CuisinartEspresso Bar Slim Espresso Machine, EM-160
Product details
Web ID: 21045424A struggle every morning
I got this slim cuisine, art espresso machine for Christmas and every morning I struggle with the espresso machine, putting the espresso thing on the machine so that I can go it fights with me. It doesn’t wanna lock. It doesn’t wanna turn. It is a struggle every morning.
Customer review from cuisinart.com
Response from cuisinart.com
We’re sorry to hear that you’ve been struggling with the espresso machine—it shouldn’t feel that difficult to attach the portafilter. Your feedback about the locking mechanism will be shared with our product team for review. In the meantime, our Consumer Assistance team can walk you through tips to ensure the portafilter locks smoothly every time. Please contact them at 1‑800‑726‑0190 so we can help make your morning routine easier.
Great starter setup
I watched and rewatched dozens of YouTube videos on the fundamentals of brewing while waiting for the Espresso Bar Slim Espresso Machine to arrive. One thing I forgot about were all the needed accessories. I ordered glasses, portafilter magnetic funnel, coffee bean dosing cup, WDT tool, a stainless steel puck screen *51mm, a solid tamp *51mm, an espresso hand grinder, a coffee scale with timer and of course some really nice coffee from a roaster in Philadelphia. This machine is so easy to use, I only use the double shot setting. Like any espresso machine, the grind is key, once I dialed that in, every cup tastes great. The puck screen I ordered keeps the brew head nice and clean. Steaming is no issue, it works just fine, I decided to order an Electric Milk Frother to make flat whites. If you want to dip your toes in this hobby, this machine gets the job done.
Recommends this product
Customer review from cuisinart.com
Fabulous espresso!
I recieved this as a gift . I replaced my older espresso maker with this one. All I have to say is … amazing!!
Recommends this product
Customer review from cuisinart.com
Great Machine
Great machine do the price. The slim design keeps it out of the way and reduces clutter. The instructions could be better along with some how to videos.
Recommends this product
Customer review from cuisinart.com
Difficult
Why is it so difficult? It takes me 20 tries to get it to work. Very cheap machine, low quality. The instruction manual was not very helpful. The steam has a weird chemical smell.
Customer review from cuisinart.com
Response from cuisinart.com
Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re sorry to hear that your espresso maker has been difficult to use and that the instructions did not provide the clarity you expected. Concerns about operation and the odor you noticed during steaming are important to us, and we appreciate you bringing them to our attention. If you believe your unit may not be working as intended, it is covered by a limited warranty, and our Consumer Service team would be happy to assist at 1-800-726-0190.
Do you want no coffee with your machine?
I got this a christmas present. I love espresso and have had other machines. This one barely drips out coffee. I have to run it multiple times to even get a double shot. I have tried programming it. Nothing works. Do not buy it.
Customer review from cuisinart.com
Response from cuisinart.com
Thank you for sharing your experience and for being a fellow espresso enthusiast. We’re sorry the machine hasn’t delivered the coffee you were hoping for, even after trying to adjust the programming. This unit is covered by a limited warranty, and if you think it may not be working properly, our Consumer Service team at 1-800-726-0190 would be happy to assist you.
Exceptional
This is a high quality home espresso machine. They only issue I have (and this could be my mistake) is that is is difficult to attach the portafilter.
Recommends this product
Customer review from cuisinart.com
Wouldn’t be worth the money if it were free.
This product is junk. It over pressurizes every cup. You get a high pressure stream of diluted water that blows by the grounds aknots every time. I’ve tried different grinds, beans, and tamp pressures. I’ve used a lot of espresso machines, expensive and cheap and this is by far the worst one I’ve even use by a mile.
Customer review from cuisinart.com
Response from cuisinart.com
We’re very sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating this must be. The high-pressure stream you describe may indicate a calibration or maintenance issue, as proper tamping, grind size, and ensuring the portafilter is correctly seated are key to optimal espresso extraction. We’d like to help troubleshoot your unit and ensure it’s performing correctly, or discuss options that may better suit your espresso needs. Please contact our Consumer Assistance Center at 1-800-726-0190 and reference ticket #8900530135 so we can assist you directly, and you’re also welcome to visit Cuisinart.com to explore other models.