Could this $249 espresso machine be one of the cheapest ways to get decent espresso? Yes, but there's a catch
When I got the opportunity to review the Casabrews Ultra, I was so excited. I'm of the opinion you don't need to spend a whole month's salary on an espresso machine, so I'm always desperate to try budget options.
I'm also of the opinion that no espresso machine is perfect. More affordable espresso machines tend to have more imperfections than others (obviously corners will be cut to keep that price down), and it didn't take me long to find the Casabrews Ultra's.
But could it still be a worthy contender for the crown of best espresso machines? Hmm, it depends what kind of barista you are. Here's why I think the Casabrews Ultra is 70% of the way there.
If you know anything about coffee, you've likely heard the term "PID controller". If you don't know what this is, it's basically a nifty piece of tech that controls temperature of the water so your espresso isn't too cold or hot. A PID controller is one of the best ways to achieve perfect espresso, and if you want seriously good coffee, you should always look out for machines that have them. You can also install them yourself, but that involves a serious amount of DIY.
Anyway, the Casabrews Ultra has a PID controller, which is almost unheard of on a machine this cheap. So I was so excited to get started with testing and brew delicious espresso.
Here's a shot of espresso pulled on the Casabrews Ultra, with default dose. I used 18.7g of coffee (much less than the recommended 21g) ground on the Eureka Mignon Specialita. I pressed the double shot button and let the Ultra do its magic.
As you can see, the shot is neither perfect nor imperfect. It's simply... very mid. The crema is quite weak, which could be because of my beans, tamping, grind, temperature, or a plethora of other reasons. As I was using a $700 grinder and a machine with a PID controller, it's likely because of the beans (although I do use specialty wholebeans) or my tamping.
This shot was quite bitter and not as aromatic as I'd hoped.
So I pulled another shot, this time with my Fellow Tally Pro scale to measure dosage.
I switched off extraction when the scale read 36g, but the portafilter dripped out another 7g of espresso. This was initially disappointing, but wow, this shot tasted amazing. It was light and balanced, with a nice juiciness at the back of the tongue, and had no bitterness whatsoever.
From then on, I always stopped extraction manually, and I'd recommend you do the same on your Casabrews Ultra. I'll talk about this more in detail below.
One of my favorite aspects of the Casabrews Ultra is the built-in timer I mentioned earlier. Having a timer is instrumental in brewing delicious espresso. Here's a quick coffee lesson: there are three flavor stages in espresso extraction. They are as follows:
Ideally, you want more acidity and sweetness than bitterness. Or, I do, anyway. I like my espresso with just a touch of bitterness to round out the other flavors.
So to ensure I stop espresso extraction before bitterness overwhelms the shot, I need a timer. Bitterness usually hits if you keep extracting longer than around 28 seconds. This all depends on the beans and grind size, though, so there's no one-size-fits-all. This is just my personal experience, and personal opinion.
With the built-in timer, I can easily stop extraction at 25 seconds or so without needing to check my coffee scale. It's just more straightforward to have this displayed to me on the big screen.
This timer includes pre-infusion time, for all the coffee nerds out there, and you can adjust pre-infusion to your liking.
Although the Casabrews Ultra has a lot going for it — the LED screen, built-in timer, 20-bar pressure, PID controller — it's not perfect.
In my review, I only awarded it 3.5 stars. Why not 4, if it can brew espresso almost as well as any other premium product?
The issues all lie within the steam wand. Usually a poor steam wand is the marker of a cheap machine, and the Casabrews Ultra unfortunately falls into this trap.
The steam wand is as weak as a sick little kitten. It's like coughing into a milk jug and hoping that will be enough. Unfortunately, it is not enough. I was completely unable to achieve thick, textured microfoam with the Ultra's steam wand.
Usually, I'd blame the workman, not the tools. But I know I'm capable of steaming milk properly (I was a barista for 3.5 years), and I've used cheaper machines with better outcomes (the $149 De'Longhi Stilosa). Obviously these cheap machines can't come close to the best steam wand I've ever used (that would be the $1,800 Smeg Mini Pro), but usually, they at least try.
I don't think the Casabrews Ultra even tries. This is the best milk texture I got, and this took me about 20 drinks worth of practice.
As you can see, the milk is frothy and uneven. There are large bubbles instead of delicate microfoam. I was really frustrated with this steam wand by the end of testing. It's too weak to create the 'vortex' you need to gently agitate the milk and fold it within itself.
Unfortunately, I can only recommend this espresso machine for one of three use-cases.
If you fall into one of these categories, then I'm sure the Casabrews Ultra won't disappoint you. The PID controller and built-in timer are two major plusses that really separate this machine from the rest of the budget space.
However, if, like me, you love flat whites and making latte art, then this isn't the machine for you. I'd recommend the Breville Bambino Plus, as always.
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Tom's Guide
06-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
Could this $249 espresso machine be one of the cheapest ways to get decent espresso? Yes, but there's a catch
I spend a lot of my life thinking about, making, and drinking coffee. I'm the kind of person who would rather drink no coffee than bad coffee, so I'm adamant on finding the best espresso machines on the market. When I got the opportunity to review the Casabrews Ultra, I was so excited. I'm of the opinion you don't need to spend a whole month's salary on an espresso machine, so I'm always desperate to try budget options. I'm also of the opinion that no espresso machine is perfect. More affordable espresso machines tend to have more imperfections than others (obviously corners will be cut to keep that price down), and it didn't take me long to find the Casabrews Ultra's. But could it still be a worthy contender for the crown of best espresso machines? Hmm, it depends what kind of barista you are. Here's why I think the Casabrews Ultra is 70% of the way there. If you know anything about coffee, you've likely heard the term "PID controller". If you don't know what this is, it's basically a nifty piece of tech that controls temperature of the water so your espresso isn't too cold or hot. A PID controller is one of the best ways to achieve perfect espresso, and if you want seriously good coffee, you should always look out for machines that have them. You can also install them yourself, but that involves a serious amount of DIY. Anyway, the Casabrews Ultra has a PID controller, which is almost unheard of on a machine this cheap. So I was so excited to get started with testing and brew delicious espresso. Here's a shot of espresso pulled on the Casabrews Ultra, with default dose. I used 18.7g of coffee (much less than the recommended 21g) ground on the Eureka Mignon Specialita. I pressed the double shot button and let the Ultra do its magic. As you can see, the shot is neither perfect nor imperfect. It's simply... very mid. The crema is quite weak, which could be because of my beans, tamping, grind, temperature, or a plethora of other reasons. As I was using a $700 grinder and a machine with a PID controller, it's likely because of the beans (although I do use specialty wholebeans) or my tamping. This shot was quite bitter and not as aromatic as I'd hoped. So I pulled another shot, this time with my Fellow Tally Pro scale to measure dosage. I switched off extraction when the scale read 36g, but the portafilter dripped out another 7g of espresso. This was initially disappointing, but wow, this shot tasted amazing. It was light and balanced, with a nice juiciness at the back of the tongue, and had no bitterness whatsoever. From then on, I always stopped extraction manually, and I'd recommend you do the same on your Casabrews Ultra. I'll talk about this more in detail below. One of my favorite aspects of the Casabrews Ultra is the built-in timer I mentioned earlier. Having a timer is instrumental in brewing delicious espresso. Here's a quick coffee lesson: there are three flavor stages in espresso extraction. They are as follows: Ideally, you want more acidity and sweetness than bitterness. Or, I do, anyway. I like my espresso with just a touch of bitterness to round out the other flavors. So to ensure I stop espresso extraction before bitterness overwhelms the shot, I need a timer. Bitterness usually hits if you keep extracting longer than around 28 seconds. This all depends on the beans and grind size, though, so there's no one-size-fits-all. This is just my personal experience, and personal opinion. With the built-in timer, I can easily stop extraction at 25 seconds or so without needing to check my coffee scale. It's just more straightforward to have this displayed to me on the big screen. This timer includes pre-infusion time, for all the coffee nerds out there, and you can adjust pre-infusion to your liking. Although the Casabrews Ultra has a lot going for it — the LED screen, built-in timer, 20-bar pressure, PID controller — it's not perfect. In my review, I only awarded it 3.5 stars. Why not 4, if it can brew espresso almost as well as any other premium product? The issues all lie within the steam wand. Usually a poor steam wand is the marker of a cheap machine, and the Casabrews Ultra unfortunately falls into this trap. The steam wand is as weak as a sick little kitten. It's like coughing into a milk jug and hoping that will be enough. Unfortunately, it is not enough. I was completely unable to achieve thick, textured microfoam with the Ultra's steam wand. Usually, I'd blame the workman, not the tools. But I know I'm capable of steaming milk properly (I was a barista for 3.5 years), and I've used cheaper machines with better outcomes (the $149 De'Longhi Stilosa). Obviously these cheap machines can't come close to the best steam wand I've ever used (that would be the $1,800 Smeg Mini Pro), but usually, they at least try. I don't think the Casabrews Ultra even tries. This is the best milk texture I got, and this took me about 20 drinks worth of practice. As you can see, the milk is frothy and uneven. There are large bubbles instead of delicate microfoam. I was really frustrated with this steam wand by the end of testing. It's too weak to create the 'vortex' you need to gently agitate the milk and fold it within itself. Unfortunately, I can only recommend this espresso machine for one of three use-cases. If you fall into one of these categories, then I'm sure the Casabrews Ultra won't disappoint you. The PID controller and built-in timer are two major plusses that really separate this machine from the rest of the budget space. However, if, like me, you love flat whites and making latte art, then this isn't the machine for you. I'd recommend the Breville Bambino Plus, as always.
Tom's Guide
26-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I just tested this ‘entry-level' espresso grinder and it's totally transformed my morning coffee routine
As I'm writing this, I've just come to the end of testing the Varia VS3 coffee grinder. If you're into espresso or partake in the world of specialty coffee, I've no doubt you'll have heard of this grinder. Striking in its appearance, and priced at a super attractive price (as espresso grinders go) of $299, the VS3 is a go-to first grinder for many coffee enthusiasts, and often touted as one of the best coffee grinders for beginners. Despite that, it's no stranger mixed criticism from the coffee community, and yeah, it has its flaws, which I'll soon be covering in my full review. The Varia VS3 is an 'entry-level' grinder, but don't let that put you off if you're looking for a competent electric grinder for espresso. This grinder performed incredibly well in our uniformity and retention tests, and is ideal for espresso lovers... especially if you're making shots during the early hours! The thing is, the VS3 has one feature that has totally transformed my morning espresso routine, and has me overlooking its (admittedly pretty minor flaws). It all comes down to decibels. There are two main types of grinder: hand and electric. And I'm sure you can guess the difference between the two. I'm lazy, so in the morning when I shuffle downstairs to make my coffee, I don't want to go straight into an arm workout grinding 20-odd grams of coffee for an espresso. So my preference is always an electric grinder (although I use the 1Zpresso K-Ultra hand grinder while I travel). I've used a lot of electric espresso grinders in my time — after all, I get to test them for my job. One of the main problems with electrics are the noise. These things get loud. I'm not talking 100dB, ear-damage-level noise, but the Baratza Encore ESP averaged 82dB in our testing. According to the Hearing Health Foundation, while not a risk to ear health, that's equivalent to being in a noisy restaurant. My Eureka Mignon Specialita is a "quiet" grinder, but still averages around 75dB of noise, equivalent to hearing someone running landscaping equipment outside your house. Hardly the kind of noise you want to be making at 6am. If you're a blade grinder owner (which you shouldn't be; they suck), you're likely in an even worse position. My dad's old blade grinder sounded like a turbojet firing up. By contrast, thanks to its DC power supply (more on this below), the Varia VS3 is one of the quietest electric grinders I've used, running at an average of 67dB. Don't get me wrong, it's obviously far from silent, but that's a hell of a lot quieter. If fact, it took me by (pleasant) surprise, the first time I used the VS3 for a morning brew at home. See, while the delta between 67dB and 82dB doesn't sound like much, it is. The decibel scale is logarithmic — a 10dB increase means 10x the sound intensity, while a 20dB increase is 100x the sound intensity. I'm no good at math (so correct me if I'm wrong), but 15dB as I understand it equates to a 30 fold increase in sound intensity. Or to put it another way, the Varia VS3 is, on average, 30 times quieter than the Baratza Encore ESP, and nearly 10 times quieter than my Eureka Mignon Specialita. That has made a huge difference to my morning routine. No longer am I wincing as I grind my beans. No longer am I waking one of our dogs (a light sleeper), and making her bark, compounding the issue. I can brew in peace. Yeah, there is a catch. The reason why the Varia VS3 is quiet is because of that DC power I mentioned above. Fed by DC rather than AC mains, the VS3 only spins at 170RPM. The much louder Baratza Encore ESP runs at 550RPM, meaning it'll get through a dose of coffee much quicker. Does that really matter, though? We're talking 10-20 seconds difference max for an 18g dose. I'd rather have a longer period at lower volumes than a shorter spike. And I reckon my partner would, too, as that's less likely to wake her. And at the end of the day, performance has to play a huge part too. The VS3 is an excellent grinder given its entry-level price tag, scoring very highly in our uniformity and retention testing, as you can see in the tables below. Grind size 300μm 500μm 800μm 1100μm 1400μm Super fine 20% 90% 95% 100% 100% Medium fine 5% 95% 100% 100% 100% Medium 0% 5% 80% 95% 100% Medium coarse 0% 5% 50% 80% 95% Coarse 0% 5% 15% 50% 90% Our first coffee grinder test is always a uniformity test, where we pass batches of ground coffee through Kruve sifters. The more uniform, technically speaking, the better. What we want to see here is large swings in variance, from 5% up to 95%. This means very few grounds pass through one sieve, but most pass through the next, showing low variance. The grinder is essentially doing a good job at smushing coffee beans into evenly-sized grounds. The VS3 performs very strongly in the mid range at medium and medium-fine grinds. At the finest end of the VS3 adjustment range, we see a slight step up in variance, with a 20-90% jump between the finest sifters. Overall, though, this level of uniformity is very high, which makes the VS3 an excellent grinder for espresso. Coarser grounds are a little less uniform, so if you're looking to make a variety of drinks, including pour overs, it maybe isn't the one. But I'm an espresso drinker first and foremost, so that's what matters to me. Coffee in Grounds out Retention test 1 20.0g 19.8g Retention test 2 20.0g 19.8g Retention test 3 20.0g 19.9g Retention test 4 20.0g 19.9g Arguably the most prominent of the VS3's physical features is its 76.5-degree sloping metal body. This isn't just for style. The pitch of the grinder helps grounds fall from the burrs and through the chute more easily, lowering retention. And it works. As you can see in the table above, the Varia VS3 averaged 0.15g retention per dose over four 20g doses. That's 0.75% retention. Not bad at all. As I mentioned up top, I'll be covering the VS3 fully very soon in a standalone review. This grinder has its flaws (mostly relating to that DC power supply), but for under $300, this is a seriously good espresso grinder. The Varia VS3 is an 'entry-level' grinder, but don't let that put you off if you're looking for a competent electric grinder for espresso. This grinder performed incredibly well in our uniformity and retention tests, and is ideal for espresso lovers... especially if you're making shots during the early hours! Sometimes, though, a single feature can make all the difference. And as someone who gets up at 5.45am to head into the office, that feature in my grinders is noise. I've never owned a properly quiet espresso grinder before, but now that I have, there's no going back.
Tom's Guide
19-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I'm a barista who swapped an $899 espresso machine for a $149 budget one — here's why
I'm an ex-barista, so I've spent enough time making coffee for a lifetime. I cut my teeth at an independent artisanal cafe (so independent and artisanal that it was one of the many small business Covid casualties) and then suffered through some long, hard years at Starbucks (during lockdown, cry) as punishment. You think that would stop me. But I cannot be stopped. I am as unstoppable as the endless march of time. Now as a journalist, it's my mission to find the best espresso machines so I can continue drinking way too much coffee. The $149 De'Longhi Stilosa has everything I hate in an espresso machine: a flimsy plastic tamper, a flimsy plastic construction, and a flimsy plastic drip tray. I really thought I'd hate this machine. No, tell a lie, I wanted to hate it, because it was so ugly. However, when I ditched my $900 De'Longhi La Specialista Opera for the $149 De'Longhi Stilosa, I was absolutely shocked. I tested the U.K. version of the De'Longhi Stilosa. A reader pointed out recently that the U.S. model of the Stilosa comes with dual-walled portafilters. In this case, I'd recommend getting third-party single-walled portafilters to achieve the same results as me. This is the machine I use every day. I love it with all my heart, but something just doesn't feel right anymore. Maybe because it's taking up a quarter of my kitchen, and that's grown into resentment? Either way, I don't know what's next for me and my beloved La Specialista Opera. It might be the most tear-jerking goodbye of 2025. This is the Opera's contender: smaller, cheaper, and a hell of a lot uglier. I really had my doubts about the Stilosa. For starters, it feels flimsy AF and looks like someone vomited up a pile of plastic. But oh boy, can it pull a delicious espresso shot. Color me surprised. Repeat after me: I will not use pre-ground coffee... I will not use pre-ground coffee... I will not use pre-ground coffee. Now, I've said it before and I'll say it again. You have to work for good espresso on the De'Longhi Stilosa. If you just take it out of the box and get to work, you'll think I've lost my marbles. Espresso is an art as much as it's a science. And perfect espresso needs two things: a good grinder, and an even better barista. I used both the Eureka Mignon Specialita ($649) and the Comandante C40 MK4 (from ~$282) with the De'Longhi Stilosa. If budget's a concern, you might be able to grab the Baratza Encore ESP or the 1ZPresso J-Ultra — both $199 — instead. However, a good grinder is a non-negotiable. The only reason why the Stilosa managed to match the La Specialista Opera is because of the brilliant grinders I used. If you buy pre-ground beans or have a blade grinder, you will never be able to achieve these results. Repeat after me: I will not use pre-ground coffee... I will not use pre-ground coffee... I will not use pre-ground coffee. Okay, great! This is a picture of the best espresso shot I pulled on the Stilosa, using artisanal, locally-roasted specialty beans and the Comandante C40 MK4 grinder. As I'm sure you're aware by now, achieving an espresso shot like this is only possible because of a premium grinder and specialty beans. With this extra effort, there's no need to spend $$$ on an espresso machine. You'll need to look for the following specs: While the De'Longhi Stilosa doesn't have a PID (which is a temperature controller built-in to the machine to prevent burning and weak espresso), it is literally $149. At this price point, you can't really ask for much more. It's worth noting that other home baristas have successfully modded the Stilosa with PID controllers, so not all is lost. As the De'Longhi Stilosa I tested has both 9-bar pressure and single-walled portafilters, I was able to pull technically perfect espresso. If you follow my advice, there's no reason why you wouldn't be able to achieve this too. In terms of espresso brewing? I couldn't believe my luck. The Stilosa is $759 cheaper than my La Specialista Opera, but pulls very similar shots. That's a monumental saving. I won't lie to you, when I first picked up the De'Longhi Stilosa, I physically grimaced. I thought there's no way this flimsy plastic hunk of junk can ever be good. But oh boy, did it prove me wrong. I already chatted about all the reasons why the De'Longhi Stilosa proved me wrong in a different article, but I'll go through them again briefly here. Good espresso machines need some weight to them. Even compact machines have boilers crammed inside their tiny size, so when I picked up the Stilosa, I was immediately suspicious. I doubted its ability to heat water, let alone pull espresso. But I was wrong. The Stilosa crams an impressive 9-bar pressure system and a steel boiler inside its 8-inch size. The sacrifices come in its all-plastic (ugly) construction, flimsy group handle, and pathetic tamper. These are all fixable problems though. The inherent espresso-making ability of the machine? Off-the-charts good. I'll be the first person to admit that a lot of budget espresso machines are very questionable. But not the De'Longhi Stilosa. With the extra work I discussed earlier, I was able to make $500-machine worthy espresso on the $149 Stilosa. However, without the effort, the espresso will most definitely taste like it was made on a cheap machine. So, if the cheap espresso machine has the following things: 9-bar pressure, single-walled portafilter baskets, a shower screen with even water distribution, and (maybe) a PID controller, then there's nothing stopping it performing like a premium model. With the right tools, coffee, and barista, of course. Although I was really impressed by the Stilosa for the price, I'm not really ready to give up my La Specialista Opera yet. (I actually kind of regret getting the Opera and really want a Breville Bambino Plus, but that's another story.) Steaming milk on the Stilosa requires a little more effort than other machines, because the steam wand can be a little overexcited. Take a look at the latte I made with the Stilosa. This is after 3 1/2 years as a barista, bear in mind. My latte art could still do with some work (I'm yet to master the tulip), but I think a more inexperienced barista might need a little more time to get adjusted to the Stilosa's overexcited steam wand. On top of that, if you're a barista who just wants coffee and doesn't want to spend lots of time and mental effort making that coffee? Then I think the Stilosa might not be for you. I'd recommend something like the De'Longhi Rivelia in that case, but it'll cost you — $1,499. I knew this already, but swapping my La Specialista Opera for the Stilosa reaffirmed my belief that good coffee needs one thing: a good barista who knows what they're doing. Yes, you can spend $$$ (more like $$$$$$...) on a Bianca Lelit ($2,999) or a La Marzocco Linea Mini ($6,300), but if you don't have the knowledge? Your coffee won't taste great. I recommend spending time learning about coffee — what types of beans you like, why you need a great grinder, how to set up a shot — before spending a month's wages on a machine. Instead, I'd recommend getting the Stilosa and learning on a cheap machine. Then, once you've got the skill? By all means, dig into a pricier machine — or just keep your money and continue slaying on the Stilosa.
