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Saeco A-SPV-BK Spidem Villa Super-Automatic Espresso Machine, Black

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Brand: Saeco
Category: Kitchen

List Price: ~~$550.00~~
Buy New: $497.99
You Save: $52.01 (9%)

New (14) from $497.99

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

15 reviews
Sales Rank: 48080

Color: Black
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 18
Dimensions (in): 0.2 x 0.1 x 0.2

MPN: AS-SP-BK
Model: A-SPV-BK
UPC: 708461000316
EAN: 0708461000316
ASIN: B000SQWAKY

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Customer Reviews:

Showing reviews 6-10 of 15

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Great machine!!! I love it!!! August 3, 2008
3 out of 5 found this review helpful

First of all don't mistake the 4 star rating for anything bad. If I can give it a 4 3/4 stars I would. The less 1/4 star is more for me being unable to find certain information that I thought would have made my decision quicker and small things like I wish it was the reverse color. The appliances in my kitchen is mostly white with black and other with black trims. This item is mostly black with some white. Not a big deal but there's that "I wish..." factor. Another couple of cons that I think would have made this a perfect 5 stars for me and that is the water tank and the been hopper. The 7 cup water tank is perfect for those who drink one cup of coffee a day but I find myself forgetting to check the water level quite a bit during the week. Still I can learn to be more aware. So far I've only been alarmed with a bright red light once! This is not too bad. The other area is the bean hopper being that I have not figured out a way to change out beans without having to unscrew 2 screws. Maybe there is a way but I've haven't figured it out yet? Anyway, sometimes I like to try different coffee beans but with this machine I have to wait till all the beans in the hopper is gone before adding new one. And even then I can't be sure when a new scoop of beans are in the grinder because you pour the new beans on top of the ones. Also an area that I think can use a better design, the adjusting knobs in the bean hopper have a hole on top and I'm guessing to put a screw in it. The bad part is that beans get stuck in them. Did the designer think this through? One more from my wish list, I have a lot of pre ground coffee that I have not use since I purchased this machine and in some way I wish I can use this machine to brew them. I KNOW!!! It is taboo to think this way. It's just a wish...

The truth is I really like this machine a lot. I can't belive how simple it is to use it. It's almost literally a one button coffee machine. Once you have adjusted the machine to your liking it's a matter of pushing one button whenever you need a cup. And most impressive is the extremely low energy use when it is on standby. I've had this machine for a month now and have used it everyday at least once. I hope it keeps on working for me. But for now I enjoying it!!! PS. I still haven't figured out what the "A" in "Saeco A-SPV-BK..." Could the "A" stand for Amazon???

5 out of 5 stars

Best Value For a Super Automatic July 25, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I've been watching on the sideline for many years to get a super automatic espresso machine. Reliability and cost were issues that I had to analyze before pulling the BUY NOW button. When Amazon offered this unit for 379 a week later when Costco had the silver one for 399 + shipping and tax - I decided to trust the Amazon reviewers and go for it!

This is the BEST money for the bang purchase I have made. Be CAREFUL and don't overdo it when you get it. I received the unit on a workday and immediately tried the machine to adjust the coffee and water dosage of my espresso shots. After 4 shots it was fine - but couldn't get get a full night of sleep due to the caffeine! Next day I had 7 espresso shots before going to work and I've never quivered so much! After 3 weeks of use I have lowered my dosage to 2 shots in the morning and I'm looking forward to try some decaf beans. Might have to buy another machine to keep it stocked with DECAF beans.....

ADDICTIVE!

5 out of 5 stars

So far, so good! July 16, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I picked this unit up about a week ago for $379. It appears Amazon has now raised the price. Like others, I was skeptical about the quality of this machine for the price. In the end I decided instead of paying $1,000 or so for a machine that generically seem to break down a fair amount, I'd try this one since the reviews were pretty good. The logic being that if this one self-destructs I'll only tear out half my hair. If it happened with a $1,000 model, I'd pull it all out!

As for the Villa Spidem itself, after a week we're very pleased. The operation is not completely intuitive so you definitely need to read the manual (even though the manual is not a sterling example of clarity). Once you get the hang of it though, which doesn't take long, you're in for some fine coffee. From a cold start (that is if you have the machine turned off), it will grind and brew a cup in under two minutes. If the machine is already on, your cup will be ready in about 30 seconds. All this by just pushing a button. By using the dial on the front of the panel you can vary the brew from a tiny espresso to an Americano and every gradient in between. We are using Altura Cafe's French Roast as our first bean and the result is very tasty.

Complaints: All minor at this point. If you want to go from brewing to foaming some milk, the machine will balk until you vent a bit of the hot water out first...takes about 5 seconds. Also as has been pointed out, both the bean and the water hopper in particular are a bit on the small side, but for one or two users I'd call it a non-issue. If you have a family of 4 or 5 heavy users, you'll probably go through two waters and one hopper of beans in a day. Finally, it is a bit noisy. Like one of Pavlov's dog, I've grown to like the sound because I know it means satisfaction is moments away, but I suppose if I was hosting a party and making a bunch of coffees it would be distracting.

A promise: The machine is virtually all plastic and it's hard to believe that it will last. Countless reviews on super-automatics testify to the inherent weakness of these machines in general. If this machine breaks down I will edit/update this review. If you're reading this with no update you can assume it's still making our delicious daily coffee.

5 out of 5 stars

A great deal that delivers July 16, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I live within easy walking distance of three coffee shops - one just across the street. All of them produce disappointing espresso. After reading the rave reviews of both this machine and its silver sister I decided to take a chance.

I was not disappointed. The very first shot right out of the box at the default settings was a thing of beauty and as good or better than my neighborhood shops with their experienced baristas and giant costly machines. Since then I have enjoyed tinkering with the grind, dose and beans and appreciating the differences in taste and intensity that result.

The Pluses
Machine is fast to warm up and completely automatic. It grinds, tamps, pulls the shot, and then ejects the grounds into a hopper. Adjustments include the size of the grind, the size of the dose, and the volume of coffee produced, and the beans you provide. It does not require customized inserts (aka pods) and so doesn't tie you into one supplier.

The Minuses
The machine is very tall and dominates its space on the counter. If you have a crowded counter you would do well to measure ahead of time. The grinding and tamping seem a little noisy in a quiet house at 6:00 in the morning. I have also had limited success with the steamer wand but honestly have only tried using it a couple of times.

In summation I am completely satisfied with this machine and use it a couple of times a day. It is a good value and if you are stopping off to buy coffee you could be making at home, a good investment.

5 out of 5 stars

Excellent cup of Joe May 12, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

The Spidem Villa is easy to use and makes an excellent cup of Joe. This is my first super automatic and I am very pleased.

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