Capresso 121.01 Ultima Semi-Automatic Coffee and Espresso Cappuccino Machine by Capresso

Capresso 121.01 Ultima Semi-Automatic Coffee and Espresso Cappuccino Machine

Features

Brews from 1-1/2 to 12 ounces of espresso or regular coffee in seconds
No-mess, no-fuss: automatically tamps coffee and discards used grounds
Removable 53-ounce water tank; double brewing spout fills 2 cups at once
Steaming wand froths milk for cappuccinos and caffe lattes
Measures 15 by 16 by 12 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Product Review
By eliminating the usual fuss and mess, this 1,200-watt machine makes it easy to brew espresso and make cappuccinos and lattes at home or in the office. It's semiautomatic because all that's required is to fill the water tank, place ground coffee into a receptacle, and pull a lever. Within seconds coffee flows from the double spout, which adjusts for different cup heights, into one or two cups. No tamping is required because the machine tamps the coffee precisely and automatically. Nor is it necessary to clean used coffee grounds out of a messy filter holder, because there is no filter holder, and the machine automatically discards grounds into a waste tray. The tray also catches overflows, and a light shows when it needs emptying.

For steaming and frothing milk to make cappuccinos, lattes, and hot chocolates and for delivering hot water for tea, there's a wand that rotates out to fit inside a pitcher or cup. The coffee receptacle accepts 7 to 15 grams (one or two fillings of the included scoop), and the powerful pump supplies enough hot water each time to fill cups from 1-1/2 ounces to 12 ounces, which means it will make a big mug of regular coffee as well as an espresso. The 53-ounce water tank is transparent for water-level monitoring. Water heats quickly thanks to the 1,200-watt heating coil, and a thermostat light shows when the water is hottest. The machine has internal storage for the power cord and comes with clear instructions, drink recipes, and a one-year warranty against defects. --Fred Brack

Product Description
The best of coffee culture in one convenient package. Eliminating all the strenuous steps of conventional espresso/cappuccino machines ? tamping, hot filters and stubborn sieves ? this all-in-one center lets you pour in the coffee, switch on the pump and enjoy! One-year warranty. Model 121.

Reader Reviews
I bought this machine after looking around for the perfect one for quite some time. This Espressomaker is unique because of a clever semiautomatic mechanism that doesn't require the usual, messy tampering and cleaning innate to traditional machines. This device comes at a fraction of the cost of the fully automated ones, but is almost as easy to use. The only little flaw I noted is that the frother will spill a relatively large amount of water (5cc or so) during the first couple of seconds before the full steam gets going. Usually no big deal, but if you froth a small amount of milk, you may want to "catch" these first cc's first. Otherwise, this machine is perfect. The pump is very strong 18bar, I think) and the crema is excellent. Baseline: If you want a traditional machine, go for a Gaggia or something similar; if you are a (lazy) millionaire, consider one of the fully automated machines ($1000-2000). Otherwise, there is currently no alternative to the "Ultima".

List Price: $440.00
Available from Amazon
Price: $299.00
Updated on 11-9-2008.