- You are here:
- Home »
- Espresso Machine Reviews »
- Melitta Espresso Maker | Enjoy the European Café Experience at Home
Melitta Espresso Maker | Enjoy the European Café Experience at Home
For proof that necessity is indeed the mother of innovation, just take a brief look at Melitta’s history. While this German distributor of coffee, coffee filters, and nonelectric coffee systems is now so large that it sells and markets products abroad, its beginning was surprisingly humble. The corporation was founded in 1908 by a housewife in Minden, Germany, named Melitta Bentz, who wanted to make a simple but exceptional clean cup of coffee. She was able to do so by punching holes in a brass pot lined with a piece of paper that she used as a two-part filtration system. She placed her crude, yet ingenious contraption on a cup, filled it with ground coffee, and poured hot water into it. Achieving a well-filtered cup of coffee, Melitta simultaneously invented and perfected both the coffee filter and the drip coffee brewing system. Even though more than a century has passed since that fateful day, Ms. Bentz’s inventions remain the archetype of all drip coffee brewing systems and the Melitta company continues to do its best to bring the ‘European café experience’ in the comfort of their customers’ homes. Case in point: the Melitta espresso maker.
The Melitta Espresso Maker
Like its European counterparts, the Melitta espresso maker comes with a wide variety of features that enable you to make a great cup of European-inspired coffee right in the comfort of your own home. First, and foremost, let’s take a look at its weight and dimensions. Coming in at 11.2 lbs (17 lbs when shipped) and 11.5” x 9.8” x 11.8” in dimensions, this espresso maker is light enough for easy handling, which makes cleaning it a snap; and compact enough to fit cozily on your kitchen countertop, island, or coffee bar.
The tech team at Melitta was careful to ensure this espresso maker’s features enable you to make nothing but proper, classic espresso, including a few of our faves: a compact yet powerful 15-bar Italian pump with stainless-steel accents and a black base, which enables the espresso maker to generate the needed force and steam for consistent brewing; a front-facing LCD/LED display and programmable control knob, which gives users full, easily accessible control over the brewing process; and a top-grade frothing nozzle, which enables users to make both steamed and frothed milk for tasty cappuccinos and lattes.
Other great features of this machine include: a Slide & Lock™ filter holder, which makes securing the ground coffee simple and effective; the capacity to accommodate both finely ground espresso and easy-serve espresso (ESE) pods, which allows you the option to brew a quick cup or a more involved brew, making the experience even more enjoyable and easy; a water tank and drip tray that are both removable, making cleaning the espresso maker a snap; quick water heating, eliminating annoying wait times; two filter holders (a large filter for a double shot and a small filter for a single shot or an espresso pod), which provides you with even more brewing options; a measuring scoop; and a tamping tool.
While some customers have complained that their models of the Melitta espresso maker had some technical glitches after only being used a few times, the majority were very pleased with their models, and said that the only requirement for making the espresso maker work well is following the instructions each model comes with to the letter. Moreover, the espresso maker received a solid rating of 3 and a half stars out 5 on Amazon.
A great place to buy is on Amazon and here is why:
- All the reviews are like having hundreds of really good friends give you their personal experience with the espresso machine, then taking all of that personal experience and giving it a star rating. You’re buying quality when there are hundreds of fans of the machine.
- A friendly UPS driver will deliver it right to your door. No waiting in line, no hauling it in your car. No sore muscles or achy back the next day.
- Amazon has the best price 99% of the time. Amazon constantly watches competitor pricing and makes sure you get the best deal. They do a ton of business and take advantage of economies of scale, which means you get the savings!
- FREE shipping. Enough said.
- Returns are easy. Amazon recently shipped a car, and they ship a ton of large items, all day, every day. If they can ship a car, rest assured, you will get your espresso machine in perfect condition. BUT if for any reason it comes damaged, it is super easy to return. Just print out a UPS label, slap it on the box and a friendly UPS driver will pick it up, free of charge. This is way easier than waiting in a return line at Williams & Sonoma talking with a snoody sales clerk.
- Powerful 15 bar Italian Pump
- Slide and Lock filter holder is specifically designed for fast, easy use
- Removable water reservoir
- Uses easy serve espresso pods or ground espresso
- Heats water quickly to provide hot water on demand
4-Week Free Espresso E-mail Course!
Week 1 - Home Espresso Machines
Week 2 - Coffee Beans
Week 3 - Types of Drinks
Week 4 - Advanced Brewing
Join Mike (me) and learn all the basics of making great tasting espresso!
You have Successfully Subscribed!
About the Author Michael York
I am a die-hard espresso fan. I love every form of the drink from straight espresso shots to lattes and cappuccinos. I currently use a Breville BES870XL Barista, it is an awesome machine. BUT, my dream machine is definitely an Italian Quickmill Andreja. Those bad boys make badass espresso. I love answering your questions, leave a comment or question below!
