Review on ☕ Ultimate Espresso Experience: Philips 2200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with Milk Frother in Sleek Black (EP2220/14) by Wesley Bell

I would like to start this review by saying that I drink espresso every day and have experience with an espresso machine. In this test there will be many comparisons with a standard espresso machine and not with a coffee machine. My espresso machine I'm comparing against is a standard De'Longhi 15 bar coffee maker, nothing special that sells for under $150. I ordered this machine because I liked the idea of not shooting anymore, emptying the basket, then taking another shot and then emptying the basket again. This machine works quickly and easily. I go to the kitchen, turn it on, press the buttons to make my selection and hit the start button. He pours my espresso, I turn and that's it. It does not require immediate cleaning. I didn't notice any "dirty" grinding unlike my real machine. There's no reason this machine should take 5-10 minutes to run unless you want to empty the grinder each time you use it, neither of which is necessary. This machine is no louder than a normal espresso machine. It's actually a little quieter than my DeLonghi car. However, it is louder than a coffee maker, which is what you would expect from any espresso machine. I make espresso around 5am everyday and this machine didn't wake my husband. Be aware that caring for an espresso machine requires more attention than a simple coffee maker. If your main purpose is to make coffee, then this machine may not be for you. A standard espresso machine needs to be cleaned daily after every shot you make. This machine doesn't do it, but as mentioned, it's time consuming. The coffee bean holder on top is handy and holds more beans than it looks, but it doesn't hold as many as the standard bag so you still need a separate container for it. The water tank is a decent size so you don't have to fill it up every other day. I didn't use a milk frother as I only prefer iced coffee. Main cons: Difficult to press the buttons at times. These aren't actual buttons being pressed, but rather sensing your touch, which unfortunately can be unreliable at times. When switching on and off, the machine spits out some water. The drain part that your cup is on can catch it, or you can put the cup down. Only place your cup under the cup you want to use after you turn on the machine, and always remove the cup you used for brewing when you're done before turning off the machine, otherwise your cup will be messed up excess waste ends up water. I agree with another review about broken instructions. They provide some instructions but then redirect you to another manual page where you can read more. Because of this, I had to flip pages back and forth, which was annoying and frustrating. The instructions for the grinder were a bit vague, but they said you should only adjust the grind while the grinder was running. The grinder only works when you are brewing, you cannot start the grinder yourself. Finely ground beans cannot be ground finer. So that means that in order to get the setting you want, you have to waste coffee by brewing on a setting you don't want. They say it can take several brews before you notice a change in grind. As another reviewer noted, the grinder is set at 5/6 on center. I can understand the reason for this, as when brewing coffee you can easily adjust it coarser or finer when brewing espresso, but as this is sold as an espresso machine it really should start with the finest setting. . . The ground coffee setting is awkward to use. You have to hold the bean icon in the right place for 3 seconds for it to work. The grounds get stuck in the spout where you pour the coffee because condensation collects there, wasting your beans again. It says to only use one scoop and you can't adjust the strength setting if you use the pre-grind option, making it difficult to get a stronger drink. I have almost all 16 oz. a bag of espresso beans while trying to adjust the grinder and coffee maker settings to get a great tasting coffee, unfortunately I couldn't. After using this machine for a week I gave up and went back to my previous espresso machine. This machine brewed a very bitter tasting espresso and despite my attempts to tweak the settings it didn't work for me. My husband now uses it for coffee and he is happy with it. Basically, it's not an espresso machine that brews coffee, it's a coffee maker that also brews espresso. The overall idea of the machine is great, but too little attention has been paid to making it a good espresso machine.