Brew a single or double espresso using either ground espresso beans or coffee pods with the Cuisinart programmable espresso maker EM-200. The 15 bars of pressure will make a great espresso with good crema. The milk frother is not the best, but will do the trick. If you mostly drink espresso then this is a great coffee maker for you. Read on for the full review or skip to the user reviews now.

Cuisinart Programmable Espresso Maker EM-200 Features
Programmable espresso maker brews single or double espresso
15 bars of pressure
Uses either ground espresso or pods
Steam nozzle for cappuccino or latte
Pre-programmed cup sizes
4-ounce reservoir
Cup-warming tray
Frothing cup and tamping tool included
Measures 10-1/2 by 9-1/4 by 12-3/4 inches
Weight: 10.6 x 9.2 x 12.8 inches ; 9 pounds
3-year limited warranty
Check out the full feature list here
Review Of The Cuisinart Programmable Espresso Maker EM-200

With the EM-200, Cuisinart lets you prepare gourmet quality espresso at home. With a programmable system that allows you to pre-select the serving size, 15 bars of pressure for maximum flavor including a rich crema, and the option of using ground espresso or pods, you’re in control. There is also a separate steam function and stainless steel nozzle that supposedly make it easy to froth milk for cappuccinos and smooth lattes. More on that later. The removable drip tray and cover, and a portafilter holder with a locking mechanism that makes it easy to dispose of wet grounds after use, clean up is also quick and simple.

The Quest for a Perfect Espresso

It is generally agreed that there are four basic elements critical to the perfect cup of espresso:

Water: When brewing espresso, make sure the water flows through the filter at the correct speed. The water flow can be adjusted by varying the pressure with which the coffee is tamped in the filter or by altering the grind of coffee. If the speed of the water is slow, the coffee will be over extracted and will be very dark and bitter, with a spotted and uneven crema (froth) on the top. If the speed of the water flow is too fast, the coffee will be under-extracted and the supreme flavor will not develop. The coffee will be diluted and there will be an inadequate amount of crema on the top.

Coffee: While the bulk of the liquid is water, all of the flavor should be from the coffee. To achieve the same great quality of coffee you receive at a cafe, you need to use the same quality beans. If you choose to grind your own beans, buy the beans fresh and whole, only about a two week supply at a time for maximum freshness. Once the coffee bean is broken, its flavor degrades very quickly. If it is not practical to buy smaller supplies, we recommend you separate larger amounts of beans and store them in airtight containers in a cool, dry area. They should not be kept for longer than 1 month as flavor will diminish.

Do not refrigerate or freeze coffee beans.
Grind: The grind of the coffee is critical for proper flavor extraction. If using a pre-ground coffee, be sure to purchase an espresso grind that is specifically for espresso/ cappuccino machines. If the grind is too fine, over extraction and bitterness will occur with a spotted and uneven crema on top. If the grind is too coarse, the water will pass through too rapidly and there will be an inadequate amount of crema on the top of the espresso.

Tamping the Coffee Grounds: If you choose to use ground espresso instead of pods with your Cuisinart programmable espresso maker, tamping the coffee is a very important part of the coffee-making process. Use the scoop supplied to fill the filter basket, then using the tamping tool, tamp down the grounds with moderate pressure. Add more coffee and tamp again if necessary to bring coffee to level. Do not overfill the filter basket. The ground coffee should be tamped with moderate pressure. If the coffee is not tamped securely, there is a chance the water will flow through the coffee to rapidly and the coffee will be under-extracted. Note: if the coffee is tamped too firmly, the water will flow through the coffee too slowly and the coffee will be over-extracted.

Reviewed by Deliventura.com