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

I am a newbie to the world of espresso machines, although I have enjoyed espresso and its variants for many years. And as far as simple espresso is concerned, all I really knew about it was that it was something you asked the barista to add to your regular coffee. I knew there were machines designed specifically for making espresso, but in my world, those machines were way too complicated for the average person. Several months ago I had the opportunity to visit a friend of mine who had invested in an espresso machine. I was fascinated by the process, and yet relieved at how seemingly simple it appeared to be. So I decided to get the GE Profile semi-automatic espresso machine, and enter into this fascinating world on my own. When the machine arrived at my house, I was impressed by how safely the machine was packaged for shipping. As most of us know, package carriers are not what they used to be, and it is a crap shoot as to whether or not a package will arrive undamaged. GE certainly took this to be a challenge to overcome, and overcome they did. It was packaged so well that it would have taken nothing short of being ran over by one of the delivery trucks to actually inflict any damage. As you open the product box itself, you will notice several items inserted into the styrofoam shipping material. At first it was a bit "intimidating" as I removed each item from inside of the box. There were several stainless filters, a very heavy tapping tool, a milk pitcher for frothing with a capacity of 300 ml, a filter holder, and the coffee bean hopper, the cleaning products and water testing kit, and ultimately the espresso machine itself. Everything is made of stainless steel, and of superior quality. It was at that point I realized my simplistic thinking of espresso-making was quite misguided, and that I was ill-prepared for what I though was going to be a simple "plug-and-play" experience. After removing all the items from the box, it was time to assemble the espresso machine. The first thing I had to do was to remove all the shipping safeguards, such as tape, and other protective items. After reading the quick-start guide, it was time to give everything a quick cleaning for its first use. Putting everything together was easy enough as I followed the quick-start guide. HOWEVER, I should point out that it is very important to not simply glance over the instructions, but to actually read them and follow all the steps. The reason I say this is that there is a plug in the reservoir receptacle that must be removed prior to use. I did not remove it, and once I filled the reservoir itself with water, it began to leak. This led me to believe the machine had been damaged during shipping, but as I took the reservoir off and began to examine it for damage, that is when I noticed the very brightly colored orange plug. Feeling a bit foolish, I removed it, and that immediately solved the leaking issue. Now, as I mentioned, I felt a bit intimidated by the sheer number of items included with the machine, not really knowing what each of the pieces was for as I inspected them. But that was somewhat dwarfed by the uncertainty of "Well, what am I supposed to do now?!" So, like most others in this situation, I took to YouTube. And to my joyous surprise, GE has actually posted several videos outlining the setup and usage of the espresso machine. After watching them several times, I felt somewhat qualified to actually attempt to make an espresso. In anticipation of the arrival of the GE Profile S.A. espresso machine, I purchased a bag of coffee beans from the supermarket. It was a bag that was specifically labeled for espresso use. So, I opened the bag, and poured the whole beans into the hopper until it was full. The next thing to do was to decide on whether I wanted a single or double espresso. Always being one for excess, I chose the double, single-wall filter, and placed it into the portafilter. Placing the portafilter into the appropriate spot presented me with a bit of confusion as I thought it was supposed to fit tightly and snugly, but I wasn't able to figure out how to do this. Turns out, the portafilter fits loosely in a slot underneath the grinder itself, and is not designed to fit snugly. The instructions dictate that in order to grind enough beans for a double espresso, you must hit the "Single/Double" switch twice in rapid succession. For a single, it only takes the one tap of the button. After hitting it for what I hoped was in the correct manner, the machine began to grind. After it finished, and I pulled out the portafilter, I noticed the filter was not very full. Another lesson learned...after pouring the beans in you need to stir them around a bit to make sure they get down into the grinder itself. Otherwise not enough beans will be ground. So I repeated the process after stirring the beans, and the filter came out filled quite heapingly. At this point you have to tap the portafilter on a hard surface to force the ground coffee to settle into the filter. You then use the tamper to flatten the grounds until all the air pockets have been eliminated. If you don't do this, the pressurized hot water will simply travel through those little "tunnels" and will leave much of the grounds untouched by the water. The foibles of physics! After brushing off all the excess grounds from off the portafilter, the grounds are then placed into the brew side, and twisted into place to securely seal the grounds for brewing. There is an option for "Single" or "Double." Making sure you have a cup underneath the dispenser, you press the appropriate brew and wait. It a few seconds the pressurized water begins to force its way through the filter, and in no time at all, you have a wonderful espresso waiting to be enjoyed. Now, this is where the learning really begins. If this is all there is to making an espresso, why is there a steam wand for frothing milk?" Because most people don't like a pure, plain espresso, it is often mixed with milk...steamed milk, to be exact. To feel the slightest bit comfortable attempting this, I once again took to YouTube to learn the basics of frothing. I learned that first and foremost, frothing takes a bit of practice. Okay, a LOT of practice, to get it down correctly. Not a lot of places here within the "fast-coffee" businesses actually make any effort to add a signature design to their espressos, but simply pour in the steamed milk. Of course, once milk is added, the espresso becomes an altogether different drink. I counted at least 25 variations of drinks made with espresso. But anyway, I digress... To begin the steaming process, fill the milk cup to the desired level. I have settled on 200ml of milk to suit my own tastes, but this is something each person can decide on his/her own. After placing the milk in the cup, turn the steam on for several seconds, and then turn it off, and quickly place the milk cup under the wand, and make sure the wand is under the surface of the milk. Turn the knob downward to begin the steaming process again. The experts say to wrap your hands around the cup and froth until it becomes hot. I can't stress enough how important it is to watch a few videos to get the basics down so that you don't ruin your milk by scalding it, or by creating too much air. Call it beginners luck, but my very first frothing experience produced an almost perfect product. It poured wonderfully, and I was actually able to create a nice looking design on top of the drink. However, I have been unable to do it again, and most of my steamed milk is anything but stellar. However, I am quite enjoying the learning curve, and am looking forward to finally call myself somewhat of an expert a frothing. Of course, after brewing, it is absolutely imperative that the machine and its implements be cleaned, especially the steam wand. Immediately after frothing, you must clean the outside of the wand with a hot, wet cloth. Then turn the steam on again to make sure all milk is dispelled from the wand. You don't want to end up with spoiled milk in your next espresso drink. Cleaning the rest of the machine is quite straightforward, and again, make sure you follow the cleaning instructions in the quick-start guide. OKAY, so now the important part. As a beginner in the world of espresso and its many variants, I found that after a few uses I was very comfortable with the GE Profile Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine, and I actually have come to enjoy each new experience as my knowledge of espresso brewing is increasing. The machine is extremely easy to use, and the controls are just as easy to learn and understand. There are no complicated processes, and in a very short experience curve, anyone can begin brewing espresso drinks that will make friends and family quite envious of you for your perceived expertise. And as well, each brew allows you to make a drink that is suited exactly to your own unique taste. I gave this machine a 5-Star rating because, well, because it deserves it! It is the perfect machine to allow even the most inexperienced person to enter the world of espresso, and gain a working knowledge of espresso-brewing in a very short time. Maintenance is so easy and uncomplicated. Because there are 15 different grind settings, you can create your own standard and brand of espresso. And that is what I love about this machine the most, you don't have to fall in step with anyone...you can create as you wish, and you don't have to be an espresso clone. As a newbie, I can, from a newbie's point of view, HIGHLY recommend the GE Profile Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine to anyone wishing to take their enjoyment of coffee to the next higher levels, and break into the world of espresso.

Semi-Automatic espresso machines are a double sided sword. They require some level of commitment to learn how to make espresso. I think the biggest thing that makes an espresso machine a great machine is one that does its job when you do yours. I’ve used a ton of espresso machines over the years, and I can’t tell you how frustrating it is when you do everything perfectly, then the espresso machine pulls a bad shot because it’s a poor quality machine. This inconsistency is a death blow to making espressos at home, you will quickly become frustrated.