The TikTok-Viral Espresso Machine That Made Me Kiss My Favorite Café Goodbye
I’ve always been intimidated by espresso machines. To be fair, I tend to steer clear of any bulky appliance with a ton of bells and whistles, but espresso machines are at the top of my appliances-to-avoid list. Even though I love (and often rely on) my morning cup of coffee, I’m about as far from a barista as you can get. But over the past year, I’ve been trying to step up my game, learning how to make matcha and switching out my pod coffee maker for a one with a filter. (Baby steps, I know.) It seemed like a natural progression to acquire an espresso machine, but again, the complicated-looking design and enormous price tag scared me off from ever taking the plunge.
That is, until I came across a TikTok video that featured one of the simplest — and most stylish — espresso machines that I’ve ever seen. Further research revealed an even more surprising detail: an under-$200 price tag. This, I immediately thought, is the perfect solution. Casabrews’ budget-friendly appliance has been the perfect beginner espresso machine in more ways than one. On top of helping me save money — no need to run to my local café for $8 lattes anymore — it takes up hardly any space in my tiny kitchen. Keep reading for more reasons why I can’t get enough of Casabrews’ CM5418 machine.
Casabrews CM5418 Espresso Machine
Casabrews
$159.99
Buy Now
What is Casabrews’ CM5418 Espresso Machine?
I love this machine for more than just its inexpensive price tag. To start with the obvious: It’s totally gorgeous. Far different from the enormous, robot-looking machines that I usually see, this one is slim and has a minimalist-yet-retro look. It also comes in more colors than the typical silver (though that one is an option). Light and dark blue, black, butter yellow, and pink are all on the table, so even though it has a low profile, it’ll be a standout on your countertop.
The most important aspect, though, is how it operates. Casabrews’ machine is a semi-automatic 2-in-1 espresso maker, with a 20-bar Italian pump and 1350W boiler. For the uninitiated like me, those features are what allow the hot water to extract the flavor quickly. Most commercial espresso machines offer 9 bars, but many at-home machines are around 15 bars. Why? Well, according to coffee expert and The Kitchn contributor Ever, this is mostly “to allow for more even extraction of coarser ground coffee, as most home- or pre-ground would be.” The Casabrews machine has a built-in pressure gauge you can monitor, as well as a steam wand to create milk foam for your lattes and cappuccinos.
Why I Love the CM5418 Espresso Machine
Though the Casabrews espresso machine looks way easier than most coffee appliances, I was still worried about figuring it out — but then I quickly realized that I was stressing for no reason at all. Following the instructions to the letter, I was instantly impressed at how much faster it worked than my old coffee machine. I decided to use pre-ground espresso to begin with, since the machine doesn’t have a built-in grinder. Packing it into the portafilter with the tamper tool, then twisting it into the machine is completely painless. The portafilter itself is light enough to wield and comfortable to hold.
Then, all that’s left to do is preheat the machine, press the brewing button (you can choose one or two cups), and let it do its thing. One thing to keep in mind is that it’s certainly not quiet, but it’s not overwhelmingly loud, either. All in all, it brews so speedily that the noise hardly bothers me. The end result is worth it, too: The shot it pulls is smoother and richer than I would’ve expected for the price, creating a solid base for a latte. The steam wand only impressed me further. The steamed milk is what really sets this machine apart: The wand’s range of motion is decent, and the included pitcher has measurement guidance. Reaching the perfect frothy consistency is pretty much a mindless task (which is ideal when I’m half asleep in the morning).
The only drawback so far, it’s worth mentioning, is cosmetic. When I removed the machine from the package, it had tape to keep all of the parts in place. As I peeled it off, some of the cream-colored paint came off with it. It doesn’t bother me much since the chips are on the base of the machine — it’s not really noticeable from its position on my counter — but it’s worth keeping in mind nonetheless. Stainless steel might be the most solid color option to avoid peeling. However, the cream color is so beautiful otherwise (and the performance is so solid for the price) that it hardly counts against it for me.
The fact that basically no learning curve comes with Casabrews’ machine — I could use it right away and toss the instructions after the first time — makes it certainly worth its $160 price. (It definitely deserves its TikTok fame.) Whether you’re a beginner or bargain hunter (or both like I am), be sure to add this machine to your cart to elevate your at-home coffee station.
Buy: Casabrews CM5418 Espresso Machine, $159.99 (also available on Amazon)
