Briel ED132AFB Sintra Espresso Machine with Drip Coffeemaker

The Sintra also has some nice functionality on the espresso/cappuccino side, starting with its Auto Espresso Flow system. This system lets you set the coffee strength according to taste, from a stronger, Italian-style short cup to a larger, less robust brew. The espresso is brewed at the required 190 degrees F, and the machine has 15 bars of pump pressure. And it's speedy, brewing two cups in about 35 seconds. It also makes good cappuccino, because of its steam nozzle, which lets you froth the milk. Some other nice features include its patented Cremaker filter, which provides a richer crema on each espresso, an exterior water-level indicator, and a cup warmer. In shining stainless steel and sturdy black plastic, this machine won't shame any counter. It has 2,010 watts of power and measures 14 by 11-1/2 by 10 inches (length by height by depth). --A.J. Rathbun

Editor's note: This item may arrive with water inside from the manufacturer's pressure test. This is a normal occurrence and doesn't point to a problem with the machine.

I agree with most reviewers that the espresso it produces is pretty good. Drip coffee is another story. There are some fundametal flaws with the design of the drip coffee compartment. Filling it up is an adventure. Half the water usually ends on the counter. There's no water level indicators inside the water tank, so you have to use the glass carafe to fill it with water. This usually results in a mess. In addition, you end up with less coffee than what you thought because some steam escapes from the top.

As far as the espresso compartment is concerned there are some problems too. First of all, the cup size selector is NOT consistent. The dial is pretty inaccurate, so you'll have to experiment until you get it right. Depending on the grind size you may have to change the setting a lot. So keep an eye on it!

Second of all, the heating element doesn't function very well. The green light (water temperature indicator) is erratic. It will be on, letting me know that the water is ready to make coffee, but it will then go off half way into making a serving. This usually happens if I want to make 2 servings, one after the other. To overcome this, I usually have to wait for the light to go off and come on again, which can add several minutes between espressos. Lately, this happens even if I'm only making one serving. Making coffee with tepid water? NOT NICE.

In conclusion, if you're tight on budget this is a decent choice. If you can spend a little bit more, skip it.