• The Gaggia Classic is a powerful 1300 watt filter coffee machine with 15 bars of water pump pressure, removable water tank and stainless steel body
• Comes with coffee filters for 1 and 2 cups of ground coffee, and a special filter for ESE (easy serve espresso) pods
• Professional chromed brass filter holder and ring (as used in Gaggia’s commercial machines)–provides a consistent temperature throughout the coffee making and dispensing process
• Steamer rotates for easy access to froth milk in seconds, plus delivers hot water for tea and other hot drinks
• Solenoid valve delivers a widespread shower through the coffee, eliminating ‘hot spots’ which can burn the coffee; precise pressurisation ensures no drips and leaves drier coffee grounds after brewing

THE GOOD

• Produces really hot espresso
• Froths the milk beautifully
• Tank comes out really easily so is easy to clean.
• Incredibly sturdy filter coffee machine.

THE BAD (Hardly!) 

• As you would expect from a as near a professional filter coffee machine as you can get, you will need to put some time and effort into making the perfect americano or espresso.  The following section will help you get the most out of this machine.

MAKING THE PERFECT COFFEE

• Filtered water works well to avoid scaling and affecting the taste – also avoids having to take the reservoir out so often;
• Properly ground coffee is a must. Please, please , please choose the best beans you can if you are grinding your own coffee or the best pre-ground coffee if not;
• Invest in a better tamper – the provided plastic one just does not allow you to compress the pellet enough; Whittards do a nice stainless steel one for about a fiver that also polishes well;
• Get some shot glasses for when you want to make cappucinos or lattes as the is not enough space under the head for big cups;
• Allow it and your cups/shot glasses to warm up as well; seem to get better coffee after about 6-10 mins rather than when the ready-light first come on.

Other points to note

• it looks good and stays clean
• it feels sturdy and well made, particular the heavy filter holder that locks satisfyingly into its holder each time
• Make sure you push the plastic steam attachment all the way on to the steel pipe and it seems to work better. 
  

Verdict 5/5

For more information click here

If you having trouble deciding what type of coffee machine to buy – filter coffee machine, espresso machine or a cappuccino maker – how about buying one of each?

The BCO261 is a combi espresso machine that can prepare excellent espresso, cappuccino or filter coffee.  Not only does it use ground coffee, it also uses Easy Serving Espresso (ESE) pods to deliver an ultimate fresh coffee aroma.

The espresso system is powered by a high-performance, professional level 15 bar pump pressure and features a self-priming system and adjustable steam emission.  It has a stainless steel boiler, a removable water tank with level indicator and a removable drip tray.

The built-in cappuccino system perfectly mixes milk, steam and air to achieve a rich and creamy froth for a great cappuccino.

The filter coffee machine has a 10-cup capacity and a carafe warming plate. There is a flavour selector to choose the desired coffee aroma, an automatic drip-proof device and a removable water reservoir.

THE PROS

• The filter coffee machine is very easy to use and the flavour selector is a great addition that you will normally find on much more expensive machines;
• Great build quality for the price;
• Easy to clean.  The milk frother/steamer attachment comes apart so can be easily cleaned after use.

THE CONS

• Although the build quality is good, it does look ‘plasticky’ when you see it in the flesh;
• Out of the three options the filter and espresso are much better than the cappuccino maker; you may be disappointed if you buy this machine for the cappuccino;
• Please don’t be surprised by the size of this machine.  At 5kg and 23 x 38 x 33 cm it won’t sit inconspicuously on you worktop (in fact it is a similar size to a microwave).

TOP TIPS

• Don’t tamp the coffee too hard in the holder you get a much better coffee if it is not too compact;
• It would be wise to invest in a decent descaler, especially if you live in a hard water area.  De’longhi do their own descaler but this is expensive.

THE VERDICT
Yes there are faults with this machine and you may be surprised at the size of the machine, but it will be difficult to buy three separate machines that produce the quality of this coffee for a comparable price – 4/5

If you would like to take a closer look at this machine – click here

De’Longhi BCO261 Pump Combi Coffee Machine

i want a new coffee machine and there are soo many and most have mixed reviews. basically i enjoy filter coffee, not too keen on espresso as its to strong. i like frothy milk. i only use 2 mugs of coffee a day but i like it rich and nice like what you get in costa or starbucks!

i don’t know which to choose. i have had pod coffee machines before and the pods are soo expensive. i had a coffee duck with a senseo but the coffee was never piping hot. i was recommened a moda mio but thats pods again and the reviews are mixed.

dolce gusto are on special offer and so is the new senseo latte machine.. but again they are both pod.

i have seen the kenwood kmix, which is only 6 cup/3 mug size and i could possibly buy a bodum frothy milk maker. but thats a steam coffee maker and not a pump and i was told steam burns the coffee??

AHHH HELP!

Sounds like you might enjoy a personal coffee maker. Here’s a great site that has good info about the different coffee makers and how to choose the right one. They also have some good prices on lots of coffee makers.

which gives the best taste coffee? the best espresso? which has the highest pressure of water (bar)? and does anyone know a site that has an honest objective review/comparison of both these machines please as I don’t know which one to buy
Andy G: nothing wrong with the occasional mug of coffee, quite partial myself when I need a good caffeine fix……..
hmmm…seems it called nescafe dulce gusto not nestle. Nobody seems to know much about their relative merits though.

This site has reviews and good info. on espresso machines:

http://www.wholelattelove.com/

Tuesday morning currently has a nice Breville machine at a great price:

https://www.tuesdaymorningoffer.com/dsp_productDetail.asp?pid=2266

In this segment of Tech Talk, Dan Cohen goes in search of the ultimate espresso as he tries out the Nespresso Essenza C100 Espresso Machine and the Aeroccino Milk Frother. Makes a great Holiday gift!

rellenado de capsulas nespresso

For more behind the scenes action check us out at www.presspass.tv

Duration : 0:5:2

Technorati Tags: aeroccino, best, C100, cafe, Cappucino, capsulas, christmas, coffee, Cohen, Dan, espresso, Essenza, Frother, gift, hannukah, Latte, machine, maker, Milk, Nespresso, nestle, present, PressPassTV, xmas

I own a Westbend combination espresso/ filter coffee machine which has been used almost daily for the last 3 years. (I know, I’m suprised too considering its hardly high end) Its worked very well but at this point the poor machine is just worn out, and I’m looking to get a new one. I used to be a barista and I enjoy tamping my own espresso shots. My roommates like a good pot of regular coffee in the morning. Thus my ideal combination machine would have a drip coffee function, manual espresso function (not automatic), and a steaming nozzle. Things like automatic shut off are great too. My problem is there doesn’t seem to be a great amount of decent combination machines out there. I’m seeing alot of Deloughi and Krups combination models and they’re all getting HORRIBLE user reviews (breaking after a few months, leaking water, etc). While I can’t spend $1000 on a professional model, I’d like the model I buy to not break on me after 2-3 months. And due to lack of electrical outlets and counter space, Its not an option to buy a separate espresso machine and separate coffee maker. Please no recommendations for stovetop espresso machines; they’re adorable but I don’t have that kind of time in the mornings. Thanks!
You could go with this dual machine from DeLonghi: http://www.espressozone.com/delonghi-caffe-nero-coffeeespresso-maker-bco264b-BCO264B.aspx It should fit what you’re looking to do. Of course you could go to a higher end espresso machine like the Rancilio Silvia, but that would need a finer grind than the Delonghi & you’d have to make an Americano in place of the regular coffee. http://www.espressozone.com/rancilio-silvia-espresso-machine-v3-8836.aspx I love my Rancilio, and I’ve been using it regularly for almost 3 years.

I just purchased a Delonghi EC155 and most of the reviews say it is a great entry level espresso machine. I just started playing around with it and experimenting to pull a good shot of espresso. I am no coffee/espresso expert so I don’t know what a perfect espresso should be like. I know that I enjoy them when I get them from a coffee shop but I don’t get it often enough to know what a perfect shot should be like. I am grinding my own beans (fine grind) and tamping with a decent amount of pressure. My crema turns out with a bit of fine ground beans in it. Is this normal or is this considered a bad shot? Perhaps my grind is a bit too fine? My shots are coming out a bit light so I am tamping harder and trying to keep the grind fine to increase the brew time.

Anyone have specific tips on using this particular machine as well?

That’s normal, so don’t worry about that and you aren’t a coffee/espresso expert but you could make own coffee latte that I expressed admiration for you because my girlfriend had worked in Starbucks she always teach me how to make coffee latte step by step maybe I don’t interested in that so I just listen didn’t been recorded in my brain.

1.Tamp down with enough pressure to make the surface of the ground beans smooth.

2.Place the filter into the machine.

3.Place an espresso shot glass or cup underneath the filter to catch the espresso.

4.Begin to steam the milk to a temperature that is no less than 140F (60C) and as hot as you find pleasurable.

5.Then, turn the machine on to brew the espresso. The flavor is spoiled when the shots have to sit for more than thirty seconds.

Those informations copy from my girlfriend’s blog.

Hi! I am interested in learning more about the Bennotti Espresso Club. You receive a free espresso machine but must order their espresso. You may cancel at anytime, BUT they have special espresso packets that are required to use the machine. I reviewed the website but saw no price for membership. I am wondering if anyone has joined the club or know of someone who has tried it…additionally I am also trying to find out if any other company makes the same type of espresso packets that this machine requires. This program is similar to the Gevalia program, but with the gevalia coffee pot you can use any brand coffee. My feelings are that free machine is a VERY nice gift but a moot point if you try their espresso and do not like it or if its too expensive and you can not fnd another supplier of the espresso packets. Thanks in advance for your help, advice and imput!
yep, I with the Gevalia thingy but I have not heard of the Bennotti Coffee club. I’m more into Tea and use the machine to heat water for tea. Weird, huh?

Looking to get a filter coffee machine, bored of instant. I have heard mixed reviews of the “pod” type? Thoughts please.

I’ve had coffee from all the pod machines on the market. Krups Dolce Gusto, Tassimo , and Senseo. They all do filter as well as latte, chocolate etc. Senseo is just filter so thereby cheaper, and tassimo does tea that the others don’t. I’m not just biased cos I’ve got the krups one, but it is far superior especially on the ‘additions’ the water is also hotter, The tassimo is always tepid. Hot choc from Tassimo is watery and bitter, the krups one is creamy and frothy. The pods are pricey – you couldn’t really replace every cup you have it would be exorbitant. If you are planning on buying wait for a bit – they were all on offer over xmas for around £70 they are now back up to £130. They will do a reduction again no doubt…they are good and a nice thing to have but they arent worth £130…

I was going to get a Gaggia Cubik, but have seen some reviews and a lot of them say that it tends to break down a lot. I know they are sold on the net and on ebay. My question is about what model under £200 people would recommend from personal experience, which produces a nice crema, and doesn’t break down after a couple of months. Please don’t just post lists of machines – I can find these myself! Thanks
Dear Check it on Ebay search the key word coffee maker.