We have switched from a fully automatic machine a lower price category on the Saeco and satisfied on the whole. Coffee, cappuccino, espresso, all tastes delicious and the handling is very simple. The machine is easy to clean and otherwise little maintenance, much better than our previous equipment. In particular, the milk frother is superior to those pointed nozzles from the lower category hands down and the advertising does not promise too much. In a cup warmer we thought "who needs it", but it's just nice to have directly matching cups at hand and fall-down safely on the device. At the current price the machine is clearly a buy recommendation.
However, not everything on the Saeco is perfect. The here on several occasions criticized grounds container is a clear misconstruction. Huge, but everything falls into place with the smallest capacity and so you have to fully empty the thing quarters, because it wants the device to and reports of overcrowding. I am also a little disappointed by the capacity of the water tank. For home use, it is enough, but real drinkers or frequent corporate users have probably put the device under a water pipe if you do not want to constantly run to the fill. From a device with commercial approval I somehow expected more.
