Gevi 20 Bar Compact Professional Espresso Coffee Machine with Milk Frother & Steam Wand - Stainless Steel, 35oz Removable Water Tank - Perfect for Espresso, Latte, Cappuccino at Home or Office

I’ve had several espresso machines over the years. Last one was the 1200 Philips Carina that was done 2 years into my Asurion warranty (good idea that!). Now again I’m back to a manual machine which has so far met my expectations. At 20 bars of pressure it makes an impressive shot or 2 of espresso and isn’t too shabby with the steam wand also. Here’s my downsides: The pressure dial appears to be for show only at least on my machine. It is supposed to show appropriate pressure for steaming milk or espresso- dial barely creeps up a tiny bit…. Next the steaming wand. It is not removable to clean which for me is annoying. I have taken a photo of the little doo dad supposed to clear out the milk solids from the wand. Yikes! And speaking of the wand it is supposed to be able to twist into the drain so when clearing the steam wand it just sprays into that. (See photo- does not go that far…The machine does a decent job with no frills. I get steamed milk. The semi-automatic was a lot of fun but this little dude means serious business when it comes to brewing espresso. Just know the down-sides.FACTOID on CAPACITY ("Cups"): So much ambiguity about HOW MUCH IT MAKES. I measured it precisely. If you fill the provided pitcher with water to the "MAXIMUM" fill line ... that is 20 or 21 ounces.THEREFORE it is 2 1/2 cups (almost exactly) if you are putting 8 oz in each cup. [Some reviews mention 4 or 5 cups. That would ONLY be if they are using 4 or 5 oz MINI SIZED, cute, Coffee Cups.] This confusion is COMMON in the coffee makers manufacturing industry (both China made and Made in USA). So this Is to set the record straight.I GIVE IT 5 STARS BECAUSE ...1. Looks Good (red one) and NOT TOO BIG (bulky).2. Use & Operation is typical; it is intuitive and easy to use. ONE TOP lifts for adding BOTH coffee and water [it replaces one that had 2 tops to open; one to put coffee in and another for water ... an unnecessary wasted time and motion.]3. The water pour-in area is wide open making easy to pour a the crafe of water in w/o spill (unlike one it replaces, that cost 1/2 as much, so an upgrade here).IMPORTANT TIP: use finger trigger to LIFT LID on POT as you pour (for pouring water in and for pouring coffee out; this eliminates spillage some complained about). 4. Comes with nice permanent filter; goes in and fits nicely.5. It has only one button and one light ... ah ... SIMPLICITY! [Push button for on and lights up; push again and goes off and light goes out.]6. Manual is pretty good, written in china with bad English but not to bad as not to be understood.7. RE: Ration (Coffee to Water)? Not found. Comes with scooper. I am using 2 heaping scoops to a pot.8. Comes complete with the REUSUAGLE filter basket (has nice with little handle, clicks into place nicely when seated).9. Looks good in red, black and disco trim (they call it; a chrome looking band around it.)10 Top opens and closes nicely with one hand (some, like my last 2 others need 2 hands to hold while opening or do not close right).11. Used for a month now: tastes and works fine (including the auto-off timer).12. Claims to be "5 cups" ... and crafe is so marked. Bull! it is just 2 cups sized (based on a normal sized, not oversized mug).NOTE: All coffee maker manufacturers use their own crazy "cups count" calculation methodologies, so NEVER trust the stated "number of cups" ratings. If you got 5 cups out of this max brew, you would be using VERY DAINTIEST of cups (Queens tea perhaps).13. Makes tVERY HOT COFFEE (good for me).14. Water level window on side not good; like so many too dark to see contrast and tell how much water is in the water tank (unless use a flashlight or other very bright, direct light to read it).15. I don't consider myself an expert "coffee taster." But, for me, the result is good tasting coffee!16. Mid-Stream Coffee Pour function works very well.AUTO SHUT OFF FEATURE.Fact is: it has a preset keep-warm timer; it automatically shuts off in about one hour; it keeps coffee warm for that time. It has only one button/setting: ON or OFF. It has only ONE LIGHT (red one). So, you press start button & red light comes on ... light STAYS ON stays on during brewing AND ALSO throughout the WARM-KEEPING-time. The light goes off at expiration of keep warm time.THE MANUAL IS DEFiCIENT ... 1) NO MENTION of the AUTO SHUT-OFR feature and (2) UNCLEAR ON NUMBER OF CUPS.ITs GREAT. Looks good, compact, simple operation and functions well.COMPARISON to OTHER COFFEE MAKERS ...It is better than my last 3 other brands (including horrible and expensive Black and Decker, a Mr Coffee and some other brands; Those had many features and many problems. This is ultimate in Turn on and makes your coffee and keeps it warm and lets you pour a cup midstream while brewing and keeps it warm about an hour. What else is needed?BEST TIP: You do NOT need to pour slowly (to prevent spill) from the cafe if you just push the provided top opener (i.e. lifts the top and holdes it open) when pouring water in or coffee out. SO SIMPLE.I read other reviews with complaints about water leaking all over the counter. The filter holder needs to be placed with the tab to the back, seated properly. If a guest were to make the coffee, it is not obvious to do that. I only noticed due to having a leak issue on first run and closely looked at the holder...under bight light and saw tiny print with the instruction. Nowhere in the booklet did it say to do that.The lid was hard to open and close at first but after a couple of uses it is no problem....make sure it snaps in place.The carafe leaves a small amount of coffee in it unless you turn it almost upside down.The carafe is hard to clean the interior with a dish rag due to a narrow opening... I am a woman with thin hands and can barely get my hand holding the rag in it... my husband has to use a bottle brush.With that all said, it is a good little coffee pot for the amount we paid. Coffee tastes good enough (we are not picky about coffee) and it makes about 2 measuring cups of coffee.I cannot speak for longevity since we have only had it about 3 weeks.I wish it had alittle weight to it. When you pull the pot out or put it back on the heating pat the whole coffee maker moves. It's so light you have to hold it down so it takes two hands. Other then that, great buy! Make sure you know the size of the pot before buying tho. Perfect for a couple!I bought this to replace a 4-cup Mr. Coffee coffee maker which finally broke after years of use. I rate this 4 of 5 stars because overall it makes coffee well, but there are a few things that would make it 5 stars and as good as the Mr. Coffee machine: 1) The coffee pot dribbles when you pour it. No matter how fast or how slow you pour, it dribbles. A little annoying to have to clean coffee off your counter each time you pour a cup? 2) The water marker is only on the right side. I wish it was on both sides like the Mr. Coffee machine does.I have used it 3 times. With and without a paper filter. It has never given me the entire 4 cups of water I put in even if I let it set for 5 minutes after it stops dripping. Could be the way my beans were ground.Easy to operate, you just have to put grounded powder and water in, then press the switch button; takes about 10 minutes to brew the whole pot. Very easy to wash, since it has only 2 internal parts to hold coffee + the coffee pot. The quality of the beverage is solid, I enjoy black coffee it makes.I really like this. If you know me, you also know I don’t *really* like many things.Very easy to use early in the morning when I’m blurry from sleep.The only drawback is the noise when the foaming function is on. That will bother neighbors if sustained.