wirsh Espresso Machine, 20 Bar Semi-Automatic Espresso Maker with Pressure Gauge, Steam Wand, Stainless Steel Expresso Coffee Machine for Espresso/Latte/Cappuccino, Touch Screen,Home Barista Plus

The coffee maker is small, easy to use, and makes a good cup of coffee. I like that it doesn’t take up much space and the only cleaning required is rinsing out the used grounds from the filter. It is easy to program a starting time. I have had it over 2 years and it is still working great.

I do like this machine, it makes a strong cup of coffee. I like making one cup at a time. I like being able to make expresso shots. I almost never use the steam handle, it makes a mess all over the place. It does work and for hot chocolate it is great. I like that it is not too hot and the aroma is well preserved, the flavor is robust, when using a quality coffee, the results are good. The look on my counter is compact, better looking than plastic, the fake metal and the real metal get smudge marks that stop coming off. Maybe a wax will help with that. Value for the cost is good, I have bought several other machines and they all got returned, not this one..it is a keeper.

***Update after almost 2 years*** Thank you for all the "helpful" votes.The Wirsh is still producing wonderful Espressos on a daily basis. Actually I didn't expect it to last that long...In the meantime, I upgraded from my exhausting hand-grinding to a conical burr grinder to grind the beans just before using them, rather than ahead of time and storing the grounds. Makes a big difference.I also got a decent stainless steel/wood handle tamper and threw out the plastic contraption.Two tips I wanted to share: Keep the manual in a secure place (I scan and save them as pdfs) so you know the instructions for descaling (ending with "After finish descaling, you need to cancel the descaling warning: Simultaneously hold and press the Single-cup button, Double-cup button and Steam button for 3 seconds.")Second, try not to run it dry. There doesn't seem to be much in terms of dry-run protection so when that happens, it basically empties out its internal piping, and it takes a while to get it to suck water again.***Update*** Wanted to do a quick update after using it daily for the last 4 months:Still working great! Making good espressos, and I am enjoying the ease of cleaning this compared to super-automatic ones. Have not de-scaled it yet, so we'll see how that goes.I purchased a "bottomless Portafilter" which was said to be compatible with the Gevi. It ended up not completely sealing, so steam would shoot out between the filter and where it locks in. All is not lost though, the filter basket fits into the original Wirsh Portafilter just fine. Really spent more than necessary, again, I wish they would throw in a bottomless filter basket.As for the vibrating, I put a paper towel sheet underneath the cup, which keeps it from wandering off. I use that same paper towel to catch any drip drops and to wipe any coffee grinds from where the water comes out. Non-issue!Finally, the milk steaming wand works great, just had to practice a few times. No problems.With the non-pressurized Portafilter came a measuring spoon and a plastic cup (search for B0BPXLZZ4R) to put the coffee grinds into the filter basket without spilling. Still use the plastic tamping spoon, but have my eyes on a metal one.Conclusion: If I had to do it over, I'd choose the same one. I'll update if anything changes.***Original Review***After a number of super-automatic espresso machines I wanted to be able to control things a bit more, and also separate the grinding from the actual espresso making for simpler equipment which can be replaced/upgraded without throwing out the whole unit.The Wirsh Espresso Machine has been a good choice, so far.Here is what I like about it...• The price - compared to the brand names (Bambino etc) this is refreshingly affordable!• The size - very compact compared to the super-automatics I had previously• Fun factor - I use a hand-grinder to grind the beans, and filling the filter and tamping and watching it turn into black goodness is something I do enjoy• Simplicity - four easy buttons and a lever to turn on the wand. Easy to clean tray.• Control - while simple, it allows to program the amount of water to be dispensed (which may have been overlooked by some of the reviewers claiming this can't make espressos). For ex, I can program the double shot to output 75ml, so with the single providing 50ml, and 2 singles 100ml, there is quite a bit of variability to play with.• Don't know about boiler vs thermo block, but this heats up and brews fast, and the espresso is hot enough• Results - the produced espressos are tasty, with a good amount of crema on top, once you figure out how fine to grind and how hard to tamp• The user manual is (surprise) concise and clearly written, with good tips on how to get the most out of the machine.Now for the downsides, which at this point are few and not very serious• The machine vibrates when blowing out the espresso, which makes the catch tray vibrate and my cup wanders off and away from the stream of coffee. Maybe it will settle, but for the moment, I have to hold on to the cup.• Comes with a 1 and a 2 cup pressurized basket, I wish they would have thrown in one or two unpressurized ones, so one wouldn't have to invest in a second portafilter.• I am familiar with various steam wand designs, and this one isn't one of the better ones. Will probably take a bit of practice to get milk to where you can think about latte art. No big deal for me as I don't use it much.• Compared to all the stainless steel goodness of the machine, the flimsy plastic tamper is a letdown, and the attached spoon is one or two sizes too big for the small 51mm baskets.On a final note, going from milk steaming to brewing more espressos is very easy by just running some hot water through the steam wand to reduce the internal temperature. Not a problem at all, this is just how these things work unless you upgrade to a double-boiler monster.

Got this yesterday, and fired it up this morning. Easy to operate, not too noisy (after my De Longhi Stilosa that I had to junk because it started leaking all over the place), and a lot more compact—I have limited counter space, but I actually have room to leave this one on the counter instead of storing it underneath. Plus, the base has four little suction cups that keep it stationary while it’s running, instead of the vibrations sending it galloping all over the counter. Not too long to warm up, makes a good cup of espresso, and a good latte….a plus is that the steamer actually makes a good froth from oat milk. Stainless steel—no plastic parts touch any food ingredients except the tank, and it is BPA free, in case you’re worried about that. The price is also right—I am not a coffee snob, and I have no intention of spending $800-1000 for a gadget I may not use every day. Comes with a stainless steel tamper, and an instruction booklet, quite clear in spite of its broken English (one of the situations on the troubleshooting list is “less grease,” and I’m still scratching my head over that one). Easy to clean, if you’re consistent about it. So far, I think it’s a great little machine for the money!