My family and I have been enjoying this Saeco PicoBaristo espresso machine since day 1, as it empowers you to become the ultimate barista. But don't tell your friends this machine does it all for you! It does! It's as simple as selecting one out of 11 espresso drinks and the the OK button (the checkmark button), and shortly after, enjoy the always great-tasting espresso drink. Speaking of taste, of course, it's highly subjective. I want to say, though, if you use Illy coffee beans, you can't go wrong.
The milk frother works fully automated. No need to whip up froth manually. Just pour milk in the carafe, and the machine does everything else for you. Just select the drink you want, and voila, after about half a minute, you got your drink ready for your enjoyment. This machine truly takes the guess work out of making a good espresso specialty drink.
For those of you who want to enjoy a regular cup of coffee, select "Espresso Lungo" as I find this is the closest to regular coffee. However, you may want to select a mild aroma strength, or even "very mild".
This espresso maker comes with a built-in and powerful coffee beans grinder. But, you also have the option to use already-ground coffee, which can be advantageous when you want to brew of decaf mojo as it's hard to find decaf in form of coffee beans.
Prior to assembling and then using it I highly recommend reading the supplied product manual. Otherwise you won't know what this espresso machine can do for you. And, also, follow the section on cleaning as you should do after every use.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use milk frothing system, fully automated
- Great tasting espresso drinks, including Cappuccinos and Latte Macciatos and other specialty drinks, providing, of course, you use the finest coffee beans, such as Illy Arabica
- Allows the use of coffee beans (with its built-in grinder) and ground coffee (selectable via the "Aroma Strength" button)
- Allows the use of different-height mugs
- Easy cleaning, including the milk froth carafe
- Water filter that lasts "forever" (a very long time)
- And, of course, great looks
Cons:
- None that I could mention. Don't forget to read the user manual.
Verdict:
- Very highly recommended