Breville 800ESXL
The Breville 800ESXL is a fun machine to have. It is not just a good looking espresso maker, but is good at what it does. It has quite a number of novel features, which make it quite fun to produce a delicious espresso.
Because the machine is made of cast-iron, it is quite heavy (19kg or 31 lbs). This by itself does not prove it will make a good espresso, but this weight certainly makes it stable and solid. One of the many pros of this stainless steel machine is that it is easy to clean on the outside.
This external quality continues on the inside, where a chrome plated brass filter gives the best control over the water temperature.
Of course where there is sun there is shade. On the minus side is the missing dryer for the espresso sludge. But compared to all the plus points this is not so important, considering the good quality of the espresso produced.
On with the features, the wand is attached to a ball, so it is easy to place in the desired position. This comes in very handy when working with a variation of cup sizes or making hot chocolate or heating water for a whole range of different drinks.
On the whole you can see that a lot of thought has gone into making the Breville 800ESXL. The machine is designed for making drinks at an exact preset temperature. Only high quality parts have been used and this is reflected by the delicious drinks produced.
The thermoblock used in the 800ESXL is said to be not as good as brass boilers used in professional espresso makers. But tests have not shown any difference in quality between the two.
At the base of the espresso machine there is a heated tray, this proves to be quite practical, and is appreciated by baristas. As this prevents the espresso-cups from cooling down, always guaranteeing a good espresso.
The next feature is the removable 50 shot water tank, making if a lot easier to work with the Breville 800ESXL at parties.
Looks and style combined with top quality, it seems you can’t go wrong with this machine.
The pros and Cons of Breville 800ESXL
The pros:
- Heavy-duty die-cast stainless steel casing.
- Die-cast selector dial enables simple switching between espresso, steam, and hot water.
- ThermoBlock heating system that maintains water at an ideal 204 degrees F during extraction.
- Extracts more crema than other machines.
- The ball mounted wand also dispenses hot water on demand for tea and other hot beverages.
- The machine accommodates large cups and travel mugs.
- Removable water tank produces 50 single shots of espresso.
- 72-square-inch solid-steel cup-warming tray.
- Good price for a good espresso machine.
The cons:
- The machine has no dryer for the sludge, making cleaning harder.
These coffee makers are for:
- Someone who does not want compromises but a good machine.
- People that want a good reliable espresso machine.
- An uncomplicated espresso machine that will just do its job and well.
- Someone who demands good quality products for a reasonable price.
Let’s take a look at all of the features:
- Espresso machine with ThermoBlock heating system and 15-bar Triple Prime pump.
- Durable stainless-steel housing; selector dial for espresso, steam, or hot water.
- 4-1/2-inch cup clearance; swivel steam wand with frother; 75-ounce removable water tank.
- Filters, tamping tool, cleaning tool, and stainless-steel frothing pitcher included.
- Measures 12 by 10 by 12-1/2 inches; 1-year warranty.
A short summary
For less than $600, you won’t find a better expresso machine than the Breville 800ESXL.
The machine can be easily operated with one hand, without any complicated settings.
It produces very good cups of espresso with the right amount of crema on top.
The ball mounted wand can be used to froth milk in containers of different sizes, but can also heat water for tea and other beverages.
Cuisinart DCC1200
This Cuisinart DCC1200 12-cup programmable coffee maker comes in black and in stainless steel. It has been the most popular coffee maker for more than 4 years, which says a lot about the machines quality.
The Cuisinart DCC1200 is programmable to start at a certain time, but it also has a switch-off setting that allows you to switch of the warming plate between 0 and 4 hours beforehand.
One of the advantages of this machine is, that it will pause the brewing as soon as the pot is removed. Also you can preset the warming plate.
Another advantage is the option to brew only the amount of cups that you need: The machine comes with a gold permanent filter, although many people prefer to work with the traditional paper filter.
When the machine needs decalcification, then this indicated by a indicator light.
The coffeemaker measures 14-1/4 inches high, 8 inches wide, and 10-3/4 inches deep (including carafe handle) and carries a three-year warranty against defects.
The Pros and Cons of Cuisinart DCC1200
The pros:
- Produces good coffee.
- Practical programming options.
- Easy to handle.
- Comes with a 3-year warranty.
- Auto pause when pot is removed.
- Comes with a permanent gold filter.
- Has a pre-programmable auto turnoff.
The cons:
- The gold filter is not as good as it could be.
- It is advisable to clean the machine regularly and not to wait until the descaling light comes on.
These coffee makers are for:
- Both families and offices with the option of making up to 12 cups of coffee.
- People that want to wake up with the coffee ready brewed.
- If you are like me and forget to turn the machine off, you can use the automatic turn off.
- If you want all these comforts and a good cup of coffee with a small budget.
Cuisinart DCC1200 Features
Let’s take a look at all of the Cuisinart DCC1200 features:
Classic Stainless Design: Brushed stainless steel housing with metal accents complements any style kitchen.
Optimum Flavor: A charcoal water filter helps produce great tasting coffee by removing impurities.
Superior Operation: An indicator light signals when it’s time to clean your coffeemaker. Simply add the vinegar and water solution and your coffeemaker cycles it through to remove calcium buildup.
Custom Heat Control: Adjust the heater plate to one of three settings to control the after brewing temperature of your coffee.
Express Coffee: The Brew Pause feature lets you pour a cup of coffee before brewing has finished.
Consistent Taste: The 1-4 cup setting allows you to brew only a cup or two without altering the flavor of the brew.
Fully Programmable: The user-friendly digital clock offers freshly brewed coffee, day or night.
- It also has a programmable auto shutoff for worry-free use.
- 12-cup carafe with an ergonomic handle, dripless spout and knuckle guard.
- Programmable automatic shutoff, 0-4 hours.
- ‘Brewing Complete’ audible beep.
- Gold tone filter.
- #4 paper coffee filter starter kit.
- Coffee scoop.
A short summary
If you are looking for a great coffee maker, then this is the one for you. It’s a bit more expensive than most other coffee makers, but I think that for the money this coffee maker is the best bang for you buck and you will never regret owning one.
Gaggia 90500 Titanium Super Automatic Espresso Machine
The Gaggia 90500 Titanium Super Automatic Espresso Machine is an automatic machine that features:
- a stainless steel lined brewing boiler.
- an additional steaming boiler.
- a 15 bar pump.
- a 60 ounce water reservoir.
- a built in burr grinder with 18 adjustable grind settings.
- It also has a frothing wand with rapid steam for no wait time.
- an 8.5 ounce bean hopper.
The Pros and Cons of Gaggia Espresso Machine
Pros:
This espresso machine makes customers feel like they have a cafe in their own home. The frothing wand makes it simple to finish up the espresso and the blue LED display is easy to read and helpful in giving alerts.
Consumers like the quick operation, large bean hopper and water reservoir. They also appreciate that this machine is easy to clean.
Cons:
Consumers find that some of the features of this espresso machine are more of a problem then a help. The built in grinder is convenient, but difficult to clean and with a newer machine the grinder becomes clogged easily.
In some machines there is a defect in the fitting for the steam boiler that leads to leaking.
The energy saving features is not automatic and requires you to set it in order for it to work. Also there are some issues with the drain pan because while the display is supposed to monitor and let you know when it is full, it does not always work and this can lead to an overflow.
Conclusion of Gaggia 90500 Titanium Super Automatic
Consumers like that this machine makes espresso making easy, but they feel that some features could use improvement to be more user friendly.
Gaggia does offer good customer service, though, who will help you with any issues regarding operation, so if you desire a well made product that offers multiple brewing options and handy accessories then this may be the espresso machine for you.
Gaggia 16103 Evolution Espresso Machine
The Gaggia 16103 Evolution Espresso Machine has a commercial style filter basket, a self priming pump, indicator lights and a built in warmer. The water reservoir is laterally removable and it has a large sized drip tray.
It also features a turbo frother steam wand and comes with filter baskets, a coffee tamper and coffee scoop.
The Pros and Cons
Pros:
This espresso machine makes buyers feel at ease with the easy to use controls and the many accessories. Users like the commercial grade quality which makes this machine very durable.
The large drip tray helpes prevent over flows and the laterally removable water reservoir makes cleaning easy.
Consumers also like that this machine comes with two filters, one for a single shot and one for a double shot, giving them options.
Another perk for consumers is that this machine comes with a user manual and CD-ROM.
Cons:
Consumers have some concern about the machine in regards to its light weight, which causes a need to hold it down while attaching the portafilter to prevent tipping.
Others express a problem with the temperature of brewed espresso not staying warm despite the built in warming plate.
Conclusion of Gaggia 16103 Evolution
Overall, this espresso machine may work for someone new to brewing espresso. It is also a nice option for people who appreciate easy to use products. For some people, though, the temperature issues and light weight design may prove to be more of a problem then they prefer.