Cuisinart Espresso EM-200NP1 Programmable 15-Bar Maker, Stainless Steel

You need to have realistic expectation of what a $200 espresso machine can do.
Espresso machines, by their very nature, are finicky, delicate machines, that require maintenance and finesse to use. I think many of the people here are expecting this machine to operate like a basic drip coffee machine. Here are the important things you need to keep in mind about this machine:1) The dosing pressure and temperature of this machine are some of the most consistent and accurate of any espresso machine I’ve ever used. The automated 1.5 and 3oz espresso shots always measure perfectly. That means this is a very easy to use machine. Literally just put in the grounds, put a glass underneath and press a button. No counting seconds of a pull, or eye-balling the crema, just fire and forget for a fantastic shot. You can still go manual if you’re feeling fancy, but operation of this machine is the simplest thing in the world.2) The removable water container is so utterly convenient. It can be surprisingly difficult to find an espresso machine with this feature, but its a remarkable time saver. Almost all the parts of the machine are removeable for easy rinse, and the entire unit itself is a stainless steel unibody contstruction, so its very easy to clean and looks fantastic.3) The steaming wand is more than sufficient for its purpose. Like other reviewers have noted, its a bit close to the counter, so it can be difficult to steam, but the spray and heat is very even, and with just a little bit of practice you can easily make fantastic lattes and cappuchinos. The included cup is perfectly adequate for this purpose.Now, a few things that I’ve noticed about smooth operating of the machine.1) You really need to use filtered or bottled water. I had a problem with calcification plugging up the system after the first three months because I was using generic tap water. Switching to a brita filtered system eliminated that problem entirely, and obviously improved the espresso flavor.2) Its a very good idea to periodically (once a month) run the system without grounds, and to wipe clean the filter head after every few uses to keep it from plugging, especially if you use very find grounds.And that’s really it. Bottom line, for $200, this is a fantastically useful espresso maker, and with a little care and practice, you can make espresso just as good as any $800 machine. I highly recommend this unit.

Unreliable, Riddled with Problems
I purchased the Cuisinart EM-200 Programmable 15-Bar Espresso Maker on Amazon recently. I set it up and cleaned it as per the instructions included. However, whenever I made a 2-shot espresso, the machine never finished the full pour (only 2 oz of 3 oz) and then it started beeping and the lights started flashing. It would not stop beeping until I pressed another button. I read the manual cover to cover and it did not have a section for troubleshooting, nor did it say anything about what it means when the machine beeps without stopping or what might be wrong if it does not finish a pour. So I double checked to make sure that everything was according to the directions and the water reservoir was full. I then reset the factory settings according to the instructions in the booklet and tried again. The same thing happened over and over. One time while I had the machine on but was not using it, it actually started pouring out hot water on its own!I finally called Cuisinart and talked to them about my problems. They recommended that I return the machine to Amazon for a new one. I called Amazon; they sent a replacement and shipped my old one back free of charge.However, the replacement has almost as many problems as the first one! When I opened the box it looked like I might have received someone else’s return, but I can’t verify that. I set it up as per the directions. A new machine should be set to the factory standards, but this one was not. It poured 5 oz for a double shot (should have been 3 oz) and 3 oz for a single shot (should have been 1.5 oz.) I reset the settings and it did the same thing. So, I programmed it manually to pour the correct amount. That was not such a problem, really, but it is a sign to me that something is wrong with this one too. What really frustrates me about the new machine is that it NEVER makes a crema no matter how lightly or heavily I tamp the espresso grind. I know I am not doing it wrong, as with the first machine I always got a good crema. Additionally, every time the machine is finished with any task (pouring an espresso, frothing milk) it always makes long loud noises and steams profusely from the bottom of the machine. The old one did not steam like this, so I feel sure something is wrong. Not to mention that the milk frother does not work well and rarely does more than warm the milk.I have not bothered to contact Amazon or Cuisinart again, as it has just been so much trouble and I don’t expect a replacement will fix my problems. I guess I should have known better than to expect to have a high quality espresso machine for such a low price. I trusted that Cuisinart would make a good product — I have and love everything else they make (mixer, blender, etc.) I guess the lesson is that you can’t trust just anyone with your espresso!

I bought one of these used and thought it was great. After a year it died. I like it so much I bought a new one on Amazon. The new one is SO much better than the original one.I get a perfect crema every time. It has great pressure so frothing milk is super simple (my old one took a lot of effort and was rarely right)I have not used competitive home espresso machines so I can’t compare, but I can say that this one is great.The one con I can think of is it is quite loud when first turned on. The pump or heater kicking in is loud. This was the same on my old one too.

Italian family; we have used this machine for over 10/12 years; we have replaced 2 but realized afterwards with a little CLR the machine works again ,mind you we make 20 + espresso a day 7 times a week , wonderful machine that I have 4 in my basement brand new since it was discontinued in Canada .. if your machine isn’t making creamy coffee . Change your beans

Antes que nada pedi este producto con envio desde Amazon USA, pague por el envio ya que los paquetes grandes no los estan enviando gratis desde USA, el pedido tomo poco mas de una semana en llegar y fue enviado por UPS Iparcel, al entrar al pais el paquete fue entregado a SEPOMEX y al ser una caja grande sepomex ni si quiera hace el intento de entrega simplemente se limitan a mandarte con el cartero una notificacion de que tienes q ir por tu paquete a la oficina de correos.Afortunadamante se me ocurrio contactar por telefono al personal de amazon porque me encontraba molesto ya que yo habia pagado por el paquete con entrega ami domicilio y tuve que ir por el, una vez que les explique lo sucedido muy amablemente me devolvieron una parte de lo que pague de envio.Independientemente del servicio de entrega la cafetera me gusto mucho, hace un buen cafe y espuma la leche bastante bien y es muy facil de usar, solo necesitaran practica para saber cual es la convinacion correcta entre el molido del cafe y la cantidad de presion que deben hacer para que les quede bien.