GE Profile - Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with 15 bars of pressure, Milk Frother, and Built-In Wi-Fi - Black

This is an easy to set-up and easy to use espresso machine that just works as advertised. Set up, from box to counter took all of 15 minutes and I was ready to make a cup. Simple instructions and simple to use, this espresso machine has it all, including a frother! You get the ability to adjust the fineness of the grind and will take a few tries to get the right taste you’re looking for. The unit comes with a variety of filters for both single shot and double shot. By far one of the best espresso machines I’ve owned.

We have had the same espresso machine in our house for the past two years and decided it might be time for a refresh and upgrade since we use ours so often. We decided on the new GE Profile Semi-automatic Espresso machine because of the known brand name and Wi-Fi capabilities. Unpacking and setting up the espresso machine was very simple with minimal reliance on the instruction manual, perhaps because we have had several espresso machines in the past. The GE Profile espresso machine has a modern, high-tech look with a gloss black finish on most of the machine and, when you turn the machine on, the flush touch panel buttons light up showing you when the machine is primed and ready for use. All you need to do now is add espresso beans in the top hopper, adjust the hopper to the type of grind you prefer (course or fine to change flavor between bitter and sour taste), pour water in the back container and you are ready to make espresso. Having Wi-Fi functions built into the espresso machine allows you to connect to your home/office Wi-Fi system through the smart device application so you can monitor the machine’s status, report any issues regarding your device, etc. I did receive a few false alerts via app notifications after setup so perhaps there are some bugs to work out in the software or the device itself once it gets settled after use. After using the Wi-Fi functions and the GE application, I never really found any use for Wi-Fi in an espresso machine, or any coffee maker for that matter, and that’s coming from someone who’s entire house is connected and loaded with tech. After a few test runs, I thought I was settled in with our new machine… and then the problems started shortly thereafter. I had made a few espresso drinks over the first couple of days, adjusting the grinds for a different taste, using the single and double shot options, and for hot and cold drinks. Keep in mind, I am very conscious about cleaning my machine after EVERY use, making sure the grind is dry before starting a new espresso and everything else it says to do in the manual. Within three days of use the machine showed signs that it did not have enough pressure to push hot water through a fine grind. I determined in order to avoid this from continuing to happen, I had to adjust the grind of the espresso on the turn dial at the base of the espresso bean hopper to a more course grind. After brewing a few fine grind espressos, the grinder backed up to where it stopped working altogether and the machine notified me there was an error. Therefore, I had to perform the troubleshooting steps in the instruction manual by taking the hopper and grinder apart to clear everything out using the provided cleaning tool/brush. However, using just the included tool was not enough to clear the grinder out so I had to use a screwdriver to clear out the rest of the compacted espresso from both the top and bottom of the grinder. After about an hour of figuring out what went haywire and manually cleaning the three-day old machine out, it was finally back in operating condition. Besides the struggles I had with the problems that occurred during the first few days, the taste of the espresso itself really did fluctuate substantially when you adjusted the grind and I could just never get it quite right to my pleasing. After all was said and done, we ended up returning to our old faithful two-year-old espresso machine that never gave us any of these issues with the built-in grinder, not having enough pressure to push water through or never quite knowing whether I was going to end up with a sour or bitter pour of espresso. Unfortunately, because of the problems we had with the simple task of making espresso and the time and effort it took to troubleshoot the issues on a new product, we weren’t exactly pleased with the GE Profile Espresso Machine.

I’ve had this for about a month now. Making daily espresso. grinder works fine. People need to research more on the mechanisms and how they work. Only adjust grind settings while grinder is on. Especially when going finer. This helps avoid beans getting stuck in the process, which leads to jamming the grinder. I am giving 4 stars due to lack of consistency and app compatibility. I got this because I wanted a more modern machine and it seemed like a great addition to my smart home. It would be amazing if you could actually turn on the machine from the app to allow machine to get to temp. It has auto-off anyway. In addition, I there seems to be a delay when adjusting settings via app to apply to machine , doesn’t seem immediate, I always reset the machine when adjusting to be sure changes are applied. As for the consistency concern, I use adequate tools and scales to narrow down my variables for inconsistencies, yet it seems like the pressure of the machine varies, but still does the job. I’ve narrowed it down to internal heat temp. Typically, if the machine is on for 30 + mins , I can get perfect shots , back to back. Yet, if I only wait for the factory set preheating time, it doesn’t seem to get to pressure nor extraction temps. Overall it is a beautiful machine and I would recommend for anyone starting an espresso hobby. I purchased on sale during Christmas, so It was definitely worth it.

It is a nice espresso machine, the grind button stopped working after a year. GE replaced it for us and this one works much better. From reading the reviews it’s hit or miss. We got a ton of use out of it before it crapped out and they even replaced it! Happy camper :)

This GE Profile Semi Automatic is the first espresso machine that I’ve owned and I’m impressed. Right out of the box, you can tell it’s well made given how heavy it is. Its black exterior and metal accents should fit in with most kitchen designs/ decor. Most high touch items/ points on the machine are made of metal, including the tamper, portafilter, milk pitcher, and steam wand. Love that for durability sake. It’s also easy to set up. Just take off the packing tape, attach the bean hopper, fill the water tank, plug in, and you’re off. Brewing a shot of espresso is equally as easy and also a lot of fun. Just hit the grind button, tamp your coffee grounds, then brew. There’s something incredibly satisfying about tamping coffee grounds until they are perfectly level. I will personally always seek out semi-automatic espresso machines in the future for that satisfaction alone. In terms of flavor profile and consistency, I think this machine does well. Every brew that I’ve enjoyed thus far with the grinder set to ~7 has tasted great, but I’m also not a coffee connoisseur. This is definitely one of those more subjective things. For those who are amateurs like myself, I think you’ll be impressed. One thing I am definitely not consistent with is frothing. While the frother is easy to operate with the wand and dial, I cannot seem to froth milk consistently. I’m sure that will come with time and additional practice. And don’t even get me started on latte art. That may never happen. When it comes to the GE Profile’s usability overall, it works very well as a stand-alone machine. Button layout is intuitive and the touch panel is perfectly responsive. Heating water isn’t instantaneous, but I personally don’t need it to be. It is compatible with the SmartHQ app, but is it really? The app adds little to nothing to the overall usability of the machine and doesn’t allow you to set brew times, which I feel would be a major reason for using an app in the first place. Not to mention you must create an account to use the app. I’m not about creating additional accounts that I’ll inevitably lose my password to in about 2 weeks. I’d much rather just use the physical machine to brew an espresso when I want one. With this particular setup, you should plan to as well. Ultimately, the things that I find to be standouts with the GE Profile Semi Automatic Espresso Machine are the build quality and color, ease of setup and use for beginners, and the fact that it comes with almost everything you need to use it, including a cleaning kit and cleaning solution. The only thing this kit does not include is espresso cups, but those are easy to find and they are fairly inexpensive. Given the cost of espresso at major coffee chains, buying a machine that allows you to make the same thing at home is a no brainer. Yes, the up-front cost is more, but over years of use, you’ll be saving hundreds if not thousands of your hard-earned dollars. The GE Profile Semi Automatic Espresso Machine is a great choice.

With smart appliances continuing to improve over time, it’s good to see the start of the day (or a midday shot of caffeine) can be had on demand. Ge has oped to pair those who love espresso with a smart app and wifi connectivity to allow for greater customization of how you enjoy your caffeine fix. In the box you’ll find the GE Espresso Maker, an accessory cleaning kit, a bean hopper, metal tamper, a milk pitcher, a portafilter with various sized filters, and some water hardness strips. You’ll need to install a free app called SmartHQ in the app store, which will offer greater flexibility in how your drink is made; even allowing you to adjust the grind time for single and double shot grinds. Setting up the maker is fairly straightforward, simply unpack, install the bean hopper, and remove the water reservoir for cleaning and filling. The app walks you through setting up and pairing the maker on for use in the app. I will warn you, the firmware updates take quite a long time to install. The first update took over 10 minutes, and a follow up update took almost half an hour to fully install. During the installation process, you can still use the device; although it will restart once the update is complete. I will stress that the app is really necessary to have the best experience. I found the default settings for grind time were a bit too long, leading to messy grinds during my first time of use. You can adjust the overall time in seconds for single and double shot grinds, after which using the single press buttons will yield the desired result, with minimal mess. I was also surprised at the overall build quality of the device. The hopper easily installs into place, and twisting it allows you to select the desired grind of your favorite coffee beans. The Portafilter Cradle does a great job of holding the Portafilter as it grinds, and once you’ve figured out how to place it, you’ll find it takes only a few seconds to go from grind to using the tamper, and placing the unit into the head for brewing. The attached steam wand can be positioned slightly to allow you to place into the milk pitcher, and the turn dial on the right hand side engages the steam. The touch controls were responsive, and I appreciated the simple to read indicators on the front panel. You’ll notice a light up bar on the front panel notifying you of the various steps along the way. I did get a couple of “overpressure” errors during my first use, which simply required that I adjust the grind time, as I’d used too much coffee. You’ll also notice it’s incredibly difficult to place the portafilter if you’ve overfilled it with coffee. Overall, if you’re an espresso lover, this is a solid buy. It’s a bit pricey for a single purpose espresso machine, but if you’re wanting a similar experience to a cafe style espresso, you won’t go wrong with this machine. The update process is a bit long, but once it’s done you’re ready to start making espresso. Cleaning the machine is easy, given the cleaning kit is located inside the drip tray. I can’t stress just how great this machine is.

Makes great espresso shots and is easy to use/setup.

~~Short version~~ This GE Profile Semi-Automatic Espresso machine is capable of making a great cup of espresso, a wonderful americano, or a tremendous latte. The machine is a handsome countertop appliance that shows thoughtfulness of design and attention to detail. For lack of a better word, it feels and looks as "premium" as you would expect from GE Profile. However, it takes some getting used to the settings to produce good results, and the app experience is fairly miserable. Still, it's worth a look if you'd like a fine appliance capable of making some truly delicious barista-quality coffee at home. ~~Pros~~ • All-in-one design replaces up to 3 stand-alone appliances (espresso, grinder, frother) • Clearance to fit a normal-sized coffee mug under the portafilter • Multiple baskets to customize the brewing experience to your desires • Excellent steam wand design that allows adjustment and use in multiple positions • Capable of producing a terrific cup of coffee • Bean hopper is airtight and protects from UV light ~~Cons~~ • Grinder typically drops grounds around the basket, even at the lowest grind time setting • It's hard to dial in the right brewing volume, and volume is sometimes less than stated • Brewing temperature is not adjustable, but produces good espresso • App experience feels unfinished and there is no integration with Google Home ~~Full review~~ I was very excited to get this espresso machine, because I currently use both a manual espresso machine and burr grinder, and my wife also sometimes uses an electric milk frother. To have all these small appliances combined in one medium-sized appliance sounded like a wonderful thing. Additionally, I was excited by the promise of wi-fi smart features, because I plugged my previous manual espresso machine into a wi-fi smart plug. I had it set to turn on at the same time as my morning alarm using a Google home routine, so the boiler would be hot by the time I stumbled into the kitchen. In practice, it took a good couple of weeks to get used to using this automatic espresso machine, and there are still a couple of quirks I'm not entirely happy with. First, it's hard to get the machine to push out as much espresso as it says it will. It helps to run an empty basket first and then run one with grounds. It also helps to tamp the grounds exactly the right pressure. This wasn't an issue with my former, manual espresso machine, because I could just let it brew to my desired volume. Second, the grinder dispenses the grounds into the basket, but because of their nature, they fluff up and exceed the capacity of even the double basket. This leads to a small amount of grounds spilling onto the surface of the drain grate. I've adjusted grind time down to the lowest setting for a double espresso, but there are still small amounts spilled during each grind. Third, I was concerned about the brewing temperature. My first attempts with the machine produced espresso at around 135 degrees Fahrenheit, which is too low. I think it was partly because of the machine being new and partly because I was using water right out of the tap. That's pretty cold in February. Now, after a couple weeks of use, I've got the grounds mostly dialed in. I brew the espresso straight into my mug (instead of espresso shot glasses), then add hot water from the steam wand. I can make a wonderful americano this way, at around 165 degrees Fahrenheit, which is perfect for drinking right away. With my previous machine, I'd brew the espresso and add water from an electric kettle at 185 degrees. I'm getting use to the lower temperature, and one benefit is that it extracts espresso with less of the bitter chemical compounds present in a higher temperature extraction. My wife, who prefers dark roast Illy espresso in the airtight canister, says this machine has produced the best home-brewed coffee she's ever tasted. After my many adjustments, I am finding it fairly delightful myself. Furthermore, I'm looking forward to trying out new combinations of grind size and timing and brewing time. Oh, and speaking of the steam wand: it is a marvelous little invention, with silicon on the articulation point that allows you to reposition it even while hot. It is a joy to use, as is the dial on the right side of the machine that switches the machine from brewing mode to hot water dispensing or steam. Finally, the wi-fi "smart" functions on the GE Profile machine are limited to linking with GE's SmartHQ app to change the grinding and brewing length, along with water level notifications that always come through after the machine reports low water during use. The app is also set to report when the machine needs a descaling treatment, which is a nice thing to have. There is no way (currently) to use the app to turn the machine on and off, nor to link it to Google Home for routines as I used my smart plug for. I hope GE's software engineers will take the feedback that it seems many people have about the smart functions of this machine and provide some firmware updates that allow it to go from barely smart to truly integrated into the modern smart home.

I had the opportunity to choose either the GE automatic or the semi-automatic espresso. I thought that this unit would have more flexible options, but it really didn’t live up to my reality. The unit is quite attractive, even though it’s a completely plastic construction. It has a touch interface (I wouldn’t call it a screen). The front is quite sleek and reflective. The footprint for the machine, though, is quite large. It’s about the same size as similar units – it might be even larger. It’s hard to move so that I can access the reservoir; I’m glad that it does hold quite a bit of water, so I don’t have to do that often. I included a photo to show that it does clear an upper cabinet. It has a bean hopper with conical burr grinder. The rest of the top is designed to rest the accessories on, with a circle designed to hold the tamper. If that is supposed to be a cup warmer, it didn’t seem that warm to me. The unit has wi-fi capability and works with the SmartHQ app. You will need to set up an account on that app to complete the espresso maker set up. I don’t know why it has an app, though. Probably to say it has an app…? It was a disappointment for me. Your options to “customize your drinks” are to control the grind time, volume, and volume of hot water. It will tell you when it’s time to descale the unit. The “recipes” are all for their other SmartHQ appliances, not the espresso maker. It advertises being able to be used with Alexa or Google Voice. I set it up with my Alexa, and there are NO voice commands listed for the SmartHQ skill that is for this machine. The closest are commands for a standard coffee maker. On their site specific to SmartHQ appliances, this unit isn’t even listed. Where is the option to have an espresso brew at a set time, like when you wake up? Why can’t I adjust the temp of the hot water? It’s advertised as having this additional feature of (near) instant hot water. I used this feature to make a cup of tea (husband not a coffee drinker). It wasn’t hot enough. Seems like a simple add to me. Measuring is accurate. I poured my espresso into a measuring cup to double check the volume. My single shot was 1 oz, double was 2 oz, as the app was set for. I used French Roast beans from a local coffee chain to make an Americano. You can set the hopper to grind to a certain number – I choose 7 (range is from 5 to 15). The flavor was good. Not the best I’d ever had, but it was fair. The frother/hot water dispenser is movable away from the machine. You have to use this clunky knob, though, to use this feature. Off is in the middle, Hot Water is up and Frother is down. This couldn’t be a touch interface like the rest of the machine? I have the dispenser set via app to 8 oz. fill. It was nice to set a cup down and have the hot water fill while I walked away. I had no issues with overfill. It comes with a cleaning kit that is stored under the drip pan. If you are looking to channel your inner James Hoffman, this machine is not it. That isn’t to say that it’s a bad unit by any means, but don’t expect much more out of it that you would get out of any other espresso machine.