Mr Coffee ECM160 4 Cup Steam Espresso Machine Review

quick stats

manufacturer: mr. brown model #: ecm160 weight: 5.4 lbs dimensions: length: 10.3″ x width: 9.5″ , height: 11.6″ price: around $50 machine type: steam capacity: 20 ounces handling included: no steam jug: no know your grinder rating: 3.5 out of five stars

Reading: Mr. coffee ecm160 4-cup steam espresso machine

As for home espresso machines, Mr. The 4-Cup Coffee ECM160 is one of the most popular entry-level espresso machines and a consistent best seller.

no wonder – mr. coffee has been refining its approach to coffee brewing since 1970.

basically, when talking about mr. 4-cup espresso machine ecm160, we are talking about a very popular model of coffee machine, but, when you reach a certain level of popularity, sometimes you uncover the occasional scandal.

The first thing we will tell you about it is that you should read the instruction manual very carefully. why? because those of us who have been detractors of this unit suspect that they may not have read the manual.

Simple little things like unraveling the power cord to the desired length, which is located under the unit, become apparent if you read the manual.

Apparently some people couldn’t find it. there are numerous such problems, and about 50% could be solved by reading the manual.

Decent espresso maker for the price

Also note that this is an entry level espresso maker and you can usually get it for under $50 on most websites.

makes espresso, lattes, and yes, it makes cappuccinos too.

The carafe holds 4 cups of coffee, which is substantially more than single-cup models, which generally cost more.

When we talk about espresso machines and prices, you should know that a real high-end espresso machine can literally cost you thousands of dollars.

Even spending less than $200 on an espresso machine is considered cheaper if you ask any professional barista.

That said, we’re not here strictly to bust mr. coffee ecm160 only because it is an affordable machine.

it definitely has a growing number of fans for a reason, I mean, in a nutshell, it’s very fast and easy to use, but let’s not misunderstand ourselves here before we continue, this is not high. final espresso machine and the quality is not really comparable to machines that are priced in that range.

characteristics of mr. cafe ecm160 4-cup espresso maker

Before I sound like we don’t like this espresso machine, let’s take a look at what’s great about mr. coffee ecm160.

first of all, it is very light and compact, which is, for an espresso machine, something out of the ordinary with more expensive espresso machines; they are typically large, hulking beasts weighing in at 50 pounds.

Its smaller size is a big selling feature for this machine because not only do you get a machine that brews espresso quickly, but the machine itself doesn’t take up much space on your counter.

Its exact dimensions are 8″ x 6.5″ x 10.5″, and it weighs 1.6 pounds.

so as you can see it’s quite light, but most people consider this a virtue as it means you can move it around with ease.

ready to go out of the box

mr. coffee ecm160 also requires no assembly and is ready to go right out of the box.

this means you don’t need a doctorate in espressoology to have your mr. coffee by preparing a tasty espresso or latte right away.

Still, remember what we said about the manual: You should probably read it first before you start brewing, as you don’t want to end up with a steam burn within five seconds of using this machine.

here is a video tutorial to help you get started, to give you a better visual reference of what mr. coffee ecm160 does.

mr. coffee ecm160 – outside

from the outside, we have to admit that when we look at this mr. coffee ecm160 4-cup express coffee maker, we see a fairly stylized and modern little machine.

In terms of its exterior, you get a sleek glass carafe and a fair amount of stainless steel as well with black (plastic) accents, although it’s important to note that the inside of the kettle is aluminum.

That’s fair, as having a copper boiler would raise the price of the unit quite a bit.

what you don’t get

Please also note that there are a few things missing from this package that may not have been made clear enough in their advertising.

As a result, this has brought the product down a bit with some customers being upset about these things that they feel they were not warned about before purchasing the machine.

For example, if you look at some of the images for this product, you’ll see things like a frothing pitcher, a good portafilter, and a decent espresso tamper in use.

both the tamper and portafilter aren’t the best, and there’s no frothing pitcher.

this is part of the reason why mr. coffee ecm160 is so affordable, because unfortunately they won’t provide you with everything you need to make the perfect espresso.

You can easily improve the quality of your espresso by making a few small upgrades (new handle, new carafe, new portafilter).

looking on the bright side, so to speak, you get a decent espresso maker with the mr. ecm160 coffee, and if you want all the other goodies, you’ll have to seek them out.

here’s a quick video showing how to take a shot of espresso with mr. coffee ecm160.

Unlike their more expensive espresso makers, this is a steam brewer and not a powerful pump bar system for producing espressos at a fast pace.

you have to be a little soft with mr. coffee ecm160: this is not an espresso machine that could be found in a coffee shop.

That said, it does have a reputation for having a steaming frother done right, which is something you’ll probably want to use quite often for your lattes.

please note that this machine has been designed not to produce the proper and highly coveted golden crema, and for this reason espresso lovers reserve the right to despise this machine.

That said, cream isn’t impossible, it just takes a special touch.

mr. coffee ecm160 – the verdict

the end result with mr. coffee ecm160, as far as we are concerned, this is it. it is a better machine for cappuccinos and lattes than for espressos.

This machine just doesn’t have the power to make authentic espresso like coffee shops do.

You need a certain amount of bar pressure for that, and this machine isn’t built that way.

Otherwise, this is a great little espresso machine for the money. it can make lattes, cappuccinos and, although not of the highest quality, espressos.

It’s compact, but it offers a lot for the amount you’ll pay for it. it’s super convenient, works right out of the box, and is hailed as a huge hit by a growing number of coffee lovers.

We highly recommend this machine, but we suggest you read the manual carefully and maybe watch a youtube video or two before you start brewing. – 4 stars!