wirsh Espresso Machine, 20 Bar Semi-Automatic Espresso Maker with Pressure Ga...

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.

For an entry level machine this is a SUPERB value and will pull exceptionally good shots if you read the directions and follow a few simple universal truths about making espresso. No machine instantly produces great espresso by just pressing a button. Preparation is key, and thats the same whether it's a $100 or $1000 machine. The courseness/fineness of the coffee grounds matter. The amount of coffee you cram into the portafilter matters. Tamping pressure matters. So if you are an absolute beginner, then check out the million videos out there to learn about all the do's/don'ts/variables that go into pulling the perfect espresso shot. But if this is not your first rodeo, you understand the art of making espresso, and you are just looking for a solid espresso machine for home at a great value, this is the one. I don't need to go into much detail on all the positive aspects noted in the description and in other reviews. It's awesomely slim/compact, heats up quickly, has a large removable water reservoir and very capable steaming wand. However, a common negative aspect I've seen in a few other reviews relates to experiencing excessive wait times between functions, most notably between ability to pull shots after using the steaming wand. I can say with confidence this is not an issue when armed with a basic understanding of how the machine works and possibly incorporating a small change to the production process. I believe this noted drawback is squarely related to the temperature/heating capacity of the machine. And for this machine, at this price point, what you don't get is an adjustable water temperature setting. Love it or hate it, the machine comes preset for only two temperature levels, one for making espresso, one for making steam via the frothing wand. So if you pull a shot, then steam some milk, then try to immediately go back to pull another shot, you will more than likely encounter the frustration of the "blinking lights" while it tries to cool itself back down to the lower espresso brewing temperature. By itself, this cooling process is exceptionally long, but if you are impatient like me, while all the lights are blinking, you can simply just eject hot water out of the wand (not steam, just hot water...like you're making an americano) and the temperature will quickly lower to enable another shot to be pulled within a few seconds. A few ounces of hot water will be wasted, but thats the tradeoff for saving time. I have had absolutely no issues pulling two espressos back-to-back, then hitting the steam button (i.e., raising the water temp) and frothing milk for both drinks. As for taking too long to heat up, I've never experienced that yet and would certainly recommend returning the machine if that happens to you. The 1450W thermo-block heater in this Wirsh product literally takes 15 seconds or less to be ready to extract. So for me, this is an exceptionally good espresso maker that sits comfortably on my limited counter space next to my regular drip coffee maker and bean grinder. It looks great, cleans up easily, and consistently delivers a few tasty latte's or cappuccinos a day. I love this machine, especially under $150.

***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!

I haven’t used the program setting yet, but I will update this review when I do. At the moment, I’m waiting for school to start up again and am slowly getting on a sleep schedule before then. First things first, I’m a coffee wimp. I drink blonde roasts, and I like it pretty weak. I only started drinking coffee when I started going to college while still having to work. This machine calls for four tablespoons of ground coffee if it isn’t super fine. Today, I put in two tablespoons and it was still too strong for me. If you’re someone that loves strong coffee, rejoice. The travel cup that is brews into is amazing. It is metal all the way through, instead of having a different material on the inside and a seam between the two that can grow mold. If you’ve ever looked for travel mugs and read the reviews, you know what I’m talking about. On the first day of using this coffee maker, I had to pour half of my coffee into a mug because I forgot to leave enough room for my milk. Oops. The mug got cold relatively quickly, and I expected the same thing to happen with the mug. Not the case. It was still hot long after. Despite the heat of the coffee, the outside was still cool to the touch. The mesh basket is made of a similar material to a nut milk bag, and no grounds get through, no matter how fine. If you’re an exhausted college student looking for a coffee pot for just you, I cannot recommend this enough! ***Update*** Oh goodness. I completely forgot to update this. So, a few things: It comes with a scoop! I kept seeing this black plastic thing floating in the water tank and thought maybe it was a water level gauge or something. I finally decided to reach in and grab it. It was a scoop. I now use just one of these scoops when I make coffee, and it is perfection. I have used the program setting. It does exactly what it should. I can wake up to the sound and smell of fresh brewed coffee. I’m a happy camper. Oh, and somehow I no longer hate coffee. So, yeah, if you’re just one person, buy this already. The only issue I have had is that the little foam foot fell off of the bottom of the cup. Of course, that’s probably because I throw the cup and the filter into the dishwasher every so often. But guess what? It doesn’t need that foam foot. The cup is just fine without it. Oh! And I’ve used normal mugs with this, too. Sometimes I just want a small cup of coffee and I’ve already put the cup that comes with it in the dishwasher. Pouring a mug of water into the tank can be a little messy, but it works.

This machine cannot make a warm cup of espresso. The proper serving temperature of an espresso in the cup is between 160° F and 165°F (70–74°C). This is virtually impossible to reach with this machine. Instead, this machine produces a cold, poor tasting cup of espresso with a weak crema that goes away in a few seconds. If you start making coffee by placing an espresso cup in the warming tray at the top of the machine, and proceed to make the coffee according to directions, the temperature of the coffee in the cup is about 122 F (50 C). By the time you sit down, the coffee is likely closer to 113 F (45 C), or less. This is unacceptable. It is virtually impossible to make a warm cup of espresso. Even if you use the hot water dispenser to pre-heat the cup, the final temperature of the espresso does not approach 160 °F, the minimum serving temperature for espresso. The same conclusion applies if you run water through the filter holder (called the "metal funnel") to preheat the cup before making espresso. This machine has other shortcomings: 1) Unlike other machines, the filter holder does not warm up when the machine is turned on. As a result, the filter holder is cold when you make the first cup of espresso. Hence, the water used to make the first cup is cooled even further by the filter. This is probably a main reason why the cup comes out at a temperature of 122 F, way too cold. 2) The machine vibrates so much when brewing that the cup moves around on the drip tray, and the coffee misses the cup. 3) The holes in the filter holder are too far apart for a standard espresso cup. So the coffee misses the cup when making a double cup, 4) The included tamping tool is very flimsy. It won't last long if you subject it to 33 to 40 lbs of tamping pressure that is recommended in the included manual. 5) The tamping tool is too large for the double-cup brewing filter, making it impossible to apply the "2 step dose & tamp method" that is recommended in the included manual. The narrowing shape of the double-cup filter makes it impossible for the tamping tool to reach the bottom of the filter, so it is not possible to tamp the first dose. 6) The tray at the top of the machine is designed to warm your espresso cup, but that doesn't work. Even after half an hour on the tray, the cup has barely warmed. These are all shortcomings that other machines in the same price range have overcome.

I came from another machine that was not a good experience. The only negative with this machine was my fault - I should have bought the barista plus which has the pressure gauge. But now I get to learn how to produce espresso with good taste, crema, and visually appealing. This machine continually amazes me: 1. The manual actually reads well and has good information. 2. I can EASILY insert/remove the portafilter basket. 3. I use a puck screen, so cleaning the machine after brewing a double shot is a breeze! 4. I can use a fine grind espresso bean and produce a very good shot! The pressurized basket continually produces a shot that's rich in color, taste and appearance. It is very "forgiving" in the amount of coffee used, the actual grind used, and the amount of coffee used. The taste continually amazes me! 5. The non-pressurized basket just blew my mind! The machine I came from would not work at all with a non-pressurized basket. I had to have a bit of help from the support staff, and now am producing shots that have excellent crema, superb taste and rich color. I have learned to use a scale (I use 15 grams of coffee per double-shot, a shot time of 31 seconds - and I can reproduce these results every time! 6. I can produce superb silky frothed mike. The frothing wand REALLY works well! 7. And last but not least - the support staff are excellent! They went above and beyond helping me to learn how to use a bottomless portafilter. I have high respect for the team. Thank you! I use a scale, timer, dozer, 30lb tamper, good burr grinder, WDT distributor, milk frothing pitcher (I like gadgets!). And even though I don't have a pressure gauge I am learning how to produce excellent expresso and frothed milk (I use Italian sweet creme, but I can use practically anything to froth). The company is good, the staff superb, and the product is awesome. It would be fun to use the bean-to-cup model, but I don't feel I have to. This machine allows me to have a good cup of espresso and have fun while doing it!

There is much to like about this unit, (see video). But it has just one thing that got it returned for me. The portafilter is too small. I could get about 16g in the double maximum. Had it been adjustable, perhaps I could reduce the water or run time to compensate for undersized baskets. Or, perhaps if they increased the volume of the portafilter to take more powder. I could do neither. I suspect that pretty much all of these 51mm manual espresso machines will also be too small. The preheat, water temperature and steam temps are exactly as advertised. The controls are idiot proof, it's easy to clean and fast. It's a little noisy and vibrates a bit. It's right on the value proposition. You may think a pressure gauge is cute, but they are not really functional for most people and except on higher-end, they are not calibrated or scaled - so why pay for one. This unit didn't have one, and honestly, you don't need one. It doesn't leak, all in all - very good for a basic machine. It's just a non-starter to not be able to hit -- 20 to maybe 22g. And while I did know the diameter of the portafilter, I didn't see the volume/capacity stated. It was only after I couldn't make it fit did I sort it all out as being too small. I rated it 2⭐ then revised and added one more because seriously, if you drink the Charbuckies type drinks - this is super! But I drink straight up, old style espresso. Not the other stuff (well, red eyes, black eyes and dead eyes (there is a trend there)). It just makes weak espresso. For the life of me, I can't understand why so many of these similar machines use so small of portafilters.