Manufacturer: Mr. Coffee Model #: ECM250 Condition: Brand New In Retail Box List Price: $59.99
This little espresso maker makes it easy to enjoy 1 to 4 cups of delicious espresso or cappuccino. The Variable Steam Control and Frothing Aid steam milk to perfection. Theres even a three way select knob that allows for separate brewing and frothing.
Features:
Makes Gourmet Espresso, Cappuccino, Mocha and Lattes
Makes 1 to 4 Cups.
Control Dial.
Convenient Cord Storage and Removable Drip Tray.
Pressure Safety Valve.
Measuring Scoop and Tool.
Contemporary stylish design.
Powerful Milk Frother
4-Cup Capacity - 2 oz. per shot
Easy to Pour Decanter
Removable Frothing Aid for Easy Cleaning
What Others Say
breaks easily
within the first week i used this, one plastic piece broke off this machine. now, another crucial plastic piece has broken off of the foaming arm - just 3 months later. i also agree with a previous reviewer - i had to run about 10 cycles of water through it to remove metal debris before i even made the initial cup of espresso. also note that the foaming arm is very short...
i do give it two stars, though, because it is so inexpensive that it did pay for itself within a week.
Great but READ THIS:
This thing makes great espresso BUT...wash it out many times before use. It took over ten vigorous rinsings of the pressure vessel to remove all of the METAL flakes and debris. Most everyone would do so of course but...some folks I know do quick rinse and press on...WRONG. Wash it good and then run it a few times with water only (no coffee)as well, then make coffee. Otherwise, no complaints. Works great and the price is right. Has a better switch (a weak point in all these makers) than our last $180 unit that failed after just a few months. Use filtered water in this maker and quit spending $$ every week at the coffee stand!
You CAN get a decent cup of espresso, here's how
Let me begin by stating the obvious--this is a very cheap espresso machine and if you consider yourself an espresso aficionado, you shouldn't even be considering it; you should be looking at entry-level pump machines instead. I got this machine (the previous model really) as a hand-me-down from my brother in law and used it for three years, after he had had it for at least a year, and it's held up well, still works just fine.
A few tips for making a good cup:
--only put one cup of water in the water reservoir right before brewing. Since the machine is steam-powered, if you put more water the pressure gets too high and the coffee comes out too quickly, without much flavor.
--tamp well. The manual will ... Read More
Works Fine...For a Few Months
Bought one of these last Christmas. Used it about 3-4 times per week at work. Fairly decent cup of espresso considering the price of the machine. After about 4 months it quit working properly and would just sit there and get real hot and give off steam but not brew the espresso. I figure I just had a bad machine so I bought an identical one. It worked about 5-6 months and did exactly as the first one. The quality of the capucinno was fine but the machine is cheap and doesn't last. I'm not buying a 3rd. I would've been better off to buy an expensive one to start with.
Great Basic Machine
I, too, bought this at Wal-Mart for a lower price about a year ago. (Hint: Buy coffee and syrup from Starbucks if you want to replicate their recipes...is not more expensive than other brands) I have used this daily since then and it it still working fine. The handle on the metal filter thing is loose now, so I may be buying another just like it.
I only used this for iced lattes up to maybe two weeks ago, but now am using the steamer for steaming/frothing milk. I have had no problem getting the milk foamy. If you're making four shots, fill the water up to the top of the metal band. After the coffee brews, switch over to the frother and there is adequate steam to froth the milk. Lots of foam!
