Product Review of Mr. Coffee Espresso Machine ECM160 4-Cup Steam

Everyone likes their coffee and espresso prepared in different ways. Not only the process effects the taste and outcome of the coffee, but the machine itself also helps to provide certain flavors.

Lets get right to it, the Mr. Coffee espresso machine will give you a very strong coffee. The good thing about this product is that it is obtainable at an inexpensive price. Typically this machine is on the market and on the internet for $39.99. Spending only about 40 bucks for a machine that will last you year after year is most definitely worth it. One of the best things you can do in life is drink some good coffee everyday and you need the right tools to do so.

Below you will find a product review of Mr. Coffee Espresso Machine ECM160 4-Cup Steam. You will find what other people have said about this machine and how they would rate this product. Nothing is better than a non-biased opinion of Mr. Coffee’s machine to give you a clear understanding of what this product does and doesn’t do correctly or to the standards of those using it. It is a #1 best seller and is worth giving it a shot!

As you can see in the photo above, this machine is not big and clunky. This can be easily installed in your kitchen if you have a fairly spacey one. If you have a small apartment with very little kitchen space, you may want to pass on the product and save that space to cook food, because overall food is more important than espresso. It only weighs about 5 or 6 pounds, which is small for an espresso machine. The diameter of it is fairly small as well. It is about 8”x6.5”x10.5” (in). Depending on what size cabinets you have, you can store it away so you don’t have to use cabinet space. It comes with all the necessary parts and can be said to be very efficient because of it’s size and price.

Mr. Coffee is said to be the best machine out there, so you can look at the reviews and judge for yourself whether or not you think it’s worth the buy.

Pros (Likes)

People tend to love how this machine is so little. These days, people are making technology and knick knacks smaller and smaller, and the fact that this thing is not only portable but able to be stored away when not in use is a major pro of Mr. Coffee Espresso Machine. Another pro of this machine is that it is extremely easy to use. The fact that it is a steam machine means that it is easier to use and that it has less parts that you have to worry about during the process. For as little as this machine is, it can make a lot of coffee! It can make up to 20oz at a time in a fairly short amount of time. You can also run this as many times as you want once it gets warmed up.

Many espresso machines are big and loud for some odd reason and Mr. Coffee is proud to present a machine that is quiet and dandy, as well as family friendly. No one wants a roaring machine in their house when the family is trying to eat breakfast.

AQucsai Jr. from www.amazon.com gave this coffee machine five stars. He named his review “Great Coffee Maker” and said the following…

I have owned my Mr. Coffee Espresso maker for about 5 years now and it has never disappointed. I make a latte/cappuccino for my wife and myself almost every morning and sometimes at night as well. The steam wand works great once you get the simple procedure dialed in. The espresso comes out great every time. This has been one of the best investments because before we bought this unit we made a stop at Starbucks quite often and that get pricey. And now that we figured out you can purchase the flavors from Starbucks, such as vanilla, I can make a latte that taste almost exactly like the latte we used to get at Starbucks.

Lslandsnowfest gave their review a promising figure. Their value of the product landed at a 5 out of 5 and the quality of the product was about a 3 out of 5, but for as cheap as it is, you can’t expect too much. This person said the following about the machine…

I needed this espresso maker to last 6 months; it has been 2 years and going strong. What you should know about this model, it makes a perfect morning latte. Two, actually. If you need to make several, then you have to refill the water reservoir and if there is any steam, you risk a burn. Also, the steam dial on the left hand side is made of inexpensive components and ours broke off. We ended up using a hex nut to rig it and voila, ugly but functional.

DannyR from mrcoffee loved the product and gave it 5 stars.

Cons (Dislikes)

For as many things that are great about this machine, there are just as many things that people have problems with.     With every cheap product, there are always dangers or problems with the manufacturing. As odd as this sounds, many people have given reviews about their machine blowing up on them while they’re making their espresso. This isn’t just a little pop, this is a huge explosion due to the steam building up and the pressure inside can not take it. Other complaints were about the machine not coming with important parts needed to make the actual espresso. Many people had to order a few parts separate and wait a few weeks for them to come in. Below you will find a list of the things that do not come with the combo machine.

Tlrjj from mrcoffee stated that the machine was very unreliable. The following paragraph is his own words about the product. He gave it one star.

I received this about a week ago. The first time I used it, it was fine. However, since then, I have tried, daily, using it subsequently, with no success! This was a replacement for another machine, which was had the same experience trying to use! At this point, I have gone back to using my 17 year old Braun espresso machine, which leaks water at the grounds basket. But, at least that machine still works reliably;

QuiltyGal from mrcoffee said that the frothing is terrible.

I’m very disappointed and unhappy with the frothing feature. The removable plastic stem is not shaped like the one depicted on the webpage, but is merely a simple tube. The problem is the milk is being spewed all over, even onto my hand causing slight burns from the hot milk — and the milk is NEVER properly steamed.

An amazon customer said “Every time I use it I taste the blastic on the hot drink I made”

Another amazon customer said it falls apart and claimed that… “After only 5 months of use the filter holder fell apart while brewing. That’s unacceptable. I want even touching it and it just fell apart. If course the return period is over and a replacement isn’t sold”

 What do I need to order separate that does not come with the machine?

1. Steaming Pitcher
2. Espresso Tamper
3. Mugs

This combo machine can be either the greatest thing in your kitchen or the worst. It all depends on the type of water you use, the type of coffee bean, and the way you brew it. You want to make sure that the coffee beans are grounded just right and that the machine is set up in the proper fashion or the espresso will not turn out. A customer from amazon said that the product would have gotten five stars if it came with a tamper and a pitcher. Those are very important things in making a latte or a shot of espresso. Mr. Coffee Espresso Maker is a cheap way of saving money in the long run and will save you tons of time waiting in line at Starbucks. The risk of it breaking is worth the buy, because a lot of people love the machine. More people loved it than hated it, and it is all preference and expectation. Don’t expect a miracle of a shot with a 40 dollar machine.