If you’re someone who loves arista style coffee drinks like espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes, then you know how easy it can be to spend money at a coffee shop. Why not learn how to make these drinks on your own, right in your kitchen?
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It will take a little practice before you start making coffee drinks like the pros, but with a little patience you’ll get there in no time. You’re going to need an espresso machine to get started though. One great option that will pay off quickly is the Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma. Let’s take a closer look at what you’ll get with this espresso machine.
Features
High Pressure Extraction
One of the key factors that makes a cup of espresso different from just a regular cup of coffee is the high pressure used during the extractions. This ensures that the extraction water penetrates deep into the coffee grinds to produce a rich and creamy brew. The Cafe Roma delivers 15 bar pressure during the extraction, just like professional espresso machines.
Simple Controls
One of the nice things about the Cafe Roma is that its controls are very simple to understand and use. Two indicator lights will tell you if the machine is powered on and heating up. When you’re ready to get brewing, just turn the knob clockwise to start extracting espresso and counterclockwise to use the steam wand.
Full Steam Ahead
Sometimes we’re in the mood for something a little more fancy than just a straight shot of espresso. The Cafe Roma comes equipped with a professional grade steam wand so you can make rich textured milk froth to prepare a variety of more sophisticated coffee drinks like cappuccinos and lattes, all from the comfort of your home.
Brew Your Way
Sometimes a nice shot of espresso is all we need. However, there are times we’re having a bit of a rough day or a hard time getting started, and we could really go for a double shot. The Cafe Roma comes with both a single shot filter and a double shot filter so that you can dose the right amount of coffee beans for your mood. If you prefer the easy to use coffee pods, the Cafe Roma comes with filter for those as well.
Start With Warm Cups
Have you ever noticed how espresso cups are kept on top of the espresso machines at coffee houses? The reason they do this is to keep the cups pre-warmed so that the espresso doesn’t lost temperature as it enters the cup. The Cafe Roma also features a cup warmer large enough to accommodate 6 espresso cups.
Sleek Aesthetics
Your kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your house, and we all want it to appear clean and modern. The Cafe Roma is built with a stainless steel exterior so that it will look great amongst the other appliances on your countertop. Better yet, stainless steel is easy to keep clean and shining for years to come.
Know Your Levels
The Cafe Roma was designed with a simple and foolproof viewing window for the water reservoir’s water level. You won’t need to make any guesses as to whether or not you have enough water for your next brew. When the time comes to refill, simply remove the water reservoir and bring it to your water source. It holds over 40 oz of water, which is enough to keep you brewing for the long haul.
Trusted Brand
Any time we’re buying a higher priced item we want to make sure that we’re getting a product that will be worth our while. Breville has been manufacturing kitchen appliances since 1932, so their reputation precedes this machine. Breville backs the Cafe Roma with a 1 year limited warranty as well, so you can feel secure in your purchase.
Pros
- Capable of delivering 15 bar pressure during the espresso extraction, which is enough to pull the deepest flavors, textures, and aromas from your coffee bean of choice.
- The controls are about as easy to use as they could be. One knob controls the espresso extraction and the steam wand, and that’s about all there is to it.
- Comes with two metal filters for dosing your coffee beans. The single shot holds 7 grams of coffee bean grounds and the double shot holds 14 grams. A third filter accommodates convenient espresso pods.
- The built-in professional quality steam wand is equipped with a convenient finger looper, making it easy to use and maneuver to prepare irresistible milk froth.
- The warming tray at the top of the unit will keep up to six clean espresso cups warm and ready for use, just like they do at bonafide coffee shops.
Cons
- While the Cafe Roma comes equipped with all the tools you need to prepare a cup of espresso and other coffee house drinks, it is a very manual machine. Other similar products have the ability to do more of the work automatically.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy This Model
The Breville Cafe Roma is a nice entry-level espresso machine that gives you everything you need to brew delicious cups of espresso and prepare rich milk froth for cappuccinos and lattes right in your own kitchen. It’s certainly a step up from baseline Nespresso machines that utilize pre-packaged coffee bean pods exclusively. You’ll be able to choose your own coffee beans, learn how to grind them properly, get some experience with tamping, and finally turn all the pieces into a finished product.
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Making a perfect cup of espresso is a bit of an art form. It’s going to take some practice and experience to really get it right – if you’re new to making espresso then you shouldn’t expect your first attempt to be perfect. If you’re looking for something a little more hands-off then there are other machines out there that will probably be more suitable for you. Just keep in mind that they come with a bigger price tag.
For the price you’re paying with this machine you’re really getting all the functionality you’ll need to get started with making your own espresso. If you don’t mind putting in the work to learn how to concoct a nice cup of espresso then this machine can be a great choice for you. It’s a great life skill to have anyway, so why not give it a shot?