I have one of these makers, and from this video, I do see one issue you are having that you can fix right away. Yes, there are three positions; off, coffee, and steam. However, in between 'off' and 'coffee' is the spot you want to turn the dial; this will turn on the pot, heat the water, and then wait for the green light to appear. Once the green light appears, turn the dial to 'coffee'. You will get better pressure and faster pouring time.... STOP turning the dial to froth your milk in-between pours. Just be patient and do it after the pour. There will still be residual steam left in the pot to quickly steam your milk. Let me know how this works for you. For me, it works just fine, and of course, it just takes some minor adjustments in coffee grind, measurements, etc. to get the perfect cup of espresso. Cheers. ; )
Well a perfect cup of espresso is not possible with this machine, but at least some kind of halfway decent coffe should be possible with this. At least something drinkable and not something acidic.
I have one of these under a different brand name. Although you're definitely not going to get cafe quality espresso out of this, after a bit of reading and playing around it's possible to get a decent drink. First off, just go ahead and choke the machine- grind so fine that you get no extraction. Then back off slightly from there until it seems right. It can be tricky to find a tamp that fits, so use whatever you can find that fits (flip a spice container upside down and use the lid?) Don't forget to measure ratios in and out as well! The biggest thing that's going to help you out here is preboiling the water, either in a kettle or by turning the machine on to the steam mode and wait till it's really cranking out. This gets rid of that preinfusion problem, and ideally if you play around with your variables enough you should get a decent 30 second pull. It's definitely some trial and error but if you're broke and not too elitist with your palate it's a fun way to go!
hahah, i do the same, but rather than preheating the water on a kettle, i use the same machine to heat itself and the water, it takes around 7 minutes when the container is full, on the mean time i grind my coffee and prepare the milkjug, i pull 30 to 40 second espressos, they are not that bad imo. The frothing is decent too.
@@morgandrinkscoffee It took me a bit to figure out that the 3 position knob is actually adjustable. When you turn to brew, just turn until the lamp lights. This activates the heating element in the tank. Wait about 3 minutes and turn the knob ever so slightly to increase water volume. Stop when you hear sort of a burble sound and wait, shortly the extraction will be visible. The formula I used was grind as fine as your grinder allows, hard tamp 18g coffee, pull off 36g water, 30 seconds. Not perfect but not bad. I use this on the boat when out cruising. Froth milk as usual. Enjoy!
I've seen this before in my Cuban friends house; his family used it for cuban coffee. They would put sugar into the carafe, stop the brewing after a few drops then mix the sugar and coffee to make a crema, turn the machine back on and let the rest of the coffee brew. You're left with a carafe of cuban coffee.
This is such a trip down memory lane. When I met my wife in 1995 (yes, old) she had nearly the exact same machine under the Mr Coffee label. We lived in Laredo Texas which had no Starbucks or any other coffee house at the time so we thought it was very fancy.
My gf got me this same espresso maker for Valentine’s Day. A good tip I saw someone else do on UA-cam: just steam/froth the milk first, the water will start heating up while steaming the milk. Once you got the texture/consistency & heat desired, switch over to brew & let the espresso brew completely. I saw on Amazon, saying not to use fine ground. Some coffee will just get thru the filter, but honestly you don’t feel the grounds when drinking it. It’s a decent espresso maker, definitely a beginner one (especially someone like me). I finally got it right the fourth time after learning how to properly steam the milk & compress the espresso down It’s 8PM, it might’ve been a mistake to drink this so late 😂
@@jessicajaynenc1202 I got both for Christmas and I'm loving it! For when you do get one, this is the best espresso recipe I've found. 18g coffee ground like sand in an upside down aeropress. Add 50g of 193° water slowly for 10 seconds. Stir for 15 seconds. Then quickly push super hard. This is working super well for me especially with a fine metal filter instead of paper.
I use myjo. Like an aeropress for kcups. I use it with the reusable basket. Like finding the right grind and dose for a machine, it takes some practice, but makes a pretty good cup.
I have used cheap espresso makers in past just like these ,the thing you can do better to make nice coffee is 1)preheat the machine 2)use half mark on portofilter and tamp it in 3)if the machine is preheated the extraction is quicker and you might be able to see some crema 4)use home espresso grind and depending on the cackyness of discarded grinds see if you need finer or coarser also dont use dark roast as it tends to destroy the coffee you can feel lot of acidity and oilyness use medium roast that’s all.
Can you please revisit this machine and maybe make a video on how to use a cheaper espresso machine optimally? I think a lot of novice coffee lovers have similar low budget machines because that may be accessible and affordable to them (like me!) so hearing more of those useful tips would be great!
You can have low budget machines but optimally you would want to start looking into second hand rancillio silvia or the gaggia classic sure they are going to be 4x the price of the unit shown above but you will get a solid machine that you can easily maintain which could be an issue to some cheaper machines but not neccessarily to their detriment
this might be a dumb idea but what if you bought a wacaco picopresso and then bought this to steam milk and then a hand burr grinder, should be like 300 dollars [in canadian dollars; around 220 USD]. maybe i'll try and see if it works lmao
Here are some notes from someone who owns it 1. The reason you brew steam then brew is something to do with the temp 2. It’s espresso so you use espresso beans 3. You do tamp it either with the measuring spoon or your own tamp 4. On the portafilter basket there is markings for how much coffee grounds you put in depending on how many shots you want 5. You use the amount of water as shots of espresso you want to if you want 2 go to the 2
First time watching you. Your thoroughness is quite helpful. I couldn’t help but notice your slight grimace at the taste of the coffee itself. Also the lack of crema. The machine is now $39 at Amazon in early 2023. You are definitely the coffee connoisseur! I’m going to watch more of your videos. Your perky attitude, beautiful smile and snappy haircut make you so very endearing to watch. Thank you.
But he does the same thing? Buy products for product reviews? Giving his purchases to selected subscribers doesn't mean the issue of landfills goes away.
@@Isaacying It isn't the fact that someone is reviewing one of these that is the problem - the problem is that crap like this is manufactured in the first place.
Hey! So the flat bottom on the spoon may be because Imusa is very popular in Hispanic households here in the U.S. They are also sold a lot in Hispanic grocery stores in Miami. That being said, Cuban people make coffee by scooping the coffee into the little metal filter thing and then pressing it down to pack the coffee until the filter is full to the brim with pressed coffee. My grandparents, their parents, and my own parents have always done it that way and that may be the reason that the spoon has that.
When I was in college, my mom got me what was effectively that same espresso machine but the Mr. Coffee version. I knew going into it that it wouldn't really be "espresso," but I was still pretty new to the coffee world at that time. That being said, I think it was a great starting point for me. I learned more about coffee grind size and brewing methods, I learned more about steaming milk, and I overall continued to enjoy the coffee I made with that machine. A few years later, my husband and I were gifted a DeLonghi as a wedding gift and I donated my trusty ol' Mr. Coffee, but I was very fond of that machine and am thankful that it provided a decent foundation for me to grow from in my coffee experience and skills. I'd also like to add that I really, really love the way this review was done. Your positivity and ability to find the good was refreshing and is a beautiful skill to have!
What a refreshing channel. Good info, good opinions explaining your line of thought, you spill, you mess up words sometimes and keep it in the video. And even though I could tell you know your stuff you didn't just trash a cheap coffee maker at the end and even offered other options. How lovely.
My best friend and I were talking about coffee and she sent me a vid from your channel. I've now binged SO MANY videos. The chill vibes are exactly what I need.
Two years later it's still @ $29.99 Imusa makes a lot of low cost stuff of decent quality. I have one of their fans and 5yrs later, it's still ticking. Though in case of the fan, it wasn't all that cheap.
I have one that's basically the same by Mr. Coffee. It... doesn't make espresso and barely steams milk. So my advice to others: just save up for a good one.
I got the De’Longhi ECP3420 for about $160 and in my opinion it works amazing! Not too expensive like Breville machines and pulls beautiful shots! I love it and you don’t have to save up as much as you would have to for a Breville.... just a suggestion!❤️
James Hoffman said the same thing (save up for a good one )🤑 the frugal lady within me hates that , but deep down I know it’s true . You get whatcha pay for
@@jessicajaynenc1202 it's a pressurized basket so you won't be making "true" espresso. This is fine if you are okay with that, though. It's a little more forgiving but it won't compare to good espresso. No matter what you decide to get I highly recommend you get a decent burr (not blade) grinder, I've heard good things about timemores.
I'm a bit peeved that you got decent latte art out of a cheap machine, I've so far created many "spooky ghosts" latte art with my Breville Bambino. *sadface*
My son gave me one of these twenty five years ago and it's still going strong. After you learn to adjust the bean, the roast, the grind, the amount of coffee and tamping it makes a very nice cup. After a while you learn to adjust for individual tastes. You won't get a fine froth from the steamer but that doesn't worry me. In fact, it makes a nicer drink than machines that cost thousands of dollars.
I have one of these! Thank you for testing it out and letting me know that me not getting a decent espresso from it is not my fault 😂😂😂 no, I knew that already haha really just wanted validation from a professional 😂
You should try getting the Nanopresso if you can spare the extra 25$ or so; produces a pretty good crema and it's portable too. Admittedly the espresso doesn't come out super hot because it's hand-pressured and not electric, but it's better than the fancy-drip-coffee some of these "espresso" machines make.
Thank you for this. I have a very similar machine with similar setups. The instructions don't have me turning on the machine from the start, but I should give that a try. Instead, I have, on the dial, a "Pause" setting where the water starts to heat up. Again, I'll try this again and do a water-only run and see if it's similar to your result without the "Pause" function.
So glad I found this video! I won a very similar machine a long time ago - it was a contest at work - and don't use it very often mostly because the instruction book was even worse than the one that came with yours. Mine does however have a movable steam wand so I've managed to make some fairly decent steamed milk with it. Thanks for all your coffee making skills.
"We hot glued a boiler plate to a Hydro Flask and ran a piece-a hose out to an old jam jar. Makes a damn fine shot of expresser." "Uh........ what now?"
I have an old version of this by Mr. Coffee. I think of it as more of an electric Moka Pot. @ 2 to 5 bars of pressure it is easy to choke. Use your usual Moka Pot recipe and DON'T tamp the grounds. I also don't stop the brew to steam the milk. Brew the coffee then steam the milk. I hope this helps improve your results.
Hey Morgan, we bought your coffee lastweek. The package came early this week, and we have been drinking every day since. We are enjoying it! Great job. Everyone should try it out.
I had one very similar to that back in the 1990s; it made a strong coffee, not espresso, but you could steam/froth milk. Given that I could only find espresso at a couple of Italian restaurants at the time, it was OK. I used Medaglia D'Oro "Italian Roast Espresso Style Ground Coffee." Mine did come with a milk pitcher, and yes, the scoop was also the tamper.
I know someone with a machine like this and they were really proud to show it to me. It baffled me so much for the reasons you pointed out... since its basically producing filter coffee in an espresso basket. I always hoped James Hoffmann would review something this level (Mostly for lols) so I'm glad you made this video!
You're videos are very informative. You are my personal tutor how to make my first expresso in your other video. Please keep posting because there is a lot of people like me waiting. I'm from Philippines.
Mom got this machine from grandma and I found this video because of it. At first I thought it was shitty. Well, what I've gathered is this: DONT follow the instructions. What I do is the following. I filled the porftafilter up to the top regardless of the measure marks on the side. I did the same as you stamping the coffee. Put it in steam mode so water gets boiling. THEN you put the portafilter in the machine and put it in brewing mode. Now here's the next trick. You see the mark on the carafe that shows the "steaming" icon? THAT's when I turn it off. So I get a very nice cup of cofee around the same amount a small 4 cup moka pot would make and with the same texture but low to no acidity and with a touch of crema. In general it's a very mediocre machine since it has no way to heat the water until you want to brew and it has low pressure so not really espresso extraction. But yes, with these tricks it became a quick easy machine to make a single cup of coffee. Offers much more control than a moka pot which is the traditional way here in DR, but gotdamn, it's acidic as sin. Yes, even if you pre-boil the water and take it out just before it starts sputtering, it's very hard to control the acidity.
This is good for foreign exchange students . I bought one in germany. it was good. I usually boil water first with the steamer mode and then extract the coffee .
Krups makes one in a very similar design ( though I believe better made ) and for more money. Because friends knew I was "into coffee" they gave me one for a gift. Of course an Espresso it is not, it never gets anywhere near 9 bars pressure to create the rich deep cream nature of true Espresso, but what this design is, is a MOKA Pot, at least in how the coffee comes out. I threw away the very large basket that comes with this design, and instead used an old VST 20g very fine basket I had lying around, and "tamped" the puck very hard, and the quality of the coffee improved, but it is still a MOKA Pot coffee.
Thank you. Had stored my Varrisimo in the garage for a couple of years and no bueno when I tried to use it. Tried your fix and its works now. Thank you.
I watched your Breville video and thought you make content for the rich - but this video was so refreshing. Thanks Morgan, I'm also going to learn how to make good coffee from you after I invest in my first home espresso machine and pitcher.
Was thinking of doing something similar actually, got a flair and I bought an automatic milk frother though that works well, though it should for $80. Would you still get this if you had to choose again?
I got one from the flea market for 1 dollar. A couple of years ago. Mine is branded betty crocker but it looks and function exactly the same. It is now gathering dust in storage because I now use my la Pavoni and a Gaggia classic.
Thank you. This is nostalgic for me. In the 90s before Starbucks or coffee shops being very popular in Texas, I had a similar machine. I loved it. Oh how far we’ve come.
From what I understand, this is better at making Cuban coffee than it is espresso/lattes. The steam wand is halfway decent at making a sugar espuma without the need for hand whipping. That being said, I'd like to see Morgan take on a traditional Cuban coffee. It would be a good opportunity to do a primer on the Moka pot.
This is a very nice explanation of how to use the espresso machine. I recently got this machine and needed some guidance, thanks to you. I tried once and I agree the plain espresso coffee made in this machine is not as per expectations, but the milk foam is really good.
Growing up in a Hispanic household, we used these a lot like Moka pots. For things like Cuban coffee, they're great especially when serving a crowd (usually all my tios, tias, primos etc. lol), but by no means are they an 'espresso' machine. We can stick to our Silvias for that lol ;) Great vid!
I must admit. It is awesome to see where you've gone from Tiktok and just blown up. You are one of the great examples of success stories from Tik Tok. Congratulations on all your success! Keep working hard and being wholesome, I have no doubt you'll keep doing amazing.
I had one of these in college, but I believe branded as Proctor-Silex. The coffee is obviously not espresso, more akin to a moka pot I suppose. Worked for the time. But the steaming function was far ahead of most other machines that I’ve used in the sub-$200 category. Also I think it works better with a darker Italian roast.
why do you transfer the milk to another pitcher and does it have to do with the type of pitcher and the latte art? i'm an at home barista, how do i learn latte art ?
You are correct. Those metal pitchers are weighted and balanced to maximize control when making latte art. I've seen other baristas do the same thing, steam milk in a large pitcher, use smaller one to pour. As for learning how to do it, I would just scour youtube for tutorials. That's what I've done for cooking and mixing drinks, and I've yielded some great results. 😊
I just came across your channel I bought my first espresso machine I purchased the DēLonghi Stilosa I’m so glad I found your channel you have great content
Very effective as a water heater or steamer in your room. However, as a steamer, it is not possible to keep warm, and it is possible to forcibly modify it, but if you do so, you will be more worried because the safety device that the original steamer should have is omitted. The structure is an electric MOKAPOT, and it is quite convenient to use it for recognition. It's also less troublesome to throw away coffee grounds.
I think this is basically an evolution of a $25 espresso machine I bought at WalMart about 15 years ago. The portafilter and carafe look almost identical.
This is pretty similar in form and function to the Mr. Coffee espresso machine, which is what I have. I think Mr Coffee is a little more expensive than this (mine was a gift), but it also works pretty okay and does what I need it to do. The Mr Coffee steam wand does move a little, but it's also very close to the counter so I have a very small pitcher for milk.
You are an absolute joy, Me and my Girlfriend look forward to your videos daily, you've honestly helped us grow close together from how often we watch your videos, thanks for being you, and being a great Barista.
This was given to me without instructions. Your video was perfect for the basics with good coffee enthusiast advice included. My french press with Ashland, Oregon's Noble coffee is my favorite cup .
I'd really love a video on how to use that moka pot tbh. It'd be amazing to have my favorite internet barista tell me if I've been using mine right or not TuT
I bought an almost identical 'Delonghi' branded machine almost 20 years ago, my daughter has it now and still uses it. Not too bad once you get used to controlling the pressure since it has no pump, I always found you had to tamp very heavily (I used to use the flat bottom of a spice tin that fit the filter almost perfectly) in order to get any crema but otherwise it made passable espresso
I use a commercial off-the-shelf pill bottle on my Mr Coffee one, which is mechanically nearly identical. One of the tricks with these open/close chamber units is to let the heat work for a bit _before_ you seal the cap.
I love seeing this. Reminds me of my first espresso machine. I had one that was almost identical to this only it was a BRAUN. Something tells me I drank and served bad espresso for many years without knowing it! Friends and family always thought I was fancy because of it. haha.
Here’s how I get the best out of this moka machine. 1 fill water full 2 heat water by using the steam switch 3 pre infuse coffee until water just starts to drip and stop 4 froth milk 5 finish brew until desired level. You can get the brew time down closer to 35 40 seconds. I grind slightly coarser than espresso like you would in a moka pot. Everyone I make drinks for with this loves it, that is until my real espresso lever machine comes in a week. You can get decent results with this. As always need a decent grinder
You dissing on your latté art while over here with my boss asking if the heart I tried to make was a “duck cloud” The extent of my latte art is a marbled countertop.
I have a $20 espresso machine and I love it. Or maybe I love it since I don't have that much knowledge with making a great coffee. But I always get a nice flavor from it so I ended up loving it lmao
I've run probably 500 cups through my Imusa, and still going strong. The carafe broke in year one, but I just use a small jar. I had a Krupps i used for 10 years. De-scaling will be necessary about every 18 months or so.
I've found that pressure is too low, so tamping results in horrific channeling. Don't tamp. The pre-infusion is necessary for a half decent result, I usually let the machine eject steam from the wand until the temp pressure builds up and then fettle the dial during the coffee stage.
i have the MR. Coffee version of the espresso maker. it is very similar to this one but has a shorter fixed steam want that had a black plastic aerator on it. the aerator did nothing for me so i removed it and the steamer works perfectly now.
i just bought a machine that is very similar except for the outside design. The brand is reguere and it's def not famous cuz i found not a single vid of this machine. the functions are EXACTLY the same. Tested it today and it looked very much like drip coffee but i think i didn't tamp it enough and also the coffee i used was preground and has been sitting in the fridge for months. the steam wand is pretty decent, powerful but the angle is steeper so i couldn't get the position right and ended up adding too much air and big bubbles. i think i will try pouring into another cup
I have an old 1960s Krups espresso machine that works just like that one. The porta filter on mine has markers that tell you how much coffee to use for a double or a quadruple shot. I use a Baratza Virtuoso+ grinder set at 8 which gives me the best results. This type of espresso maker will never compare to what you get from a high quality espresso machine. However for the avarage consumer that want a good cup of coffe it is a great machine.
I'd honestly be disappointed if there was no spillage in your vids at this point
just for good mesure'll comment...
Hello
the soothing combo of morgan and james hoffman is what got me thru 2020
I legit watched a James Hoffman vid right before this
This is the real shit right here
Real shit
@@geoffreyayers1022 yes
Isn’t odd that the 2 most pleasant and enjoyable YT hosts are baristas and coffee experts, yet neither of them are a bit jittery or nervous?
I have one of these makers, and from this video, I do see one issue you are having that you can fix right away. Yes, there are three positions; off, coffee, and steam. However, in between 'off' and 'coffee' is the spot you want to turn the dial; this will turn on the pot, heat the water, and then wait for the green light to appear. Once the green light appears, turn the dial to 'coffee'. You will get better pressure and faster pouring time.... STOP turning the dial to froth your milk in-between pours. Just be patient and do it after the pour. There will still be residual steam left in the pot to quickly steam your milk. Let me know how this works for you. For me, it works just fine, and of course, it just takes some minor adjustments in coffee grind, measurements, etc. to get the perfect cup of espresso. Cheers. ; )
Well a perfect cup of espresso is not possible with this machine, but at least some kind of halfway decent coffe should be possible with this.
At least something drinkable and not something acidic.
@@NineDiamont 🙄🙄🙄
I have one of these under a different brand name. Although you're definitely not going to get cafe quality espresso out of this, after a bit of reading and playing around it's possible to get a decent drink. First off, just go ahead and choke the machine- grind so fine that you get no extraction. Then back off slightly from there until it seems right. It can be tricky to find a tamp that fits, so use whatever you can find that fits (flip a spice container upside down and use the lid?) Don't forget to measure ratios in and out as well! The biggest thing that's going to help you out here is preboiling the water, either in a kettle or by turning the machine on to the steam mode and wait till it's really cranking out. This gets rid of that preinfusion problem, and ideally if you play around with your variables enough you should get a decent 30 second pull. It's definitely some trial and error but if you're broke and not too elitist with your palate it's a fun way to go!
Interesting, I might have to pull this machine back out again and give your method a test!
Please do a viddeeeooo
Please do! I just was gifted this one and am taking notes !
hahah, i do the same, but rather than preheating the water on a kettle, i use the same machine to heat itself and the water, it takes around 7 minutes when the container is full, on the mean time i grind my coffee and prepare the milkjug, i pull 30 to 40 second espressos, they are not that bad imo. The frothing is decent too.
@@morgandrinkscoffee It took me a bit to figure out that the 3 position knob is actually adjustable. When you turn to brew, just turn until the lamp lights. This activates the heating element in the tank. Wait about 3 minutes and turn the knob ever so slightly to increase water volume. Stop when you hear sort of a burble sound and wait, shortly the extraction will be visible. The formula I used was grind as fine as your grinder allows, hard tamp 18g coffee, pull off 36g water, 30 seconds. Not perfect but not bad. I use this on the boat when out cruising. Froth milk as usual. Enjoy!
I've seen this before in my Cuban friends house; his family used it for cuban coffee. They would put sugar into the carafe, stop the brewing after a few drops then mix the sugar and coffee to make a crema, turn the machine back on and let the rest of the coffee brew. You're left with a carafe of cuban coffee.
That honestly doesn't sound bad..
It is called COLADA born and raised in MIAMI and that stuff is liquid CRACK lol. If you add milk to Colada then you have Cafe con leche.
@@hellokittykilla wouldn’t it be a cortadito instead? I mean depending on the amount of milk but still more of a cortadito right?
Do not mind me I am commenting to find this again when my machine gets here.
This sound good tbh
This is such a trip down memory lane. When I met my wife in 1995 (yes, old) she had nearly the exact same machine under the Mr Coffee label. We lived in Laredo Texas which had no Starbucks or any other coffee house at the time so we thought it was very fancy.
Yes. Mine says me coffee
I had the same in the late 90s, boy have times changed...
Yes, I had the same one. I think I paid $10 for it.
Greetings from 956
Donde .la. Compró
My gf got me this same espresso maker for Valentine’s Day. A good tip I saw someone else do on UA-cam: just steam/froth the milk first, the water will start heating up while steaming the milk. Once you got the texture/consistency & heat desired, switch over to brew & let the espresso brew completely.
I saw on Amazon, saying not to use fine ground. Some coffee will just get thru the filter, but honestly you don’t feel the grounds when drinking it.
It’s a decent espresso maker, definitely a beginner one (especially someone like me). I finally got it right the fourth time after learning how to properly steam the milk & compress the espresso down
It’s 8PM, it might’ve been a mistake to drink this so late 😂
Y'all just get an aeropress and handheld milk frother at this point
Pretty much X)
I intend on doing exactly that 💁🏼♀️
@@jessicajaynenc1202 I got both for Christmas and I'm loving it! For when you do get one, this is the best espresso recipe I've found.
18g coffee ground like sand in an upside down aeropress.
Add 50g of 193° water slowly for 10 seconds.
Stir for 15 seconds.
Then quickly push super hard.
This is working super well for me especially with a fine metal filter instead of paper.
I agree
I use myjo. Like an aeropress for kcups. I use it with the reusable basket.
Like finding the right grind and dose for a machine, it takes some practice, but makes a pretty good cup.
I have used cheap espresso makers in past just like these ,the thing you can do better to make nice coffee is 1)preheat the machine 2)use half mark on portofilter and tamp it in 3)if the machine is preheated the extraction is quicker and you might be able to see some crema 4)use home espresso grind and depending on the cackyness of discarded grinds see if you need finer or coarser also dont use dark roast as it tends to destroy the coffee you can feel lot of acidity and oilyness use medium roast that’s all.
Can you please revisit this machine and maybe make a video on how to use a cheaper espresso machine optimally? I think a lot of novice coffee lovers have similar low budget machines because that may be accessible and affordable to them (like me!) so hearing more of those useful tips would be great!
You can have low budget machines but optimally you would want to start looking into second hand rancillio silvia or the gaggia classic sure they are going to be 4x the price of the unit shown above but you will get a solid machine that you can easily maintain which could be an issue to some cheaper machines but not neccessarily to their detriment
@@edwardtan1354 very unhelpful as op already stated its likely outside of her budget.
this might be a dumb idea but what if you bought a wacaco picopresso and then bought this to steam milk and then a hand burr grinder, should be like 300 dollars [in canadian dollars; around 220 USD]. maybe i'll try and see if it works lmao
who cares about latte art ? lol
I used a krups, similar to this, for years.
I really liked the way you reviewed this! You were honest and pointed out the problems while still finding the good things to observe. Great video!
Here are some notes from someone who owns it
1. The reason you brew steam then brew is something to do with the temp
2. It’s espresso so you use espresso beans
3. You do tamp it either with the measuring spoon or your own tamp
4. On the portafilter basket there is markings for how much coffee grounds you put in depending on how many shots you want
5. You use the amount of water as shots of espresso you want to if you want 2 go to the 2
First time watching you. Your thoroughness is quite helpful. I couldn’t help but notice your slight grimace at the taste of the coffee itself. Also the lack of crema. The machine is now $39 at Amazon in early 2023. You are definitely the coffee connoisseur! I’m going to watch more of your videos. Your perky attitude, beautiful smile and snappy haircut make you so very endearing to watch. Thank you.
james would say: “this is why climate change exists”
And welcome to Haiti landfills.
He would also compare its size to his "fairly large hands", then press down on it to show us how the plastic bends
@@audreyhiller "Look at those hands. Are they small hands?"
But he does the same thing? Buy products for product reviews? Giving his purchases to selected subscribers doesn't mean the issue of landfills goes away.
@@Isaacying It isn't the fact that someone is reviewing one of these that is the problem - the problem is that crap like this is manufactured in the first place.
Hey! So the flat bottom on the spoon may be because Imusa is very popular in Hispanic households here in the U.S. They are also sold a lot in Hispanic grocery stores in Miami. That being said, Cuban people make coffee by scooping the coffee into the little metal filter thing and then pressing it down to pack the coffee until the filter is full to the brim with pressed coffee. My grandparents, their parents, and my own parents have always done it that way and that may be the reason that the spoon has that.
When I was in college, my mom got me what was effectively that same espresso machine but the Mr. Coffee version. I knew going into it that it wouldn't really be "espresso," but I was still pretty new to the coffee world at that time. That being said, I think it was a great starting point for me. I learned more about coffee grind size and brewing methods, I learned more about steaming milk, and I overall continued to enjoy the coffee I made with that machine. A few years later, my husband and I were gifted a DeLonghi as a wedding gift and I donated my trusty ol' Mr. Coffee, but I was very fond of that machine and am thankful that it provided a decent foundation for me to grow from in my coffee experience and skills.
I'd also like to add that I really, really love the way this review was done. Your positivity and ability to find the good was refreshing and is a beautiful skill to have!
What a refreshing channel. Good info, good opinions explaining your line of thought, you spill, you mess up words sometimes and keep it in the video. And even though I could tell you know your stuff you didn't just trash a cheap coffee maker at the end and even offered other options. How lovely.
My best friend and I were talking about coffee and she sent me a vid from your channel. I've now binged SO MANY videos. The chill vibes are exactly what I need.
Two years later it's still @ $29.99
Imusa makes a lot of low cost stuff of decent quality. I have one of their fans and 5yrs later, it's still ticking. Though in case of the fan, it wasn't all that cheap.
I have one that's basically the same by Mr. Coffee. It... doesn't make espresso and barely steams milk. So my advice to others: just save up for a good one.
I got the De’Longhi ECP3420 for about $160 and in my opinion it works amazing! Not too expensive like Breville machines and pulls beautiful shots! I love it and you don’t have to save up as much as you would have to for a Breville.... just a suggestion!❤️
James Hoffman said the same thing (save up for a good one )🤑 the frugal lady within me hates that , but deep down I know it’s true . You get whatcha pay for
@@veronicaballejos702 Thanks, I think that’s what I’ll do .
@@jessicajaynenc1202 it's a pressurized basket so you won't be making "true" espresso. This is fine if you are okay with that, though. It's a little more forgiving but it won't compare to good espresso.
No matter what you decide to get I highly recommend you get a decent burr (not blade) grinder, I've heard good things about timemores.
I made this same mistake, twice! Before I knew any better. Currently saving up for a good one.
This was my first espresso machine I purchased from Target back in 2019...I think it was a really great entry to the espresso world
I'm a bit peeved that you got decent latte art out of a cheap machine, I've so far created many "spooky ghosts" latte art with my Breville Bambino. *sadface*
hahaha I feel you
I'm also in the spooky ghosts latte art. Not sure I get ever past that phase
Imagine her just listening to screamo while making coffee
Making a mess is an important part of making coffee at home🤭
Yes ! I agree
It's true. Yesterday, I spilled beans. Today, I spilled water.
My son gave me one of these twenty five years ago and it's still going strong. After you learn to adjust the bean, the roast, the grind, the amount of coffee and tamping it makes a very nice cup. After a while you learn to adjust for individual tastes. You won't get a fine froth from the steamer but that doesn't worry me. In fact, it makes a nicer drink than machines that cost thousands of dollars.
I can't have coffee often anymore (bad refux and anxiety) but your videos are so calming. Thank you for making them!
I have one of these! Thank you for testing it out and letting me know that me not getting a decent espresso from it is not my fault 😂😂😂 no, I knew that already haha really just wanted validation from a professional 😂
You should try getting the Nanopresso if you can spare the extra 25$ or so; produces a pretty good crema and it's portable too. Admittedly the espresso doesn't come out super hot because it's hand-pressured and not electric, but it's better than the fancy-drip-coffee some of these "espresso" machines make.
Just get a moka pot, it'll certainly be better than cheap espresso machine ripoffs
The voice-over volume was great in this video!
Thank you for this. I have a very similar machine with similar setups. The instructions don't have me turning on the machine from the start, but I should give that a try. Instead, I have, on the dial, a "Pause" setting where the water starts to heat up. Again, I'll try this again and do a water-only run and see if it's similar to your result without the "Pause" function.
So glad I found this video! I won a very similar machine a long time ago - it was a contest at work - and don't use it very often mostly because the instruction book was even worse than the one that came with yours. Mine does however have a movable steam wand so I've managed to make some fairly decent steamed milk with it. Thanks for all your coffee making skills.
"We hot glued a boiler plate to a Hydro Flask and ran a piece-a hose out to an old jam jar. Makes a damn fine shot of expresser."
"Uh........ what now?"
I have an old version of this by Mr. Coffee. I think of it as more of an electric Moka Pot. @ 2 to 5 bars of pressure it is easy to choke. Use your usual Moka Pot recipe and DON'T tamp the grounds. I also don't stop the brew to steam the milk. Brew the coffee then steam the milk. I hope this helps improve your results.
I didn't know you could get latte art with virtually zero crema. Mind is straight blown
I admire your attitude. You are kind and gracious.
I don’t really drink coffee, but I enjoy watching your videos!!!
Hey Morgan, we bought your coffee lastweek. The package came early this week, and we have been drinking every day since. We are enjoying it! Great job. Everyone should try it out.
I had one very similar to that back in the 1990s; it made a strong coffee, not espresso, but you could steam/froth milk. Given that I could only find espresso at a couple of Italian restaurants at the time, it was OK. I used Medaglia D'Oro "Italian Roast Espresso Style Ground Coffee." Mine did come with a milk pitcher, and yes, the scoop was also the tamper.
I know someone with a machine like this and they were really proud to show it to me. It baffled me so much for the reasons you pointed out... since its basically producing filter coffee in an espresso basket.
I always hoped James Hoffmann would review something this level (Mostly for lols) so I'm glad you made this video!
@@Aroseisarose15 Yeah I have seen it, but I wanted a video similar to the one he did about the Aldi machine but...even worse. XD
You're videos are very informative. You are my personal tutor how to make my first expresso in your other video. Please keep posting because there is a lot of people like me waiting. I'm from Philippines.
This sounds like a nightmare through and through. I'm gonna gently hug my Gaggia after breakfast.
I’ve had this for almost 3 years now and I use it almost every day I love it!!
That dissatisfied expression during the first try really got me 🤣
Mom got this machine from grandma and I found this video because of it. At first I thought it was shitty. Well, what I've gathered is this:
DONT follow the instructions.
What I do is the following.
I filled the porftafilter up to the top regardless of the measure marks on the side.
I did the same as you stamping the coffee.
Put it in steam mode so water gets boiling.
THEN you put the portafilter in the machine and put it in brewing mode.
Now here's the next trick. You see the mark on the carafe that shows the "steaming" icon?
THAT's when I turn it off.
So I get a very nice cup of cofee around the same amount a small 4 cup moka pot would make and with the same texture but low to no acidity and with a touch of crema.
In general it's a very mediocre machine since it has no way to heat the water until you want to brew and it has low pressure so not really espresso extraction. But yes, with these tricks it became a quick easy machine to make a single cup of coffee.
Offers much more control than a moka pot which is the traditional way here in DR, but gotdamn, it's acidic as sin. Yes, even if you pre-boil the water and take it out just before it starts sputtering, it's very hard to control the acidity.
Basically a $30 steam wand.
I just double boil my stainless steel milk frother.
This is good for foreign exchange students . I bought one in germany. it was good. I usually boil water first with the steamer mode and then extract the coffee .
Krups makes one in a very similar design ( though I believe better made ) and for more money. Because friends knew I was "into coffee" they gave me one for a gift. Of course an Espresso it is not, it never gets anywhere near 9 bars pressure to create the rich deep cream nature of true Espresso, but what this design is, is a MOKA Pot, at least in how the coffee comes out. I threw away the very large basket that comes with this design, and instead used an old VST 20g very fine basket I had lying around, and "tamped" the puck very hard, and the quality of the coffee improved, but it is still a MOKA Pot coffee.
Thank you. Had stored my Varrisimo in the garage for a couple of years and no bueno when I tried to use it. Tried your fix and its works now. Thank you.
new year, new episode of MorganSpillsCoffee 😂
You were very brave trying this device. It's impressive when a machine can both over AND under extract the coffee in the same cycle
This product looks just like a Mr. Coffee model that used to be available.
I was thinking the same thing! I remember receiving that exact model as a gift years ago. I've since moved up to Delonghi and haven't looked back.
I watched your Breville video and thought you make content for the rich - but this video was so refreshing. Thanks Morgan, I'm also going to learn how to make good coffee from you after I invest in my first home espresso machine and pitcher.
I use this just for frothing, paired with the Flair Neo to make espresso - great+cheap alternative to buying a traditional espresso machine
Was thinking of doing something similar actually, got a flair and I bought an automatic milk frother though that works well, though it should for $80.
Would you still get this if you had to choose again?
I got one from the flea market for 1 dollar. A couple of years ago. Mine is branded betty crocker but it looks and function exactly the same. It is now gathering dust in storage because I now use my la Pavoni and a Gaggia classic.
I need a James Hoffman reaction video
Ho yeah!
yes please
“A very unenjoyable experience”
“Awful”
“Why, just why”
@@kamenrider7203 "'After approximately 2 minutes, espresso will flow into the carafe' Oh. Oh dear..."
Are you trying to kill the man?
Thank you. This is nostalgic for me. In the 90s before Starbucks or coffee shops being very popular in Texas, I had a similar machine. I loved it. Oh how far we’ve come.
From what I understand, this is better at making Cuban coffee than it is espresso/lattes. The steam wand is halfway decent at making a sugar espuma without the need for hand whipping.
That being said, I'd like to see Morgan take on a traditional Cuban coffee. It would be a good opportunity to do a primer on the Moka pot.
This is a very nice explanation of how to use the espresso machine. I recently got this machine and needed some guidance, thanks to you. I tried once and I agree the plain espresso coffee made in this machine is not as per expectations, but the milk foam is really good.
Morgan voice is calming. And always makes me want to brew a coffee afterward
Growing up in a Hispanic household, we used these a lot like Moka pots. For things like Cuban coffee, they're great especially when serving a crowd (usually all my tios, tias, primos etc. lol), but by no means are they an 'espresso' machine. We can stick to our Silvias for that lol ;) Great vid!
I must admit. It is awesome to see where you've gone from Tiktok and just blown up. You are one of the great examples of success stories from Tik Tok. Congratulations on all your success! Keep working hard and being wholesome, I have no doubt you'll keep doing amazing.
I had one of these in college, but I believe branded as Proctor-Silex. The coffee is obviously not espresso, more akin to a moka pot I suppose. Worked for the time. But the steaming function was far ahead of most other machines that I’ve used in the sub-$200 category.
Also I think it works better with a darker Italian roast.
As someone who's just getting into coffee and living on a student budget I LOVE THIS SERIES
Get an aeropress!! Used it all throughout college :) so cheap and yet so easy to make a delicious cup
Thank you for having a pleasing speaking voice instead of vocal fry and uptalk that I hear so much these days.
why do you transfer the milk to another pitcher and does it have to do with the type of pitcher and the latte art?
i'm an at home barista, how do i learn latte art ?
You are correct. Those metal pitchers are weighted and balanced to maximize control when making latte art. I've seen other baristas do the same thing, steam milk in a large pitcher, use smaller one to pour.
As for learning how to do it, I would just scour youtube for tutorials. That's what I've done for cooking and mixing drinks, and I've yielded some great results. 😊
I just came across your channel I bought my first espresso machine I purchased the DēLonghi Stilosa I’m so glad I found your channel you have great content
aweee this was my first espresso machine!!! wasn’t the best but i just upgraded to the bambino!!
Very effective as a water heater or steamer in your room. However, as a steamer, it is not possible to keep warm, and it is possible to forcibly modify it, but if you do so, you will be more worried because the safety device that the original steamer should have is omitted. The structure is an electric MOKAPOT, and it is quite convenient to use it for recognition. It's also less troublesome to throw away coffee grounds.
14:34 “that’s cute , it’s really cute” haha made my night ! 🇵🇭
I use a French press to brew Starbucks espresso roast. I doubt that is espresso but I like it.
Please someday do a review on Nespresso (and maybe some other pod systems), would be very interesting to hear your thoughts on it
They are the worst dont get a pod system coffee maker
Professional Barista be like:
50.000 dollars machine: PRO AS F BOIIII
30 dollars machine: *visible confusion
I think this is basically an evolution of a $25 espresso machine I bought at WalMart about 15 years ago. The portafilter and carafe look almost identical.
This is pretty similar in form and function to the Mr. Coffee espresso machine, which is what I have. I think Mr Coffee is a little more expensive than this (mine was a gift), but it also works pretty okay and does what I need it to do. The Mr Coffee steam wand does move a little, but it's also very close to the counter so I have a very small pitcher for milk.
You are an absolute joy, Me and my Girlfriend look forward to your videos daily, you've honestly helped us grow close together from how often we watch your videos, thanks for being you, and being a great Barista.
This was given to me without instructions. Your video was perfect for the basics with good coffee enthusiast advice included. My french press with Ashland, Oregon's Noble coffee is my favorite cup .
I'd really love a video on how to use that moka pot tbh. It'd be amazing to have my favorite internet barista tell me if I've been using mine right or not TuT
I bought an almost identical 'Delonghi' branded machine almost 20 years ago, my daughter has it now and still uses it. Not too bad once you get used to controlling the pressure since it has no pump, I always found you had to tamp very heavily (I used to use the flat bottom of a spice tin that fit the filter almost perfectly) in order to get any crema but otherwise it made passable espresso
I use a commercial off-the-shelf pill bottle on my Mr Coffee one, which is mechanically nearly identical. One of the tricks with these open/close chamber units is to let the heat work for a bit _before_ you seal the cap.
No one:
Morgan while being burnt: “Very ouch, much pain”
My brother bought this machine for my ma on her birthday, and I completely forgot how to use it, thank you so much for this vid!^^
I love seeing this. Reminds me of my first espresso machine. I had one that was almost identical to this only it was a BRAUN. Something tells me I drank and served bad espresso for many years without knowing it! Friends and family always thought I was fancy because of it. haha.
Here’s how I get the best out of this moka machine. 1 fill water full 2 heat water by using the steam switch 3 pre infuse coffee until water just starts to drip and stop 4 froth milk 5 finish brew until desired level. You can get the brew time down closer to 35 40 seconds. I grind slightly coarser than espresso like you would in a moka pot. Everyone I make drinks for with this loves it, that is until my real espresso lever machine comes in a week. You can get decent results with this. As always need a decent grinder
Oh my God that was the most aggressive Enjoy It I've ever heard LOL
this video has firmly sold me on your channel exclusively from the use of durutti column as backing music
You dissing on your latté art while over here with my boss asking if the heart I tried to make was a “duck cloud”
The extent of my latte art is a marbled countertop.
Hey! Just got this in my recommended, didn't know you had a UA-cam along with the TikTok! Instant Subscribtion!
Can you please do a video about how to make the perfect milk? 💜
This machine is a staple in many Cuban households. It just works. No frills.
I have a $20 espresso machine and I love it. Or maybe I love it since I don't have that much knowledge with making a great coffee. But I always get a nice flavor from it so I ended up loving it lmao
I've run probably 500 cups through my Imusa, and still going strong. The carafe broke in year one, but I just use a small jar. I had a Krupps i used for 10 years. De-scaling will be necessary about every 18 months or so.
This is basically my Krupps/ Devonshire machine from the early 00's
I've found that pressure is too low, so tamping results in horrific channeling. Don't tamp. The pre-infusion is necessary for a half decent result, I usually let the machine eject steam from the wand until the temp pressure builds up and then fettle the dial during the coffee stage.
I just received this as a gift from my sis, thanks for showing me how to use it.
This machine gives me anxiety...
Super helpful!
The best video on UA-cam that helped me work my Bella Pro Series.
Petition for Morgan to make a discord server
i have the MR. Coffee version of the espresso maker. it is very similar to this one but has a shorter fixed steam want that had a black plastic aerator on it. the aerator did nothing for me so i removed it and the steamer works perfectly now.
you’re my favourite morgan ever, and morgan is my best friends name..
oop- 😂
That's rude lmao
i just bought a machine that is very similar except for the outside design. The brand is reguere and it's def not famous cuz i found not a single vid of this machine. the functions are EXACTLY the same. Tested it today and it looked very much like drip coffee but i think i didn't tamp it enough and also the coffee i used was preground and has been sitting in the fridge for months. the steam wand is pretty decent, powerful but the angle is steeper so i couldn't get the position right and ended up adding too much air and big bubbles. i think i will try pouring into another cup
Bottom line this is NOT an espresso machine. Idk why they advertise it as such.
I have an old 1960s Krups espresso machine that works just like that one. The porta filter on mine has markers that tell you how much coffee to use for a double or a quadruple shot. I use a Baratza Virtuoso+ grinder set at 8 which gives me the best results. This type of espresso maker will never compare to what you get from a high quality espresso machine. However for the avarage consumer that want a good cup of coffe it is a great machine.
[James Hoffman has broken into the room with a piece of weapon]
A sharpened tamper.
@11:58 was such a mood I couldn't help but chuckle. @12:06 Bounty needs to sponsor you!