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.
This E61 heat exchanger machine is built like a tank and rewards patience with decades of service, owners routinely running the same unit for 10-20 years. The catch is thermal management: you'll flush between steaming and brewing, wait for recovery between back-to-back milk drinks, and on older models, electrical components near the boiler fail from heat exposure, control boards and wiring giving out after years of cooking themselves. Some owners also report a persistent water smell that never fully resolves. Buy it if you make 2-4 drinks daily, value hands-on control, and have repair access when those electrical gremlins surface. Walk if you need cafe-volume output or want automation over craft.