14:51

Reviewers see the Smeg ECF01 as a stylish but overpriced take on the Dedica: worth considering only if you value the look, and two of the three reviewers would not recommend it.

US price: $530 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$200 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Doesn't recommendMorgan Eckroth (Morgan Drinks Coffee): Pretty and retro, but it feels cheap for about $515, ships with a poor tamp and no water filters, and its steam wand can't make good milk. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: It is internally very similar to the Dedica, so it is only worth paying more if you like the design. ▶
• Doesn't recommendLance Hedrick: Graded F as a rebranded Dedica that is worse and more expensive. ▶

Consensus

• You pay extra mainly for the looks rather than for performance (Morgan Eckroth, Coffee Kev, Lance Hedrick)
• Internally it is very similar to the Dedica (Coffee Kev, Lance Hedrick)
• The retro design is its main appeal (Morgan Eckroth, Coffee Kev)

Disagreement

• Whether the design justifies the price: Coffee Kev says it has done well with design-focused buyers and is worth the extra cost if you like the look. Lance Hedrick says it is simply a worse, pricier Dedica and gives it an F. Morgan Eckroth likes the look but says it does not justify the price.

Startup / heat-up

Only Morgan Eckroth mentions it. She says the indicator lights stop flashing once it is preheated, but she gives no timing. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): Hits optimum temperature in just 40 seconds.

Finish & fingerprints

Morgan Eckroth says some build parts are stainless steel, but the body is covered in a hard plastic coating that makes it feel cheaper than its price. She notes the rounded retro shape and many color options. No one mentions fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: black, cream, white, pastel (and red, glossy per Smeg US site).

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Morgan Eckroth (Morgan Drinks Coffee): “it's very retro it comes in like all sorts of fun cool colors” 19:09
• +Morgan Eckroth (Morgan Drinks Coffee): “for the most part it feels pretty sturdy which is nice” 1:22
• +Coffee Kev: “the Smeg has done very well at that price point for people who are a bit more interested in design” 10:42
• –Coffee Kev: “they spookily similar machines internally by the way the smag and the dedica” 10:42
• –Lance Hedrick: “they somehow made it even worse and more expensive.” 47:32

All three non-retailer reviewers, each of whom got the machine from MiiCoffee, like the Apex as a strong-value entry machine with dual heating and flow control that beats the Gaggia Classic Pro, with caveats about the original's missing OPV and pre-infusion flaw (addressed in V2), minor build quirks, and unproven reliability.

US price: $499 — search snippet (unverified) (source)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsThe Real Sprometheus: He calls it one of the best single boilers he has used for $500-600 and says it beats the Gaggia Classic out of the box, but he notes it has no OPV, some quirks, and unproven reliability. ▶
• RecommendsTom's Coffee Corner: His full review says it clearly beats the Gaggia Classic Pro on features and build for the price, after a positive teardown and a settings tutorial that flagged a pre-infusion firmware issue. ▶▶▶
• RecommendsCoffee Kev: Reviewing the V2, he says it competes with machines about twice the price and has no real catches beyond UK availability and the screwdriver flow adjustment. ▶

Consensus

• The separate steam thermoblock means no waiting to steam and lets you go straight from steaming to brewing (Sprometheus, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• Adjustable flow rate is a standout feature at this price (Sprometheus, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• Temperature stability is good (Sprometheus, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• Very strong value against similarly priced or pricier rivals such as the Gaggia Classic Pro (Sprometheus, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• Pre-infusion on the earlier version had a flaw: the pause engages the discharge valve or solenoid and drops pressure off the puck (Sprometheus, Tom's Coffee Corner); Coffee Kev says it was fixed in V2

Disagreement

• Lack of an OPV: Sprometheus treats the missing OPV as a key con, since pressure management through the flow screw takes trial and error. Tom's Coffee Corner sees flow-screw regulation as a plus that gives gentle, well-rounded extraction. Coffee Kev's V2 adds an externally adjustable OPV, which he calls brilliant.
• Steam power: Coffee Kev calls steam power really good for a thermoblock. Sprometheus says there isn't a lot of it but it is consistent and controllable. Tom's Coffee Corner first worried the one-hole tip might be underpowered, then called it fast, and in his full review called it good enough but not especially fast.
• Build quality: In his full review Tom's Coffee Corner calls it a robust all-metal stainless machine, though his teardown noted thin outer steel and poor back-plate tolerances. Sprometheus says the build isn't bad but falls short of the Profitec Go.

Startup / heat-up

Sprometheus estimates about 5 minutes from experience and says longer adds thermal stability. Coffee Kev cites the manufacturer spec of under 5 minutes, with steam ready almost instantly after a purge. Tom's Coffee Corner didn't time it, but a shot pulled before full warm-up was cool and sour, so he says it needs more heat-up time. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): Just 5 minutes to warm up fully to pull a shot.

Finish & fingerprints

Sprometheus calls the look simple and utilitarian, with materials below the Profitec Go. Tom's Coffee Corner describes the outer casing as thin brushed steel in his teardown, with a thicker drip tray cover, plastic drip tray bottom, rubberized steam lever and plastic portafilter handle. His full review calls it robust all-metal stainless steel. Coffee Kev notes the portafilter has a plastic handle. No one commented on fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Grey.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +The Real Sprometheus: “heat up on the Apex is fast, landing around 5 or so minutes on” 3:39
• +The Real Sprometheus: “Overall its features are useful, and effective” 9:04
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “this one has been updated so you can change it” 0:00
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “let's change it to five so now we got 5 Seconds set up pretty simple” 0:29
• +Coffee Kev: “the obvious thing to like is the value for money” 7:58
• +Coffee Kev: “I think the externally adjustable opv is brilliant” 7:58

Reviewers agree it is a feature-packed, convenient, good-value 'café in a box' for casual users, but they flag water waste, poor serviceability and non-enthusiast results, with Lance Hedrick especially critical of the grinder and build.

US price: $750 — search snippet (unverified) (source)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsLance Hedrick: He sees it as a good-value 'barista in a box' held back by a very poor built-in grinder and a plasticky, hard-to-service build. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: He finds it the most versatile, feature-rich lever-tamp machine but a water hog that is hard to open for repairs; it went from pre-release interest (2024) to hands-on caveats (Oct 2025) to calling $600 an awesome deal (Dec 2025), and he uses affiliate links. ▶▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: In 2025 he strongly preferred it over the 601 for convenience, but by 2026 he stressed it is not enthusiast-level, overshoots shot volumes and is more fault-prone. ▶▶▶▶

Consensus

• It has a very wide range of drinks and features, including filter coffee, cold brew and cold foam (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• It dumps a lot of water into the drip tray, which fills quickly (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• It is difficult to open up or service (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner)
• It suits medium-dark to dark roasts better than light or high-grown coffees (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev)
• It suits people who want guided, easy café drinks rather than enthusiasts (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev)

Disagreement

• Built-in grinder: Lance Hedrick calls it 'absolutely not good': plastic gears, heat drift, only 25 settings and it can't grind fine enough for lighter roasts. Coffee Kev says the burrs are forgiving with good particle distribution.
• Tamping lever: Lance Hedrick 'absolutely despise[s]' it. Tom's Coffee Corner calls the integrated tamper the biggest upgrade over the ES601. Coffee Kev finds it 'a thousand times more convenient' but notes it gives no satisfying end-of-tamp feedback.
• Dose consistency: Coffee Kev found weight dosing consistent within 0.2-0.3 g, and Tom's Coffee Corner praises the consistent dose. Lance Hedrick measured doses varying from roughly 17.2 to 19 g.
• Steaming and milk texture: Lance Hedrick says steaming 'takes forever' and the pitcher frother gives poor texture. Coffee Kev says manual steaming can match the Barista Express Impress for texture and temperature, though it takes a bit longer.

Startup / heat-up

Coffee Kev estimates a heat-up phase built into each drink of usually about 12 seconds, though it can vary (not formally timed). Tom's Coffee Corner says it takes some time to warm up for steaming but gives no duration. Neither reviewer timed it.

Finish & fingerprints

Lance Hedrick calls it 'really really really plasticky', light, ugly and 'built like a toy'. Coffee Kev says it looks like a Ninja air fryer and may suit kitchens with other Ninja appliances. Tom's Coffee Corner notes it comes in stainless only, with a gold-and-green Packers version coming. No reviewer commented on fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Stainless steel (standard); also available in a 'Stone' limited edition color (ES701STGD).

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Lance Hedrick: “I do think you get a lot of bang for the buck as far as the capabilities.” 46:29
• +Lance Hedrick: “It is a bit more forgiving being 53 millimeters.” 34:26
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “It offers, first of all, a thicker steam wand.” 0:57
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “the ES701 does finally come with a water spout, which is awesome.” 1:28
• +Coffee Kev: “I was always really impressed with it on the 601 and 701 with the uh the filter.” 10:25
• –Coffee Kev: “seem to have had an issue with delivering higher volumes of water than I'd expect” 3:46

All three independent reviewers recommend the Stilosa as an outstanding-value starter machine with a durable stainless steel boiler, provided you pair it with a good grinder and accept cheap accessories, plastic build and some temperature fiddling; the EC230 version with a proper wand and non-pressurized baskets is preferred.

US price: $150 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$150 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsLance Hedrick: He calls it the best really cheap option thanks to its stainless steel boiler and very good shots, but the stock accessories are poor, it has plastic build, and it needs a decent grinder. He bought his own units on sale. ▶▶▶
• RecommendsTom's Coffee Corner: He finds it an approachable, affordable starter that makes excellent espresso and milk. You do need to manage temperature, and cup clearance is limited. He was positive in both 2023 (EC260) and 2026 (EC230), but dislikes the US version's Panarello wand and pressurized-only baskets. ▶▶
• RecommendsCoffee Kev: He thinks the EC230 is probably the best machine under £100 for starting the home barista hobby. He is mixed on the US Panarello version, which he sees as aimed at casual users. His video was sponsored by his own coffee beans and has affiliate links. ▶▶

Consensus

• It is excellent value for a budget machine and capable of very good espresso (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• You need a decent grinder and fresh beans to get the best results (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• The small stainless steel boiler heats up quickly (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• Manual pump control and no solenoid allow blooming or pre-infusion, but the machine keeps dripping or flowing after you stop the shot (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner)
• Versions with a Panarello wand or pressurized baskets are weaker for enthusiasts; non-pressurized baskets and a proper wand, or upgrades, are preferred (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)

Disagreement

• Shot consistency: Tom's Coffee Corner says shots are not very consistent and you must temperature surf. Lance Hedrick finds shot timing hit or miss and flushes between shots. Coffee Kev says he hasn't noticed huge shot-to-shot inconsistencies, though he notes a thermostat isn't as stable as a PID.

Startup / heat-up

All figures are estimates, not timed. Lance Hedrick says a couple of minutes, between 2 and 5. Tom's Coffee Corner says about 1.5 minutes until the ready light (EC230) and about 10 seconds to heat for steam (EC260). Coffee Kev says it heats quickly, with steam ready in about 40 seconds. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): ~3 minutes.

Finish & fingerprints

Lance Hedrick and Coffee Kev ('Plastic Fantastic') describe a plastic body, and Lance worries the plastic can deteriorate. Lance Hedrick and Tom's Coffee Corner note an aluminum portafilter with plastic inside. Tom's Coffee Corner likes the metal cup-warming plate. No one comments on fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Black/Stainless Steel.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Lance Hedrick: “comes with a single boiler made of stainless steel and is pretty easy to repair” 1:57
• +Lance Hedrick: “this one takes just a couple of minutes cuz it's a tiny little steam boiler” 6:06
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “Two of them, very nice, and these are not pressurized, which means” 0:29
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “you've got an actual normal steam wand on here. No Panarello.” 0:58
• +Coffee Kev: “it's the cheapest machine on the market from any manufacturer that I'm aware of with a Pro Steam wand and standard baskets” 0:00
• +Coffee Kev: “the espresso I've had with it is very very good” 3:40

Reviewers see the Legato as a feature-rich, roughly $500 budget pick with a boiler-plus-thermoblock layout, held back by its lack of brand heritage, weaker build and limited pre-infusion.

US price: $479 — search snippet (unverified) (source)

Where each reviewer lands

• No verdictLance Hedrick: He likes its boiler-plus-thermoblock layout and adjustability, but says the Quick Mill Pop Up is worth the extra money because this machine comes from a rebrander without a track record. ▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: A runner-up pick that ticks a lot of boxes for about $500, but it has no heritage and weaker build quality. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsHoon's Coffee: A good, well-priced entry-level 58mm machine for hobbyists, though pre-infusion is weak and owners will eventually outgrow it. ▶▶▶

Consensus

• Strong feature set for around $500 (Tom's Coffee Corner, Hoon's Coffee, Lance Hedrick)
• The brew boiler with PID plus a steam thermoblock is a plus (Tom's Coffee Corner, Hoon's Coffee, Lance Hedrick)
• It lacks the heritage or track record of an established brand (Lance Hedrick, Tom's Coffee Corner)

Disagreement

• Pre-infusion: Lance Hedrick praises its fully adjustable pre-infusion and says it has more pre-infusion capability than the Diletta Mio. Hoon's Coffee says it is only a pump delay, not true pre-infusion; he doesn't use it and sets the delay to zero.
• Brew pressure: Lance Hedrick lists it as 9 bar with an externally adjustable OPV. Hoon's Coffee calls it a 16-bar machine and says it runs at 13-14 bar, not 9 bar, though he advises using it as is.

Startup / heat-up

Lance Hedrick estimates a heat-up time of about 5 minutes because of the brew boiler (not timed). Hoon's Coffee says steam is instant thanks to the thermoblock (his own experience), but he doesn't discuss overall warm-up time. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): about five minutes (~5 minutes from cold).

Finish & fingerprints

No reviewer discussed the finish, fingerprints or smudges. On build and materials, Tom's Coffee Corner says build quality is not as good, and Lance Hedrick notes the plastic tamper. Finishes listed by sellers: White, Stainless.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Lance Hedrick: “the Turin Legato, which is around $500, and that has an external OPV adjustment” 1:24
• –Lance Hedrick: “those are not long-standing companies with a track record of high quality and repairability” 31:15
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “this thing has got two heating elements it's got a boiler for espresso extraction it's got a thermal block for steaming” 6:10
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “it's got an included PID you can adjust the water debbit” 6:10
• +Hoon's Coffee: “21 seconds at 40 G okay okay shot looks perfect” 1:50
• +Hoon's Coffee: “with legot you have options right by one Celsius so this is actually pretty nice touch” 3:03

Reviewers agree the Sonic S7 is a well-built, good-looking 58mm lever that can make good espresso, but its heat-sinking chamber and high price split them: Coffee Kev recommends it for ritual lovers, Sprometheus is lukewarm, and Lance Hedrick ultimately advises against it.

US price: $949 — retailer page (checked Oct 13, 2026) (source)

Where each reviewer lands

• Doesn't recommendLance Hedrick: He first found it well built but too much preheating fuss for the price (mixed), then later graded it D because the stainless group is a heat sink you can't preheat enough, so he sees no reason to pick it over a Flair 58 or ALM; his view grew more negative over time. ▶▶▶
• MixedThe Real Sprometheus: It makes tasty, full-bodied shots and is smooth and sturdy, but it costs hundreds more than rivals and brings no innovations. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: It is the closest unpowered manual machine to a traditional lever experience and worth it for people who enjoy the ritual, but not for buyers comparing on price. ▶

Consensus

• The brew chamber is a big heat sink and needs real preheating with boiling water (Lance Hedrick, The Real Sprometheus, Coffee Kev)
• It is well built, sturdy and attractive (Lance Hedrick, The Real Sprometheus, Coffee Kev)
• It is expensive compared with other manual levers (Lance Hedrick, The Real Sprometheus, Coffee Kev)
• The 58mm/E61-style portafilter and built-in pressure gauge are welcome (Lance Hedrick, The Real Sprometheus, Coffee Kev)

Disagreement

• Heat retention and preheat feasibility: Coffee Kev says it retains heat well for back-to-back shots and that preheating takes only a couple of minutes. Lance Hedrick says it rapidly loses heat and needs about two full preheats to reach about 90°C, and he later said you can't preheat it enough to get a decent temperature. The Real Sprometheus found that two preheat flushes made good shots, though without a full preheat shots come out sour.
• Shot body/quality: The Real Sprometheus and Coffee Kev praise full-bodied, traditional-lever-like espresso. Lance Hedrick found the shots somewhat lacking in body, possibly because he used lighter roasts.
• Whether it's worth buying: Coffee Kev thinks it is worth the price for ritual-loving users who want a traditional lever feel. Lance Hedrick sees no point in it over the cheaper Flair 58 or ALM. The Real Sprometheus calls it a hard sell at its price.

Startup / heat-up

There is no heating element; it relies on kettle water. Lance Hedrick measured a peak of about 65°C from room temperature and about 83°C after one boiling-water preheat, estimated two full preheats are needed for about 90°C, and later said it can't be preheated enough. The Real Sprometheus (estimate) used two 30-50 second boiling-water flushes, doing his prep during them. Coffee Kev (estimate) said a couple of minutes of preheating, much quicker than an electric lever's boiler heat-up. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): Preheating takes about 30s-50s.

Finish & fingerprints

Lance Hedrick lists 304 stainless steel, aluminum alloys, silicone and wood, and notes the steel gets very hot and is not double walled; he later described an aluminum alloy frame with a stainless group. The Real Sprometheus calls the finished metal and stainless steel attractive and sturdy. Coffee Kev notes a one-piece thick stainless body with walnut handles. No one mentioned fingerprints or smudges.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Lance Hedrick: “arm is so long it's actually a bit easier to get that nine bar than on a flare 58” 8:22
• +Lance Hedrick: “we have a monometer that's built in which is a necessity these days” 2:44
• +The Real Sprometheus: “cup left nothing to be desired, producing delicious, full bodied,” 5:22
• +The Real Sprometheus: “The lever action itself is smooth,” 4:51
• +Coffee Kev: “exactly what I’d expect from a traditional lever” 3:13
• +Coffee Kev: “the closest I’ve seen to traditional lever” 4:27

Reviewers admire the Superkop's novel ratchet design and tank-like build, but the lack of a pressure gauge and the high price split them: Coffee Kev recommends it with caveats, while Lance Hedrick ultimately judged it poor value.

US price: $799 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$1,000 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Doesn't recommendLance Hedrick: He moved from a mixed view in 2024 (fun, durable, great texture, but no gauge, steep learning curve and worse value than the Flair 58) to a D grade in 2025, calling it poor value with odd pressure behavior and a fiddly water cup. ▶▶▶
• No verdictTom's Coffee Corner: In a short trade-show demo he found the fully mechanical ratchet design interesting and the shot not bad, but gave no recommendation. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: He loves it and wants one, but notes the higher price, the proprietary portafilter and the lack of a pressure gauge. ▶

Consensus

• The ratchet lever mechanism is a cool, novel design that eases the effort of building pressure (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev, Tom's Coffee Corner)
• Build quality is very solid and should last for decades or generations (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev)
• The missing pressure gauge is a real drawback (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev)
• It is easy to overshoot or spike pressure with the lever (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev)
• It is pricey compared with rival manual levers (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev)
• The wall-mount option is appealing (Lance Hedrick, Coffee Kev)

Disagreement

• Learning curve: Lance Hedrick says there is a steep learning curve because pressure is hard to judge by feel and easy to overshoot. Coffee Kev calls it the easiest lever machine he has used to get used to, with good shots from about the third attempt (using a forgiving blend).
• Overall value / recommendation: Lance Hedrick thinks it loses to the Flair 58x on value and later graded it D as poor value at the price. Coffee Kev acknowledges it is pricier but still recommends it to people who want this kind of ratchet lever.
• Need for preheating: Lance Hedrick measured about 90°C with no preheat in 2024 but said in 2025 that some preheating is needed. Coffee Kev says preheating isn't really needed for espresso blends and is optional for lighter roasts.

Startup / heat-up

There is no electric heat-up because water is boiled separately. Lance Hedrick measured 90°C (dropping to 87°C) with no preheat and about 92°C after one preheat (2024), but in 2025 estimated that some preheating is needed. Coffee Kev, going by experience, says preheating is unnecessary for espresso blends and suggests a couple of minutes with boiling water for lighter roasts. Tom's Coffee Corner relayed the maker's claim of no preheating. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): No warm-up time required.

Finish & fingerprints

Coffee Kev loves the look: aluminium-coated stainless steel body, polished stainless lever, three colors and individually numbered units. Lance Hedrick describes stainless internals and later a cast aluminum body, but says the wooden base lacks a wipeable finish, gets espresso stains and may warp. Tom's Coffee Corner noted the clear polycarbonate water cup. Finishes listed by sellers: Black.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Lance Hedrick: “it makes building pressure a whole lot easier on your arm” 10:14
• +Lance Hedrick: “this one is definitely lasting Generations upon generations to come” 10:14
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “this is a piston driven espresso machine it's all mechanical and that is the interesting thing about it” 17:01
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “as you can see there very cool and in that way the Piston is forced down it's very interesting” 18:57
• +Coffee Kev: “for me this was the easiest lever machine to get used to” 2:47
• +Coffee Kev: “tastes exactly how it does when I'm dialed in with any of the electric machines I use” 4:08

Reviewers generally recommend the Dedica Arte as a compact, affordable entry machine whose main draw is its pro-style steam wand. Retailer Whole Latte Love cautions that its pressurized-only baskets cap espresso quality, and the two independent reviewers note it costs more than older Dedicas and budget rivals.

US price: $300 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$399 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• RecommendsTom's Coffee Corner: He likes it as a well-built, well-supported Dedica with a better steam wand. Early on his only caveats were the price and that he hadn't tested it, and his latest comparison gives no specific pick. ▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsCoffee Kev: A good, reliable entry machine for new home baristas, and the pro wand saves you modding a Style. In 2025 he used it only as a pricier benchmark. ▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsWhole Latte Love (retailer): Quick, simple and compact for pre-ground users, but pressurized-only baskets limit it to chain-shop-level drinks. ▶

Consensus

• The manual steam wand textures milk better than a panarello and can reach latte-art quality, though it takes practice (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Whole Latte Love)
• Compact, small-footprint design suits tight spaces (Tom's Coffee Corner, Whole Latte Love)

Disagreement

• Build quality and repairability: Tom's Coffee Corner calls it robust and better built, with a grounded metal casing and plenty of third-party parts. Coffee Kev calls it well made and among the most reliable for the price. Whole Latte Love (retailer) calls it appliance grade with more plastic, proprietary parts and less repairability.
• Espresso quality: Tom's Coffee Corner says any Dedica can make good espresso. Whole Latte Love says its pressurized-only baskets give average, mass-market-chain-level quality with no upgrade path to non-pressurized baskets.

Startup / heat-up

Whole Latte Love (retailer) says the thermoblock heats on demand and timed steam readiness at about 10 seconds. No other reviewer addressed startup time.

Finish & fingerprints

Tom's Coffee Corner notes a grounded metal casing and metal top, available in only one metallic, stainless-steel-like color. Whole Latte Love calls it appliance grade with more plastic in its construction. No one commented on fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Silver/stainless.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “the dedica is more robust built better” 2:19
• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “it has the casing grounded because the casing is in fact metal” 2:19
• +Coffee Kev: “dongi are really good at making lowcost machines that are quite well made for the money.” 1:50
• +Coffee Kev: “it's among the most reliable for the” 11:04
• +Whole Latte Love: “The Delonghi Dedica Arte has the lowest list price in the group here and it’s often available at a discount” 2:13
• +Whole Latte Love: “While the espresso from pressurized baskets is lower in quality, you can use pre-ground coffee or ESE pods” 2:13

Reviewers broadly recommend it as a beginner-friendly Dedica upgrade with a great cool-touch wand and adjustable temperature, but caution about stiff auto foam, no hot water, dripping and value versus cheaper Dedicas or the Bambino Plus. The most enthusiastic endorsement comes from retailer Seattle Coffee Gear.

US price: $500 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$550 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: He finds it a real upgrade over older Dedicas, with better shots and easy auto milk, but says it isn't worth almost three times the old Dedica's price in Europe, and it lacks hot water. In a late-2025 deals guide he leaned toward the cheaper Maestro, though the same day he still named the Plus one of his two top Dedica picks. ▶▶▶▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: He would pay extra over the standard Dedicas for the cool-touch wand, PID and three-hole tip, but doesn't see it as a cheaper Bambino Plus because of its stiff auto foam, lack of hot water and simpler valve/OPV. ▶▶▶
• RecommendsSeattle Coffee Gear(retailer): A small, quick-starting machine that is great for beginners. Note that this channel is a retailer that sells it. ▶▶

Consensus

• Brew temperature is adjustable with three settings (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• The non-burn/cool-touch steam wand is easy to clean (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• The auto-steam temperature probe hits the set temperature consistently (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• Auto-frothed milk tends to be thick or stiff and isn't ideal for latte art (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• There is no hot water function (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• There is no 3-way solenoid, so it drips after the shot or needs a wait before removing the portafilter (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)
• It suits beginners or people who don't want to learn milk texturing (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev, Seattle Coffee Gear)
• Temperature stability is better than older Dedicas but not rock solid (Tom's Coffee Corner, Coffee Kev)

Disagreement

• Auto frothing vs Bambino Plus: Tom's Coffee Corner finds the Maestro Plus's automatic frothing a bit better than the Bambino Plus. Coffee Kev says it is not nearly as good as the Bambino Plus for microfoam.
• Drip tray size: Tom's Coffee Corner says the drip tray is bigger than the Bambino Plus's and fits large cups. Coffee Kev says it is small, takes only about 150 ml despite looking bigger, and fills quickly.
• Value over the standard Dedica: Coffee Kev would pay extra over the standard Dedica and Dedica Arte. Tom's Coffee Corner says that in Europe, at almost three times the old Dedica's price, it is not worth it.

Startup / heat-up

Coffee Kev reports just under 20 seconds in his Bambino comparison (whether timed is not stated). He also estimates it heats slightly faster than standard Dedicas, and cites De'Longhi's 'fast heat up' claim. Tom's Coffee Corner estimates about 30 seconds, but notes the brew group isn't heated, so he suggests preheating or a blank shot. Seattle Coffee Gear estimates full temperature in a minute or two and calls startup quick. Spec/retailer claim (search snippet): reaches optimum brewing temperature in seconds (Advanced Thermoblock Technology).

Finish & fingerprints

Tom's Coffee Corner describes a stainless steel (non-magnetic) casing mixing metal top and sides with plastic, an opaque water tank, and packaging stating about 40% recycled plastics. He also notes a heavy stainless portafilter (other Dedicas use aluminum) with a cheap-feeling plastic handle. No reviewer commented on fingerprints or smudges. Finishes listed by sellers: Metal.

Verified quotes (tap the timestamp)

• +Tom's Coffee Corner: “Although the Maestro Plus does automate to you.” 5:38
• –Tom's Coffee Corner: “You cannot do that on the Maestro Plus, unfortunately.” 5:38
• +Coffee Kev: “The cool touch steam wand is great, the auto milk temperature is consistent.” 3:40
• +Coffee Kev: “The manual steaming is really good, great milk quality potential with the three hole tip.” 3:40
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “it comes with both pressurized and non-pressurized baskets” 0:38
• +Seattle Coffee Gear: “higher temperatures for lighter roasts lower temperatures for darker roasts” 1:18

Coffee Kev sees it as a decent budget pick at about £90 with real flaws, while Hoffmann rejects it for weak espresso; both agree the pressurized basket and unstable temperature hold it back, and milk drinks are its stronger side.

US price: $258 — search snippet (unverified) (source)

Where each reviewer lands

• Doesn't recommendJames Hoffmann: He couldn't get good espresso from it; shots were weak and hollow, though it might be okay for milk drinks. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: For about £90 he thinks it's among the best you can get, but the espresso is muted, the crema looks fake and the temperature swings. He'd prefer pricier machines like the Sage Bambino Plus or Gaggia Classic. ▶▶▶▶

Compact entry (under-$1,000 machines with 2 reviewers): stances only.

Only Hoffmann actually tested it: he found it the best sub-£100 option because of its real basket but too cheap and finicky to love, while Coffee Kev just flagged that basket as interesting for the price.

US price: $190 — search snippet (unverified) (source)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsJames Hoffmann: It was the best of five sub-£100 machines thanks to its proper basket, but he found it cheap, plasticky and finicky and would rather save for something better. ▶
• No verdictCoffee Kev: He only mentions it and hasn't tried it, but finds its standard basket interesting for the price and plans to test it. ▶

Compact entry (under-$1,000 machines with 2 reviewers): stances only.

Both reviewers admire the Aram's beautiful build and see it as a dark-roast machine held back by serious heat loss; Hoffmann still recommends it with caveats, while Hedrick is lukewarm.

US price: $495 — reviewer-quoted (Hoffmann). The maker's shop page showed $1,200 in a search result, possibly a different version or bundle; current price unverified

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsJames Hoffmann: It makes delicious espresso and is beautifully built and portable, but heat loss and preheating are real problems, especially for light roasts. ▶
• MixedLance Hedrick: He calls it a well-built work of art, but it is a huge heat sink that tops out around 86°C and lacks a handled portafilter, so he grades it C. ▶

Compact entry (under-$1,000 machines with 2 reviewers): stances only.

Both reviewers rate it a top budget entry into espresso, provided you add a non-pressurized basket, with Tom adding further upgrade and durability caveats.

US price: $170 — search snippet (unverified) (source)

Where each reviewer lands

• RecommendsLance Hedrick: He calls it an incredible budget machine with a stainless exterior and boiler that is easy to repair, and the best way to start in espresso. He was consistent across both 2025 videos. ▶▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: He gets excellent shots and milk from it once it's upgraded with a non-pressurized basket and the panarello removed. He has kept it as his go-to budget pick from 2022 to 2025, though in late 2025 he said that sale price wasn't a good deal. ▶▶▶

Compact entry (under-$1,000 machines with 2 reviewers): stances only.

Both reviewers agree the CM5418 makes good milk and workable espresso cheaply. Coffee Kev recommends it with caveats, while Tom's Coffee Corner finds it too cheaply built and would steer buyers to the Dedica.

US price: $140 — search snippet (unverified) (source)

Where each reviewer lands

• MixedTom's Coffee Corner: It makes decent espresso and silky milk, but it feels cheap, leaked, overstates its pressure and may not last, so he says buy the Dedica if you can afford it. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: A simple, cheap way to make milk drinks from pre-ground coffee, close to a Dedica Arte, but the brand is young and the espresso is better with a burr grinder and standard baskets (machine was loaned by Casabrews; he uses affiliate links). ▶

Compact entry (under-$1,000 machines with 2 reviewers): stances only.

Both reviewers like the Opera's espresso, steam and premium build, but Tom's Coffee Corner flags the non-removable hopper and time-only dosing, and Seattle Coffee Gear's praise comes from a retailer that sells it.

US price: $800 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$1,200 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: He likes the espresso, quiet operation, stainless build and included tamper, and calls it his favorite La Specialista and a good deal at $700. He dislikes the non-removable hopper and time-only dosing, and in one comparison he felt the Ninja beat it on features and price. ▶▶▶▶
• RecommendsSeattle Coffee Gear(retailer): A retailer that sells the machine; he calls it awesome for espresso newcomers and for people who want hot and cold drinks. ▶

Compact entry (under-$1,000 machines with 2 reviewers): stances only.

Both reviewers recommend the Dedica Duo, mainly for its cold brew option and practical upgrades, but they disagree on steam: Tom finds it weaker than older Dedicas, while retailer Seattle Coffee Gear calls it strong for its class.

US price: $250 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$349 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: He calls it a top pick and a good deal at $200 for its clearance, bigger basket and cold brew, but finds the steam weaker and slow to build. ▶▶
• RecommendsSeattle Coffee Gear(retailer): They give it an honorable mention for strong steam for its size and for making both hot and iced drinks. They are a retailer. ▶

Compact entry (under-$1,000 machines with 2 reviewers): stances only.

Both reviewers recommend the Dedica Maestro as an affordable beginner pick, though only in brief buyer's-guide mentions, and one recommendation comes from a retailer that sells it.

US price: $500 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$550 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• RecommendsTom's Coffee Corner: He would pick the Maestro over the Maestro Plus because its steam wand can still dispense hot water for tea. ▶
• RecommendsSeattle Coffee Gear(retailer): Retailer that sells it; suggests pairing it with a Eureka Mignon Zero grinder as a great beginner setup. ▶

Compact entry (under-$1,000 machines with 2 reviewers): stances only.

Reviewers see it as a simple, well-built, fully manual entry-level machine with strong steaming, and it is best value when bought at its frequent discounted price.

US price: $419 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$399 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• No verdictTom's Coffee Corner: This was a first look with no final call, but his impressions were positive on build, accessories, simple controls and milk steaming. ▶
• RecommendsCoffee Kev: He calls it a simple, fully manual entry-level machine that is hard to go wrong with at its usual discounted price. In one 2021 video he said it wasn't worth it at nearly the Bambino Plus price, but his 2023–2024 videos are clearly positive. ▶▶▶▶▶

Compact entry (under-$1,000 machines with 2 reviewers): stances only.

Both reviewers like its hybrid boiler/thermoblock design, milk quality and build. Coffee Kev strongly recommends it as superb value, while Tom's Coffee Corner (asked by the manufacturer to review it) is mixed, citing noise, average steam speed and price.

US price: $700 — search snippet (unverified) (source)

Where each reviewer lands

• MixedTom's Coffee Corner: He finds it feature-rich, with tasty espresso and silky milk, but it is loud and pricey for a brand with little heritage outside Asia. The manufacturer asked him to review it. ▶
• RecommendsCoffee Kev: He calls it superb value with excellent fast steaming and solid espresso basics. He held off on a verdict in his first look, then recommended it in the full review. In a later Bambino upgrade comparison he flagged the longer heat-up as the main caveat. ▶▶▶▶

Compact entry (under-$1,000 machines with 2 reviewers): stances only.

Both reviewers like the Mini Plus as a smaller, consistent espresso-and-milk machine, but it drops the cold drinks of its bigger siblings, and Coffee Kev found its filter-style and over-ice coffee poor.

US price: $500 — search snippet (unverified) (source)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: He likes the smaller size, finer grind steps, accurate ratios and tasty espresso, but notes it has no cold drinks, a smaller tank and a single spout that can't split shots. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: His first look gave no verdict. Later he found it impressive and very consistent for espresso and thick-foam milk drinks, but its filter-style and over-ice coffee were poor. His guide video recommends it outright as a smaller, cheaper Luxe alternative. ▶▶▶

Compact entry (under-$1,000 machines with 2 reviewers): stances only.

Both reviewers mention it only briefly as the cheaper, cold-feature-free version of the Luxe Cafe and see it as a sensible choice if you don't want cold drinks.

US price: $598 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$459 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: Essentially the ES601 without the cold drink features, so possibly worth the saving if you don't want cold drinks; he only mentions it briefly. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: A stripped-down, fairly cheap model he suggests for people who don't care about cold drinks; he only mentions it briefly. ▶

Compact entry (under-$1,000 machines with 2 reviewers): stances only.

Both reviewers like the Anita as a capable, good-value single-boiler machine with a built-in grinder, though Coffee Kev warns it is slower and rougher-built than Breville-style all-in-ones, and the more enthusiastic Seattle Coffee Gear is a retailer.

US price: $800 — search snippet (unverified) (source)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsCoffee Kev: He finds it a lot of performance for the money, especially in Europe, but says it is slower and less polished than Sage/Breville all-in-ones. His first video only mentioned it as a cheaper Kate alternative, and the later full review gave this verdict. ▶▶
• RecommendsSeattle Coffee Gear(retailer): They were surprised how much they liked it and call it a consistent, beginner-friendly entry-level prosumer all-in-one. They are a retailer that sells what it reviews. ▶

Compact entry (under-$1,000 machines with 2 reviewers): stances only.

Both reviewers see the Owl as a feature-packed, good-value budget machine worth buying with caveats, though they differ on how solid it feels and Lance Hedrick would still lean toward a boiler or ThermoJet machine.

US price: $360 — search snippet (unverified) (source). Canada: CA$500 (search snippet, unverified)

Where each reviewer lands

• Recommends w/ caveatsTom's Coffee Corner: He finds it a nice machine for the money with a heated group, strong steam and good espresso, but it feels flimsy, has no water sensor and doesn't auto-purge. The manufacturer sent him the unit. ▶
• Recommends w/ caveatsLance Hedrick: He rates it a B in a budget tier list (arguably a C) because it is very feature-rich at $399, but its aluminum thermoblock means he wouldn't necessarily pick it over a boiler or ThermoJet. He hasn't reviewed it on his channel. ▶

Compact entry (under-$1,000 machines with 2 reviewers): stances only.