DeLonghi EMK6 Electric Moka Espresso Maker Silver/Black

Pros: I've had this coffee maker for well over 5 years and use it almost daily. I've been a coffee drinker for as long as I can remember and was brought up drinking homemade, true Italian caffe latte's for breakfast. This coffee machine kept me caffeinated through my college years and is still running strong 2 years after graduating. It brews a nice bold cup, though technically not espresso. I've used both espresso grounds (lavazza, lavazza oro, illy, etc.) and more conventional coffee and both turn out extremely delicious cups of coffee. The self shut-off is great and ensures you never have to worry about getting a burnt pot of coffee, or burning the house down.

Cons: Sure, it's TECHNICALLY not espresso, but it comes pretty darn close for the simplicity, and is still fantastic. The rubber seal at the center link did start to leak eventually, but you can buy replacements from DeLonghi for cheap. Also, be mindful of the filter disc, if you're using it. I've thrown one away by accident because I forgot about it when I dumped the grinds into the trashcan. I wish DeLonghi would bring their EMK63 to the U.S., as that has a programmable base, so you can wake up to hot brewed coffee, but only a minor annoyance

Other Thoughts: The main thing to note when using whole bean coffee is the grind. It needs to be a fine, espresso type grind, but otherwise any type of bean should work. Do note that the capacity is 3-6 ESPRESSO cups, so total capacity is about 1.5 cups. Plenty for a morning cup of black coffee and TONS if making a latte. The included disc filter is for halving the portion, so you need to decrease the amount of water accordingly, otherwise you'll get a weak brew.

Pros: Excellente... we are coffee FREAKS...Been on the job site for 3months now and it brews 3 times a day quick and easy.....

Cons: alittle too small....doesn't brew 6 cups maybe 4 full

Other Thoughts: Great item, great price, nice safe design for easy clean better than the 'others' I have....

Pros: I was surprised to find that when coffee grinds are packed tight and the correct amount of water is used, this moka espresso maker produces 4-6 good, strong, somewhat thick cups of espresso right out of the box!. (Typically most machines need to be "broken in" before a decent cup can be brewed)
Brews in under 5 mins and unlike stove top models you don't need to stand by and wait, the auto shut off makes it safe to use even if your not around.

Cons: The plastic top doesn't feel too sturdy so make sure top tighten from the middle metal area (where the threads are) and not the top of the unit.

Other Thoughts: Forget about using the added filter they provide you with, makes for weak coffee (unless that's how you like your espresso)
Keep an eye on the rubber ring inside the unit and change it when it begins to show wear.
Don't wash it using soap, just rinse thoroughly with water, this will break the machine in and make for a better espresso over time.

Pros: While what this machine produces is not precisely espresso, it is considerably smaller, cheaper and easier to use than your average espresso machine.
The drink that it produces is richer and more flavorful than coffee and retains much of the original oils from the coffee bean, but lacks the crema and syrupy texture of espresso. Instead it has a rougher texture but still has an excellent full body. I dig it.
Special espresso-type beans are not necessary, I've had excellent results with regular coffee beans from the grocery store (Trader Joe's, Starbuck's brand) as well as nicer specialty beans (Illy espresso).
Finally the machine itself is of quite sturdy metal construction. The internal filter parts are light and well made
Filled to its capacity, it produces a full mug, which given its strength and flavor, is the perfect amount for me.

Summary:
-cheap
-good for strong coffee or espresso fans
-doesn't require special beans
-small
-easy to use
-makes a full mug fu

Cons: Unscrewing the top portion when cleaning it should be done over a sink or something to catch the small amount of grinds which generally fly out.
Also if you need a large volume of moka to tie you over, this only yields one full mug.

Summary:
-a little difficult to clean
-volume might be insufficient for some

Other Thoughts: I've read some reviews that the construction of the plastic top is poor, but it seems quite sturdy to me.