After living in Paris for 7 years, I have been searching for over 20 years for a machine that can duplicate the espresso served in bars in Italy & France. Needless to say, I have purchased many machines over the years, and they have all fallen short.
This machine arrived yesterday, and it produces espresso that in my opinion is identical to that served in a bar in Italy. I just returned from 2 months in Italy, so the "true" taste, aroma, crema and overall sensation of espresso served in Italy is fresh in my mind. Word of caution - I have never gotten such an extreme 'buzz' from a cup of espresso.
This is the greatest! Highly recommended.

Want the Best Kitchen Appliances? Then Don't Miss Our:
Kitchen Appliance Reviews & Tips Section

I have had this machine for about four years. It has a great design that dresses up my countertop. The yellow color I selected complements my kitchen, and elicits compliments from guests. It made a good cup of expresso as well! Now the bad news. It overheated last week then the heating system completely shut down. Now the nightmare: it is almost impossible to get this thing fixed. There is an address in upstate New York for service but no customer service number or information. Not even a wbesite for customer service (just an email address.) For the money this thing costs you would think they would do better. Other comments idicates that any repairs would be difficult to obtain and expensive.

Want the Best Kitchen Appliances? Then Don't Miss Our:
Kitchen Appliance Reviews & Tips Section

This is what we have all been waiting for... affordable,easy,exceptional espresso. This is the real thing - you won't find the quality in any other machine less than $1000.

Want the Best Kitchen Appliances? Then Don't Miss Our:
Kitchen Appliance Reviews & Tips Section

This is what we have all been waiting for... affordable,easy,exceptional espresso. This is the real thing - you won't find the quality in any other machine less than $1000.

Want the Best Kitchen Appliances? Then Don't Miss Our:
Kitchen Appliance Reviews & Tips Section

Style definitely made it tough to resist this machine, but we would have been far better off had we resisted, and I hope you definitely do. This gorgeous machine is a rip-off. Save yourself a whole latte trouble and get a good, solid Gaggia for your home espresso.

Many have gotten the X5 at a reduced price with a subscription to Illy coffee's home delivery program. Others paid full price. Regardless, the X5 is overpriced at any cost because it is poorly engineered inside all that glitz. The boiler casing eventually corrodes through, and the machine fails, which is bad enough in itself. But what takes the cake is that Illy and Francis!Francis! have allowed Empire Fulfillment of Victor, NY to put a lock on parts and repairs for the faulty X5. That means UPS charges coming and going, in my case from San Francisco to NY, in addition to repair costs estimated between $150 on the low side to $300 at the norm.

This should have been a 5 star review, but it is hard to give this product even the minimum single star. After struggling for weeks about what to do with our faulty X5, I am packing it away with a broken heart.

Want the Best Kitchen Appliances? Then Don't Miss Our:
Kitchen Appliance Reviews & Tips Section

Style definitely made it tough to resist this machine, but we would have been far better off had we resisted, and I hope you definitely do. This gorgeous machine is a rip-off. Save yourself a whole latte trouble and get a good, solid Gaggia for your home espresso.

Many have gotten the X5 at a reduced price with a subscription to Illy coffee's home delivery program. Others paid full price. Regardless, the X5 is overpriced at any cost because it is poorly engineered inside all that glitz. The boiler casing eventually corrodes through, and the machine fails, which is bad enough in itself. But what takes the cake is that Illy and Francis!Francis! have allowed Empire Fulfillment of Victor, NY to put a lock on parts and repairs for the faulty X5. That means UPS charges coming and going, in my case from San Francisco to NY, in addition to repair costs estimated between $150 on the low side to $300 at the norm.

This should have been a 5 star review, but it is hard to give this product even the minimum single star. After struggling for weeks about what to do with our faulty X5, I am packing it away with a broken heart.

Want the Best Kitchen Appliances? Then Don't Miss Our:
Kitchen Appliance Reviews & Tips Section

Style definitely made it tough to resist this machine, but we would have been far better off had we resisted, and I hope you definitely do. This gorgeous machine is a rip-off. Save yourself a whole latte trouble and get a good, solid Gaggia for your home espresso.

Many have gotten the X5 at a reduced price with a subscription to Illy coffee's home delivery program. Others paid full price. Regardless, the X5 is overpriced at any cost because it is poorly engineered inside all that glitz. The boiler casing eventually corrodes through, and the machine fails, which is bad enough in itself. But what takes the cake is that Illy and Francis!Francis! have allowed Empire Fulfillment of Victor, NY to put a lock on parts and repairs for the faulty X5. That means UPS charges coming and going, in my case from San Francisco to NY, in addition to repair costs estimated between $150 on the low side to $300 at the norm.

This should have been a 5 star review, but it is hard to give this product even the minimum single star. After struggling for weeks about what to do with our faulty X5, I am packing it away with a broken heart.

Want the Best Kitchen Appliances? Then Don't Miss Our:
Kitchen Appliance Reviews & Tips Section

Style definitely made it tough to resist this machine, but we would have been far better off had we resisted, and I hope you definitely do. This gorgeous machine is a rip-off. Save yourself a whole latte trouble and get a good, solid Gaggia for your home espresso.

Many have gotten the X5 at a reduced price with a subscription to Illy coffee's home delivery program. Others paid full price. Regardless, the X5 is overpriced at any cost because it is poorly engineered inside all that glitz. The boiler casing eventually corrodes through, and the machine fails, which is bad enough in itself. But what takes the cake is that Illy and Francis!Francis! have allowed Empire Fulfillment of Victor, NY to put a lock on parts and repairs for the faulty X5. That means UPS charges coming and going, in my case from San Francisco to NY, in addition to repair costs estimated between $150 on the low side to $300 at the norm.

This should have been a 5 star review, but it is hard to give this product even the minimum single star. After struggling for weeks about what to do with our faulty X5, I am packing it away with a broken heart.

Want the Best Kitchen Appliances? Then Don't Miss Our:
Kitchen Appliance Reviews & Tips Section

Style definitely made it tough to resist this machine, but we would have been far better off had we resisted, and I hope you definitely do. This gorgeous machine is a rip-off. Save yourself a whole latte trouble and get a good, solid Gaggia for your home espresso.

Many have gotten the X5 at a reduced price with a subscription to Illy coffee's home delivery program. Others paid full price. Regardless, the X5 is overpriced at any cost because it is poorly engineered inside all that glitz. The boiler casing eventually corrodes through, and the machine fails, which is bad enough in itself. But what takes the cake is that Illy and Francis!Francis! have allowed Empire Fulfillment of Victor, NY to put a lock on parts and repairs for the faulty X5. That means UPS charges coming and going, in my case from San Francisco to NY, in addition to repair costs estimated between $150 on the low side to $300 at the norm.

This should have been a 5 star review, but it is hard to give this product even the minimum single star. After struggling for weeks about what to do with our faulty X5, I am packing it away with a broken heart.

Want the Best Kitchen Appliances? Then Don't Miss Our:
Kitchen Appliance Reviews & Tips Section

Style definitely made it tough to resist this machine, but we would have been far better off had we resisted, and I hope you definitely do. This gorgeous machine is a rip-off. Save yourself a whole latte trouble and get a good, solid Gaggia for your home espresso.

Many have gotten the X5 at a reduced price with a subscription to Illy coffee's home delivery program. Others paid full price. Regardless, the X5 is overpriced at any cost because it is poorly engineered inside all that glitz. The boiler casing eventually corrodes through, and the machine fails, which is bad enough in itself. But what takes the cake is that Illy and Francis!Francis! have allowed Empire Fulfillment of Victor, NY to put a lock on parts and repairs for the faulty X5. That means UPS charges coming and going, in my case from San Francisco to NY, in addition to repair costs estimated between $150 on the low side to $300 at the norm.

This should have been a 5 star review, but it is hard to give this product even the minimum single star. After struggling for weeks about what to do with our faulty X5, I am packing it away with a broken heart.

Want the Best Kitchen Appliances? Then Don't Miss Our:
Kitchen Appliance Reviews & Tips Section