Saeco Aroma Espresso Machine

We bought this espresso machine after doing a fair bit of research and sifting through reviews. We didn't want to spend $1000 dollars for a machine that had features we knew we wouldn't use.

Things we love about this espresso machine: It's very easy to use. After a quick scan through the manual we were up and running and had our first shot of espresso. The crema is great on this machine and very consistent. We also love the sleek stainless steel design, it looks great on the counter top. The water tank is large and we can easily make espressos for a large crowd without running out of water. And it's easy to refill even while the machine is on. We've positioned it next to the sink so we just pull out the hose of our faucet and run the water directly into the tank- no fuss! The hot water feature is great too. When we have this one we'll use it for tea and other drinks as well.

Things that could be better: We had problems with steaming milk. The frother would fly off of the machine and eventually we had to have the nozzle replaced. Although dealing with Saeco Customer Service was excellent we received the replacement part with no hassle the next day. The nozzled stayed on but we still have some problems frothing milk. The pitcher has to be ice cold as does the milk. So it's a bit finicky but now that we know it's quirks we can produce a very decent latte.

Another issue we had was with the portafilter getting clogged. We found after a few shots the drip would be very slow and we wouldn't get a good shot of espresso. We switched from the espresso grind to a more coarse grind and this problem has stopped.

Overall we love this espresso machine. It's great value for the price, and is built solidly - it's heavy you can tell! We can't imagine life without an espresso machine since getting our Saeco Aroma. After a month we got rid of our regular coffee maker. It's great being able to make a fresh cup in minutes each morning.