I realized a long time ago that you have to spend money if you’d like a quality espresso. There are many options in the premium segment but this machine provides, in my opinion, the greatest value for that money. The coffee comes out extremely fast, hot, and as strong as you’d like. The milk frother is a great to have for those that enjoy the creamier stuff and, having it all built in saves counter space. The style of this machine fits in well with any modern kitchen. I’ve already had plenty of compliments on this machine from some of my European friends who grew up knowing a thing or two about quality espressos. I’ve already convinced one of them to purchase this machine when it becomes more readily available. Excellent machine, but do yourself a favor and feed it some quality coffee!