The Capresso Ultima Semi-Automatic coffee/espresso/cappuccino machine uses a high-pressure 18-BAR pump to prepare crema coffee, espresso, cappuccino, cafe latte, cafe Americano and other specialty coffee drinks. This unit works with a variety of coffee grinds and different roasts, including traditional as well as espresso roasts. Because the pump is less sensitive you can even use a blade coffee grinder and still get crema espresso coffee. The coarser the coffee, the faster the water will run through, however, resulting in a slightly weaker taste.

The machine consists of a 12-inch wide by 16-inch deep by 15-inch tall black base. An internal ThermoCoil heating element preheats in just 30 seconds. This unit has a combination of rounded and straight edges and angles with a unique revolving carousel at the top, including a funnel opening to add ground coffee and a locking lever/tamping device. The Capresso Ultima is a semi-automatic machine, which basically means it uses an electric pump to deliver heated water through packed coffee grounds for optimum flavor extraction. Unlike the fully automatic machines, however, there are still several variables that need to be manually set. You determine the quantity and grind of the coffee, and the amount of water dispensed. You can add between 7 and 15 grams of ground coffee and brew a short (1 1/2 ounce) or tall (4 ounce) espresso or up to 12 ounces of coffee. This machine is a lot more forgiving in terms of coarseness, but you'll need to experiment a bit to find the best combination to suit your preference.

We tried the machine with both espresso roast coffee (fine grind) and traditional auto-drip coffee (regular grind). Although both worked fine and both produced a delicate layer of crema, we preferred the espresso roast and grind simply because of its rich, full-bodied flavor. The coffee made with the coarser grind was significantly weaker. We found we could achiever a fuller flavor by adjusting the amount of the water dispensed through the grounds.

Once we familiarized ourselves with the instructions, we found the Capresso Ultima to be quite easy to use. We actually had fun turning the carousel, adding ground coffee, turning again, tamping and so forth. We appreciated the fact that there were no filter sieves to deal with. The ground coffee is added through a funnel and ejected into a removable grounds container. With a quick turn of the carousel, you're ready to brew the next cup. The one limitation is this machine can't handle pre-filled pods.

The controls on this unit are simple and straightforward. There is an on/off button, as well as a pump button, which turns on the pump to deliver either brewed coffee or hot water. A three-position selector switch determines the function: brewing, hot water or steam. An attached frothing wand dispenses steam and air to produce frothed or steamed milk for lattes or cappuccino. The brew steam function can be used immediately following a brew cycle only. At that point, there is sufficient pressure to release up to 90 seconds of steam. To produce more steam, you need to activate the pump again.

For each cup of coffee or espresso you wish to make, you need to add one-to-two scoops of ground coffee to the funnel. The machine will automatically discard any excess coffee into the grounds receptacle. The brewed coffee is dispensed through two spouts on the brew head, enabling you to fill either one or two cups at a time. The used grounds are ejected into a removable bin as you turn the carousel. The Capresso Ultima is also easy to clean since many of the parts -- carousel, water reservoir, drip tray, grounds container -- remove for easy washing in the sink.

The Capresso Ultima is a convenient pump coffee and espresso maker with some high-end features, including automatic tamping, automatic ejection of used grounds and a powerful 18-BAR pump for consistent brewing.


Pros: 18-BAR pump, auto-tamping and grounds disposal, dual frother, option to use coarse or fine ground coffee
Cons: Limited steam output per session

Warranty
1 year, limited for household use