Review on Smeg ECF01CRUS Espresso Coffee Machine by Doug Mancilla

This machine is amazing and makes great espresso. I bought it for its style, the generally good reviews, and as a replacement for my machine that uses pods. I'm fed up with the capsules and want real espresso. I saw a review where a person said you can't make a good espresso with it no matter how experienced you are and that almost stopped me from buying it. But then I saw the same review everywhere promoting a different coffee maker so I have to wonder if it's legit because I couldn't help but agree. My espresso shots come out nice and dark with a long-lasting red-brown crema. I use specially roasted espresso coffee beans that I freshly grind. I also bought a heavy duty metal stopper which helped me get the perfect shot. The machine allows for some pretty interesting programmable features like shot size adjustment. Just save the book so you know how to program it. Although the factory settings are great. The foaming agent works like a charm but takes some practice to get the hang of. I like that part of it is detachable to accommodate larger cups; Not something I use often, but it's nice to have the option. And I have a nice car on the counter. It has the character I wanted and it works in my kitchen with a mid-century feel. For the price it was perfect for me as I wanted something a little expensive and classy. But since I brew at home, not a barista, I didn't need something super expensive with tons of bells and whistles. It was a luxury but it was worth it. In my opinion, the disadvantages are greatly outweighed by the advantages, and they do not violate the agreement. The tamper they give you is plastic, flimsy and not good. Just go ahead and invest in a good metal. Yes, the exterior of the car is plastic. It would be great if it was metal - that would be my preference - but it already has some serious heft and doesn't feel cheap in my opinion. If it were all metal, it could weigh a ton and cost a lot more. And it still shines. The metal grid on which the cup stands is slightly scratched. It's not bad, just something that annoys me a little. Some people comment that the reservoir is small. Fits two standard sized water bottles. For me this is normal. I don't have to refill often. But seriously, I'm glad he has a reservoir. I really wish it came with a blower that was just about half an inch longer. It foams so well that it would be nice to set the frothing cup a little lower without fear of milk splattering everywhere, which happened to me once. This is due to operator error. Like I said, it takes a little practice. Just make sure the bottom of the frother is submerged in water. Capsules can be used if desired. I just haven't tested it with pods. You can buy roasted espresso coffee that is already ground. Tried that and it's ok. I just think freshly ground gives the best flavor and crema. There's something rewarding about brewing a great espresso from start to finish. When the time comes I will post a video. The only video in English I found was of this woman whose skills have made me the king of the barista and she failed to use her full potential. All other videos I could find were in Dutch, French, Russian, or ruffled ads that didn't say anything about their usage. I've had this machine for a month now so I can't comment on how durable it is. Apparently, as with all espresso machines, users need to maintain and keep them clean to ensure a long service life. But if it works well over a longer period of time I would buy it again. Love it. Overall I rate it 5 stars because I can ignore its minor flaws and at the end of the day it gives me joy and makes a great espresso.