Before you buy this or any machine like it, you should ask yourself if you have the time and patience for trials. Especially at the beginning, there will be quite a few trials. Also, by itself, it does NOT make coffee by buying pre-ground coffee. YOU MUST spend almost as much again to get a decent grinder. After all this and after watching several videos about extraction, grind sizes, etc., you will be able to drink coffee and taste all its flavors: rich crema, fruity notes, chocolate, caramel, and strong body. It has nothing to do with what you drink from automatic machines like Nespresso, etc., which do not produce crema but bubbles. After this, even coffee from most cafes will seem bad to you because very few take full advantage of what a professional machine can offer due to wanting to serve people quickly. At first, it may seem like rocket science, but it isn't. Once you learn the process of making coffee, it will just be the 10 minutes the machine needs to heat up.

The ultimate vfm espresso machine for connoisseurs of its preparation. Personally, I believe it is more than sufficient to make good coffee. The absence of PID will not be a concern. As you use it, you learn not to need any kind of temperature assistance. Invest better in a better grinder rather than a machine with PID.
Update 2025: In the end, the milk frothing works just fine by simply removing the extra attachment it has. With a little experimentation, it will always turn out perfect.

Hello there... I was in love with the machine for quite a few years, it was expensive. After a lot of searching and watching several videos, I was sure about the purchase. I struggled a lot to make coffee because I didn't have a coffee grinder, so I had to buy one and spent a lot of money on coffee to learn how to use it. It truly is the best thing I have ever bought, it is high-quality, compact, and has everything it needs to make amazing coffee. However, it is aimed at those who love coffee and have a passion for making it. I don't use it for frothing milk, I prefer to make it with a briki for hot coffee and a mixer for cold coffee.

Lucky.. I bought it for 346€ in January 23rd and in combination with a Muzzer grinder, it has truly amazing results. After experimenting with different types of coffee, it's hard to find a better espresso, only in the best and most sophisticated coffee shops, because there is simply no comparison with the well-known coffee chains.
Not heavy-duty construction, nor fake, I would say it's balanced for home use.
Relatively compact, easy to use, with fast preheating and quiet operation.
I give it 6 stars for 345€, for the current price of 400€, it's a solid 5 stars

The machine does not exist!!! I bought it for my country house since I already have an ECM CLASSICA with PID at home with an E61 group, so I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a second one. THE COFFEE IT MAKES, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ALSO GET THE EXTRA BOTTOMLESS with the larger double basket, is a 9.99/10 at least. Incredible coffee, we're talking about double espresso always (this is also the criterion for those who know how to drink). Of course, it goes without saying that it's always with a grinder. For this price, it doesn't exist!!!

Honest machine. I have had it for just over 4 years. It hasn't given me any problems. It is a manual machine, which means it requires passion and not rushing. If you put effort into it, you can make excellent coffees. I think it is the most affordable and valuable semi-professional machine for enjoying a decent cup of coffee. The downside compared to others is the nozzle for frothing milk. If you mainly drink espresso and occasionally frothed milk, I highly recommend it. If you exclusively drink milk-based drinks, it is not recommended.

It's worth the money and more, I bought it at the end of April for 385 + VAT but it's still worth it. It hasn't had any issues. I make 4 to 5 coffees a day, mainly espresso.
Also, I asked them to send me cleaning instructions via email and they were excellent in everything. Get it with closed eyes, it's a reliable machine, simple. But keep in mind that it's manual, meaning you determine how much extraction you want.

Stainless steel construction, brass boiler, pipes, group, and portafilter. Three-way valve. Essentially a professional machine in miniature. Pressure gauge for proper extraction measurement, ability for backflush cleaning of the group. A machine that will last for decades. Anything cheaper and from another brand is a waste of money. Of course, it also requires an espresso grinder to work properly. Italian design and construction.