Gaggia Evolution Espresso Machine in Silver

Rated 3 out of 5

Posted By:
Brian Henderson

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Good beginner machine

Easy to use, easy to clean. My water has rocks floating in it (it's really hard) so I need to descale often, about once a month. Even then, I do have some challenges with the group valve leaking while in steam mode. The steam wands also leaks in steam mode, even when I crank down on the valve. I HATED the stock panarello wand so I replaced with the Silvia wands and it makes really nice steamed milk know. The boiler is a little small so steaming enough milk for the wife's "venti" in the morning takes a bit of time, but I can still manage a nice creamy froth. My big complaint is the lack of a solenoid valve to release water pressure after a shot. I have found that I need to pull the PF out right after the shot (before steaming) or release the back pressure that has built up slowly to prevent a blowout of coffee all over my machine and counter. This is occurring, presumably, as a result of the issues I am having with the group valve leaking at steaming temps.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

ease of use and a great price point for a "starter" home machine. I'm getting great shots

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

REPLACE THE WAND! Make sure you refill the boiler after steaming if you want to pull another shot and steam. I recommend warming the machine about 10-15 min before using. If not, I would steam first and then surf the temp back down to pull a shot.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Locally roasted beans

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

kill the steam wand and upgrade the valve

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

commercial machines...none at the home level, other than a mocha pot.

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Flat Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Gaggia MDF

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Benny Acc

my gaggia evolution is 7 yrs old. It has always made great espresso just as well as any other machine Im writing this review now because I just changed the gasket ,and im ready to go. PS dont wait 7 yrs to change the gasket it will take hours to get the old one off

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Thomas Dietterich

This is my second Gaggia machine. My first was a Carezza. I'm extremely happy with this new machine. It produces great espressos and outstanding foam. Virtually every extraction is wonderful. I like the cup warming area, since I often make a latte for my wife, and it can stay warm for a few minutes. My only suggestion for improvement is that the buttons are not as large as on previous machines, and I find that I turn off the machine without hitting the steam button (to turn off the steam). This leads to an unpleasant surprise the next time I turn on the machine and prime it. So if the button setting could be made more obvious, it would help me. Or alternatively, if the off button caused all the other buttons to pop out to their "off" positions, that would be great.

Rated 3 out of 5

Posted By:
Jennifer Ness

Has owned for:
6 - 12 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

I have been able to make some pretty great espressos with this machine

I have been able to make some pretty great espressos with this machine, that being said, the reason for this is that most espresso machines are the same. The trick to good espresso usually lies in the grind and your method for pulling the shots. Here are the problems I am having with the machine. I do not get consistent heat throughout the shot. Half way through, the heat indicator turns off because the heat drops below the proper level, then comes on towards the end of the shot. To combat this I've been turning on steam heat for a couple of seconds then turning it off and starting the shot. I get some overextraction but it's better than the sour taste I get from under extraction. The portafilter is nice and heavy. I don't use the steamer wand often, but I have in the past and it heats milk pretty well and even if you don't know what you're doing you can make froth. After a short while the pump went ajar inside the machine so when I would make coffee it would rattle around inside the plastic. This was very loud. Sometimes I would have to hit the side of the machine to get the water to run through (don't ask me how it worked). I don't think this is a bad machine, like I said, it makes good coffee and it's cheap. I am going to try to send the machine back to get the temperature problem fixed under the warranty, hopefully that will go ok. All in all, if you have the money I would probably get a better Gaggia machine, but if you're on a budget and you want to delve into the world of making great espresso then this machine is a great starter machine that when paired with a good grinder (get a hand grinder if you're on a budget)will give you an appreciation for GOOD espresso.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

6 - 12 months

What's Best About this Product?

When paired with a good grinder and freshly roasted coffee you get good shots with lots of crema. Operation is very simple as well. Large and heavy metal portafilter retains heat.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

get a really good burr grinder (do a hand one if you're new to espresso otherwise; you should spend 300 or more dollars on an electric grinder, don't get cheap on the grinder) Make sure you're coffee is freshly roasted. Don't buy it from a grocery store unless it's locally roasted.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Local roasted and sometimes Starbucks espresso roast

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Plastic casing, temperature control, smaller footprint would be nice. Pressure valve to give you a dry puck and stop leaking after you turn it off.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

lever espresso machine, various fully auto and semi-auto espresso machines

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Hand burr grinder works the best, started with a cuisinart burr grinder (doesn't get it fine enough for espresso)

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Vintage hand grinder from Orphan Espresso

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Leonard Gailes

Has owned for:
More than 1 year
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Nice Machine

I have owned this machine for a year now, and it has worked very well. The heat-up time is pretty quick, and the machine seems to be fairly durable to have a mostly plastic body. Originally, I thought I had made a mistake in buying this machine, as I was never able to get really thick crema with pre-ground coffee (Lavazza in Blu is the best pre-ground for crema). I tried using my old Capresso burr grinder, but it obviously did not grind the grounds fine enough for the Gaggia. In an effort to save money, I searched for and found the crema disc for the Gaggia thinking that would be the answer to my poor crema problem. Unfortunately, I got really over the top foam-coffee with the crema disc (not the pretty marbled layer you want) and it really made a mess of my kitchen with coffee spraying to the side of the machine. Anyway, after poor results with the crema disc and nearly 11 months of use of the Evolution, I finally decided to heed the advice of everyone and buy a really good grinder. Let me tell you, the grinder truly does make all the difference. Ever since I got my Lelit PL53 grinder, I have had amazing crema with my coffee. I only wished that I had bought the grinder earlier, as I would have been able to enjoy the full benefit of the Gaggia a lot sooner.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

More than 1 year

What's Best About this Product?

Reasonable price, quick heat-up time,

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Skip the crema disc and buy a good grinder right away. I have found that making fine espresso is not a cheap undertaking, so it is best to know that going in. If you decide to stay with pre-ground, go with Lavazza in Blu for the best crema, and Lavazza Il Perfecto Espresso for a reasonable price and great taste (though less crema than Lavazza in Blu).

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Lavazza Il Perfecto Espresso, Lavazza Oro, Lavazza Cafe y Gusto, Lavazza in Blu, Illy Dark Roast

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Probably making the machine body out of metal instead of plasitc. Of course, that would make the machine more expensive.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Drip Coffee, stove-top espresso maker

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Lelit PL53

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Brendan Hayes

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Gaggia Evolution

My first home machine, and I am impressed. Thought the steamer would be weak, but I was rewarded with a prolonged burst which warmed my egg nog for my latte to a more than suitable temperature ( I put mine in the microwave as i like it piping hot). The pods are more expensive, but are well worth it for the cleanliness themselves.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

Ease of use. Quick too, 6 mins to heat up

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Pods, patience and a microwave!

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Ille pods

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

The steamer drips a little.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Restaurant machines

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Almir Velagic

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Connoisseur

For the price excellent little machine

This machine is not for beginners as they will most likely get pretty discouraged at the first dozen of pulls that they do. It does require some expertise to get a perfect shot. (Pods make it a little easier). It does produce fabulous shots and will last you a long long time if you care for it. The machine is a little messy and can require some patience but for the price you really do get the Gaggia's finest inner workings. I would say in the price range it gives the best overall quality of craftsmanship and delivery of espresso.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Very straight forward in terms of setup and use. It does require tinkering with the amount of coffee and setup but that's expected of any semi-automatic machines. The machine warms up quickly so I can get a quick shot right before I leave for work. Its also very stylish it blends in nicely in the kitchen.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Once you find a perfect balance of: Type of coffee, grind, amount used and how you pack it try to remember it because in my mind that is really what determines the perfect "Krema" :) and best tasting shot that isn't bitter or too watered down. Once you nailed that portion just do a slight countdown in your head to shut off the brewing process and voila. It's not rocket science. Enjoy the experience. If you want to learn to make Mud coffee let me know. Mud Coffee can be just as strong as espresso if not stronger.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Connoisseur

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Lavazza, Illy, Gourmet Coffee's from Trader Giottos.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

The Milk Frother. It's a little short and even though it does do the job I always preferred the high speed stirred to make foam. I use Soy milk so the stirring frother is cleaner and quicker to use.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Krups (A little steam engine that could :) but died), Seaco.

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Turkish Coffee Manual Hand Grinder. It gets the coffee to almost powder form. It can be adjusted to grind less aggressively. I make both espresso and Bosnian/Turkish Mud Coffee so one can say I drink a LOT of it during the day.

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
mark wrabel

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Beginner

Showing age

We've used this machine for 2 to 6 cups per day for about three years and it's starting to show it's age. The plastic buttons are worn, so the black plastic is showing through the silver paint, and the middle button for the boiler sticks inside the housing requiring either a few pounds of the fist to get it to pop up or shutting down and a bit of knife action to get the button back out. The steaming seams to be taking longer. I am frequently steaming once then having to refill the boiler and letting it get back up to steam again to get the milk up to the right temp.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

It was fantastic out of the box. It does require regular cleaning to keep it working as best as it can.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Clean it at least once every couple months if you use it regularly.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Beginner

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Various flavors of Peet's whole bean mostly.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

The buttons have always felt a bit cheap and now the boiler one is not working properly from the less-than-ideal construction.

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Krups burr grinder

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Paul Ellis

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Beginner

Great first purchase for the beginner

PROS: For a beginner, very easy to use out of the box with a quick learning curve. With exception of first pull, espresso has been from very nice to a little weak on my single shots (barista error?). Good instructions with exception noted below. CONS: Construction/design a little weak in some areas. Steaming time a on the short side.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Ease of use for a first-timer. Once I got the tamp down correctly, have been pulling very decent shots. Frother works great, if not too much! Warm up times seem very quick. As far as actual temps and bar pressure, I don't have the equipment to test. But drinks are plenty hot and shots show tons of caramel colored crema. Easy cleanup.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Machine is not entirely dripless so have a cleanup cloth handy, especially after using the steamer: it tends to drip quite a bit. I usually just put a paper towel under it. For this price you are getting a lot of plastic, so handle with care. Be religious with your cleaning. I clean immediately after every use and it doesn't take but a couple of minutes.The cup warmer is pretty much useless. I put my cup in the microwave just before pulling my shots and that works really well.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Beginner

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Starbucks espresso and Valassa Blu.

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Acknowledging that the price is great as is, would like to see: A larger water reservoir; I don't think I could pull more than 3 doubles with the present capacity. A very decent drip reservoir, but the flimsy plate is easy to knock out when cleaning or soaking up drips. As with most reviewers the steaming wand does not leave much room to work with. I have a 16oz pitcher and have to pull the machine to the edge of the counter to use properly. Awkward, but workable, plus causes dripping on the floor. Manual says not to run steamer for more than 60 seconds. That is bare minimum to froth enough for one latte; since my spouse imbibes as well, I have to run two steaming sessions (while my espresso is cooling down - not good). One problem I haven't resolved is that the instructions are not clear (to me) on pulling shots. I think it says once the first one is primed and pulled, I can empty the old grounds, prepare another shot and pull it when I'm ready. When I do this the second pull comes out very slowly, as if there is not enough water. So now I dispense another half cup of water between shots and then it seems to work ok. But this is time consuming and uses a lot more water (priming for the first shot, and apparently having to prime for the second shot). If anyone has any input on that I would appreciate hearing from you. Another thing, and again this may be barista error - I have not been able to make a decent single shot, so until I solve that I will continue with the doubles which are very good.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

A Krups steamer years ago, which was a stretch to call an espresso machine

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

None. Had to purchase my first coffee preground. Have a Campresso Infinity on the way - hope I didn't make a mistake!

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Philip Baumann

Has owned for:
6 - 12 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

This is my first real espresso machine and I have been pleased. I mainl make double shots of espresso and the odd capucino. I did not find a huge learning curb in getting decent shots with the Evolution.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

6 - 12 months

What's Best About this Product?

Commercial grade portafilter. Seems to warm up quickly.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Contrary to the manual's recommendation I typically leave the portafilter locked in place. This is probably why I have had to replace the gasket after 6 months. The biggest improvement in my espresso making ability seems to have come when I purchased a quality burr grinder. This was about 6 months after I bought the Evolution. So I would recommend getting both the espresso machine and a quality grinder at the same time.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Star Bucks, Dazbog, a local roast, to many others to mention

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Plastic spout on the portafilter. Mine cracked after about 8 months of use. I replaced it with a metal one. The build is a bit flexy, I notice this when locking in the porta filter. This does not affect the coffee, but could be a longevity issue.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Various stovetop espresso makers, Krups, Mr. Coffee steam espresso

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Solis Maestro Plus

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Dileri Borunda

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Beginner

Love my new toy

I love this machine! I had pretty much given up on coffee, because filter coffee is just not really worth drinking. My husband and I made do with semi-satisfactory results from our stovetop pot, but I couldn't produce the milky coffee drinks I enjoy. But since we got the Evolution, I've been making coffee like it's going out of style! The machine was relatively easy to use once I had waded through all the instructional material, but was soon making quite good espresso with the Lavazza coffee that came with it. We've only had it for a little over a month, so I'm still experimenting with different coffees, tamp pressure, and milk proportions for cappuccinos and lattes. My husband however, is thrilled with the espresso we're brewing.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Great value for price - the machine feels solid and well-made, and I was able to get a good espresso on the third try.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

Read instruction manuals through thoroughly before attempting to brew coffee, which may be hard since you'll probably be anxious to try out the product!

My Experience With Using This Product:

Beginner

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Lavazza in blu (included with machine), illy preground

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

I could have used more instructions on how to steam/froth milk. I'm not sure if I'm doing this correctly, as I can only steam a small amount (4-5 oz.) of milk at one time. My frothing pitcher is not huge, but I don't know how I could get anything larger under the steam wand.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Bialetti stovetop moka maker

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

we only have a cheap blade grinder, so haven't really attempted grinding for espresso

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Wesley Nance

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Beginner

My first espresso machine

For an "entry level" machine this one has a lot going for it. I paid the extra money for the Evolution's better looks and deeper drip tray compared to the Carezza or Espresso. It pulls very good espresso shots, heats up very quickly, and the group head holds a lot of heat in the portafilter- everything is very heavy where it counts, although the machine itself could use some more weight. This is a good machine to learn on, and I could see upgrading in a few years when I'm ready for something more substantial, or for a double boiler machine. . . I don't understand why Gaggia uses the paranello steam wand in all their mid to low end machines. I sure wouldn't want to spend $700 for a higher end Gaggia that has this same wand. It doesn't do microfoam with the wand on, and with it off it's very short and very difficult to get microfoam. I had the most success just removing the long sleeve and leaving the other plastic parts still attached. I have since replaced the steam wand (see below)

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Heats up quickly, solid portafilter, easy to fill and easy to see the water level

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

You need a quality grinder, as with any good espresso machine. The Rocky works great. Swap out the steam wand. . .

My Experience With Using This Product:

Beginner

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Started with Illy, then moved to home roasted Sweet Marias blend, some in town roasts, Malabar Gold, etc. . .

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

The steam wand is just not up to the rest of the machine. Do yourself a favor and spend the $31.00 to purchase the Rancilio Sylvia steam wand from Wholelattelove and swap it out, it's a direct replacement, really easy to do, and now steaming milk is a totally different experience- much better!

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

My wife used a Braun "espresso machine" that wasn't really. . .

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr grinder

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Rancilio Rocky doser model

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
kevin rehbein

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

If you're on the fence for a cheaper machine (<$300) I'd strongly recommend this one. From what I can tell and read, jumping up another couple hundred will only get you a better case or possibly solenoid. In my situation, not worth it. This machine far exceeded what I expected... great documentation, solid build quality, good performance, good filter, etc... Heck, even the packaging was good quality (3 boxes within each other). This seems trite, but it says something. I recently bought a Briel Chamonix for $169, and it isn't anywhere close to the Gaggia... at all. Like comparing a pinto to a VW passat (sorry Briel). The extra documentation (above and beyond the manufacturer guide) was really helpfull. A good reason to buy from Whole Latte love. This machine is a great espresso maker in the price range, not much else out there that compares dollar for dollar.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

Feels like a quality machine, quality parts. Performs right from the begninning, no messing around.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

The Flash program provided on the CD didn't work on my laptop, may want to check compatibility.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Illy, Trader Joe's, Costco store roasted

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Case is a bit tall to fit under most cabinets, but Gaggia offers other models that are lower.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Old Krups, Briel Chamonix

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

None at this time

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
Marc Rozyn

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Great Machine

Very nice machine seems to be heavily built for its price range and the full size porta filter is a joy to use. She was even able to get crema from a supermarket espresso blend, though I do find it likes very fine coffee yhink I may be up grading my grinder soon.

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

Heavy construction,fast heat up,full size portafilter and group

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

get a good grinder

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

$tarbucks,supermarket whole bean

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

the steam Knob is small and hard to operate

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Briel lido

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

$tarbucks Barista

Rated 4 out of 5

Posted By:
F Z

Has owned for:
1 - 6 months
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

Chrome Gaggia Evolution - Candidate for best buy?

Bought the Chrome version of this xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx! The internals are well built and the Portafilter is very heavy. I have not tried to make any microfoam yet, this unit comes with a newer turbo frother, looks like a grey plastic sleeve, underneath there isa plastic steam tip, that seems to be longer than the ones reviewed on this site (something new?). If anyone has been sucessful making microfroth with this new attachment please share with all of us. I find it has a fast heat-up time, a decent size water container, it's easy to clean and quick to heat up/down. All in all very happy...now if they would just change the steaming knob!

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

1 - 6 months

What's Best About this Product?

Looks very nice, heats up very quick, amazing crema when using fresh ground coffee.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Various, Illy pods, several varieties of Dark Roast from local roaster

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

Larger drip tray, the one it comes with is not bad, sounds like it's better than the DROP tray that comes with the Carezza. Can hold 8-12 oz. The annoying thing is the steam knob, it is VERY small and a pain to turn on and off. The spout that screws into the portafilter, to allow for making two cups is made of PLASTIC?

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Steam type machines only.

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Fresh ground at store, or pods. I didn't (want to?) believe that fresh ground made such a difference, belive me it DOES!

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Capresso Infinity on order now.

Rated 5 out of 5

Posted By:
Mary Tuckfield

Has owned for:
Less than 1 month
Ability Level:
Coffee Lover

There's No Turning Back

If you're a beginnner or hesitant intermediate home barista, I absolutely recommend this machine. I got my Gaggia Evolution machine yesterday and this morning, as I write this review, am enjoying an excellent cup of Cappucinno. The double-shot I pulled had a nice layer of crema (wow!) and the milk was frothed and hot within about 40 seconds. I'm in heaven. My past experience with making espresso can be characterized as blind ignorance,I guess. After reading the Golden Rules, I realize that I was making watery, overpulled shots with my old equipment. I've purchased two Krups machines, and used them until they died -- they both lasted about 3 years with regular weekend use. When the 2nd Krups died a few weeks ago, I decided to stop fooling around with low quality equipment and found this site. I used the "compare-o-matic" feature to select the Gaggia Evolution and ordered it on Monday 2/14. I had the machine by Friday 2/18. I watched the interactive CD, read the instruction manual, made to "test" 2 single shots with the new machine, and now I'm on my way to making excellent espresso at home. Overall I am most impressed by the quick (and free!) delivery and the great price. I shopped around quite a bit and never found a store/site that could come close the price. The interactive CD and user guide with Golden Rules helped tremendously. Thank you so much for the great service and the great machine!

How Long Have I Been Using This Product?

Less than 1 month

What's Best About this Product?

I like the heavy/quality feel of the components - they are substantial and well-made. The controls are simple and easy to understand.

Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:

I never read anything about running water through the machine a few times to clean it out before the first use. I did this anyways and noticed small particles in the water and a mild plastic-y smell. You may want to include this in your instruction booklet/CD.

My Experience With Using This Product:

Coffee Lover

The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:

Beans from local cafe (very good), Illy pods

Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:

The water resevior seems like it doesn't quite fit, but I believe that is due to the fact that it doesn't need to be snugly snapped into place -- it just needs to rest losely in it's place and the plastic tubes pull the water into the pump. A very small issue -- definitely not a performance problem.

Some of the Other Machines I've Used:

Krups Gusto, Krups Il Primo

The Type of Grinder I've Been Using:

Burr

The Make and Model of My Grinder:

Starbucks (sorry!) Barista Burr Grinder