Cuisinart 1.66 Quart Manual Espresso Maker with 2 Year Warranty

Imagine the aroma of a fresh cup of your favorite espresso beverage: hot, rich, bold, and flavorful. Now, make your imagination reality with the stainless steel Cuisinart® Espresso Maker. Press an espresso and then use the stainless steam nozzle and frothing cup to transform it into a latte or cappuccino. You can even heat cups on the warming plate above to keep your beverage steaming hot.

Product Highlights:

15 bars of pressure 53-ounce removable reservoir

Brews one or two cups – ground espresso or pod

Professional grade stainless steel housing and embossed Cuisinart® logo

Stainless steel steam nozzle for cappuccino and latte

Portafilter holder with locking mechanism makes it easy to dispose of wet grounds after use

Removable drip tray and cover for easy cleanup

Warming tray on top

Tamping tool with measuring spoon and stainless frothing cup included

BPA Free

Limited 3-year warranty

The Quest for a Perfect Espresso

It is generally agreed that there are four basic elements critical to the perfect cup:

Element 1: WATER

When brewing espresso, make sure the water flows through the filter at the correct pace. The water flow can be adjusted by varying the pressure with which the coffee is taped in the filter or by altering the grind of coffee. If the speed of the water is slow the coffee will be over extracted and will be very dark and bitter, with a spotted and uneven creme (froth) on the top. If the speed of the water flow is too fast, the coffee will be under-extracted and the supreme flavor will not develop. The coffee will be diluted and there will be an inadequate amount of crème on the top.

Element 2: COFFEE

While the bulk of the liquid is water, all of the flavor should be from the coffee. To achieve the same great quality of coffee you receive at a cafe, you need to use the same quality beans. If you choose to grind your own beans, buy the beans fresh and whole, only about a two week supply at a time for maximum freshness. Once the coffee bean is broken, its flavor degrades very quickly. If it is not practical to buy smaller supplies, we recommend you separate larger amounts of beans and store them in airtight containers in a cool, dry area. They should not be kept for longer than 1 month as flavor will diminish. Do not refrigerate or freeze coffee beans.

Element 3: GRIND

The grind of the coffee is critical for proper flavor extraction. If using a pre-ground coffee, be sure to purchase an espresso grind that is specifically for espresso/cappuccino machines. If the grind is too fine, over extraction and bitterness will occur with a spotted and uneven crema on top. If the grind is too coarse, the water will pass through too rapidly and there will be an inadequate amount of crema on the top of the espresso.

Element 4: TAMPING THE COFFEE GROUNDS

If you choose to use ground espresso instead of pods, tamping the coffee is a very important part of the coffee making process. Use the scoop supplied to fill the filter basket, then using the tamping tool, tamp down the grounds with moderate pressure. Add more coffee and tamp again if necessary to bring coffee to level. Do not overfill the filter basket. The ground coffee should be tamped with moderate pressure. If the coffee is not tamped securely, there is a chance the water will flow through the coffee to rapidly and the coffee will be under-extracted. Note: if the coffee is tamped too firmly, the water will flow through the coffee too slowly and the coffee will be over-extracted.

Product Specifications:

Dimensions (LxWxH) - 12.56"(L) x 8.19"(W) x 10.94"(H)

Weight - 16.1 LBs

Wattage - 1000 watts

Voltage - 120