My husband and I are big time coffee lovers and we enjoy all different ways of brewing. We have your basic drip coffee maker, a cold brew for the fridge, an espresso pot I use on the stove, and of course our burr grinder for fresh beans... but this machine makes brewing espresso, lattes, and cappuccinos so simple!! I grind my beans directly into the portafilter and brew with just the press of a button! The milk steamer and frother is simple to use and clean. I haven't tried using the pods for the portafiler, but I may buy some to have on hand for when we run out of beans. This is a great espresso maker and it is very simple to use, we love it!