Café Bellissimo Semi Automatic Espresso Machine Review

[@techietank3900]

Dude, you are so good at doing reviews!! You are so AWESOME!!!!

[@ReviewedByPhil]

Wow, thanks!

[@WindowofHappinessblog]

A very thorough and helpful review. Thank you.

[@ricardoanevarez9704]

Thank you, this is a great video review !:)

[@ReviewedByPhil]

You're welcome, thanks for the compliment!

[@MaraHernandezGC]

I found you !!! And you review really helps me a lot! Thank you !

[@ReviewedByPhil]

Glad I could help!

[@steph_coffeelover]

Very good review!😊 can you also try the Ultima Cosa semi automatic espresso machine? I just got mine in Walmart and I was wondering if they have the same features

[@drsims6614]

Solid job Phil

[@ReviewedByPhil]

Thanks!

[@chrlsanthny]

So the porta filter is 58mm is the inner diameter 58mm or 53mm? I want to purchase a few accessories from Amazon like a filter screen, new tamper, etc. great review!

[@designereats3661]

Do you really need the app to make this machine work?

[@maggienggo]

Best review ever! Can you explain again the part how to clean it every 3-6 months ?

[@searchiemusic]

was looking into a cheap at-home machine as a barista and while you absolutely tried and did a great job i cackled at 'just like the coffee shop!' a 60 year old lady would spit on me if i gave her that as a cappuccino lmao, def deciding against this since that steam wand doesn't have anywhere near the output i want, but i'm sure it tasted good and that's what matters for sure

[@giantee2373]

Good review just wonder what your settings are for single and double .. shots look like they were pulled very good im having trouble dialing in

[@ReviewedByPhil]

For me, I'm using Lavazza dark roast whole beans with a grind size of 8 with 18g for a single and 30g for a double. I have a calibrated tamper that tamps to 30 lbs for consistent results: geni.us/QBCBm2L [Amazon Affiliate Product Link]

[@AmyB-o2m]

When I pushed the ‘double’ button for double espresso shot, such a small amount came out. Should I press it again? How many grounds for a single ot double shot? Can I use any whole bean coffee or should it be specific espresso beans? Thank you

[@ReviewedByPhil]

You can use any type of bean, though the settings may be different for each variety. In general you'll need 8-12g of grounds for a single shot and 15-18g for a double. If not enough liquid is coming out, it's possible the bean grind size is too fine, or you are using too many grounds. Increase the grind size (larger number) and/or reduce the amount of ground you are using and you should see more liquid come out.

[@AmyB-o2m]

Can I add sweetener to the milk I’m steaming or use chocolate milk?

[@ReviewedByPhil]

Sure, this is generally fine.

[@nycalien]

The grouphead, is it metql insode or plastic?

[@ArturoGallegos-h1z]

Amazing review! Thanks a lot! Quick question: can you put the coffe beans until the top of the lid so there’s a good amount of reservoir, or it has to be until the marked lines?

[@ReviewedByPhil]

Yes, you can fill the bean hopper all the way to the top. Just leave enough room for the lid since the lip of it sits inside of the hopper rim.

[@ArturoGallegos-h1z]

@@ReviewedByPhil thank U so much! Another question (I’m sorry I just bought it): If I’m making a double shot espresso for myself, which lid do you recommend me to use? 2 cups?

[@RawDogJenkins]

Excellent review. Its on a really good sale and needed some more info. Appreciate this sir.

[@jimmytan2208]

Just use filtered water, no need for descaling.

[@SimpleNClassy1]

Great review. If you can rate it 1-10 with all the considerations you spoke of. What would your rating be?

[@ReviewedByPhil]

I'd give it a 7 overall: better than average but room to improve.

[@JuanLuna-bs3tm]

Very nice review.... I have a question, bellísimo vs Breville barista pro which one is the best?

[@ReviewedByPhil]

Personally, in terms of style, I prefer the all stainless steel look of the Breville Barista Pro. The LCD display is a bit more modern and the levels of control are a bit more granular than the simple press buttons on the Cafe Bellissimo, which requires you to use the smartphone app paired over WiFi to fine tune adjustments like grind time, water volume, and water temperature. That said, both machines can produce lovely tasting shots, as long as you tune in your settings the way you like. I'd say the weak point on both machines is the grinder as their consistency is spotty and the burrs can jam or wear out quickly, so for this reason, although it's meant to be an all in one machine, I still recommend using a separate bean grinder.

[@michellei.quinoneslara8688]

How to clean???

[@citizenlbt8735]

Great video thanks for all the details. So there's no automatic steam setting so you don't have to steam the milk yourself?

[@ReviewedByPhil]

No, unfortunately there is no automatic steaming.

[@tal018]

Thank you for this awesome review! Im currently in the process of getting a new machine. Im in between this one and the kitchenaid one. With your experience, which one would you say is better?

[@ReviewedByPhil]

Personally, having used both, I prefer the Kitchenaid one because it has a smaller footprint on my countertop, and I find that it doesn't clog as easily. While I believe they both have the same bar pressure rating (15 bar?), the same size grind will stop up the Café machine while being successfully pulled from the Kitchenaid one. I also didn't really need the built-in grinder on the Café since I have a small standalone unit that can handle espresso size grounds and it's less messy since the grounds are captured in a sealed container rather than dispensed directly into the portafilter. Yes, that means I have to "manually" scoop and measure the fresh grounds from the container into the portafilter basket, but I'd rather that than wipe up stray grounds around the machine each time. The one thing I liked better about the Café is the steam wand as I think it delivers more steam/hot water volume than the Kitchenaid one. It just takes about a minute longer to get milk frothed to the right texture and temperature on the Kitchenaid and the articulating arm has a less range of motion.

[@davidstoddard4898]

How do you compare this to the Cafe Affeto model

[@skyblue417]

Thinking about buying because of this review. Does it seem to be able make quality espresso long term? I’ve seen some bad reviews online so I’m nervous to purchase

[@ReviewedByPhil]

I've only had the machine a couple months, so I can't speak for long term, but so far the machine has been working fine for me. Even though this isn't my first espresso machine, I did find it a bit fiddly to dial in initially, but once you work out the right grind size, dosage, and tamp pressure to use, as long as you're consistent you can get consistent results. However, if you like to try different beans often or want to experiment with tweaking the flavor or quality of your shot, I think there are better machines out there that enable you to make those changes with less frustration. For me, I prefer the KitchenAid KES6403: geni.us/qmMN0He [Amazon Affiliate Product Link] it's a more compact and affordable unit, though it does not have an integrated bean grinder.

[@teddyreyes396]

Great video! Thank You

[@SlightlyGreek]

Is this the same coffee machine that’s on sale right now on the Walmart app? It doesn’t say bellisimo anywhere on the app ? I’m talking about this one Cafe C7cesas 94.6 Oz. 16 Setting Countertop Espresso Machine - Steel Silver

[@ReviewedByPhil]

Yes, that should be the same model.

[@josephoberlander]

5:45 has me a bit worried as if the included tamper is that poor fitting, it's going to be hard to get a good extraction.

[@BalerionTBD]

Did you have any water leaking issue?

[@ReviewedByPhil]

My first machine started consistently going into overpressure during brewing after about 3 months of daily use, but Cafe's warranty covered it, and they sent me a new one which I have not had any issues with since.

[@JasonSand7]

Is descent enough to practice latte art?

[@yeetus1201]

Any updates on this? Is the grinder still working well? Thinking about purchasing one as well, but very afraid of the negative reviews. Seems like a coin toss.

[@ReviewedByPhil]

For me, I never had problems with the grinder, but after a while I did start to have issues with the unit going "over pressure" and purging basically after every shot. I like to try new things every so often anyway, so I traded this model in for the KitchenAid Semi-Automatic: geni.us/qmMN0He [Amazon Affiliate Product Link] I've had this one for a little while now and once I dialed in on grind size and weight, I've not had any issues with it. It's more compact, which I like, though doesn't have a built-in bean grinder, so I'm using this one: geni.us/GRXa0wi [Amazon Affiliate Product Link] which I reviewed here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/opyzZnqag5eDbq8

[@theunkownmr.562]

What's a good grind size?

[@ReviewedByPhil]

I started with size 9 but reduced it to 8 after playing with the grind volume so that I could get 18g of grounds for a double shot.

[@beautifulsoundwaves3481]

how do you make drip coffee cup on this machine? also how do you get the wand to dispense just water?

[@ReviewedByPhil]

Unfortunately, this espresso maker doesn't make drip coffee, only espresso shots. However, you can make an "americano" style drink by adding hot water to your espresso shot in a larger glass. To dispense hot water from the wand, turn the dial in the middle to the left as shown at 4:32. Just make sure you have a glass placed under the wand first (see 9:05)!

[@Escorpianna2910]

❤

[@Mrmajellan123]

Yo when you wake up comb your hair before you have your coffee

[@jinyoungkwak5467]

You need to be more experienced or pro barista to review the machine

[@ReviewedByPhil]

I'm curious, how many years of experience must one have with being a professional barista before they can review an espresso machine? Is that Cafe's primary target market for this product? Seems to me like Cafe is trying to sell espresso machines to regular folks at home. Are those experiences and feedback not valid?

[@jinyoungkwak5467]

@@ReviewedByPhil People who want to see is how good the espresso taste by someone who knows well. Not someone with no idea what they are saying.

[@ReviewedByPhil]

@@jinyoungkwak5467 I guess your idea of "no idea what they are saying" and mine are different. I've done a ton of research on pulling shots (from professionals) and practiced pulling hundreds of shots to suit my own tastes. While I may not be the most skillful barista and have never worked in a coffeeshop nor had a coffee mentor critique my drinks, I do feel like lived in and self-taught experiences are valid and useful for folks. Afterall, what defines a "professional" or "expert" if not experience and practice? Frankly, the espresso shots I pull taste just fine, so it doesn't matter what my credentials are or if you don't like my process. I get what I want out of it. This video isn't about teaching folks how to pull the perfect coffeeshop shot; it's a review for a product sold to folks at home, most of whom will be like me and not professional baristas, and I think it gives them realistic expectations of what is achievable if they decide to get it and make their own shots in a non-pro setting.

[@TampaGuyXX]

Seriously? The review was spot on! The only thing wrong with the review is your comment! Next time, do us all a favor and keep your comments to yourself!