Pros: My first espresso maker. It's easy to use & clean. Just take a little time to understand what it takes to make a good cup. Selecting the proper grind, tamp, machine pre-heat, and run time are all you need. Search on Espresso Guy for a good guide to these essential elements to a good cup. I have not tried the ESE pods yet, but they would make the brewing process and clean-up a little simpler.

Cons: None.

Other Thoughts: I got a real bargain on this at NewEgg, and received it promptly.

Pros: Easy to use, sometimes an excellent crema.

Cons: Frother gets in the way, moves 'back' to an annoying place. Crema has been inconsistent (considered sending it back, but wasn't sure if it was the machine or the pods.) Portafilter when using any pod is pretty darn snug. Really have to get a grip to turn it. Counter placement needs to take that into consideration. Probably not great choice for someone with low hand strength (my mom can't snug the portafilter into place, for example.)

Other Thoughts: Have been using Italian ESE pods only, and from pod to pod of the same type, the crema hasn't been consistant. Flavor usually excellent though. Will experiment with running water shots thru first - maybe temp with the pods is even more touchy. Have owned older pump machine (saeco - pre ese pod adapters), nespresso, lavazza espresso point, moka... eh... minor coffee obsession, but lazy.

Pros: small

Cons: got it as a gift for someone, it was shipped within 24 hrs but I got it in half open ORIGINAL box, which looks unpresentable after rainy day. Not even sure if it complete set anymore. so upset. S/b a good product but do not buy it from Newegg..

Pros: Been making perfect cremas since day one. I have not messed up a shot yet. I add 1 tsp of sugar to the bottom of the shot, then filler up. Perfect. For the money this thing can't be beat. I fill it up from the back. I never remove the water holder.

Cons: The frother gets in my way. I move it out of the way, but it slowly moves back. I do not use it. Not my style either.

Other Thoughts: Don't need a cup warmer being I do shots. So I do not miss the fact it does not have one. Grounds cake is also hard to remove. That 15 bars really packs them in.

Pros: Have been using this for 6 months. Very happy with it. Low maintenance, easy to use. So far only had to clean the check-valve once. Easy to do. This only has to be done when flow slows down.
Have owned anything from a full blown commercial unit to several stovetop Mokas. Real nice compromise.

I use this at least daily for 6 months

Cons: None so far.

Other Thoughts: I use Lavazza Crema e Aroma coffee beans that I buy online. Nice crema, taste and aroma.

Pros: great espresso

Cons: takes a long time to heat

Other Thoughts: you will love this machine according to your patience

Pros: If you're coming from a department store steam espresso maker like I was, this thing is going to blow your mind. Obviously it doesn't compete with thousand-dollar-plus commercial machines, but only deluded snobs would make that comparison. Very simply, the BAR32 will obliterate your steam maker and get you to stop throwing money at big franchise coffee chains.

What you have here is an affordable and surprisingly reliable pump espresso maker that, when prepped correctly, puts out incredibly rich, smooth coffee with ridiculous amounts of crema. Honestly, I don't even use the steam wand thanks to the half-inch of crema foam I consistently get with this thing (use a good dark roast and you'll see what I mean). Playing with roasts, ratios, and pull times gets you a wide range of flavors and strengths.

Did I mention I practically stopped using sugar? The coffee this thing puts out is almost SWEET thanks to the non-scorching pump. Save money and cut calories!

:-)

Cons: People wanting to switch from steam (or drip) should know beforehand that you're just not going to get the same volume of drink as you did with that Mr. Coffee. Of course, this fact just comes with the espresso territory.

That said: the pump lets you make cup after cup without having to wait for pressure to die down. So, you CAN get a bellyful of espresso if you want it; it just takes more shots.

Also, if you fill the big basket up properly, you can let the brew go on longer. Just stop when the drip becomes whitish-yellow. (Note: the "big" basket isn't huge.)

Yes, the taste is stronger at demitasse sizes, but you can experiment and get more liquid (3-4oz+) without losing all the flavor. Bean type, grind, heat time, pull time, and luck all count.

People have blasted the built-in tamp, but I thought it was usable. It's not as flimsy as it looks; it's attached from the inside. A separate tamp is best, but this one will do if you apply reasonable pressure...

Other Thoughts: Here's a big tip: the green "OK" light only means the coffee is ready to begin -- it doesn't mean it's ready to brew a full cup quite yet. For the strongest pull, you need to wait for the water to heat a few minutes longer (some folks wait up to 15-20 after the green light appears, but this is probably excessive). You'll get the hang of all this.

Another tip for longevity: make sure you slide the portafilter in firmly but GENTLY, holding it near the basket base (don't cram it or it could eventually twist and leak).

Other than that, be sure to do a quick rinse of the filter parts between cups. Never turn on without water in the tank. Use darker beans, preferably with a burr grinder (finer is better). Filtered water is supposed to be good for the machine, but I can't really vouch.

The bottom line is this: for the money, you'll be VERY satisfied. Read the instructions and treat the BAR32 right, and it should make creamy espressos for years.

P.S. Mine came fast and complete!

Pros: Great Deal for a great machine

Cons: none that we have found so far. Besides that lack of espresso cups and milk container that most come with.

Other Thoughts: Pump is the way to go

Pros: Easy to use, easy to clean, cheap price, and consistent results.

Cons: My machine is very leaky. There is some reservoir inside the machine that is not sealed shut (either on purpose or not). Due to this, any vibrations cause water to leak out the bottom. Just the act of brewing a shot will create a puddle underneath. It's annoying, but just putting a hand towel down has solved the symptoms. I wonder if it's all BAR32s or just mine.

Other Thoughts: The description page claims there are thermostats on the machine, but I have looked and looked and haven't found anything. I've seen other websites also list thermostats, and I have seen websites say no thermostats. I wonder if there has recently been a change to the product, where the newer versions no longer have the thermostats. It's definitely a bummer. If anyone knows where I should look, please let me know, I would love to have control over the water temperature.

Related to above, my machine maxes out at 185 degrees F. If you don't run a few empty shots before hand, I've seen it as low as 175 degrees. Keep this in mind when buying your beans (or this machine). I got bit by this when I bought beans that request a brewing temperature of 198 degrees (wow, hot!), but the machine doesn't come close. As a result, I have been consistently sour shots for this bag. Bummer.

Pros: *excellent crema -- lots of it, firm, long-lasting, tasty
*pleasingly thick, yet mild, non-bitter brew (how non-bitter? i've cut my sweetener use in half, and my half-n-half use down significantly as well)
*easy operation (also see "other thoughts")
*easy cleanup
*pump-driven design is not to be underestimated -- it does not scorch your coffee like a steam-operated unit, and this contributes to the smooth, non-bitter taste
*no aluminum in the direct brewing path (stainless throughout except for the portafilter body, but the coffee never contacts that)

Cons: not cons, per se, but heads-up:

*unit comes with some stale water in the bottom of the reservoir tray from manufacturer QA testing; clean out and pull the required five blanks through the machine before you make your first real cup
*expect that your first few real pulls may be a little disappointing until you get your grind and packing consistent and optimized (it took me several tries, but i'm now very pleased by the results)

...there's really nothing bad i can say about this espresso maker. it represents a massive improvement over anything i've owned before (a drip, then a competing brand espresso maker, then a mokka maker, and most recently several french presses)

* i guess the one "con" is: i'm pulling several shots a day because it's so good.

Other Thoughts: *i have not tested the frother (not my style), though i've read that it does its job nicely. i see how other reviewers would be correctly concerned that its plastic threads would eventually strip out and have to be replaced. bummer.
*do read the instructions, even if quickly, so you don't have any issues
*the portafilter is keyed, as it should be, but just be careful when inserting it that you don't get it crooked or trap grounds between the lip of the cup and the rubber gasket on the expeller
*this espresso maker is capable of making far better coffee than my previous methods (for which my old grinder was sufficient); this huge improvement in brewing quality necessitated an upgrade to a burr mill, and now, a little poorer, i'm enjoying excellent, very consistent results; suggest that unless your mill produces highly uniform fine grind, you should consider upgrading yours too
*newegg ordering, pricing and all was excellent