DeLonghi Caffe Figaro BCO110 Espresso Machine & Coffee Maker

This is probably the second most commonly used machine in the kitchen. We have owned a Delonghi Figaro machine for over 4 years now and it still works very well, although we've just about outgrown it and are looking for a professional and automatic machine. After all, for most Starbucks / Panera/ Caribou / Peets /Seattle's Best addicts, once you realize how much you've spent in one year there, a professional machine starts looking much less expensive. All and all, it is a good entry level machine for less frequent espresso drinkers who still regularly use a regular size coffee machine.

Features are very nice for a reasonable price and replaces two machines: a regular 5 or 10 cup coffee maker and a entry-level non-pump driven espresso machine with a milk frothing dispenser, rather than a frothing wand).

The coffee maker has a 24 hour timer which is easily programmable and includes an internal tank with water filter. There is a wire mesh filter basket (NO MORE PAPER FILTERS!) and a push-button option for optimizing brewing for only 5 cups or 10 cups. You can also modulate the strength of your brew with the turn of a dial. However, with no paper filters, clean-up is a bit more complicated (albeit more environmentally friendly)

There is a separate water tank with pressure cap for the espresso maker and milk frothing dispenser. The espresso quality is not "A la Starbucks" or the fine frothy crema you can get from a more expensive machine like Rancilio or Saeco, etc, but it is well enough to make decent espresso beverages. The best functional component is the frothed milk dispenser. For the novice who is fearful of frequently scalding or breaking the froth on their milk, this ingenuious addition to Delonghi's machine is a wish-list component I'd love to have on a superautomatic machine---just don't happen to have $2,000 lying around to do it. This is an excellent feature that makes this machine well worth the price just by itself. This makes frothing the prefect milk (soy milk OR dairy milk) for lattes, mochas, hot chocolate, or cappuccino EASY! Clean-up still is a pain. The milk tank needs to be cleaned (would definitely recommend cleaning right after you're done) to keep it sanitary. Cleaning is much easier when done immediately. There are a couple of components to the milk froth tank that you definitely do not want retaining any nasty dried milk in them.

Even after these years we've had the machine, the only thing that doesn't work so well now is the machine's clock runs slow for the coffee maker component (which we seldom use anymore unless we're brewing coffee for lots of visitors)--we purchased a Keurig machine which we use much more frequently.