Mr. Coffee ECMP40 Pod Pump Espresso & Cappuccino Maker
by Mr. Coffee
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List Price: Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Mr. Coffee ECMP40 Pod Pump Espresso & Cappuccino Maker
Customer Review: Not worth the trouble
Summary: 1 Stars
I recently purchased this item thinking it was a good value. The fourth time I used it, the faceplate melted off from steam because somehow the water found a way onto the counter instead of into the coffee. I exchanged it for another, but the same thing happened.Customer Review: Wanted to love it, had to take it back
Summary: 2 Stars
I was so excited about my new Mr. Coffee Pod Pump Espresso Maker, although I was weary of it as a Sunbeam product (the cheapest Walmart housewares line). It did produce relatively smooth espresso, but there were several characterstics that soon made me return it:
1. It did not froth the milk very well - my sister's $25 Mr. Coffee frothed much better (though too much) without a pump. This hardly frothed at all (though the milk did heat up) - impossible to make a cappucino.
2. The coffee dripper is so low that I had to either take the tray out or use a very small mug - otherwise it wouldn't fit. No good for a doubleshot. (I had read this in reviews and thought no big deal, but I was wrong).
3. When I would turn off the brewing system to either steam the milk or because I was done and wanted to drink my espresso, water would continue to drip through - leaking onto the tray and my counter.
4. It just became too much of a hassle to make anything.
I took it back and got a full refund and have since decided that you can't get a good espresso maker on the cheap, so I've purchased a really good coffee maker and will leave the espresso to the baristas at my local non-Starbucks cafe.
Customer Review: Great for the price
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm new to home espresso makers. I started with the Krups model and returned it after a few days. I still didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars so I thought I'd try this one and have been impressed. I use only pods and it makes a great cup of espresso with Illy pods. I can make a great latte with the milk steamer, but getting the foam necessary for cappuccino is almost impossible. I think the malfunction some other reviewers have seen happens because they keep the steamer button pressed by mistake while trying to brew espresso. This heats the machine way beyond what it needs for brewing and causes water to start spilling everywhere. I did this once and thought my machine had broken, but it was just me being an idiot. But somebody does always get a lemon. If you do, return it and try again because I've been extremely happy with mine for over six weeks now.Customer Review: A good starter disposable espresso machine.
Summary: 4 Stars
First off, let's realize that this is not a $400 espresso machine. It's not even a $100 espresso machine. It's $59.99, which makes it a disposable espresso machine. So, with that in mind, this is a good starter machine. It's simple enough to throw a pod in and take the easy way out if you don't want to get serious with it. But, you can make good espresso/cappuccino/latte...you just need to learn how to work it.
The best tip I have to give is in purging the steam tube before frothing or steaming; it'll shoot your milk full of water if you don't, and... yuk! So purge, and purge well my friend. Also the steam tube was too short to reach very far into my 20oz. frothing pitcher, so I found that by bending the tube down then angling it out (very gently and carefully!) I could get enough length out of it to steam a single serving of milk at the bottom of the pitcher. The plastic frothing aid didn't seem to be of much use, and I have found that after getting rid of it I have more control over the quantity and quality of froth and steamed milk I can make. The addition of a good burr grinder (which cost 3 times what this machine cost) makes an enormous difference as well.
I have had my machine for about 60 days, and have used it a LOT. It does have an annoying habit of dripping water while it is warming up, and the usual steam tube issue, and it vibrates a lot while pumping, and blah blah blah, but it WORKS, and it CAN make good espresso, and it's $59.99.
It turns out I'm really into espresso and love making latte and cappuccino for my wife and friends, and I'll be moving up to a higher end machine before too long, but this machine has been good enough to pique my interest and learn to enjoy the challenge.
Bottom line: This machine is cheap and easy to make a quick "pod-spresso" with, but good enough to get you hooked on the challenge of making good espresso/cappuccino/latte.
Customer Review: Great machine
Summary: 4 Stars
I have not had any problems with this machine. I have made latte dozens of times. Better than spending $3.00 a day at "crappy donuts". Make sure you get "espresso ground" coffee. It won't be muddy.
Follow the directions, you should be okay. Enjoy, GULP! :)
John