Mr. Coffee ECM160 four-Cup Steam Espresso Machine
- Steam espresso machine brews one to 4 cups (twenty ounces)
- Removable frothing support powerful milk frother for creamy cappuccinos
- Decanter with measuring marks, remain-awesome deal with, and drip-cost-free pouring spout
- Cup warmer detachable drip tray cord storage measuring scoop involved
- Measures 8 by 6-1/2 by ten-one/two inches
Can make tasty espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes. Powerful milk frother. four-Cup ability: 20-ounce. For each shot. Removable drip tray. Straightforward to pour decanter. Detachable frothing aid. On/off indicator gentle.
Listing Price tag: $ 49.99
Value: $ 38.89
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RECESSION SPECIAL!,
I’ve had this machine for over a year. I have tried other machines, even a pump. It makes good cappuccinos/lattes when the milk is steamed properly at the right temperature. If your only into espresso shots, I would go with a pump.
PROS
-Inexpensive, Small
-Frother is strong, plastic tip is removable
-Quiet (then a pump machine)
-Latte art hearts (SEE picture)
CONS
-Supplied tamper is just a slightly flattened end of the coffee scooper.
-No frothing pitcher.
-Multiple shots requires de-pressuring the machine.
NOTES
-If your making a 4 cup, it has a hard time pushing thru a 4 cup filled basket. You have to compensate by tamping very lightly.
-Descale it if it becomes slow.
-Sometimes excess water builds the tank. I believe this causes the machine to become less efficient. Run an empty cycle to remove the water every once in a while.
EDIT
Want to note a routine that ensures the brew process is the same everytime.
From a cold start, brew just water into a cup, no coffee, no filterbasket. This will warm the cup. You will be able to open the top ‘slowly’ with out it exploding with pressure (Warning: this is ONLY on a cold start). After this… then proceed as normal. This will warm up the machine so when it does the brew process it will be more efficiently. This method also clears out the problem of water ‘building’ up in machine causing inefficient brew times.
EDIT 2
The coffee beans itself can create a huge difference in the brewing process. There are so many factors in how the machine could produce bad results. The beans can be: too fine, too coarse, too old, too oily, tamp too hard, tamp too light etc etc. Unfortunately the brew has to be perfect for the steamer to work properly in the end. SO essentially if your beans are too old and the grind too coarse, the coffee will brew so fast that not enough pressure will build up to be available for the steamer to work immediately.
Also want to note I added a picture of a latte heart I made, just to prove minimal latte art is somewhat possible with this machine.
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|Great Buy,
Love this product. I read all the other reviews before buying, so I knew it didn’t come with a steaming pitcher and ordered one to go with it. However, I didn’t realize that it didn’t come with an espresso tamper either. I would have ordered one had I known, now I have to wait for the one I ordered to come in and hope it fits this machine. Would have given it 5 stars, but as a former barista, I know that to make a good latte I need a steaming pitcher and a tamper. So for an espresso machine not to come with these items is like getting a pair of sneakers with no laces. I have had no problem with leaking, and as long as the user READS THE INSTRUCTIONS, they shouldn’t have any problems either. For $40, I’ve already gotten my money’s worth in the last week. And anyone interested in buying, I would say “GO FOR IT!!!” but order a steaming pitcher and espresso tamper along with it.
Note: P.S. Get a 49mm espresso tamper to go with it. Doesn’t fit “perfectly” but its as close as I could find that wouldn’t be too big.
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|don’t buy a $300 espresso machine, buy this one,
I bought this at Targét for $29, and it is freaking awesome. To the two reviewers above… if you actually read the manual you would know that the cord underneath the base can be unraveled to the desired length. This is to eliminate excess cord on your countertop.
Anyway, I discovered I was spending almost $200 at Starbucks… a near crack habit. My previous espresso machine broke over the summer–a $300 Gaggia. Prior to the gaggia I had a krups.
So I plunked down a few bucks for this one knowing I was taking a wee gamble. Usually you get what you pay for.
Let me tell ya, this little machine is great. First, it is super super quiet. My previous machines were deafening especially when frothing. Secondly, it takes up little space. Third, it’s fairly nice looking and matches our coffee maker. And of course last, it makes great lattés.
So, don’t waste your money on some huge hulking espresso machine that will only last a few years. This one does the job and won’t cause ear trauma.
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