You want your grind to be fine, but not flour fine

(some who mention this machine having a faulty gauge may actually not have gotten the grind and tamp down correctly) Decided to go for the red and have been pleased with the color as well.

The meter allows you to determine the right grind, and the right pack to get the pressure correct... no guess work

settings.- Gets a little messy (coffee grinds, frothing splatter, emptying the tray, etc)

I can get a much finer grind than I was able to get with the 860 and the grind timer seems to be better set up.

Fortunately it didn't need much adjustment out of the box to get a good grind and brewing pressure.

Having the adjustable grind timer is very convenient to reproduce a consistent fill every time.

I was grinding every day or two and keeping the bean in a small mason jar, but still, fresh ground is going to win every time

Not only does it have an integrated bean hopper so you get fresh bean grind every time it also has the "burr grinder" which I am told are the most two important things in espresso making

It'll take some time to find the right grind texture and tamp pressure so starting with some cheaper training wheel beans is a good idea - I'd also recommend getting a milk thermometer, since there's no automatic steamer shut off or temperature gauge

The gauge is definitely a worthwhile aid in achieving the combination of correct grind and tamp pressure essential to a good cup.

Won't even answer the phone let alone respond to multiple emails begging them to support their $500 boat anchor.), and never mind that 2 of the machine required extensive recalibration before a proper grind could be achieved, but all 3 have died after roughly 75 to 100 shots

So, when you're wiping the machine down, be careful not to undo the work you've done finding the perfect grind setting!

When the beans are grinding, lightly knock on the top of the hopper lid (just like knocking on a door) so that the beans keep feeding down to the grinder (sometimes they get hung up - a light knock each time keeps this from happening).

It took a bit of fiddling to figure out the right grind and quantity to get a good pressure, but once I got that right for my beans it's been smooth sailing

You have to work out the right grind (different for every bag of beans), the correct amount of tamping, the technique for frothing, etc.

Good grinds and shot pulling ability

We purchased the Jura Capresso to reduce the amount of work it took to make a good coffee (grinding, tamping

The built in burr grinder makes fresh ground coffee convenient, easy, and consistent

The grind is perfect straight out of the box.

Take time to figure out the right grind and packing the coffee; it is worth the price.

Use the factory recommend settings to get the perfect grind and amount of coffee.(UPDATE) Have been using it daily for 10 Months

Good fine grind.

Espresso is a fine grind

We've found that we have to turn the grind amount almost all the way down to get the proper grind amount and keep it from overflowing

Once I pulled a few shots on a coarse grind setting, I dialed it to the fine grind setting and it works fine everytime

Fresh ground coffee and good water (not tap) extracted at the right pressure and temp makes the difference.

For some reason, this machine can't handle too fine a grind until you've pulled some shots with a coarse grind first

I switched back to the double walled filter, I went to a fine grind, and tamped down with a good bit of force.

I shake the portafilter mildly while its grinding to even out the grounds to minimize the mess, but even that doesn't eliminate it completely.

I also think that each type of coffee bean that you use, the amount of time since the bean was roasted, and the age of when that coffee bean was roasted also plays a factor in terms of what grind you use and how much you have to pack or tamper the grinds

I was hoping to be able to make some delicious espresso drinks with fresh ground beans, so loved that this machine had a grinder.

When doing this, use rather fine-grind setting than coarse - we will adjust it later

The dial for coarse or fine grind is great.

The pressure gauge is extremely helpful in determining the right grind and tamping pressure.

There are lot's of issues to make a creamy good espresso: grinding, amount and type of coffee, temperature, pressure, etc

I did this the first couple times, and apparently a coarse grind allows the water to pass through too quickly, thus not creating enough pressure to properly extract your espresso.

and I get a great grind with this machine

At first it ground too fine and I was at the end of scale to obtain the proper grind.

I had high hopes for this machine but some of my expectations were not realized.for one, its really messy, the brewing handle is too shallow and the grind from the grinder spills over

First, grinding is fast, but I have to visually control the

she uses it every day and after learning the proper grind size and packing strength, we always get consistent pressure and flavor

The Burr grinder works very well, has all the adjustments you need to get the right grind, and is easy to load up with beans

Once you master the grind, the amount of coffee, the tamp pressure

I have found that the darker the roasts, maybe because the beans have less moisture, need at least 1/3 more ground beans, and you'll want the grind to be a little finer vs. a light roast, probably because the bean has retained moisture, will use fewer beans, the the grind should be more coarse

You would think when your grinder is set on the minimal amount of coffee grinds and a fine grind on top of that, it would deliver an amount that would not spill over the side and cause wastage of your coffee

Aside from that, I have never had any problems finding an optimal grind size and amount that tasted great with this semi-auto

grinds beans into fine mode and thermacoil water heater is great

You'll waste a little coffee that first time, but you won't regret it because once you find that perfect grind for your maximum packing power, alls you gotta do is pack it the same way every morning and boom perfect espresso every single time

I have found that the darker the roasts, maybe because the beans have less moisture, need at least 1/3 more ground beans, and you'll want the grind to be a little finer vs. a light roast, probably because the bean has retained moisture, will use fewer beans, the the grind should be more coarse

The grind is consistent.

, when the beans are ground, there is no tamper to compress the grounds after grinding the beans so they don't go everywhere after grinding stops and before tamping.

Once you know the right grind size, remember that number.

The one drawback is it does get a little messy when grinding but not enough for me to take it down a star.

I just beat on the cover like a drum when grinder is running, and no problem with getting perfect fresh ground coffee.

My other dedicated burr grinder (that my wife uses for drip coffee) was able to handle the grind no-problem

Kind of annoying as it grinds directly into the basket and always seems to spill a bit

Yes, you could buy more expensive machines, and for the purist the integrated grinder raises eyebrows, but the grind is very consistent and for someone who just wants a great espresso with the least hassle, this is a great choice

For some reason, this machine can't handle too fine a grind until you've pulled some shots with a coarse grind first

Once I pulled a few shots on a coarse grind setting, I dialed it to the fine grind setting and it works fine everytime

The grind is perfect

Great tool/wastebasket, and helps you inadvertently throw your grinds into the drain, not good if you have a septic system either!!Agree with prior posters - use fresh beans, and consider roasting your own.

So if you don't want to bother with fresh beans and proper grind, you can still get a nice looking cup

Purchased November 2013.ORIGINAL REVIEW (September 2015): This machine has just enough functionality for me to consistently pull God shots as long as my beans are fresh and I choose the right grind

Up to 50 cents for a fresh grind (18 grams of coffee) vs $1.50 for two nespresso pods (12 grams of coffee) for a proper double shot

I love super fine ground

Of course, once you tamp it down, you will probably have to grind a little bit more in order to have it at the right level so although its a minor inconvenience overall its absolutely great to have fresh ground coffee so easy to grind and put into the holder to brew great fresh espresso

But it's a great middle ground for folks who are interested in being involved in the process but don't want to spend over $1000 on an espresso machine

When the beans are grinding, lightly knock on the top of the hopper lid (just like knocking on a door) so that the beans keep feeding down to the grinder (sometimes they get hung up - a light knock each time keeps this from happening).

When I started calibrating the machine I had to change the grind all the way down to 1 to get a fine grind that would create sufficient pressure in the portafilter to get crema on my cup.

Now, if you found your optimum dose at fine-grind setting, you should see either just right pressure or too high pressure (over-extracting)

There are lot's of adjustments that can be made so it can take a few tries to work out grind, tamping pressure, water volume for shots etc, just what I was hoping for

Grind is important

If the grind is fine and you try to get a lot in the cup, it gets a little messy

Grind was getting too coarse and the push switch was not engaging

At first it's going to be about trial and error once you get the correct grind setting and tamping pressure in order to get the machine to extract optimal espresso

Part of this consideration was that we were interested in a machine that would deliver decaffeinated coffee that would get as close as possible to un-decaffeinated coffee as well as traditional ground coffee

I love the automatic grind for one or two cups.

It has a burr grinder with a generous hopper and has adjustable grind size and amount controls, a removable tamper, a steel coil water heating system and a very effective adjustable steam foaming wand.

We wasted quite a lot of coffee beans on just figuring out the right amount and the right grind)

Here are some tips to get the most out of your machine while it lasts:- Try to get locally roasted whole beans, fresh ground beans are crucial for good results

The grind is great, the adjustments you can make are wonderful, you can program the shots to the volume you need, it will grind unattended and shut off when done

The aroma of fresh ground coffee not only fills the kitchen but also lingers making it smell delightful

The pressure gauge is a nifty help to get your grind and tampering exactly as you want it and to build consistency

Figuring out the right grind size and amount and then programming the timing for an espresso that was perfect for us, but now we have the hang of it and couldn't go without it.

It grinds the right amount at the right grind setting, it dispenses the right amount at the right pressure

It's not the usual buzzing when you have a smooth grinding.

I slowly reduced the grind one notch at a time and found that at setting 2 of the grind was the perfect grind level for delicious espresso!

The only negative I have about it is it is a bit messy loading the fresh ground coffee but a paper towel takes care of it

This machine requires a finer grind than a store coffee grinder set on espresso can produce.

the finer the grind (turn knob left), the more pressure there will be during extraction (needle goes higher), and the coarser the grind (turn knob right) the less pressure there will be (needle doesn't go as high)

I love the different settings and I love that you could store the beans and the being hopper and then grind them as you use them; very convenient

I select, I always get coarse grinds

Infuser is a good machine but Smart Grinder is not capable of grinding fine enough

(One update: "8" seems to be the magical setting for darker roasts; lighter roasts need a coarser grind like "12".)UPDATE: Since getting this machine about two weeks ago, I've gotten more used to its quirks and have become more successful with pulling shots.

Find the coffee(s) you like and get the grind settings right for each coffee

To make good espressos, first and foremost, you need to have good grinder and excellent grind control

Still figuring it all out, but I’m pretty sure even if the grinds are too compact or loose the temp gauge should still show movement

That way when you go to knock out your grinds, you won't sling coffee water all over your cabinet.

Then hold your dial in place AS YOU GRIND YOUR SHOT so that it doesn’t work itself off your ideal grind size.

The pressure gauge is a satisfying way to see how well the grinds were compressed (or if you're applying a lot of pressure, giving some indication that maybe you should use a finer grind).Complaints

Overall it's a great sturdy machine and after daily usage for over a month, it still works great!!!PS: This machine needs practice and precise grind size and packing pressure

In my experience a setting of 3 is the perfect grind fineness

We were able to quickly dial in the proper grind size and grind amount for single shots of espresso

If you use a oily bean, then you might have to clean the burr a lot in order to get that fine grind

The pressure gauge is useful, it gives a sense of whether the grind and tamp are correct

One still needs to get the right grind and tamp for the beans you are using, but for anyone with a tad of experience you will be proudly sipping your efforts in no time.

But, as long as you stay committed to the science of making coffee (e.g. controlling your grind size, tampering, weighting the coffee in your portafilter and liquid in your cup, not storing roasted coffee for a long time at the wrong place, etc.) you can pull very decent shots that are still better than the shots you get in a lot of coffee houses

It took a few times before I discovered the perfect grind and dose amount, but once I got it the results were amazing

and then it started making a horrible mechanical grinding sound when the water would flow

I have my setting on the most minimal coffee to grind, and I have the grind setting on a very fine grind

Hard to get it adjusted to the right grind.

Fresh ground beans make all the difference, and it delivers perfect shots and perfect steamed milk every time

Mainly due to the design aspects like the pressure pump, the improved heating block design, the fresh grind coffee from the burr grinder, and the sophisticated controls.

But once you get right grind with type of

A nice middle ground ;)

Super easy to use once you figure out the perfect grind size and amount and makes perfect espresso every time

Grinder is very nice...easily adjustable to whatever grind you prefer and can grind extremely fine.

He helped me understand that the grind and amount of coffee are related to the acid taste of the shot (a finer grind [to a point] yields a smoother shot).

I followed instructions of the manual and the technician on the phone to clean the whole burr groups; however, I still do not get a fine grind unless I set it at the finest and even then it is not always consistent

THE PLUSES OF THE BARISTA EXPRESS:The beans are held in a storage unit on the top of the machine, they can be ground to powder if you desired, but it has multiple grind settings

This adjustment gave me way more control over the grind size - now it can make a super fine grind when I need it

Pre-ground coffee is regularly not ground as finely as this machine will grind fresh beans so extra grinding is important

If you're using the Breville to grind your beans, make sure your not using a very coarse grind.

It took a few tries to get the right grind, amount of coffee and tamp

well I