Pump Espresso And Cappuccino Maker

I purchased this unit about a week ago and I decided to write a review that targets a very specific audience. If you really enjoy Espresso, Cappuccino or even a Latte and you don't like having to pay the high cost of purchasing them from your local coffee shop...AND if you don't have a lot of money to invest in equipment...then this review was written for you. For the money...you will not find a better Espresso machine out there. This is by far the best value on the market as of today (12/2012). I started off with an Aeropress and a hand powered burr grinder from Kyocera that made a very very good substitute for Espresso. And my wife and I were very happy with that system. But we found that the time involved kept us from enjoying our morning Espresso as often as we would have liked and I ended up going out pretty often to a local shop when I felt the need. So I began reading reviews online, watching youtube videos and talking to folks to see what my options were. I was pretty pleased to find out that I did have an affordable option available to me..and so I took the plunge. From Amazon I purchased a Baratza Encore grinder ($130), Mr. Coffee ECMP50 ($80), and an Espresso Tamper. I already had an Aerolatte milk frother (Highly recommended). The combination of this equipment produces an outstanding result that is better than a lot of local shops in my area...and probably yours too! If you can afford to spend $250 then THIS is the way to go...and I can assure you that you will not be disappointed in the result. Go out to a local coffee roaster and get a recommended Espresso blend whole bean (FRESH is BEST). Grind it in the Baratza Encore at the 9 setting for the Mr. Coffee ECMP50 and follow the directions to produce the Espresso. Pour milk into your coffee cup and get it hot in the microwave....then use the Aerolatte milk frother to almost double it in volume. Add your flavorings and sweetener as desired and then pour the Expresso into it to enjoy a WONDERFUL treat. Now think about it...if you just spend $4 per drink and buy just 2 per week (1 for you and 1 for your wife) you will spend $416 per year. With the system above you can produce two drinks EVERY DAY for less than $600 for the YEAR (INCLUDING THE COST OF COFFEE BEANS and MILK!) And even if you have to replace the Mr. Coffee every year....you still come out on top of the deal! So you get 7X the coffee at just a little bit more cost than going to a local shop for just 1 per week. How can you beat that deal? Having said all this I again HIGHLY RECOMMEND this system for those who can spend $250 on their equipment and who love Espresso/Cappuccino/Latte drinks. You will NOT be disappointed, I promise you. Life is too short to not enjoy a good Espresso/Cappuccino/Latte...and the economy is too bad to go to your local shop on a regular basis. So make the plunge now and give YOURSELF a present that you will enjoy for years to come. *** 1 Month update **** Everything is still going strong and I have had ZERO problems. The one thing that I now realize is that I should have taken into account the cost associated with cleaning the grinder and Espresso Maker. There are a few options that you can run through your grinder to clean the parts that are not designed to be easily removed for cleaning...but I have not chosen one for recommendation yet. Once I do, I will refactor the the costs shown above and amend them. The cost of cleaning the Espresso machine can be mitigated by using quality water and following the cleaning recommendations in the manual. I do not expect for the additional cost of cleaning to significantly reduce the value....but it is something that should be taken into consideration, as proper cleaning will increase the life span of your equipment and therefore reduce the cost per serving over the performance period. *** 10 Month update *** Well, we have been using this machine for almost a year now and it is going strong. I just cleaned it for the first time to get ready for the fall, when our latte drinking increases. I still highly recommend this machine if you are looking for something in the sub $300 range. Save your money for a good grinder and go with this machine. Quality ingredients, good water, and investing in a good grinder and you are all set to save big $$ while making drinks better than you can buy at Starbucks! **** 32 Month update **** This machine is still are big part of our family routine...and is going strong. I have heard of folks who have had issues with this machine, but can attest that mine is still working great. Again, maintenance is a big part of ensuring that the system operates trouble free. AND, using good quality water. It is easier to NOT gum up the machine, than to have to descale it constantly! While this has been a staple in my home, I am now making the plunge into a more expensive espresso maker. Having gone from prepping for 1 - 2 frequently during the week to 3 every single day, I feel that I can justify the expense of a step up machine that is designed to take that kind of production. But I will always remember this machine, like a first love, it go me though my initial exploration into the wonderful world of espresso. Thank You Mr. Coffee!

There are so many informative reviews, like L. Hamilton's, that I don't need to rehash them. I bought mine for my girlfriend to use as I didn't like coffee. Everything I tried from Starbucks tasted like acid. Along with the unit I ordered some well reviewed Lavazza Gusto espresso bricks. Within minutes I loved coffee (at least the coffee I make). I have since settled on Lavazza Rossa as my go-to blend. Pure arabica doesn't work for me. Does mine leak? Yes. When I forget to empty the tray. Every time the frother is used the leftover water in the steam tank gets purged into the tray and I sometimes forget about this hidden water filling it up. Does my water tank leak? No. I could see that tank seal getting worn from constantly removing the tank. I fill it in place and only remove it for occasional cleaning. If yours is leaking due to wear, smear a dab of silicone plumbers grease around the inlet on the machine that the seal goes over to fill in scratches from use. Is there water under the unit? Occasionally from the steam purge as the tray spout is not air tight. I have sponges for that. Does it froth well? Yes. I took off the rubber tip and put it in the junk drawer as it's another item to clean. I can easily froth whole milk, 2%, skim, half & half, and soy milk whether it's chilled or not. Does super tamping help or really matter? Not that I can tell and over tamping puts strain on the pump. Unlike commercial machines, the included filter baskets force the coffee through a pinhole on the bottom of the filter to produce the crema. Heavy packing is not necessary or desirable. Firm is fine. The only addition I made was an aluminum tamper as coffee likes to stick to the included plastic one. Take reasonable care and keep it clean. Form a routine, including the Dance of the Buttons (stolen from another review) and all will be well. 1. Check tank and add water as needed. 2. Make your shots. Press steam button after last shot as it takes a bit to get ready. 3. Do your frothing. Clean the frother immediately after the last batch as the milk will cook on the tip (if you have removed the rubber thingie) and the stem. If you let it go and the milk has hardened, grab a warm damp sponge and wrap it around the tip for a few seconds until the milk is soft and wipe the tip. There will be a whiteish ring on the tip where it meets the stem. That's the rubber sealer for the tip so don't scrub it off. 4. Run the frother again in open air to clear out the nozzle and sterilize the frother. 5. Rinse out the filter and handle. 6. Run the brewer again without the handle in place for a few seconds to rinse off the brew screen. 7. Empty and rinse the drip tray. 8. Enjoy some fine coffee. Yeah, it's a bit to go through each time you use the machine but the coffee is great and worth it to me for what I paid. Run some Lavazza Rossa, or any fine coffee, through it and you probably won't drink another Starbucks, again. Tip: I like to make cold coffee and cappuccino and hate the grittiness if I have to add sugar. I make up a batch of simple sugar syrup and keep it in a squeeze bottle by the machine. Brew - squirt - froth - drink. My apologies if folks are offended by some of this but some people just don't use common sense. Remember, this is a budget priced home 15 BAR machine that just happens to make great coffee. You're not gonna get a Rolex for 80 bucks. Your gonna get a mass produced somewhat flimsy item and the occasional lemon. Get over it. This unit was bought last year and put to daily use without issue or regret. The only time I had to contact Mr. Coffee about a product, it was out of warranty and they treated me right. If mine breaks I will get another if nothing else is outstandingly better in this price range by then. If I come across any issues I can fix (I'm pretty good at it), I will post a solution. UPDATE 1/2/13: It's been 11 months since I bought this and I regret to say that it's still working fine and I'll just have to find something else to gripe about. Here's a couple of things I forgot to mention: During the occasional deep cleaning (like when you run espresso machine cleaner through the unit), remove the rubber divider from the brew head and clean under there as well. I use a chopstick to coax the 2 rubber nipples into the brew head and the divider comes out. Swipe some cooking oil onto the nipples to make putting it back in much easier. I'll post a pic or two if I can. There is a "Stainless steel 2 cup incremental measuring cup, 1 pc" that I found here that works a treat as a frothing cup. It's the perfect depth. Whew. All this writing - time for a cup of coffee. UPDATE 12/1/14 Another 11 months have gone by (what is it with 11?) and I am still using it without issue. It just keeps going.

For $80, works perfectly for us. Everything about its operation is great, equivalent to far more expensive units we've used. HIghly recommended. But: we repeatedly replace these, every year or two. One might have lasted 2-1/2? We figure we're renting: The thing costs us 10-20 cents a day. We're not at all convinced that a (wildly) more expensive unit would last a lot longer without repair, or would reduce that cost. But ours break because: Heavy usage. We make 4-6 cups a day, 365 days a year. And I make allongatas (Americano basically), so pump is filling a whole mug every time, not just a shot. Mostly a sensor stops working — flashing error lights. (Steaming power went south on most recent one). Even with our good mechanical skills, getting inside the damn thing, plus getting parts and replacing, just isn't worth it. (The sensor that needs replacing, for instance, is glued to the water-heating vessel.) Update April 21 2018. I've owned a bunch of these now over many years — new, used, and refurbished, paid $50–$85. Just ordered another. Takeaway: buy new for $85, with free shipping. It will produce five excellent coffees a day for two+ years, then die. Used or refurbished will die fast (like three months in one case). Pretty much everything is right about this; it just works great. In particular it does NOT run super-heated steam through coffee like the delonghi we bought recently as a try, which we're now selling on craigslist. (Horribly bitter coffee results.) Figure you're renting the thing for $40 a year. Update March 27, 2015. Just died. Flashing lights only. The repair process described on the web is FAR too involved. So two years of daily multi-cup service and good-quality coffee for $75. (My previous cheap Delonghi started breaking within nine months and was dead in 18.) Now maybe a machine that costs five or ten times as much would last longer. But really: five or ten times as long? I'm ordering another one of these. From Nov. 2 2013: Now at seven months and going strong, so it's already outlasted the Delonghi. Just replaced my Delonghi Bar 32 which worked pretty well but disintegrated over 18 months. http://www.amazon.com/review/R20S4H2K6MG0UR/ref=cm_srch_res_rtr_alt_4 Much prefer how this one works. Heats up much faster -- less than a minute, and only about 15 seconds to get steam up to heat after making coffee. With the Delonghi if I let the steam light turn on (so the heating element went off), it would run out of steam power before finishing the steaming. So I had to let the steam heat up to *just before* it got to "ready," so the element would stay on and maintain steam pressure. Annoying management in the early hours of the morning... The steamer is much more effective with plenty of steam power, makes very rich, stiff foam even with whole milk. In general this machine is much "smarter" than the Delonghi. Won't explain boring niggling details but it manages things for you more. And I don't have to refill the water reservoir nearly as often as with the Delonghi. And it's $72 instead of $120. I've had it less than a month, so we'll see how long it lasts.

If you are expecting to get the highest quality coffee experience, then keep looking. However, this machine is perfect if you accept it for what it is, a cheaper espresso machine that is made for easy use. It is super easy to get started and everything is easy to clean. It creates good enough coffee for home use that is about on par with Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and the like. However, it does not compare to the mom and pop coffee shops, but that should be expected at this price range. I really have been impressed with this machine. It does use the weird pressurized portafilter or whatever which is a con for some. However, this helps you with the brewing process as it doesn't matter as much if your grind or pack are off. I have not had an issue with the handle being hard to insert and twist all the way in the machine either. One thing to note, the holes in the portafilter basket deal do not go all the way through by design. Some people have been mentioning in their review they keep getting faulty parts but that is just the way they are manufactured. It is very different coming from ones that have the holes all the way through, but rest assured it works just fine. Others have complained about the difficulty of removing the water tank to refill it as it degrades the seal over time. The solution to this is simple, don't remove the water tank. The top lifts up and over and is still attached. It makes it very easy to just fill it up via filling up a cup and dumping it in. It actually is super convenient as I top it off every time I go to use it. Also, I did purchase an extended 3 year warranty (really just two years since the manufacturer covers the 1st year) for an additional $5 since quite a few mentioned that they had issues after a year. Another common complaint is that the machine vibrates and moves the cups around when it brews. This is due to the finish on the cover for the drain compartment. However, you have to stand at the machine anyways while it is brewing to shut off the flow once you have the desired amount in the cup. You might as well hold it while it fills. However, you can also just set the cup inside a rubber band or something tacky to keep it in place. It is frustrating that this is an issue, but really its an easy fix. One last note, the machine drains into the removable drip catcher after every time you use the steam function. It just about fills to the top with moderate use so be sure to empty it each time. Otherwise you will end up with it overflowing onto your counter. This is what I believe the other reviewers are complaining about. Also make sure it is aligned correctly when you put it back as the back left goes into the machine and is the point of contact for the water to drain out. If it is not aligned correctly it can leak as well. Overall, this is a great machine. It is cheap, easy to use, and creates decent enough results to satisfy my craving for a latte without having to go to a coffee shop. It also saves money in the long run. The pros by far outweigh the cons in my opinion and I'm sure you will love it too as long as you go into it with realistic expectations. I have added photos of the drip catcher with the cover on and off, where the drip catcher aligns in the machine, the water reservoir open, and the filters tops and bottoms.

IMPORTANT TWO YEAR UPDATE!!!! PLEASE READ!!!! YOUR MACHINE MAY NOT HAVE DIED!!!!! I DID THIS &FIXED IT!!!! CHECK YOUR INTERNAL FILTER! THIS IS NOT IN THE MANUAL! See Below! (Original One Year Review Follows, so skip this if you just want a review, but read it if you plan on buying it because it might save you a few years down the road!) It is a good machine for the price! I noticed into the second year that we started having problems with the coffee forming muddy sludge and not being able to tamp it the same as we used to. The espresso wasn't as strong and we thought it was Starbucks grinding the espresso differently. We prefer Illy Brand or other brands, but Starbucks is close and can grind it fresh wo buying a burr grinder. Not my favorite, but does the job for everyday espresso. The machine would stop brewing and we would have to take out the filter & basket, clean it out and replace with new espresso very loosely in the basket. Not very happy about that because it wasn't as strong and was wasting A LOT of espresso! Finally this morning it completely stopped working when I went to get my morning espresso!!!! OH NO!!!!! I tried cleaning it again internally with white vinegar, flushing it with water, but only the steam wand worked and water would only come out if the filter & basket weren't attached. Sadly I thought the seal had died and that was why it would build enough pressure to even allow water to run through the empty filter. I read the manual and there were no. answers. I checked on Amazon and saw sadly that many had theirs die around 2 or 3 years and happily replaced it. I got mine one HUGE sale around Black Friday and really didn't want to wait until next month. I honestly didn't want a new one. SO I went back a few hours later and took a good look at it, deciding it was no longer under warranty and only useful as a milk frother so WHY NOT TAKE A LOOK! DO THIS PART AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!! IT WORKED THOUGH! Take off the catch pan, water reservoir and unplug the machine and turn upside down to empty internal water over the sink. DO NOT PUT IN SINK!!!! Put down upside down on the counter on a towel. You will see in the middle of where you attach the filter and brew basket to the machine a BIG BLACK SCREW! Carefully unscrew the screw, as it's plastic and can strip easily. carefully take it off and be aware there's a spring directly under it that you MUST NOT LOSE! Now you've reached the round, silver INTERNAL FILTER! It is FACE DOWN with the bottom facing towards you (it looks just like the bottom of you filter baskets.) Carefully take it off and look at the side that was facing the machine (when you take it off and flip it over it will be slightly concave-this means you are looking at the top face of the filter.) THIS WAS MY PROBLEM!!!!!! MY INTERNAL FILTER WAS COMPLETELY CLOGGED ON THE TOP FACE (machine side) with espresso grounds forced backwards into it over time and there is NO WAY for them to come out when you clean it regularly as per the manual!!!!! I washed the internal filter and it cleaned easily. I also wiped out the inside with a damp towel gently until clean. I dried everything, replaced the filter front face down, put the screw in with the spring on the end and screwed it back in place. I flipped it over, put everything back together, filled the reservoir and plugged it in. Poof! I started it up and attached the empty filter with the basket and it WORKED!!!!! I ran about 16 shots worth of water through it until no residual grounds came out.Then I filled my double shot with the last of my espresso and attached it and WOW!!!! It was back to new!!!! It EVEN SMELLED like it did when brand new! I had forgotten over time! It had never lost the crema, but the crema was even better and the espresso darker and stronger like in the 1st year!!!! Now I wonder how many people threw theirs out after two or three years because this internal filter gets clogged and there's no instructions how to clean it. Knock on Wood! I hope mine keeps going for much, much longer and I hope I've helped many others save their machine!!!!! Cheers! It REALLY is a good little machine for the price! I grew up and owned the professional ones and WAY more expensive home ones and no, it's not that level, but it's still good espresso. Buy the expensive machines if you want excellent perfection. Read the review below. I still stand by it. :) I bought this machine last year at the beginning of the holiday season as an early Yule/Christmas gift for my whole family. We're still amazed how well it works a year later after daily use (often multiple times a day.) It comes with both single and double shot filters, but I'd prefer if it came with two double shot filters as we never use the single shot. I suggest hand washing the filters. It only takes a second. It comes with a plastic scoop with a plastic tamper on the other end. The scoop is fine, but buy yourself a stainless steel tamper as the plastic is the wrong weight and does not pack the shot properly (too loose.) There was a very reasonable double ended tamper I bought on here that works perfectly. I love that the tray is removeable! It not only makes cleaning easier, but if you want to make it in a mug instead of a demitasse cup for maximum room for foam and you don't want to disturb the crema, remove the tray and just keep a kitchen towel right there for the small amount of water that comes out. After quickly wiping, slide the tray back in! The wand moves back and forth which is super convenient. After steaming milk (I prefer steaming half and half...super rich foam...but trickier to make) put the wand into a glass of clean water and quickly blow some steam through to clear the steaming wand of milk. Cleaning the wand while still warm is much easier. All in all, thrilled that we bought this espresso machine! It was $65, but it went on sale right after I ordered and Amazon adjusted the price! I definitely can't complain about $45!!! Even better, Amazon conveniently carries the brands of flavored syrups (we love peppermint regular and sugar free), chocolate and some really great espresso from Italy, although we do get our daily espresso freshly ground at a local establishment for less. Mr. Coffee don't ever stop making this machine! I even put it back in the box and brought it on our yearly trip to our cabin. Lol, of course that's only possible if you're driving. :) Definitely worth it to have my espresso!!! And we named him "George" :)

UPDATE 02/10/2017 Well, about 2 weeks after my original review the machine started to leak slightly. Initially I thought it was from the drain tube going into the tray after steaming, it was not. It started out as about 1/4 cup of water, and has progressively gotten worse. This morning I went to make my morning coffee and the machine went crazy. It now does not make coffee at all, instead it makes the noise like the pump is running and dumps the entire tank full of water all over the counter. Sorry folks, but for daily or multiple cups a day, this machine simply can't hold up it seems. I'll be spending an extra few dollars and getting the De'Longhi 155 today. Really wish it was a different story, but this thing is no good. I want to start this review by saying that I am a hardcore coffee snob, but I also do not see the need to spend hundreds to make a good espresso. As such, I took a shot at this machine, and I must say that I am really really impressed. The quality of the build on this machine is pretty impressive, the accessories that come with it are usable, and the fill tank is an absolute dream. Since buying this machine I have made easily over 100 shots from it, and I haven't had a single problem. If you grind right this machine will produce an excellent espresso with a nice thick crema. My wife does lattes with this machine every morning and loves it. It does have a lower end steam wand, but it works perfectly to make micro and macro foam depending on the drink. I also really like the basket on the top, and the drip tray is perfect. Priming on this machine takes nearly no time compared to others I have owned as well. The only complaints I have about this machine are the vibration and steam feature. However, it seems the more I use the machine, the more the vibration has decreased. It's no longer so bad it rattles my cup off the drip tray, so that is a plus. For the steam, it just seems there's not a lot of customization on the flow etc. You switch the knob to steam and it is steaming, if you try to turn the knob back a bit it will stop steaming and go into the cleaning cycle. A minor irritation, but an irritation nonetheless. Overall I am happy to give this machine 5 out of 5 stars based on the price and the quality you get for that price. Yes, you can buy a much better machine, but it will cost you a lot of money. For a basic but superb quality espresso, I have no problem recommending this machine to anyone in the market.

I bought this to replace my ‘Starbucks’ Saeco espresso machine which was terrific until the pump broke ...as so many of these do. The Saeco is not made any more (likely because of the difficulty of manufacturing a durable pump for these typical small low priced espresso machines). This Mr. Coffee machine is for the price the best I have found and I did lots of research given I had experienced killer espressos with my Saeco. Most of the complaints in the reviews here can be attributed to people just not being familiar with making espresso. I read through them. For this price, this machine is really very solid and does the job. Follow the instructions: PRIME before beginning to use. That is a must for any new espresso machine. Give yourself time and practice to get it right re tamping etc. Bitter coffee had little to do with the machine or mechanism used. Water dripping slightly after making espresso or steaming milk is normal. It will stop. Get the hang of grinding coffee if you are new at that and get that right. A little practice (which you will need to do using any espresso mechanism if you are new to home espresso making) and you will be good to go. What is particularly swell is that you can steam milk in the cup vs. having to use the classic pitcher. The rubberized sleeve on the steaming wand makes this possible and that is especially fabulous. Pull that sleeve off if you use a metal pitcher and always pull it off after each use and wash it. This model is a good buy. Compared to all the others I saw when I shopped (Amazon, Target, Sur le Table, etc. 7/2019), this is the beet deal re quality for the price. FYI: This doesn’t take ‘pods’ but I don’t and won’t use that ‘pod’ stuff - if you’re into the ‘pod’ system, that’s a whole other thing. Also, this doesn’t grind the coffee and it won’t wash the dishes either... in other words, it pushes out espresso from coffee beans and also provides steam for making steamed (which enables ‘froth’) milk. It doesn’t do anything else. It is what it is supposed to be - an espresso machine. Period. RECOMMENDATIONS: Toss or ignore the tamper/scoop. It is the only part of this package that basically is a ‘nope’. Use the scoop but get a decent STEEL tamper and that is the only downside of this machine as the tamper size is not one that is widely stocked at the usual brick and mortar kitchen supply stores. Amazon has a selection of ones that will work. I am currently testing both a 49mm and 50mm (diameter of the tamping surface) one. DO NOT GET A 51mm TAMPER - these are too large to get the solid and even pressure needed and that is really really really key in getting truly GOOD espresso from these cheap home machines. Helpful also is FRESH ground properly high quality coffee (not Starbucks and Peets et al) but a decent tamping tool really goes a long way in getting a decent cup of ‘Jo from these things. And fill the filter with enough coffee - I typically use French Roast which I grind fresh almost daily and I use a little shy of 3 of those scoops for what is typically understood as a double shot (I never even bother with the single shot filter). I hope this was helpful. I put the time into the research on this, folks, because coffee is a non-negotiable re decency thing. May as well put all of that to use for others. This is a good buy. Don’t pay over $100 for it, though.

EIDT. January 2013: I have now worn my first one of these out,or more accurately beat it to death. It was still working but I had gotten more out of it than I had ever hoped and it was time to retire it and buy another mostly due to operator abuse. I am on my second one for myself and I have given one as a present over a year ago which is still working well. I can't imagine morning without it. **ORIGINAL REVIEW FROM 2009** I had one of those steam pots for making espresso for years. (See my review of the Capresso Mini.) The little steamer was still working fine but I had banged it up a bit over the years. I went in search of a replacement and came across this machine. I am not an espresso nut. For some people creating the perfect shot of espresso is reason to live in itself...not me. I just want a tasty cappuchino in the morning with the minimum of fuss. That is exactly what this machine delivers. The quality is a bit plastic-y...but what would you expect for the price? Even so it is attractive enough that I don't mind it sitting on my kitchen counter. The foot print is a bit bigger than what I was used to with my Mini, but I do not think it is overly large when compared to other pump style espresso machines. Like many other reviewers I immediately removed the rubber tip from the frothing wand and stashed the single-brew porta filter in the back of the junk drawer. doubt I'll ever use either one. The coffee it produces is very good. A real step up from the old steam pot. Steaming for the milk is adequate though hardly robust. Still I have never failed to get the steaming results I wanted, so no complaints. One thing I do like is that the machine can be ready to froth milk in a few seconds without ever having to brew espresso. There are times when I like to use frothed milk in various "Adult" winter beverages, and now it is easy for me to to whip them up anytime. As has been mentioned by other reviewers there is enough room beneith the portafilter (that's "brew basket" to the uninitiated)to place a full sized mug...not that you would want to brew a mug full of espresso all at once, but so that you can directly brew your shot into what will be your final cup. That is the real convenience of this feature. The porta filter basket is a bit strange in that it has a double bottom to it. On the inside there is a layer with very fine holes to act as a filter as one would expect,....but turn the metal filter over and on the bottom there is only one single tiny hole. I believe that this may be a crema enhancing trick, but I am not sure about that. What I do know is that I have never seen another one like it. I also know that it causes a lot of constriction to the brewing of the coffee. Perhaps it is designed to make the dosing and tamping less critical in achieving a good cup of espresso? I do not have the answer, but so far it works, so I'm not complaining. If you buy this espresso maker you will also need to get a tamper. The plastic one that comes with the machine is pretty flimsy. I got this one: RSVP Terry's Tamper Which fits properly and does the job just fine without a lot of expense or fanfare. If you are thinking about trying an espresso machine, but are not sure if a fancy one is worth the expense, this is a great choice. UPDATE: After 9 months I haven't had a single issue with durability. I have discovered by trial and error that it is possible to over pack the filter basket (portafilter) and when that happens the pump struggles. But by now I have gotten my "dosing" down to a system and I always get excellent results. The leaking that other reviewers mention is caused because the pump purges into the drip tray when you are done brewing. If the drip tray isn't emptied regularly, or if it isn't seated in the base correctly it will leak water onto thte counter. The instructions tell you this. I have never had a leak problem with my unit. I love this machine! I wold buy another without hesitation if I had need of one, or I would give one as a gift with confidence. Good job, Mr. Coffee!

Was suggested to buy a stabilizer. Did so and it still stopped working on the first day

Excellent machine - love it@

Es una excelente cafetera y a un muy buen precio. El exprés sale concentrado y con espuma. Es la segunda que compro, la primera la usé diario varios años. Muy recomendable.

Bought the machine for my wife and she loves it. So far so good.

Bien equipada, buena temperatura, fácil de manejar, espumea perfecto, con un lindo diseño, super bien para las cocinas modernas, RECOMENDABLE.