This review is from: Mr. Coffee ECMP50 Espresso/Cappuccino Maker, Black (Kitchen)
I received this for Christmas from my loving wife who noticed a slight cloud over my weekends since my espresso maker went out several months ago. I had the Mr. Coffee model previous to this one. It served me well for over a year with regular use before I learned the hard way about not overpacking the grounds.
After taking this one around the block a few times I have to say I’m extremely impressed with the design improvements they’ve made. Overall, this machine is a tremendous value for under $100 (mine was $75 on sale). You would really have to be a coffee snob (and have a lot of disposable income) not to love what you get for the money (I’m a poor coffee snob.)
To sing this machine’s praises, I’ll highlight the improvments they’ve made:
1) You no longer have to remove the water container to fill it up. It’s an awkward shape to try to fill from my refrigerator. So I just use my frothing pitcher and pour directly into it. This also chills the pitcher – which is good for the frothing I’ll do soon.
2) I LOVE the top tray. I store my espresso cup, tamper (from the old machine – the new one is the only downgrade I’ve noticed), brew basket, and espresso pitchers on it. Did I mention I love the tray? It’s a great design perk.
3) It still heats up quickly. A little faster than before for frothing.
4) They upgraded the design of the filters. Smaller holes that all converge into one hole on the bottom. Note: Don’t put these or the brew basket in the dishwasher – you’ll tarnish them.
5) The bottom of the brew basket is really cool, the single hole from the filter drips onto a silicone (I’m assuming) cone in the basket which appears to guarantee an even drip between two cups of espresso. This only matters if you’re pulling separate shots. It may be overdesigned, but I think it’s cool.
6) There’s more clearance under the brew basket! You couldn’t fit a coffee mug under there before (which is why I have the two espresso pitchers). One (or two) fewer thing to clean!
7) The drip tray has two larger holes in the middle. When your espresso is done (and the machine is off) you can take out the brew basket (it’s bad for the valve to keep it there) and set it on the holes to drip and cool off before cleaning. It’s a brilliant improvement. Also, the drip tray has a spout on it to make it easy to pour out.
8) The frothing wand swings! Very cool.
Here are my tips (echoing other reviews). -Read the directions first! It’ll last longer if you do. -Make sure you use the correct roast and ground size and don’t overpack. -Play with the brewer until you figure out how long you want to brew (I count to ten). -Ditch the single filter. You’ll never use it. -Get some demitasse cups. -Get a frothing pitcher and use 1% milk. -Ditch the rubber tip on the frothing wand. It’s useless unless you want to easily grow bacteria. -After frothing, blow a little steam out the wand so no milk dries and clogs it. Wipe the wand with a damp towel shortly after steaming (it’s easier to clean when it’s hot).
That’s about it, folks. You get a lot of bang for your buck with this one. Even if it only lasted a year, I’d buy another one to replace it and I’d still save money over the more expensive models.
Enjoy!
UPDATE AFTER ONE YEAR: I use it off and on and it’s still working well. The frothing works as well as it did day one. The espresso function works, but I made the mistake of pregrinding some beans at the grocery store with the “Espresso” setting. The machine struggled to force water through even with minimal packing (Next time I’ll try the next largest size). It also seems like the seal isn’t as tight as a year ago. That said, it still pulls a decent shot. For the money, I’m still pleased.
0
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Mr. Coffee ECMP50 Espresso/Cappuccino Maker, Black (Kitchen)
Like most who purchased this product, it was my first espresso maker. And I found out quickly that hunting for these things can be overwhelming! I purchased it at my local Target for $79.99 for convenience in case I had to return it — with all of the mixed reviews out there, I was incredibly weary of choosing one! However, I will most likely not need to do so. It is perfect for all of my needs!
PROS: 1. Incredibly easy to use! Directions and trouble-shooting pages in manual are simple and helpful. 2. Compact size, looks nice sitting on the counter. 3. Easy clean-up. All parts that need to be cleaned detach easily. 4. A standard sized coffee cup will fit under the spout — not so with many models! 5. The steam feature is simple, fairly powerful, and works well. No problems here. 6. As long as you get a good batch of coffee grounds, this machine can turn it into delicious espresso!
CONS: 1. I have been experiencing a small leak onto my counter after use. I haven’t caught it in the act yet, but if I return to the kitchen a few hours later, there is a wet spot near the machine. I read another review that mentioned the same thing, so it might be a universal issue with this product. However, it is a small leak, and not enought to cause a real problem in my opinion. 2. I would suggest making 2-3 cups before wasting any milk product on your first trial. This model does not have an automatic drip feature and you will need to manually tell it when to stop pouring. If you are not used to this, you might end up with a few nasty batches on your first try. No biggie. Just watch the color of the drip. It starts out as a medium brown, and changes to a much lighter brown if left alone. I would recommend shutting it off a second or so after it changes to the lighter brown. I have made perfect batches every time by this method. This all takes place over several seconds, so keep an eye out.
YOU MIGHT NEED TO KNOW: It mentions this in the manual, but make sure to get the right size of grounds. About the consistency of salt. I would recommend griding your own either at home with a grinder or at the store at a grinding station. They taste better for one, and you won’t waste your money on a mystery bag that doesn’t work well with your machine.
Also, it does not come with a frothing pitcher. You will need to buy one separately. I purchased mine at Bed Bath and Beyond — a Krups one, stainless, about $10? It fits fine. Just make sure you don’t get one that is too deep, or the froth wand will not reach the milk. It is a countertop model after all. If you don’t want to use as much milk you can turn the pitcher at an angle.
That’s it! Definitely more pros than cons. I feel that for the price I paid, I could not have hoped for a better quality machine. I would highly recommend this model if you want something easy and you don’t require tons of frills. If you want something more frilly, go ahead and spend $300 to $3000 on one. But I purchased an espresso maker to SAVE time and money (so long, Starbucks!), and this one’s just right for me!
0
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Mr. Coffee ECMP50 Espresso/Cappuccino Maker, Black (Kitchen)
11 months ago, when I read the review of this product, I concluded that it was a great bargain that was likely to be defective when I received it or to fail a short time later. I trusted that the 12 month warranty would be protect me in that case, but I wondered if it would be worth the hassle if I had to use it.
Fast forward: I really like the product. I brewed probably 300 cups of espresso and it worked well. Then it blew a gasket. When I called Jarden, who now owns the Mr. Coffee Brand, the customer service rep assured me that the product was manufactured at least 3 years ago and was therefore not in warranty. He had no interest in my purchase receipt, dated 11 months early. When I refused the steam expresso machine that he offered me as a “one time courtesy” and because the comparable unit was “not in stock” I went to the Mr. Coffee website and confirmed that it was indeed in stock, for purchase. When I refused the replacement and insisted that because I had purchased the unit less than a year ago, that the company should honor the warranty. The response was that the unit was not in stock, and they encouraged me to check back with them in 4-6 weeks.
I’m sure many people give up at this point and the customer service objective of not paying warranty claim or paying them at a much reduced price is realized. I bought the product and the warranty. I didn’t realize until I needed it that the warranty was not actually included. When I asked for it, I was told that I didn’t really buy it. Interesting! I’m probably powerless to enforce the warranty. It’s certainly not worth any more of my time to try. But I can avoid buying another Mr. Coffee device and I can tell many, many people about my experience.
Caveat Emptor.
0
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Mr. Coffee really did their homework on this one,
After taking this one around the block a few times I have to say I’m extremely impressed with the design improvements they’ve made. Overall, this machine is a tremendous value for under $100 (mine was $75 on sale). You would really have to be a coffee snob (and have a lot of disposable income) not to love what you get for the money (I’m a poor coffee snob.)
To sing this machine’s praises, I’ll highlight the improvments they’ve made:
1) You no longer have to remove the water container to fill it up. It’s an awkward shape to try to fill from my refrigerator. So I just use my frothing pitcher and pour directly into it. This also chills the pitcher – which is good for the frothing I’ll do soon.
2) I LOVE the top tray. I store my espresso cup, tamper (from the old machine – the new one is the only downgrade I’ve noticed), brew basket, and espresso pitchers on it. Did I mention I love the tray? It’s a great design perk.
3) It still heats up quickly. A little faster than before for frothing.
4) They upgraded the design of the filters. Smaller holes that all converge into one hole on the bottom. Note: Don’t put these or the brew basket in the dishwasher – you’ll tarnish them.
5) The bottom of the brew basket is really cool, the single hole from the filter drips onto a silicone (I’m assuming) cone in the basket which appears to guarantee an even drip between two cups of espresso. This only matters if you’re pulling separate shots. It may be overdesigned, but I think it’s cool.
6) There’s more clearance under the brew basket! You couldn’t fit a coffee mug under there before (which is why I have the two espresso pitchers). One (or two) fewer thing to clean!
7) The drip tray has two larger holes in the middle. When your espresso is done (and the machine is off) you can take out the brew basket (it’s bad for the valve to keep it there) and set it on the holes to drip and cool off before cleaning. It’s a brilliant improvement. Also, the drip tray has a spout on it to make it easy to pour out.
8) The frothing wand swings! Very cool.
Here are my tips (echoing other reviews).
-Read the directions first! It’ll last longer if you do.
-Make sure you use the correct roast and ground size and don’t overpack.
-Play with the brewer until you figure out how long you want to brew (I count to ten).
-Ditch the single filter. You’ll never use it.
-Get some demitasse cups.
-Get a frothing pitcher and use 1% milk.
-Ditch the rubber tip on the frothing wand. It’s useless unless you want to easily grow bacteria.
-After frothing, blow a little steam out the wand so no milk dries and clogs it. Wipe the wand with a damp towel shortly after steaming (it’s easier to clean when it’s hot).
That’s about it, folks. You get a lot of bang for your buck with this one. Even if it only lasted a year, I’d buy another one to replace it and I’d still save money over the more expensive models.
Enjoy!
UPDATE AFTER ONE YEAR: I use it off and on and it’s still working well. The frothing works as well as it did day one. The espresso function works, but I made the mistake of pregrinding some beans at the grocery store with the “Espresso” setting. The machine struggled to force water through even with minimal packing (Next time I’ll try the next largest size). It also seems like the seal isn’t as tight as a year ago. That said, it still pulls a decent shot. For the money, I’m still pleased.
0
Was this review helpful to you?
|A Relief After Tons of Searching!,
PROS:
1. Incredibly easy to use! Directions and trouble-shooting pages in manual are simple and helpful.
2. Compact size, looks nice sitting on the counter.
3. Easy clean-up. All parts that need to be cleaned detach easily.
4. A standard sized coffee cup will fit under the spout — not so with many models!
5. The steam feature is simple, fairly powerful, and works well. No problems here.
6. As long as you get a good batch of coffee grounds, this machine can turn it into delicious espresso!
CONS:
1. I have been experiencing a small leak onto my counter after use. I haven’t caught it in the act yet, but if I return to the kitchen a few hours later, there is a wet spot near the machine. I read another review that mentioned the same thing, so it might be a universal issue with this product. However, it is a small leak, and not enought to cause a real problem in my opinion.
2. I would suggest making 2-3 cups before wasting any milk product on your first trial. This model does not have an automatic drip feature and you will need to manually tell it when to stop pouring. If you are not used to this, you might end up with a few nasty batches on your first try. No biggie. Just watch the color of the drip. It starts out as a medium brown, and changes to a much lighter brown if left alone. I would recommend shutting it off a second or so after it changes to the lighter brown. I have made perfect batches every time by this method. This all takes place over several seconds, so keep an eye out.
YOU MIGHT NEED TO KNOW:
It mentions this in the manual, but make sure to get the right size of grounds. About the consistency of salt. I would recommend griding your own either at home with a grinder or at the store at a grinding station. They taste better for one, and you won’t waste your money on a mystery bag that doesn’t work well with your machine.
Also, it does not come with a frothing pitcher. You will need to buy one separately. I purchased mine at Bed Bath and Beyond — a Krups one, stainless, about $10? It fits fine. Just make sure you don’t get one that is too deep, or the froth wand will not reach the milk. It is a countertop model after all. If you don’t want to use as much milk you can turn the pitcher at an angle.
That’s it! Definitely more pros than cons. I feel that for the price I paid, I could not have hoped for a better quality machine. I would highly recommend this model if you want something easy and you don’t require tons of frills. If you want something more frilly, go ahead and spend $300 to $3000 on one. But I purchased an espresso maker to SAVE time and money (so long, Starbucks!), and this one’s just right for me!
0
Was this review helpful to you?
|Lying is an interesting customer service strategy,
Fast forward: I really like the product. I brewed probably 300 cups of espresso and it worked well. Then it blew a gasket. When I called Jarden, who now owns the Mr. Coffee Brand, the customer service rep assured me that the product was manufactured at least 3 years ago and was therefore not in warranty. He had no interest in my purchase receipt, dated 11 months early. When I refused the steam expresso machine that he offered me as a “one time courtesy” and because the comparable unit was “not in stock” I went to the Mr. Coffee website and confirmed that it was indeed in stock, for purchase. When I refused the replacement and insisted that because I had purchased the unit less than a year ago, that the company should honor the warranty. The response was that the unit was not in stock, and they encouraged me to check back with them in 4-6 weeks.
I’m sure many people give up at this point and the customer service objective of not paying warranty claim or paying them at a much reduced price is realized. I bought the product and the warranty. I didn’t realize until I needed it that the warranty was not actually included. When I asked for it, I was told that I didn’t really buy it. Interesting! I’m probably powerless to enforce the warranty. It’s certainly not worth any more of my time to try. But I can avoid buying another Mr. Coffee device and I can tell many, many people about my experience.
Caveat Emptor.
0
Was this review helpful to you?
|