wirsh Espresso Machine, 20 Bar Semi-Automatic Espresso Maker with Pressure Gauge, Steam Wand, Stainless Steel Expresso Coffee Machine for Espresso/Latte/Cappuccino, Touch Screen,Home Barista Plus

For an entry level machine this is a SUPERB value and will pull exceptionally good shots if you read the directions and follow a few simple universal truths about making espresso. No machine instantly produces great espresso by just pressing a button. Preparation is key, and thats the same whether it's a $100 or $1000 machine. The courseness/fineness of the coffee grounds matter. The amount of coffee you cram into the portafilter matters. Tamping pressure matters. So if you are an absolute beginner, then check out the million videos out there to learn about all the do's/don'ts/variables that go into pulling the perfect espresso shot. But if this is not your first rodeo, you understand the art of making espresso, and you are just looking for a solid espresso machine for home at a great value, this is the one. I don't need to go into much detail on all the positive aspects noted in the description and in other reviews. It's awesomely slim/compact, heats up quickly, has a large removable water reservoir and very capable steaming wand. However, a common negative aspect I've seen in a few other reviews relates to experiencing excessive wait times between functions, most notably between ability to pull shots after using the steaming wand. I can say with confidence this is not an issue when armed with a basic understanding of how the machine works and possibly incorporating a small change to the production process. I believe this noted drawback is squarely related to the temperature/heating capacity of the machine. And for this machine, at this price point, what you don't get is an adjustable water temperature setting. Love it or hate it, the machine comes preset for only two temperature levels, one for making espresso, one for making steam via the frothing wand. So if you pull a shot, then steam some milk, then try to immediately go back to pull another shot, you will more than likely encounter the frustration of the "blinking lights" while it tries to cool itself back down to the lower espresso brewing temperature. By itself, this cooling process is exceptionally long, but if you are impatient like me, while all the lights are blinking, you can simply just eject hot water out of the wand (not steam, just hot water...like you're making an americano) and the temperature will quickly lower to enable another shot to be pulled within a few seconds. A few ounces of hot water will be wasted, but thats the tradeoff for saving time. I have had absolutely no issues pulling two espressos back-to-back, then hitting the steam button (i.e., raising the water temp) and frothing milk for both drinks. As for taking too long to heat up, I've never experienced that yet and would certainly recommend returning the machine if that happens to you. The 1450W thermo-block heater in this Wirsh product literally takes 15 seconds or less to be ready to extract. So for me, this is an exceptionally good espresso maker that sits comfortably on my limited counter space next to my regular drip coffee maker and bean grinder. It looks great, cleans up easily, and consistently delivers a few tasty latte's or cappuccinos a day. I love this machine, especially under $150.

I came from another machine that was not a good experience. The only negative with this machine was my fault - I should have bought the barista plus which has the pressure gauge. But now I get to learn how to produce espresso with good taste, crema, and visually appealing. This machine continually amazes me: 1. The manual actually reads well and has good information. 2. I can EASILY insert/remove the portafilter basket. 3. I use a puck screen, so cleaning the machine after brewing a double shot is a breeze! 4. I can use a fine grind espresso bean and produce a very good shot! The pressurized basket continually produces a shot that's rich in color, taste and appearance. It is very "forgiving" in the amount of coffee used, the actual grind used, and the amount of coffee used. The taste continually amazes me! 5. The non-pressurized basket just blew my mind! The machine I came from would not work at all with a non-pressurized basket. I had to have a bit of help from the support staff, and now am producing shots that have excellent crema, superb taste and rich color. I have learned to use a scale (I use 15 grams of coffee per double-shot, a shot time of 31 seconds - and I can reproduce these results every time! 6. I can produce superb silky frothed mike. The frothing wand REALLY works well! 7. And last but not least - the support staff are excellent! They went above and beyond helping me to learn how to use a bottomless portafilter. I have high respect for the team. Thank you! I use a scale, timer, dozer, 30lb tamper, good burr grinder, WDT distributor, milk frothing pitcher (I like gadgets!). And even though I don't have a pressure gauge I am learning how to produce excellent expresso and frothed milk (I use Italian sweet creme, but I can use practically anything to froth). The company is good, the staff superb, and the product is awesome. It would be fun to use the bean-to-cup model, but I don't feel I have to. This machine allows me to have a good cup of espresso and have fun while doing it!

After several months of use, I can finally put something together here. The size is fantastic compared to the cheaper boiler models and even the high-end models, so it's easy to store. It's also not a bad unit for travel because of the slim profile. Really easy to use, once you figure out the order of espresso first, then steam second. It's extremely fast to heat the water, compared to the cheap models. My only gripe is that the espresso cup will vibrate off of the plate while pulling shots. The smooth stainless steal plate wasn't a good design. Overall a good value and 4 out of 5 for me.

Got this yesterday, and fired it up this morning. Easy to operate, not too noisy (after my De Longhi Stilosa that I had to junk because it started leaking all over the place), and a lot more compact—I have limited counter space, but I actually have room to leave this one on the counter instead of storing it underneath. Plus, the base has four little suction cups that keep it stationary while it’s running, instead of the vibrations sending it galloping all over the counter. Not too long to warm up, makes a good cup of espresso, and a good latte….a plus is that the steamer actually makes a good froth from oat milk. Stainless steel—no plastic parts touch any food ingredients except the tank, and it is BPA free, in case you’re worried about that. The price is also right—I am not a coffee snob, and I have no intention of spending $800-1000 for a gadget I may not use every day. Comes with a stainless steel tamper, and an instruction booklet, quite clear in spite of its broken English (one of the situations on the troubleshooting list is “less grease,” and I’m still scratching my head over that one). Easy to clean, if you’re consistent about it. So far, I think it’s a great little machine for the money!

This machine cannot make a warm cup of espresso. The proper serving temperature of an espresso in the cup is between 160° F and 165°F (70–74°C). This is virtually impossible to reach with this machine. Instead, this machine produces a cold, poor tasting cup of espresso with a weak crema that goes away in a few seconds. If you start making coffee by placing an espresso cup in the warming tray at the top of the machine, and proceed to make the coffee according to directions, the temperature of the coffee in the cup is about 122 F (50 C). By the time you sit down, the coffee is likely closer to 113 F (45 C), or less. This is unacceptable. It is virtually impossible to make a warm cup of espresso. Even if you use the hot water dispenser to pre-heat the cup, the final temperature of the espresso does not approach 160 °F, the minimum serving temperature for espresso. The same conclusion applies if you run water through the filter holder (called the "metal funnel") to preheat the cup before making espresso. This machine has other shortcomings: 1) Unlike other machines, the filter holder does not warm up when the machine is turned on. As a result, the filter holder is cold when you make the first cup of espresso. Hence, the water used to make the first cup is cooled even further by the filter. This is probably a main reason why the cup comes out at a temperature of 122 F, way too cold. 2) The machine vibrates so much when brewing that the cup moves around on the drip tray, and the coffee misses the cup. 3) The holes in the filter holder are too far apart for a standard espresso cup. So the coffee misses the cup when making a double cup, 4) The included tamping tool is very flimsy. It won't last long if you subject it to 33 to 40 lbs of tamping pressure that is recommended in the included manual. 5) The tamping tool is too large for the double-cup brewing filter, making it impossible to apply the "2 step dose & tamp method" that is recommended in the included manual. The narrowing shape of the double-cup filter makes it impossible for the tamping tool to reach the bottom of the filter, so it is not possible to tamp the first dose. 6) The tray at the top of the machine is designed to warm your espresso cup, but that doesn't work. Even after half an hour on the tray, the cup has barely warmed. These are all shortcomings that other machines in the same price range have overcome.

I'm not new to brewing espresso, but needed a new machine. When I saw the $500 and up price tags for the medium and high level machines, I thought perhaps those machines went to buyers who cancelled Starbuck's and used the money they saved to buy those coffee makers. I have used it for about a month, with excellent results. The reviewers who say that the Wirsh machine has no heat adjustment are WRONG. You can raise or lower the water up to 2 degrees C up or down, in two step of 1 degree each. Search it online, or read the manual. I suspect that most of these machines have the same water pressure pumps from Italy, and the higher priced ones come adorned with dials for for temperature, coffee scales, grinders, timers and other do-dads that raise the price. This one is basic. It's all steel, from what I can see. Only the off/on lever on the side, a finger hold on the steam pipe and the coffee bean hopper are plastic. It's done everything I've asked it to do. if you grind correctly and follow puck technique, you'll get a wonder cup of java. The 2 cup basket does not hold 18gms of grounds. I bought bigger 51mm bottomless basket here that works with up to 20 gms of grounds. and a bottomless portafilter, both of which make it easier to see the coffee as it comes from the machine. The Wirsh comes with a usable tamper on the one end of the stem and a 5gm spoon on the other, all steel. But bare bones otherwise. Get you own scale, tamper, leveler, and a grinder. The last is the most important, as it will enable you to create finer or courser grinds for different roasts of beans. I got mine on Amazon. Longevity is another thing. But even if it only lasts a year, I'll get five years of coffee, for the price on one expensive machines.

This espresso maker is stylish and takes up little counter space. The water reservoir is in the back but is easy to fill so I don't see this as a real issue. If your cabinets are in the way, just slide the unit forward. The drip tray comes with a floating pin that will alert you if it is getting full. Nice feature. Better yet though the tray can be removed easily, making room for a large coffee cup if you're planning on a latte or cappuccino. It is simple to operate but it sure helps to read the instructions. I've seen some complaints about the coffee temperature. The instructions read to warm up the unit with the portafilter in place. You can also run a cycle through it with no grounds just to get it good and hot before you add you grounds. I also pre-heat my cup and the result is a beautiful hot espresso with a nice crema. The frothing wand is long and movable making it easy to froth your milk. I use oat milk and it is easy to froth it up and double the volume in the container. I still struggle with getting a beautiful flower pattern but that's me, not the machine! If you want to follow up frothing with a second cup of espresso, it only takes seconds to get the temperature back down. With the espresso button flashing you simply open the frothing lever and it will drain hot water until the temperature comes down, stopping automatically. You are now ready to start your next cup. All in all, I couldn't be happier with this machine. Works great, simple to operate, fast, and makes a great espresso!

Wirsh Espresso Machine 15 Bar: This machine does the job in a pinch. I picked this one after probably 3 days of researching and deep diving reviews. And asked for this machine for Christmas. (Or was it birthday?) I've only used it a handful of times and while my knowledge of espresso taste isn't *magnificent*, I've worked on and off at cafes for about 3 years. The taste is fine, IMO. I have no big pros to this machine, unfortunately. It's compact and takes up almost no counter space. The lattes when they finally come out, are fine enough. My issue is the extreme delay and cool down between functions. If you're SOLELY getting this to make iced espresso drinks, this will work fine for you I think. However let's say I want a hot Latte. What I choose to do first is steam my milk, so my espresso isn't just sitting around for forever. (Which- it wouldn't sit around, if cool down time on this machine was in a sensible time frame) So, the steaming portion does pretty well. You do have to shoot a bit into a mug to get rid of the first bit of pointless water that fills up in it, like a tablespoon or so. No biggie. It gets the milk hot, I can get a good froth and overall I'm happy with that. But then the dreaded pulling of the shots. I clean the wand, make sure the knob is completely off, all that jazz. I press the espresso button and it just...blinks at me. And continues to blink. Not rapidly like something is wrong, just that it needs to cool down. I try turning it off for a few minutes, I've unplugged it before and it makes no difference. I'm unsure if it's needing to heat up (again?) Or cooling down. I kid you not, between Steaming milk and waiting for my shot, I put breakfast on the table for my son, and we got through halfway of eating before I heard it kick on and start doing its job. So if you're buying this in hopes to impress your friends with fancy lattes and such, I wouldn't count on it for that. Or if you're in any type of hurry, lol. I'm pretty sure we're past the return period, and at least it "functions" but at the end of the day I wish I'd chosen something else.