Capresso EC Select 120.05 Espresso Machine

Capresso 120. 05

After a couple of months it is doing great. Really nice cremea and that is compared to a few more expensive Gaggia units I have had.

Good crema...poor construction

This machine does quickly pull good shots with lots of crema. However, the portifilter is very lightweight aluminum, and difficult to attach. The gasket won't allow one to center the handle without extreme effort, so ports are misaligned over my shot glasses. And even at off- center it is very difficult to remove. I have to put my left arm on top and apply all my weight and force to get the portifilter off. Then, due to some design factor when I tap it on the knock box it sprays coffee juice all over the wall behind. As for quality control, I was wiping the screen on the group head when a little screw dropped out on the catch basin. It turned out to be a mounting screw holding the top of the case in place! One final note: the manual says to be careful of the warming plate on top. That it is hot. It is barely warm. Thinking about returning....

Works well and is a great starter

I bought this as a way to test my ability to make time for an espresso routine and learn the basics, so it is perfect for that. I follow the workflow from Mark's video and it does indeed make a nice quick latte. Right now I need fast and easy. Dialing in grinds, accurate tamping and waiting for machines to heat up aren't things I have time for. Sure quality suffers, but I am ok with that. So far it's been great to mix up my drip coffee routine or make a late morning latte. It's been helpful to see where I cut corners and know what to look for in future machines. One example being the Select's steam arm. It burns milk onto it every time i use it and requires cleaning with soap every time, not just a quick wipe down. Cool touch wand might be in my future to prevent that headache. Pro's: -Fast and easy -Quick to temp -Great way to supplement that last cup or afternoon filler without having to make a pot Cons: -Milk frother burns milk on every time -Not the best quality but above the pricepoint