Others say...

"good buy"
this machine makes really good espresso, it need to primed frequently and that can be a bit messy. still a great buy


"Possibly a great buy..."
I loved my first two latte's that this machine produced after I primed it. Unfortunately, day two, it completely stopped functioning. I had to return it and just wasn't willing to risk an exchange... even if this was perhaps just a fluke. While it did work, the espresso was as good as it gets from a non-commercial machine.

"saeco espresso machine"
if you want to make espresso with thick crema without thinking about it (who wants to think early in the morning?), this is a good choice. (the portafilter contains a pressure release valve to compensate for coffee beans that are milled too large). i also own a gaggia that makes a great espresso but it requires more care with the grind to get thick crema.
i've used the machine about two years, once/twice a day. no problems. i run a little water (3 seconds?) after removing the portafilter with each use to get espresso out of the dispersion head. if you don't, you'll eventually need to remove it and clean the dried espresso that clogs the holes in the dispersion head. not a big deal, but it complicates your life. i keep the gasket and dispersion head clean by putting a wet paper towel on the portafilter, intalling it, running the machine until the water comes out clear, and then rotating it a couple of times. keeps you from having to replace the gasket. these little exercises are needed to maintain all espresso machines, not just this one.

"EspressoooOOooooo (singing it with an italian falsetto style)"
You know it already: after your last trip in Italy, *$ has become an unspeakable place to drink a real espresso. As if an espresso was a bitter cup of coal! Haha!
So you will soon go on the quest of the holy grail of espresso.
After some googling, you will find out that you need: a good espresso machine, a grinder and, of course, good coffee beans.
To stay on a reasonable budget, I chose the Saeco aroma combined with the Capresso 560 Infinity grinder.
The Saeco comes with a pressurized portafilter. This allows to get good shots without any barista skills: there is no need for tamping and you don't need a very fine grind.
But if you want to improve your barista technique (and your espresso quality!), I would recommend to purchase a non-pressurized portafilter. I bought a naked portafiler that allows to see your extraction (see the picture). There is a learning curve but the reward is a very nice cup of espresso, with thick crema!








"Quality Machine, Quality Coffee"
I love coffee. Unfortunately, good coffee can be hard to find. So I decided to take the matter into my own hands and make my own coffee. After many hours of research on the internet through various sites, I decided to go with this model (It helped a little that Alton unofficially endorsed this model on his show). All I can say is wow. This unassuming machine sure does produce an excellent shot of espresso. I think it's nearly impossible to not get a beautiful head of crema in every shot. Not only does the shot look amazing, it tastes great too. Once you get down a good routine, the coffee this produces will be almost 100% free of any bitterness. I personally don't think you can ever completely rid coffee of its bitterness, but this machine helps me come closer than any coffee I have ever bought from a coffee shop. The machine is very easy to use, and cleaning really isn't that much of a hassle (make sure to read the instructions thoroughly before use). The frothing wand works well. Not great, but well. It doesn't quite achieve that micro-bubble texture, but it does a pretty good job. The portafilter has a little more plastic on it than I would like, but it's holding up nicely after 7 months of frequent use.

Overall, the machine is solidly built (for the most part), efficient and so far, reliable. I really would give this unit 4 stars, but for the price, I feel I can't give it anything else but 5.

*As a side note, this machine alone will not give you a good cup of coffee. You will need of course a good coffee bean roasted to your preference, a good grinder, and if you really want to standardize and perfect your coffee every morning, you really need a scale to measure the coffee. I shoot for about 15 g of coffee for two shots. You may want a little more or less depending on your preferences. You definitely want a conical burr grinder, and I wouldn't go for anything less than the Infinity model by Capresso (it's what I use). If you can afford better, then go for it.

**Edit: One thing I should have mentioned, is that this is really considered an entry-level/beginner espresso machine. This machine uses a pressurized portafilter, which basically means it is more forgiving to novice mistakes (coffee grind for instance). While I'll still assert that this is a great machine, more experienced users should really consider different options.