If you're in the market for an affordable, high-quality espresso machine that doesn't compromise on performance, the Amzchef Espresso Machine is worth a consideration!
With its sleek design, powerful milk frother, and user-friendly features, the Amzchef espresso maker offers excellent value for money.
Whether you're a seasoned barista or just beginning your coffee journey, the Amzchef delivers consistent results without breaking the bank. In this Amzchef espresso machine review, we'll explore its key features, performance, and why it's a standout option for home espresso enthusiasts.
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Coffee Taste & Quality
This machine pulls consistently rich, flavorful espresso shots. Unlike my previous espresso machine, the crema the Amzchef produces is thick and smooth, making for a "fancy" coffee experience.
Whether you're brewing a single shot or double espresso, the taste remains consistently robust, delivering a café-quality experience right at home.
Design & Build Quality
The stainless-steel design gives this versatile coffee maker a premium feel, and it looks sleek on my countertop. Its build feels solid, which is essential for longevity, and the surprisingly space-saving compact design of this espresso coffee machine means it fits easily even in a small size kitchen.
The tactile buttons and intelligent LCD control panel add to its professional look and feel. It definitely has a more heavy-duty (higher quality) feel to it than my old espresso machine.
With that said, I used my old machine for 4 years (it still works) so - considering how much nicer this Amzchef model is, I am certain this machine's lifespan will be half a decade or more. *fingers crossed*
This compact espresso maker comes with various accessories necessary for your elevated coffee game including a portafilter, a single cup brewing filter, a double cup brewing filter, and 2-in-1 tamper and measuring spoon.
Milk Frother Performance
The machine's robust milk frother delivers an outstanding performance, creating a velvety microfoam that’s ideal for crafting smooth lattes and indulgent cappuccinos (be sure to steam well chilled milk). Its powerful steam wand is not only efficient, but also beginner-friendly, making it easy to froth milk to perfection in no time at all.
To be honest, at first I was skeptical of the steam wand being attached to the milk tank. I thought it would be a hassle to clean the tank after each use versus steaming just the right amount of milk in a cup. But it turns out that the wand is easy to clean with the push of a button. After the cleaning cycle finishes removing any milk residue from the tube and inside, the outside of the wand just needs a quick wipe. And then you can detach the complete milk tank and store it in the fridge until next time. It is a hassle-free experience after each use and I only clean the milk tank once it completely empties (after about 6-7 cappuccinos). Before then refilling it with fresh milk.
And unless you are into making fancy latte art at home (which might require a separate steaming wand), I am sure you will appreciate the breeze and smooth operation of the automatic and entirely hands-off cappuccino and latte brewing settings.
Ease of Use & Usability
The machine’s interface is intuitive, making it easy to operate. Whether you’re a novice or a more seasoned coffee enthusiast, the simple buttons and dials make brewing straightforward.
Additionally, it heats up quickly, so there’s minimal waiting time. Typically I turn it on, grind some fresh beans (using my Amzchef coffee grinder), tamp fresh ground beans into the portafilter, and by then it's heated up and ready to go.
Thanks to the user manual that came with it, I was able to preprogram it to fill my cup to the same amount - every time - before stopping itself. Meaning I can literally walk away from the machine as it's making my coffee and come back to a freshly brewed ready to drink coffee.
Despite its slim design, the machine has a well-thought out height. It is possible to conveniently fit even taller mugs between the drip tray and portafilter, which is necessary especially when pulling double shot lattes (our previous machine only fit tiny mugs and had to sacrifice the drip tray for extra space).
Performance
The Amzchef espresso machine maintains consistent temperature and pressure, essential for quality espresso. It heats up relatively fast, and brewing multiple shots back-to-back is seamless, with no loss of quality.
This is another thing I really love about this espresso machine. With my old machine (different brand) it could not maintain the hot water long enough to make a large cup of coffee. And if you wanted to make a second cup, you had to wait again for it to heat up again. This is not the case with the Amzchef espresso machine: When it's ready, it's ready to go-go-go!
Customization Features
The machine comes preprogrammed for single and double-shot cycles of espresso, cappuccino, and latte. However it also offers some customization and manual brewing options. You can manually override for how long an espresso shot is being pulled, an also for how long steamed milk is added to the cup. This flexibility gives you control of your perfect cup.
If you're an Americano (full cup of coffee) drinker, you will appreciate the pre-programmable options the Amzchef espresso machine has, where you program how much hot water it continues to add to your cup after the "espresso" part of it is done. Meaning you can program it to give you that perfect amount of coffee every single time.
With my previous - albeit cheap - espresso machine, I had to manually turn off the machine when my mug was filled or it would overflow. Which - in hindsight - was annoying. So I am definitely appreciating the hands-off convenience Amzchef is giving me with this machine.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Cleaning is simple, with easily removable parts like the drip tray and water tank. The steam wand is straightforward to clean after frothing milk, and the machine's compact size makes "keeping it clean" easier to manage.
Tamper Quality
The included tamper which also doubles as measuring spoon on the other end is well-built and effective. It presses the grounds evenly into the portafilter, ensuring consistent extraction for every shot.
It is a bit larger than the tamper of my previous machine, so it took some getting used to, but it does the job it's designed to do.
Water Reservoir & Capacity
The 1.8 liter detachable water tank is easy to refill and provides enough capacity for multiple drinks before needing to be topped up again. To fill it up, simple pull the water tank out and go fill it with filtered water... or simply pour fresh water into it after lifting the handy lid.
The water tank is transparent, so you can easily watch for low water levels. However, the machine will also give you a low water alert once the level falls below the minimum. Simply refilling the tank won't override the alerts. You will have to make sure the milk tank is installed and run the steamed milk setting for the alert to disappear.
Noise Level
One of the standout features of this machine is its low noise level. It operates quietly, making it ideal for early mornings without disturbing the household... or without alarming everyone around you when you keep going back for yet another cup of coffee throughout the day, hah!
Energy Efficiency
At its rated 1350 watt operating draw, the machine is decently energy-efficient. Especially seeing you'll really only be using it for a couple minutes each time you make a coffee.
It heats up quickly and - unlike some higher end machines - doesn't seem to use excessive energy just to maintain its temperature.
Value for Money
For its price, the Amzchef espresso machine offers excellent value. You get premium features and performance typically found in more expensive machines, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers.
Heck, I read about someone who had two Breville espresso machines break on them despite them being considered PREMIUM appliances. So they got an Amzchef espresso machine and were pleasantly surprised at the build quality and features it offered.
Despite being a budget friendly espresso machine, I'd argue it does all you will ever need it to do (and then some), while looking stylish and modern at the same time.
Key Specifications
- Pressure: 20-bar pump
- Water Tank Capacity: 1.8 liters (61oz)
- Power: 1350 watts
- Material: Stainless steel
Overall Rating
The Amzchef espresso machine delivers fantastic quality at an affordable price. With robust features and a sleek design, it offers great value for money. I’d rate it an easy 5 out of 5 considering the price-point.
I really don't have any complaints about it. It's a simple machine that does what it's made to do, and yet has more advanced options for those looking to live out their inner barista with more sophisticated brewing.
Final Thoughts
The Amzchef espresso machine is perfect for home baristas seeking a quality espresso maker without breaking the bank. Its solid build, consistent performance, and easy maintenance make it an excellent investment.
Whether you’re a coffee novice or a seasoned espresso lover, this machine delivers outstanding value.
Common Questions
Yes, Amzchef offers a 1-year manufacturer warranty. This policy ensures that if you experience any issues with your Amzchef product within the first year of purchase, they will provide assistance with no questions asked. To initiate a warranty claim or for any after-sale service, you simply need to contact their support team with your order number.
Yes, the Amzchef espresso machine is a great example of an affordable option. It offers a quality build, strong coffee-making capabilities, and additional features like a milk frother, making it a budget-friendly choice without compromising too much on quality.
With proper care and regular maintenance, such as descaling and cleaning, an Amzchef espresso machine can last several years. The actual lifespan depends on usage frequency and how well it is maintained.
Yes, you can easily make an Americano with an Amzchef espresso machine. Simply brew a shot of espresso and then add hot water to dilute it, creating the classic Americano taste. Or - do as I do - and program the machine to push more water through to give you a full size cup of coffee instead of just the default espresso shot - all at the press of a button. See the manual for instructions!
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