Presso Espresso Coffee Maker

I've had a Presso for six months. I can't be bothered with beans, but using Costa ground espresso coffee tamped down hard, 'overfilling' with water to increase the pressure and extracting for 15 seconds I get super shots with a good crema which taste better than nearly anything I get in a coffee shop.

Strengths - can vary tamping, quantities and extraction time to get the coffee you like.

Weaknesses? None Really. Remember to pump out any remaining liquid or else it will drip.

I was a little unsure which coffee maker to purchase as the technique varies so much between different makers, the Presso is just such a simple solution. I was a little afraid that my wife wouldn't allow it on the worktop but after having a cup out of it she has warmed to its looks. As it is so quick to use, experimenting with speed of lever press etc becomes quite addictive. Makes great lattes and espresso

Use a dark roast espresso blend, grind very fine and tamp hard -- you will be pulling beautiful shots in no time! Full manual control, you will learn how to make Espresso properly. Hard to get good crema.

With very fine coffee grounds (I bought a Russell Hobbs grinder off Amazon for £19.99 - truly excellent value) the pressure in my Presso Espresso Coffee Maker is significantly increased. I ended up with a great cup of espresso with the crema. Because the Presso is purely a "manual" machine, you can experiment with amounts, grind fineness, pressure, how long you press the arms down for - in fact you become your own espresso making control freak! It really is a great piece of equipment - a fun well engineered talking point with a style all of it's own AND makes real espresso to truly enjoy - all for less than forty smackers!

The Presso is an excellent entry into the world of espresso, without the large cash outlay required to own the much more expensive quality electric machines. While I have not owned a "real" espresso machine, I have had the stovetop units and the cheap electric espresso makers, and the Presso is much superior to those.

It is really a masterpiece of industrial design - simple, effective, solid, and attractive looking. It is easy to clean, b/c it is small and light enough to turn upside down and wash under the tap. You of course need separate milk foaming equipment for cappucinos - I have found milk heated in the microwave, and frothed with a hand frother works quite well. One other review I have seen on the net complains that the Presso does not develop the same pressure as a quality electric machine, and therefore is inferior - while that may be true (i don't know), the Presso makes decent espresso. Would the espresso from a Rancilio Silvia be better? Quite possibly, but it would cost 5 times as much.