Jura-Capresso 13299 Impressa Z6 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recently purchased the new Z6 after seeing one at William's Sonoma around Christmas.I resisted the temptation to purchase until a friend of mine called and told me he found one under the Christmas tree!We both purchased the Capresso 1500 about 3 years ago and thought those were the "Cat's Meow".Now fast forward to 2007 and the Z6 is here as the super automatic on steroids.

After unpacking I sat down and watched the included DVD twice.Once with my wife and once alone as I set up the machine.After you get through the initial setup and programming the machine is very easy to operate and maintain.Making a coffee drink is as simple as pushing one of 8 drink buttons on the front panel. I like the idea of the thermal milk storage tank but it's recommended that you don't store milk in it after use.I find this a little inconvenient to have to pour the milk into another container.With my previous C1500 I just put the plastic milk jug in the refrigerator and used it the next day.

I bought this unit to replace my C1500 for two major reasons. The first was my C1500 struggled to make a really hot coffee drink.I found myself drinking the beverage too quickly to avoid it getting cold or putting it into the microwave to heat it back up.The Z6 makes a hotter beverage that is much improved but still could be a few degrees hotter in my opinion.The second reason I purchased the Z6 was to get a bigger cup under the spouts.The C1500 was limited in what size cup I could place under the spouts and the Z6 allows me to put virtually any reasonable sized cup under the spout.

The Z6 is a beautiful piece to look at sitting on your counter and will be the envy of many a guest.However it has a chrome finish which appears durable but I would caution you to take extra precautions not to scratch the finish as it would be permanent.I place a paper towel on the lower tray when using ceramic type mugs to avoid scratching.

Update on 05/26/2008

I would like to say that the Z6 has been performing flawlessly for the past year and a half.As long as you perform the routine maintenance the Z6 will provide many years of trouble-free performance.I've also been putting the thermal milk container in the refrigerator with milk in it with no issues.

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Product Description:
The Jura-Capresso Impressa Z6 Automatic Coffee and Espresso Center gleams with a high-polish chrome plated metal front housing, a unique mirror LED display and a hand-polished zinc die-cast oversized tray.A coffee lover's dream, the Impressa Z6 has professional technology and one-touch cappuccino system. Beans are ground, and fresh, cold milk transforms into hot, frothed milk and pours into your cup. With high pressure, hot water is forced through the perfectly ground and tamped coffee. Now espresso flows through the thick layer of milk froth: pick up your perfect cappuccino and enjoy. In the meantime the used coffee grounds are discarded and you can immediately start dreaming about another cappuccino, latte, espresso, or any other hot large cup of crema coffee.

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Saeco S-TG-ST Talea Giro Super Automatic Espresso Machine Review

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(More customer reviews)Seems expensive, but please add up your Starbucks expenditures for the past year and then buy this with no hesitation!

Many espresso purists turn their noses up at superauto machines, but as someone who has owned a high-end non-auto machine, this Saeco will reliably produce a high-quality espresso shot with virtually no effort!With my manual machines the shots would vary in quality, and while at times I could produce a better shot on my own, it would require a lot of effort.This superauto produces espresso that is 100% reliably better than most but not all of the shots I could produce manually, and it does so with almost no effort on my part (add water, beans, empty dreg drawer, that's about it).

Oh, and definitely get the [optional] Milk Island, which produces a phenomenal microfoam, to the point that you can do some basic latte art with it; again not better than some I could produce manually, but consistently better than most I produce manually, and with no work at all!

This machine looks great, heats up INSTANTANEOUSLY (that's right, no waiting at all for a boiler to heat up), is fairly quiet (thanks to ceramic grinder), and produces espresso that is superior to anything you could ever get a Starbucks.

I also looked at just about every other superauto in the $500 to $1,500 price range, and in fact tried a number of them out in person.This particular unit was my favorite by a wide margin!

BUY THIS AND THE OPTIONAL MILK ISLAND AND NEVER GO TO STARBUCKS AGAIN!I'm serious.

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Product Description:
The Talea Giro offers all the convenience of a super automatic espresso machine, and is milk island capable ( milk island sells separately) which offers more options for frothing and steaming milk for cappuccinos and lattes. The Milk Island is a unique Saeco development for all Talea models. In fact, it is the key function for all milk frothing connoisseurs. Whether you prefer espresso macchiato, cappuccino, latte macchiato or any other speciality, the preparation of creamy foam takes just a matter of seconds. The Milk Island is available in glass with a total capacity of 13.5 ounces or 1.7 cups.The Talea Giro has a built in ceramic grinder that puts an end to grinding with metal components.Ceramic is inert and won't react to the coffee or alter its flavor.The ceramic grinder provides a more even grind, allowing for perfect dosing and blending and is also much quieter about performing its duties than stainless steel grinders. The Talea Giro takes care of the grinding, dosing, tamping and brewing, but allows for personal taste in the programming of coffee size, strength and temperature. The Talea Giro offers the patented technology of the Saeco Brew System--turn the dial either right or left and change the strength and consistency of your coffee by either increasing or decreasing the water pressure as it moves through the grounds.Saeco Opti-dose has an adjustable 7 - 10.5 gram doser regulating the amount of beans to grind per serving.Talea Giro includes an adjustable built-in ceramic disc grinder, automatic cup warming surface that holds up to 6 espresso cups, a stainless steel pannarello attachment for steaming milk and dispensing hot water,a removable 57 ounce water tank, manual drip tray that you can move up or down to adjust to any size cup, sliding wheels on the base of machine for convenient rotation and rapid steam technology---no waiting between frothing milk with pannarello attachment and brewing espresso.

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Krups XP7260 Compact Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with Auto Cappuccino Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)UPDATE - After previously giving this machine 4 stars, I am forced to reduce my rating to 1 star.It appears I've received a "lemon" as I've now had the machine break 3 times.I'm very frustrated because for all of the resasons I list below, I want to love the machine.However, during time I've had the machine, It's only briefly worked before needing to be retured for service. The machine comes with a one-year VIP service which is great since the online company I purchased it from only had a 30-day return policy.Unfortunately, in the four months I've had the machine it's been broken or out for repair for a majority of that time.Please respond to this review if you've had success getting your machine to work without sending back for repair.

Attention Buyers! - I would not buy this machine - the frustration of having it break three times is not worth your time or money. Learn from my mistake and look for a different brand and make sure to purchase from a store that has a return period of longer than 30 days.

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This was no small purchase for me.I've researched and waited for about 1 year before committing to this machine.The price dropped by about 40% from one of the Amazon online retailers and there was free shipping so I jumped at the chance.I've had the XP 7260 for about 1 week now and I mostly love this machine.When I first got the machine I spent an hour or so reviewing the instruction manual before I turned on the machine which helped me to realize a couple important tips (for most all auto-espresso machines).1 - you have to use very cold l% or 2% milk for best froth/foam and 2 - you should use non-oily beans. Also, I expected to get coffee shop quality from the first cup of expresso but have quickly realized that I haven't learned the proportions of espresso to water (for Americano) or milk (for latte & cappucino).I wish more than two recipes were included for first time users.

Pros:
Stunning appearance
Auto frothing attachment works excellent(if you use cold 1% or 2% milk)
Great tasting coffee/espresso
Doesn't take up too much room on the counter

Cons:
The biggest CON is that there is NO pre-ground coffee funnel - I big disappointment - no decaf drinks at night.
The Amazon description mentions that this machine is compatible with ground coffee but it's NOT!
Noisy!Similar to turning on a blener full of ice.The noise is short-lived so it's bearable.
Not enough recipes for basic coffee drinks - I have yet to perfect the Americano. Web blogs are all over the place regarding recipes.
Frequently filling the water container - not a big deal but if you have cabinets above your counter you have the pull the machine out far enough to access the water container.
Espresso cups, manual frothing pitcher, and coffee not included (auto pitcher is included). Plan to spend another $50 on these items before making your first cup of espresso.
Maintenance costs could be about $100 per year for water filter replacements and cleaning tablets.
Water filter and cleaning tablets are not easily available so I will have to purchase online.

I know, this sounds like a long list.I have a feeling many other espresso machines have similar cons so I wouldn't consider any of these a deal-breaker.

Overall an excellent machine but I really wish there was a pre-ground coffee funnel so that we could enjoy decaf expresso drinks at night.

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Product Description:
Brew cafe-quality coffee drinks right at home with this easy-to-use fully automatic espresso machine. Simply add water and espresso beans, select the type of beverage and amount desired, and press the button--it takes care of the rest. The appliance grinds, brews, and tamps, then dispenses used grounds into a collection container. An oversized digital display and intuitive controls make it effortless to scroll through the on-screen menu and to follow detailed instructions for everything from set-up to brewing perfect espresso. In addition, the unit's commercial-quality built-in conical burr grinder holds up to 28 ounces of whole beans and comes calibrated to three optimal grind levels. Use the pre-ground bypass doser for pre-ground decaffeinated or flavored coffee--a handy feature when entertaining.
For added convenience, the espresso machine's innovative design combines the thermoblock brewing system and hydraulic jack into a single piece, which means an overall smaller build that takes up less space on the countertop. In fact, it's 30- to 50-percent smaller than most fully automatics available. The completely redesigned thermoblock comes cast in aluminum with stainless-steel tubing for precise control of the water and temperature and optimal heat transfer while reducing scaling and build-up of mineral deposits. Other highlights include a 64-ounce water tank, hot water on demand, and a steam function for cappuccinos and lattes. A patented auto-cappuccino system for foolproof milk frothing comes included. The 1450-watt espresso machine measures 12-1/2 by 9-1/2 by 14-1/4 inches and carries a one-year warranty.

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Jura-Capresso 13215 Impressa S9 Avantgarde Automatic Coffee Center Review

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(More customer reviews)For a little information about me, I'm not a connoisseur of coffee. I like sweet coffee's (Carmel lattes) and never drink my coffee black. I like a nice sweet coffee in the morning as something smooth in the morning to get the day started, and occasionally at night when it's cold and if we are just relaxing I like to have a nice warm something or other. My wife will drink her coffee black and with almost no sweetener, she's a cappuccino person.

We've gone to Starbucks on and off for years and recently a little coffee house opened up down the street. We have been going there every morning for the last month. We always get small coffees and at $6 a visit it was a shocker when we realized we had spent about $120 in a month on coffee... that's when we started looking around.

Luckily a friend of mine had gotten the Jura-Capresso Z5 last year and couldn't stop talking about it, so I started my search there. After a lot of research on the web, and seeing the $1k difference between this machine and the Z5 which essentially only adds the One-touch cappuccino we decided to go with this machine.

So far we've had the machine a few days and within the first few hours I was making sweet/frothy/creamy drinks that were on par with any coffee shop I had ever been to. It's really easy.

The pre-sets are pretty good if you aren't too picky, but I'm *really* picky about my coffee even though I'm not a fancy burista or anything. The S9 comes with the frothXpress attachment so if you are into just hitting buttons and drinking coffee with no effort, you can totally do that. But I use the default manual frothing attachment and like to froth my coffee a certain way and my wife likes it another way.

We also use the hot water spout to make tea at night sometimes.

I'll admit that looking at this for $2500 then looking at some of the other machines that *seem* to have the same attachments for $400 is hard to swallow. The real magic of this machine is a combination of all the automation (push a button, drink coffee) as well as the fine-tuned control over everything and lastly over how exactly the items are heated, pressed and filtered. If you are curious, search for the S9 review on CoffeeGeek, the guy knows more about coffee than an entire country. He reviewed this machine after having it for over a year and loaning it out to people and restaurants. He got into the detail of how much pressure is used to brew the coffee (apparently very important) and also how hot and how fast the milk is heated (which is important I guess as well so you don't kill the naturally sweet proteins in the milk)... it's a ton of detail but at the end of the entire thing he gave the S9 his rank of favorite super automatic and I agree.

If you go to Starbucks or a local coffee shop that is run by relatively normal/educated people and you are someone that doesn't mind spending some time or take pride in making a good drink, I don't think you would have any problem recreating that quality of drink with this machine, it's fantastically easy.

If you are lazy and just want drinks handed to you so you can drink them and have a fairly wide range of acceptable tastes for your coffee, you can probably just spend the $2500 at Starbucks and let someone else do it.

Overall the machine is fantastic. The finish is plated plastic which I thought was cheap feeling, but it looks fine because it's sort of brushed and not super shiney. That only bothered me for about 5mins, then I just forgot about it and drank the coffee.

Another thing I like is that the machine is really intelligent about keeping itself clean. It tells you when it needs to rinse and does it once or twice a day, keeping everything in tip top shape. It also monitors the levels of everything in the machine (grounds, beans, water, filter, etc.) and tells you exactly what to do on the screen. Also, I didn't mention this in much detail, but you can control and adjust the values of everything in the setup menu. How strong you want your coffee or espresso to be, how much water is in it, how much steam in the milk, the temperature, how finely ground the beans are, how hard your water is and just about everything else that can effect coffee.

The only cleanup after making coffee to speak of are the parts that touch the milk. For me that's just the wand that steams the milk. I just pop it off, rinse it and let it air dry for the next time. So that is something to consider if you think that you can just get this machine and push a button every morning and never need to think about it again. There are little things you need to do (like empty the grounds and the drip tray) every other day if you are making around 4-6 coffees a day. If it's just you or you are only making around 2 coffees a day, you can probably let it go 4-6 days between just rinsing it out, maybe 30 seconds worth of work.

So my take-away advice for anyone reading this is:
A) If you like coffee from anywhere (Starbucks, McDonalds, your house, etc.) this is totally overkill. Just stick to a normal brewing coffee maker and call it a day. This is like not being able to tell the difference between a Honda Civic and a Lexus GS400... if you can't tell the difference, then save all that money and get the Civic. Some people just can't tell.

B) If you like good coffee, and get frustrated when you get the same coffee every single morning from a store like Starbucks and some mornings it's good, and other mornings it's not and you are paying good money for it (like I was) and you feel cheated on the mornings it stinks, then you'll love this machine. It will give you the chance to perfect your cup of coffee and make it whenever you want with perfect accuracy. It's also handy to make simple things like hot chocolate and tea with, so it has more functions than just the espresso or cappuccino.

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Product Description:
In a class of its own!Grind, tamp, brew and clean in under 60 seconds-with a push of a button.Make perfect espressos, cappuccinos, lattes and crema coffee..every time.The Impressa S9 Avantgarde is one of the fastest and most versatile Automatic Coffee and Espresso Centers on the market today.With its 96-ounce capacity, two stainless steel lined thermoblock heating systems, a traditional frother and the automatic frothXpress Plus system it produces coffees, espressos and unlimited amounts of hot frothed and steamed milk for cappuccinos and lattes with no down time.Four pre-set beverage buttons and a unique "a la carte" button give you endless possibilities of creating your own coffee fantasies.A separate hot water spout for tea, a separate ground coffee funnel and a stainless steel warming tray on top make this a complete hot beverage center.With its UL listing for household and commercial use the S9 Avantgarde is the right machine for home, office and any small restaurant.

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DeLonghi ESAM3500.N Magnifica Digital Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I received this machine as a gift (thankfully, 'cuz I wouldn't have been able to afford it for myself).Before this I had a Capresso CoffeeTEC machine.The Magnifica is so easy to use and to clean, it's great not to have to deal with filters, grinders, frothers, etc.My husband is a stickler for using freshly ground coffee beans for his coffee.It's such a joy not to have to sweep up the coffee grinds from the floor now!Anyway, here are some things I like about it:

- Amazing tasting coffee; freshly ground at the touch of a button.Several people have told me that it tastes better than Starbucks coffee
- Machine rinses itself after turn on and before turn off
- Tells you when to clean the coffee grind container (makes 'em into little hockey pucks)
- Wide range of coffee strengths from which to choose:extra mild, mild, regular, strong, extra-strong
- 3 cup sizes from which to choose.You can change the settings so the cup sizes are customized for you.I use the "Long" setting.If you press it twice quickly, it will make 2 'long' coffees for you
- Love the frothing pitcher.Just attach it, press the cappuccino button, sit back and watch it make you a steaming hot cappuccino with thick froth.Frother puts frothed milk directly into your cup and then makes the espresso and puts it in the cup.
- There's a pre-ground "bypass" button.I use it when I want to have decaf.I add ground decaf beans and use the frother to add frothed milk.
- Machine tells you everything that it "needs.""Fill Beans container, descale, add water...etc."
- You can use the water spout for instantaneous hot water for tea, hot chocolate, etc.
- Starbucks will sell you bottles of their flavored syrups, so I bought several of my favorite flavors for my little "at home cafe"

Update Sep 2008:About a month ago I opened the front door of the machine and it was empty.I thought to myself "who would've broken into my house and only stolen the infuser to the coffee machine?"I examined the machine and was able to see that the infuser was stuck in the housing at the top of the machine.An internet search showed that other people had had the same problem but no solutions were posted.I called DeLonghi and went through a few troubleshooting steps with a friendly customer service lady.Finally we gave up and she said I had to send it in to get it fixed.They sent me the boxes, labels and packing materials, which was nice.I sent it to an appliance place in NY.After 3 weeks I called to check the status and they said, "It's on the shelf; we'll get to it."Within a day or two the machine was delivered and working again.It was a bummer to have to ship it out to get it fixed (took a month) and my other gripe is that it came back dirtier than when I sent it (coffee grounds everywhere, etc.).Would've been nice if they wiped it down.Anyway, DeLonghi customer service handled it well.

Click Here to see more reviews about: DeLonghi ESAM3500.N Magnifica Digital Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine

Product Description:
Capable of preparing espresso, coffee, cappuccinos, latte drinks, and more, this super-automatic 1,150-watt machine provides an array of convenient features. Its height-adjustable coffee spouts make it easy to brew directly into espresso, demitasse, or 12-ounce cups, and the instant reheat function keeps the machine at an ideal temperature, no matter how long the interval between cups. The espresso maker also comes equipped with digital programmable menu settings that allow for setting the clock, start time, and one- to three-hour automatic shutoff, as well as adjusting the water hardness and temperature of the coffee. There are five settings for coffee strength--extra-mild, mild, regular, strong, and extra-strong. Plus, three buttons allow for easily choosing the cup size--ristretto (small), espresso (medium), and large (American coffee).
The espresso machine also offers a unique beans-to-brew system that includes an integrated conical burr grinder with adjustable fineness settings that automatically grinds coffee beans right before brewing for exceptionally aromatic espresso. In addition, the unit comes equipped with a patented single-touch cappuccino/latte system, which includes a 25-ounce milk container and two detachable lids, one for frothed milk for cappuccinos and the other for steamed milk for lattes. Place the cup under the nozzle and press the button for a perfect cappuccino or latte every time. The amounts of frothed/steamed milk and coffee are adjustable, and the entire container is detachable, so it can easily be placed in the refrigerator. A unique automatic cleaning function operates with the push of a button, and dishwasher-safe parts provide quick tidying up.
Other useful features include a 7-ounce bean container, a 60-ounce removable water reservoir with a water-level indicator, two stainless-steel boilers for faster recovery and durability, a hot-water spout for tea or hot chocolate, and decalcification system lights that indicate when it's time to clean the machine. Designed and engineered in Italy, the espresso machine measures 15 by 11 by 14 inches and carries a one-year warranty.
From the Manufacturer
Capable of preparing espresso, coffee, cappuccino, latte drinks, and more, this super-automatic 1,150-watt machine provides an array of convenient features. Height-adjustable coffee spouts make it easy to brew directly into espresso, demitasse, or 12-ounce cups, and its instant reheat function keeps the machine at an ideal temperature, no matter how long the interval between cups.
Brewing Unit:The "Heart" of Magnifica
Beans-to-Brew System
One of the secrets to making a high-quality espresso is using freshly ground coffee beans. Because of the beans-to-brew system, the Magnifica offers you coffee that has a delicious aroma.The coffee is freshly ground and no traces are left in the machine.Magnifica is the only super-automatic machine that delivers the freshest results.

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