Coffee & Espresso Makers Tips

EXPOBAR Office Pulser Espresso Machine Key FeaturesTypeEspresso MachineOperation SourceElectricMax. Power1200 Watts Techni...

EXPOBAR Brewtus II Redesign Espresso Machine Product Technical DetailsEXBREWTUS 2 Key FeaturesTypeEspresso MachineOperation Sou...

There are things we need, like food and water, and things we want, like a Porsche GT3 or a Ducati. Well, many would argue that a $700 espresso machine is something one would want, not need, but I would have to disagree. If someone is a diehard coffee drinker who needs their mocha, macchiato, latte, or just plain double shot of espresso, all they have to do is add up the cost of those drinks in a year and they will find that $700 is a bargain. Well, that is exactly what we did when our Krups Il Duomo espresso and coffee machine broke and decided that we would take the monetary plunge and dive into the “Prosumer” espresso machine market.

The “Prosumer” machines are called that because they blend the PROfessional aspect of some of the megoliths you see in coffee shops with the simplicity and size the conSUMERS need for their homes. These prosumer machines can range from the $700 Expobar I am reviewing up to a $2800 Reneka Techo (one of the most expensive I could find.) If you are looking for detailed information regarding how these machines work and why one is better than the other just do a search for Espresso Machines and you should find plenty of links. There are a couple of big advantages to the prosumer machines, one is the fact you can steam and/or froth the milk at the same time as you are brewing a shot. But the other advantage, that I find to be more important, is the ability to brew shot after shot and steam as much milk as needed without having to wait for the machine to cool down or heat up as you do with the cheaper machines.

I am sure many people would love to have a $1500 machine to play with but not all of us have that kind of money to throw around, which is what brought me to the Expobar Office Pulser. These can be found refurbished for $650 which I think is a great deal. It is made in Spain and seems to be very sturdy. Nice materials on the inside and has enough weight to not slide around on the counter when you are pulling shots. It has a pretty big boiler so the heater is not cycling all of the time and it has the ability to hook it up directly to your water source so you do not have to mess with the reservoir. Speaking of the reservoir, the complaint I would have with it is the fact that you have to pull off the top cover to access it so you really don’t want to store any cups up there. The other problem with the reservoir is the transfer of a slight odor in the water. I really don’t notice it in my mochas but when I change out the water it doesn’t really smell fresh, which is why I want to convert to direct line water soon.

I am no pro but the drinks we have been making with it are great! They beat out most coffee shops, it saves us money, and saves us a trip to the coffee shop to boot! The overall operation of the Office Pulser is very straight forward. There is an on/off switch with a heater light, a steam valve, a hot water valve, and the switch to start and stop your shot. Once you get used to the operation of it you can pull wonderful shots in a few days, and the steam is plenty powerful to steam 12 oz of milk in a short time. And another added advantage to powerful steam it the wonderful foam you can creat! It is like a revalation when you begin to froth all of the milk so you don’t even have a foam layer on the top. The whole thing is foam!

Overall I am very happy with my purchase and feel that this machine will be lasting me more than the 1 year the cheap Krups did. When contemplating your next “want” purchase you definitely need to take a look at the Expobar Office Pulser.

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