Average Reviews:
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I had the good fortune to be in the paddock at a couple of Formula 1 races. I spent a lot of time around the Ferrari garage and that was the first time I saw a Lavazza espresso maker. I was fascinated by how fast and easily the mechanics and others on the team could pull a shot. They chugged the dark brew in one or two sips and were immediately back to work The machine they were using was the pro model (I think it's over a grand!) so getting one was out of the question. Then I discovered this one - it uses the same high quality coffee pods but that's just about where the similarity ends.
The not so good news - First, the pro model has a lot more features, the most important being that it shuts the flow of coffee down automatically, guaranteeing a more precise shot. Alas, blessed by a Champagne taste but living with beer budget, this unit was all I could afford.
The good news - The unit is beautiful ( it is, after all, Italian) and it's not really difficult to use. Make sure you turn the thing on well in advance of your need for Java. It takes a bit of time to warm up. After the green "ready" light comes on, you unfasten the pod holder and insert your favorite capsule (pretty simple). Then you press the green button, watching carefully to make sure you don't over fill your espresso cup. (Too much water and you get what the Italians call "dish water".
When it's reached the level you want, you press the button to stop the flow. The smell, by the way, is wonderful. If you want some frothed milk, you have to press the third button (NOT THE THIRD BUTTON!) until it lights up. Bring a container with cold milk over by the wand (on the right) and twist the knob behind it.
Why only 4 stars - I really like this unit and given the price, I think it represents good value. However, there a few little things that annoy me. The steam wand shoots out water when you first use it so you have to remember to clear the pipes into a container before frothing anything. Also, the instructions are pretty rudimentary. They never really tell you how much coffee you should be "pulling" - I have been estimating but as an ex chemistry teacher, I would love to have better specs. Finally, unless you use Lavazza espresso paper cups (yes, they sell them), pulling a shot into a room temp espresso cup will result in a luke warm cup of coffee. You need to heat up the cup (use the steam wand or dunk the cups in hot water). Also, if you want to add a dribble of milk, the small shot will get pretty cold - best to warm the milk first is my suggestion.
Not a rave and not a rant - a decent machine that fits my 4 or 5 espresso a week habit.
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Product Description
EP 850 is functional and simple to use with single-dose Lavazza Espresso Point cartridges to prepare an espresso that's always excellent and a variety of other delicious hot beverages. It is perfect for venues aiming to offer a wide choice of blends, also suitable for preparing cappuccino.
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