Reviews

Compare: Saeco Superautomatic Espresso Machines – Redux!

Philips SaecoThere are many different superauto models to choose from, even amongst a single manufacturer such as Saeco. So we asked Gail to pick a few of her current favorites and to share their features, functionality and what she likes about them.

Watch to find out how the Xsmall, Intelia, Exprelia and Xelsis superautomatic espresso machines compare.

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Crew Review: Saeco Xelsis One-Touch Espresso Machine – Redux!

Saeco XelsisIt’s true that when you spend more time with someone you love, you learn more about them — their talents, their foibles, their stories, their jokes. And that same kind of familiarity can grow with inanimate objects, too, especially one as sophisticated as the Saeco Xelsis one-touch superautomatic espresso machine. Sure, it doesn’t have any tall tales or crazy puns to lay on you, but it does have an arsenal of mad skills, a couple of flaws and a few get-to-know-you functions that only really come to the forefront after you’ve had it on your countertop for a few years.

That’s why we asked Gail to take another look at this popular espresso machine. After playing with, demonstrating and using this machine for a few years, she knows a lot more about it than when she first used it. Find out her refreshed opinion of this glamorous machine in this updated crew review.

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Crew Review: Curtis TLP Thermal Low Profile Commercial Brewer

Curtis TLP Commercial Coffee BrewerIf your commercial or office kitchen features cabinets that overhang in a manner similar to that of most home kitchens, finding a high capacity coffee brewer can be a bit of a challenge. Most models feature multiple hotplates or brew directly into a very large airpot, making it difficult to snug ‘em up under your cupboards. That’s where the TLP from Curtis comes in — all the delicious coffee brewed at a rapid space at just a fraction of the height!

Watch as we go through its features and specs, talk about its programming functionality and then brew up a batch of coffee (with a little help from the Curtis GSG grinder, of course).

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Crew Review: DEA Gourmet Cups

DEA Gourmet Ninfea DemitasseYou don’t have to be completely avant-garde to show off a little bit of style when serving up your favorite espresso drinks. In fact, you can rely on the tasteful imaginings of DEA Gourmet’s Italian designers, who have conjured up the gorgeous Ninfea and GEO lines of cups.

While these two series offer an array of different kitchenware, we selected the demitasse and latte cups in the Ninfea design and the demitasse in the GEO design because we loved their unique lines and the cute little saucers that come with the demitasse!

Check ‘em all out in this overview video with Shiami and Jess.

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Crew Review: NotNeutral Lino Cups

NotNeutral Lino WareDig traditional-with-a-twist kitchenware? NotNeutral’s Lino cup and saucer sets feature a classic design with a little bit o’ sass.

Available in three different sizes — demitasse, cappuccino and latte — these lovely mugs are sophisticated and fun. Check ‘em out in this review video.

 

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Crew Review: Breville Barista Express BES870XL

Breville Barista Express BES870XLWhen we heard that Breville was going to soup up one of their more popular — and unique — espresso machines, the Barista Express, we were a little bit excited. Some of the things we didn’t dig about its predecessor were going to be addressed, such as improved temperature control, an improved grinder and the addition of a hot water spigot. They even threw in some cool new toys (a Razor, anyone?), an improved hopper for easier bean feeding and the ability to tweak your brew temperature with a simple PID interface.

Enough talk — let’s show it off, eh? Watch Gail talk about the features of the new Barista Express BES870XL, give us a tour of all the goodies it comes with and then demonstrate making a latte.

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Compare: Saeco Intelia Superautomatic Espresso Machines

With a slimmer profile than their Xelsis and Exprelia models but with more water, coffee bean and puck capacity than the Syntia series, Saeco’s Intelia line of machines offer a nice compromise, size-wise. They also feature a simple interface, a bit of programming and three different case styles. In this video, Gail shows off the Focus, SS and One-Touch models so you can see how they compare with each other.

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Crew Review: Saeco Intelia SS Superautomatic Espresso Machine

We’re definitely diggin’ on the new Intelia line of machines from Saeco, especially on the metallic finish for the new SS model! It’s some kind of gorgeous in the hue department, comes with cappuccinatore functionality and whips up delicious espresso shots. Watch Gail take us through its features and demonstrate its performance.

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Caffe Ladro Coffee Tasting Part Four: Colombia La Cacica

In our final installment of Caffe Ladro coffee tastings, Jared brews up a beautiful single origin coffee from Colombia that is more lightly roasted. While we don’t offer this coffee directly, if you’re intrigued by our commentary and want to pick up a bag, you can do so here.

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SCG Crew’s Favorite Gear: Superautomatic & One-Touch Espresso Machines

There are people in this world that you will meet and you will realize that they have a somewhat disturbing affinity for robots. They vacuum their floors, they refill their dog’s water bowl, they wash their windows, they navigate their car long distances. In fact, their devotion to robots could be deemed somewhat dangerous, even a harbinger of an era soon to come in which our robot overlords rule us because we have lost all of our ability to vacuum the floors, refill the dog’s water bowl, wash our windows or navigate our cars long distances.

Add to that list of crucial skills that may soon become extinct, ‘making a latte’ … that is, if our crew’s favorite superautomatic and one-touch espresso machines have their way!

Superautomatic Espresso Machines One-Touch Espresso Machines
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