Having had several other brands of espresso machines, over the years, I began to despair ... I was always disappointed by the quality of the espresso obtained. I dreamed of a good machine espresso ground coffee and ESE pods, to use good cafes without ruining me. And there, finally, miracle: it gives me gift this machine, simple, robust, practical, very well designed, and that can be a dream espresso, tight, tasty, foamy, long in the mouth, with aromas perfectly restored. The key is to read the instructions and know the basics of the art of making a good espresso (personally, holidays in Italy helped me). And no need to ruin capsules big brands! I heartily recommend to all lovers of ristretto.