Capresso 303.01 4Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Machine
| Brand: | Capresso | ||
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We all know that everybody loves coffee. People just can’t get enough of a daily dose of caffeine each morning. Some people even claim not to function well without it. It jumpstarts the function of brain cells and awakens each sleepy eye. Now, coffee is becoming very popular. This is due to the fact that there are a lot of diverse caffeinated beverages. While there was only drip of brewed coffee way back, you can now choose from a wide selection of wonderful espresso drinks, iced lattes, and frappuccinos. But, a daily fix of these will get a little pricey after some time. Therefore, you might want to think of getting espresso drinkers guide which will provide you espresso machine reviews.
As soon as caffeinated beverages became popular, the espresso machines also popped out. One of the brands that became highly popular is the Capresso. This article would be talking about two models of Capresso named: Capresso 303.01 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Machine and Capresso 565 Electric Burr Grinder.
First off, the Capresso 303.01 4-Cup Espresso is an 800-watt espresso and cappuccino machine that comes with 4-cup capacity and coffee and steam selector. It also comes with an adjustable coffee strength. This espresso machine has the advantage of having a swivel frother as well as a safety boiler cap with a built-in valve. The Capresso 303.01 4-Cup Espresso comes with a filter holder and a protective thumb guard, and on and off button with light that has a removable drip tray.
Secondly, the Capresso 565 Electric Burr Grinder: This espresso machine has conical burrs which rotate at 420 rpm speed. Its low-speed capacity enables the beans to be grinding better which heightens the consistency of its powder. Capresso 565 Electric Burr Grinder will make it possible for you to be free from the uneven ground coffee beans.
The 16 setting attachments is also one of the best features of Capresso 565 Electric Burr Grinder. This will provide flexibility for different types of ground coffee.
In fact, the Capresso 565 Electric Burr Grinder has an auto-stop built-in feature. In that way, you never have to worry about manually turning it off. more info
Great little machine
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this wonderful machine for Christmas and have been using it nearly every day. I am a college senior and aspiring medical school student, so I’m hoping it lasts me a while. I’m so happy to be making my own cappuccinos and espressos using the delicious Illy brand that they used in Italy, France, and Greece when I was abroad.
I really don’t understand some of the negative reviews–I have no problem getting the boiler cap on (you just have to make sure it’s aligned), have never burnt my espresso (follow the instructions and don’t run all the water through!), and releasing steam (for 1-2 shots) only takes about a minute.
Pros: Small, sleek design. Easy to clean. FAST. Comes with a scoop/tamper-in-one. Good for one person, and for entertaining a few guests. You can control the strength of your coffee. Frother is easy to use–I love my froth. Not messy.
Cons: For me this is not a con because I can’t drink things that are too hot, but like a previous reviewer said, the espresso is a bit on the warm (not hot) side if you’re only making one shot. Also, it is slightly annoying to clean off milk residue from the silver froth wand, but I just do it immediately after use and it’s fine.
This is my first espresso/cappuccino machine, and all in all, I think it’s a wonderful, easy to use machine.
BOILER CAP DOESN’T CLOSE!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I just got this espresso maker to replace our old one. I can’t even get the boiler cap to close, I almost broke it trying to get it on! It has a double lock feature and that’s why it’s so hard to close. I will be getting rid of this, I have already spent nearly an hour trying to get it on. Junk!
Great little machine!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this as a gift for my wife and went for the low price because I was not sure how much use it would get. We use it at least a few times a week with very good and consistent results thus far. As with many appliances, the user has to be smarter than the machine. Read the directions, make some effort to understanding how it works and why you do the things you do to make espresso, late, etc. and you will have good results.
Making espresso/steamed milk drinks is not like using a microwave where you close the door, push some buttons and walk away–there is quite a bit of user interaction and some finess required to make a good drinks. This is our first espresso maker but I imagine that is true of all espresso machines, even the most expensive ones. I am sure they have greater power/speed, the ability to produce more drinks in less time, and some cool “bells and whistles” but I can’t imagine the drinks being much better than with this very affordable machine.
We have not found the rubber tip for the steam wand to be useful. It seems to make a bit of a mess actually so we use the steam wand without it. Results are very good including foam if we want it.
Lives up to its price point
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this unit for my wife for X-Mas. All and all, we are both pleased with the unit so far. It is by no means a professional grade machine. However, if you are just wanting to enjoy the occasional cappucinno or Espresso, it will definately serve you well. Easy to use and easy to clean. I just suspect that it will not hold up for long under constant use, but I maybe wrong. Definately not over priced and works well so far !!!
Do not buy this product unless you like mediocre espresso and have lots of time to waste!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I was excited when I bought this product, it only had one review but it was a 5 star. Much to my disappointment after reading and following the instructions I got everything ready and made some espresso. It came out BURNT! I reread the instructions, tried again and again and again. And it kept coming out BURNT!! Plus, you have to release steam from the nozzle after every batch you make. And when I say “batch” I mean one or two shots, as the guide suggests not making too much for risk of burning your espresso (mine burnt with just 1 shot). Anyway, releasing the steam is a long process-10-15 minutes- and is as loud as a freight train.. plus, it’s messy. Not exactly what I envisioned when I thought about offering guests a cappucino or espresso after dinner (yeah, sorry, it will be 15 minutes between each person..get in line!)
Needless to say I am SUPER dissappointed with this machine and am still trying to get ahold of the company to return it..
Great Entry Level Machine
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
So I bought this machine because of the price, expecting it to be a piece of junk or perhaps a surprise. As the directions in the box say, this is an entry level machine. After using it, I think they are correct, although that is not a bad thing at all.
The espresso is very good, although it does not create much crema. I have had better espresso in Italy, but I really bought this to make cappuccinos with and $59.99 is cheaper than a flight to Florence. It is also very dependent on the type of coffee you use (I purchased Illy’s espresso ground in decaf – amazing! I was very, very surprised with the quality of the coffee – yum!).
I became very, very frustrated with the frother, even purchasing an aerolatte frother to see if I could live with that type of froth (btw – I can’t. There’s nothing like steamed froth). The frother seemed inconsistent at first. Most of that is my lack of experience frothing, which after reading online the various debates and instructions, perhaps the best advise was to buy a gallon of milk and get started because it does take some practice. BUT I had an amazing discovery, and perhaps this will help you too:
1. I took off the plastic attachment and am just now only using the metal wand, and am having very few problems. I just couldn’t seem to get the hang of the plastic gizmo which is supposed to make it easier. But the metal wand by itself works great!
2. Start with cold milk and froth first (Don’t follow the company’s directions of heating the milk first and then frothing. Perhaps this is correct, but I couldn’t get a consistent froth – either me or the machine, can’t say.). The milk will heat naturally with creating the froth, and as soon as you are done with your froth, you can finish it off by putting the wand deeper in the milk and completing the steaming.
3. When frothing, hold the container by it’s body, not by a handle, and don’t let it get any hotter than you can comfortably hold. If the milk gets too hot, the froth will start to disappear. It’s got something to do with chemistry – if you’re interested, there are lots of sites online that go into excrutiating detail.
4. Directions say that nonfat or 1% are the best choices of milk. Online, they say 2% or whole milk. I would say, go with the higher fat content. They do in Italy, and look at you funny if you ask for nonfat. The frothing seems to work better with a little fat and the cappuccino tastes really wonderful this way.
5. Making these things take a little time. Not something you want to do if you’re in a hurry to get to work.
6. Also, you need to stay and watch the thing – get involved. Frothing is quick (about 30 seconds), but you have to concentrate and not get distracted with other things. You have to pay attention or you will ruin your froth.
7. The process of making the espresso requires that you watch it. Sorry, but you can’t go and do something else.
In answer to the irritable person that said it took a lifetime to drain the steam out of the machine to make more cappuccinos, here is my response to that:
1. It does NOT take a lifetime – about 5 minutes total. Put a tall glass underneath the steaming wand, turn the steam up all the way, and leave it alone. You can make more cappuccinos after that.
In answer to the other irritable person who said their coffee tasted burnt, here is my response:
1. What the heck are you doing? Perhaps not reading the directions? If you let all the water filter through like you would a coffee pot, it will taste burnt (and the instructions tell you that clearly). You have to follow the directions, perhaps read them a few times, and wait for the pot to either fill to 2 or 4 cups (making sure you put in the right amount of coffee).
Anyhow, I am keeping the machine. I am THRILLED to be able to make cappuccino’s at home. It was really fun to be able to offer fresh cappuccinos for desert on New Year’s Day dinner, that was truly delicious and an appropriate ending to a gourmet meal. They really are delicious.
I can see how eventually, I will want a more expensive machine that is perhaps more sophisticated, but for the time being, it serves the purpose just fine, making a delicious cup, giving great pleasure and relaxation, and letting me learn how to properly froth milk.
UPDATE Jan 5, 2010: My husband mentioned that the metal which holds the coffee was kind of funky looking. I started getting nervous, thinking that perhaps it might be aluminum, so I called the company. The company informed me that both the water boiler and the thing that holds the coffee ARE aluminum (not true for all the capresso products, but true for this lower end model). They come in direct contact with your water, get heated, and therefore, your coffee. I was trying to avoid aluminum products due to the uncertainty of the metal (there seems to be links to alzheimers and aluminum – although not conclusive, FDA is ok with it, but probably not worth the risk). I’m probably going to return the machine as I am just too paranoid to take chances. Thought you all should know BUT it does not change my opinion of the quality of the cappucinos should you choose to buy it. I may purchase a Capresso steam frother instead (which is mostly plastic), and a stovetop unit made of stainless.
Easy to Use; Good Results
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I received this machine as a Christmas present from my wife. After reading the directions (a must) and running out to the supermarket for a canister of Illy espresso and carton of skim milk, I was ready to make my first cappuccino, braced for a bit of trial and error. My worries were all for naught. The machine worked as advertised and the frothing wand frothed up a perfect pot of milk.
While it’s capable of making great cappuccinos and lattes, I’ve yet to extract a first-rate shot of espresso worth drinking black. I’m still experimenting with grind, brew strength, tamping and a few other variables, but I don’t expect this machine to be able to do what an experienced barista with a $10,000 machine can do. I’ve worked with such machines and know how tricky it is to extract the perfect shot.
If frothed milk and the occasional glug of flavored syrup is your thing, this machine is capable of delivering better-than-Starbucks results. But if you demand your espresso straight up with a perfect crema that sticks around until the far-from-bitter end, you’ll need to buy a bigger, better machine.
Best of The Steam Driven Expresso Machines
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
LMAO! What is the problem with getting the cap on! It works great for me, no burnt expresso. Unbelieveable! It will make expresso just as good as the leaky pump machine it replaced! The manufacturer states, not to run the steam through your coffee at the end, use it to froth milk or vent it off, to prevent the burnt taste. Also, do not use a fine expresso grind, but rather a courser expresso grind. It takes too long to draw the expresso with a fine grind that is tamped too much and that will burn it also. Experiment with the grind, tamping and amount of water to use. If you can draw an expresso in under 30 seconds without blowing steam through it, you will get good results.
I really needed to get a burr grinder if I was to get another pump machine. A pump machine needs a ultra fine grind and a heavy tamp to work at the higher pressures, to make good expresso.
I have owned a Mini Jura Capresso in the past, it was durable and it worked great. I bought this machine because I did not want to go through the expense of buying a burr grinder and a pump machine. The Jura Capresso 303.01 works great, you just have to know how to use a steam driven expresso machine.
Very pleased…
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
We are very happy with our choice. We were afraid due to the low price of this item that it would not work well. We have been pleasantly surprised!! Would recommend it..
Capresso 303.01 4-Cup Espresso Machine
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We gave this to our daughter for Christmas and she really loves it. Says it quick and easy.
Great Machine
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have had two of the old version of the Capresso Espresso and Cappuccino Machine. My old machines worked well….sort of tempermental on the “foaming.” My last machine finally just couldn’t make good foam anymore. I bought the new Capresso. This new version is great. The foam is easy to manage and the new “foam spout” is a great improvement over the old one. This machine is very easy to maintain…cleanup is a breeze. The “foam spout” completely detaches with a gentle pull…just run water through it and you’re ready to push it back on to the machine. I don’t drink the coffee, I just make it for my husband. He says it tastes great. You can pay for this machine easily by skipping a few trips to the coffee house! When/if this machine no longer functions, I’ll replace it with the same machine. Great value for the resulting coffee product.
Capresso is the perfect steam machine
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I waited a few months before I submitted my review on this machine. The last machine I bought (a Mr. Coffee steam espresso machine) lasted only 3 months before it quit working. I’m happy to say that this machine makes perfect espresso every time. The steam wand works well for frothing and heating the milk, and you can also vary the strength of the espresso. To top it off, the whole unit is easy to clean. You can pop out the bottom shelf where the carafe sits and put it in the dishwasher.
coffee wasn’t hot enough
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I bought this machine and tried it out for a couple of weeks. Although it performed well -I couldn’t get the espresso hot enough for my taste. I gave it to my daughter in-law who loves it and is using it three or four times a day. She doasn’t mind that her coffee isn’t piping hot.
Cappucino machine works great
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This cappucino machine works great. I have a wife who likes lots of foam and a daughter who likes no foam. So just ask. Once you make it twice you get the hang of it. You can experiment with different types of coffee, different amounts of coffee, as well as foam. This person with no cooking talent has become the cappucino making expert of our home.
Dissapointing
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This is one purchase that I would not have done. The machine works OK, but the coffee is just warm not hot (when making one cup). Before this machine, I owned a Capresso 101 pump machine. It was making excellent coffee, but with time the machine broke and it was not worth repairing it. I did not want to buy the new pump because it takes too much space, and Capresso told me that this machine makes as good coffee. However, the coffee is not as good as from a pump machine that makes it directly into a cup. When I first got the machine, the coffee seemed hotter, bit after a week, the coffee seemed to come out less hot. Overall, I am disapointed.
By the way, I saw a pump expresso machine in WalMart for $10 more than this machine. If I saw that machine before, I would have definitely tried it.