Casabrews Ultra Espresso Machine Review: Learning to Love the Process

I love good coffee. If somebody asked me for a go-to gift, a bag of medium-roasted Arabica would always work. What I don’t love is the hassle: grinding beans, making sure the grind is fine enough, tamping everything correctly, locking the portafilter into the group head… Maybe that’s why a cheap drip coffee maker from Walmart, filters, and a bag of ground coffee have been my default for the past two years. I almost never have time to make coffee properly, so the quality keeps slipping.

Casabrews decided to step in and save me from myself. The Ultra espresso machine promised barista-quality espresso with the convenience of a K-Cup machine. Too tempting to ignore, so I’ve been waiting for it to arrive for this review. Let’s see whether three weeks with the Ultra turns me from a convenience seeker into a process lover.

Casabrews Ultra Espresso Machine Specifications

Disclosure: Casabrews provided the Ultra espresso machine for review. No payment was provided, and all opinions are my own.

Read more:

• Why Choose a Cordless Vacuum Cleaner and Mop for Daily Cleaning
• Litheli 20V Cordless Snow Shovel Review

Day one: unboxing and first impressions

Casabrews Ultra arrived in a sleek box with the machine and the in-box contents printed right on it. Inside: the machine, portafilter, two sets of filters (double-wall and single-wall, for single and double shots), a measuring spoon, and a tamper.

Two essentials are missing: a milk frothing pitcher and a knock box. Not a dealbreaker, especially since Casabrews sells both on its website.

Nitpicking aside, the machine impressed me. It’s compact for what it offers, and the build quality feels solid: closer to a Breville than to cheaper Bella machines with a ton of plastic. The stainless steel body also fits naturally in a kitchen full of stainless steel appliances.

The portafilter feels solid, too. The handle is plastic (and a bit slippery), but the basket and interior are stainless steel, so you don’t feel like you’ll snap anything if you apply pressure.

And yes, you will apply pressure. I consider myself a relatively strong man, but locking the portafilter into the group head with coffee inside takes precision and force. I often end up using both hands: one on the portafilter, the other steadying the machine. A proper espresso machine needs a tight seal, I get it, but if my wife struggles to set it up, that’s a real downside.

On the bright side, you won’t be constantly refilling and emptying things. The water tank holds 2.2 liters (73 fl oz for my American friends), and the drip tray holds enough for about a week of use at our pace (two double shots a day).

With water in the tank and the portafilter in place, I went for my first Americano…

Read also:

• Bigme 7 Pro Review: The Gold Standard for Color E Ink Readers
• ASUS ROG KJP Accessories Review: Original Collaboration with Kojima Productions

Week one: getting used to it

I immediately regretted not reading the manual.

My first few double shots came out under-extracted, with weak crema. And my wife’s latte turned into hot milk with espresso and a thin layer of foam on top: not what I expected.

Casabrews Ultra is easy to operate: five buttons and a screen, but it still requires proper prep and some dialing in.

Those four filters in the box aren’t filler: they’re basically training wheels for an aspiring barista. Want a reliable crema with minimal effort? Use the double-wall single cup filter. Want to feel like a pro and push to impress your loved one with a better shot? The single-wall double-shot filter is your match. Just don’t forget to dose and tamp properly (right up to the Max marker). It’s not hard, but it’s a real step away from one-size-fits-all espresso gadgets.

Drink volume adjustment is also straightforward: hold the single- or double-shot button for 5 seconds to enter programming mode, then press it again to stop the flow, or the machine will happily “learn” your mistake. If you mess it up, you can repeat the procedure or reset to default by holding both single and double-shot buttons.

As for the latte: a pitcher in the box would’ve helped, but the manual was more helpful. Position the steam wand near the edge of the cup and dip it just a little, and you’ll see a vortex forming. Once you’ve got enough foam, dip the wand deeper to heat the milk fast. Gone are the days of sad foam and lukewarm milk.

By the end of week one, I was still skeptical – but with every espresso and latte, I felt more confident.

Read also:

• American Attack Aircraft, Part 13: New Generation, the Precursors to the A-10A
• Boeing CST-100 Starliner: Mission That Nearly Ended in Disaster

Week two: mastering the art

Now, I look for excuses to try something new.

My espresso is consistently better: proper extraction, crema every time, and I haven’t even touched the double-wall filters yet. I also stopped adjusting the drink size through extraction. Instead, I pull the shot, then add hot water using the dedicated water function. I barely look at the screen anymore: I know that in about 60 seconds, I’ll have a solid Americano.

The latte situation also flipped. It’s no longer “can I make foam?” It’s “how much foam do you want?” The button-based steaming control isn’t the most precise system in the world, but somehow I’m hitting the right result more often than not. I even started offering to froth milk just to show off and sharpen the skill. What’s next – latte art?

One more thing I didn’t expect: how quiet the machine is. Unless you’re steaming milk, the pump is quiet enough that I’m not worried about waking the neighbors when I make coffee at 7 AM.

Slowly but steadily, Casabrews Ultra grew on me. Yes, the portafilter still takes muscle to lock in, but once it’s set, the workflow is surprisingly smooth: closer to a convenience machine than I expected, just with better coffee at the end.

Read more:

• Why Your Phone Isn’t Afraid of Water: A Breakdown of Protection Technologies
• CECOTEC Cecofry Grill Smokin 8500 Review

How much does it cost, and are there any alternatives?

Given how good my experience has been, I was surprised by the price.

Casabrews Ultra has an MSRP of around $250, but it’s often on sale for $209.99 and is available at Casabrews, Amazon, and Target (availability varies). While writing this review, I even spotted one for $189.99.

Alternatives worth considering:

• Bella PRO Barista Elite Espresso Drink Station+

Regularly around $229.99, sometimes $189.99 on sale. On paper, it offers more features (an automatic milk frother and a 2-year warranty). In practice, I returned my unit after two weeks: the frother stopped working, the “touch interface pretending to be a screen” was painful to use, and coffee consistency was a mixed bag. You might have better luck than I did, but I found Casabrews more consistent, easier to operate, and higher quality overall.

• De’Longhi (Linea) Classic Espresso Machine

Around $229.95. It’s very similar in features and overall design. The Ultra’s LCD screen is replaced with an analog meter, and the drip tray is adjustable, so larger mugs fit more comfortably. It’s a solid alternative from a bigger name, especially when it’s on sale.

Overall, Casabrews Ultra is a compelling semi-automatic espresso machine that holds its own with the competition, with a few nice additions: an LCD screen, a large water tank, and multiple filter options for more consistent results.

Does it belong in my kitchen?

With week three coming to an end, I found myself genuinely wanting to use the Casabrews Ultra more.

It has a learning curve, but unless you’re allergic to reading instructions, dosing, and tamping, it takes a couple of tries to make good coffee reliably.

No, it’s not a professional machine, even if Casabrews (like Breville) loves the “barista mastery” storyline. But it is a great fit for people like me: you love coffee enough to do it the proper way, but you’re too busy (or too lazy) for a fully manual setup.

Low entry price, easy-to-learn workflow, consistently good results – it earned a spot in my kitchen.

And now that I wrote all this, I’m starving for another Americano. So I’ll go pump my biceps before locking that portafilter in place.

Where to buy Casabrews Ultra Espresso Machine

• Casabrews – $209.99
• Amazon – $209.99
• Target – $249.99

Read also:

• Logitech G325 LIGHTSPEED Review: Balanced Headset for Gaming and Work
• Project Silica Explained: A Look at “Digital Immortality”
• HATOR Arc 3 Review: Flagship Computer Chair from Ukrainian Brand