I researched many different espresso machines and read numerous reviews but I finally decided on the GARVEE Espresso Machine and I am extremely satisfied so far. I have owned it for about a month and make 2-4 coffees per day. Using the instructions recommended starter settings, the machine produced a delicious espresso and cappuccino right out of the box. I’ve fine tuned it following the instructions and You Tube videos to make it even better. My wife and I believe this produces much better coffees than the local coffee shops. The machine comes with everything you need to get started other than good coffee beans but I highly recommend getting a few accessories and upgrades for the best results: a small coffee scale to help fine tune your input and output amounts, a bottomless portafilter (the one provided appears nice but has plastic inside), a self leveling tamper, a WDT to break up any clumps in your grinds, and a few nice microfiber clothes for wiping the steam wand and quick cleanups of the machine. It is very easy to use, very easy to clean, and makes delicious coffee drinks for a fraction of the local coffee shops. A few notes for other reviews that I’ve read: heat up time - people have complained about the start up and heat up time, I don’t know what they are talking about, as this heats up very fast and is ready to go before I have my portafilter tamped; grinder fineness, watch a few YouTube videos and they show you how to adjust the grinding settings inside the grinder.

This is our first espresso machine. We love the professional look of this product and its easy to keep it clean. I like the little pop up sign when the drip tray is full. We have had it for just over a month and only now really starting to understand how to use it properly and pull perfect shots and get the milk frothed properly, thanks to a number of good instructional videos on line. It's still a bit hard to predict how it's going to come out as small variations in puck compression etc can make a difference and I'm working on my cappuccino art skills. The machine heats up quickly, but it's recommended to turn it on in advance and warm the cup on the top grill. My daughter LOVEs the frother for the most amazing hot chocolate using ordinary carnation hot chocolate powder. This is a great machine if you want the satisfaction of pulling your own shots and frothing your own milk. I am really happy we didn't buy a fully automatic, where's the fun in that? I am also very happy that it has a built in grinder but wish that a water line could be installed to replace the tank. We unknowingly ran out of water once because it was hard to see the water line, but other than that I don't know enough about other machines to say anything bad. We still have our regular coffee maker along side this one for the daily grab and go.

It takes just a few times to get the hang of operating this unit. The Consumer Report reviews are absolutely right. High quality, brilliant design, the bean grinding integration is awesome, and the result fantastic. I wouldn't mind the coffee being a little hotter, to be honest, but that is likely the result of it being 110 and not a higher voltage like commercial units. I don't think I could give a home unit a higher mark than this. It's just really well done, easy to clean and the functionality and design is outstanding.

This espresso machine has been a great addition to my kitchen. It makes strong, rich coffee with a nice crema, and I love having the built-in grinder so I can use freshly ground beans every time. The 20-bar pressure really brings out the flavor, and it feels like café-quality coffee at home.

The steam wand works well for frothing milk — perfect for making lattes and cappuccinos. It took me just a few tries to get the hang of it, and now it’s part of my daily routine.

Overall, it’s easy to use, looks great on the counter, and makes delicious coffee with minimal effort.