Quality in details

When one receives the carton, it is a little impressed by the size and weight, we say that it will condemn much of the kitchen worktop ... but ultimately the unit, if heavy, is much deeper than it is wide (width 25.5 cm only!), and finally it is very roomy. Similarly, it is quite high, but it is well designed compared to the standard height worktops and top kitchen elements.

In this version you have to like the black and plastic. Considering the price (high) we might have liked more chrome, stainless steel or brushed aluminum. But for this, one must choose the model "exclusive" a little more ...

But let's see what this beast in the belly:

It is recommended to read the manuals (Quick Start sheet + complete manual in French) because there was a lot of functions, symbols and procedures to learn.
Very soon we are struck by the beautiful small color LCD screen, which provides a lot of information and alerts with logos in various colors. This is a real plus.

This machine offers 3 main options, each with its dedicated key:
- Short espresso (the "little black" coffee, full-bodied)
- A long cup (size mug)
- The cappuccinos, thanks to "milk" module which is stored in the refrigerator and which is implanted in front of the machine just before

We begin by filling a water tank located on the left of the unit. We can of course put the water in the tap water, but it often has a dirty chlorinated taste that spoils the taste of coffee. It is recommended to rather its bottled water (mild and with little taste) favorite, or filtered tap water or buy a Brita filter module which is implanted in the machine.

You can use ground coffee, but I do not find it very convenient: you must use the liquid plastic spoon provided, pour into a large cone not (we easily put off) and if that puts more a spoonful machine cancels any and balance coffee in her mini-trash coffee grounds located on its right side (must be emptied when a logo appears on the screen for you to report). And the result with the standard coffee filter coffee is pretty average. It seems that it is better to use ground coffee "special espresso." But I have not found in my city coffee ground "special espresso" organic.

I advocate the use of coffee beans (organic and fair, for that matter), even if the choice is smaller in store: you pour half a standard package (you keep the other half completely closed to fridge) in the sealed reserve above the machine, and the machine will grind exactly the amount of coffee just before making your coffee, hence optimum aroma. Coffee beans caught in the mill already a little show (it really Machine "pro"). In addition, the mill is ceramic and there is a pre-coffee brewing system to further optimize the taste ... and it is much simpler to manage than pouring coffee into a small cone for each coffee . So by pressing 2 times on the "espresso" button the machine is used alone a double dose of coffee (and water) to pay you 2 espressos simultaneously in 2 cups, you can preheat before placing the authors above the machine ...

The coffees that are served are real cafés, as in a bar, except that you can choose the quality of water (filtered) and coffee (Guatemala for example, or organic, etc ...) you use. So the final quality is usually better than in a bar or restaurant.
The pump 15 bars is a real pump 15 bar (contrary to some public coffee machines anemic), by cons I think she's still noise: let's say that the household is aware when someone made a small coffee ...

You can also get just hot water, if someone takes tea.

The icing on the cake is the cappuccino mode, quite impressive (especially for the guests)
Instead of a water discharge nozzle is adapted some sort of clear plastic module in which poured the milk and then presses the "cappuccino" and admired the process: The machine draws the milk, steam heating, then foamed by pouring the bottom of the cup. You can stop when we want the amount of milk, and all quantities (milk and coffee) are programmable when you became an expert ... Then once the product is stopped milk coffee maker, which falls to the bottom of the cup, and in the end we have a superb and authentic cappuccino with real coffee and milk at the back of the foam above ... Then it is put back "milk" module in the fridge until the next cappuccino.

This module "milk" goes in the dishwasher, the whole block is used to grind coffee is also easily removed for cleaning, and it appears that the machine has an automatic scaling mode, which lasts 30 minutes and is claimed by machine itself.
You can adjust the water temperature, the grind, the coffee strength, etc ...

In summary, if you use coffee beans, this machine is pure happiness automated. It is indeed quite heavy, quite expensive, a compact, a little complex at first, but you soon realize that it is all in the service of a final product of high quality, so we forgive him quickly to enjoy all that it brings you.