AmazonBasics Espresso Machine and Milk Frother

This machine makes delicious espresso with a good head of crema in just a few seconds, at a fraction of the cost of other good quality espresso machines. My 25-year-old $20 Melitta “espresso maker” (which actually just made stronger drip coffee, not real espresso) finally bit the dust. So I replaced it with this amazon basics machine. The first one they shipped didn’t work. It heated, but the pump didn’t operate. But amazon had a replacement to me before I even made it to UPS to return the first one. The new one works great! If you like straight espresso or lattes, the amazon basics espresso maker will fulfill your cravings. If you want REAL cappuccinos (with thick foam and no liquid milk) instead of the modified lattes they serve in most American cafes, you will need a separate milk foamer. The pros: Fast — 95 seconds to preheat, then 25 seconds to fill my espresso cup Real espresso, not just stronger coffee Nice head of crema Incredibly easy to use Removable water tank holds enough water for several uses. Make either one cup, or two cups at a time The cons: Incomplete, poorly-written, badly organized instruction booklet. Luckily, the machine is easy to figure out without it Milk foamer — like every home espresso machine — makes good enough foam for lattes, but not for cappuccinos. As another reviewer noted, the used grounds are a soggy mess, not the solid mass I was accustomed to. Notes: If you are making 2 cups from the same grounds, do them concurrently, not one after another. Or the second cup will be weaker. I use Peet’s Espresso Forte with espresso grind. Can’t vouch for results with lesser quality coffee. My milk foamer is Chef’s Star (available on amazon for $37). You pour in the milk, push a button and walk away. In a minute, you come back to hot, thick, cappuccino-worthy foam. So much simpler than my old hand blender and microwave method. Another reviewer said that the portafilter would not twist into place. I also had a problem with that once, but since it had worked fine previously, I kept trying. It turned out I had not properly seated the sieve inside the portafilter. Once I fixed that, it was fine. Bottom line — this espresso machine is a good as any pricier machine I have seen. And making it at home is so much faster and easier than getting in the car, driving to the cafe, searching for parking, standing in line, plopping down several dollars (plus tip), and waiting for the barista to make your drink. I am SO glad I bought this machine!