There is a certain minimum dollar point below which you will get something that is TOTALLY INCAPABLE of doing the job.

this krups is one example.

To make anything approaching a real espresso, you need to spend about $200.00. and to make it properly, you need to spend about $300.00 for an ESPRESSO grinder.

otherwise, just get some pod machine and pretend.

It's simple to use and makes an excellent cup of espresso. I don't use the cappuccino feature so I can't rate that.

This machine surprisingly (for such a small, inexpensive machine) makes a delicious espresso or latte (using Starbucks pre-made pods yields the best results). However, after very little use, the machine is leaking water from the base. The problem seems to be in the plastic molding of the water resevoir but I'm not sure. It's disappointing that this machine is not long lasting. We do have a Cafe Roma by De Longhi, and the gasket on that is experiencing troubles but that company is doing a complete replacement of our product.

After 3 -1/2 years of pulling 4 to 8 shots of expresso per day, and steaming hundreds of gallons of delicious foamy milk, this little steam toy still works like new. Better than new, actually, because it has a better operator. Good results require a bit of experimentation with the variables of different grinds and quantities of coffee and durations of extraction. I've come home many times to discover that I'd left the electric switch on all day, but not to fear, the thing doesn't burn up, so far. On other occasions, I've overloaded the pump by letting the reservoir run dry and then adding water to try to resume extraction through a filter that had become clogged from the interruption of the flow of water. The pump keeps going even with the output blocked down to a trickle. This will happen to you from time to time because you will neglect to refill the reservoir. When it happens, just start over with dry coffee. You will also need to buy a small diameter tamper - mine is 49mm.

The expresso liquor always has crema and never tastes sour to me, even when using cheap brands of dark roast like Eight O Clock and Community Coffee. Everything I've said about the brilliance of this machine is contingent, howver, on the coffee grinder. Without a good grinder, you might as well just make drip coffee. The secret good expresso, in my experience, is 25% expresso machine and 75% grinder. A good grinder is the Gaggia, which I bought from amazon for $175 with a discount, or the Rancillio Rocky, which I would have gotten in the first place had I understood the importance of an excellent grinder.

This machine is small and light enough to take with you to the motel when you're on a road trip, and cheap enough to leave behind if you forget to put it in your car the next morning. My next expresso machine will be much more expensive, but not because I'm trying to obtain a higher quality brew. My only reasons for paying more are to get double shots and the solenoid valve, which will eliminate the spills of hot soupy grounds when emptying the porta-filter. Also, when you get familiar with the operation of a machine, you'd like it to last so you don't have to learn a new set of techniques.

I bought this machine 2 years ago with the thought in mind that even if it worked for a while, we could see how much we would actually use an espresso machine and still not have to spend a lot of money. I worked in a coffee shop and was used to all the perks of a larger machine, but for "at home" use, this machine is great. It doesn't make double shots and you can't steam while making the shot or adjust the steam, but for the price, it's been well worth the money. We have used it at least once a week, more often 2 to 3 times a week for 2 years (making 2 to 4 drinks during each session). Just recently I did experience the same problem as described by others where the frother no longer works. I opened the machine up (only one screw on top under lid where you insert water resevoir) and sure enough the hose had come off. Replaced it and it's working again. Just some pointers, I do think it's very important to have the proper grind of coffee (I grind my own). Also important is a proper tamp and no coffee at all around the edge of the filter for a good seal. I even get a great crema. Cleaning of the machine is also important. I clean mine with a good wipe down of the nozzle and filter head after each session used and once in a while with a descaler, running it through the frother, as well as the filter.

Maybe I just got lucky with this machine, but we have really enjoyed it and even if it quit working tomorrow, we've still gotten more than our money's worth.