I want to start off and say the main reason I purchased this unit was for the steam wand. I needed a Diamond Steamer and I didn't want to pay $100 for a Jewel Jet or similar jewelery steamer. I did some research online and on diamond forums and found that the espresso machine steamers produced steam that was capable of cleaning jewelry. For the $37.00 price tag of this machine I decided it was worth a shot. I filled up the machine and did a test run to see how good the steam was and all I have to say is it is more than sufficient to clean jewelry and I give it a huge thumbs up in terms of value versus the stand alone steamer.
Now onto the espresso making part of this machine. It is very simple in terms of its operation. I used to be a former barista and it makes decent enough espresso to be used for lattes, cappuccinos, and americanos because the milk and flavoring mask most bad pulls. Now the flavor of the espresso really is a function of the grounds you choose and the grinder that you have available to you. You will have to experiment with the grind coarseness to match this machine exactly. I just received my unit but I will be experimenting to see what the ECM160 likes in terms of how fine or coarse my grounds need to be. I have read other comments about the ECM160 and blowing up and other places online have addressed this issue and it seems that some users are either tamping much too hard, using too fine of a ground, or not locking in portafilter far enough. Also users need to look under the unit for the rest of the cord. It is just coiled underneath for shipping purposes.
I do wish the wand was longer and could be moved, but I still find it is useful. The plastic steaming attachment really needs to be removed as it is of no help at all. I was actually impressed with this little units ability to froth milk. I created very very thick foam with this unit on the first try using a coffee mug and 2% milk. If you want the really dry foam the trick is to work the tip just underneath the surface of the milk.
The carafe that comes with this unit is fine and if it does break like others have mentioned you always have the option of getting actual espressso shot glasses and using those as a true measurement for each shot.
Now I do wish they would have provided a better tamp and milk carafe but at this price they would probably be junk anyways. My biggest concern is with the portafilter. I have to double check the dimensions but I don't think it is a standard size. It seems a little flimsy and I would like to replace it with a double spout unit if possible. I still have more research to do on this part.
My last recommendation is for everyone knocking the quality of this unit, spend some money on a very good burr grinder such as the Baratza Maestro Grinder. A good burr grinder along with good beans will do a world of difference for your espresso.
All in all I would recommend this unit to people as a cheap espresso solution. It's cheap enough for people to try. It's also a good backup and travel unit. The added bonus is the jewelry cleaner.
There is a newer model of this item:
Discover similar items
Color: Grey
Cup Capacity: Up to 4 Cups
Cup Capacity: 5 to 8 Cups
Product Grade: Commercial Grade
Boiler Material: Borosilicate Glass
Boiler Material: Plastic
& Up
Color: Black
No results available. Please adjust the filters and try again.
$2832
15% off
$109 List: $129.99
$109 List: $149.99
$79
$169
17% off
$39 Typical: $47.99
$179
$119
$69
$99
$129
$359
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
From the manufacturer
Whips up your lattes and cappuccinos to light, frothy perfection
Experience the Taste
Since 1970 the Mr. Coffee brand has been doing one thing and one thing only. ..brewing coffee. No one has served cup after delicious cup to more Americans than us! For us, bringing a rich coffee experience into your home is our top priority. Along with coffee makers, we are here to share everything coffee with you.
Mr. Coffee ECM160 4-Cup Steam Espresso Machine
Equipped with a powerful frother, this machine makes café-rich espressos, and whips up your lattes and cappuccinos to light, frothy perfection.
- Steam Heat forces hot steam through the filter for dark, rich espresso brew
- Frothing Arm makes creamy froth to top off your cappuccinos and lattes
- Easy Pour Glass Carafe serves up to 4 shots with just the tilt of the wrist
- Drip Catcher is a removable, washable drip tray to collect coffee drips and keep brew space neat and clean
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
Delicious Cappuccinos, Lattes and Other BeveragesBrews 20 ounces of espresso into easy-to-pour glass decanter for custom serving sizes from one to four cups. |
Powerful Milk FrotherEquipped with a powerful frother, this machine makes cafe-rich espressos, and whips up your lattes and cappuccinos to light, frothy perfection. |
Glass DecanterGlass decanter with serving measures, stay-cool handle and drip-free spout. Features an easy-pour decanter and a removable froth aid to make clean-up easy. |
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Espresso And Cappuccino Maker | Pump Espresso And Cappuccino Maker | Pump Espresso Maker W/Milk Frother | |
|
|
|
||
| Customer Reviews |
7,710
|
3,706
|
14,429
|
| Price | — | — | $149.99 |
| Great For | Perfect starter espresso machine or a gift espresso machine | Coffee House lovers and Coffee Connoisseurs | Latte and Cappuccino lovers and Espresso Aficionados |
| Pressure | Creates steam pressure of about 3 bars | An electric pump creates about 15 or more bars of pressure | An electric pump creates about 15 bars of pressure |
| Beverage Preparation Time | Fast | Faster | Fastest |
| Taste | Good | Very Good | Great - Achieve Coffee House Quality with true Crema |
| Water Tank | Fixed | Removable | Removable |
| Milk | Manual Steam | Manual Steam | Automatic Frothing with Removable Milk Tank |
| Tools | Glass Carafe, Measuring Scoop/Tamper | Measuring Scoop/Tamper; Filter for Single and Double Espresso | Measuring Scoop/Tamper; Filter for Single and Double Espresso |
Videos
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
Videos for this product
3:31
Click to play video
Two Small & Easy to Use Espresso Machines Compared
☑️ The Stuff We Use
Videos for this product
3:06
Click to play video
Barista Compares Two Small & Fast Espresso Machines
☑️ The Stuff We Use
Videos for this product
0:59
Click to play video
Latte at Home? Mr. Coffee Makes It Easy: WATCH!
The Traveling Producer
Compare with similar items
This Item  Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Steam Espresso System with Milk Frother |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | — | $49.99 | $49.99 | -30% $104.99 List: $149.99 | $45.99 | $99.99 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 1 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 1 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 1 | — | Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 1 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Easy to use | ||||||
| Flavor | ||||||
| Blending power | ||||||
| Easy to clean | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| Sold By | — | RS Home | Fuduosii | Empstorm | LuminousSky | Sunreal Shop |
| capacity | 4 cups | 8.15 ounces | 240 milliliters | 50 ounces | 240 milliliters | 42 ounces |
| material | Stainless Steel | Plastic | Plastic, Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Iron, Nickel, Chromium | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene | Stainless Steel |
| input interface | buttons | buttons | buttons | buttons | buttons | buttons |
| voltage | 110 volts | 120 volts | 120 volts | 120 volts | — | 120 volts |
| wattage | 900 watts | 800 watts | 800 watts | 850 watts | — | 1450 watts |
| model name | Mr. Coffee Old Version Espresso | CM6816 | CM6901 | — | CM6810 | Home Barista |
Reviews with images
Espresso Life, I'm on the first floor now 😀
After years of coffee presses and moka pots, decided to start with a simple espresso machine and two Mr. Coffee models had really good ratings and great price points. (Mr. Coffee 4-Cup Steam Espresso System with Milk Frother & Mr. Coffee Steam Espresso Maker with Stainless Steel Frothing Pitcher.)Set them up for an A/B comparison and ultimately decided to go with the 4 shot system (squared one on right); it started brewing quicker and the frother was stronger and more robustly built as well. They were within $2.00 of each other with coupon too, so it was easy decision. 😉4 stars for now, let me test it out some more and update accordingly.
Top reviews from other countries
Amazon Customer
Great buy! Makes great latte. Better than SBUX
Reviewed in Canada on March 20, 2021
Mark S.
Excellent coffee flavor. Easy to use
Reviewed in Canada on February 16, 2023Marc Soubliere
Good brew, but not expresso like the breville.
Reviewed in Canada on January 10, 2024