I received the Hamilton Beach Espresso/Cappuccino Maker as a wedding gift more than two years ago and I have been using it since then. It has a good brew performance and it is very easy to use. I find cleaning this machine quite as easy as well. It may be helpful to turn the unit on, without pressing the espresso or steam button, to preheat the internal components for about five minutes. before making one's drink. Additionally, it is helpful to buy an aluminum tamper. Although the plastic tamper that comes with the unit is adequate, but a weighted tamper is needed to make it easier to obtain a layer of brown froth known as "crema." Of great importance is the grind and the most recommended for espresso should be achieved via a conical burr grinder. It is advisable for one to descale the unit either monthly or quarterly depending on the hardness of the water in your municipality. The design is very nice and the machine is durable. I will recommend this unit to all espresso and cappuccino lovers.

OluwafunmiA

USA

it makes a great cup i cannot live without it hamilton beach products are priced really well Brew Performance very excellent cappucino very impressive performance Ease of Use couldn't be easier Design looks cool and goes nicely with my other appliances Durability so far no problems at all

TanyaLaubscher

USA

I loved the sleek and modern look of this espresso machine, but I should have read others reviews before we plunked our money down! All the components of the machine work well as a whole, but the espresso produced was bitter. Then, by the time you finish frothing the milk, the espresso is cold, and using the microwave to then warm your latte up kills the flavor. Brew Performance The espresso brews pretty quickly, but by the time the milk is frothed, the espresso is cold and bitter tasting. If you heat your concoction afterward in the microwave, the coffee flavor turns funny tasting, and the whole process doesn't seem worth the effort.

AllieT

USA

I bought this for my husband because he was wasting alot of money by going to restaurants and buying coffee. I was kind of skeptical that it could make a quality tasting espresso or cappuccino, but I figured for the price it would be worth the risk. It surpassed my expectations! This makes great cappuccinos and espressos. It is very easy to use and doesn't make a mess either. The downfall for me was that it didn't come w/a cup (they have to be small cups) and I didn't have one either. It took me a couple of weeks to even find any cups that would fit so it just sat there for a while until I did find some. But it was worth the wait b/c I have now saved lots of money b/c we get the quality coffee w/o the quality price!!! Brew Performance very fast and consistent brewing Ease of Cleaning easliy wipes up with a cloth Ease of Use it only has a few buttons so... it would be very hard to mess this up... very easy to use Design its sleek and looks good on my counter i think Durability very sturdy and made with high quality parts

kmtmbt2005

Van Buren, AR

I really wanted to keep this item but I couldn't because it made my coffee taste/smell funny. I searched and searched for a decent espresso maker that wasn't cheaply made or overpriced. I ended up settling on this model, but it never lost that funny plastic smell and it transfered out into the coffee. I ran numerous rounds of hot water through the machine to flush it out and nothing helped. I also ran vinegar through it and let the pieces air out. Mechanically, the machine worked fine, other than sometimes taking a while to get the water really hot. I ended up returning it since I don't like pastic flavored drinks. Ease of Cleaning I couldn't get the plastic smell to go away!

shellyb8293

Bellevue, NE

**Hamilton Beach Cappuccino and Espresso Make****r is a great machine for someone new to espresso and a little light on cash****.**** I receive this machine as a gift, because I am a coffee fanatic and had displayed an interest in making espresso from home, but did not think I could afford a decent machine.** **This little guy is quick start and great from someone that doesn't know where to start. The maker came with a DVD which walks you through set up and your first cup of espresso and even a latte! (Which is my favorite!) It also comes with a laminated drink guide, to making about six standard coffee house drinks. I was making lattes and mochas the first time I set it up, with no prior experiance. Even better, the drinks taste great and clean up is easy.** **My only com**plaint about****** this machine is that the steam wand for steaming the milk is short. It properly steam my milk, I actually have to tilt the machine slightly off of its base. However, this isn't a big deal, especially for a machine that is less than a hundred bucks.**

violentdawn

Addison, TX

The Hamilton Beach Cappuccino and Espresso maker is a delight to own. It makes a great cup of cappuccino or Espresso. It is easy to use. It has a warming tray for your cup and a drip tray. It comes with a measuring spoon and a tamping tool also. It has  a temperature light that turns red when it is ready for use. The water holder is lightweight, and removable.  The frothing nozzle is easy to use. It can hold up to 2 cups, one under each spout. You can use pods, or use regular flavored cappuccino that you buy at the grocery store. You can buy espresso coffee at the grocery store also. Espresso is very strong, so you have to have a taste for it. You can steam your milk for cappuccino's and then froth it. I bought a silver stainless steel  cup to steam milk it works better. There are so many things you can make, here are a few, latte, cafe mocha, hot chocolate with steamed milk. Any flavor of cappuccino with steamed milk that has been frothed. Or half latte and half espresso. You can also make a cold coffee drink you pour over ice, for a instant iced beverage. Relax and enjoy!

tonistar

North Las Vegas, NV