Neretva Espresso Coffee Machine, Professional Espresso Machine with Pressure Gauge 15Bar Retro Espresso Maker with Power Milk Frother Stainless Steel for Home Barista Latte and Cappuccino Maker-Green

I am in love with this machine. The specifications are similar to more expensive espresso machines at about 1/3 of the price. I love the vintage design and tactile mode switches which elevate my espresso ritual, it's a bonus that the unit perfectly matches my Grogu cups. Unlike many home espresso machines this unit does not use a pressurized portafilter basket. This means your espresso quality relies completely on the quality, grind, and tamp pressure of the beans to function properly. Many of the poor reviews for this machine are due to this issue. With the proper espresso grind I am able to pull what I consider a perfect cup at 9-10 bars every time. At the time of this review the unit is 2 months old, I'll update if there is an issue with the longevity. Tips for success: 1. Pressurized filter basket - for ease of use you can purchase a 58 mm basket which will allow you to use any preground coffee. The unit might show a low bar pressure for the head, but it will pull a crema from the pressure at the bottom of the basket. 2. Espresso Tamper - a spring tamp is a great addition to ensure an even tamp at the correct pressure and level for the unit. Get a set with a distributor so you can break up any clumps first. 3. Consistent espresso grind- this is where you need to start if relying on technique. If your grinder is subpar like mine (which only allows a bar pressure of 5-6 with proper fill and tamp) use a preground espresso like Cafe Morro or Cafe Bustelo. 4. Bean fill - the recommendations for the espresso fill are fairly accurate. However, you may need minor adjustments. If you feel any resistance after your tamp, remove some beans, redistribute and tamp. Don't force it, it will cause the machine pressure to run too high. Likewise if after tamping the fill level is too low, it can cause a low pressure extraction. You will get this with practice, the spring tamp can also simplify this process. 5. Tamp pressure - this is your last step to ensure the perfect home extraction. Too low or too high cause extraction pressure issues even if grind, fill, and distribution are perfect. You will get the feel for this with time, and once again a spring tamp can help in the meantime. 6. Enjoy! I hope you find these tips helpful and you love purchase as much as I have. Now, off to perfect my latte art.

Before I begin, I must admit I am a St*rbucks barista and I am completely spoiled by the ease of their automated Mastrena II. I decided to go with this model as it seemed easy enough to use, wouldn’t take too much space on my counter, and the price point was fair based on the features and other reviews I read. !!!HOWEVER!!! I’ve had nothing but major difficulty with this machine that is supposed to be easy for “newbies.” Firstly, it’s really difficult to set the portafilter level on the counter for tamping because of the dual spouts (which isn’t even necessary in the first place), therefore making it nearly impossible to get an even tamp across the bed. Also, the tamper is too small of a diameter in the first place. Second, with the correct espresso measurements I CAN NOT attach the portafilter to the group head. Like, at all. It’s too much coffee. I’ve tried and tried until I’m red in the face and cussing and feel as if I’m about to break it. Also, this battle with attaching the portafilter results in an even more uneven tamped espresso bed from all the movement. If I reduce the measurement, I can attach it with no problem. But what results is an under extracted shot with absolutely no crema. Third, the milk steaming wand is an absolute joke. It’s far too close to the counter and you cannot move the milk pitcher under it without a major spill. When you do get the pitcher under the wand and begin to steam, I can’t get a vortex going or any steam bubbles. I’m just putting steamed water in milk and hurting myself and making a mess. I was so excited to be able to make myself and my friends espresso drinks at home. But with this product it will be impossible and embarrassing. I’m pissed I spent over $200 on something that doesn’t work even remotely well. TLDR; don’t be fooled by how cute this product is. It doesn’t work.

Why did you pick this product vs others?: I waited for her to come back in stock!!! Bought for my new apartment and she is stunning!!! I adore the green color, love the retro design and enjoy the overall experience. Pro tip —when you’re getting it set up, there is a plastic piece beneath the water reservoir that you have to remove first in order for the water to filter through! I thought mine was broken at first, but eventually figured it out! Worth every penny! Looks so beautiful on my kitchen counter!

I spent a lot of time researching machines in the $200-$300 price range. I admit that the green color held some sway, but as former barista/coffee shop manager- the review that itemized the dry pucks really helped me make the decision to try this machine. Pros: dry pucks and quality espresso, large water tank and size of the portafilter. Cons: the steam wand is a big issue-it does not have the necessary adjustment mechanism to remove a pitcher without spilling. The provided pitcher is very small (12oz) and even with only adding 8 oz of milk, it spills when removing the pitcher from beneath the wand. The auto brew switch does not have a one shot/two shot discernment. All of the water leaked out of the tank and all over the counter after a few uses. I cleaned it up and refilled the tank- if this happens again, I will be returning. Also, the provided tamper is not the same size as the portafilter- it is far smaller making an even tamp almost impossible- it is also a cheap plastic not metal as is advertised. Overall, the espresso quality is the sole reason that I didn’t immediately pack it up and return it. The return window is for a few more weeks and I may still end up returning it over the steam wand issue. UPDATE: I am returning this item because of the problems I am having. The water pump is now not functioning and the water tank has leaked all of the water onto the counter several times. It’s a bummer because the espresso is good and the foam turns out good even though the wand is janky and does not pull out far enough to get the tiny pitcher out without spilling. Super bummed, but I can’t justify keeping this machine.

This is a beautiful machine! It looks great in my kitchen. I just wish I had a bit more instruction on its functions. I can’t get my milk to froth or get so watered down. I must be doing something wrong. Otherwise it’s a high quality and value item.

I almost send the item back, when I realized that coffee must be grounded properly. The espresso was great, it is a great product. I highly recommend it!

UPDATE: I stand by most of my original review. The only thing I would change is my complaint of the pressure gauge on my 2nd machine. I changed my grind setting and bought a spring tamper, and this has helped with the pressure on the manual setting. Still cannot get a decent brew from the automatic setting. I do think the company needs to have better quality control at the factory and I think this machine has some great features for the price (like the OPV). I think with some tweaks to the guts of the machine, and listening to the complaints of customers and fixing those issues (like water leaking and espresso temperature etc.) they can take this from an okay machine to a great machine for the price point. So I changed my review from 2* to 3* because some of my complaints were my fault/error. I love the design, the toggle switches, the retro vibe but for the $ it did not live up to my expectations. The 1st one I ordered, the coffee was not hot but luke warm to warm, the milk frother would let out a horrible screeching sound, the pressure gauge only worked 1 time and the automatic side did not make good espresso & the portafilter was very crooked. So I exchanged it for another one. The 2nd one, you can only use the manual side. The automatic side doesn't make good coffee/espresso. The warming tray doesn't warm anything and again the pressure gauge barely moves on the manual side. At 1st I thought it was user error, but no matter what I did, same results. Finer grind, following step by step tutorials etc. Nothing helped. And it's a shame because I wanted it to be great, I wanted to love the machine as much as I love the look and design of it. But the quality isn't there. And I am very surprised since Neretva has 2 other highly recommended and rated machines. I would keep the design but go back to the drawing board on the guts of the machine.

I am in Love with this espresso machine! 1 it's my favorite color & 2 easy to use and clean.