This is a beautiful machine, but the steam wand is stationary and makes it rather hard to steam milk and get good consistency. Great shots of espresso, so far, the levers are sturdy and really make it a fun little machine.
I bought this machine from Cosimo, and it's been a nice upgrade from my previous Breville DuoTemp. The group heats up nicely and quick enough, steam and water are strong, and the PID temp control makes it a little more tuneable for extraction. This is my first 58mm machine as well. I'm very happy with this machine and the espresso it produces at its price point in the current US espresso machine market. The finish is also quite nice.
The reservoir could have been better engineered for making it easier to see the water level and to fill the tank, and they should have included a blind portafilter basket for backflushing. Note that water softeners are recommended in the manual but not included. It would be nice if the group were higher from the drip tray, but I can get a scale and cup under it if I use a bottomless portafilter (not included).
