The Saeco HD8965 / 01 "delighted" after unpacking first with a good load of ground coffee, which is distributed throughout the machine, assures a note that this is only from the control of the factory, but it does not make really good first impression. After a first purification, the device has been so put into operation. Optical makes the machine a good impression like the design and a quality image. Water tank, bean and Tresterbehaelter are easily accessible if only from above, which requires a free standing machine in the first two cases. Unfortunately, the water tank has a somewhat rickety plastic handle, which does not make very robust. The coffee outlet is of course adjustable and offers small espresso cups as well as latte macchiato glasses high court. The milk foam is prepared on a milk container which can be placed in the refrigerator after use, but should be thoroughly cleaned regularly to prevent gammligen milk residues. Fortunately, the container is spuelmaschinenfest.
The basic operation of the machine is self-explanatory, you get no problems the first few coffees / Cappus and lattes served, having thrown without a glance in the included Quick Start Guide. However, is also complete botch and for a reasonable complete explanation of the features will not get you to download the complete manual of the Saeco Homepage around. These instructions are for built understandable and meaningful.
In the settings of the machine you can completely lose, you can assign each key individually and create four different user profiles, to the whole family, including dog and cat with one to two button presses can come to the favorite breakfast beverage. Some experimentation is necessary because you can play around on coffee quantity / freeness, amount of water and milk until everything is just right. Also pre-ground coffee, the machine processed without complaint. Only the milk froth can only vary the amount, the porosity can not be changed; the five-year-old ESAM was ahead here, a slider, the pore size of the foam could be varied. Nevertheless, the "standard foam" of Saeco is properly fixed and creamy delicious.
The quality (and temperature) of all prepared beverages is excellent after a short optimization period, if strong espresso or milky soft specialty coffee, it tastes everything. In particular, the option also enjoys easy sometimes quite banal classic, strong coffee (the "Energy coffee" menu called) to enjoy and not to get a watered down beyond recognition Espresso sold as with many other machines as coffee. Also prepare a hot, frothy milk for solving drinking chocolate works well pleasing.
As with fully automated lot is common to care, by purging (automatically) required over clean the brewing unit to fats. In particular, the milk container must always be thoroughly rinsed and the pipes with a special cleaner is maintained. The assembly and disassembly of Milchbeahelters is somewhat more complicated than necessary and the milk container can also open only with great effort. All cleaning operations are described well at least in the detailed guidance and relatively easy to perform. The total expense is in normal, moderate scope and is likely to overwhelm anybody.
Small downer are too small Gera tender Tresterbehaelter and the somewhat annoying standby mode with a blinking display, which does not allow it, to let the machine stand to dry with the door open to prevent mold growth. For this, the machine must be switched off completely using the toggle switch on the back.
Overall, the machine is definitely recommended because of the excellent quality coffee, good usability and stylish design. Small flaws cost the 5th star.
