Coffee GatorEspresso Machine, Quick-Brew Espresso Maker with Milk Frother & 1.3 Liter Removable Water Tank

being such a coffee lover. I wanted something that would fit on my counter and still provide the convenience and quality of a great espresso. this compact espresso machine has truly exceeded my expectations in terms of performance, design, and ease of use. Despite the small size, the Coffee Gator Espresso Machine, Quick-Brew Espresso Maker with Milk Frother & 1.3 Liter, has an impressive performance. the water reservoir is easy to fill and access. the high-quality heating system provides a rich beautiful crema layer. I can brew a single shot or a double shot the espresso always comes out with a perfect balance of boldness and smoothness. It has been easy to use, with the control knob to adjust the settings from steaming to coffee. the removable drip tray makes it easy to take out and clean up. this has been a hassle-free brewing machine that is small and mighty. The price was within my budget compared to other espresso machines which is one of the other reasons that I have decided to purchase this one. I do not need to purchase a larger one at all. I am super satisfied with my purchase.

I respect a good espresso, but I wasn't about to dish out two or three mortgage payments for an espresso machine, so I did some research. This espresso machine is recommended in a few blogs and it's more than affordable, so I purchased it. We have had it for about three weeks now and it's fantastic! It takes like one minute to prepare a shot and pull one. Heating up takes about 15 seconds as well.Some notes:- You have to time it yourself. I use a glass espresso shot cup with measurements on the sides. I stop the machine when the foam reaches the mL for the shot, then let it settle a bit. After it does, I add however much more it needs for the rest of the shot.- Many reviews complain about leaking. I think their problem is they turn off the machine, then take away their glass or cup. If you think about it, there is still water in the portafilter (the thing you put the espresso in)... Of course it's going to leak for a few seconds! Just leave your cup there for like five more seconds and it won't be a problem.- You need a grinder if you purchase this machine. They are only like $10 on Amazon. Grind until it reaches a powdery consistency. Use the tamper the machine comes with and push as hard as possible one or two times.- Do some research on how to froth your milk. The frother on this machine works great! Make sure you are cleaning it consistently. I do this by wrapping a thick towel around it and letting the hot water come out and then wipe the outside well.If you want to get into espresso but don't want to take a loan out for a machine, this is an excellent option.

After a couple weeks using this machine (and purchasing some key low-cost upgrades), I'm managing some properly good shots and finally making nice drinks. Here's how I managed to take this machine from "meh" to "heck yeah"!First, it's important to understand that these types of machines are practically disposable. Realistically, they tend to run into issues after a year or two, so this is not a "buy it for life" kind of appliance. Build quality is on par with a classic Keurig. Nonetheless, this particular machine looks nice, holds a decent amount of water, and has a narrow profile on the countertop, which I like.Despite being a budget-friendly machine, I was initially very disappointed in its performance. I couldn't dial in a good shot with either of the included baskets and the portafilter was often leaking once under pressure.The first thing I figured out is that you have to turn the portafilter all the way to right to get a good seal and prevent leaking. This means turning the handle well past "center" as you insert it. I still had some minor spurting at first, but after 4-5 uses, the seals settled in nicely. Also, it's important to clean the gasket underneath between each shot to remove any leftover grounds, especially if you are not using a screen (more on that below).The second major improvement I made to my workflow was to preheat the head group before each shot. This unit comes with 2 baskets to hold coffee grounds, one single and one double. Whichever basket I am not using immediately, I place in the portafilter and run 1-2 ounces of hot water through the machine. This preheats the entire brewing group, which results in far less temperature loss when pulling the "real" shot soon after, leading to much better extraction and improved flavor.As for add-ons, these are the ones that made the biggest changes to my shots:First, I replaced the included plastic tamp/spoon combo with a proper, heavy metal 51mm tamper (this one: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H2H7QJ9). You don't need a fancy spring-loaded model as they provide no real benefit and tend to wear out quickly. At the end of the day, the key is to tamp your grounds until they are as compressed as possible (trust me, you can't really over-tamp). The solid build and weight of the tamp I chose makes this easy to do. Plus, it fits the included baskets WAY better than the plastic monstrosity that came with the machine.The next major improvement was using a good quality 51mm stainless steel screen (this one: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BZS1FY19). This little gem sits on top of your puck after tamping and immediately solved the issue with excess grounds getting into the seal area. It also resulted in longer, more consistent pulls with more even water distribution. In other words, less mess, drier pucks, and better tasting coffee overall.The only other purchases that I recommend considering right away are a 51mm dosing funnel (especially for getting 15-16g into the larger basket without a mess) and a proper frothing pitcher if you intend to foam milk (I purchased this one: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BXF9672).With this revised workflow and these inexpensive add-ons, I am able to get coffee stand quality shots from this budget machine! Even my wife, who is much pickier than I am when it comes to the flavor profile of coffee and espresso, has been enjoying the drinks I make her with this machine. So, the machine gets a "3" on its own, but manages a solid "4" with the improvements noted above.As far as grind size and dosing amount, I'm having great luck with 8g in the small basket and 15g (16g if I'm careful) in the large basket with a grind on the coarser end of the "espresso" setting on my grinder (Baratza Encore ESP) using relatively dry, medium-roast beans.Speaking of grinders, if you don't have a decent grinder that will give you consistent grinding results, that should definitely be your first purchase right after (or even before) buying this machine. If you're on a budget, quality hand grinders are available for $60 or so right here on Amazon.All in all, I'm happy with the machine for the price. The question that remains to be answered is how durable it is. I'll update the review if/when I run into any issues. But, for now, I can say this machine is a recommended buy!

I bought the coffee gator espresso machine on Dec. 15, 2023. It was working beautifully! It made the most perfect espresso. In fact, I couldn't believe it was only $27, (now $70). What a deal I thought! From December 2023 to mid May 2024, the Coffee Gator was indeed a "little powerhouse" espresso machine. I couldn't be happier. But then in late May, it just stopped working. It still made the usual rumbling sound but no coffee. The Coffee Gator machine literally just stopped working. To this day, I can't get it to work. I'm so brokenhearted! It made the best espresso. So now I need to give CG a one star.