DISQUS

Candace · 4 months ago

This machine sounds nice--but I wonder--Have you tried other espresso machines at home? I am from Seattle and consider myself an espresso snob, as well. Last year I purchased a Francis Francis X5 from illy.com after MUCH (years and years) of research-- it was about $250 when you agreed buy coffee each month from them for a year-- otherwise it is about $650. What I like about it, aside from the consistent quality shot and intuitive design, is that the machine it doesn't require pods; I can use freshly ground if I want--which is really important for a truly good cup of Joe. That way I can buy good beans, grind them to the desired coarseness, and make a really grand latte or plain shot.

The Francis Francis X5 gets 18 bars and has consistent 1/4 inche to 1/2 inch creme per shot.

I think getting a machine for home use that depends on pods is really limiting--it puts the customer at the mercy of the company to continue making those pods and keeping them at an affordable price. They will, eventually, either become much more expensive or become obsolete. So I would really, really suggest getting a machine that can also handle grounds, so you can use the machine for much longer, and reduce the cost of your coffee consumption instead of having the cost determined by one single company.
..just my two cents...:)