Mr. Coffee BVMC-ECMP1000 Café Barista Espresso Maker

Are you looking for a budget-priced espresso machine with the capabilities of more expensive options? Mr. Coffee, yes, THAT Mr. Coffee, surprised most coffee connoisseurs a few years back with the Mr. Coffee ECMP, the company’s first pump espresso machine. Prepare to be surprised again by the Mr. Coffee Café Barista Espresso Maker (more properly called the Mr. Coffee BVMC-ECMP1000).

The economy-priced machine (under $200) does almost everything for you, including frothing and dispensing the milk for your cappas and lattes, and it does it at a price substantially below what you’ll pay for other espresso machines with automatic milk frothers. Here’s a closer look at the Mr. Coffee BVMC-ECMP1000 Café Barista Espresso Machine.

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The Manufacturer Says:
With user-friendly controls that even a novice can master, the sleek machine makes it easy to brew delicious coffeehouse drinks in minutes–with just one simple touch. The unit’s one-touch control panel allows for selecting from a single- or double-shot of espresso, cappuccino, or latte, and handy indicator lights highlight the current selection. Even more, the machine supplies 15 bars of pressure to ensure fabulous results, while its automatic milk frother turns milk into a light, creamy foam–perfect for drizzling with chocolate, sprinkling with cinnamon or nutmeg, or for simply oohing and ahhing over.

Features:

15 Bar Pump Espresso Maker
Detachable milk tank, can be stored in the fridge, emptied, top rack dishwasher safe
One touch control panel with single or double shot of espresso, cappuccino and latte options
Automatic milk frother with selectable levels of foam
Removable water reservoir
Top rack dishwasher safe parts for easy cleaning
Adjustable cup tray/warmer
Single shot/double shot filters included

In the Box:

Mr. Coffee Barista espresso maker
Portafilter with 1 shot filter, double shot filter
Measuring scoop/tamper
Recipe booklet

What We Found:

Coffee snobs, put away your preconceptions. If you think the only way to make good espresso is to agonize over it, you’re going to hate the Mr. Coffee ECMP-1000 Café Barista. It’s practically foolproof. There’s no worrying about proper temperature for your espresso or counting seconds until the pour is done – Mr. Coffee does it all for you. Mr. Coffee also froths your milk perfectly – you can pick the thickness of the foam with a little dial on the front – and adds it to the cup at the right time. Easy push-button controls allow you to choose from a single shot of espresso, a double shot of espresso, a cappuccino or a latte. Press the button and voila! Within a minute, you’ll have your favorite coffee drink, perfectly prepared and ready to drink.

But does it really make good espresso?

In a word, yes. Maybe “perfectly prepared” is going a little overboard above, but the fact is, unless you’re a real stickler who compulsively checks the temperature of your water at every step of the espresso-making process, you’re going to be quite happy with the quality of the espresso from the Mr. Coffee Barista.

Here are some of the other things we really loved about the Mr. Espresso BVCM ECMP-1000:

The portafilter is easy to get in and out of the machine. We’ve dealt with some machines that can be really picky. This one isn’t.
You can customize the size of your shot AND the amount of milk foam in your cup.
The height is a good fit for under standard counters
It’s easy to fill the water reservoir without removing it from the machine (this is a good thing for people with shallow sinks because the reservoir tank is tall enough to make it difficult in those)
Auto-clean cycle – need we say more?
It makes drinks back to back.
It makes drinks back to back. Yes, we like that one so much we had to say it again.
You can use any coffee you like.

What did we not like about the Mr. Coffee Barista? It’s a very short list:

The portafilter tends to drip a bit after your shot is done.

Bottom Line:

Lots to love and little to hate about this entry level semi-automatic espresso machine. Mr. Coffee gets espresso right with the Café Barista. If you’re looking for a no-nonsense espresso machine that delivers decent brew without breaking your bank, this is the machine for you.