Gevi 15 Bar Espresso Coffee Machine with Milk Frother - 1100W Black Cappuccino Maker for Home Baristas - Perfect for Morning Brews & Entertaining Guests

I love this expresso machine! It is very intelligently designed and makes amazing lattes. The design makes it very easy to clean and it's not too big so it doesn't take up too much counter space; it also looks sleek and classy. The expresso is fantastic and the milk frother works fast and extremely well - it heats up the milk fast and the foam is very easy to create. To clean it you just detach the foamer piece and rinse the expresso cup holder; it takes about 30 seconds and then I leave them on a towel to dry. So easy! I definitely recommend this model - there's a ton out there and I went with a mid-range one as far as the price and I'm really glad I did. It costs me about 50 cents to make a coconut milk latte with this thing whereas it's $4.70 in coffee shops now and I like the ones I make myself much better bc I can customize them perfectly. There's no going back!I really liked this espresso machine when we first got it but after using it for less then 6 months every time you try to pull a shot the milk frother shoots out boiling hot water. I will admit that Between my SO and I we use this machine about 5-10 times a day so it is very well used. If you do buy this model I strongly recommend getting the warranty. Other then the boiling water fountain that comes sputtering out every time we use it, it was a very good starter model to break the barrier to entry for espresso making. The milk frother is nice but it’s a little difficult to wipe down due to it’s seals, but I doubt this is a gevi specific problem and more of a downfall to the frother wands as a whole. Also note that I have tried to buy another strainer basket for the espresso machine and they don’t seem to sell the double shot baskets only the single shot ones, so bare that in mind. Overall the product is like a 3.5 star product. I’m just a tad disappointed that I have to buy a new machine after only 6 months.I was very excited to receive this product and immediately started reading the manual. I ran a test with just water to get a sense of ease of use.These are the things I discovered:above all, it makes a delicious cappuccino. I've already made about three cups and used a couple of different brands of coffee as well as with A2 minimally pasteurized milk and goat milk with the same result. It's tasty.I find that rather than filling up the back water reservoir with more than you need it's best to take a measuring cup and fill it with between 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of water. This way you don't have to be on guard to make sure there are no accidental overflows of coffee.Use the same measuring cup to froth the milk however always keep another cup or disposable coffee cup near the steam frother nozzle as you will need something to catch the first few mls of steam water before frothing your milk.Using only exact quantities of water and milk will make the entire experience way easier to clean up after.Cons:1. you can only fit smaller cups. I couldn't fit any of my disposable coffee cups or any of my regular coffee mugs. So already, I'm giving up some convenience that I already had with my previous working coffee system.2. The unit is light weight however requires lots of stern maneuvering in order to get the expresso filter handle fitted in. IT was really annoying to have to hold this thing down while trying to get the filter on.3. There is no automatic stop. When you have the amount of coffee you want then you'll need to press a button to stop it. Again giving up more conveniences here, No one wants to stand by their coffee while it's being made.4. the steam frother was a bit of an after thought. the nozzle is small, it spouts water first so you can't just take your cup of milk and start steaming right away. you'll need a separate cup to catch the piping hot bursts of hot water first. Don't get me wrong I understand that it happens even on the best machines but this machine is too small, too flimsy and is not the best machine for all the tinkering that's needed.In the end I feel like this product should not exist. It's in a nice price bracket but it's a waste of money. It's trying to have all the features that a grand expresso station would have but in a small toy-like quality frame. I was making far superior coffee on my stove top expresso maker and getting far superior frothed milk with a 30 dollar electric counter milk frother.It's a good little home machine for relatively cheap. I was surprised by how small this machine actually is. I suppose I expected something a little bigger. The porta filter is decent for the size. Doesn't feel too flimsy. But obviously it's not like a professional grade heavy duty one you'd get for $899. The water tank is reasonable size and easy to access. The foaming wand works well but it is a little short and due to the relative size of the machine (height off the counter) it is sometimes hard to get a pitcher of steamed milk on and off without tilting and spilling. It does make fairly consistent shots of home brewed espresso and once you get the handle on how to use it (like I did) it generates some tasty espresso drinks. The foam wand creates an ample amount of foam and comes apart for easy clean up. Furthermore, cleaning and maintaining the rest of the machine has been very easy. The portafilter is easy to clean, the screen on the machine should be wiped clean of used grounds after every shot. but otherwise it has been a breeze to use. It doesn't have an auto shot function. You have to manually turn off the espresso brew with every pour. I have been using this machine once a day every morning for almost 2 weeks now with no real issues.