Philips Saeco PoemiaManual Espresso machine

I have been using this product for approximately three months now. Every morning I wake up and a shot of espresso is the first thing that I think about because of the Poemia. It produces a near perfect shot of espresso, and it is hard to tell the difference compared to a shot of espresso from a high-end coffee shop. The milk frother also works great. For the mornings when I do not feel like having a plain shot of espresso, the milk frother makes it easy to turn the shot into a macchiato. Not only does the machine make great shots of espresso, it also looks very nice. In my opinion it looks a lot classier than the average drip coffee maker. I suggest this product to anyone that wants a great espresso machine, and does not want to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars.

While vacationing in Venice, the owner of the Bed & Breakfast we were staying in used this machine. We thought it was as good as we had had all over Italy. When we got home, we ordered it! It is easy to use, the expresso has lots of crema. We love it and it has been so much fun to play with!

This Philips Saeco Espresso machine is a perfect choice for a daily used espresso coffee maker at home. This is our first experience with an espresso machine. Becoming familiar with the process is complicated, but by methodically following the included instructions we have mastered the technique for outstanding results. Design of the machine is very important to us and Saeco certainly has a beauty in the chrome model we chose. We recommend it very highly.

What a bargain. You will not get an espresso this good out of any other machine for this price. It froths the milk with ease sometimes a little to much. The only problem is the pump is a little loud.

This is a nice looking machine and it works well, but the construction could be a bit more sturdy.

I found how to make this machine work as well as ANY professional espresso machine. Instead of using the pressurized portafilter (that's the name of the basket-arm combo that holds the espresso), I switched it for a fully manual portafilter. There are 2 things needed to make this work right: First - tamp the espresso down using 30 lbs per inch pressure (you can use a kitchen scale to get the feel of 30 lbs). Second, preheat your water to ~200F before putting it in the back of the machine. This ensures correct temperature even if the machine would not heat it up to this level. The results: Sweet, consistent espresso (bitter means it is under-extracted and burnt/sour means it is over-extracted) and a true layer of crema on top (the pressurized portafilter fakes crema, by the way).

I replaced a Saeco Aroma that bit the dust. This machine is more compact and works great. I like the small water reservoir even though you must fill it more often. It is easier to clean and no stale water sitting in the container. Two small issues with design. The power switch is inconveniently in the back of the machine. The drip tray has unnecessary baffles that are difficult to clean. The water temperature could be a little hotter but I heat the cup in the microwave to overcome this. I have not used the steamer since I only use almond milk and it doesn't froth very well anyway. I just preheat milk it in the microwave. All and all I am very happy with this product and it was a lot cheaper than other models. Maybe not the perfect product for high use, but I make 2 cups per day and it works great for me.

The space is not enough for big cups! even when you take out other part it is not possible to put big cups there. and the nuzzle for foam making also is so short!

I am on my second one (after the first one broke) and had the same issue with both models. The steam wand stopped working on both and these were well maintained machines. No amount of trouble shooting, priming, or taking apart the machine could fix it. I won't purchase this model again. It is defective.