Philips 2200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine w/ Milk Frother, Black, EP2220/14

This machine kept popping up when I was looking for a replacement for my 8-year-old Saeco! It was on sale, so I decided to try it. The coffee has a decent flavor, but the crema is terrible if you like espresso. And yes, I did use the finest setting on the grinder. The crema is nothing like the pictures or videos (notice in Philips video they cut out the end of the coffee brew and replace it with two totally'styled' espressos with great crema)br>I love all of the features of the machine and it was a great price at $399, but the crema isn't up to par!.

Aurora Costello

| Sep 26, 2021

To begin, I'd like to state that I'm a regular espresso drinker with prior experience with an espresso machine; therefore, this review will be heavily based on comparisons to a standard espresso machine rather than a coffee maker. My espresso machine to which I'm comparing this is a basic 15-bar De'Longhi, which costs under $150. I bought this machine because I liked the idea of not having to pull a shot, clean my basket, and then pull another shot, clean my basket, and so on. br>br>This machine is simple and quick to use. I enter the kitchen, turn it on, press the buttons to make my choices, and then press the start button. It dispenses my espresso, and I turn it off when I'm finished. It doesn't need to be cleaned up right away. Unlike my actual machine, I haven't noticed any "messy" grinds. br>Operating this machine shouldn't take anyone more than 5 minutes. 10 minutes, unless you want to empty the grinds every time you use it, which isn't necessary. br>This machine is no louder than a standard espresso machine, and it's even quieter than my DeLonghi machine, but it is louder than a coffee maker, which is to be expected with any machine that makes espresso. I make espresso every morning around 5 a. m. , and this machine has never woken up my husband. br>br>Once you get past the initial set-up and learning how it works, it is very simple and would be a great machine for anyone who has no prior experience with espresso machines; however, keep in mind that maintaining an espresso machine requires more attention than maintaining a simple coffee maker. If you primarily want to brew coffee, this machine might not be for you. After each shot you make with a standard espresso machine, you'll have to clean it every day. This machine does not, but it does have some requirements that, as others have stated, can be time consuming. br>br>The coffee bean holder on top is useful and holds more beans than it appears to, but it doesn't hold as much as a standard bag, so you'll still need a separate container for those. You won't need to refill the water tank every other day because it's a good size. Because I only drink cold coffee, I didn't use the milk frother. br>The Biggest Negatives: br>At times, pushing the buttons can be difficult. They aren't actual buttons that you press, but rather sensors that detect your touch, which can be unreliable at times. br>When the machine is turned on and off, a small amount of water is spit out. This can be collected in the drainage piece where your cup sits, or you can put a cup down. Do not place your cup under the machine until it has turned on, and always remove the cup you used to brew before turning it off, or extra unwanted water will end up in your cup. br>br>I agree with another reviewer who said the instructions were broken up. They give you some instructions before directing you to a different page in the manual where you can read more. This required me to flip back and forth between pages, which was both inconvenient and infuriating. br>br>The instructions for the grinder were a little vague, but they said you should only adjust the grind setting while it was running. The grinder can only run when you're brewing; it can't run on its own. To achieve a finer ground, you can't regrind beans that were ground on a coarse setting. So, in order to get the desired setting, you'll have to waste your beans by brewing on the wrong setting. It is stated that you will notice the grind change after several brews. br>As stated by another reviewer, the grinder comes with a 5/6 setting in the middle. I understand the reasoning behind this because if you're brewing coffee, you can easily adjust it to a coarser setting or a finer setting if you're brewing espresso, but since this is marketed as an espresso machine, it should start on the finest setting. br>br>The preliminary It's a pain to use the ground coffee setting. To get it to work, you must press and hold the bean icon for three seconds in the exact right spot. Because condensation builds up in the spout into which you pour, grinds get stuck, wasting your beans once more. When using the pre-made powder, it says to only use one level scoop and that you can't change the strength setting. It's difficult to make a stronger brew with the ground option. br>br>I nearly drank the entire 16 oz. I tried adjusting the grinder and machine settings in the hopes of getting a good tasting brew, but I was unsuccessful. After a week of using this machine, I gave up and went back to my old espresso machine, which brewed extremely bitter espresso despite my best efforts to adjust the settings. My husband likes it so much that he uses it for coffee now. br>br>Overall, this is a coffee maker that also brews espresso, not an espresso machine that brews coffee. The machine's overall concept is fantastic, but it lacks the focus required to make it a good espresso machine.

Colin Richards

| Dec 08, 2021

To get good foam, adjust the frother wand. After watching a YouTube video, take a pen and press down on the top, which allows more steam to enter; it now works perfectly. I'm sick of cleaning up the mess after years of using a traditional espresso machine and having to slam the old coffee grounds into the trash before cleaning off coffee grounds from the grinder on my Breville. I'd rather clean up coffee grounds on a white counter top than clean up coffee grounds on this machine, which leaves only a few drops of milk from the frother. If you want high-quality espresso and coffee at your fingertips with no mess, this machine is for you. It's also a very simple system to clean. It makes the other machines appear to be a farce in my opinion. Also, don't be misled by other reviews that claim it doesn't produce high-quality foam. It produces excellent foam in seconds and is simple to clean. Before you say this machine isn't doing it right, watch a video and learn how to make foam.

Rylee Dorsey

| Dec 29, 2020

I've used commercial super automatics as well as smaller traditional home espresso machines and grinders in the past, but this was my first super automatic purchase for home use. I like how versatile it is in terms of the drinks it can make, and I especially like how it has a built-in grinder that saves me a lot of counter space. Although I've read a few complaints about the quality of espresso produced by this machine, I think it looks and tastes great. I was able to achieve a consistently delicious espresso shot with distinct heart, body, and crema after adjusting the dosing and amount of water used in the shots, as well as experimenting with the grind size and water hardness. However, there are a few flaws that prevent me from giving it a perfect score. According to the manual, you can only adjust the grind settings while the machine is grinding, and then you must brew it afterwards. To get those results, you must repeat the process three times. Getting a consistent dense microfoam with the panarello style steam wand was difficult at first and took some practice; luckily, there are some youtube videos available to assist you. It came with some espresso machine grease, which was a little concerning. It says not to put it down the sink because it's harmful to sea creatures, but you're supposed to wash the parts where the grease gets on every two months, so how do you get around that? Overall, I believe this is a good machine with excellent value, and I would continue to recommend it.

Eliana O’NEILL

| Jun 04, 2021

The blender performs admirably. I've only had it for two months, so I have no idea how it will perform after a year. The craftsmanship is excellent, and it does not appear to be cheap. The disadvantages are as follows: br>br>
1. The container for coffee grounds is a pain to use. It visually blends in with the front panel, and I always grab them together when trashing the grounds, so I have to think twice about it.
2. Because the ground coffee and beans containers are close together, it's simple to mix them up. I once placed beans in the ground coffee container by accident. It was a shambles, but it managed to keep going. The brewing mechanism had to be cleaned by hand.
3. Turning it on takes about a minute, and getting ready for a drink takes time as well.
4. The buttons are similar to sensors, and they react to touch in about a second. To make it get it, you must place your finger on it and wait a second or two. 1. br>br>.

Finnegan O’CONNOR

| Mar 01, 2021