So I recently purchased this machine, got it used at a steep discount and after watching this video felt like I made a huge mistake, but after using it a few times I have to really disagree with your review. I worked as a barista for almost six years at a number of small cafes and international chains using everything from a La Marzocca to super-automatics like they have at Starbucks - I am definitely not an expert, but I have spent a lot of time making espresso, and this is probably my favorite home machine I've used so far. Probably not worth the retail price, but for the $270 I spent it was a great deal. 1. Regarding the grinder, definitely slower than a commercial machine but honestly not slow enough that I think its a negative - I probably wouldn't have thought much about it unless you pointed it out. I also think the grind settings are a little sensitive, but nothing that seems ridiculous based on my experience working with grinders in a commercial settings. 2. The portafilter does absolutely suck, especially for the retail price of the machine, and it is a bummer that they're using the three prong design instead of the more standard two prong, but its still fairly easy to find better, 3 prong 58mm portafilters online. So I think your claim stating that it would be impossible to find a better one misleading because I was able to find a bottomless portafilter that fits this machine very easily. 3. It took me about three tries to dial in my shot and get it in the 25-30 sec range with a good crema using a non-pressurized basket. That's about par for the course honestly. Either this machine has the worst quality control out there, or the issues you ran into are user error.
@@Crazyman1338 The model I got was used off of ebay, but I think the deal you got for it brand new is still pretty good! I purchased the Kressel brand 58mm three prong bottomless portafilter.
do you mind sharing what setting you use for your beans? i’ve tried to dial mine in forever now, using fresh beans and distilled water and i’m trying to make a recipe for the beans i use from my local coffee shop, but no matter what the shots seem to be severely under-extracted; i see he uses the setting “2” in the video, almost all the way fine, but when I try to use a setting that low the grinder over heats and the red light flashes so a little guidance would be awesome! again i understand there are discrepancies so there’s no “one size fits all” fix to this, but just knowing where someone else has theirs set will really help me at least get a ball park range!
bought the non-grinder version for $50 😂 it's my first time making espressos and I can tell its not the best and the seller included a high quality non-pressurized portafilter. It's tedious to get a consistent espresso but overall not too bad. I definitely recommend upgrading the portafilter and it's a much better experience
One thing to have an opinion, another to give the wrong information. That's just being lazy and not doing your research. The portafilter is a less common design but not proprietary, there are other espresso makers which use it, and there are plenty of aftermarket "3-ear" portafilters available, including bottomless ones.
Hey Joel, You did say some good points but I think you review is unfair and you presented it in a way that's just too negative. You should consider making another review and actually doing your due diligence into making it. A few points ( FYI, I bought the machine brand new from a reputable store 4 months ago): 1. You can't buy a used machine (especially for $200) and claim its in perfect shape. That's just not how reviews work (unless you are trying to make a "used" review). You need a "credible" reference point. 2. I do agree with that the portafilter is crap. but again, I bought a bottomless one for $30 and solved that problem. The tamper is crap as well, I agree. However, I think as long as the machine can make decent shots, and it can, those don't matter as much. 3. The grinder steps are a bit iffy, but its one of those things if you spend a few more minutes to figure out and once you do, you can easily dial in (with a scale yes), I actually use it as a single dose grinder so I just put the amount of coffee I want every single time. if may be slower than other grinders, but to some one who enjoys making espresso, 30-45 seconds (its not painful) is not bad at all. I think your machine may be faulty, that why you had too much trouble wit it. 4. When you made the shot, You are claiming you only have 4 steps to go. I never gotten below step 8 using different beans. That's just not right. your beans are either awfully old or the machine is busted. 5. I get perfect dry puck that drops right out with the non-pressurized basket every time. how ever, yes, its watery and nasty if I try to use the pressurized one. but I really don't anymore, I agree with you on the point that a true espresso is made with a non-pressurized basket.
Yeah I agree with you I got the machine used on eBay I thought I said that. But yeah it was just a ruff experience for me and I was probably extra annoyed with it since I blasted through about 2 lbs of beans and just had frustrating results most of the time. But I guess that’s my point for people that this is marketed to beginners mostly this is a difficult machine to master. I would probably recommend getting the non grinder built in model and just get a good grinder it’ll end up costing around the same anyways
I got the one without the grinder ,I use a separate grinder , I love mine been using it least 7 month ,used everyday !! In all honesty I use the pressurized filter it makes things way easy to enjoy the day !
Separate grinder would be great I’m still frustrated by the implementation of the 58mm portafilter but it’s atleast it’s closer to the standard. I will say when u use a pressurized basket it will make it easier but your not getting a true espresso in my opinion. If you plan to only use the pressurized basket you myswell get a super automatic. Again that’s just my opinion
I bought the same one. I love it. I'm currently using a bottomless portafilter that picked up on Amazon for like $20...totally worth it. Loading between 19 and 20g baskets and using my burr grinder....love it.
I'm very disappointed as I didn't know the portafilter is plastic inside. I've never seen such a thing---what a shame. Don't companies know that many people don't want hot water going through plastic in something we drink???
@@JoeyVaracalli I saw the Gaggia, but I was concerned after reading the reviews bc it seems like a steep learning curve. I had a Flair Pro2 but returned it bc I ran out of patience (and bc I wanted something with a steam wand). In your opinion, how hard is it to get a good espresso from the Gaggia w/o being a barista?
I haven’t been able to get the grinder to work without clumping up and clogging. Even when I use the driest beans I can find, the grinder works for a few seconds and then clogs up again. It’s so frustrating because this machine was handed down to me and I can’t afford to buy another grinder or waste coffee.
Why the fuck is my puck watery sludge? I have read the manual over and over, used other espresso machines, etc. Even when I put the porta filter in there with no grinds it's full of water!
I so appreciate so many of the points you brought up. It is currently Prime Day, and Amazon is selling this for $475.99 for Prime members, regular price $664. In reviewing the questions people had about the product on Amazon, many people asked if there was a nonpressurized 58 mm portafilter. The sellers invariably said yes without explaining that you would need to get to an eight or nine bar of pressure to be able to do a nonpressurized filter and they also never talk at all about this being a proprietary filter even though it is a standard 58 mm. I have something to say to that fellow who gave you a hard time and that is that most people will not pay $200 for this machine. They will pay a lot more for it than that. So I really appreciate you going over over all the fine details and saving all of us a huge headache!
Can I ask why you used 15grams??? It's a 20gram basket. It says it in the instructions. I know it's not a breville, but it's not breville priced. All your other criticisms are spot on. A $25 scale and $5 dosing cup made it very easy to consistently pull good shots.
I pretty much never give a thumbs up for someone begging me to do it before they've presented the bulk of their content. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Depends on if I already follow them or not. For me if it’s a friend or someone I follow and want to do better I always give it the old thumbs up really just has to do with the almighty algorithm gods
I will never like a video before watching it. That would be disingenuous, don't ask people to like a video before it starts. Other than that, thanks for the review!
@@JoeyVaracalli I've already posted a similar comment above, but just to reiterate I think it's bad form to beg for a like before you've presented the bulk of your video. You've got a second request at the end which is (in my opinion of course) fully appropriate. I personally hate when content creators beg for a like at the beginning of a video and will almost never like their video. I also rarely watch a second video of a person that does. It's truly that off-putting.
Hi Joe! I’m a non coffee drinker but my wife’s a coffee addict! For years she’s been mentioning how badly she wants a “Real” espresso machine. Please lmk what you would recommend as I have 0 idea lol. Also I’d like to keep it under $500! Thank you sir
My wife bought me this for Christmas at $750 and the grinder clogged up quickly and is a pain to clean, poor design, Keeps clogging. Huge disappointment, now I have to fork out $$ for a separate grinder.
Hi joe, not related to this video but I have a question I'd like your advice if a Jura S8 super auto make great espresso on a similar level to a ECM Synchronika? I'm looking these two machines as an upgrade and my girlfriend would like to stop weighing beans and fiddling with setting/scales any thoughts?
Yeah jura or basically any super automatic won’t make espresso that tastes as good as an e61 with a non pressurized basket. Reason being is all home style super automatic espresso machines use a pressurized filter basket. It will get the job done but you will notice a difference more then likely
Thanks for the review; this was very helpful. Rookie here & searching for a solid machine. Your recommendation? Tried opening the Amazon links below but they just take you the Amazon's main page. Thanks.
That’s odd depends what’s your budget and what’s your level of interest in this hobby. Just want easy pretty good coffee. Moderate learning good coffee minimal learning, straight up hobby but incredible coffee…
6:10: ‘pro’ consumer level machine hint: bathe your cup and portafilter holder in hot water to bring them up temp. Do not rely on the machine to do that; you’ll be disappointed every time. Additionally, by not relying on the machine for that function you spare the gasket over the long haul.
Good review Joe, and I agree with 100% of what you said, barring the grinder adjustments. I don't really use the numbers, i just use them as a gauge. A whole number increment will really yield drastic results with this machine. That being said, I bought it because the grinder is Good, probably the best i've seen in an all in one unit, and great for a beginner. -The tamper is trash -The portafilter is trash -You WILL need a scale. -A dosing funnel is nice for this. All in all, With an upgraded portafilter, tamper, scales, I'm very happy with the machine. But I'm with you, I can't believe how bad that portafilter was. The spouts are so wide making a double is impossible.
Very well put George. And yeah I think with the right mind set this can be pretty decent as long as your willing to go the extra mile for accessories n such
@@lifeasesther the only you can find after market are bottomless www.amazon.com/dp/B09W5Q8TF9/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_RRZ1ENANG27S02K3V5EG?linkCode=ml2&tag=joeyv21-20 Great but can be a little messy
For $200-350, this is an absolute steal. Other similarly spec'd and capable machine will run you $550 to over a thousand dollars. This machine grinds espresso size grounds, steams latte art-quality milk, and most importantly pulls delicious shots. It does these things slowly and it requires an absurd amount of precise human interaction. But at the end of the day, you didn't want to buy a $1300 Rancillio Sylvia and Rocky grinder combo so you can't complain about slow grind times, the use of plastic/build quality, the tamp, the portafilter, etc. If you want a cheap espresso machine, lower your expectations.
Doesn’t change the fact that I really distilled it but I agree with you 200 bucks is probably worth it but I’d recommend the one without a grinder and just get the Breville smart grinder pro
@@alfonsoramirez6415 I had mine one step or two steps away from the finest setting. I believe the grinder light would go on when the hopper wasn’t properly connected
Thank you for your detailed on the portafilter features. Plastic inside a portafilter is no bueno. My $50 vintage Krups doesn't have any plastic. I appreciate how much you crammed into a 10-minute video.
I accidentally deleted my post where You said you replied that you bought it for $200 as a floor model ? What store sold you a floor model for $200? I the only stores that I have seen it sold are Amazon ($600), Home Depot ($680), Bed Bath Beyond ($750), Wayfair ($680) & Costco ($480). These are all online purchases! I know of no physical store selling here in Southern CA
Retention wasn’t the issue it’s just slow I cleaned it multiple times as soon as I bought it i purchased grinder cleaner as well. The grinder is slow period no if ands or buts And in my opinion the steps are bit to large. The machine retails for 599 for that price it should be as good or better then Breville barista express but it’s not
Joe, you kind of talked me into the machine with all of the initial pro's, then nit-picked some easily overcomed cons. My concern with the Breville you mentioned is that their grinder isn't good enough for them to include a 58mm portafilter and the speed of the Caphalon's grinder is secondary and just isn't as important as the quality of the grind. The portafilter can be inexpensively and easily upgraded. I'm not quite getting your ambivalent review.
Yeah a few things so u can’t really upgrade the portafilter with a standard 58mm portafilter you would need to find one specifically designed for this machine because the ears are slightly diffrent. The grinder is good but very difficult to dial in you would 100 percent need a scale and play with the doses more then playing with the grind size based on my experience since the jumps in fineness is pretty big. But honestly I agree with you in some aspects but I’d go with the standard model vs the one with the grinder. You can get a great grinder for 200 to 400 bucks
@@franguccio1 great follow up question. I think you could get the 199 smart grinder pro which is a decent upgrade if you want a timed grinder. Or the df64 single doser from espresso outlet if you like flat burrs or logom mini if you want conical single doser and for a higher end timed grinder you can get the sette 270 which produces wonderfully fluffy grinders at its price point.
@@JoeyVaracalli Great and thanks, going to research them ....so I narrowed my espresso machines down to the Gaggia Classic pro and the Caphalon temp iq w/o grinder....it's been both vexing and informative deciding between, full automatics, semi automatics with a grinder and w/o a grinde and manuals.Trying to hit a sweetspot is not always easy...thanks again....
@@franguccio1 yeah its a very hard decision starting out but yeah I think the gaggia is better generally speaking but either way you go I think you can make great espresso especially if you get a decent grinder on either of those
So bad you almost look guilty listing all of the cons. It's an appliance that some wannabes will buy, stick in the corner of their kitchen for a season or 2 and then it'll be replaced by the next "latest and greatest" fad. It was entertaining Joe, thanks.
Thanks I appreciate that. And it’s sad but you are probably very true especially when they discount this for the holiday season like they did last year
The Calphalon is amazing Value: 1) PID 2)58mm 3)Adjustable Temp 4)Adjustable Pre infusion 5)30 step connical grinder 6) 3 way solenoid valve (dry puck) 7)Latte Art Quality Steam wand The only cons are no pressure Guage & no onscreen menus, so must refer to manual to learn which combination of buttons to engage to set advanced features: temp, pre infusion, descaling, & backflushing ...but this is no different than the Breville Barista Express. Only the more expensive Barista Pro & Touch have on screen lcd menus
So I recently purchased this machine, got it used at a steep discount and after watching this video felt like I made a huge mistake, but after using it a few times I have to really disagree with your review. I worked as a barista for almost six years at a number of small cafes and international chains using everything from a La Marzocca to super-automatics like they have at Starbucks - I am definitely not an expert, but I have spent a lot of time making espresso, and this is probably my favorite home machine I've used so far. Probably not worth the retail price, but for the $270 I spent it was a great deal.
1. Regarding the grinder, definitely slower than a commercial machine but honestly not slow enough that I think its a negative - I probably wouldn't have thought much about it unless you pointed it out. I also think the grind settings are a little sensitive, but nothing that seems ridiculous based on my experience working with grinders in a commercial settings.
2. The portafilter does absolutely suck, especially for the retail price of the machine, and it is a bummer that they're using the three prong design instead of the more standard two prong, but its still fairly easy to find better, 3 prong 58mm portafilters online. So I think your claim stating that it would be impossible to find a better one misleading because I was able to find a bottomless portafilter that fits this machine very easily.
3. It took me about three tries to dial in my shot and get it in the 25-30 sec range with a good crema using a non-pressurized basket. That's about par for the course honestly.
Either this machine has the worst quality control out there, or the issues you ran into are user error.
Can I ask how you got it for $270 I literally just paid $479 before tax at Costco and thought I was getting a great deal..
Also can you tell me the name of the replacement portafilter you went with? Thanks in advance!
@@Crazyman1338 The model I got was used off of ebay, but I think the deal you got for it brand new is still pretty good! I purchased the Kressel brand 58mm three prong bottomless portafilter.
do you mind sharing what setting you use for your beans? i’ve tried to dial mine in forever now, using fresh beans and distilled water and i’m trying to make a recipe for the beans i use from my local coffee shop, but no matter what the shots seem to be severely under-extracted; i see he uses the setting “2” in the video, almost all the way fine, but when I try to use a setting that low the grinder over heats and the red light flashes so a little guidance would be awesome! again i understand there are discrepancies so there’s no “one size fits all” fix to this, but just knowing where someone else has theirs set will really help me at least get a ball park range!
@@emmiedarynmy question exactly! My shots are either watery and under extracted, or the machine can't handle the grinds...
bought the non-grinder version for $50 😂 it's my first time making espressos and I can tell its not the best and the seller included a high quality non-pressurized portafilter. It's tedious to get a consistent espresso but overall not too bad. I definitely recommend upgrading the portafilter and it's a much better experience
Yeah the portafilter is super cheap aluminum not good for espresso
One thing to have an opinion, another to give the wrong information. That's just being lazy and not doing your research. The portafilter is a less common design but not proprietary, there are other espresso makers which use it, and there are plenty of aftermarket "3-ear" portafilters available, including bottomless ones.
Hey Joel, You did say some good points but I think you review is unfair and you presented it in a way that's just too negative. You should consider making another review and actually doing your due diligence into making it. A few points ( FYI, I bought the machine brand new from a reputable store 4 months ago):
1. You can't buy a used machine (especially for $200) and claim its in perfect shape. That's just not how reviews work (unless you are trying to make a "used" review). You need a "credible" reference point.
2. I do agree with that the portafilter is crap. but again, I bought a bottomless one for $30 and solved that problem. The tamper is crap as well, I agree. However, I think as long as the machine can make decent shots, and it can, those don't matter as much.
3. The grinder steps are a bit iffy, but its one of those things if you spend a few more minutes to figure out and once you do, you can easily dial in (with a scale yes), I actually use it as a single dose grinder so I just put the amount of coffee I want every single time. if may be slower than other grinders, but to some one who enjoys making espresso, 30-45 seconds (its not painful) is not bad at all. I think your machine may be faulty, that why you had too much trouble wit it.
4. When you made the shot, You are claiming you only have 4 steps to go. I never gotten below step 8 using different beans. That's just not right. your beans are either awfully old or the machine is busted.
5. I get perfect dry puck that drops right out with the non-pressurized basket every time. how ever, yes, its watery and nasty if I try to use the pressurized one. but I really don't anymore, I agree with you on the point that a true espresso is made with a non-pressurized basket.
Yeah I agree with you I got the machine used on eBay I thought I said that. But yeah it was just a ruff experience for me and I was probably extra annoyed with it since I blasted through about 2 lbs of beans and just had frustrating results most of the time. But I guess that’s my point for people that this is marketed to beginners mostly this is a difficult machine to master. I would probably recommend getting the non grinder built in model and just get a good grinder it’ll end up costing around the same anyways
I just picked one up for 40 bucks at goodwill. Seeing what the rest of you paid makes me feel like just found a pot of gold
Yeah that’s a steal
😂
I got the one without the grinder ,I use a separate grinder , I love mine been using it least 7 month ,used everyday !! In all honesty I use the pressurized filter it makes things way easy to enjoy the day !
Separate grinder would be great I’m still frustrated by the implementation of the 58mm portafilter but it’s atleast it’s closer to the standard. I will say when u use a pressurized basket it will make it easier but your not getting a true espresso in my opinion. If you plan to only use the pressurized basket you myswell get a super automatic. Again that’s just my opinion
I bought the same one. I love it. I'm currently using a bottomless portafilter that picked up on Amazon for like $20...totally worth it. Loading between 19 and 20g baskets and using my burr grinder....love it.
I'm very disappointed as I didn't know the portafilter is plastic inside. I've never seen such a thing---what a shame. Don't companies know that many people don't want hot water going through plastic in something we drink???
Yeah most consumer brands do this because they use cheap aluminum. Better to go with a gaggia classic pro if your concerned amzn.to/3OdyPQC
@@JoeyVaracalli I saw the Gaggia, but I was concerned after reading the reviews bc it seems like a steep learning curve. I had a Flair Pro2 but returned it bc I ran out of patience (and bc I wanted something with a steam wand). In your opinion, how hard is it to get a good espresso from the Gaggia w/o being a barista?
I haven’t been able to get the grinder to work without clumping up and clogging. Even when I use the driest beans I can find, the grinder works for a few seconds and then clogs up again. It’s so frustrating because this machine was handed down to me and I can’t afford to buy another grinder or waste coffee.
Is his house haunted?
Sure is by Zella the cat lol
I think the soul of that machine went out through the door
Absolutely 😂
hahahaahhaahahhahaha yeah pretty much
Why the fuck is my puck watery sludge? I have read the manual over and over, used other espresso machines, etc. Even when I put the porta filter in there with no grinds it's full of water!
Because the three way solenoid valve on this machine is awful and possibly non existent
I so appreciate so many of the points you brought up. It is currently Prime Day, and Amazon is selling this for $475.99 for Prime members, regular price $664. In reviewing the questions people had about the product on Amazon, many people asked if there was a nonpressurized 58 mm portafilter. The sellers invariably said yes without explaining that you would need to get to an eight or nine bar of pressure to be able to do a nonpressurized filter and they also never talk at all about this being a proprietary filter even though it is a standard 58 mm. I have something to say to that fellow who gave you a hard time and that is that most people will not pay $200 for this machine. They will pay a lot more for it than that. So I really appreciate you going over over all the fine details and saving all of us a huge headache!
Can I ask why you used 15grams??? It's a 20gram basket. It says it in the instructions. I know it's not a breville, but it's not breville priced. All your other criticisms are spot on. A $25 scale and $5 dosing cup made it very easy to consistently pull good shots.
Found this on sale
Nice 👍
0:40 who opened the door? 😅
My little cat zella!!! She’s a stinker when we record if u listen closely you can hear her playing with a toy in the background
I pretty much never give a thumbs up for someone begging me to do it before they've presented the bulk of their content. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Depends on if I already follow them or not. For me if it’s a friend or someone I follow and want to do better I always give it the old thumbs up really just has to do with the almighty algorithm gods
Was thinking same thing. Video was good but He could wait a little bit before asking for likes and subs. 😮
Shockingly terrible review with baseless cons for machine claimed to have purchased for $200. You can’t get a good grind alone for $200.
True thanks for the kind words please consider subscribing
I will never like a video before watching it. That would be disingenuous, don't ask people to like a video before it starts. Other than that, thanks for the review!
Yeah I wish I could stop but the algorithm gods have said otherwise
@@JoeyVaracalli I've already posted a similar comment above, but just to reiterate I think it's bad form to beg for a like before you've presented the bulk of your video. You've got a second request at the end which is (in my opinion of course) fully appropriate. I personally hate when content creators beg for a like at the beginning of a video and will almost never like their video. I also rarely watch a second video of a person that does. It's truly that off-putting.
@@supergiantbubblesthanks for the kind comments please consider subscribing;)
0:40 the ghost tryna get sum coffee too 😂
Lol 😂
Hi Joe! I’m a non coffee drinker but my wife’s a coffee addict! For years she’s been mentioning how badly she wants a “Real” espresso machine. Please lmk what you would recommend as I have 0 idea lol. Also I’d like to keep it under $500! Thank you sir
No problem I’d go with a barista express. amzn.to/47NCVXC
@@JoeyVaracalli nice!!! That’s the one I had saved!! The reviews are excellent on it so I think I’m sold! Thanks Joey!
My wife bought me this for Christmas at $750 and the grinder clogged up quickly and is a pain to clean, poor design, Keeps clogging. Huge disappointment, now I have to fork out $$ for a separate grinder.
Yeah unfortunately it’s not a great machine. It’s on my list of machine I don’t recommend
How do we know if we "liked" the video before we've watched it?
Idk good question that I don't have an answer to lol
Hi joe, not related to this video but I have a question I'd like your advice if
a Jura S8 super auto make great espresso on a similar level to a ECM Synchronika? I'm looking these two machines as an upgrade and my girlfriend would like to stop weighing beans and fiddling with setting/scales any thoughts?
Yeah jura or basically any super automatic won’t make espresso that tastes as good as an e61 with a non pressurized basket. Reason being is all home style super automatic espresso machines use a pressurized filter basket. It will get the job done but you will notice a difference more then likely
Got it for $289 during Black Friday. Bought a bottomless portafilter and scale and makes amazing expresso now!
Nice glad it works good for ya
Which bottomless portafilter did you buy?
Thanks for the review; this was very helpful. Rookie here & searching for a solid machine. Your recommendation? Tried opening the Amazon links below but they just take you the Amazon's main page. Thanks.
That’s odd depends what’s your budget and what’s your level of interest in this hobby. Just want easy pretty good coffee. Moderate learning good coffee minimal learning, straight up hobby but incredible coffee…
6:10: ‘pro’ consumer level machine hint: bathe your cup and portafilter holder in hot water to bring them up temp. Do not rely on the machine to do that; you’ll be disappointed every time. Additionally, by not relying on the machine for that function you spare the gasket over the long haul.
Very nice points thank you
Good review Joe, and I agree with 100% of what you said, barring the grinder adjustments. I don't really use the numbers, i just use them as a gauge. A whole number increment will really yield drastic results with this machine. That being said, I bought it because the grinder is Good, probably the best i've seen in an all in one unit, and great for a beginner.
-The tamper is trash
-The portafilter is trash
-You WILL need a scale.
-A dosing funnel is nice for this.
All in all, With an upgraded portafilter, tamper, scales, I'm very happy with the machine. But I'm with you, I can't believe how bad that portafilter was. The spouts are so wide making a double is impossible.
Very well put George. And yeah I think with the right mind set this can be pretty decent as long as your willing to go the extra mile for accessories n such
What portafilter did you go with? I bought my second hand and it didn’t come with it.
@@lifeasesther the only you can find after market are bottomless www.amazon.com/dp/B09W5Q8TF9/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_RRZ1ENANG27S02K3V5EG?linkCode=ml2&tag=joeyv21-20
Great but can be a little messy
@@JoeyVaracalli thank you!!!
For $200-350, this is an absolute steal. Other similarly spec'd and capable machine will run you $550 to over a thousand dollars. This machine grinds espresso size grounds, steams latte art-quality milk, and most importantly pulls delicious shots. It does these things slowly and it requires an absurd amount of precise human interaction. But at the end of the day, you didn't want to buy a $1300 Rancillio Sylvia and Rocky grinder combo so you can't complain about slow grind times, the use of plastic/build quality, the tamp, the portafilter, etc. If you want a cheap espresso machine, lower your expectations.
Doesn’t change the fact that I really distilled it but I agree with you 200 bucks is probably worth it but I’d recommend the one without a grinder and just get the Breville smart grinder pro
00:43 no one talks about the ghost in the house 👀
Her name is zella the cat 🐈 lol
Would you say this is worth $60? I know you had quite a negative review
I mean 60 bucks pretty cheap so yeah maybe. It’s kinda worth 200 I’d say it’s just not a joy to use in my opinion
How did you get this for $200?? i pay double! Hahaha
Yup
@@JoeyVaracalli what setting do you use for the Grinder?? Also why does the Grinder light turn red?
@@alfonsoramirez6415 I had mine one step or two steps away from the finest setting. I believe the grinder light would go on when the hopper wasn’t properly connected
@@JoeyVaracalli ok, thanks
I purchased one without the grinder. Do you have recommendations for a portafilter and tamper?
Your video was great! So much info!
Yes norm core amzn.to/36kmeck
As for a portafilter I don’t know any one who makes one specifically for calphalon
@@JoeyVaracalli thank you!!
I’d like to know how you got it for $200?!
#ebay
Thank you for the honest review it is hard to find todays
Your welcome 🙏 i agree it’s why I do it :)
Could anyone give me the height dimensions on this please! I can’t seem to find accurate dimensions anywhere. Thanks!
Great review. I had been considering to buy this machine. This review convinces me I should look at another brand. Thank you.
The grinder makes such a mess
Yeah it’s the biggest issue with this machine is the grinder
Thank you for your detailed on the portafilter features. Plastic inside a portafilter is no bueno. My $50 vintage Krups doesn't have any plastic. I appreciate how much you crammed into a 10-minute video.
What’s the difference between this and a Keurig?
Where did you get this for $200?
eBay
@@JoeyVaracalli what was the condition of the machine? brand new or used?
I accidentally deleted my post where You said you replied that you bought it for $200 as a floor model ? What store sold you a floor model for $200? I the only stores that I have seen it sold are Amazon ($600), Home Depot ($680), Bed Bath Beyond ($750), Wayfair ($680) & Costco ($480). These are all online purchases! I know of no physical store selling here in Southern CA
sorry missed this it was on an eBay store
200$? Grinder works fine if you clean it out, its called retention bud. Its not a $1000 grinder..
Retention wasn’t the issue it’s just slow I cleaned it multiple times as soon as I bought it i purchased grinder cleaner as well. The grinder is slow period no if ands or buts And in my opinion the steps are bit to large. The machine retails for 599 for that price it should be as good or better then Breville barista express but it’s not
Joe, you kind of talked me into the machine with all of the initial pro's, then nit-picked some easily overcomed cons. My concern with the Breville you mentioned is that their grinder isn't good enough for them to include a 58mm portafilter and the speed of the Caphalon's grinder is secondary and just isn't as important as the quality of the grind. The portafilter can be inexpensively and easily upgraded. I'm not quite getting your ambivalent review.
Yeah a few things so u can’t really upgrade the portafilter with a standard 58mm portafilter you would need to find one specifically designed for this machine because the ears are slightly diffrent. The grinder is good but very difficult to dial in you would 100 percent need a scale and play with the doses more then playing with the grind size based on my experience since the jumps in fineness is pretty big. But honestly I agree with you in some aspects but I’d go with the standard model vs the one with the grinder. You can get a great grinder for 200 to 400 bucks
@@JoeyVaracalli So which grinders would you suggest to complement the non grinder Caphalon??..thanks
@@franguccio1 great follow up question. I think you could get the 199 smart grinder pro which is a decent upgrade if you want a timed grinder. Or the df64 single doser from espresso outlet if you like flat burrs or logom mini if you want conical single doser and for a higher end timed grinder you can get the sette 270 which produces wonderfully fluffy grinders at its price point.
@@JoeyVaracalli Great and thanks, going to research them ....so I narrowed my espresso machines down to the Gaggia Classic pro and the Caphalon temp iq w/o grinder....it's been both vexing and informative deciding between, full automatics, semi automatics with a grinder and w/o a grinde and manuals.Trying to hit a sweetspot is not always easy...thanks again....
@@franguccio1 yeah its a very hard decision starting out but yeah I think the gaggia is better generally speaking but either way you go I think you can make great espresso especially if you get a decent grinder on either of those
Nothing beats honesty!
Great review, great post! Tell it like it is 👌
Thanks tiny I appreciate the kind comments
So bad you almost look guilty listing all of the cons.
It's an appliance that some wannabes will buy, stick in the corner of their kitchen for a season or 2 and then it'll be replaced by the next "latest and greatest" fad.
It was entertaining Joe, thanks.
Thanks I appreciate that. And it’s sad but you are probably very true especially when they discount this for the holiday season like they did last year
The Calphalon is amazing Value:
1) PID
2)58mm
3)Adjustable Temp
4)Adjustable Pre infusion
5)30 step connical grinder
6) 3 way solenoid valve (dry puck)
7)Latte Art Quality Steam wand
The only cons are no pressure Guage & no onscreen menus, so must refer to manual to learn which combination of buttons to engage to set advanced features: temp, pre infusion, descaling, & backflushing ...but this is no different than the Breville Barista Express. Only the more expensive Barista Pro & Touch have on screen lcd menus