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by Editors of Choice magazine
Editors at Australia's Choice magazine are the most routine and thorough testers of espresso machines, testing each machine against a standard set of criteria. Nineteen manual and semi-automatic espresso… machines and nine fully automatic machines are tested for espresso taste, ease of use, frothing ability and the time it takes them to heat up. Editors prefer espresso brewed in manual and semi-automatic machines to that brewed in full automatics. The Krups 4050, the Solis Crema and the Rancilio Silvia are the only three machines in the top 10 that are sold in the U.S. Inconsistent temperatures when brewing consecutive cups lower the Silvia's overall score.
by Charles Passy
In this short, five-model roundup, editors try each machine, evaluating espresso quality and ease of use. The Breville Die Cast 800ESXL is top-rated; editor Charles Passy says it's a "solid, smartly… designed machine delivering good quality with little hassle." The Gaggia Classic and Capresso Ultima finish just behind. The Krups XP4050 suffers a broken steam wand -- a complaint we saw echoed in user reviews. The KitchenAid Pro Line KPES100 finishes last; its espresso is thin and the machine is judged bulky.
by Contributors to CoffeeGeek.com
In addition to in-depth editorial reviews, CoffeeGeek.com publishes previews of new-to-market espresso machines, as well as owner ratings and guides to roasting your own beans, frothing milk and using… equipment. The sheer number of reviews can be overwhelming, so it's best to check here once you've narrowed your choice down to a few models. There's a definite bias toward top-tier espresso machines, so this isn't the best place to look for reviews of steam-driven machines. We like the fact that members rate each other's ratings, so you can easily cherry-pick among dozens of reviews. The top-rated machines here (among those garnering more than 30 owner-written reviews) include the Rancilio Silvia, Starbucks Barista, Isomac Tea, QuickMill Anita and Gaggia Classic.
by Editors of Consumer magazine
Editors at New Zealand-based Consumer magazine test six automatic espresso machines in addition to 10 manual and semi-automatic machines tested in 2008. They rate the machines on taste, frothing ability,… coffee temperature and ease of use. They also pull four shots of espresso in succession to measure temperature consistency. Tests show that manual machines make a higher-quality espresso than automatics. The Krups XP4020 (not sold in the U.S.) wins the taste test, but earns below-average scores for frothing. The Sunbeam CafŽ Latte and Sunbeam CafŽ Espresso round out the top three. The fourth-place Krups XP4050 is available in the U.S. Editors also recommend three automatic machines from DeLonghi and Saeco. Only seven of the machines tested are available in the U.S.
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Editors at ConsumerReports.org test seven pump-driven espresso machines ranging in price from $230 to $1,000. Interestingly, a pair of pod-only espresso machines receives high marks. We're not sure why… editors focused on so few machines and left Solis, Gaggia and Rancilio espresso makers out of their review. Editors recommend pod models because they take the guesswork out of brewing espresso, but cost is an important drawback.
by Colin Newell
CoffeeCrew.com, a Canadian site for coffee enthusiasts, publishes tutorials, editorial reviews and reviews of cafŽs. Members of the forum discuss entry-level and high-end espresso machines in depth.… Editorial reviews are numerous and detailed, but this site is more difficult to navigate than CoffeeGeek.com, and some models reviewed are unavailable in the U.S. In this particular article, Colin Newell recommends the Solis Crema SL70 and the Gaggia and Baby for entry-level buyers. Also recommended are the Rancilio Silvia and the Nuova Simonelli Oscar. In another article, Newell claims to use the LaPiccola Sara every morning in his own home.
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
The Good Housekeeping Research Institute tests several inexpensive espresso machines for overall taste, temperature, crema and frothing ability. Electric pump machines are said to produce the most authentic… espresso, but they aren't able to reach the high temperatures that steam and stovetop machines can. The latter, however, don't produce enough pressure to produce a genuine espresso with crema. The DeLonghi EC155 tops the taste test for pump models. The Kalorik Espresso Maker Cafeteria Express EXP25022 and the Bialetti Brikka come closest to making a genuine espresso than any of the other steam and handhold models.
by Alex Abramovich
by Kristen Donnelly
Food & Wine editors test 76 counter appliances and name winners in each of nine categories, including pod espresso machines. A winner, runner-up and two honorable mentions are listed, but machines that… don't make the cut aren't mentioned. The machines that do make the cut only get brief write-ups. The KitchenAid Pro-Line Series tops the list and is cited for making a "perfect caramel crema" and for heating up quickly. Editors choose the Gaggia Classic, which can use either pods or ground coffee, as runner-up. Both the Starbucks Sienna and Ascaso Steel Uno Special Edition are given honorable mention.
by Ray Isle and Lily Barberio
Although editors say that they spent 410 hours testing 67 coffee makers, they don't describe their methodology, and they don't list the machines that didn't make the grade. The machines that do make the cut… only get one-sentence write-ups. The Ala di Vittoria La Valentina is cited for its "professional-quality heat-exchange boiler," and the Breville Die Cast's "sturdy construction and simple controls" are also noted. They call the latter "the best value in quality espresso makers." Editors also like the Nespresso D290, which uses pods.
by Contributors to WholeLatteLove.com
by Chris Lyman
by Editors of 3Luxe.com
Editors at 3Luxe.com don't necessarily test products for their reports, but instead rely on research and existing reviews of the products. Three espresso machines, all of which cost upwards of $900, are… recommended as the "best," and a description is given explaining what makes them so. The Elektra Microcasa Semi Automatica, Pasquini Livia 90 Automatic and FrancisFrancis! X1 Trio all make the list.
by Editors of About.com
About.com lists eight recommended mid-range espresso machines, each of which is given a brief description. None of the machines are rated, however, and it isn't clear if they were tested. No judging… criteria are given either. Recommended machines include Saeco, DeLonghi, Krups, Jura, Gaggia and Nespresso models. About.com recommends budget, high-end and automatic espresso machines in other articles. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
by Editors of SweetMarias.com
by Contributors to Amazon.com
by Contributors to Epinions.com
There are some owner-written espresso maker reviews on Epinions.com, and it's a good place to check once you have your choice narrowed down to a few moderately priced models. If you're in the market for an… expensive automatic machine, look elsewhere. The Breville CafŽ Roma ESP8XL, Breville Die Cast 800ESXL and Rancilio Silvia get great ratings from owners. Most other espresso machines get fewer than six reviews each.
by Editors of SingleServeEspresso.com
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Gaggia 14101 Classic Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
 from Amazon.com New: $499.00 In Stock.
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DeLonghi EC155 Espresso Maker
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
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Kalorik EXP 25022 800W 4-Cup Espresso Maker
from Amazon.com New: $34.98 In Stock.
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