If your model has a coffee grinder, open it up according to manual instruction, empty the old beans and brush away any old coffee grounds. The first step in using the Mr. Coffee Espresso Machine is to fill the water tank. The water tank is located at the back of the machine, and it should be filled with cold water up to the fill line.
Plus, there’s even a recipe book to help inspire a bit of experimentation. As a steam-driven espresso machine, ECM160 generates only about 3 bar pressure for brewing. This will not be your Starbucks espresso shot, however, for many latte lovers, the espresso from the Mr. Coffee Steam Espresso maker is better.
This is compared to pump-based machines that brew one double espresso shot at a time. We loved that many of the removable parts are dishwasher-safe, including the water reservoir, mr coffee machine filters, drip tray, and drip grid (just be sure to place these parts on the top rack). However, the instructions do not recommend putting the filter holder in the dishwasher.
The included plastic tamper is not really cut out for the job and should be replaced sooner rather than later, but this would be true of nearly any espresso machine with a plastic tamper. If you don’t yet have a stainless steel tamper for your coffee station, or are looking to upgrade, check out our review round-up of our favorite espresso tampers. This entry-level espresso, cappuccino, and latte maker is a tool with all the basic capabilities for someone just starting out in the world of espresso. Though it can be frustratingly inconsistent, that is part of the tradeoffs that come with a nearly unbeatable price tag.
The frothing tube is located to the right of the brew head, and it swivels around in a fixed circle, though its range of movement isn’t great. There wasn’t enough room to position the milk pitcher how we wanted, which prevented us from getting a great froth, but it was decent enough for cappuccinos and lattes. It also boasts a 15-bar pump system—this refers to the amount of pressure that gets applied to the coffee grounds to extract the espresso. Too little pressure and your espresso will be under-concentrated, but espresso extracted with too much pressure will be overly bitter. The industry standard for an espresso machine is nine bars, but many experts say that 15 bars is the “sweet spot” for making the best espresso. The Mr. Coffee ECMP50 Espresso/Cappuccino Maker delivers quick results, cranking out good espresso and foam, and it’s also one of the lowest-priced espresso machines on the market.
Using the included tamper, we pressed the coffee grounds down to get an even and firm layer. Next, we placed the filter holder into the brew head in the machine, followed by a cup underneath to catch the espresso. The light will blink while it is mr coffee latte maker heating up and turn solid green when it is ready to use. As a former barista, I personally encourage you to use the manual mode, so that you can control brewing time perfectly. This will allow you to tweak your grind size for quality espressos.
Setup and cleanup were especially important, as was durability. We wanted to test machines that make you a cup of coffee with a single touch, or as close to that as possible. So the products on this list are mostly of the automatic and semi-automatic variety. You fill ’em up and mr coffee latte maker they do all the hard work–or most of it anyway. Wipe down your milk frother with the damp microfibre cloth, making sure to scrub at the entrance to remove any clogs or dried milk with the toothbrush or toothpick. Here are our tips on how to clean a Mr. Coffee espresso machine.
Perhaps the most convenient feature the Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista offers is its one touch (or two touch if you want a two shots in your coffee drinks) programs. With just one or two presses of a button, the machine will steam and froth your milk and then dispense espresso, all without user intervention. Regrettably the programs are preset and cannot be customized to your tastes or glassware size. In one simple touch, Mr. Coffee® Café Barista brews espresso… and automatically froths milk into cappuccino and latte selections. You don’t need Barista know-how to create custom coffee drinks like your favorite coffeehouse.