Capresso 121.01 Ultima Semi-Automatic Coffee and Espresso/Cappuccino Machine
If the technical aspects of a cappuccino before the crack of dawn have you actually contemplating drip coffee again, check out this machine. You'll have to re-learn how to make a cappuccino, but once you get the hang of it, you can break speed records. For double caps, two scoops of pre-ground espresso go in the coffee spout. Turn the bizarre looking top a quarter turn, push down the lever and turn the pump on. You'll instantly get a perfect espresso with more crema than I was able to get with any kind of consistently from our many previous machines. And it takes less than a minute for the water to heat in the unit for making coffee or arming the frother with steam in this sturdy machine. The best part comes in the clean-up. When you're ready to make the next cup, turn the lever on top a 3/4 turn and it will simultaneously dump your old grounds in a hidden bin and stage itself automatically for the next cup. That's zero coffee grounds on the sink and the ability to crank out a cappuccino every two minutes.
The reviews for this item are already pretty helpful. Please read them (both the editorial review and reviews from other users). I just want to assure you that this machine is easy to use, produce wonderful coffee and easy to take care. Just a warning, it's so easy to use and the coffee is so good that sometimes you might drink more than your daily portion. As the other user said,"If you are rich, go for the thousand dollar fully automatic machine". If you just love esspresso and excellent crema coffee drinks, buy this. I can't be any happier with mine.
Well we have had our Capresso 121.01 for one week now and it is absolutely the easiest espresso machine we have ever used. We entertain often and were in need of a machine that could crank out caps for our guests quickly. That is most definately what we got in the Capresso 121.01! No mess or clean up, no dripping, accomodates any size cup. The frother makes your milk so creamy you might think it is whip cream! There is no part of this machine that could be improved upon in our opinion. We had a Briel Portofino which we thought was nice, now we know how awful it was compared to this beauty! We have used a Krupps, and the Starbucks best seller. None come close to this machine. It actually makes a cappuccino with froth in under a minute, then on to the next batch in less than 30 seconds.
I bought this machine after looking around for the perfect one for quite some time. This Espressomaker is unique because of a clever semiautomatic mechanism that doesn't require the usual, messy tampering and cleaning innate to traditional machines. This device comes at a fraction of the cost of the fully automated ones, but is almost as easy to use. The only little flaw I noted is that the frother will spill a relatively large amount of water (5cc or so) during the first couple of seconds before the full steam gets going. Usually no big deal, but if you froth a small amount of milk, you may want to "catch" these first cc's first. Otherwise, this machine is perfect. The pump is very strong 18bar, I think) and the crema is excellent. Baseline: If you want a traditional machine, go for a Gaggia or something similar; if you are a (lazy) millionaire, consider one of the fully automated machines ($1000-2000). Otherwise, there is currently no alternative to the "Ultima".
After reading the reviews, I thought that this was the machine for me. It is actually pretty inventive and mess free. However, if you intend to use it to brew a morning cup of coffee, don't expect a hot cup--tepid defines the temperature. Every cup requires a turn in the microwave to make it drinkable.
Makes great coffee and is easy to clean between cups, but hard to clean thoroughly. Over time, it started to smell and needed thourough cleaning. When it works, it makes very good coffee... I think they should have used a higher quality plastic...Biggest gripe is that it is a pain to clean thouroughly. I replaced this unreliable item with a Gaggia, no comparrison between the two coffee makers, the Gaggia is great compaired to the Capresso, though the Gaggia is not automatic the cleanup time more than makes up the difference.
I had the machine for about five months and am very pleased with it. I found the instructions for use poor, which resulted in a bit of wasted coffee, but once I figured out the type of grind (not too fine)and the amount (not too much) the machine likes, I get very good coffee consistently.
I cannot review the reliability, only had it a week. But I LOVE the machine. Makes great espresso, easy to use, clean up is a snap, makes a good cup of 'creme coffee', froths good.
I was concerned that it would be complicated to use but it simple to operate. It also works pretty fast.
The only down side is that I cannot grind my beans to fine of really slows down the brewing and puts a lot of water into the overflow/used grounds area.
After taking all the reviews into account and my own previous experiece with expresso/capucinno makers of various designs I decided on the Ultima. The main reason is that it would be less of a mess for multiple cups.
The expresso was excellent even with my mediocre Braun burr grinder. It produced a good crema and flavour.
I am also impressed with how easy it was to clean.
The hot water dispenser worked fine but NOT the frother.
The frother refused to work. I did several cycles of clean out/start up procedures and still no froth. At this point I am returning the machine since I could not get anyone on the service line.
I was looking for a machine that produces strong espresso. This produces crema coffee that is sometimes cold. The thermocoil system heats up very quickly. Sometimes my frother doesn't work. I am still testing which grinds of espresso work the best. I don't have a lot of experience with espresso machines. Overall, I am pleased with the espresso machine.
Having recently moved to new office space we were confronted with a lack of kitchen facilities. We decided to buy this machine as it removes the problem of what to do with the grinds. With a simple counter-clockwise motion of the top handle you dispose of the residue to an internal container which you can clean at the end of the day or when it becomes full, indicated by a red LED.
The machine makes a quick and tasty Espresso. The nozzles allow for splitting into two cups, there is a foam outlet for Cappuccino lovers and 1,5 l water tank will save your time on trips to the water cooler. The machine comes with detailed and easy to absorb instructions.
Very easy to clean and not very loud for small offices where that may become an issue. If you use the Styrofoam from the box as a platform (recycle!) it will make even less noise.
Recommended.
In fact, we have experienced only two problems with the Capresso since we bought it: a torn o-ring and clogging. The o-ring tore because I did not clean the rotation mechanism for several months. The accumulated grounds eventually tore into the o-ring, breaking the pressure seal. However, when I called the Capresso help line to discuss our broken o-ring, the help desk agent immediately sent us two replacements in the mail with no questions asked. Total down time for the machine was a mere two days. The clogging was fixed with a complete cleaning, and if truth be told, it did say in the instruction booklet not to use very finely ground coffee.
Our last espresso machine, besides breaking after two years, was so difficult to use and clean we only made espresso on special occasions. The Capresso is convenient enough that we use it all the time. In fact, we have used our Mr. Coffee only twice (note the broken o-ring comment above) since we bought the Capresso.
After a year of use, I can still strongly recommend this product.
I am an engineer, and fairly demanding when it comes to product design. I could not be happier with this product for the money. It's fast: you turn it on and by the time you have scooped the coffee in, it's heated up and ready to go. It is amazingly easy to use: you turn a lever and scoop coffee in, turn the lever again and turn it on. It's about as simple to use as a Mr. Coffee machine once you use it once or twice, but it looks complicated at first and my somewhat lazy coworkers still go to the coffee shop rather than plan ahead and buy coffee and milk. It usually froths milk wonderfully. The coffee, cappucino, and espressos I've made taste as good as anything I've gotten from a coffee shop. As others have said, grind the coffee halfway between an espresso grind and a drip cofee grind and you'll be fine.
If you are buying this for an office like I did, it is noisier than a Mr. Cofee machine, it's probably on par with the noise from a dishwasher: it's fine for a lunchroom or a file room where a door can be closed, but I wouldn't recommend it in an open area in which people work. For home use, it should be OK.
Where this product really shines is the cleanup. It really takes very little time to keep this unit clean, which was my biggest fear when buying one. I wipe the frother (the spout where the steam comes out) with a sponge after each use (takes all of 5 seconds). After 5-6 uses, a light comes on telling you to pour out the used coffee grinds, which takes all of 10 seconds. After about 10 uses, I remove the top, rinse it in the sink, wipe down the exposed inside, and then rerinse the removed top. During this time, I soak the frother and then reinstall everything back into place. It sounds complicated, but it isn't, and it takes about a minute or two per week. You'll save more than that even if you work next door to a coffee shop.
This is my first cappucino machine, and I've had it for over a year and use it twice each workday. I'm really happy with it and would recommend it to anyone interested in a cappuccino machine at this price point. It's a consumer product, not a $700 industrial-grade machine you can expect to smash around, but it's priced accordingly and the ease of use and quality of coffees it produces makes it a real value. It allows me to use water-process decaffinated coffee that no coffee shop will use because it doesn't taste as good as standard decaf, but doesn't have the chemicals that I don't want. And, it's much faster than going to the coffee shop, which in my case, is only 3 doors from my office building. And when it is raining out, who wants to walk even 3 doors away to a coffee shop?
I had some complaints, but they really had more to do with my inexperience. Now that I have had the thing for a year I upped my rating to 5 stars from 4. 2 double-size cappuccinos per day x 200 work days x $3 = $1200. The $300 it costs, plus $150 in coffee I've spent (Peets most expensive blend) + $50 in milk means I've saved $700 in the first year, and a whole lot of time. After a year of use, it still works perfectly, but if it broke tomorrow, I'd buy another one.
I love this machine! I've been through quite a few espresso/capuccino makers, and they always ended up in the garage or sent to the Goodwill. But I use my Capresso every day and it is easy, fast, dependable, compact. Bravo!
It took two orders of over a month wait each to get this (I gave up the first time) but this is just what I needed and wanted. It makes great espresso and coffee. They call it "crema coffee" or something and it's the espresso with an extra 6-10 oz of water run through it. Whatever you call it, it tastes like a very good cup of coffee. I use just one of their scoops to make a coffee. The machine takes up to two and they are needed if you are making espresso.
I didn't have any of the operational problems the other reviews mention. The result is hot enough for me but it's not burning hot if that's what you like. I'm having some problem remembering to move the lever to the "loaded" position before I turn on the pump. But after a few seconds of nothing happening I realize my stupid mistake and then everything is OK. I would be nice if it where a little more computerized to tell me this by beeping or something and not letting me make obvious mistakes. I suppose that will be in the improved version now that I've spent my money on this one...
What else? It is a little on the light side and plastic feeling when you use it. It doesn't give a cheap feeling when looking at it but it doesn't say "I cost [money] either." If you want to just impress people then one of the hard to use standard operating espresso machines would be a better choice. If you want to actually make espresso or coffee in less than 1 minute total time before work or any other time then this is the machine to get. The only machine that does more for you is a Capresso also and it costs [money] more.
As of now I've had the machine for about 2 months and it's still working like new. The bottom fills up with coffee/water over time but this is by design and is just part of cleaning the machine. I clean it about once a week after using it 7-10 times. I think you wouldn't want to wait more than a week between cleanings.
On the plus side, it's easy to reach Capresso technical support. We're sending it to the manufacturer for repairs, and they're paying for both repairs and round-trip shipping.
We looked forward to this machine after reading so many glowing reviews. However, it has not lived up to our expectations. There are so many things that have to be JUST right in order to get a good cup of espresso--the right grind of coffee, the right placement of the tamping lever, the water temperature, etc. Only about every fourth try results in good espresso. If you don't put the tamping lever just right, NO coffee comes out at all. That means a lot of wasted coffee!! The instruction booklet is useless to help with any problems. If we hadn't thrown away the box, we would have returned it immediately!!
Lots of reviews on how the Ultima performed in the first few rounds, so I though I would add my 2 cents on "longer term" performance.
This machine is dangerous. Dangerously addictive, that is. If you love espresso based drinks, you WILL feel like making a cup after every meal to accompany your dessert. And then the morning pre-breakfast cup and the afternoon one with an almond-hazelnut double-chocolate biscotti. Control, control...
It is super easy to make a drink, and not tamping and cleaning after each cup is a god-send. You have to try a non-automatic and know what a chore those tasks are to appreciate the simple advantages and joys of this semi-auto baby.
And the taste - ah, beautiful. For all of you living around a Trader Joe's store, I highly recommend the Roma Coffee Beans - less than 20 cents a cup gets you a coffee that rivals some of the best in Roma.
Hope it keeps running for along time, but it has served me and my guests well for over 8 months.
Cheers!
Edit after 3 years of use: Still runs like new and tastes as great. Unbelievable. Would have pride of place in my kitchen if only the body was made of metal instead of plastic....
I've had this espresso machine for about a month now, and I've used it daily to make 2 cups of crema coffee or two shots of espresso for lattes. So far, I'm loving it. I use it with Illy Scuro pre-ground espresso which seems to be the perfect grind for this machine, and I fill the water tank with filtered water from my Brita pitcher. The espresso has great flavor, the crema is rich and golden, and the easy cleanup means I have no excuse to buy coffee rather than making my own. Once a week, usually on the weekend, I empty the used grounds bin and clean all the removable parts, but between times there is basically no maintenance. Additionally, I live alone, and so the ability to make a single cup of coffee at a time is a big plus--it's what deterred me from daily use of my regular drip coffeepot, not to mention the cleanup factor. The machine is a little pricey, but when I consider how over the past month I have not been into Starbucks once, I've already made up a substantial percentage of the price. Overall, I am extremely happy with this purchase.
EDIT: I've now had the machine for over two years and it's still going strong thanks to once a week cleaning and using filtered water from my Brita pitcher in the water tank. Great machine...highly recommended.
My wife and I are extremely pleased with this machine from Capresso. It makes excellent espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes, boils water for tea faster than any microwave, and is generally a breeze to operate and maintain. The speed of the unit is quite amazing; I can froth milk and prepare a large cappucino in less time than it takes to make my toast in the morning. And if you just want a really great cup of "American-style" coffe, this machine will do that too -- topped off with a substantial layer of "crema" and no bitter-tasting oils. Warning: After using this machine for a few weeks, you'll never be able to drink drip or percolated coffee again.
The overall design and construction of the unit is first-rate for a consumer product. If Hewlett-Packard decided to start making cappucino machines in addition to their printers, I imagine they would be of similar quality and design to Capresso's. I have two minor quibbles with the steamer/frother tube -- it's a bit short for frothing in a deep container but this also means the overall height of the machine is less, and I'm okay with that trade off, since the machine fits comfortably under most overhead kitchen cabinets. The insulating grip on the tube is quite small, however, and since it must be slid up and down to change from frothing to steaming, it's easy to 'sting' a finger or two -- though I've yet to actually burn myself.
As other reviewers have noted, I also wish there was an interlock on the pump switch to disable it if the tamping lever is not depressed. It's very easy to forget this step for the first week or two of ownership, especially in the morning... This is no longer a problem for my wife or I, but it does mean that guests need supervision if they want to try the machine (and they will) -- otherwise they'll blissfully stand there with an expectant look on their face as they pump water into the grounds discard bin (which unfortunately looks like it has a smaller capacity than the water supply tank -- I hope never to find out for sure).
The water tank is extremely well-designed; remove the cover, grab the handle, lift the tank out, refill, and replace. I've yet to spill a drop of water. Daily cleanup involves removing the upper carousel and hand cleaning/rinsing in the sink (forget to do this for a day or two and you'll notice a deterioration in the quality of the coffee). The bottom front of the unit slides forward to expose the grounds bin and the overflow sump -- these need emptying every few days, depending on usage (a red-light comes on when the bin needs emptying).
I've used Customer Service to order some of Capresso's coffee and an extra frother tube and was quite satisifed with the service -- everything shipped within 48 hours. The coffee was very smooth, but a bit pricey.
I bought this machine in Europe almost 2 years ago for work and every morning we all use this machine to make our morning espresso. Because we share the cost, we are still counting how many cups are made, and we are now well over 5,000 espressos. And still no problem at all with this heavily used machine !
On the downside, the coffee is not really hot. Some people prefer to put it in the microwave for a minute.
After only one month the machine gets clogged and overflows.
They blame it on the coffee grind (too fine)and of course us not being able to lock it down properly etc.
Fact is that for $300.00 it works little better than my old $29.99 machine. It does have more features but they only cause more problems. I have wasted more coffee trying to get this thing to work right that I could have bought another machine.
Have Fun !
Let me just first say..... my family and I all LOVE this machine!! At first we were a little nervous about if getting an espresso machine would be the best idea, whether it would REALLY make good quality espresso...but after a good deal of research, we finally chose to get this Capresso machine. And let me tell you how glad we are that we DID choose this one!! I'm pretty sure we use this machine every single day, if not more than once a day. It's so much cheaper, easier, and more convenient to have this machine that does in fact make wondderrfulll espressos, cappuccinos, lattes.. etc. Please.. consider getting this machine! It's absolutely wonderful!
A great investment - this machine just goes on and on. I use this machine to make my morning lattes - two shots of expresso in about a cup of skim milk (microwaved - never cared for the foam) and I am ready to hit the road. Definitely has saved me a lot of $$$$'s over the years - to Starbuck's loss.
After agonizing over many reviews of many espresso makers, I nervously settled on this one. I am delighted with my choice. The operation of the machine is about as simple as possible, and this includes coffee preparation and cleanup. The process is very quick, and the grounds disposal feature is ingenious. Mine came with a video, which, although I am embarrassed to admit that I watched it, was invaluable. The manual is clear, but seeing the operation makes it so much clearer. For years I struggled with a small Krups machine, which was OK, but a pain in the neck to clean and not terribly consistent. Admittedly, this one cost more money, but it's semi-automatic character makes it well worth the price differential. If you want a machine that is efficient, well-designed and un-intimidating, get this one!! The coffee is delicious!
This machine makes *great* espresso and crema and is very easy to operate (after taking 5-10 minutes to review the directions). It is wonderful when making several cups at a time as the used grounds are automatically dumped into a hidden reservoir which reduces time and clean-up between brews.
I have only noticed problems with coffee temperature if I use the steamer first, then switch to coffee mode. Otherwise, coffee temps are perfect. I have not found a grind that is too fine for this machine, and it seems the finer the grind, the better the flavor.
My only real beef is that condensation collects in the coffee chute, so some of the grounds get stuck on the way to the brew chamber.
I've used this since getting it in December. Before that I only used a perculator. This is a fabulous item and it makes amazing coffee and caps.
I've been using the Ultima for 18 months, and it's always a pleasure. Its ingenious design makes it very quick to use, and it requires only a tiny fraction of the clean-up time of other machines. I've tried several other espresso machine brands (including more expensive models) and none comes close to the fun and pleasure of owning this machine.
It heats the water almost instantly (some machines take 30 minutes). Foaming milk, soy, Rice Dream, etc., is ultra easy. By varying the type of coffee, it's grind, the amount of water that you use, and so on, you can easily make coffee to any taste.
Clean-up is incredibly simple. A red light comes on about once or twice a week to tell you to empty old coffee grounds. About once a month it's good to remove the top of the machine (just press one button and lift), and then rinse it in running warm water. (My wife and I use the finest-ground espresso coffee. Contra to a report by another reviewer... the machine has never clogged, nor overflowed.)
Because of its ingenious design you will need to read the instructions (actually, it also has a very good video tape that comes with it). This machine is therefore not for the "I don't read instructions" type of person. However, it you don't mind learning a new way to make coffee, then you're in for a very pleasant surprise.
I bought this machine for my husband for Christmas and he absolutely loves it! He's a coffee freak and for him to say he loves something is a HUGE deal! It's easy to use, maintain and it makes great coffee, espresso, etc (according to him - I don't drink the stuff, I just make it). We recommend buying this as a gift for the coffee junkie in your life!
This machine should get an award for its innovative design and styling. The manual and other reviews describe how it works. I'd just like to say that while it seems complicated, the device is actually really easy to use. It's one of those things where if someone demonstrated it, you'd "get it" in 5 seconds. In actual use it takes about 1 minute to load it up and make your espresso, assuming it's been turned on and warmed up. I think the manual is unusually good at explaining everything you need to know.
The Ultima makes better tasting espresso than other brands of machines I've used. I think Capresso is seriously focused on coffee and their products are optimized for best results. For example, they concentrate on making sure the water is hot enough and you'll notice that their pressure pump is 18 bar versus 15 bar for most other brands of home espresso machines. It really makes a difference that you can taste, and it's why home espresso frequently doesn't seem to be as good as the one you get at the specialty espresso cafes that use professional machines.
Some reviews talk about difficulty getting the grind right, espresso being weak, etc. I think this is an issue with all manual espresso machines. You need to tweak the fineness of the grind for the kind of beans you usually use. Also, as with all espresso machines, there is a certain amount of mess that's inevitable. The Ultima allows you to defer the mess cleanup until the weekend while allowing you to brew-and-go during the weekday mornings. This is the benefit over single-use machines where you need to clean it up between each cup.
The real benefit of the Ultima over expensive automatic machines or those that use pods is that you have control over your espresso. In particular, I like to vary my cups from 100% caff, to a mix of caff and de-caff, to 100% decaff, depending on the time of day and how much zip I need. You can make each cup different depending on the mix of the ground coffee you put into the spout. This helps when some of your guests want caffeinated and some want decaff. You can do singles or doubles or in between, and vary the strength by varying the fineness of how you grind the beans in your grinder, or how long you allow the brew to take. By letting the brew go longer, you can fill a coffee cup with a coffee-strength brew that's the best cup of coffee you'll ever taste. Several times when a guest asked for coffee (as opposed to an espresso drink) I made it using the Ultima and when the unsuspecting guest took a sip, there followed a pause, a surprised look and the comment "this is REALLY good."
On the downside, the Ultima has a lot of moving parts (many made of plastic), gaskets and channels for the coffee or the brew to go through, so its durability may be suspect. Mine died after about 2 years of constant use, however, with the combination of its convenience, flexibility and price, I might buy another one anyway.
This thing is addictive; it should probably be banned. I just bought it today and I'm already on at least my 5th cup of cappuccino.
This machine takes all the hassle out of making espresso, for a relatively modest price. Turn it on, and it heats up in no time. Lift the handle, spin the top to the "fill" position, dump in some grounds, bring the handle to the front, lower it, let go, and turn the pump on. That's it. There's no filter to constantly fill and empty; the used grounds are automatically dumped into a large removable bin for later disposal.
The coffee has great crema. The frothing/steaming wand seems to work well and makes plenty of foam (yes, it does spit out a small amount of water at the start, so if you're a fanatic you may want to clear it, but short of a heating element *inside* the little frothing tube that seems unavoidable). The big water reservoir lifts right off and doesn't drip. The adjustable nozzle height will accommodate anything from a little espresso cup to a big mug of cappuccino.
Overall, this is a very well thought-out machine and I'm extremely pleased with it. The fact that it's even more convenient than my drip coffee maker (no filter to replace or clean, no measuring of water) means this will be seeing a *lot* of use. The fact that mine was significantly discounted because it was a store display just sweetened the deal.
I own a Capresso coffee maker and it has functioned perfectly for years. Our new Capresso Ultima Espresso Machine appears to be just as good. Here are a few suggestions: 1) Use a good grade of espresso coffee. I am not an afficianado of espresso but I can tell a difference between coffee grinds. We have enjoyed the Lily Espresso very much. 2) Clean the machine frequently. The more you use it, the more you will need to clean it. We clean it every day or two. It is fairly easy but the longer between cleanings, the nastier the job. 3) Do not expect the coffee to be very hot. Many reviewers have commented on the tepid temperature of the espresso. We don't like it any hotter. 4) Use the steamer, frother functions if only to become familiar with them. Once you begin to use steamed and frothed milk in your coffee, you will never go back to the old, cold variety. 5) When you push down on the lever to compress the coffee, press firmly to pack the coffee down. If it is not packed down enough, the water merely cascades around the plunger and you may think the machine is obstructed. This is a good machine and relatively easy to use. I remember making espresso years ago and it was more trouble than it was worth. This is a pleasure to use and you can make a good cup of espresso in a minute.
Thanks.
Capresso has found a way to make it simple to make consistently great Cappuccino.
Easy to use, simple clean-up, outstanding coffee. It would be difficult to find a better
Espresso/Cappuccino machine at twice the price. Buy this machine, and enjoy.....
I love this machine. Easy to use (no messy cleanups). Excellent taste. Powerful milk frothing. Doesn't take much room on the kitchen counter yet has a large water reservoir.
Thanks for reading. I hope this review helps.
If you're an espresso fan, whether latte, capuccino, or straight up you know the potential frustrations involved. If you're making it at home, there's the measuring, the tamping, the timing and the cleaning. If you're avoiding all of this and stopping by a coffee joint on your way to work there's the parking, the waiting in line, the inconsistent barrista, and the high prices. BUT NOT ANYMORE!!!
This machine seriously will make your day run more smoothly, because it takes all of the thought and all of the frustration out of a great espresso drink. It's a bit strange to use until you get the hang of it, because it doesn't function like a standard espresso machine. But it makes SO much sense once you figure it out. The water chamber is huge, and so is the storage chamber for your used grounds-- yes, I said storage chamber, and yes it only needs to be emptied approx once a week. Also this machine automatically tamps the grounds for you AND it comes apart for easy cleaning and is even dishwasher safe. Oh and if you're an Americano drinker? Fear not-- just let more water run through and presto, the most amazing cup of coffee you've ever tasted, granted one cup at a time, but soooo worth it.
Also if you drink lattes, especially if you like them sans foam, put a glass of milk in the microwave for a couple minutes rather than using the steamer for an easier, and cleaner solution. If you put it in before you start grinding and brewing the timing is perfect!
I previously owned a Krups machine and never used it. I found it too annoying and not worth the effort and I still needed the additional coffee maker. This machine can completely replace your regular coffee maker and you can have a fresh cup of coffee, a latte, an espresso, a cappucino or cafe con leche quickly at any time of the day. My husband found the video that came with it helpful too. We love it!
This is the 2nd Cappresso espresso/coffee maker I have owned and I love it. The first was a combination unit with a manual espresso/cappucino maker on the left side, and a standard coffee maker on the right. It still works after 10 years, but I saw the Ultima and loved the idea of it being semi-automatic.
The Ultima makes great espresso, with a rich and thick crema. The European style "coffee crema" it makes has become our favorite though. It is rich and flavorfull, and is quick and easy to make. In only about 3 minutes you can fill a thermal mug with 12 ounces of great tasting coffee to take with you as you head out the door to work.
When I am not in a rush, using the milk steaming/frothing feature works flawlessly. It does intentionally time out, but I have found that the milk is fully steamed by that point.
Also, Capresso's support is superb. I obviously have not needed it for the Ultima, but I did need a replacement o-rings and springs for the mechanism that stops the cofffee when you want to pour some in your cup before the brewing is complete. I just called Capresso, and each time the sent me the parts quickly, no questions asked.
I highly recommend Capresso products, and the Ultima is a great machine at a reasonable price for the convenience and capability it offers.
This machine will make a decent latte, but you must steam the milk through two full cycles to get it hot enough. The heating element will over heat and shut the pump and machine down if you try to make more than two at a time.
This item works well. Just make sure you follow the procedures in using it. There a few simple steps to making a cup of coffee, if you miss one, it won't work.
Also, I agree the coffee isn't piping hot. It's hot but not super hot. A colleague of mine (item purchased for office) commented on this and she knew nothing about the unit and had not read any reviews.
Also, the price seems a bit high for what it is. The quality of construction is not the highest. But I am not sure there is a comparable product out there.
Easy to clean. Makes expresso extremly fast and easy, best machine ever purchased. No more filters or compacting. What a great machine.
We have had the machine for 11 months now and we are extremely happy with it. Easy to use, crema is great, easy to clean! Great value for the money. I would buy it again.
My wife and I have had our Ultima for about 6 months. We're very pleased. It worked fine with my original blade grinder and very well with a burr grinder (I use the Capresso 560.01 which works well too). We get consistent, excellent results on our daily cappuccino and crema coffee (our drinks of choice).
Others have detailed its operation and discussed its appearance, so I won't repeat that.
The main complaint I've seen is that it does not make hot espresso or crema coffee. As one might expect, the result, both in quality and temperature, is a strong function of the grind you use. The finer the grind, the hotter the result. Go too fine and it won't pump at all, so experiment a bit.
Mine heats water from room temp of 70 to 160 degrees F. As 160 is enough to burn one very badly, I consider this plenty hot! Keep in mind that if you start with colder (or hotter) input water, it will have an effect on the output temperature.
Makes excellent espresso/crema. So much cleaner and easier to use than traditional espresso machines and I do not need the additional automatic features of the more expensive Jura machines. My only complaint is that it isn't a sleek/attractive appliance. But the espresso doesn't disappoint and I am totally pleased with the machine.
Great machine! Especially like the hot water tap and frother! Very fast. Needs a device (like a little hose) to allow coffee to be put directly in car mug.
Wow, so this machine makes GREAT cappuccinos! Just a few points from a non expert who loves to have her morning cappuccino:
1. The coffee/espresso is really good! There is a good crema layer and it comes out very strong (not too strong) in my opinion. I haven't alwys found it to be 100% consistent, but, nonetheless, over 95% of the time it has been great.
2. The unit is kinda.... ugly! I'm sorry, but this is the truth. It's not like soemthing you would display in a very nice kitchen - it's a bit cheap looking. It doesn't even look like a traditional espresso machine. Also, what is up with the blue strip on the tray? That really makes it look cheap. Nonetheless, because I am so plesed with this product, I am willing to overlook this flaw.
3. When they said semi-automatic, I thought I would have to do a lot of work. Not true! This is the EASIEST espresso/cappuccino to make - even over my sister's semi-automatic that she paid a lot more money for (not to mention the espresso/cappuccinos taste the same, except hers is much better looking!) All you have to do is rotate the handle on top, put in coffee, rotate it 90 degrees counterclockwise, push the knob down and turn on the espresso switch. When done, you turn the knob 270 degrees and it dumps the coffee. VOILA! No coffee cleanup today or tomorrow... or for a while (this is my FAVORITE part).
4. A few annoying things Whoever it was that says when you froth milk, there is first a spurt of water is correct. However, when you have frothed an entire cup of milk, you can't tell the water was added. Also, when pushing the know down to make espresso, sometimes it has been a crap shoot and no espresso came out. I had to repress the knob down and try again.
All in all, I give this a B+ because it is ugly and a bit cheap looking. However, if I rated it on taste, it would be an A. If I rated it considering that I got a great price on it and relative to other units and prices, A+!
This is a great machine, very easy to use and easy to clean. However I feel the espresso it makes is a bit weak compared with other "non-automatic" machines. Perhaps it's because of the coffee granularity it can accept is on the coarse side, or because of the water-pumping-up as opposed to the classic design. But overall, it's well worth the price.
FASTER AND LESS WASTE THAN A WHOLE POT - BETTER TASTING TOO. IF I COULD I'D GET ONE FOR ALL MY FRIENDS.
I usually don't write reviews but I'm so pleased with this machine I figured I'd go for it. I had the Gaggia Evolution and was unhappy with it...it finally broke a few wks ago and I bought the Capresso Ultima as a replacement. It works flawlessly. Espresso is HOT if you brew right after the heating light turns off. I have not had any problems remembering to close the lever before brewing so don't let that be a hinderance to buying. The semi-automatic grind dump is brainless. Since I buy my coffee preground, this is essentially a fully automatic machine at a $299 price tag. The crema and espresso is excellent...much better than i could ever make with the gaggia.
We bought this from amazon and we are thrilled with it. My wife is European and knows her espresso! The espresso from this machine is superb and almost instantly produced. Cleanup is easy. This product just oozes smart and functional design. It has a nice small footprint on our counter and looks good enough to keep out all the time.
... the Capresso Ultima is just a wonderful espresso machine regardless of the price/performance ratio. It is very well engineered. You can tell the refinement of the design simply by looking at the layout of the compartments, the water tank with a clever fold-in handle that is very well balanced while you are adding water, the perfect tamping mechanism, the layout and feel of pressing the buttons and rotating the lever arm, and the matte surface finish. All accolades about this machine from previous reviewers are true so I won't be repeating them here.
Some reviewers have pointed out, however, that (1) the espresso and/or the milk is not hot enough to their liking; and (2) the frother spills large amount of water. These claims are just not true.
The espresso that comes out of my machine is just so hot that it burns my tongue, not to mention the perfect crema that comes out with it. I actually tried to stick my finger (like a naughty boy) inside the espresso glass and it burns my finger like boiling water. The "secret" is to push the pump button right after the thermostat light (yellow) goes off. It's really no secret because that's what the manual receommends.
Also, the steamer/frother is capable of heating up a cup of milk that is so hot that practically you can't drink it right away. Note that the steamer/frother has got an automatic 80sec cut-off. Everytime the milk is really hot after this 80sec of steaming/frothing (not to mention how nice and thick the froth becomes - I usually froth half a cup of cold 2% milk and the froth is like 2/5 cup thick - YES. CLOSE TO HALF A CUP OF FROTH within 80sec of frothing). For those who really want to burn their tongue, they could always repeat this steaming/frothing for another 80sec (again read the manual to see how). I tried this and it always ends up boiling the milk (implying that it has reached 100C or over). Frankly, I don't know who would like to drink practically boiling coffee. It just takes the taste away.
For the water spill problem from the frother, I actually experienced once. But quickly I found out that it's due to the fact that I didn't screw the frothing tip tight enough so the steam leaks into the metal slieve and as soon as it gets to the rubber holder on top, the steam condenses and becomes water spill. From then on, I screw it finger tight and it does not spill any more.
What more can I say? For those who are in the market to buy an excellent espresso machine at a good price, stop searching right now. This is THE ONE.
After you got the machine, Get excited, Read the manual, Practice a few times, Enjoy the coffee, and Stop complaining!
Cheers!
My wife got this for me (certainly with some mild suggestion from myself) for Christmas last year. I had previously used a Delonghi 15 bars machine that required a lot of prep and cleanup work for each cup prepared, so I wanted something more automatic but mid-range priced.
This machine is perfect. The crema is right on, the pressure is consistent and the thermacoil brings it to the most excellent temperature. Not many reviews I've seen make mention of how well the frothing system works, though for most pure espresso fans such as myself that probably doesn't rank quite as high on the priority list.
This machine not only makes a great cup but it's ideal for a workgroup. I've colleagues in my workplace who take time out of each day for a round of Illy, and this machine is intended for quick turnaround - but make no mistake, quality is NOT sacrificed!
Cleanup is relatively easy. I've seen nothing that encourages nor discourages the immersion of the carousel unit uptop, but I've cleaned it multiple times in soapy water and then rinsed it thorougly and run a few rounds of hot water from the machine to clean it up. Limescale is easily correctable with a few rounds of white wine vinegar, you need not use anything more sophisticated.
HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend it. I took it home and my workplace coffee-club is consistently griping. Looks like we need to get another one...
I love this machine. I tried every possible way to get it to make hotter espresso, but could not. I called support, but they were not able to help. BTW, I worked at a coffee shop during my undergrad and a I own one of those cheap small Krups espresso machine at home that produces espresso a lot hotter than this machine. Sadly, I have to return this machine.
I own two, using them each for over two years now. Heavy use: Four breves every a.m. and coffee for guests many evenings. Makes excellent espresso shots or full cups of coffee/crema. Foams well (I take off the air tube that automates foaming for those not wanting to work to get true microfoam; with tube off, it works even better if you have the patience to get microfoam.) What I really like, though, is the cleverness of the mechanical design: no need to deal with grounds after each shot. Do follow directions to periodically get rid of mineral deposite by running a vinegar solution through it. (I learned this the hard/expensive way.) Now, if I could just get the hang of the pour in order to do a full-leaf rosseta. :-)
I read all the positive reviews here, and purchased Capresso. I am disapointed. The best feature is the ease of use, automatic disposal after brewing, and a large water tank. Unfortunately, there is no way to make a strong coffee in any quantity in this machine. It only takes a scoop and a half of coffee, and a scoop is barely bigger than a teaspoon. Try to put more, and the lever will not close, or worse, open mid-brewing, dumping your coffee inside the machine. I tried several kinds of coffee and several levels of gounding...no real results. I can make better expresso in my old 4 bar steam machine. My Capresso is going back.
My wife got this for me (certainly with some mild suggestion from myself) for Christmas last year. I had previously used a Delonghi 15 bars machine that required a lot of prep and cleanup work for each cup prepared, so I wanted something more automatic but mid-range priced.
This machine is perfect. The crema is right on, the pressure is consistent and the thermacoil brings it to the most excellent temperature. Not many reviews I've seen make mention of how well the frothing system works, though for most pure espresso fans such as myself that probably doesn't rank quite as high on the priority list.
This machine not only makes a great cup but it's ideal for a workgroup. I've colleagues in my workplace who take time out of each day for a round of Illy, and this machine is intended for quick turnaround - but make no mistake, quality is NOT sacrificed!
Cleanup is relatively easy. I've seen nothing that encourages nor discourages the immersion of the carousel unit uptop, but I've cleaned it multiple times in soapy water and then rinsed it thorougly and run a few rounds of hot water from the machine to clean it up. Limescale is easily correctable with a few rounds of white wine vinegar, you need not use anything more sophisticated.
HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend it. I took it home and my workplace coffee-club is consistently griping. Looks like we need to get another one...
I love this machine. I tried every possible way to get it to make hotter espresso, but could not. I called support, but they were not able to help. BTW, I worked at a coffee shop during my undergrad and a I own one of those cheap small Krups espresso machine at home that produces espresso a lot hotter than this machine. Sadly, I have to return this machine.
I own two, using them each for over two years now. Heavy use: Four breves every a.m. and coffee for guests many evenings. Makes excellent espresso shots or full cups of coffee/crema. Foams well (I take off the air tube that automates foaming for those not wanting to work to get true microfoam; with tube off, it works even better if you have the patience to get microfoam.) What I really like, though, is the cleverness of the mechanical design: no need to deal with grounds after each shot. Do follow directions to periodically get rid of mineral deposite by running a vinegar solution through it. (I learned this the hard/expensive way.) Now, if I could just get the hang of the pour in order to do a full-leaf rosseta. :-)
I read all the positive reviews here, and purchased Capresso. I am disapointed. The best feature is the ease of use, automatic disposal after brewing, and a large water tank. Unfortunately, there is no way to make a strong coffee in any quantity in this machine. It only takes a scoop and a half of coffee, and a scoop is barely bigger than a teaspoon. Try to put more, and the lever will not close, or worse, open mid-brewing, dumping your coffee inside the machine. I tried several kinds of coffee and several levels of gounding...no real results. I can make better expresso in my old 4 bar steam machine. My Capresso is going back.
I previously owned a Krups machine and never used it. I found it too annoying and not worth the effort and I still needed the additional coffee maker. This machine can completely replace your regular coffee maker and you can have a fresh cup of coffee, a latte, an espresso, a cappucino or cafe con leche quickly at any time of the day. My husband found the video that came with it helpful too. We love it!
My wife and I have had our Ultima for about 6 months. We're very pleased. It worked fine with my original blade grinder and very well with a burr grinder (I use the Capresso 560.01 which works well too). We get consistent, excellent results on our daily cappuccino and crema coffee (our drinks of choice).
Others have detailed its operation and discussed its appearance, so I won't repeat that.
The main complaint I've seen is that it does not make hot espresso or crema coffee. As one might expect, the result, both in quality and temperature, is a strong function of the grind you use. The finer the grind, the hotter the result. Go too fine and it won't pump at all, so experiment a bit.
Mine heats water from room temp of 70 to 160 degrees F. As 160 is enough to burn one very badly, I consider this plenty hot! Keep in mind that if you start with colder (or hotter) input water, it will have an effect on the output temperature.
Makes excellent espresso/crema. So much cleaner and easier to use than traditional espresso machines and I do not need the additional automatic features of the more expensive Jura machines. My only complaint is that it isn't a sleek/attractive appliance. But the espresso doesn't disappoint and I am totally pleased with the machine.
Great machine! Especially like the hot water tap and frother! Very fast. Needs a device (like a little hose) to allow coffee to be put directly in car mug.
Wow, so this machine makes GREAT cappuccinos! Just a few points from a non expert who loves to have her morning cappuccino:
1. The coffee/espresso is really good! There is a good crema layer and it comes out very strong (not too strong) in my opinion. I haven't alwys found it to be 100% consistent, but, nonetheless, over 95% of the time it has been great.
2. The unit is kinda.... ugly! I'm sorry, but this is the truth. It's not like soemthing you would display in a very nice kitchen - it's a bit cheap looking. It doesn't even look like a traditional espresso machine. Also, what is up with the blue strip on the tray? That really makes it look cheap. Nonetheless, because I am so plesed with this product, I am willing to overlook this flaw.
3. When they said semi-automatic, I thought I would have to do a lot of work. Not true! This is the EASIEST espresso/cappuccino to make - even over my sister's semi-automatic that she paid a lot more money for (not to mention the espresso/cappuccinos taste the same, except hers is much better looking!) All you have to do is rotate the handle on top, put in coffee, rotate it 90 degrees counterclockwise, push the knob down and turn on the espresso switch. When done, you turn the knob 270 degrees and it dumps the coffee. VOILA! No coffee cleanup today or tomorrow... or for a while (this is my FAVORITE part).
4. A few annoying things Whoever it was that says when you froth milk, there is first a spurt of water is correct. However, when you have frothed an entire cup of milk, you can't tell the water was added. Also, when pushing the know down to make espresso, sometimes it has been a crap shoot and no espresso came out. I had to repress the knob down and try again.
All in all, I give this a B+ because it is ugly and a bit cheap looking. However, if I rated it on taste, it would be an A. If I rated it considering that I got a great price on it and relative to other units and prices, A+!
This is a great machine, very easy to use and easy to clean. However I feel the espresso it makes is a bit weak compared with other "non-automatic" machines. Perhaps it's because of the coffee granularity it can accept is on the coarse side, or because of the water-pumping-up as opposed to the classic design. But overall, it's well worth the price.
FASTER AND LESS WASTE THAN A WHOLE POT - BETTER TASTING TOO. IF I COULD I'D GET ONE FOR ALL MY FRIENDS.
I usually don't write reviews but I'm so pleased with this machine I figured I'd go for it. I had the Gaggia Evolution and was unhappy with it...it finally broke a few wks ago and I bought the Capresso Ultima as a replacement. It works flawlessly. Espresso is HOT if you brew right after the heating light turns off. I have not had any problems remembering to close the lever before brewing so don't let that be a hinderance to buying. The semi-automatic grind dump is brainless. Since I buy my coffee preground, this is essentially a fully automatic machine at a $299 price tag. The crema and espresso is excellent...much better than i could ever make with the gaggia.
We bought this from amazon and we are thrilled with it. My wife is European and knows her espresso! The espresso from this machine is superb and almost instantly produced. Cleanup is easy. This product just oozes smart and functional design. It has a nice small footprint on our counter and looks good enough to keep out all the time.
... the Capresso Ultima is just a wonderful espresso machine regardless of the price/performance ratio. It is very well engineered. You can tell the refinement of the design simply by looking at the layout of the compartments, the water tank with a clever fold-in handle that is very well balanced while you are adding water, the perfect tamping mechanism, the layout and feel of pressing the buttons and rotating the lever arm, and the matte surface finish. All accolades about this machine from previous reviewers are true so I won't be repeating them here.
Some reviewers have pointed out, however, that (1) the espresso and/or the milk is not hot enough to their liking; and (2) the frother spills large amount of water. These claims are just not true.
The espresso that comes out of my machine is just so hot that it burns my tongue, not to mention the perfect crema that comes out with it. I actually tried to stick my finger (like a naughty boy) inside the espresso glass and it burns my finger like boiling water. The "secret" is to push the pump button right after the thermostat light (yellow) goes off. It's really no secret because that's what the manual receommends.
Also, the steamer/frother is capable of heating up a cup of milk that is so hot that practically you can't drink it right away. Note that the steamer/frother has got an automatic 80sec cut-off. Everytime the milk is really hot after this 80sec of steaming/frothing (not to mention how nice and thick the froth becomes - I usually froth half a cup of cold 2% milk and the froth is like 2/5 cup thick - YES. CLOSE TO HALF A CUP OF FROTH within 80sec of frothing). For those who really want to burn their tongue, they could always repeat this steaming/frothing for another 80sec (again read the manual to see how). I tried this and it always ends up boiling the milk (implying that it has reached 100C or over). Frankly, I don't know who would like to drink practically boiling coffee. It just takes the taste away.
For the water spill problem from the frother, I actually experienced once. But quickly I found out that it's due to the fact that I didn't screw the frothing tip tight enough so the steam leaks into the metal slieve and as soon as it gets to the rubber holder on top, the steam condenses and becomes water spill. From then on, I screw it finger tight and it does not spill any more.
What more can I say? For those who are in the market to buy an excellent espresso machine at a good price, stop searching right now. This is THE ONE.
After you got the machine, Get excited, Read the manual, Practice a few times, Enjoy the coffee, and Stop complaining!
Cheers!
I bought this machine for my husband for Christmas and he absolutely loves it! He's a coffee freak and for him to say he loves something is a HUGE deal! It's easy to use, maintain and it makes great coffee, espresso, etc (according to him - I don't drink the stuff, I just make it). We recommend buying this as a gift for the coffee junkie in your life!
This machine should get an award for its innovative design and styling. The manual and other reviews describe how it works. I'd just like to say that while it seems complicated, the device is actually really easy to use. It's one of those things where if someone demonstrated it, you'd "get it" in 5 seconds. In actual use it takes about 1 minute to load it up and make your espresso, assuming it's been turned on and warmed up. I think the manual is unusually good at explaining everything you need to know.
The Ultima makes better tasting espresso than other brands of machines I've used. I think Capresso is seriously focused on coffee and their products are optimized for best results. For example, they concentrate on making sure the water is hot enough and you'll notice that their pressure pump is 18 bar versus 15 bar for most other brands of home espresso machines. It really makes a difference that you can taste, and it's why home espresso frequently doesn't seem to be as good as the one you get at the specialty espresso cafes that use professional machines.
Some reviews talk about difficulty getting the grind right, espresso being weak, etc. I think this is an issue with all manual espresso machines. You need to tweak the fineness of the grind for the kind of beans you usually use. Also, as with all espresso machines, there is a certain amount of mess that's inevitable. The Ultima allows you to defer the mess cleanup until the weekend while allowing you to brew-and-go during the weekday mornings. This is the benefit over single-use machines where you need to clean it up between each cup.
The real benefit of the Ultima over expensive automatic machines or those that use pods is that you have control over your espresso. In particular, I like to vary my cups from 100% caff, to a mix of caff and de-caff, to 100% decaff, depending on the time of day and how much zip I need. You can make each cup different depending on the mix of the ground coffee you put into the spout. This helps when some of your guests want caffeinated and some want decaff. You can do singles or doubles or in between, and vary the strength by varying the fineness of how you grind the beans in your grinder, or how long you allow the brew to take. By letting the brew go longer, you can fill a coffee cup with a coffee-strength brew that's the best cup of coffee you'll ever taste. Several times when a guest asked for coffee (as opposed to an espresso drink) I made it using the Ultima and when the unsuspecting guest took a sip, there followed a pause, a surprised look and the comment "this is REALLY good."
On the downside, the Ultima has a lot of moving parts (many made of plastic), gaskets and channels for the coffee or the brew to go through, so its durability may be suspect. Mine died after about 2 years of constant use, however, with the combination of its convenience, flexibility and price, I might buy another one anyway.
If you're an espresso fan, whether latte, capuccino, or straight up you know the potential frustrations involved. If you're making it at home, there's the measuring, the tamping, the timing and the cleaning. If you're avoiding all of this and stopping by a coffee joint on your way to work there's the parking, the waiting in line, the inconsistent barrista, and the high prices. BUT NOT ANYMORE!!!
This machine seriously will make your day run more smoothly, because it takes all of the thought and all of the frustration out of a great espresso drink. It's a bit strange to use until you get the hang of it, because it doesn't function like a standard espresso machine. But it makes SO much sense once you figure it out. The water chamber is huge, and so is the storage chamber for your used grounds-- yes, I said storage chamber, and yes it only needs to be emptied approx once a week. Also this machine automatically tamps the grounds for you AND it comes apart for easy cleaning and is even dishwasher safe. Oh and if you're an Americano drinker? Fear not-- just let more water run through and presto, the most amazing cup of coffee you've ever tasted, granted one cup at a time, but soooo worth it.
Also if you drink lattes, especially if you like them sans foam, put a glass of milk in the microwave for a couple minutes rather than using the steamer for an easier, and cleaner solution. If you put it in before you start grinding and brewing the timing is perfect!
I own a Capresso coffee maker and it has functioned perfectly for years. Our new Capresso Ultima Espresso Machine appears to be just as good. Here are a few suggestions: 1) Use a good grade of espresso coffee. I am not an afficianado of espresso but I can tell a difference between coffee grinds. We have enjoyed the Lily Espresso very much. 2) Clean the machine frequently. The more you use it, the more you will need to clean it. We clean it every day or two. It is fairly easy but the longer between cleanings, the nastier the job. 3) Do not expect the coffee to be very hot. Many reviewers have commented on the tepid temperature of the espresso. We don't like it any hotter. 4) Use the steamer, frother functions if only to become familiar with them. Once you begin to use steamed and frothed milk in your coffee, you will never go back to the old, cold variety. 5) When you push down on the lever to compress the coffee, press firmly to pack the coffee down. If it is not packed down enough, the water merely cascades around the plunger and you may think the machine is obstructed. This is a good machine and relatively easy to use. I remember making espresso years ago and it was more trouble than it was worth. This is a pleasure to use and you can make a good cup of espresso in a minute.
Thanks.
Capresso has found a way to make it simple to make consistently great Cappuccino.
Easy to use, simple clean-up, outstanding coffee. It would be difficult to find a better
Espresso/Cappuccino machine at twice the price. Buy this machine, and enjoy.....
I love this machine. Easy to use (no messy cleanups). Excellent taste. Powerful milk frothing. Doesn't take much room on the kitchen counter yet has a large water reservoir.
Thanks for reading. I hope this review helps.
This thing is addictive; it should probably be banned. I just bought it today and I'm already on at least my 5th cup of cappuccino.
This machine takes all the hassle out of making espresso, for a relatively modest price. Turn it on, and it heats up in no time. Lift the handle, spin the top to the "fill" position, dump in some grounds, bring the handle to the front, lower it, let go, and turn the pump on. That's it. There's no filter to constantly fill and empty; the used grounds are automatically dumped into a large removable bin for later disposal.
The coffee has great crema. The frothing/steaming wand seems to work well and makes plenty of foam (yes, it does spit out a small amount of water at the start, so if you're a fanatic you may want to clear it, but short of a heating element *inside* the little frothing tube that seems unavoidable). The big water reservoir lifts right off and doesn't drip. The adjustable nozzle height will accommodate anything from a little espresso cup to a big mug of cappuccino.
Overall, this is a very well thought-out machine and I'm extremely pleased with it. The fact that it's even more convenient than my drip coffee maker (no filter to replace or clean, no measuring of water) means this will be seeing a *lot* of use. The fact that mine was significantly discounted because it was a store display just sweetened the deal.
Our machine produced a lukewarm (116 degree) espresso. The manufacturer's service attempt was unsuccessful. A subsequent replacement from the manufacturer produced lukewarm espresso as well. Its just not right. Maybe they are trying to avoid being sued for producing espresso too hot?
I've used this since getting it in December. Before that I only used a perculator. This is a fabulous item and it makes amazing coffee and caps.
I've been using the Ultima for 18 months, and it's always a pleasure. Its ingenious design makes it very quick to use, and it requires only a tiny fraction of the clean-up time of other machines. I've tried several other espresso machine brands (including more expensive models) and none comes close to the fun and pleasure of owning this machine.
It heats the water almost instantly (some machines take 30 minutes). Foaming milk, soy, Rice Dream, etc., is ultra easy. By varying the type of coffee, it's grind, the amount of water that you use, and so on, you can easily make coffee to any taste.
Clean-up is incredibly simple. A red light comes on about once or twice a week to tell you to empty old coffee grounds. About once a month it's good to remove the top of the machine (just press one button and lift), and then rinse it in running warm water. (My wife and I use the finest-ground espresso coffee. Contra to a report by another reviewer... the machine has never clogged, nor overflowed.)
Because of its ingenious design you will need to read the instructions (actually, it also has a very good video tape that comes with it). This machine is therefore not for the "I don't read instructions" type of person. However, it you don't mind learning a new way to make coffee, then you're in for a very pleasant surprise.
After only one month the machine gets clogged and overflows.
They blame it on the coffee grind (too fine)and of course us not being able to lock it down properly etc.
Fact is that for $300.00 it works little better than my old $29.99 machine. It does have more features but they only cause more problems. I have wasted more coffee trying to get this thing to work right that I could have bought another machine.
Have Fun !
A great investment - this machine just goes on and on. I use this machine to make my morning lattes - two shots of expresso in about a cup of skim milk (microwaved - never cared for the foam) and I am ready to hit the road. Definitely has saved me a lot of $$$$'s over the years - to Starbuck's loss.
After agonizing over many reviews of many espresso makers, I nervously settled on this one. I am delighted with my choice. The operation of the machine is about as simple as possible, and this includes coffee preparation and cleanup. The process is very quick, and the grounds disposal feature is ingenious. Mine came with a video, which, although I am embarrassed to admit that I watched it, was invaluable. The manual is clear, but seeing the operation makes it so much clearer. For years I struggled with a small Krups machine, which was OK, but a pain in the neck to clean and not terribly consistent. Admittedly, this one cost more money, but it's semi-automatic character makes it well worth the price differential. If you want a machine that is efficient, well-designed and un-intimidating, get this one!! The coffee is delicious!
This machine makes *great* espresso and crema and is very easy to operate (after taking 5-10 minutes to review the directions). It is wonderful when making several cups at a time as the used grounds are automatically dumped into a hidden reservoir which reduces time and clean-up between brews.
I have only noticed problems with coffee temperature if I use the steamer first, then switch to coffee mode. Otherwise, coffee temps are perfect. I have not found a grind that is too fine for this machine, and it seems the finer the grind, the better the flavor.
My only real beef is that condensation collects in the coffee chute, so some of the grounds get stuck on the way to the brew chamber.
I bought this machine in Europe almost 2 years ago for work and every morning we all use this machine to make our morning espresso. Because we share the cost, we are still counting how many cups are made, and we are now well over 5,000 espressos. And still no problem at all with this heavily used machine !
On the downside, the coffee is not really hot. Some people prefer to put it in the microwave for a minute.
It took two orders of over a month wait each to get this (I gave up the first time) but this is just what I needed and wanted. It makes great espresso and coffee. They call it "crema coffee" or something and it's the espresso with an extra 6-10 oz of water run through it. Whatever you call it, it tastes like a very good cup of coffee. I use just one of their scoops to make a coffee. The machine takes up to two and they are needed if you are making espresso.
I didn't have any of the operational problems the other reviews mention. The result is hot enough for me but it's not burning hot if that's what you like. I'm having some problem remembering to move the lever to the "loaded" position before I turn on the pump. But after a few seconds of nothing happening I realize my stupid mistake and then everything is OK. I would be nice if it where a little more computerized to tell me this by beeping or something and not letting me make obvious mistakes. I suppose that will be in the improved version now that I've spent my money on this one...
What else? It is a little on the light side and plastic feeling when you use it. It doesn't give a cheap feeling when looking at it but it doesn't say "I cost [money] either." If you want to just impress people then one of the hard to use standard operating espresso machines would be a better choice. If you want to actually make espresso or coffee in less than 1 minute total time before work or any other time then this is the machine to get. The only machine that does more for you is a Capresso also and it costs [money] more.
As of now I've had the machine for about 2 months and it's still working like new. The bottom fills up with coffee/water over time but this is by design and is just part of cleaning the machine. I clean it about once a week after using it 7-10 times. I think you wouldn't want to wait more than a week between cleanings.
Before I bought this machine, I read on all the reviews. I am an avid capucino drinker and spend loads of money every week on that! Well I have not been inside a Peet's coffee shop for a capucino since I bought this gem! The machine is easy to use, easy to clean, and easy on your budget. Plus you will not have to wait in line each morning to get your capucino. I have had the machine for about 6 months and I have to say it is the best thing that I buy from Amazon!!!!
We looked forward to this machine after reading so many glowing reviews. However, it has not lived up to our expectations. There are so many things that have to be JUST right in order to get a good cup of espresso--the right grind of coffee, the right placement of the tamping lever, the water temperature, etc. Only about every fourth try results in good espresso. If you don't put the tamping lever just right, NO coffee comes out at all. That means a lot of wasted coffee!! The instruction booklet is useless to help with any problems. If we hadn't thrown away the box, we would have returned it immediately!!
On setting up the ultima, it became apparent that the frother on our machine doesn't work.
On the plus side, it's easy to reach Capresso technical support. We're sending it to the manufacturer for repairs, and they're paying for both repairs and round-trip shipping.
I am an engineer, and fairly demanding when it comes to product design. I could not be happier with this product for the money. It's fast: you turn it on and by the time you have scooped the coffee in, it's heated up and ready to go. It is amazingly easy to use: you turn a lever and scoop coffee in, turn the lever again and turn it on. It's about as simple to use as a Mr. Coffee machine once you use it once or twice, but it looks complicated at first and my somewhat lazy coworkers still go to the coffee shop rather than plan ahead and buy coffee and milk. It usually froths milk wonderfully. The coffee, cappucino, and espressos I've made taste as good as anything I've gotten from a coffee shop. As others have said, grind the coffee halfway between an espresso grind and a drip cofee grind and you'll be fine.
If you are buying this for an office like I did, it is noisier than a Mr. Cofee machine, it's probably on par with the noise from a dishwasher: it's fine for a lunchroom or a file room where a door can be closed, but I wouldn't recommend it in an open area in which people work. For home use, it should be OK.
Where this product really shines is the cleanup. It really takes very little time to keep this unit clean, which was my biggest fear when buying one. I wipe the frother (the spout where the steam comes out) with a sponge after each use (takes all of 5 seconds). After 5-6 uses, a light comes on telling you to pour out the used coffee grinds, which takes all of 10 seconds. After about 10 uses, I remove the top, rinse it in the sink, wipe down the exposed inside, and then rerinse the removed top. During this time, I soak the frother and then reinstall everything back into place. It sounds complicated, but it isn't, and it takes about a minute or two per week. You'll save more than that even if you work next door to a coffee shop.
This is my first cappucino machine, and I've had it for over a year and use it twice each workday. I'm really happy with it and would recommend it to anyone interested in a cappuccino machine at this price point. It's a consumer product, not a $700 industrial-grade machine you can expect to smash around, but it's priced accordingly and the ease of use and quality of coffees it produces makes it a real value. It allows me to use water-process decaffinated coffee that no coffee shop will use because it doesn't taste as good as standard decaf, but doesn't have the chemicals that I don't want. And, it's much faster than going to the coffee shop, which in my case, is only 3 doors from my office building. And when it is raining out, who wants to walk even 3 doors away to a coffee shop?
I had some complaints, but they really had more to do with my inexperience. Now that I have had the thing for a year I upped my rating to 5 stars from 4. 2 double-size cappuccinos per day x 200 work days x $3 = $1200. The $300 it costs, plus $150 in coffee I've spent (Peets most expensive blend) + $50 in milk means I've saved $700 in the first year, and a whole lot of time. After a year of use, it still works perfectly, but if it broke tomorrow, I'd buy another one.
In fact, we have experienced only two problems with the Capresso since we bought it: a torn o-ring and clogging. The o-ring tore because I did not clean the rotation mechanism for several months. The accumulated grounds eventually tore into the o-ring, breaking the pressure seal. However, when I called the Capresso help line to discuss our broken o-ring, the help desk agent immediately sent us two replacements in the mail with no questions asked. Total down time for the machine was a mere two days. The clogging was fixed with a complete cleaning, and if truth be told, it did say in the instruction booklet not to use very finely ground coffee.
Our last espresso machine, besides breaking after two years, was so difficult to use and clean we only made espresso on special occasions. The Capresso is convenient enough that we use it all the time. In fact, we have used our Mr. Coffee only twice (note the broken o-ring comment above) since we bought the Capresso.
After a year of use, I can still strongly recommend this product.
The machine makes a quick and tasty Espresso. The nozzles allow for splitting into two cups, there is a foam outlet for Cappuccino lovers and 1,5 l water tank will save your time on trips to the water cooler. The machine comes with detailed and easy to absorb instructions.
Very easy to clean and not very loud for small offices where that may become an issue. If you use the Styrofoam from the box as a platform (recycle!) it will make even less noise.
Recommended.
I was looking for a machine that produces strong espresso. This produces crema coffee that is sometimes cold. The thermocoil system heats up very quickly. Sometimes my frother doesn't work. I am still testing which grinds of espresso work the best. I don't have a lot of experience with espresso machines. Overall, I am pleased with the espresso machine.
I like the fact that I don't have to dispose and clean everytime I use an espresso machine. I previously had a Briel Apollo, but the espresso that came out of it did not taste as good, not to mention that I have tamper down and discard the grounds which became quite messy. With Capresso, I never have to tamper and see the grounds until the discard tray fills up. The crema is excellent. My only complaint is that you are only allowed two scoops of grounds. If you want to make a big cup of coffee crema, it becomes too weak as more water passes through. I love STRONG crema (but somehow don't like espresso), so in order to fill up a cup, I keep having to discard and add more grounds, which is no big deal since it discards easily. Just more wasted grounds.
I had the machine for about five months and am very pleased with it. I found the instructions for use poor, which resulted in a bit of wasted coffee, but once I figured out the type of grind (not too fine)and the amount (not too much) the machine likes, I get very good coffee consistently.
I cannot review the reliability, only had it a week. But I LOVE the machine. Makes great espresso, easy to use, clean up is a snap, makes a good cup of 'creme coffee', froths good.
I was concerned that it would be complicated to use but it simple to operate. It also works pretty fast.
The only down side is that I cannot grind my beans to fine of really slows down the brewing and puts a lot of water into the overflow/used grounds area.
The expresso was excellent even with my mediocre Braun burr grinder. It produced a good crema and flavour.
I am also impressed with how easy it was to clean.
The hot water dispenser worked fine but NOT the frother.
The frother refused to work. I did several cycles of clean out/start up procedures and still no froth. At this point I am returning the machine since I could not get anyone on the service line.
Makes great coffee and is easy to clean between cups, but hard to clean thoroughly. Over time, it started to smell and needed thourough cleaning. When it works, it makes very good coffee... I think they should have used a higher quality plastic...Biggest gripe is that it is a pain to clean thouroughly. I replaced this unreliable item with a Gaggia, no comparrison between the two coffee makers, the Gaggia is great compaired to the Capresso, though the Gaggia is not automatic the cleanup time more than makes up the difference.
The reviews for this item are already pretty helpful. Please read them (both the editorial review and reviews from other users). I just want to assure you that this machine is easy to use, produce wonderful coffee and easy to take care. Just a warning, it's so easy to use and the coffee is so good that sometimes you might drink more than your daily portion. As the other user said,"If you are rich, go for the thousand dollar fully automatic machine". If you just love esspresso and excellent crema coffee drinks, buy this. I can't be any happier with mine.
Well we have had our Capresso 121.01 for one week now and it is absolutely the easiest espresso machine we have ever used. We entertain often and were in need of a machine that could crank out caps for our guests quickly. That is most definately what we got in the Capresso 121.01! No mess or clean up, no dripping, accomodates any size cup. The frother makes your milk so creamy you might think it is whip cream! There is no part of this machine that could be improved upon in our opinion. We had a Briel Portofino which we thought was nice, now we know how awful it was compared to this beauty! We have used a Krupps, and the Starbucks best seller. None come close to this machine. It actually makes a cappuccino with froth in under a minute, then on to the next batch in less than 30 seconds.
If the technical aspects of a cappuccino before the crack of dawn have you actually contemplating drip coffee again, check out this machine. You'll have to re-learn how to make a cappuccino, but once you get the hang of it, you can break speed records. For double caps, two scoops of pre-ground espresso go in the coffee spout. Turn the bizarre looking top a quarter turn, push down the lever and turn the pump on. You'll instantly get a perfect espresso with more crema than I was able to get with any kind of consistently from our many previous machines. And it takes less than a minute for the water to heat in the unit for making coffee or arming the frother with steam in this sturdy machine. The best part comes in the clean-up. When you're ready to make the next cup, turn the lever on top a 3/4 turn and it will simultaneously dump your old grounds in a hidden bin and stage itself automatically for the next cup. That's zero coffee grounds on the sink and the ability to crank out a cappuccino every two minutes.
I bought this machine after looking around for the perfect one for quite some time. This Espressomaker is unique because of a clever semiautomatic mechanism that doesn't require the usual, messy tampering and cleaning innate to traditional machines. This device comes at a fraction of the cost of the fully automated ones, but is almost as easy to use. The only little flaw I noted is that the frother will spill a relatively large amount of water (5cc or so) during the first couple of seconds before the full steam gets going. Usually no big deal, but if you froth a small amount of milk, you may want to "catch" these first cc's first. Otherwise, this machine is perfect. The pump is very strong 18bar, I think) and the crema is excellent. Baseline: If you want a traditional machine, go for a Gaggia or something similar; if you are a (lazy) millionaire, consider one of the fully automated machines ($1000-2000). Otherwise, there is currently no alternative to the "Ultima".