Saeco 30013 Aroma Traditional Espresso Machine, Black

I did quite a bit of research before buying this machine. The Aroma delivers in the areas that were of most importance to me. It is easy to use, easy to clean and makes a wonderful cappuccino. There's very little warm-up time; it's ready in only a minute or two to begin making espresso with beautiful crema. The steam tube is easy to use and heats the milk while creating a nice thick froth. You can make one or many easily.

I believe the instructions could be a little more comprehensive. I left a message at Saeco for some clarification on the initial priming that needs to be done before using the machine for the first time or if the machine hasn't been used for a long period (priming is only necessary at these times). My call was returned within one day (although I had already worked through the priming; the VERY first cup of espresso took a very long time for the water to begin to drip and flow). The machine did NOT come with the ESE pod adaptor and special filter as stated in the description. Dealt with that on the return call and Saeco is sending the adaptor, so I've only had experience using this machine with ground coffee.

Overall, I'm enjoying the ease of the machine and the delicious cappuccino that tastes better than what I can buy at the coffee house. I spent a little more than what I originally planned but this machine has the features I wanted (powerful pump, water tank that is easy to fill at the counter or sink, pod adaptable, not sensitive to how your ground coffee is prepared (very forgiving), cup warming surface, works well when it's just me or a houseful of guests) and is proving to be well worth the price.

Enjoy!

I've tried to make espresso with one of those steam powered devices and I'll never do it again now that I have the Saeco. This machine is built like a BMW and dispenses a perfect shot every time. Well worth the $100. I've already got my money's worth of morning (and a few evening) coffee drinks.

I've been very quickly moving up in the espresso machine world. I first bought a machine on ebay without much research (poor thinking), and had a bunch of issues. I then bought the Mr. Coffee ECM150. Slightly better but still not very good by way of crema. Made a very excellent strong coffee though. So I did more research and more and more, and read only good things about this machine. I wanted to find a machine that would be alright on a budget; a machine that was good and also would be purchasable on the cheap. I was looking on ebay just to get a good idea of pricing for such machines. I saw this beauty for $20 (!!!!!!) and the auction was to end soon. I bid in the last few moments, and won! It finally came, and naturally I had to try it.

What a beauty! I have not before seen such thick, caramelly crema! WOW! I work in a cafe and our super-automatic doesn't even produce as good espresso as my sexy beast. If I had known from the start, I would have even put down $500 for this creature. I wish I could give you a cup to convince you! Highly recommended!

I like my coffee strong and black. After years with an inferior machine my wife and I sprung for this unit. It does not have all the bells and whistles that more expensive machines have. If you just want an honest espresso with a thick crema than this is the machine for you.
Pros... It does not take up much counter space. The cam action of the portafilter packs the grounds as you twist it closed, so all you have to do is screed the grounds with the handy hardwood block that comes with the machine. The reservoir is nice because you do not have to add water whenever you use the machine. There is no scalding steam off gassing and you can remove the portafilter immediately after you use it for the next brew. You can heat your cup with the steam outlet but I prefer to use a microwave to preheat the cup. The machine is engineered typically Italian with very close tolerances so everything fits snug. If you prepack the portafilter then it will not engage the cam. This is a very fine machine that is built to last.

Cons... Like all coffee routines it is a messy process. The "portafilter" dribbles on the way to the sink. I use a clean dishcloth to hold the portafilter and clean the undersurface of the dispenser. The machine uses a lot of electricity so you should not leave it on or your power bill will go up dramatically. Luckily the machine heats up in under 2 minutes so you can shut it off and on as you need it to save energy.

This unit makes great coffee. I had a cheaper unit and it didn't extract nearly the amount of flavour from the coffee that this unit does.

The only gripe I have with this and other coffee machines is that you can't fit a good sized mug underneath the portafilter. This is a problem with most coffee machines, not just this one, but aside from that, it's everything you want from a coffee machine.

Highly recommended.


This is a great espresso machine -- better than any I've had before. It's very forgiving (you don't have to be extra-careful about what grind you use -- though burr #3 seems to work best for me), and it makes amazing crema every time because of the pressurized portafilter. (Hint: make sure you attach the portafilter before you turn on the machine, since the Aroma releases hot water before you brew the espresso, so that the grounds will expand. So if you turn it on before you've attached the portafilter, it will start to drip hot water.) The espresso is rich and incredibly flavorful (I use Porto Rico Importing Co.'s Italian espresso), and the pannarello works perfectly for frothing milk. Altogether a really great machine.

After conducting research for a few weeks, visiting Amazon, as well as other coffee aficionado sites, I finally purchased the Saeco Aroma espresso maker and have been using it for going on two weeks. Although this machine may not be as glitzy in appearance compared to some machines, it does make a great espresso. Say for instance, if the Francis Francis is the sexy Ferrari of espresso machines, then the Aroma would be a Volvo--boxy (perhaps considered bland in appearance to some) but solid, reliable, and a well-built machine for the price. Once I got the hang of using the pressurized portafilter, which has to be put on tightly to obtain the correct seal/pressure, I was treated to rich, flavorful espresso with lots of crema.

I am pleased with the ease of using the machine, however, the instructions are not very detailed and I found technical support to be slow. Initially I placed a phone call to -- where I did not reach a live person--but left a message. Never received a call back, but called again the next day at which time I did get a live person. To be honest, she seemed ambivalent and downright unhelpful, blaming my problem on the coffee I was using (despite my best efforts to explain the problem). The issue was that after priming the machine and installing the portafilter, the pump would run and run, but no espresso would come out. I ended up tightening the three little screws on the bottom of the portafilter, which seemed to help make it fit more snugly and achieve a pressurized seal. Voila! Perfect espresso. If I had one complaint about this machine, it would be that the portafilter is not very substantial, and is made mostly of plastic.

The Aroma's steam wand works REALLY well for frothing milk. Almost too well, as I ended up with a lot of foam, but the second time using it, I backed off on the pressure a bit, and got just the right balance of milk and foam. Overall I am pleased with the performance of this machine.

It's hard to find a decent machine for under $300. But I would consider this machine to be a mid-level machine for an entry-level price, especially with 15 bars of pressure. (I had started out thinking I would buy the Starbucks Barista machine which was almost $400, but after seeing a live demo at a Starbucks store, realized it did not perform well at only 8-12 bars of pressure. Very little crema). A good espresso machine should offer a minimum of 14 bars.

Two side notes: I urge anyone who purchases an espresso machine to consider a conical burr grinder (I bought the Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder from Amazon). It's crucial to have a fine grind for brewing espresso. You'll know when you have just the right grind because after brewing the portafilter basket will contain a compacted "cake" of espresso, rather than a soupy mixture of water and grinds.

I did not purchase my Saeco from Amazon, but opted instead to get it from Costco's website where it was $249 (for members or add 5% - or $12.45 - for nonmembers), including shipping and handling. Plus it could be returned to any Costco warehouse within 30 days, no questions asked, if not satisfied.

First, and most annoying, is that this machine's basket is TOO LARGE for the Gaggia grinder, so grounds go everywhere. Very disappointing
Second, the used grounds in the basket always have standing water on top of the grounds after each use. On other coffee makers, this happens only when the grounds are too fine, but that is not the case here. The basket is constructed with some pressure-limiting fill. This makes for a more perfect coffee, as residual basket coffee is not allowed to drip into the cup after the coffee stops pressurizing.
While good coffee, the downside is the mess getting grounds in the basket and the watery sludge to rinse out after each cup.

I love this machine. I have great espresso every morning. The only drawback is ongoing cleaning and maintenance but well worth the resulting taste. And don't get me started on the delicious foam!

I bought this because of Alton Brown from the show "Good Eats" (The Esspresso Episode) He didn't name it, but I did a bit of research to find the brand. I am glad I did! This thing works flawlessly, heats up VERY quickly, and makes a perfect essresso every time!
Easy to clean, large tank, warming tray on top.. What more could you ask for?
I have had it for about a month now, and use it daily for my wife and I.

First, and most annoying, is that this machine's basket is TOO LARGE for the Gaggia grinder, so grounds go everywhere. Very disappointing
Second, the used grounds in the basket always have standing water on top of the grounds after each use. On other coffee makers, this happens only when the grounds are too fine, but that is not the case here. The basket is constructed with some pressure-limiting fill. This makes for a more perfect coffee, as residual basket coffee is not allowed to drip into the cup after the coffee stops pressurizing.
While good coffee, the downside is the mess getting grounds in the basket and the watery sludge to rinse out after each cup.

I love this machine. I have great espresso every morning. The only drawback is ongoing cleaning and maintenance but well worth the resulting taste. And don't get me started on the delicious foam!

I bought this because of Alton Brown from the show "Good Eats" (The Esspresso Episode) He didn't name it, but I did a bit of research to find the brand. I am glad I did! This thing works flawlessly, heats up VERY quickly, and makes a perfect essresso every time!
Easy to clean, large tank, warming tray on top.. What more could you ask for?
I have had it for about a month now, and use it daily for my wife and I.

I've tried to make espresso with one of those steam powered devices and I'll never do it again now that I have the Saeco. This machine is built like a BMW and dispenses a perfect shot every time. Well worth the $100. I've already got my money's worth of morning (and a few evening) coffee drinks.

I've been very quickly moving up in the espresso machine world. I first bought a machine on ebay without much research (poor thinking), and had a bunch of issues. I then bought the Mr. Coffee ECM150. Slightly better but still not very good by way of crema. Made a very excellent strong coffee though. So I did more research and more and more, and read only good things about this machine. I wanted to find a machine that would be alright on a budget; a machine that was good and also would be purchasable on the cheap. I was looking on ebay just to get a good idea of pricing for such machines. I saw this beauty for $20 (!!!!!!) and the auction was to end soon. I bid in the last few moments, and won! It finally came, and naturally I had to try it.

What a beauty! I have not before seen such thick, caramelly crema! WOW! I work in a cafe and our super-automatic doesn't even produce as good espresso as my sexy beast. If I had known from the start, I would have even put down $500 for this creature. I wish I could give you a cup to convince you! Highly recommended!

I like my coffee strong and black. After years with an inferior machine my wife and I sprung for this unit. It does not have all the bells and whistles that more expensive machines have. If you just want an honest espresso with a thick crema than this is the machine for you.
Pros... It does not take up much counter space. The cam action of the portafilter packs the grounds as you twist it closed, so all you have to do is screed the grounds with the handy hardwood block that comes with the machine. The reservoir is nice because you do not have to add water whenever you use the machine. There is no scalding steam off gassing and you can remove the portafilter immediately after you use it for the next brew. You can heat your cup with the steam outlet but I prefer to use a microwave to preheat the cup. The machine is engineered typically Italian with very close tolerances so everything fits snug. If you prepack the portafilter then it will not engage the cam. This is a very fine machine that is built to last.

Cons... Like all coffee routines it is a messy process. The "portafilter" dribbles on the way to the sink. I use a clean dishcloth to hold the portafilter and clean the undersurface of the dispenser. The machine uses a lot of electricity so you should not leave it on or your power bill will go up dramatically. Luckily the machine heats up in under 2 minutes so you can shut it off and on as you need it to save energy.

This unit makes great coffee. I had a cheaper unit and it didn't extract nearly the amount of flavour from the coffee that this unit does.

The only gripe I have with this and other coffee machines is that you can't fit a good sized mug underneath the portafilter. This is a problem with most coffee machines, not just this one, but aside from that, it's everything you want from a coffee machine.

Highly recommended.


This is a great espresso machine -- better than any I've had before. It's very forgiving (you don't have to be extra-careful about what grind you use -- though burr #3 seems to work best for me), and it makes amazing crema every time because of the pressurized portafilter. (Hint: make sure you attach the portafilter before you turn on the machine, since the Aroma releases hot water before you brew the espresso, so that the grounds will expand. So if you turn it on before you've attached the portafilter, it will start to drip hot water.) The espresso is rich and incredibly flavorful (I use Porto Rico Importing Co.'s Italian espresso), and the pannarello works perfectly for frothing milk. Altogether a really great machine.

After conducting research for a few weeks, visiting Amazon, as well as other coffee aficionado sites, I finally purchased the Saeco Aroma espresso maker and have been using it for going on two weeks. Although this machine may not be as glitzy in appearance compared to some machines, it does make a great espresso. Say for instance, if the Francis Francis is the sexy Ferrari of espresso machines, then the Aroma would be a Volvo--boxy (perhaps considered bland in appearance to some) but solid, reliable, and a well-built machine for the price. Once I got the hang of using the pressurized portafilter, which has to be put on tightly to obtain the correct seal/pressure, I was treated to rich, flavorful espresso with lots of crema.

I am pleased with the ease of using the machine, however, the instructions are not very detailed and I found technical support to be slow. Initially I placed a phone call to -- where I did not reach a live person--but left a message. Never received a call back, but called again the next day at which time I did get a live person. To be honest, she seemed ambivalent and downright unhelpful, blaming my problem on the coffee I was using (despite my best efforts to explain the problem). The issue was that after priming the machine and installing the portafilter, the pump would run and run, but no espresso would come out. I ended up tightening the three little screws on the bottom of the portafilter, which seemed to help make it fit more snugly and achieve a pressurized seal. Voila! Perfect espresso. If I had one complaint about this machine, it would be that the portafilter is not very substantial, and is made mostly of plastic.

The Aroma's steam wand works REALLY well for frothing milk. Almost too well, as I ended up with a lot of foam, but the second time using it, I backed off on the pressure a bit, and got just the right balance of milk and foam. Overall I am pleased with the performance of this machine.

It's hard to find a decent machine for under $300. But I would consider this machine to be a mid-level machine for an entry-level price, especially with 15 bars of pressure. (I had started out thinking I would buy the Starbucks Barista machine which was almost $400, but after seeing a live demo at a Starbucks store, realized it did not perform well at only 8-12 bars of pressure. Very little crema). A good espresso machine should offer a minimum of 14 bars.

Two side notes: I urge anyone who purchases an espresso machine to consider a conical burr grinder (I bought the Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder from Amazon). It's crucial to have a fine grind for brewing espresso. You'll know when you have just the right grind because after brewing the portafilter basket will contain a compacted "cake" of espresso, rather than a soupy mixture of water and grinds.

I did not purchase my Saeco from Amazon, but opted instead to get it from Costco's website where it was $249 (for members or add 5% - or $12.45 - for nonmembers), including shipping and handling. Plus it could be returned to any Costco warehouse within 30 days, no questions asked, if not satisfied.

I did quite a bit of research before buying this machine. The Aroma delivers in the areas that were of most importance to me. It is easy to use, easy to clean and makes a wonderful cappuccino. There's very little warm-up time; it's ready in only a minute or two to begin making espresso with beautiful crema. The steam tube is easy to use and heats the milk while creating a nice thick froth. You can make one or many easily.

I believe the instructions could be a little more comprehensive. I left a message at Saeco for some clarification on the initial priming that needs to be done before using the machine for the first time or if the machine hasn't been used for a long period (priming is only necessary at these times). My call was returned within one day (although I had already worked through the priming; the VERY first cup of espresso took a very long time for the water to begin to drip and flow). The machine did NOT come with the ESE pod adaptor and special filter as stated in the description. Dealt with that on the return call and Saeco is sending the adaptor, so I've only had experience using this machine with ground coffee.

Overall, I'm enjoying the ease of the machine and the delicious cappuccino that tastes better than what I can buy at the coffee house. I spent a little more than what I originally planned but this machine has the features I wanted (powerful pump, water tank that is easy to fill at the counter or sink, pod adaptable, not sensitive to how your ground coffee is prepared (very forgiving), cup warming surface, works well when it's just me or a houseful of guests) and is proving to be well worth the price.

Enjoy!