Philips Baristina Black Espresso Machine

If you love coffee as much as I do, you should pay attention to this review. If you are not a professional barista but would like to drink a good quality espresso every day without any problem, then this Baristina Espresso Machine won’t disappoint you. Design. I got espresso machine with a Milky White color base and a Milky White portafilter color. It’s a very good colors for any styles of kitchen. It doesn’t have any unnecessary details. Just white and silver colors, only three buttons on a panel. It attracts attention with its simplicity and elegance but does not add unnecessary visual noise to the kitchen space. It’s compact, doesn’t take up much space on a countertop. ​​ Level of difficulty in use and maintenance. It’s very simple and pleasant to use Baristina: ... MoreIf you love coffee as much as I do, you should pay attention to this review. If you are not a professional barista but would like to drink a good quality espresso every day without any problem, then this Baristina Espresso Machine won’t disappoint you. Design. I got espresso machine with a Milky White color base and a Milky White portafilter color. It’s a very good colors for any styles of kitchen. It doesn’t have any unnecessary details. Just white and silver colors, only three buttons on a panel. It attracts attention with its simplicity and elegance but does not add unnecessary visual noise to the kitchen space. It’s compact, doesn’t take up much space on a countertop. ​​ Level of difficulty in use and maintenance. It’s very simple and pleasant to use Baristina: just fill a tank with a filtered water, pour in your favorite coffee beans (it automatically grinds them), choose one of the coffee options (you may choose among espresso or Lungo only), don’t forget to install the portafilter and place the cup in the right place, push the button, wait a couple of seconds, get your coffee, enjoy! It was really easy to use it for me. I figured how it works very fast. This espresso machine is also very easy to maintain and wash. All parts are easily removable and washable.​​​​​​​​​​​ Coffee quality. Every good or bad taste of coffee depends of the quality of coffee beans, water, and the method of preparation. I like the taste of espresso (it’s bold and velvet), but taste of Lungo I like much more (it has a great aroma and really tastes like a true barista made it).​​​ My honest conclusion: Baristina Espresso Machine is a very good option for those, who love espresso, don’t have much time to become a barista, appreciate modern and elegant design and don’t have much space in a kitchen.​​​

Pretty good!

The machine is beautifully simple and straightforward/intuitive, and it does what my husband most wanted: grind exactly what (Phillips thinks) is needed for one cup of espresso. So far it’s worked beautifully several times. It’s also very easy to clean, nice and compact, and just generally a visually pleasing addition to the kitchen counter. My two concerns, and the reason it’s not a full five, stars are as follows:1- My husband likes very strong coffee (my fault- that’s how PRicans make it and he very happily got on board)- even w the bean+ button, it’s not as much ground coffee as I would use when I brew a cup of espresso on my super analog, super basic, 15 bar espresso machine (which is what I would still recommend to anyone wanting espresso). He’s sorta ... MoreThe machine is beautifully simple and straightforward/intuitive, and it does what my husband most wanted: grind exactly what (Phillips thinks) is needed for one cup of espresso. So far it’s worked beautifully several times. It’s also very easy to clean, nice and compact, and just generally a visually pleasing addition to the kitchen counter. My two concerns, and the reason it’s not a full five, stars are as follows:1- My husband likes very strong coffee (my fault- that’s how PRicans make it and he very happily got on board)- even w the bean+ button, it’s not as much ground coffee as I would use when I brew a cup of espresso on my super analog, super basic, 15 bar espresso machine (which is what I would still recommend to anyone wanting espresso). He’s sorta dealing w it, but I can tell it’s a trade off he’s not entirely sure of. He’s hoping magic beans will make it better- and don’t get me wrong, I agree that good beans do make a difference, but we’ve already tried three very good beans- clearly, it’s the amount of ground coffee vs water that’s the issue.2- love the whole bean compartment and grinding exactly what you (or at least what Phillips thinks you) need- but I feel like the bean compartment lid should very snugly snap on to create an airtight environment for the beans, but it’s really pretty loosely placed on top- there’s a silicone border but I kinda wonder why they even bothered- it’s not sealing anything. The lid can be moved back and forth very easily when it’s on.I wish they allowed more ground coffee, and I can’t see why the lid isn’t more fitted- but those two issues aside, I highly recommend it as a low fuss, beans to cup gadget that’s a pleasure to use.

[Rewarded Review] Best balance between, taste, speed, and waste

I have owned a few espresso machines, including ones which automatically grind the bean. However, this is the first espresso machine I have owned which grinds the bean, tamps and brews automatically.If I have the time, I like to hand grind my coffee to ensure a perfect grind size and amount of coffee. However, at times, I am in a rush to get out the door and am unable to prepare a descent cup of espresso. I am not a fan of coffee pods since the brew normally taste stale and creates an unnecessary amount of waste. This Philips Baristina machine is a perfect balance between freshness, convenience and no added waste.I like how this machine is made out of recycled plastics and is 100% recyclable in some areas. Philips is environmentally friendly with this ... MoreI have owned a few espresso machines, including ones which automatically grind the bean. However, this is the first espresso machine I have owned which grinds the bean, tamps and brews automatically.If I have the time, I like to hand grind my coffee to ensure a perfect grind size and amount of coffee. However, at times, I am in a rush to get out the door and am unable to prepare a descent cup of espresso. I am not a fan of coffee pods since the brew normally taste stale and creates an unnecessary amount of waste. This Philips Baristina machine is a perfect balance between freshness, convenience and no added waste.I like how this machine is made out of recycled plastics and is 100% recyclable in some areas. Philips is environmentally friendly with this product.The options to operate this machine are about as simple as it gets. The only options are a standard espresso, lungo, and body (flavor) boost. After selecting the type of coffee and the optional booster, just need to move the portafilter handle right and the machine takes care of the rest.The machine took a few cycles to product a descent brew and discard puck, so be patient. The first couple cups were watered down and the puck was more mud-like and would not fall out with the press of the button on the portafilter. After the machine automatically made the necessary adjustments, the taste was pretty good. I could make a better espresso with having more control over grind size and amount, but this was definitely better than any pod coffee.It is worth mentioning that this machine does not have an on/off switch, so I would recommend unplugging it when not in use. Maybe this was Philips environmental way to get owners to unplug their appliances rather than turning off the power.ProsEnvironmentally friendlyGreat tasting brewQuick and consistentConsNo manual adjustments for grind size, or coffee quantityThis machine might be able to knock the socks off a coffee connoisseur, but this machine does such a fantastic job at quickly making a much better espresso than any pod machine can do. The Baristina is a pod machine killer with respect to taste and waste.

[Rewarded Review] Great Espresso and pretty quiet

I've had my share of espresso machines and they always end up getting little use. Laziness kept me from taking the time to readjust my grinder for espresso and I had to keep multiple beans since espresso amplifies some of the nasty parts of beans that I don't like.My last one was a pod type machine and I didn't like having to always fill reusable pods and buying aluminum caps for them. I also hate the idea of expensive disposable plastic pods. While the espresso was good once I found the right beans, it cut into my flow having to fill a pod when I needed a hit so I'd end up making drip or use my aeropress. Moka is actually my favorite but least used because I have to make time to prep it.So I'm back to wanting espresso and decided to give the Baristina a shot. ... MoreI've had my share of espresso machines and they always end up getting little use. Laziness kept me from taking the time to readjust my grinder for espresso and I had to keep multiple beans since espresso amplifies some of the nasty parts of beans that I don't like.My last one was a pod type machine and I didn't like having to always fill reusable pods and buying aluminum caps for them. I also hate the idea of expensive disposable plastic pods. While the espresso was good once I found the right beans, it cut into my flow having to fill a pod when I needed a hit so I'd end up making drip or use my aeropress. Moka is actually my favorite but least used because I have to make time to prep it.So I'm back to wanting espresso and decided to give the Baristina a shot. There are no controls other than if you want more grinds or if you want lungo or a traditional shot. After a few throw away cups to let the machine calibrate itself I took my first swig. Quite bitter, but not the fault of the Baristina. Like I said, I have to get different beans for espresso because it seem to bring out the bitterness to where it's almost a metallic sting. I have more tastebuds than the average person (supertaster) so bitter is pretty extreme to me.Once the espresso is finished you drop out the puck with the ejector button and out comes a nearly dry puck of used coffee you can use for compost or toss out.The instructions are limited, but the use is simple enough there really aren't any instructions needed beyond the pictures on the box. Put the brew head in the slot and cock it by sliding it tot the right. Push your desired button(s) and wait a few minutes for your espresso. It surprises me how quiet the grinder is. It's nothing like my freight train big grinder but it's also not as fast. It's plenty fast enough to fill the brew head is a few seconds. The brewing is also pretty quite compared to other machines I've had, but it still gives enough pressure to get a nice shot. They did a terrific job of designing this machine to keep the noise down.I'm pretty impressed with the Baristina and I think it'll be sitting on the counter actually being used for a long time. A shot before a workout will give a good boost to push myself.

[Rewarded Review] Loudest Espresso This Side Of Starbucks

I’ve owned more than a few coffee or espresso machines in my time so I hope I’m qualified to say up front that you should probably look somewhere else for a good espresso machine. Does it make espresso that you can drink to get a caffeine jolt to get through the morning? Yes absolutely and it’s at least as good or better than other espresso I’ve had! Is the built in grinder and tamper plus lack of hidden grounds storage convenient? Yes, the grinder is sufficient and the auto tamper is cool, and I do hate that gross slimy trash compartment some use (although the solution here is empty after every pour…for good or inconvenience). No, as a means of getting coffee in a smallish footprint on the valuable real estate of the kitchen counter this is a solid passable ... MoreI’ve owned more than a few coffee or espresso machines in my time so I hope I’m qualified to say up front that you should probably look somewhere else for a good espresso machine. Does it make espresso that you can drink to get a caffeine jolt to get through the morning? Yes absolutely and it’s at least as good or better than other espresso I’ve had! Is the built in grinder and tamper plus lack of hidden grounds storage convenient? Yes, the grinder is sufficient and the auto tamper is cool, and I do hate that gross slimy trash compartment some use (although the solution here is empty after every pour…for good or inconvenience). No, as a means of getting coffee in a smallish footprint on the valuable real estate of the kitchen counter this is a solid passable solution. However they had to go one further and advertise how quiet it is, showing a picture of a cat sleeping a foot away from the machine as it pours the espresso. That is a straight up lie to a hilarious degree! I got this in the mail after work, so way too late in the day to mess with caffeine but I set it up and prepared it for the next morning. I go to work pretty early and I try my best to be quiet to avoid waking the rest of the family, I figured a machine so quiet a cat could sleep almost on top of it would be perfect! Then I hit start and everything was shattered by the noise of this machine. In hindsight I don’t know what I expected the grinder to sound like, since there’s no way to quietly turn beans into powder, but even pouring water through the grounds sounded like the machine was trying to tear itself apart. I was actually worried I’d done something wrong in setting it up so I pulled the plug from the wall to avoid breaking it then went back through the box to find the instructions. There are no instructions but when I checked the Phillips website it had a video showing how to use the machine and commented how quiet it was. I tried again and this machine is definitely not quiet but the coffee that pours is very strong and tasty so it's worth it. I really like the kind of semi-auto pilot process because you just fill the water reservoir in back and put your beans in the top and whenever you want a shot you push the handle to the right and set your cup on the left side. It grinds and tamps the grounds then pops the handle to the left and pushes the hot water through and into your cup. Clean up isn’t exactly like the pictures, again it shows firmly packed saucers of used grounds just dropping out but mine was more of a wet grainy soup that required rinsing to get clean.Overall, this is a really small and easy to use espresso machine, which is great for small spaces like apartments or crowded kitchens (assuming you have an outlet, that’s another story and my fault not the Baristina). You just have to get past the absurd marketing of how quiet it is when its actually like a malfunctioning robot with all the whirring it does in the process. If you love espresso and don’t have any reason to worry about a little extra noise in the morning this is a great option. Not a good one for guys trying to quietly get out to work without waking the kids or wife.

[Rewarded Review] My favorite home espresso maker

I love this espresso machine so much already. It is so easy to start up and so easy to use. It did not come with step by step instructions so I had to look it up online under the Philipps website, but it was easy to find and the instructions were very thorough and easy to follow. Make sure to run a clean cycle first by holding the intensity button for 5 seconds. After that the espresso maker is ready to use. I brewed my first cup then tossed it, per the instructions and after that brewed a lungo cup and it was so delicious. I also made 2 shots of espresso to drink and the dark roast coffee beans I used that I bought from Marshalls tasted so good and had a nutty flavor to my espresso. It says to use unflavored beans so I will be sticking to dark, medium or light ... MoreI love this espresso machine so much already. It is so easy to start up and so easy to use. It did not come with step by step instructions so I had to look it up online under the Philipps website, but it was easy to find and the instructions were very thorough and easy to follow. Make sure to run a clean cycle first by holding the intensity button for 5 seconds. After that the espresso maker is ready to use. I brewed my first cup then tossed it, per the instructions and after that brewed a lungo cup and it was so delicious. I also made 2 shots of espresso to drink and the dark roast coffee beans I used that I bought from Marshalls tasted so good and had a nutty flavor to my espresso. It says to use unflavored beans so I will be sticking to dark, medium or light roast with no flavors. The smell of the espresso maker brewing your cup of espresso or lungo smells so yummy it filled the kitchen with a coffeehouse smell. After each cup you have to toss out the coffee in the portafilter. I use the suggestion to use the used coffee grinds for my plants so I eject it right into my plants. Win win situation here. It's also really easy to clean the portafilter and all the coffee comes out so easily by pressing the eject button. I rinse it really quickly and place it back to use again if brewing another cup. Easy. You can also customize your cup size (2 cup sizes for each type of brew) by holding the brew button for 5 seconds and you can add a boost of intensity by pressing the intensity boost button with your brew. This is a beautiful compact sized espresso maker that I already love. I would def recommend this!

[Rewarded Review] Simple to use espresso maker at home

I had an espresso maker at home but the wife would never really use it as she preferred a quick and easy brewing process you see with most pod based brewers, so we switched back to one of those but I missed the selection and tastes you get out of the different roasters out there.This machine is fairly simple, you have the machine itself, hopper for the beans, water tank and portafilter for the brewing process. Setting it up you're guided to fill the water tank to run some cycles of water through, I then brewed 5 cups for the machine to get dialed in with the beans it's grinding and get a proper portion to brew. Over these brews you see the puck being tossed because more dense and pretty much coming out in one piece.It has become consistent and the espresso ... MoreI had an espresso maker at home but the wife would never really use it as she preferred a quick and easy brewing process you see with most pod based brewers, so we switched back to one of those but I missed the selection and tastes you get out of the different roasters out there.This machine is fairly simple, you have the machine itself, hopper for the beans, water tank and portafilter for the brewing process. Setting it up you're guided to fill the water tank to run some cycles of water through, I then brewed 5 cups for the machine to get dialed in with the beans it's grinding and get a proper portion to brew. Over these brews you see the puck being tossed because more dense and pretty much coming out in one piece.It has become consistent and the espresso button on the left is 1.35oz and the lungo button on the right is 4oz, the button in the center is labeled as "extra strong" and gives the brew an intensity boost. You would simply press this after selecting the brewing option.Brewing is neat, the hopper grinds into the right side of the machine, you insert the portafilter and slide it over to the right, when done dosing the beans for the brew it slides back to the left to begin. Once done, simply remove the portafilter and press the button on the bottom side of the portafilter to eject the grounds.The brewer has a nice overall design and is very simple to use that this has replaced the pod based system we had been using and gets used daily. I am curious to see how a change in beans would go, at this time I have been buying the same bag, but curious to see if you will need to do a few brew cycles to tune in the dose once again. If you're keeping a similar roast in bean, it might not be too dramatic, but a medium to a dark I would be curious to see. My next bag may need to be a different roast. I am glad not to have limitations, and have a few roasters locally which I can buy beans from and enjoy at home, this also opens the option to buy beans from other while travelling and have that taste at home!

[Rewarded Review] Simplicity at its best!

Philips is a household name in Europe and I’m very much familiar with the brand. Philips' products are usually of good quality and durable. The Baristina is a well-made product, and the design is sleek and attractive. The machine is fairly small for an espresso maker. The grinder is made of ceramic so the machine should be durable enough to produce many many espresso shots. Instructions are clear and easy enough to follow to set up the machine for the first time.The Baristina is all about as simple as it can get for getting an espresso shot straight from coffee beans of our choosing. The machine is designed exactly for that purpose: eliminating the multiple processes involved in preparing for an espresso shot. The conventional method for making an espresso can be ... MorePhilips is a household name in Europe and I’m very much familiar with the brand. Philips' products are usually of good quality and durable. The Baristina is a well-made product, and the design is sleek and attractive. The machine is fairly small for an espresso maker. The grinder is made of ceramic so the machine should be durable enough to produce many many espresso shots. Instructions are clear and easy enough to follow to set up the machine for the first time.The Baristina is all about as simple as it can get for getting an espresso shot straight from coffee beans of our choosing. The machine is designed exactly for that purpose: eliminating the multiple processes involved in preparing for an espresso shot. The conventional method for making an espresso can be a bit overwhelming and this machine successfully simplifies the process. All we need to do is make sure that the portafilter is empty and clean then we just need to slide the portafilter to the right. An espresso shot will be produced accordingly to our predefined setting; it’s that simple. The machine takes care of the beans grinding and tamping, as well as the brewing process.Because there are no complicated settings involved, the result may not be perfect if you want your coffee with specific characteristics. There’s no way to control the grinding process, nor the amount of coffee on the portafilter and water characteristics but that is exactly due to the design of the machine. I’m saying this because if you are a coffee person who loves tweaking your drink, this machine is surely not for you. However, those who just want to get their quick coffee fixes in the morning and don’t want to deal with the conventional steps in making an espresso, then this is a very good machine. This machine makes espresso-making more accessible to other member of the family in my household.Aside from making an espresso, there is also the option to make a lungo and you can also control the intensity of your drink for both espresso and lungo. The machine does not come with milk frother nor does it come with the espresso glass. Coffee mug works just fine so there’s no need to get an espresso glass if you don’t have one.

[Rewarded Review] The missing link

The espresso machine effectively bridges the gap between traditional espresso shots and pod-based coffee, and it excels at this task! The machine is incredibly user-friendly, so much so that I initially searched for additional settings buttons, only to find there are none. Depending on your preferences, this simplicity can be either a benefit or a drawback.For instance, you can’t adjust the grind or amount of coffee with this machine. However, you can press the intensity button to increase the coffee added to your shot. A neat feature I found in the instruction manual allows you to increase the volume of each shot. This setting is permanent once configured, unless you reset the machine. This is where the machine bridges the gap with pod coffee.By adjusting the ... MoreThe espresso machine effectively bridges the gap between traditional espresso shots and pod-based coffee, and it excels at this task! The machine is incredibly user-friendly, so much so that I initially searched for additional settings buttons, only to find there are none. Depending on your preferences, this simplicity can be either a benefit or a drawback.For instance, you can’t adjust the grind or amount of coffee with this machine. However, you can press the intensity button to increase the coffee added to your shot. A neat feature I found in the instruction manual allows you to increase the volume of each shot. This setting is permanent once configured, unless you reset the machine. This is where the machine bridges the gap with pod coffee.By adjusting the Lungo setting, you can increase the shot volume to 6.7 ounces, nearly a full cup of coffee. I plan to use the machine this way, keeping the espresso button unmodified and setting the Lungo to make a cup of coffee.Cleaning the machine is very easy, although I do struggle a bit with the portafilter since it can’t be disassembled, at least not that I’ve discovered.Taste-wise, the coffee is delicious! I’m quite impressed with both the espresso and the Lungo settings, as the coffee is consistently good after the initial 4 or 5 brews. For the past two years, I’ve made a latte every day after lunch using two shots of espresso with a very inexpensive machine. The Baristina is a significant upgrade, requiring a fraction of the effort. I’m still using my old machine’s milk steamer, but I intend to purchase the matching Baristina milk frother.If you’re a true espresso fanatic, this might not be the machine for you. However, if you want flexibility and the option to move away from pod-based coffee, this is an excellent choice!

[Rewarded Review] When you want to feel like an espresso hero

The Philips Barastina Espresso Machine is a really impressive product that brings very good, fully-automatic espresso to a price point that I wouldn't have believed until a tried it. While I'm far from a snob (and I don't think real snobs would even consider me a connoiseur), I enjoy a cup of espresso much more than regular coffee, and definitely enjoy being able to bring the full cafe latte experience home. Previously I've used a few different types of espresso makers but have never been able to afford a fully automatic machine. The Barastina makes the whole process simple provided you have a way to steam (or worst case froth) your milk.#Unboxing, first impressions#Unboxing and setting up the Barastina was pretty simple. The unit comes fully assembled in the ... MoreThe Philips Barastina Espresso Machine is a really impressive product that brings very good, fully-automatic espresso to a price point that I wouldn't have believed until a tried it. While I'm far from a snob (and I don't think real snobs would even consider me a connoiseur), I enjoy a cup of espresso much more than regular coffee, and definitely enjoy being able to bring the full cafe latte experience home. Previously I've used a few different types of espresso makers but have never been able to afford a fully automatic machine. The Barastina makes the whole process simple provided you have a way to steam (or worst case froth) your milk.#Unboxing, first impressions#Unboxing and setting up the Barastina was pretty simple. The unit comes fully assembled in the box, minus a separate smaller package inside for the Portafilter (which is sold with several different colors for the handle). I took the machine out, cleaned the portafilter and water tank, and then dug around trying to find a manual. This was the only real negative from the experience - there isn't a proper manual in the box. There is a small pamphlet that says Instructions but is really just a bunch of warranty information for different countries. There IS a QR code inside the packaging to get the manual online, but I don't feel like it was called out especially well. Still, the obvious thing when I couldn't find a printed manual was to find a QR code, and that worked well enough. That said, there are only 3 buttons on the machine, so it's not like it's terribly complicated to use. The main thing I was concerned about was the initial setup and running the first clean water through it, which the manual covered.Just to call it out more clearly:*If you're purchasing for an older or less tech savvy person you may want to prep them for the QR code*#Making a cup, and taste tests#The Barastina has only 3 buttons - Espresso, "Intensity boost", and Lungo. The process for making a cup of delightful espresso is SUPER EASY with this machine. Make sure the Portafilter is clean, fill the hopper with whole beans, press the button(s) for your preferred beverage, and slide the portafilter over to start the grinding process. It grinds the beans and tamps them in the Portafilter for you, then it pops back to the left and the pressurized hot water starts flowing through. I noticed immediately that it produces a wonderful crema with every pour. The fact that it does this without any hassle and at a very affordable price is remarkable to me.Another nice thing I found is that the Portafilter is designed to not let you re-lock it to the right (for the grinding phase) until you've remove it from the machine. This stops you from forgetting to clean out the filter between uses. If you're making a double espresso, you are forced to pull out the Portafilter and clean it in the sink before you make another shot. That can come in handy on a busy morning where you lose track of what you're doing in the kitchen. It certainly helped this morning when I was trying to make my wife a Latte while we were bustling about getting the kids ready for school. I went to boop it back to the right for the second shot and it wouldn't lock, reminding me that I had to clean it first. Very handy.#Final thoughts#I'm really impressed with the Barastina. It takes almost all of the hassle out of making a decent espresso. I fortunately have a separate steamer available for milk based drinks, but I've also experimented with an inexpensive frother and gotten decent results for an uncultured swine like myself. Since the steamer is the part that usually gets gross faster on an expensive machine, it may not be too bad that this doesn't have one built in.As stated in my unboxing impressions, the only negative I have for this was the lack of a printed manual + the lack of a giant sticker or something to call attention to the QR code for the online manual. I don't think this is a big deal for the average person but if you're buying it as a gift for someone less tech savvy, you might want to pre-download it and email it to them :)