A Great Dual Boiler Espresso Machine for Home Use
919149
The built-in dual boiler is why I buy this Espresso machine.
I can make an one or two shots espresso and steam milk simultaneously for a fresh latte - this is crucial if you are doing latte art.
I especially enjoy making latte for my friends when they come to my house for a chat after lunch or dinner, and what surprises me is that this machine can let me yield 6 (I haven't had a chance to try more) 12-oz lattes in a row and still maintain good quality of espresso and steamed milk.
The price is expensive to me at first, but I must say I am super satisfied with my Breville 920 machine now!
3983280
This is a very solid machine.  Works perfectly and for the price, you are getting a really good Espresso Machine.  My only minor observations are:

1- The size of the 2 cup filter is small (more like 1) so I have to brew twice to get the amount of coffee I drink.
2- The water tank is made out of plastic and holds a particular smell that gets into the water and filters to your coffee.  I can actually taste it.  My recommendation is that you thoroughly clean the tank with soap and/or clorox before using to eliminate the odor.
3- It is very noisy.

Besides this minor observations, I am happy with the quality and performance of the machine specially at this price point.
272724
Why spend hundreds of dollars on one of the really fancy machines, when you can spend $80 on this one and get perfect espressos and lattes every time?  I really love this espresso maker and have recommended it to all my friends.

I've read some of the reviews on this site that state these machines can leak.  I had that problem once and lifted up the rear reservoir of water, then seated it again.  I think the valve could be where it's leaking - it hasn't been an issue since then.

The frother is fantastic.  The only thing I don't like about it is the difficulty in cleaning the rubber tube.  My solution is to rinse the tube after every use, then drop it into a glass of soapy water next to the sink.

I removed the bottom tray completely so I can put a larger-sized coffee cup under it - that way I have a bigger cup for more hot soy milk in my coffee, which I prefer.  After making each espresso, the machine will shoot out a small stream of hot water on the bottom for cleaning, which is normally caught by the tray.  Because the tray's no longer there, I lay down a kitchen towel to catch the hot water, then I use the wet corner of the towel to clean the frother spout after I've removed the rubber tube.  Sounds complicated but it works quite well.

There is a learning curve when you first buy the machine, but I've become quite good at it.  My African grey parrot is my buddy every morning and watches everything I do while my latte is put together - it's become a cute daily ritual for us.

I highly recommend this machine for everyone, including neophytes to the espresso world.
4168607
Good machine, but I would recommend Nespresso E350 Romeo. It costs $150 more, but if you really love good espresso it worth it. You will get much more choices and better quality from Romeo and it is very easy to operate.
4643027
So, I I have had this excellent machine for about 5 months now and I love it. The key to its value is the Lavazza Blue Capsules - Espresso Intenso Bi-dose, 40.5-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 100)&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Lavazza-Blue-Capsules-Espresso-Intenso-Bi-dose-40-5-Ounce-Boxes-Pack-of-100/dp/B003QNV3KO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Lavazza Blue Capsules - Espresso Intenso Bi-dose, 40.5-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 100)</a>which you can get on Amazon for around $45. Each capsules is a double shot - which works out to be about 23 cents per shot. A 16 ounce latte takes a double shot so one capsule is the perfect size. The bottom button pours a custom shot - it was really easy to set it to pour a double shot. I also have a Secura Automatic Electric Milk Frother and Warmer (2 cups)<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Secura-Automatic-Electric-Milk-Frother-and-Warmer-2-cups/dp/B01J6KJL54/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Secura Automatic Electric Milk Frother and Warmer (2 cups)</a>&nbsp;which makes frothing the milk quick and easy. The 2 cup Secura allows us to make enough milk for two lattes at once which is great for sharing with your significant other. The only cleanup required is to rinse and clean the frother after each use - i use a short handled pot scrubber and it takes just a couple of twirls to get the frother spick and span.
2986781
This was my first espresso machine. In its price range, it's a 4-star product. (It's not fair to compare it against $300+ machines.) Thus, for what I paid it worked admirably. I didn't have any of the problems that have been mentioned in previous reviews. I would recommend the machine. However, you need to realize that unless you use an unpressurized basket and grind your own espresso beans with a burr grinder, you won't get even close to cafe-quality espresso (IMHO). The unit comes with a pressurized filter. You can buy an unpressurized filter from espressopeople.com for about $14. The one used for the Solis Crema SL70 works great. I also recommend the Solis Maestro burr grinder as it is ...the best grinder on the market under $200. With this combo you'll have good espresso with this machine, and very good lattes.
3255453
Agreed! this is one Amazing, simple espresso machine.....Best espresso machine I've owned and I've gone through quite a few of the mid-range consumer pump driven units. The Nomad makes espresso on the same level as machines costing thousands of dollars. Truly a marvel of a product.
3749572
This machine makes very good, strong espresso. The longer you preheat, the stronger your espresso will be. You also want to use very fine ground beans and tamp well. I am the only coffee drinker in my household, so it is perfect for me! The milk frother works just fine for my purposes.
3650111
I have had my machine for over 3 years.

During that time, I have found it to be very reliable- consistently producing good quality coffee with ease. In particular, the machine produces coffee not only with consistent flavor, but also with an excellent crema- a hallmark of good coffee making!

Subject to performing regular maintenance tasks, it is remarkable how this machine produces great coffee so easily with just a push of a button.

The strength of the coffee and amount of coffee made per serving can be selected easily by pushing the appropriate button.

It can make one large cup, or either one or two small cups at a time. A small cup provides sufficient coffee for a large cup when you add milk. The amount of coffee made per serving can be adjusted, to suit a particular sized cup or mug.

An illuminated electronic display informs you regarding the status of the machine, and the need to perform maintenance operations, such as replenishing water and coffee, emptying of the grounds collection receptacle, as well as other operations required less frequently.

Also:

1. It can froth milk for making specialty coffees and hot chocolate drinks.
2. It dispenses hot water, for making tea.

These additional functions are controlled by a large centrally located knob.

I suggest you consider these points before buying:

1. It is a compact machine- for home use. The water and coffee receptacles are quite small- the water receptacle holds sufficient water for two large cups of coffee, or four espressos. For office use, you need a larger machine. While the information above states that the machine has a 40 oz. water tank, you need to take into account that the actual water capacity is less, for these reasons:
  a.  The water filter fits inside the water tank, and it takes up space, as well as being primed with water;
  b.  The machine never drains the entire tank in normal use- always, there is some water left over in the bottom, in order to ensure that the filter remains primed;
  c.  The machime draws water from the tank for cleaning both at start up and shut down. This water is discharged through the coffee delivery nozzles, and it is captured in the removable drip tray.
2. The machine has a drip tray, which you need to empty and rinse out each day. This is easy to do- it slides out of the front of the machine.
3. Regular maintenance- although simple- is essential. It involves taking out the operating mechanism every couple of weeks, and running it under a tap. Also, every now and then, you need to lubricate several moving parts.
4. The machine has a water filter- this has to be changed at regular intervals. You can buy these filters from Amazon. They are easy to fit.
5. Occasionally, you should descale the machine- this involves using a special cleaning fluid, and running a cleaning cycle.
6. You can use coffee beans or pre-ground coffee. I recommend you use good quality beans- a good machine needs good coffee! The inbuilt grinder will grind the coffee beans fresh for each cup.

With attention to maintenance, this machine will reward you with consistently excellent coffee!
895611
Disclaimer: I'm an espresso newbie and this is my first real espresso machine. Before this machine I used a hand operated aeropress which worked pretty well for the price, but I decided it was time to step it up. I considered some other models for similar prices but decided on the Breville because it matched my existing Breville kitchen electrics (I am vain, so sue me.) and it has a very compact design. I was also happy to hear that this machine has a single-unit thermocoil instead of the problematic thermoblock on the old 830.

I've paired this machine with Breville's own SmartGrinder and found that it is sufficient for the task.

Took me a few shots (about 8-10) to get my grind/dose/tamp right, using the preprogrammed extraction profiles, but now that I've got it dialed in I rarely pull a bad shot. To those new to espresso, don't expect drip-coffee convenience here, it takes a bit more effort that I've found totally worth it. I look forward to my morning coffee and genuinely enjoy operating this machine.

Cons would be that it doesn't have a full sized portafilter (54mm instead of the more common 58mm) which can make dosing more complicated. The steam pressure is at times inconsistent, operating like a puffing steam locomotive rather than a more constant stream of steam. After operating steam, using the hot water dispenser will result in steam being dispensed for a short time before the thermocoil or water in the lines cools down a bit. (This is despite the auto-purge feature, which otherwise works well.)

Still, none of these are very major issues and I'm mostly being nitpicky, I'm very happy with this machine, and assuming it should be reliable, look forward to a lot of great coffee from it!
1189476
A great looking machine that makes a good espresso and is easy to clean and maintain. I have a very limited counter top space and this compact model is just what I needed. Takes about 25-30 seconds to get ready after you turn it on, but once it's on you can make one cup after another.
942119
This is a great machine. We like the espresso better than Starbucks or even our good local coffee joints. I bought this based on the reviews and thought i would check back and leave my review of its long term use. Make sure you keep the small declogging tool...takes 2 seconds to unclog(occasional issue). also make sure you use filtered water and decalcify every few months...thats easy too.
4749398
I wanted a pump espresso machine, but I had two requirements: it had to be easy to use, and it had to be inexpensive. Had no problems finding machines that fit one of those criteria, but finding one that fit both was a challenge.

I picked the XP5220 mainly because of the convenience features of having an auto-tamp system and a puck ejection button. Both work very well. I have no doubt an experienced espresso connoisseur would find both to be unnecessary, but for a novice the auto-tamp in particular is very helpful. No more guessing as to how much to tamp. Plus, both features make the brewing process fast and easy. I'm using Lavazza pre-ground decaf, and have been very, very pleased with the results.

The other features of the machine also work well. It seems well-built (with one exception, as described below), has an attractive design, an easy to fill water reservoir, heats up very quickly, and simple controls. The pull is a bit slow, but fine for my needs. I happened to be able to get a new one on an auction site for under one hundred, but even at the regular price on Amazon I think it's a good value.

The one big drawback is the frothing wand. This is an often-mentioned problem area in the other models in this line. It didn't deter me since I don't ever use it - I prefer to keep milk well away from my espresso (or coffee and tea, for that matter - just don't care for milk). But I did play with it for a while to see how it would work, and I agree that it seems flimsy in construction. It did work, but I'd be concerned about long-term reliability.

So, if frothing milk is a major part of your espresso experience, then you may want to look at a different model. But if you don't plan on frothing much or at all, this is well worth a look if you want an entry-level machine that produces great results with minimal fuss. I'll give it 4 stars since I think the frothing wand should have been better designed, but it's a five star machine given all the other features at this price.
448293
We love this machine; it takes a little more time to figure out just what settings you want for what espresso but when you do this you get hipster coffee house quality espresso, lattes and cappuccino.  All of the components of the machine look and feel high quality, they have packaged it will all of the accessories you will need. The espresso bean hopper is a good size, the removable water tank is also a good capacity, and easy to remove once you get the hang of it. You can grind your own beans or use already ground espresso. They've really thought of everything. When you have a machine like this, you realize you don't need to pay a fortune at Starbuck's, and that maybe it never tasted that good anyway!
4579800
This is a replacement for our old Via Venezia machine that crapped out after about seven years.

This is a moderately priced machine that makes a great cup of espresso with crema, and the frothing attachment works better than our old unit did. The coffee is definitely a step up from the $50-$100 machines that dispense the coffee into a little carafe, and it's more affordable than the $600+ machines that I just cannot afford.
3505465
I tried a De'Longhi BAR32 pump driven espresso machine, and was very disappointed.  I've returned that unit.  It was simply ineffective.  Boiler capacity too small, can't make doubles, too cold, can't froth any reasonable amount.  Just not good.  I had a Saeco/Starbucks pump driven espresso machine previously, which finally failed after 12 years of service.  The Saeco/Starbucks was a pretty good machine that performed well - fully manual.  However, it finally bit the dust.

So, I tried the Saeco Vienna Plus.  Sure, it's a lot more money, however it does a lot more and (though I've only used it for 2 days) it has performed very well.  No problems on capacity.  It can make double, or quadruple shots with ease.  It heats up very quickly, and has very good capacity.  I never thought I'd like a "super automatic" but now I'm loving it.  Frother works perfectly fine.  About the only thing I can say I wish it did were one thing.  That would be an easier way to swap out coffee beans in the hopper so I could do Decaf later in the day.

Instructions are simple - maybe a little too simple.  I'm still not clear on instructions to clean the brew assembly.

Setup was very easy and straightforward.  The unit worked perfectly out of the box.  Espresso can be dialed in great, and quality is excellent.  Frankly, it makes brewing an espresso or capuccino so easy and fast and so good that I'll be making WAY more.  So long as my experience stays consistent with the past two days, I'm very happy.

UPDATE March 2013:  After 7 months of use (some heavy and some light) the machine is pretty much performing exactly as when delivered.  I clean it routinely as per the instructions, and have not had any issues at all so far.  Given the price, and how it has performed for 7 months now, I would not hesitate in purchasing it again.
3669783
Ive had several espresso machines & coffee pots - Bonavitia will take you out of Starbucks and bring you the BEST dark brew coffee bar none. I discovered this particular model in consumer guide under best tasting brew machine and they were correct. Something about how hot and shower of the water on the beans that really will give you a professional grade/taste coffee. It is completely assembled easy to use and clean. It is recommended to use #4 paper filters as opposed to mesh because it filters more oil (bitter ) residue. We grind our own beans and use a latte milt machine and I wouldnt drink any other brew, although if your sensitive to heat, let it cool down before first sip because of the hot heat shower it uses
Enjoy Your Java