- Assisted Tamping: The calibrated 10kg lever tamp creates a level, consistent coffee puck without mess.
- Fast Heating: The ThermoJet heating system is ready to brew in about 3 seconds from turning on.
- Automated Milk Frothing: Auto MilQ wand automatically heats and textures dairy, oat, and almond milk to silky microfoam.
- Grinder Capability: Built-in Baratza burrs perform reliably with medium to dark roasts, though fine adjustments are needed for very light roasts.
Editor’s Recommendation: Semi-Automatic Espresso
/ 10
SaysUs Lab Verdict
Coffee lovers who want delicious espresso and silky microfoam at the touch of a button without spending months learning manual barista technique.
Espresso hobbyists who prefer manual lever profiling and commercial 58mm portafilters.
- Assisted tamping lever keeps counters clean and ensures consistent puck density
- Fast 3-second startup time from the ThermoJet heating system
- Intuitive touchscreen guides grind dose adjustments shot by shot
- Hands-free milk frothing works surprisingly well with oat milk
- Compact footprint fits easily under standard kitchen cabinets
- Substantial upfront financial investment ($1,400+)
- Drip tray fills up relatively quickly due to automatic steam purging
- Uses 54mm portafilter rather than standard commercial 58mm size
- Requires routine descaling cycles, especially in hard water areas
Real-World Kitchen Testing Experience
Over two weeks of morning testing, we pulled more than 40 double shots of espresso using both freshly roasted medium-roast beans from a local roaster and common grocery store beans. We timed extraction ratios, tested the assisted tamp lever across multiple grind settings, and frothed whole cow’s milk, Oatly Barista oat milk, and almond milk to evaluate foam quality.
The standout feature is the assisted tamp lever: by consistently applying 10kg of pressure with an automatic 7-degree barista twist, it virtually eliminates uneven channeling and spurting, making consistent shots achievable from day one.
Maintenance Tip: Regular Descaling is Essential
Fast-heating ThermoJet heating coils are compact and efficient, but they are sensitive to mineral scale buildup. If your home has hard tap water, replace the water filter cartridge every two months and run the machine’s guided descaling cycle whenever prompted to ensure steady brew pressure.