MiiCoffee Apex Espresso Machine V2 (Grey)

The media could not be loaded. I have been getting into making espresso for about four months now so by no means would I call myself an expert however I have learned quite a bit over these past few months. I started off with a DeLonghi linea classica that cost about $225. Because of my inexperience, I had a lot of frustration and a lot of trouble pulling good shots of espresso so I then moved to the ninja Luxe Café, which I spent a few months using and understanding espresso. This machine is a great intro into espresso. I just recently purchased this machine and have been using it for a few weeks now and I am already starting to notice a big difference in the taste of my espresso. I upgraded to a bottomless Porta filter and a precision basket and my espresso are tasting much more balanced, and full bodied. For the $400 that I paid for this unit the features are great. It comes with a three-way solenoid valve that releases the pressure instantly and a PID loop that controls the heat within a degree or two. The build quality is decent however, the drip tray does not quite feel square and the cups wobble a little bit. This was fixed by slightly, bending it into shape, so no big deal.Pre-infusion on this is not very good and trying to set the timing for this pressurizes the basket and then releases the pressure which could tend to unsettled the puck so I just go for the direct brew and shut it off manually when I hit my numbers. Overall, in my short time doing this, I have found great value out of this machine and it has made my espresso a lot more noticeably enjoyable. Even milk frothing with the dual boilers takes a lot less time than it did with my DeLonghi. Basically I can pull a shot and then start steaming milk right after, there is no waiting for the boiler to warm up for steam. I’m sure overtime as I gain more experience I may want to Upgrade However with all the features at this offers I don’t plan on doing it anytime in the near future I’ve had a great experience so far with this machine. In my opinion for someone who has a little experience like myself with espresso, but is looking to get more involved in making their coffees, I think this is a great option for the price with great features.

There are some false claims in the listing. 1. The machine is not calibrated to max out at 9 bars; it depends on the grind and does to create pressure. 2. They also claim that the "preinfusion" is now fixed on the product listing, but they still shipped me a machine without the fix. The only way to fix it is by opening up the machine and changing the circuit board, which they claim will be shipped to owners of earlier models.Some things to be praised: this machine has similar functionalities to machines that are way above this price range, besides not having an overpressure valve and hot water function. The downside is that the materials used are less premium, and you will need to pair it with a good grinder that has a good range of settings for espresso.That being said, MiiCoffee Apex is definitely capable of pulling good shots, and it will make an incredible entry machine for beginners for a few reasons:1. It uses a 58mm group head, so there is no need to change out accessories if you upgrade to higher-end machines.2. It forces you to learn about espresso fundamentals such as grind sizes, dosing, pressure, and puck prep because of the lack of OPV. If you can learn to control these variables, it is possible to consistently achieve the advertised 9-bar extraction (I hope OPV can be added in future versions because it simply makes life much easier).3. Because the machine has a dual heating system (boiler for the brew group and thermal coil for steam), you can steam as much milk as you like instead of waiting for the boiler to heat up like single-boiler machines. Though sacrificing steam power a little bit, this machine with the stock 3-hole tip can create good microfoam if you add enough air into the milk and find the sweet spot to create a whirlpool.

Amazing machine ! Able to pull great espresso shots, and I love being able to tweak both the water flow and the OPV valve if needed. Surprised to see any bad reviews about this machine, received mine brand new, been using it for a few weeks now and never had any issues. Coffee temperature is great, recommend to wait a bit more than the advertised 3-5 minutes to get it to stay stable.I've seen some complaints about the wand but I cannot find any issues with it - you just need to purge before using it - takes roughly 30 seconds and then you're good to get a perfectly steamed/frothed milk ! Pulled some great cappuccinos with it already (and I'm a total noob on that front).Once you get it dialed in, it's a great espresso machine that packs features that are only available above $1000 machines. Great budget real espresso maker !

Odd interaction with this item. It arrived with a broken water pump. When I contacted Amazon, I was told to contact the seller. (Miicoffee) After explaining that the pump wasn’t working, he asked for a video, and that they would review it and determine if I need a replacement. (I paid, it doesn’t work, it needs a replacement, end of story) Now, he was honest enough to let me know it would be quicker to get a replacement through Amazon. I appreciated that….I went back to Amazon, they insisted on “trouble shooting”. I’m a 30 year professional pilot, I know how to turn on a machine and push a button to pump water. After the troubleshooting determined that the pump didn’t work, I was told they could give me a refund. I asked for a replacement, I still want the item, I understand that sometimes it can come broken from the manufacturer. He told me no, the inventory wasn’t reliable.I’ve had to submit a return. Now I wait a week for my refund. In the meantime, I’ve ordered another machine so that I can actually get the item I’m trying to buy. This was by far the most painful purchase I’ve made on Amazon. I’m now paying 2x’s for a machine in order to get a working one. I’ll have to wait for my refund.