So far the machine is excellent. While I am completely new to espresso, and this is my first machine ive ever owned or used, I do not regret buying the appartamento.Steam pressure comes up very quickly when the water and boiler is cold. Milk is heated and frothed within 30 seconds. Cups placed on top of the machine also come up to heat quite fast once the boiler is warmed up.Tastes for the 3 different specialty coffees ive ordered has also been phenomenal. I typically have three cappuccinos a day and overall, extractions and overall brewing seems to be very consistent. The simple panles on the side are a great addition/step away from just a pannel of stainless steel.The only //complaint// ,which you'll find on many machines, is it does take a fair bit of water to ... MoreSo far the machine is excellent. While I am completely new to espresso, and this is my first machine ive ever owned or used, I do not regret buying the appartamento.Steam pressure comes up very quickly when the water and boiler is cold. Milk is heated and frothed within 30 seconds. Cups placed on top of the machine also come up to heat quite fast once the boiler is warmed up.Tastes for the 3 different specialty coffees ive ordered has also been phenomenal. I typically have three cappuccinos a day and overall, extractions and overall brewing seems to be very consistent. The simple panles on the side are a great addition/step away from just a pannel of stainless steel.The only //complaint// ,which you'll find on many machines, is it does take a fair bit of water to purge from the group head if the machine has been sitting for awhile. Other than a sometimes long cooling flush, i havent had problems.

I've had this machine for 5 years, over 5,000 double shots, and it has performed as well as any machine could be expected to: Service has included replacement gasket on group head, new pressure stat, and new pump (recent). I do about a once-a-month cleaning using Urnex Cafiza, and I use good water. My original gripe with Rocket was that they didn't provide a metal cup rail; that still stands.The one suggestion for machine upgrade (easy user task) would be to add a pressure gauge on the group head to get to a good grind and tamp pressure combination (9 bar extraction).For learning espresso it's all about consistency: get a good grinder that delivers consistent weight and grind; get a spring tamper to ensure consistent tamp pressure; work with a single coffee until ... MoreI've had this machine for 5 years, over 5,000 double shots, and it has performed as well as any machine could be expected to: Service has included replacement gasket on group head, new pressure stat, and new pump (recent). I do about a once-a-month cleaning using Urnex Cafiza, and I use good water. My original gripe with Rocket was that they didn't provide a metal cup rail; that still stands.The one suggestion for machine upgrade (easy user task) would be to add a pressure gauge on the group head to get to a good grind and tamp pressure combination (9 bar extraction).For learning espresso it's all about consistency: get a good grinder that delivers consistent weight and grind; get a spring tamper to ensure consistent tamp pressure; work with a single coffee until you're comfortable with dialing in your shots so they're not bitter/sour. Bottom line: reduce variables until you're somewhat proficient, then start experimenting.

This machine has been so much fun to pull shots with. As a first timer with a ‘prosumer’ machine, it was difficult to dial in and understand how to use, but thanks to the build quality, unique and beautiful aesthetic, and popularity, there’s a wealth of knowledge available for how to resolve any extraction issue I should face.The features it has all work great and it’s an elegant first step in my espresso journey, and I imagine it would be for you too. I highly recommend it for its looks, responsiveness, and the delicious coffee I’ve made with it.