A fully manual lever machine that trades electricity and automation for compact size and hands-on control over every variable in the shot. You heat water separately, load the portafilter, and generate all pressure by hand, which means you need a stable counter and the patience to dial in grind and technique yourself. The payoff is real espresso in tight spaces and the ability to experiment with unconventional pulls (one owner nailed cold espresso by steeping grounds for three minutes before a slow press), but this is for the tinkerer who finds the process rewarding, not the person who wants reliable morning shots on autopilot. If you already own a grinder and like solving small mechanical puzzles, it's a capable tool at a fair price; if you want convenience or speed, walk.
This German-built heat exchanger pulls shots that rival commercial machines, with PID temperature control that eliminates the cooling flushes other E61 machines require. The catch is a known recurring flaw: the Solid State Relay fails predictably after two years of daily use, a $35 part that requires technical skill or a service call to replace, and the PID tuning forces a choice between proper brew temperature and strong steam pressure. Buy it if you're making one or two drinks daily and don't mind scheduled maintenance for exceptional espresso quality, but skip it if you need worry-free operation or fast milk drink production.