CASABREWS Espresso Machine 20 Bar, Compact Cappuccino Machine with Automatic Milk Frother, Stainless Steel Espresso Maker With

6 reviews for CASABREWS Espresso Machine 20 Bar, Compact Cappuccino Machine with Automatic Milk Frother, Stainless Steel Espresso Maker With

1. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Neat – June 24, 2023

   This espresso machine is great! I decided to buy it after much research and based off of their very detailed informational video (videos are on YouTube too). Although, Casabrews currently does not have an active website, you can still contact them through Amazon and Facebook messaging. They’re very responsive. I also suggest downloading the instructional and informational literature on this page, but all of this documentation does come with the product, as well.The espresso is delicious, and just as described and displayed in the video. It’s rich, flavorful, velvety and full-bodied. It’s extracted with its own espresso foam, known as crema, which is flavorful, velvety and smooth. The coffee is not bitter, sour or unpleasant like that of a traditional coffee maker. This is like a professional, café-style machine.I suggest purchasing ground espresso coffee (and it should be espresso coffee with an espresso grind) instead of grinding your own beans into an espresso grind, unless you have some fancy, intelligent grinder that makes the perfect grind automatically. Otherwise, you risk the chance of over or under grinding and it’ll completely ruin the coffee. I tried the illy Intenso Ground Espresso Coffee, Bold Roast and it’s delicious. It also does suggest storing it in the fridge.The steamer also makes great fluffy, frothy foam. They suggest whole milk for the perfect frothy, creamy, thick foam, but I use 2% milk to keep it lighter because it’s 60 calories and 2.3g fat per 1/2 cup, as opposed to 80 calories and 4g fat for whole milk. Also, although you have to fill the steamer basket to the minimum line, it’s only about 1/2 cup and you’ll only use between 1/4 and 1/2 cup of milk, depending on whether you make a cappuccino or latte (which is twice as much milk as cappuccino) and where you make a single or a double. I always make a double so it uses about 1/3 cup for a double cappuccino (9.6 ounces) and about 1/2 cup for a double latte (14.5 ounces).I also find that there’s not much difference between 2%, 1% and fat free milk and the 2% makes the best foam, after whole milk. It comes out perfect and fluffy and frothy, and lasts a while. I also tried oat milk and almond milk and those didn’t work well.I also like to add allulose syrup to sweeten it up a bit. Allulose is sugar free and the only sugar free sweetener that I like (after 30 years of searching and trying everything out there). It has no aftertaste whatsoever, that I can detect. I’ve tried all the sugar free sweeteners, even pure Stevia at $50 per ounce and the popular Swerve, aka erythritol, which has a menthol after effect. I like the sugar free allulose syrups by RxSugar, especially the chocolate (and I use the caramel and French vanilla too). Just put a little in the bottom of the mug before making your espresso, cappuccino or latte and then carefully mix with a stirrer, or tea or baby spoon, once it’s done.The machine does put the steamed (foamed) milk in the mug first, for cappuccino and lattes, before adding the espresso, but it still works out where there’s foam on the bottom and foam on the top. It’s a perfect blend and still a lot of froth on top! However, if you like you’re foam strictly on top, the machine is programmable to do this. Just make your espresso (single or double shot). When it’s done, add your foam by pressing the Cappuccino button for 3 seconds, until it beeps, and it will start making the foam. When it’s at a level you like, just press the Cappuccino button again and it’ll stop. It’ll also save this setting for the next time, so when you hold in the Cappuccino button for 3 seconds to make your foam separately, it’ll automatically stop to where you stopped it previously. To clear this setting, press the cappuccino and espresso buttons together for 5 seconds, until it beeps.You can also customize how much espresso goes into your espresso drink or how much espresso and foam goes into your cappuccinos and lattes. You just press the espresso button for 3 seconds, until it beeps and all the lights will be blinking, then to customize an espresso size, press the espresso button once for a single shot or twice for a double shot and when it reaches your desired amount, just press the espresso button again to stop.For cappuccino, same thing, except, after pressing the espresso button for 3 seconds until it beeps and lights are blinking, press the cappuccino button once for single shot, twice for double shot. The machine will start making the foam. Once the foam has reached your desired amount, press the cappuccino button again. Then, the machine will start making the espresso. Once the desired amount of espresso is reached, press the cappuccino button again to stop. Again, this cappuccino setting will be saved for next time (for single or double – whatever you selected).Same thing applies for lattes, except instead of pressing the cappuccino button for foam and espresso, you press the latte button.The difference between cappuccino and latte, besides a latte having twice as much milk, is that the foam is more airy, whearas the cappuccino foam is more dense and stiff.In any case, I highly recommend this machine! I’ve been loving my morning espresso beverage and I look forward to it and love getting up in the morning so I can make a delicious, velvety, bold, reviving espresso drink!I’ve been drinking coffee for over 30 years, every day and I loved it, but ever since I started using no sugar (and couldn’t find a sugar free sweetener that I liked until now – allulose) and using fat free or light milk or non dairy creamer, instead of cream, and just the quality from the traditional coffee makers, I haven’t been enjoying coffee and have actually gone days without it! But with this espresso maker, I love my morning coffee beverage and look forward to it with anticipation and excitement as to what concoction I’m going to have today!You can even make the espresso ahead of time and refrigerate it to have iced espresso, cappuccino or latte. Just make the foam separately and add. The foam will be hot, but it will quickly cool in the cold espresso and added ice cubes. I also suggest making espresso ice cubes to reduce wateriness.Sorry, for going on and on, but this is a big purchase for many people and the more information, the better. If course, everything is all biased and based on my own opinion and likings, but I definitely wouldn’t rant and rave about a product that I didn’t like or thought was sub par or even just okay.On that note, there are three things that I didn’t like. One was that the espresso basket is a little tricky getting into place and locking. Sometimes, you have to line it up a few times to get it in right and lock into place. It should go in easily without force.Second, I didn’t like that there’s not enough space for a 14-16 ounce tall mug between the tray and espresso basket. I use the glass mugs and they’re more tall and thin, than short and wide. Even though the tray is removable, the space is still tight and you have to tilt the glass quite a bit to remove it from under the espresso basket, which causes spillage, and is just difficult to remove the glass.I also tried removing the espresso basket along with the glass, but that was a fail because there’s still not enough room to remove them from the tray and then the grinds got all in my drink!I wish the space between the tray and espresso basket was taller, or the bottom most tray was completely removable so you could bring the machine to the edge of the counter and hold the cup underneath it, or rest it on a lower table or stool, while it makes the espresso drink.But these really aren’t issues, if you just use a short, wide mug. I just like drinking mine in a clear glass. I’m weird, but it enhances my enjoyment of the drink. I couldn’t find short, wide coffee glasses that were bigger than 10 ounces. I finally found soup bowls with handles that look just like jumbo coffee mugs that are short and wide and are 20 ounces and fit perfectly.Other than that, this machine has exceeded my expectations, and I’ve never said that about a product that I’ve purchased online, out of the hundreds of products that I’ve bought online over more than 15 years!If you buy this, it’ll become your new best friend. I hope you enjoy it a latte!

2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   MaryBethK – July 30, 2023

   I wanted to replace my old espresso machine. For months I have been writing down the features I would want in a new espresso machine. This popped up on Amazon and I was actually afraid it was too cheap. The features it had for under $200 seemed too good to be true. Finally, I took the plunge and got it. It is great! I am pretty experienced with making espresso, capuccino and lattes and this Casabrews compact with milk frother is very well thought out.A couple of words from my experience with the machine.First, you need to have a “GOOD” burr coffee bean grinder to get it fine enough….almost like flour.Next, you need a couple of smaller containers handy. One container to get the first shot of hot water from the milk frother because, after you clean it with water, the first shot is water, not foamed milk. The 2nd Container you need handy is to get a shot of hot water to warm up the portafilter and also to run some water through the milk frother to keep milk from solidifying and clogging it up.The simplicity of the automated functions are great. The little pressure guage to be sure you have the right grind to pour a shot is great. The auto shut off to save electricity is great. AND there is 3-5/8″ below the filter to fit my favorite capuccino mug.Really, if this machine lasts for years with normal de-scaling, it will be the best espresso value on the planet. Thank you Casabrew. PS I did not get any compensation for this review, other than they helped my avoid $500 over the more expensive machine I was considering.

3. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Brendan – July 23, 2023

   We have only used this a few times so far and are impressed with this machine. Out of the box it was easy to set up and figure out. We are happy with the amount of coffee made with the different settings so far. Previously we had and returned a Mr Coffee because it made less than half of what the instructions said it would. My only complaints so far about this machine are the tamper only fits in the double shot filter cup, not the single one. We pretty much only use the single shot cup, making the nice tamper it comes with useless and are forced to use the plastic tamper attached to the end of the plastic measuring spoon. The other complaint I have about this machine is the filter cups do not lock into the portafilter, so they come out when trying to tap out the coffee puck out. I found scooping the coffee puck out of the filter cup is the best way to clean them out before giving them a rinse.

4. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   B. Morgan – August 2, 2023

   The machine itself is great Amazon’s fulfillment left something to be desired as the first one was a returned item that was missing pieces. The item was eventually replaced, but just know that you may very well receive one that cannot be used because they resent a returned item and marked it as new.Casabrews was wonderful in getting the missing items quickly sent to me.The machine and company are great. Amazon’s usually good standards were disappointing.

5. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   DM – June 21, 2023

   I have been using this machine non-stop for about 3 weeks now. My husband and I are a bit obsessed – what started as a way to save a couple of bucks a day has turned into a latte in the morning, a latte at lunch, and a latte before bed… and we love it! We use oat and almond milk, and the frother does well although it has issues with some milk consistencies. We have found suitable milk alternatives for the machine, though, and no problems since then. The milk reservoir did crack at the top, but Amazon is helping to resolve the issue.If you are looking for a great machine that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, this is it!

6. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Buddy W – July 31, 2023

   This is a finely made little machine. I am a stickler for quality, and it is there. It makes a fine cup of espresso. I cannot complain, especially for the price. I should mention I don’t use the milk (latte) part on the side because I’m too lazy for the cleanup. I just use it for espresso only.