As part of my consideration to purchase this unit (or most other things), I look at the "bad" reviews and take them into consideration. I was a bit worried after reading them given the price of this machine. For whatever reason, I went against my gut and bought it anyways even though they seemed alarming based on what I read/saw online. And... well, I'm glad I did. If you're new to the world of espresso and considering this machine, hopefully you'll find my rambling helpful...
First off: if you're considering purchasing an E61 HX machine such as this, do some research first! Do understand the cleaning commitment these machines require: daily (wipe down), weekly (backflush with detergent, break down portafilters, scrub the group head, ...), monthly (wash down the water tank, ...), and quarterly/biannually (descale, deeper cleaning). If you are not willing to follow a cleaning regime and use filtered/quality water (to prevent scale), it is not to say this machine is for you... but do not expect the decade(s?) of life out of it that it is otherwise capable of.
Decade(s)? Yeah. That's one of the reasons I invested in this machine. Virtually everything is replaceable and it has a simple design -- very few electronics and simple mechanical design leads to a product that is both built to last and highly repairable. Most things fall into the DIY class and there is certainly no planned obsolescence here. If you are willing to learn/watch YouTube videos, pull out some wrenches, and follow the cleaning regime it requires... this machine will last you a very, very, very long time.
Somebody earlier mentioned about how it "leaks and steams". Just open the steam valve for a bit if you haven't made a shot in ~30m+. There's also an attachment you can screw into the E61 stem that will show you the temperature of the brew water that you can use to help guide you decision making here. There's also a green "ECO" button under the lower right side of the unit that you can use to have it shutoff after ~90m (don't quote me) to prevent it from getting out of hand if you are busy and leave it on.
Other thing that you will need: PATIENCE, a quality grinder, and a cheap scale (you will need to get a rough idea of how much 9g of coffee is for a single and 18g of coffee is for a double... and then to measure/time how long to produce 18 or 36g of espresso, respectively -- you want it to be somewhere in the range of 20-30s extraction time). Do NOT cheap out on a decent grinder (another $200-300 investment). Do NOT expect to be pulling world-class shots out of this thing on day one or be switching coffee beans all the time. For someone who's brand new to the world of espresso, I thought I understood these things... until I got this machine, and was humbled. The first few shots I pulled had no crema and it was a bit frustrating between all the steps I was trying to internalize and follow. It took me a bit to realize the default suggested grind setting was wholly inappropriate for the bean I was using, and that I had to go way finer on the grind. As soon as I did... I pulled a shot with a ton of crema. From there, the taste and scale/timer let me hone in the grind setting to figure out what was right for the bean, and at that point I was glad that I had invested in a $300 grinder. And honestly, I would not consider myself a coffee snob... in fact, I started with regular, store-bought espresso beans because I figured they would be good to practice on.
I really have no regrets with this machine. Probably the most annoying aspect that I did not account for is the grind cleanup. Even if you're fairly neat, you'll be wiping down the countertop of your coffee station daily or at least every few days. I do not mind it... but again, plan for a little bit of a time investment with these machines. The end result is worth it in my opinion.
The one "downside" of this particular E61 variant I have seen online is that the brew pressure runs a bit high out of the box. I cannot independently validate this claim. Supposedly you want 9 bars of pressure and these units deliver ~13 bars, which results in bitter shots. You can remove the water filter and some of the screws on the top to expose something adjustable with a wrench, but I have not bothered yet as I did not purchase the add-on to measure the brew pressure before doing so. It still delivers outstanding coffee out of the box compared to what I am used to, though some fine-tuning may be required in the future. Some of the other E61s reviewed do not require this level of tuning if it something you want to avoid... go look at YouTube to see which ones.
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Product Description
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Modern LookThe Nera's case is finished in resilient black powder coat. The new black case design helps differentiate the Appartamento Nera from the other mostly chrome E61 boxes. |
Compact CaseThe Appartamento is a compact espresso machine designed for environments where space is at a premium. The Appartamento's compact 10"x17" footprint makes it one of the smallest prosumer machines on the market. |
All ManualBrew and steam controls are all analog for hands-on brewing. The Nera's all manual control layout encourages you to perfect your barista technique. |
Excellent EspressoThe 1.8-liter HX boiler allows for simultaneous brewing and steaming. The Appartamento's prosumer design means that—once you get your technique down—shots will be consistently delicious. |
Rocket Design
The Appartamento Nera is a stellar espresso machine that brings you a heated E61 brew group, pro-style steam, and hands-on brewing. All of these features strike at the sort of creature comforts that come with a commercial machine. Rocket engineers optimised the chassis and layout of the internal components without compromising on the quality and features you expect from Rocket Espresso.
Brewing in Style
The Appartamento was already a gorgeous machine before the Nera, but the Nera really kicks things up a notch more. The signature cut-out side panels on the Appartamento give it a unique look even among stainless steel Italian machines. Beyond that, the tactile controls and gorgeous lines on this machine make it a wonderful addition to your countertop.
Prosumer Performance
The Appartamento Nera's heat-exchanger boiler allows for simultaneous milk steaming and brewing, giving you quick drinks with a snappy workflow. When paired with the right grinder, it can produce very high-quality shots that can rival just about any machine on the market with enough practice. The E-61 grouphead contributes to this, offering temperature stability with its boiler-heated design.
Features
- Black Powder Coat
- Heat exchanger Boiler Design
- E61 Group Head
- Vibration Pump
- No-Burn Steam Wands
- All Manual Control
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| Rancilio Silvia Pro X Espresso Machine | Diletta Bello+ Espresso Machine | Rocket Espresso Appartamento Nera Espresso Machine | Stone Mine Premium Espresso Machine | Ascaso Steel DUO PID, Programmable Espresso Machine | |
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| Customer Reviews |
210
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44
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22
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| Price | $1,990.00 | — | $1,800.00 | $1,399.00 | — |
| Skill Level | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Boiler Design | Dual Boiler | Heat Exchanger | Heat Exchanger | Heat Exchanger | Thermoblock |
| Boiler Material | Brass | Stainless Steel | Copper | Brass/Copper | Stainless Steel-lined Aluminum |
| Boiler Volume | 0.3L Brew | 1L Steam | 1.8L | 1.8 L | 1.5L | |
| Cup Clearance | 4 inches | 4 inches | 3.5 inches | 3.5 inches | 3.5 inches |
| Pre-Infusion/Aroma | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Available Portafilters | Non-Pressurized, Bottomless | Non-Pressurized, Bottomless | Non-Pressurized, Bottomless | Pressurized | Pressurized, Non-Pressurized, Bottomless |
| Programmability | Manual | Moderate | Manual | Manual | Moderate |
| Reservoir Size | 2L | 3L | 2.5 L | 1.2L | 48 ounces |
| Dimensions (in) (WxDxH) | 10x16.5x15.25 | 11x17.75x14.5 | 10.5x17x14.25 | 8.8x17.3x14 | 10.5x17x14.25 |
Videos
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Rocket Espresso Milano
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Compare with similar items
This Item  ROCKET ESPRESSO MILANO Rocket Espresso Appartamento Nera Espresso Machine, White |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | -5% $1,800.00 List: $1,900.00 | $1,349.00 | -20% $799.95 List: $999.95 | $1,990.00 | -5% $523.17 List: $549.00 | -25% $559.95 List: $749.95 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Monday, May 20 | Get it May 15 - 17 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 17 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 17 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 17 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Easy to clean | ||||||
| Blending power | ||||||
| Easy to use | ||||||
| Flavor | ||||||
| Sold By | Seattle Coffee Gear | Seattle Coffee Gear | Amazon.com | J.L. Hufford | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| capacity | 1.8 liters | 2 liters | 67 ounces | 300 milliliters | 2.1 liters | 64 ounces |
| material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel, Brass | Stainless Steel, Plastic, Brass | Stainless Steel |
| input interface | — | buttons | touch screen | buttons | buttons | dial |
| voltage | 120 volts | 120 volts | 120 volts | — | — | — |
| wattage | 1200 watts | 1600 watts | 1680 watts | 1000 watts | 1200 watts | 1600 watts |
| model name | Appartamento Nera | Mio | the Barista Touch™ Espresso Maker | Silvia | Gaggia Classic Evo Pro | BES870XL |
| weight | 58 pounds | 28 pounds | 12.2 kilograms | — | 20 pounds | 23 pounds |
Reviews with images
One of the best things you'll do for yourself.
Check to see that the top is loaded with your favorite cups on your way to bed and wake up ready with nice warm cups and a brilliantly designed machine to prepare a deliciously elegant cappuccino in mere seconds. What better way to start your day? And then there's Affogato for dessert...Update: Don’t for forget to check/turn on the eco switch (underneath machine on right). Not doing so may cause the machine to over heat. I made this mistake and had to reset the thermostats which meant removing the top panels to access. Easy to do but, it just takes a few minutes.I have subsequently pressure tested my machine and found it at 13 bars - too high. Brought it down to 9 bars. Installed a flow control which gives an extraordinary degree of control when pulling a shot.Last but not least, after testing and adjusting the pressure to 9 bars (which will pretty much remain static), I installed a thermostat as, if left idling too long, the water in the group head can reach almost boiling. The thermostat allows you to purge some of the water until it comes down to about 191-193.I also installed a digital timer device which switches the machine on 30 or 40 minutes before I wake to ensure the machine is ready for me when I get downstairs and shuts off at about mid morning. I can override the device at any time (ie: after dinner, cleaning) by using an app on my phone.Maintenance is very important to any espresso machine, weekly inspections, bi-weekly group head cleaning/back washing, bi-monthly water tank cleaning (This is where I throw in a new filter pod, also very important - Seattle Coffee has them)It has been several months and I can tell you that these are must have mods and they're relatively inexpensive and very easy to install.Additionally, you’ll want to order the really super nice and sturdy SS cup bar Seattle Coffee) to replace the flimsy plastic one that it comes with.Overall, I really love this machine.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2023
Update: Don’t for forget to check/turn on the eco switch (underneath machine on right). Not doing so may cause the machine to over heat. I made this mistake and had to reset the thermostats which meant removing the top panels to access. Easy to do but, it just takes a few minutes.
I have subsequently pressure tested my machine and found it at 13 bars - too high. Brought it down to 9 bars. Installed a flow control which gives an extraordinary degree of control when pulling a shot.
Last but not least, after testing and adjusting the pressure to 9 bars (which will pretty much remain static), I installed a thermostat as, if left idling too long, the water in the group head can reach almost boiling. The thermostat allows you to purge some of the water until it comes down to about 191-193.
I also installed a digital timer device which switches the machine on 30 or 40 minutes before I wake to ensure the machine is ready for me when I get downstairs and shuts off at about mid morning. I can override the device at any time (ie: after dinner, cleaning) by using an app on my phone.
Maintenance is very important to any espresso machine, weekly inspections, bi-weekly group head cleaning/back washing, bi-monthly water tank cleaning (This is where I throw in a new filter pod, also very important - Seattle Coffee has them)
It has been several months and I can tell you that these are must have mods and they're relatively inexpensive and very easy to install.
Additionally, you’ll want to order the really super nice and sturdy SS cup bar Seattle Coffee) to replace the flimsy plastic one that it comes with.
Overall, I really love this machine.
Color: CopperStyle: ClassicVerified Purchase
One of the best things you'll do for yourself.
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2023
Check to see that the top is loaded with your favorite cups on your way to bed and wake up ready with nice warm cups and a brilliantly designed machine to prepare a deliciously elegant cappuccino in mere seconds. What better way to start your day? And then there's Affogato for dessert...Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2023
Update: Don’t for forget to check/turn on the eco switch (underneath machine on right). Not doing so may cause the machine to over heat. I made this mistake and had to reset the thermostats which meant removing the top panels to access. Easy to do but, it just takes a few minutes.
I have subsequently pressure tested my machine and found it at 13 bars - too high. Brought it down to 9 bars. Installed a flow control which gives an extraordinary degree of control when pulling a shot.
Last but not least, after testing and adjusting the pressure to 9 bars (which will pretty much remain static), I installed a thermostat as, if left idling too long, the water in the group head can reach almost boiling. The thermostat allows you to purge some of the water until it comes down to about 191-193.
I also installed a digital timer device which switches the machine on 30 or 40 minutes before I wake to ensure the machine is ready for me when I get downstairs and shuts off at about mid morning. I can override the device at any time (ie: after dinner, cleaning) by using an app on my phone.
Maintenance is very important to any espresso machine, weekly inspections, bi-weekly group head cleaning/back washing, bi-monthly water tank cleaning (This is where I throw in a new filter pod, also very important - Seattle Coffee has them)
It has been several months and I can tell you that these are must have mods and they're relatively inexpensive and very easy to install.
Additionally, you’ll want to order the really super nice and sturdy SS cup bar Seattle Coffee) to replace the flimsy plastic one that it comes with.
Overall, I really love this machine.
Images in this review
