I have been after a decent coffee maker for a while and was going to get a Gaggia Classic but decided it was impractical for my requirements. I then thought about investing in a good bean to cup machine and while I have been reading up on them on the web the Mrs literally walked in with this...
It's a Oster Prima Latte, she bought it from Curry's/PC World for £109.
Being the expert barrista that I am I held my head in my hands and told her what a waste of money it was.
I then got on the Internet to read all the reviews telling me what I already knew...what a pile of rubbish!
Hold on, there was virtually nothing on the internet in English?
Hmmm, I will have to dig deeper.
Features:
Cappuccino, latte and espresso maker
15 bar Italian Pump delivers rich and thick cream
300 ml removable fresh milk reservoir, easy-to-clean and store in the refrigerator, to prepare cappuccinos and lattes using your choice of fresh milk
Automatic single touch drink selection for espresso, cappuccino and latte
Manual mode to customize your shot of espresso
Froth only mode
Clean cycle
Open Filter system to brew 45 mm ESE PODS or sachets and ground powder coffee
1.5 L removable water reservoir for easy filling
Removable drip tray for easy cleaning
Die cast aluminum boiler and thermo block system
OK, with all that out of the way I must say I am hooked, it's a great little machine!!
The 1.5ltr water reservoir is simple to remove fill and replace, same with the milk reservoir.
The auto mode is good enough for everyday espresso, cappachino & lattes, the manual mode lets you dial your beverage in just how you like it.
It has twin trays to rest your cup on so big mugs to little espresso cups are catered for, both the trays have drip collectors in that are a doddle to clean.
It has a cup warmer on top although you would have to leave a cup there for around 30 minutes to warm it!
From flicking the power button you are looking at around 2 minutes for the machine to be ready to go.
You get a single, double and ESE portafilters & a plastic tamp.
The milk reservoir has got adjustment for frothy milk through to steamed milk and it works!
There's also a 'clean' setting on the milk reservoir that flushes it through with steamed water.
Here's a little trick they don't mention, that 'clean' setting allows you to top up your coffee with hot water (Americano!)
I went down to a local coffee roaster Climpson & Sons http://webcoffeeshop.co.uk and had a pack of their freshly roasted beans ground to an espresso grind.
I have been playing with it for a few weeks and their espresso grind is a little to fine for this machine, if I tamp too firmly the machine chokes so a light tamp is what I use now with good results...
If I have to criticise this machine it would have to be the group head and portafilters. The portafilters are a little loose in the group head and the group head doesn't have a 'quality' feel to it but it's reliable and functional.
Another nice feature is it's got a sleep mode, after a while it shuts itself down but the boiler and subsequently cup warmer stay heated. A press of a button and it wakes up ready to go.
It's a doodle to clean this machine and it looks good too
I will invest in a grinder next year so I can get the perfect grind for this machine.
I have got to hand it to my Mrs, she done good and I am now eating my words. For the price this is an excellent machine that produces great coffee...conveniently.
If anyone is really interested I will do a short video of it in action.
It's a Oster Prima Latte, she bought it from Curry's/PC World for £109.
Being the expert barrista that I am I held my head in my hands and told her what a waste of money it was.
I then got on the Internet to read all the reviews telling me what I already knew...what a pile of rubbish!
Hold on, there was virtually nothing on the internet in English?
Hmmm, I will have to dig deeper.
Features:
Cappuccino, latte and espresso maker
15 bar Italian Pump delivers rich and thick cream
300 ml removable fresh milk reservoir, easy-to-clean and store in the refrigerator, to prepare cappuccinos and lattes using your choice of fresh milk
Automatic single touch drink selection for espresso, cappuccino and latte
Manual mode to customize your shot of espresso
Froth only mode
Clean cycle
Open Filter system to brew 45 mm ESE PODS or sachets and ground powder coffee
1.5 L removable water reservoir for easy filling
Removable drip tray for easy cleaning
Die cast aluminum boiler and thermo block system
OK, with all that out of the way I must say I am hooked, it's a great little machine!!
The 1.5ltr water reservoir is simple to remove fill and replace, same with the milk reservoir.
The auto mode is good enough for everyday espresso, cappachino & lattes, the manual mode lets you dial your beverage in just how you like it.
It has twin trays to rest your cup on so big mugs to little espresso cups are catered for, both the trays have drip collectors in that are a doddle to clean.
It has a cup warmer on top although you would have to leave a cup there for around 30 minutes to warm it!
From flicking the power button you are looking at around 2 minutes for the machine to be ready to go.
You get a single, double and ESE portafilters & a plastic tamp.
The milk reservoir has got adjustment for frothy milk through to steamed milk and it works!
There's also a 'clean' setting on the milk reservoir that flushes it through with steamed water.
Here's a little trick they don't mention, that 'clean' setting allows you to top up your coffee with hot water (Americano!)
I went down to a local coffee roaster Climpson & Sons http://webcoffeeshop.co.uk and had a pack of their freshly roasted beans ground to an espresso grind.
I have been playing with it for a few weeks and their espresso grind is a little to fine for this machine, if I tamp too firmly the machine chokes so a light tamp is what I use now with good results...
If I have to criticise this machine it would have to be the group head and portafilters. The portafilters are a little loose in the group head and the group head doesn't have a 'quality' feel to it but it's reliable and functional.
Another nice feature is it's got a sleep mode, after a while it shuts itself down but the boiler and subsequently cup warmer stay heated. A press of a button and it wakes up ready to go.
It's a doodle to clean this machine and it looks good too
I will invest in a grinder next year so I can get the perfect grind for this machine.
I have got to hand it to my Mrs, she done good and I am now eating my words. For the price this is an excellent machine that produces great coffee...conveniently.
If anyone is really interested I will do a short video of it in action.
