Sanremo YOU Espresso Machine Review - The Best Home Espresso Machine?

[@mikni4069]

All that fiddling basically to do what a manual lever dos, I’ve done with my shot, drank it and out of the door before you even start brewing on that thing. Yes it can do it automatically, but as you correctly and very importantly point out beans changes as it ages and so dos it if you change coffee, meaning on the fly adjust is the most important aspect in home brewing with small bags of high graded specialty coffee. And this is especially important if you don’t want to waste coffee and on automatic that is exactly what is bound to happen, as your going to experience sink shots, something I largely eliminated on my manual lever, this was one thing that stood out to me after switching from such machine to a manual lever a few years ago. These machines absolutely make great coffee, they do loads of amazing stuff, but they are still built around what works in a commercial environment and around one brewing multiple shots in succession. In a home the biggest challenge in espresso brewing is that for many they only brew 1-3 shots a day and that means any sort of profile basically needs constant tweaking, those I see lots of home users realising this and end up using the paddle, but it is a poor replacement of an actual manual lever as it currently stands, it’s a rather immature technology currently and I’m sure it eventually will rival a true lever but it’s some years out in the future. But I do think the realisation of the necessity for it to be there on a home machine makes this a far better choice then many other profiling machines on the home market. I really think manufacturers need to start starting from scratch like meticulous done and start viewing home brewing from the challenges at home and not resize machines. We already managed to do so on grinders now hopefully machine will follow.

[@Bowser558]

Nice! Already a win if it doesnt sound like that Decent machine

[@kellynkarr6270]

This was so well done. THANK YOU!

[@AlternativeBrewing]

You're welcome

[@lucashipkins]

Fantastic review as always, thanks for sharing Josh.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

My pleasure! Thanks for tuning in

[@jimtrout7573]

Excellent review--very practical and perfect level of detail. I'm building a custom coffee bar in my new kitchen and trying to decide between a Sanremo YOU, Synesso ES1, Slayer single group, and the LM GS3. This video may have just convinced me to buy the YOU. It has the right level of customizability for me, while being able to effortlessly pull a standard shot for others. The LM GS3 seems badly in need of an update, and I'm not willing to go all the way to the LM Strada in price. Slayer has too much capacity and is an energy hog with the huge boilers; plus I've read too many issues about reliability. Synesso ES1 is a good candidate, but I like the UI on the YOU better. 2 downsides for me are the short clearance below the group heard and the big YOU on the UI panel.

[@WasimBarri]

You mentioned the car analogy, Josh All these repetitive comments about "I can get just a good as shot with a cheaper machine" is like saying "my Toyota gets me from A to B at a cheap price, then why should I get a BMW or Mercedes" or "I don't need that ridiculously priced camera when my phone takes good photos", are quite tiresome. Car enthusiasts, photographers, are no different from coffee enthusiasts. Coffee making is a hobby and a passion for me. I've had at least 5 good coffee machines with the SR YOU being the latest and I love the whole user experience and its functionality. Being able to do an almost limitless manual shot and save it is a real stand out feature of this machine. Great video Josh!

[@AlternativeBrewing]

thanks so much Wasim! :D You make a very valid point. I'm with you. unfortunately for most still, coffee is a cheap commodity, and not a passion, and interest or hobby. I love the I love coffee 🫶

[@SpacemanGrechko]

It's nice to know that I have all the same profiling things on a simple $200 lever coffee maker :)

[@AlternativeBrewing]

not quite the same - but just as fun 🫶

[@mattwilliams7454]

Very cool. Great overview. Thanks

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching 😀

[@CremaChris1]

Hi Josh, great walkthrough! You need to get the fan upgrade kit. This upgrades fan to another version (Sunon V4), reduces the rpm and uses standard PC fan silicon plugs to fix the fan to the mount. After that upgrade the fan is almost inaudible. New machines produced after (I think) April 2023 will have the new fan kit installed.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Thanks for the info! 🙌 that'll make a huge difference

[@SMspazzle]

Really cool machine much above my budget looks like it could work in commercial settings

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Absolutely!

[@ballentphoto]

Cool machine, but not enough for me to want to ditch my Flair 58 which came with a bottomless portafilter 😊

[@Laz_Arus]

Thanks for the review Josh. I had seen that model being occasionally used by other content makers but had no idea of the technology within. Although it's well outside my budget, it's good to see manufacturers are making these machines. In the meantime, I'll stick to my Slayer-modded Breville 920 and enjoy some wonderful flavours the latter can produce for around 10% of the Sanremo price. 👍

[@AlternativeBrewing]

I love it! 🙌 thanks for watching

[@antoniokozmas9916]

Just upgraded From a Lm mini to a YOU can’t express the joy 😂 even tho my mini had a slayer shot from specht

[@user-rb5oy3wt4b]

Perfect with eureka atom w 75

[@ccava]

Great review! Informative.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@chartphred1]

Here's a challenge for you. So you've done a review of the most expensive machine (ok, maybe there's more exy ones out there, but... You get my drift right?) What I'd like to see a decent review of an affordable (less than say $300?) Espresso machine that's compact for tiny kitchens, that brews a consistent coffee and that lasts! As I'm sick of my Aeropress, want something better. Especially for the Australian market where our appalling exchange rate sees us being squeezed out so much stuff overseas it ain't funny. Find me a machine that fits that bill and you'd have a sales winner 😊

[@AlternativeBrewing]

ok 👌 A machine for under $300 to do espresso. I know of 1 manual brewer that does this. - the Wacaco Picopresso. I swear by it - but an electrical machine IS a challenge. on it 👌

[@SASmiley]

what kind of group head does the sanremo you have ?

[@eriklundqvist4221]

It’s a custom 61

[@I23n00b]

Thanks for reviewing this machine. You should really have tested all these adjustment options are delivering to specification. I somehow doubt the accuracy of the fancy input display makes it to the output. Also, is that a plastic casing on the group head? I really doubt that will age well. Represents well the consumer market in 2023 but not a very timeless and aesthetic machine I think.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

🙌 Thank you ! yes I did with a Scace device. If I had anything to report. back with - I would have shown this part - however - it was a decision to cut this part out - as I did not feel it added too much to the video - bu just showing how everything ** worked as it should

[@larsthorwald3338]

I'll take two.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

😂

[@nikosgiannakakos9377]

Hi Josh, I got the Sanremo You and I am super excited!!!! I would like to ask you, if you know, the following questions. 1) I put in the cap 18gr, however no matter how fine I grind it it comes out muddy? what's the catch here 2) I have select pre-infusion at 4 bars-5sec, infusion 9 bars and post infusion 6 bars at 5ml. I can't get out more than 32 gr of coffee extract. The finer the grind the more the extraction time (from 28 sec - 45 sec). Do you have any idea what shall I do? thanks Nikos

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Hey Nikos, congratulations! 1) it comes out muddy? -- as in, when you remove the portafilter after the shot -the portafilter is muddy ? - I wouldn't worry too much about about this tbh. There'll always be water retention - you may want to ensure your 3-way valve is cleaned regularly with Machine cleaner - otherwise - keeping the portafilter in there for 1-2 minutes post shot - you'll notice a decent amount of evaporation and puck should be less wet. The fact you have low post infusion means there's not a lot of pressure there forcing retained water in the grouphead back in to the solenoid valve most likely. 2) You will need to increase the amount of (CC) or water that is dispensed in the program. Sounds like it's locked in at 32g every shot. Shot look in the manual / settings to when you adjust pressure and time - you'll also be able to adjust amount of water dispensed - and this you will need to increase 👌 Let me know how you go!

[@Robert.Magdy.]

The car analogy is very accurate 😅

[@AlternativeBrewing]

thanks! 😀 although - I maybe under-selling the Gaggia Classic a little - considering there's Breville, Sunbeam and those sort of machines as well. If you were to take those in to consideration - maybe the Gaggia is a Lexus 😀

[@Robert.Magdy.]

@@AlternativeBrewing hey man, corolla is the bomb! Not literally. It will out last any Bugatti 🤣

[@T3rm3nator]

VBM with coffee profiling says hi

[@lilteyang]

Ahh, don't you just love it when manufacturers include BOTH the double spout and single spout portafilter, but not the bottomless one. It's not as if 95% of people who buy variable pressure/flow machines would prefer a bottomless, right?

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Hahaha 🤣 yea slight disappointment here for sure. I went for the Pesado Portafilter & HE% Basket for a lot of fun

[@lilteyang]

@@AlternativeBrewing the hybrid-style portafilters such as the Pesado should be standard across all manufacturers, IMHO.

[@CremaChris1]

In the latest deliveries the single spout in the kit was replaced by a bottomless portafilter. This happened on user feedback (SR listens to their community).

[@drcasper]

I got here searching for the you vs decent. For those in a similar situation, once you have stop by weight , you can't go back..I was looking for an upgrade to my decent , but I still haven't been able to find one :( . Excellent video . Ty !

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Very true! thanks so much! Stop-by-weight home machines that's the dream 😂

[@tannman357]

Does this mean you like the Sanremo YOU more than you liked your Decent? Can you explain why?

[@JacksBrainStem]

The fan noise has been fixed with the recent hardware and firmware updates. Basically unnoticeable at this point.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

so good to hear - just like the drip tray too 🙌

[@barskuleli8612]

All these technologies are amazing but why they don’t put a scale in drip tray?

[@AlternativeBrewing]

there's a whole bunch of difficulties around this, plus for awhile there's been patents on this exact technology being used across brands - things are beginning to change though - and I can see a day affordable machines will have them

[@falkom6]

@AlternativeBrewing Concerning the hot water mixing you say that the You mixes cold water with water from brew boiler - but i think it mixes cold water with the hot water from steam boiler???

[@AlternativeBrewing]

I had thought there was a pre-boiler to the brew boiler where it was drawing from - though you may be right 🙌 either either it's a very cool function that a majority of machines lack

[@JimboJones99]

I enjoy San Remo pasta

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Hahaha 🤣 me too

[@lesliekorodi70]

NO WAY!!!!

[@mr.rainbowlovescoffee]

To be honest with you that kickstand in the back there. Scared the hell out of me. The price for me is way out of my budget. Love and makes his coffee go for it for some people.

[@Val_Smith]

Cheap espresso homme pressure profile machines? VBM Dommobar super digital 1700 euros in EU.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Yes and no. This is another level - as you have full manipulation of the pressures throughout the brewing. So you’re able to react to changes on the fly and see a lot more information in the display. DGMW The VBM Super Digital is a cool machine and does have programable Pressure Profiling- though not to the level the YOU has

[@Val_Smith]

​@@AlternativeBrewingVBM with the new kit can do it on the fly too. You is superior but costs 4 times as much.

[@mikni4069]

More like a flair 58 it blows the E61 profiling machine on basically all parameters out of the water and at fraction of the price. There been test where it level out even beating 10k machines and the Decent… It’s two biggest issues is volume restraint and well it can’t steam.

[@Val_Smith]

@@mikni4069 repeatability and workflow I may add.

[@s96822]

with 40years espresso experience IMO the Sanremo is more a commercial machine whereas the VBM (that I like a lot) is not meant for commercial use though likely some low volume cafes use it. I think Synesso also has a fancy profiling machine that resembles a Decent. Does the You use a gear pump? wish you would have shown the internals.

[@iskalar1382]

Is the language in the display also in German?

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Yes it can be 👌 but was not in the video no.

[@kellynkarr6270]

Long story short, is this machine worth the price? And is it built internally as well as the others in this price range?

[@AlternativeBrewing]

I would say yes 👌

[@asmith2886]

Does the machine have a built-in scale? From your review I take it that output is measured as millilitres/grams of water from the boiler, so not particularly accurate? Does the machine allow you to Bluetooth an Acaia Luna or similar scale?

[@AlternativeBrewing]

No it does not have this ability to connect to Bluetooth scales - that’s not to say it couldn’t in the future though (Sanremo if you’re listening) And yes, it is a flow meter with millilitres recorded. I was initially disappointed in this programming as it wasn’t straightforward input of 40ml into a customised profile, and I would get 40mls out. I quickly learnt, using scales to dial in, it was a threshold of between 100 and 110mls to achieve 40ml espresso with my 20g dose. One really interesting observation I was making with the bottomless baskets, was that on a 20g dose, the espresso began dripping consistently at 40ml of water dispensed, no matter what pressure or length of time I held the pre-infusion for. So I could lengthen the contact time but evidently not the saturation point of the coffee in basket. Which I’m vaguely aware of is around a 2:1 ratio.

[@timothysweet6791]

Sanremos definitely listening, the mls is a reference marker of the flow meter much the same as 99% of volumetric machines on the market. Inaccuracies will be variables attributed to Normal circumstantial factors to do with both the product n the physical aspect of the extraction ie retention. Ie. a bigger basket then what is required? = inconsistent retention, gas or soluble material ages or changes? = cause n affect. Another reason why gravimetrics is unreliable in terms of consistent espresso result mainly because coffee does not behave in a metric fashion. This was explored extensively with the Sanremo opera as well. Special note you’ll see a lot comments here already suggesting the machine is too complicated n expensive despite being the cheapest digital pressure profile machine on the market. These machines are designed with an incredible amount of effort n thought process not to mention experience to both raise the standards of what’s possible with out compromising on the ability to replicate said extractions. Yes there will always probably be cheaper and more expensive machines out on the market but in terms replicating pressure profile shots this would be very hard to beet. Sanremo You has a face book page for machine owners and passionate coffee folk that have provided interface n usability feedback to Sanremo of which Sanremo has applied but all feedback of course has to be vetted in a way the critical thinking n risk assessment has been applied. The video was excellent well done Josh n we appreciate the comments n input n will weigh n consider all in put, speaking on behalf of many that make up the team around the planet that are listening n watching 🙏🙏🙏

[@asmith2886]

@AlternativeBrewing Thanks for the response Josh. If I were in the market for a machine that profiles, and at this price point, I would want it to effectively compete with the Decent. The lack of a scale or connectivity is therefore disappointing. Your use of a bottomless portafilter highlights another issue. Why do the big brands still manufacture single-spout portafilters when I assume the majority of espresso aficionados, like yourself, would 'bin' this piece of kit and use the bottomless portafilter; a further outlay.

[@marylandflyer5670]

I think it’s underpowered. 1 liter steam boiler is too small if you’re cranking out back to back drinks for 12 people. However, the features of the YOU blow away high end machines like the LM Mini.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

2bars of pressure though- that’s a lot of a higher starting point to power through 3-4 milk jugs easily and then still have time to back it up between making shots - you’re it steaming 12 drinks back to back - if it’s only one person making drinks. This is not a commercial machine 🫶

[@Mandragara]

A cool machine but at that price I could drink the finest geisha coffees everyday for 3 years and still be able to afford a great espresso machine. I think I know where I spend my money

[@yahyaboussebaa4082]

Exactly

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Fair enough!

[@zaynm9854]

8k, man don't even put the word home in the title

[@AlternativeBrewing]

thats fair 🙌 although - if you were to put commercial there instead - tag on another $5-8k easily

[@justinbouchard]

this is cute a.f.

[@justinbouchard]

i would prefer to have the water spout just be a tiny little spout that is under where the portafilter is, rather than having another massive spout hanging off the front

[@coreycannon4511]

@@justinbouchardditto.

[@KNURKonesur]

I'd rather stick to a Flair and spend the remaining 9500$ on beans and supporting the farmers instead of the big rich corporations.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

Yeah I’ve thought about that - the Flair 58 whilst beautiful and fantastic and 10% of the price - hands down that’s a win - the pressure profiling of the Flair 58 versus an electronic pump is not equal. As with the Flair you’re bound to using the back pressure of the puck (grind size) to get to the pressure you want. The Sanremo YOU will hold at any pressure regardless of flow rate and to any yield - whilst the Flair 58 has a very limited yield that does not lend itself to ratios much higher than 2.5:1 shots - (depending on basket size). Not an argument to spend $9000 more for this, just my observations on differences in pressure profiles and what’s possible.

[@The_Coffee_Rabbit_Hole]

Thats also were im at ... i done with that rabit hole , im back to full manual lever machine , mazzer mini ... but i equip myself to home roast and buy top bean and roast them ... a much smarter choice IMO

[@zenadventurer69]

OMG how over complicated and expensive can they make pushing 50 ml of water through 20g of coffee...

[@AlternativeBrewing]

haha! you put it wo well 😂 as the ol' saying goes - there's more than one way to skin a cat !

[@zenadventurer69]

You can say that again. As always, you demystify things so well. I thought the Decent was cutting facets on a turd. But contraptions like this and $10,000 grinders and the like? Things are getting crazy. I’ll take my K Plus and LaPavoni for my coffee and buy a car with the rest…lol. Thanks as always for your thorough and earnest reviews. Very insightful and enjoyable.

[@Serafiniert]

10k does not sound like home espresso.

[@AlternativeBrewing]

It’s very very niche I know. More like a roastery or cupping lab 🙂

[@PoisonShot20]

My partner? What happened to the Wife or girl friend?🤔🤔 I see, slowly degrading the "Family", the pillar of world Society. One sizes fits all kind of Society, just as the godless OWO wants. The only issue for them is that God Is in charge and Will have the last Word!🕊️