Calphalon BVCLECMP1 Temp iQ Espresso Machine with Steam Wand, Stainless

Got an open box as a home office machine. For a bit over $150 it works beautifully. Impressed with how much quieter than delonghi’s compact dedica and my goto gaggia when it comes to steaming milk. Also textures milk reliably and beautifully. The downside is the rather plasticky build, which makes it a relatively light machine. I mainly got it because the 58mm means I can use some old gaggia accessories. Had to get my own portafiler which came to another $30 or so. Well worth it!

I’ve had this machine for two years now and it continues to do everything I need it to do. It’s a simple to use and easy to clean. For the everyday coffee lover, this is the perfect buy. Not as fancy as some of the pricier machines but still impressed with its ability to make a great shot of espresso!

Bought one a year and a half ago for a wedding present for my daughter. She uses it a lot and loves it. I ended up buying one for myself 10 months ago with my Christmas bonus so I could make my own Monday mocha's rather than going to the local coffee shop. I now make myself sugar free vanilla latte's or mochas almost daily. Turning into a bad habit. machine makes a good cup of espresso but I'm no connoisseur. Only complaint is the steamer is slow, it takes a bit to start up and it takes a while to steam milk.

This review is for the Calphalon Temp iQ Espresso Machine with out the grinder. Let me start by saying that I do like this machine and it works pretty well as an entry level machine under $300....if you can get it for that price. I bought my machine a week before Black Friday and only paid $214 new. By December 1st, I noticed that the price shot up to $400. I would never pay $400 for this machine because there are machines with much better features at or near that price point.Some reviewers complained about the steam wand and I'll admit that I had trouble at first. It took some practice to get it exactly right, but now it works great. The game changer for me was to get a thermometer for the milk pitcher. After getting that, I realized that I wasn't letting the milk get to the proper temperature and now it's nearly perfect. Technique is also important so I recommend watching to short how-to videos online.Espresso shots pull pretty good, but there are two things that make significant improvements. First, I bought a scale to weigh my dose. Second is grind freshness. I've been buying coffee from a local store with a grinder and I've noticed that my first few shots taste great and then the quality seems to taper off after a few days. It seems that having your own grinder it very key to getting a good shot (from any machine). Ultimately, this is why I would not pay $400 for this machine because you really need a good grinder so you might as well buy a higher end machine with one included, unless you already have an espresso grinder. Lavazza has a good pre-ground espresso coffee, but again, the quality of the coffee diminishes after a few days of opening the can.This machine comes with pressurized portafilter baskets that are somewhat forgiving on grind size, but I would like to have the option for non-pressurized baskets. So far, I have not found a non pressurized basket that works well. I tried a pro version basket, but the machine does not play well with it and I can't get a good shot to extract. Unfortunately, Calphalon does not currently make any accessories for their machine.So far, I've had no issues with maintenance of the machine and no indication of any problems. It seems to be well built.If you can get this machine for close to the $200 price point then it's definitely a good buy. At the $400 price, you might as well spend a little more and get a better brand that includes a grinder.FYI - This is a completely unpaid, unbiased review by an everyday user of this machine.

I decided replaced a near 20 year old Starbucks Barista Machine. After various repairs(thermostat, prortafilter rebuild kit, Main rubber gasket etc.) the SB machine still worked! I did not enjoy having to prime it after sitting in storage. Loved the parts availability, but it was old and had served me well. The calphalon machine is great. It heats up much faster, auto shut off, steams better and easier tank removal and priming is a non issue. I get some great shots, but like any espresso machine you have to have a good balance of grind, amount, beans, time, tamping etc.. That's part of the fun of making espresso IMO. I have not been disappointed. Unlike my SB machine, there is a pressure release that occurs after your stop the pull, water then drains into the drip tray, so give it a few seconds before removing porta filter. Love this feature as I used to have to wait for the SB to naturally release or it could make a mess with the pressure. I use a very fine grind on my new OXO grinder( 2- 3 setting) that I love, , with a 30lb preset tamper, and very full double/triple basket, 30 second pull and good results most of the time.

Great machine. It's really nice having a grinder plus the ability to switch out the beans easily. Actually very impressed with grinder and settings. Doses very easily. Started espresso at 20 as reccomended only adjusted 2. I read reviews that espresso sprays out of grinder that's NOT true.Makes excellent espresso, whether single hole basket or multiple hole basket.Excellent milk and foam too.Yes, aluminum portafilter a little cheap but works effectively.Lights and buttons plus overall look of machine very nice.Yes, Made in China... But really well thought out machine.

I have had this machine for a year now, and I am still quite happy with it.Everything works well. The frother does a good job with soya milk, which is what I use daily.I have had a lot of espresso makers in the past twenty years, and this is one of the best so far.

This product doesn't have a bean blender, a milk tank or an auto temp turn-off for the steam wand or any fancy gadgets like that.It has a water tank and a steam wand that you have to get a thermometer to put in your milk in order to ensure you have the right temp.You can do one or two shots of espresso that you have to grind in a separate machine.Is this a bad thing?Depends on what you want and your experience. I am a trained barista. I want to make drinks for my nieces I would rather be able to turn off my steam wand at 120 degrees than the machine force the milk to a predetermined temp. Or my mum wants an extra hot London fog? I would rather be able to steam it to 150 for her.Also with fewer gadgets, it's less likely that some gauge or fuse breaks for no reason. It's just simple mechanics in this machine.One troubleshooting thing. If your espresso won't pull fast enough, try and look through your espresso basket. If you can see light through the holes your beans have likely been ground too fine, and the water can't filter fast enough. If you can't see light, try cleaning the basket with a toothbrush, toothpick, or worse case scenario take fire to the holes in your espresso basket, just lightly untill you hear a light popping sound. This is the sound of whatever is in there - old espresso or the plastic from manufacturing - cooking to the point of cracking, the holes in the basket can sometimes be plugged to the point that espresso wont pass through. At least this happened to me.Also invest in a tamper, something that will give you enough pressure to allow for properly pressed espresso.

I've had this for two years now and I love it! Once you get into the rhythm of how this machine works, it's absolutely wonderful. I use it for straight up black coffee. The price point is great as well.

Easy to operate and clean. The grinder also does a good job too.