Hamilton Beach 40729 Cappuccino Plus Espresso Maker Silver/Black

Pros: fast and easy espresso maker, has great pressure and the steamer is easy to work. this is a great espresso maker for the money. I paid around $100 for it when they first came out. I am going to buy another one for the office at work.

Cons: they strainer cup in the handle comes out after about 6 months of use, not a big problem but just be aware of it. it's just once more part to have to keep up with, it does not effect the performance of the machine.

Other Thoughts: I'm glad I have one

Pros: -Makes consistent cups of espresso.
-Having the tamper on the scoop rather than integrated into the machine allows easier control of tamping pressure.
-Steamer/frother gets the job done, well.
-The "cup warmer" is a neat idea. A little slower than using the steamer, but I still thought it was a nice touch.
-The drip tray, while a standard feature, is easier to remove/wash than some of the other machines I've used.

Cons: I have gone through two machines (one sent back for replacement) due to a leak at the spout between the water tank and the machine. This problem is commonly reported elsewhere on the internet. After the warranty ran out I ended up taking the machine apart to reroute the water hose and plugging the tank's outlet to solve the problem. The catch is upon doing so I suspect they knew the machine was going to leak, since below the spout there is a small reservoir/passage to guide the leaked water to exit the machine, molded into the plastic body. Perhaps they found this out at the final stages of the design/production and it's easier to put on a bandaid than to redesign.

Also, using the same beans I was able to make espressos with much better crema on a DeLonghi machine than on this Hamilton Beach one. But I do have to admit this is something I'm working on and maybe this is just a less forgiving machine. (Also a common issue reported elsewhere on the web...)

Pros: Makes the BEST expresso/lattes I ave ever had----even my wife....who initially hated it the minute I unpacked it, after she had her first drink......she loves it....a lot.

it can use pods, which is more convienient

Cons: the metal filter can be hard to take apart

yea...kinda a tight fit (ie mugs)

the resorvoir needs an infinite supply of water---which cannot be easily done

it doesnt make expresso by itself with a push of the button or clean itself :-(

Other Thoughts: if its too "watery," I noticed that sometimes my pod may not be properly seated---just readjust......and expresso comes out!!!

Pros: Cheap, easy to operate. Came with free coffee grinder

Cons: Was supposed to have insert for being able to use either ground coffee or pods. The pod insert was not in the box. Not really that big of deal. However, the one major problem with this thing is that it is so SHORT, that you cannot fit a normal coffee cup under the thing. Only cups that will work in here are ones that are about a quarter inch less tall than a business card is long.

Other Thoughts: Beware, if you dont already have really short coffee cups, you will have to buy some of those, and prolly a stainless-steel one to do the steaming in.

Pros: none

Cons: It was broken before I use this machine. it produced a watery brew that is completely unrecognizable as espresso.

Pros: This is a fantastic buy. I was impressed about how strong the espresso brewer was built. Compared to other much more expensive machines on the market this is the buy of the century

Cons: None

Pros: The DVD takes you from noob to pro like easy mode. Works just as it should and is very simple.

Cons: White residue on the unit when I got it.... just washed it down and it was good to go. (not a big deal)

Other Thoughts: I'm so pumped on caffine right now even my Algorithms book isn't putting me to sleep. Mission accomplished.