Features:

  • 15-bar pump system uses powerful pressure to extract a dark, rich espresso brew
  • Frothing arm makes creamy froth to top off your cappuccinos and lattes
  • Make 2 single shots at once with dual-shot brewing. Watts: 1250
  • Thermal block heating system provides barista-speed brewing and heating. Cord length: 26 inches
  • Removable, washable drip tray keeps brew space neat and tidy
Great espresso maker and an even better bargain.

I've been addicted to espresso for well over 20 years. Living out in the boonies usually meant making it at home or dropping by a local shop on the way to work. When making at home we used the steam espresso makers for many years. The espresso was OK, but the crema was thready and short lived. My first ECMP50 lasted about two years. I always had to worry about over packing the grounds or getting them too fine and at times would have to start over because the machine was unable to pump the water through the grounds. I always wondered why it couldn't get the water through the grounds as most machines are the 15 bar variety. I bought my current machine 3 years and 1 month ago. This machine works much better (the other was weak in the pressure category) and I can tamp the grounds and not worry about the fineness of the grind. I use a Capresso burr grinder on the large end of the Extra Fine setting. My wife and I each pull a double espresso shot every day. She prefers no-froth latte and I like my cappuccino. When friends are over they usually like a cappuccino. I have an out-of-town friend who spends every week day morning at his local Starbucks with his cronies and says the caps I make are as good or better than theirs and he usually has two. I do very little maintenance on this. Just an occasional cleaning of the drip area of the machine where the grounds come in contact with it. I fill my coffee cup a hair under half with milk and use the frothing tube without the rubber tip. Just keep the surface of the milk half way up the bulb at the end of the tube and you'll end up with a cup of micro-bubble froth to dump your espresso in. You really can't find a better espresso maker for the money, and I'm begging to think for any amount of money.

Great machine! Pays for itself!

I bought this machine shortly before Christmas, so I've been using it for a number of months, now. I love it! I considered much more expensive machines, but didn't want to get locked into being required to buy certain 'pods' or 'k-cups.' I also like mixing my coffees (half-caf, full caf, etc). But most of all, I really enjoy MAKING my own cup of espresso or coffee. I told my husband years ago not to buy me a push-button machine because I truly enjoy the process of creating my own drinks. So, if you want to hit a button and have your espresso pop out, this is not the machine for you. With this machine you turn the water on and off and, therefore, control the size/concentration of your drink. Next, the milk frother is great! You are in full control of the frothing, as well. (I did remove the plastic/rubber sleeve the day I got it.) I do use it with a thermometer and I have a blast attempting latte art (see pics). What I can't do is 'free pour' art and I'm not sure if that's my lack of talent, the density of my espresso, or the density of my frothed milk. There are tons of latte art videos on youtube, so you can certainly study up marvel at the talent out there! Finally, I made a fantastic iced coffee the other day. I used the double-shot cup, and made about 5 or 6 oz, poured it over ice, added half-and-half and it was as good as any drink out there! I buy beans at my fav, local coffee shop and have them grind them to the correct espresso grind. (This helps a little with the business they've lost after I bought my Mr. Coffee!) Last run to the shop, however, I just bought beans and am now grinding my own with a Bullet. There are videos on youtube demonstrating this exact machine, so check it out! I found it very helpful as I was getting started. [...]

Give the jolt and makes a decent shot...

I will give this product the benefit of the doubt early on. It is extremely easy to use, reasonably small, has a decent sized reservoir, so I am not constantly trying to pour water into it like many espresso machines, and it is attractive. It is also extremely easy to clean!! Most is dishwasher safe except the xxx. It makes a good espresso (not great espresso), which is what I bought it to do. I do not drink other coffee drinks often. I wanted one that used the pump and pressure to make the espresso, and this does a fairly good job. It is NOT a $600 espresso machine. LOL. But it makes a decent shot and the shot has that jolt you only get from espresso drinks. One thing I learned right off the bat is that the coffee is very bitter if you use too fine a grind. Apparently, it is explained online that is true for many espresso makers, because they will burn the coffee in the process of making the espresso if the grind is too fine. I grind my own, so it was easy to adjust, but it may not be for some that buy their espresso coffee already ground. If it comes out bitter, that is why. Once I adjusted the grind, it was fine. One way to know if the grind is too fine is that water remains in the coffee grinds so they float. You will notice it when you go to make your next cup. My issues with it are few. 1. It is a very light appliance, which is fine, but when you try to lock the xxx in place, it moves the entire thing, so you really need to grasp it two handed. 2. The grind issue is important. This cannot deal with overly fine grinds and is not adjustable to manage them. 3. It does not automatically stop when a shot has been delivered into the cup. It keeps going until you shut it off. As such it can make a regular cup of coffee, so that is fine, but YOU must wait for it and shut it off. To get a shot, you must use a cup that let's you see when the proper amount of coffee has been dispensed. Would be nice if that was automated so you could select the number of shots to make.

Save a ton of $$; WAY BETTER for the planet than K-Cup Machines

You can make a latte in about 1-2 minutes, maybe another minute if you have to turn it on and wait for it to warm up, and you have to wait a minute to take the coffee out of the basket or it will spray all over. If you buy premium coffee beverages consistently for $5-6 a cup, it pays for itself; less the cost of the coffee and whatever milk you use you'll probably save ~$4 per cup. Not to mention the fact that it's still cheaper and way more environmentally-friendly that K-Cups. If you get that burnt taste from espresso it's probably your choice of coffee (the best thing to do is to get the bulk coffee at the store (whatever kind of coffee you want) and then just grind it "espresso fine" ) or you're letting the coffee sit too long (pretty much 10+ seconds) before either drinking it (it's hot af) or adding whatever is you want to add to it to seize the rapid oxidation process. Relatively easy to clean, I put the drip tray parts, the carafe(you can use a mug if you have one that will fit), and steam cup (that did not come with the appliance itself) in the dishwasher. You can't put the filter baskets in the dishwasher, and if you put the brew basket handle in the dishwasher it will stain, although that wouldn't really hurt the functionality at all. Great appliance, not for rapid production at all but it will give you a nice cup of coffee in the morning without much hassle.

I have several cautions for extending the life of this ...

I have several cautions for extending the life of this machine: 1. I replaced 3 ECMP50 coffee makers until I watched a few YouTube video clips and realilzed what DESCALING involves and thought I'd add a few words to those mentioned below. The scaling takes place in the heat exchange unit internal to the machine. You don't see it. If you don't regularly descale your ECMP50, the metal seals in the heat exchange unit will clog, split and ultimately leak ... the cause for my 3 replacements. To avoid this problem, add descaling to your calendar about once a month. The directions are OK in the manual although I use a regular descaler rather than vinegar. The gunk that comes out tells me it is helping. 2. The only other leak (unless something is seriously defective) arises if you steam milk and forget to empty the overflow tray at the front of the machine. 3. The frothing tip is made of LIGHTWEIGHT ALUMINUM and WILL STRIP after you remove and reinstall it several times. Consider buying a replacement 1-hole tips to have it ready when needed. Clean the tip after frothing. Steam into your container filled with water and then wipe down the tip. If you don't remove it, it will be unlikely it will strip.

Holy Crap this is an AMAZING unit!

I use this 3-4 times a day and probably increased sales exponentially having made so many for friends and family. This unit is rock solid and there is no complaints. The quality and speed to squeeze every ounce out of fresh ground beans is exceptional. I did my homework on this puppy and I suppose those that rated it below 3 starts are fools. Next to paying the mega bucks fro a commercial unit, this is as close as you can get to going to Starbucks as you ever will. Easy to use. My only comment is not to pack the grounds too tight. Just enough to form a smooth surface will do the trick. I packed it pretty hard the first few times and it sounded like my grandfather trying to pee you guys know what I mean.! Best investment I have made on Amazon!

Pleasantly suprised

This little machine really exceeded my expectations. I read many, many reviews for a plethora of machines. I was initially going to buy one that was a couple hundred bucks more, but saw this one, and saw how many stars it has, so I gave it a try ( why not? Amazon has a great return policy). This machine makes a good drink. I prefer lattes and mochas and this machine makes them taste like my local coffee shops. I'm really pleasantly surprised. I got all of the equipment I need (tamper, frothing pitcher, machine, and thermometer) all for under a hundred bucks. Just make sure and read the directions before use and always use filtered water. Quality ingredients are key as well. I've only had this thing a couple of weeks now, so as far as how long it will last- not sure yet. In a couple more weeks this thing will have paid itself off for the money I save not going to coffee stands. I definitely encourage giving this machine a try.

I just replaced it with the exact same make/model and the new one works just as great. I love being able to make my own ...

Friends bought me this espresso maker back in 2003 and the pump just went out in 2016. I believe i got my moneys worth out of this machine. I just replaced it with the exact same make/model and the new one works just as great. I love being able to make my own lattes in the morning without the coffee shop expense. My friends love this machine so much I've now given it as a gift as well, knowing how well it has worked through the years, I encourage everyone to purchase this machine for their daily espresso/lattes without the high cost.

A real surprise for any coffee fanatic!

So, you love lattes and cappuccinos, maybe a shot of espresso in your iced coffee, but you don't really like hitting up Starbucks every time you want them? Well this guy will get you going without breaking the bank, and with a little research on using it, you will surprise yourself in no time. I read up for quite some time before choosing this machine. I am very pleased with it's performance thus far, and have had almost no issues pulling nice strong shots of espresso or frothing milk. I make frappuccinos, lattes, cappuccinos, and iced coffee regularly with this machine. Accessories you may need will be a food grade coffee thermometer, and a stainless steel frothing cup (both not included) Optional are espresso or cappuccino cups. Unit comes with 2 filter baskets, you will only use the large one. Most espresso grinds like Lavazza and Starbucks brew fine and the grind is quite small. (The grind is important for espresso quality) Brew as much or little as you like, hand controlled shot allows you to stop brewing when your ready to increase or decrease strength overall. My tips for using this machine is to go online and watch a review. Don't over pack your coffee puck, think lighter pack. This has caused some people to complain in the past. I have had no issues of a bad shot due to under or over packing so far. Frothing milk, first and foremost, remove the little rubber thing on the steam tube, you can't get a good froth with that thing, plus it's harder to clean. It will go back on but it's hard to get there, so plan on leaving it off. This aids in cleaning the tube with a hot rag after steaming. Remember to remove the little tray and rinse after use, some steam may be released into this pan after use to relieve pressure from the unit. Pro: Heats up fast Takes little room on counter overall, with storage for cups and accessories on top of machine Pulls good shots for average coffee connoisseur and makes a good froth large reservoir holds enough water for several uses Well known brand and available at many retailers 15 bar pump (rare in this price range) Cons: Some cleaning required after use (this is anything right?) Doesn't hold as much coffee as more professional machines so strength may not be acceptable for the pro's Overall impression. This little guy packs a punch, and easily adds a degree of gourmet to your coffee time. Whether hosting a get together, or just enjoying a cup in the morning or afternoon, this little machine is guaranteed to please. It's simple controls and user friendly design will quickly have most anyone making their own coffee drinks at home. Makes a great gift for a coffee fanatic. Don't forget your flavored syrups and sauces to make copies of your favorite coffee shop flavors right at home. Instructions on these drinks are available all over the interwebs :-)

Expresso anyone?

Love this little machine! I've never brewed expresso before and was able to do so easily with the provided instruction booklet. The step by step instructions are very clear and easy to follow. I have only used this machine for 2 days, so I can't comment on the life span or durability of the machine at this time. Butttt as of this very moment, I couldn't be more pleased with this purchase!! A little tip for anyone other novice barista considering purchasing this expresso machine... Make sure you buy expresso beans already ground up or buy a grinder so you can grind the beans yourself. Also, this set does have a froth/steam option but does not come with a frothing pitcher to the steam milk in. So you might want to toss an expresso bean grinder and frothing pitcher in your shopping cart too.

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