In the 1990s I used a cheap burr grinder (capresso - $50) and rebuilt Gaggia Classic machines (repairing when a resister went out or replacing when vinegar no longer descaled) with fresh roasted beans from a local roaster. This made adequate (as in better than Starbucks) espresso drinks for the decade. When Starbucks realized that carrying a Saeco superautomatic was an extremely poor decision given how Starbucks espresso beans are too oily to use in a superautomatic, I bought one when they put them on clearance for less than the price of a comparable superautomatic at wholelattelove. While this was more amenable to a work environment, the quality of the drinks suffered. I begrudgingly accepted this tradeoff. Over the next decade, I bought one more machine after twice repairing the first at wholelattelove. When I started working from home, I bought the Saeco Incanto Deluxe, which while having some nice features made similar coffee. That is when I should have bought the Expobar. The Saeco machine made occasionally very good, occasionally very bad, and mostly very OK (Starbucks quality or a little worse) drinks. It was no doubt easier and cleaner than a semi-automatic. Enough mediocre coffee was enough, so after several months of chatting with wholelattelove sales reps and monitoring the packages on sale, this combo hit during Presidents' Day at a price too good to pass up. I had planned to go cheap with the Gaggia MDF and Classic but decided on this combo for an extra $1,0000, hoping that this will be the last one I buy. The grinder was a little tricky to assemble as it appears dead until you firmly click the hopper into place. Since then, it has worked great. I am still not sure how to dial in the coffee - just went trial and error to find that number setting must be at one and the letter seems to make little difference if the letters are close. Most of the grinds end up in the portafilter but a few end up on the counter. Tamping seems to make more difference than the grind. The Expobar has been fantastic. Even the bad coffee (extracted too fast of slow) tastes better than what came out of the superautomatic most of the time. Milk steams way faster. I still don't get how to do latte art. Todd's video makes it look like magic just happens, but I get no white on top of the crema. I think that I can still get it better. After watching Mark's video, I am thinking of ordering the bottomless portafilter, part to make better coffee and part because it just looks so damned cool.

Beautiful machine. Still trying to dial in the grind and type of beans. When it is tight on, the espresso flavors and the crema come out amazing!!

Such an awesome upgrade from my old Breville Barista Express best coffee ever.

Quick delivery. Item as described. Highly recommend whole latte love.

As always from WLL!