Lello 1375 Ariete Cafe Prestige Coffee Maker

I'm writing this from the perspective of a coffee drink lover, not an espresso lover. If you're an espresso purist, this is probably not the review you're looking for.I like lattes and cappuccinos. In my attempts at making them, I didn't much like the scalded flavor my old steam machine introduced into the drinks. It was time to step up to a pump machine, which was the easy decision. Much harder was deciding on a brand and model from the wide range of choices to consider.Honestly, it just didn't seem like a person should have to spend $1,000 or even $500 to score a pump machine that would produce killer coffee drinks. I wanted a machine that was easy to use, easy to clean, and designed and constructed to last, given a usage pattern of about 8 - 12 times a week. Appearance wasn't much of a factor; we don't have a designer kitchen. We do cherish counter space though, so I didn't want a huge monstrosity or something heavier than a boat anchor, thus being a real pain to move or store.Enter the Cafe Prestige. As of this writing, I've used it about 50 times, and I'm convinced I've chosen a true winner here. While my first couple of uses weren't spectacular, it didn't take long to get into a very comfortable rhythm with the machine. Now, I'm producing coffee drinks of a consistent quality that eliminates all temptation for me to make a trip to the local barista, leaving them a small investment in exchange for a fix. Friends and family, who've sampled the results, agree.Things I like about this machine:1. Construction - sturdy. Heavy, but not excessively so. I store it on a top shelf in our pantry when not in use.2. Ease of use. The generous water reservoir is simple to fill; I just top it off while it's mounted. The two position switch gives you either espresso or steam; no hassle. The portafilter and basket are E-Z to get on and off. Nice orientation on the steam wand.3. Cleaning is a snap4. Very reasonable noise level5. Speed - quick to whip up a drink, followed by another. I've done 4 back-to-back.5. Fantastic steam power. The wand and attachment can produce amazing, luscious foam.6. It's forgivingThe last point - forgiving - is a big one. Not being a purist, I don't have a high dollar grinder. I don't faithfully store and use my beans for maximum freshness. I don't pre-warm the utensils, other than steaming my coffee mug and microwaving the milk. Yet, I get delicious results time and again from the Cafe Prestige.What I don't like:1. The plastic tamper. I bought a metal one to use; if this matters to you, check out my review of the one I purchased.2. At times when steaming is first switched on, a couple of spurts of water emerge from the wand before steaming action begins. I lay a cloth underneath to catch those.3. It feels to me that the steam wand and its swivel are a bit fragile. When I clean it, I take a cloth and pinch the top of the wand hose to keep it steady and prevent stress on the swivel point.As you can see, no showstoppers here. The only open item for me at this point is whether the Cafe Prestige has the longevity I want; time will tell regarding that. Meanwhile, if you're in the market for a pump machine mainly to use for producing coffee drinks, you should take a serious look at this one. Price-wise, performance-wise, it feels like an incredible bargain.UPDATE: July 2009After 6 months of steady use, I can vouch for my Cafe Prestige having paid for itself twice over. Here are a few additional observations.Though I use a burr grinder, I have an extremely ancient model, an old Waring. That said, I do grind my beans about as fine as possible and tamp them very firmly into the basket. I use a range of different beans, depending on my mood, but I've made it a point to buy them from coffee shops instead of the grocery store. With the consistency of the Cafe Prestige, I've felt at times that some of my grocery store bean purchases were stale or 'off' in flavor, and, consequently, I pitched them. Fresh beans definitely make a difference.Logic has it that you should clean your maker thoroughly and frequently; some would suggest multiple times a week. For me, I rinse and wipe down the portafilter, basket, steam wand, steam attachment, flow screen, and portafilter gasket after each use. I can go about a week before cleaning the drip tray; any longer leads to interesting life forms sprouting. Lastly, I've set a 3 month schedule for flushing the maker. For this, I've found Cleancaf works wonders, which you can pick up online or at a local coffee store. It's fantastic stuff. BTW, all my cleaning is by hand, not in the dishwasher. There's only a little to do, so it doesn't take much time.My preference is for using only distilled water. It seems to help ensure consistency in your brews. Also, it tends not to deposit as much scale in the maker, which eases cleaning. Don't forget to occasionally empty and clean the plastic water reservoir as I've found even distilled water can pick up stray flavors when it sits for a while.Finally, I can't say that I've had any explosions with my Cafe Prestige, but I did have a traumatic event that might count as such. With regular use, the portafilter seems to become a bit loose in its twist mount. When I first started using the maker, I could let it dispense a double shot without me touching it. Then, one day, the pump pressure caused the portafilter to unscrew and fall off, which sent steam and espresso spraying, explosive-like. Since then, I make sure I keep one hand on the portafilter handle when the espresso is flowing, and I've had no other incidents or problems. I certainly don't consider this a critical flaw or a reason not to purchase the Cafe Prestige.Strongly recommended... still.

Update 2: After few years of infrequent part-time use, my Lello 1375 detonated. The plastic "filter holder" shattered, permitting steam, grounds, and hot water to eject from the machine. This should be a metal (or at very least, a fiber-reinforced) piece. Combine this with corrosion problems, and I'd say the manufacturer made poor choices when selecting the materials the machine is constructed of. I was just quoted a price of $50 (including shipping) for the replacement holder; given the performance issues, the corrosion, and that there are no assurances the part won't simply break again, and I can't justify replacing the part.Update 1: The catch tray is now completely corroded, with the finish peeling off all sides; the unit leaks water from around the tray sporadically, but on a counter top it's easy enough to wipe up. Also, I've resolved issue #3 above. If you eject a small volume of water prior to adding the espresso holder, the steam will be expelled with it.Original review: There are a few shortcomings, as others have mentioned. 1) The "wet cake" issue is treatable by strongly compressing the grounds, but this compaction can lead to slowing of the espresso flow; for me, it's easiest just to wash out the wet cake. 2) Corrosion of the drip tray was immediate following use. From the rate of spread of the corrosion spots (>10 of them now), I expect the corrosion to migrate from the hidden part of the tray to the visible in a year or so. 3) The biggest issue is the occasionally erratic steaming of the espresso grounds. Rather than producing a nice stream of rich, creamy espresso, about 10% of the time, the machine will eject steam and a watery coffee-looking substance.

I received the Cafe Prestige in January from Amazon. I've been using it for three months now and I would estimate that I've pulled a couple hundred double shots for myself and friends, so I think I have used it enough to give an accurate review of the performance of different aspects of the machine, if perhaps not the reliability.The pressurized portafilter: This has what Ariete calls its "Thermocream" system, which is a special portafilter designed to ensure good crema on your espresso by introducing air into the brewing process and regulating the pressure as the coffee is extracted. In the Cafe Prestige this is made of two part: a double-layer filter basket with only a single hole for the liquid to pass through, and a black plastic piece that is attached to the portafilter with a screw. This is great if you like to use pre-ground coffee and don't want to bother learning the nuances of grinding and tamping, because it essentially removes control of the extraction pressure and time from the hands of the user. Depending on your taste, this might produce acceptable shots, and can certainly do the job for a cap or latte.When using the pressurized filter basket I got the best results with a fine espresso grind and a very light tamp. I would tamp just a bit harder when making milk drinks to bring out some more flavor. Any harder tamping and the water would find channels through the espresso and over-extract some parts, leaving a bitter and undrinkable shot. All of the shots I pulled with the pressurized filter were thin and underextracted, only taking about 10-15 seconds. I was occasionally able to pull a tasty and well-balanced shot, but it wasn't repeatable and left me looking for something better.As it turns out, you can upgrade this to a commercial portafilter. The La Pavoni Millenium Edition MP-68 (51mm) filter basket fits the bill. I found it at an online espresso parts supplier. You just need to flatten the rounded lip with a hammer and it fits like a charm. Don't forget to take out the aforementioned black plastic piece as well, or it will still build up pressure and won't work the way you want it to. I just got one a couple weeks ago and it is blew me away how it transforms this machine. Get a decent tamper as well, and don't be discouraged if your first few shots come out horrible. The difference in body is ridiculous. I'm getting thick syrupy shots with more crema and sweetness. I'm still learning to get the grind (seems to be very fine for a 25-30 sec shot) and tamp right to balance out the shot, but the difference is incredible. Seriously, if you love coffee, give the commercial filter basket a shot.The thermoblock heater: Not too impressed here! I didn't know when I bought this that generally termoblocks are bad and true boilers are better. It leads to some major inconsistency in water temp and can be frustrating, but I've learned to work with it.The milk frother: Also very inconsistent, and too short! You'll only be able to use a 12oz. pitcher successfully if you're interested in microfoam. Also, toss the frothing attachment. I only got flat foam with huge bubbles when using the attachment. Microfoam, or something close, is possible with patience. Very cold whole milk makes it easier. Latte art is difficult because it takes so long to froth the milk that by the time it's done the crema has hardened and will just float on top.The water tank: It's handy that it's removable but mine, like some other reviewers' I have read, arrived cracked. However, the people at Lello were super nice and sent me a new one within a week free of charge. Their contact info is in the reviews here.The drip tray: As others have said, it does corrode right away. At first I thought it was mold, but apparently the acids in the coffee react with whatever the drip tray is made from (not stainless). Go figure. It doesn't really bother me because you can't even see it.Overall, this is a great starter machine, especially with the commercial portafilter upgrade. It's usually cheap here on Amazon (the price seems to fluctuate daily, so keep a lookout for the best deal) and if you're like me it will start you on a mission to max out what it can do. Pair it with a good burr grinder and some great beans and it's probably capable of making the best coffee you've ever had (unless you're super privileged). Now that's a steal!