Review on Smeg ECF01CRUS Espresso Coffee Machine by Michael Colley

Great product on many levels. However, there are some major downsides that might make someone reconsider spending $500 when there are other viable options at that price point. I only use it to make espresso. I've probably made about 500 2 shot espresso shots since I got it. Good: - heats up quickly - creams and espresso are good - looks cool on the counter - good color choice Poor. - It's a plastic construction, it's basically a mix of quality parts and cheap parts and you can feel that when you use it - the damn handle on the portafilter basket is a PIC: it actually got lost after 3 months of use. I opened it up to tighten it and it turned out that the plastic part of the handle had been ripped off by a metal screw inside. Further investigation revealed that it has a light weight to the touch to give the impression of being sturdy/rugged/professional. It's actually just a hollow plastic tube. It's a bit cheap for the price and shouldn't have broken so easily.