The Espressione FAM 500 Bean to Cup Machine is a beautifully designed, fully automatic espresso machine with customizable settings. We tested the FAM 500-B, which is black with silver accents, and the unit is also available in silver with black accents as model FAM 500-S.

The FAM 500 has state-of-the-art programming that allows you to prepare a single or double shot of espresso with the touch of a button. What's more, this unit is equipped with its own bean hopper and conical burr grinder, so it can grind espresso beans just before brewing for the freshest espresso possible.

The FAM 500 includes a Thermoblock heating system with 15-BAR pump, a removable 6.34-cup water reservoir, a removable clear plastic (9.5-ounce) bean container and a removable used-grounds container. There is also a swiveling jet-frothing wand, a cleaning brush and a measuring scoop.

The control panel has a series of easy-touch buttons that activate the machine's various functions, including on/off/preheat, brew/single, brew/double, and steam. There are also buttons for selecting the coffee quantity and coffee serving size. The controls are fairly straightforward, but even so, you'll want to familiarize yourself with the operating procedures by reading the FAM 500's detailed instruction booklet.

We loved everything about the FAM 500, from the adjustable fineness control on the grinder to the super-powerful jet frother, which doubles the volume of milk in mere seconds for foamy, delicious cappuccino and latte drinks. The FAM 500 is outfitted with a premium brewing mechanism, which first wets the grounds, pulses and then continues for optimal flavor extraction. The simple process resulted in a wonderfully aromatic, full-bodied cup of espresso coffee.

In our tests, the temperature of the finished espresso fluctuated between 160 degrees and 180 degrees Fahrenheit. The extreme shift had more to do with the temperature of the cups rather than the actual brewing process. To obtain the hottest espresso, we realized that the cups must be prewarmed. Shifting between the steam and brew functions also impacted the temperature.

One of the FAM 500's customizable features is the serving size. You have three size options: small (espresso), medium (coffee) and large. The smallest setting dispenses about 2.5 ounces (one shot); the medium setting delivers about 5 ounces; and the large produces about 6.5 ounces. You can adjust the factory settings up or down as desired. Once a cup size is selected, simply press one of the brew buttons (single or double) to dispense your coffee.

One of the FAM 500's advantages is the fact that you don't have to measure or tamp grounds. The machine automatically dispenses the required amount of grounds into the filter, then brews a perfect cup of espresso and ejects the used grounds into a removable waste container for easy emptying. If you prefer, you can override the grind function and use pre-ground coffee by spooning it into the supplied funnel.

Other handy features include an adjustable-height nozzle to brew directly into demitasse or standard coffee cups, the ability to dispense hot water through the steam nozzle, an integrated cleaning program, a descaling program and automatic stone protection built into the grinder. As an energy-saving feature, the FAM 500 shuts itself off after 5 hours.

For a sophisticated espresso, cappuccino and latte maker that can do just about anything, take a look at the Espressione FAM 500.


Pros: Fully automatic machine, 15-BAR pump, one-touch operation, customizable settings, energy-saving automatic shutoff
Cons: Expensive

Warranty
1 year