Don't you just love the smell of Starbucks when you walk in. I know I do, I just enjoy sitting inside on a rainy Vancouver day enjoying a mocha and the smell of Espresso. I have had a home expresso machine since the late 80's and this time last year I replaced by old and tried machine with a Breville Cafe Rome machine. How do I like you ask well... were do I start. The look is fantastic, blends in to all our modern chrome, stainless like appliances, heavy solid machine with a removable water tub and a 15 Bar heater. Very easy to use. You will have no problem producing milk foam thick enough to flick off a spoon within your first 2-3 usages. Espresso comes out nice and dark with lots of crema on top. No bitter coffee here! Just beautiful drinks everytime. So why do I go to Starbucks when I have this fantastic machine at home, I don't anymore. I only go in now to purchase my whole beans.

I purchased the Breville Cafe Roma ESP8XL Espresso Machine for design quality, size, and price. I am pleased with my purchase.... I have been wanting my own machine for quite some time and just couldn't see spending a fortune on one!! I think this machine is a great deal for the first time buyer. I tried it out.... ok lets go back many many years first, because I was a barista right out of high school; so I know what a good espresso is and the art of making one. I am usually a coffee person by day and espresso person by weekend... so I am ordering some PODS for ease of use and cleanup! Grinding the beans, measuring, tamping and producing that yummy crema can be time consuming!!! I am all about quick and convenient... thus the pod purchase!
I would recommend this product to any beginner that wants a very simple, easy to use machine!!!

I have always wanted an espresso machine and decided that it was time to buy one after realizing that I was spending over $60.00 a month on lattes from *Starbucks. I had read reviews on all different brands of machines but you can never find a solid positive review, so I decided to buy an espresso machine that was sold at my favorite kitchen store *William Sonoma. They did not carry the Breville Cafe Roma but they did carry other Brevilles, so I decided that this was the brand that I wanted. After I received my espresso machine, I read over the instructions and then tried it out. IT IS SO EASY!!! You add your water, turn it on and wait for it to heat up (which takes mere moments). Once it is heated, you add your fine ground coffee to the single or double shot filter, place your cup or cups under the filter and turn the dial to the espresso setting and out comes hot espresso. If you desire steamed milk in your drink, you turn the dial back to the center and allow the machine to reheat (which takes seconds) and then you just add your milk to the steaming cup, place the steaming wand inside the cup and turn the dial to steam and you get perfectly steamed milk everytime. It is also a snap to froth the milk just by lowering the cup until the very tip of the frothing/steaming wand is right on top of the milk. In just one month, this espresso machine paid for itself in the money that I saved from having to go to a coffee shop for a good latte. I recommend this for anyone who loves a good latte but hates spending $4.00 or more for a good latte or espresso drink.

This is a really good Expresso Machine. Good quality and craftsmanship, very simple to use. I decided to buy it because my existing Expresso maker was already taking too long to brew a fresh cup. I researched most Expresso Machines on eBay and decided on the Breville Cafe Roma.

This is a pump type espresso machine versus a steam machine (those that sell new for about $50 or less). The ESP8XL makes espresso coffee with a tasty layer of crema on top, that carmel colored, slightly foamy layer that's the goal. It will do this without the high temperature of the less expensive steam machines, which is a bit too harsh for the coffee. The ESP8XL takes some understanding. The pump is noisy and the puck of coffee grounds left in the filter will be wet and soupy; therefore, they can't simply be knocked out like the dry pucks of a steam machine. A more expensive pump machine with a three-way solenoid valve will leave a dry puck, but it will require more maintenance for that convenience. You will have liquid accumulating in the drip tray, so I clean the tray daily. I'm not an expert, but my ESP8XL doesn't seem to work very well for frothing the milk with the steam wand. I think the steam machines do it as well or better. I just pour half-and-half into my coffee which works for me and its quicker with less clean-up. Making a good espresso requires good, properly ground coffee, a quality machine, and some time and patience with your individual learning curve and goal. It's easy to become either a fanatic or move on to more important things in life.

Breville Cafe Roma does not heat the steam or expresso to the level expected.
1. it only heats a very small amount at a time before the reheating light comes on
2. EVEN when at maximum heat, it is not hot.
3. The containers for the ground coffee hold water - ie. even when there is no coffee grounds, empty - the water does not express.

This is my third expresso machine, it is the most expensive I have purchased and it is by FAR the lowest in quality.

My wife used to go to Starbucks, etc. for a Latte, now she just waits to come home so I can make her one with this machine, she likes the taste better. I love it, looks great, and is easy to use. Make sure to read the instructions, and I always put a cup under the frothing spout until steam comes out before putting the milk under for heating and frothing. Well built, good looking unit, I take care of it like I would my power tools :) Make sure you clean after each use and you'll be good to go.

We bought the Breville Cafe Roma in hopes that it would be more beautiful(which it was), than our old machine, faster(maybe a little), better tasting espresso (not)and we were disappointed. It did look good, all metal housing, the one we had was red and chrome - very stylish...however that is where the love affair ended! There is only one extrememly tiny hole in the filter, so it constantly gets clogged up with all the pressure pushing the water through the grinds and that one hole. They even supply a cleaning tool (a little pin thing) to clean out the one hole, but unfortunately by the time you find that it has clogged YET AGAIN you are in the middle of trying to make an espresso, and have to take it all apart, throw out the half used coffee grounds, and start all over again. No matter how the coffee is ground, unless of course you had it too coarse to begin with, it would ultimately clog at some point.
Also the so called "vibra pump" is just plain embarrassing! Switch it on to froth, and it starts to ka-thump ka-thump ka-thump loudly through the entire frothing process. The whole thing is a pain - espresso was fairly good tasting and froth was good, but not worth the money or the noise and the clogging.

The Breville Cafe Roma ESP8XL makes a great cup of espresso. I am enjoying one as I write. It is a good looking machine, user friendly, designed for making up to several cups at a time, good value, and tech support is great. Two tricks that I learned. One, let the machine warm up well before using. Two, avoid very finely ground beans. They plug it up.

Very easy to operate. I mastered making a perfect machiato by the third cup. Water reservoir is very easy to fill. I use the ESE pods from Starbucks and I feel like I'm there without leaving my home.

This item is a MUST have for all of you esresso lovers out there! If you are like I once was, then you are sick and tired of paying almost five bucks at the local corporate coffee house for a cup of warm milk. I simply lost my patience and decided to purchase my own espresso maker. Now my drinks turn out perfect...EVERY time.

Since purchasing on Ebay I paid about half of retail. The unit works flawlessly. It has paid for itself tenfold and I have only had it for about a month. So, if you are tired of paying five bucks for hot milk (BLAHH), Be your own barista. Not only is it cost effective, but it's alot of fun too.

For those of you who are having clogging problems, you may not be packing the coffe tight enough. You need to pack with about 60lbs of pressure. Also, if you are using tap water, you should switch to conditioned water (reverse osmosis), or a clean bottled water. Hard water will leave deposits (rocks) that will clog every appliance in your home. Your showerhead is a good indicator of how hard your water is...check it out. Cheers!

I've been using my machine about 4-5 days per week for about 3 weeks now to make latte's. Overall I think this is a very good machine.

The good parts:
- produces outstanding frothed milk and it can froth continuously.
- the new all stainless frothing wand works well and doesn't have to be taken off to be cleaned
- the espresso comes out very hot and produces a very nice crema
- the water resevoir is a good size, has a convenient handle and seats nicely
- the drip tray is easy to remove and clean


The not so good parts:
- the frothing wand moves back and forth but not up and down.
- when the frother is turned off it will siphon some milk back out of your container if you do not pull it off immediately
- I cannot see the water level in the resevoir through the viewing window, I have to open the lid and look in to see how much water remains.
- the espresso handle is not completely sealed and will allow some water to enter if it soaks for cleaning which will drip out when the handle is attached to the machine

Overall, this is a very solidly made machine that works very well. I am very happy with my purchase.

This machine makes an incredibly good cup of espresso. I use Starbucks pre-ground espresso blend. My trial using pods was not good (too weak); not sure what I did wrong.
The only thing I don't like about this machine is the cleanup. I also have a super-automatic and use it most of the time due to convenience. The Cafe Roma is a good value.

Everything the critics say is true — the filters can clog if you use a grind that's too fine, the frother is so-so (at least on the earlier version), the black plastic locking base plate/neck can crack, and it shakes the cups around while you're pulling a shot. Nonetheless, if you use it the way it was intended, it should provide lots and lots of years of excellent service. Notice how nobody has any qualms about the espresso it makes. I believe most of its more serious flaws like the cracked plastic neck are from improper use (overfilling the filter basket or threading it improperly). In my opinion, this is the best value in the entry-level 15-bar machines. Love it!

ADDENDUM: I've now used this machine for 3 months and am completely comfortable with it. It is an EXCELLENT machine, but you must have the proper GRIND otherwise the filters will clog. Get a good burr grinder and grind on the coarse side for espresso. (On my Baratza Virtuoso, I grind it set at 12.) Also, it's a good idea to run a shot of water through the filter after you've used it and cleaned it out. This helps dislodge any particles of espresso still in the filter basket. Now that I have a ritual down, it never clogs on me. Ever.

My one complaint with the machine is a minor one: the "puck" after you pull a shot is on the wet side so it's a little messy to clean out the used grounds.

It is necessary the user follow the instructions provided. Also, there is no perfect expresso machine so each has characteristics that appeal and some that are annoying. This is our second expresso machine and we like it very much. It does what it is supposed to do, and it does it well. Two common negative characteristics others have pointed out are: the water tank is small and needs to be monitored closely, the second is the dual filter system. I wish the Breville people would offer a single filter system. While it is easy to maintain with frequent use, this machine is a little more maintenance heavy than our other machine. The price is right, and when instructions are followed this is a user friendly machine.

This compact machine is very easy to use (and clean), and takes up very little space on my counter. iFor a "basic" machine, it heats up in a short time and makes a robust espresso with an excellent crema. The foaming wand produces a nice, thick foam (I use skim milk)in less than two minutes. My cappuccinos rival ones made in popular coffee houses!

This machine looks great and makes a tasty latte. I love the heavy duty styling and it looks as though it will last for years. Dislikes include purging a small amount of water just prior to making espresso to ensure that the water is as hot as it needs to be. That is a minor detail though. Most machines that are of a good quality are much more expensive so no complaints overall. I like the easily removable drip tray and water tank. The heated top is nice to set my Starbucks caramel topping on to keep it warm and ready to use.

I switched to this machine after some years of using a Krups steam pump machine. It has taken a while to figure out how get the best coffee out of it, but now that I have, the coffe quality is quite good and it is much easier and more convenient to use than the Krups. One advantage is that you can make multiple cups of coffee w/o having to reheat the machine.

This espresso machine was a present for my boyfriend for Christmas. He loved it and makes espresso's and cappucino's everyday of the week. The machine is stainless steel finish and is beautiful, it just takes a few minutes to make and robust cup of espresso and the milk frother is wonderful for my cappucinos. I've priced all kinds of espresso machines and this one beats all the more expensive models and had better reviews as well and I feel I got more than my moneys worth on this machine and would highly recommend it!

Excellent machine for the price, not as many features as somebut a good value for the money. Have run several pounds of coffee through and only quirk is occasionly the coffee holder will stick when handle is removed and drop on to drain tray making a mess. Otherwise unit seems to be reliable, heats quickly and is easy to clean. Would buy again.
Have had unit for some time now, only problem has been plugging of coffee ground holder, hard to clean out.

I've had it for a month and it's been perfect so far!! It warms up in less than 2 minutes, the cup warmer on top obviously takes a little bit longer, but still is much faster than I had expected.
The coffee has a great crema and is overall the best espresso you can get. I got it refurbished for 138, and it was a great price for a machine that works flawlessly, but it has a crack in the front...

It works great. I would like it better if the container for the water was stainless or glass. It is plastic and has that plasticy smell. Otherwise it is a good looking an easy to use espresso maker which, for the money, is a great little thing!

We have had one for 3 years now. they are not bad at all, though they take some getting used to. the single hole filter tends to plug, but once you figure out the grind to use, the problem disappears. not sure what all the criticism is about foam -- we have worked up over 1" of tight foam without a problem. the main problem we have identified is that the plastic ring that holds the filter holder and pushes it against the shower head cracks after a while. we have seen a few other reviews that mention this problem. replacements take forever to arrive. we ended up buying an aluminum one online at http://www.vancouverwireedm.co​m/caferomadiyt.htm. the fit was tighter than the original plastic piece, but it works fine. i would recommend this machine, just be careful about over filling the filter. also, do consider investing in a real grinder to avoid plugging that single filter hole.

Overall this is a great machine. Easy to use and coffee in an instant. We have never really managed to get the milk steamer to really work. Milk never seems to get hot. It is nice to have a good espresso at home!