ECM Synchronika

If you're serious about your coffee, this is heaven – This machine is the Mercedes Benz of espresso makers. It's hand-made in Heidelberg, Germany using only the best parts. It's made like a tank. It's everything a coffee aficionado would love. First: It looks impressive on your kitchen bench. It's a piece of art, and it's easy to keep it that way. Second: Dual boilers mean you can just heat up the extraction boiler and make a short black or double shot. If you want to froth milk, you can turn on the second steam boiler separately. Third: The temperature of each boiler is controllable. (Some coffee tastes better when extracted at a lower temperature.) Fourth: Maintenance is simple. Fifth: It's quiet as a mouse - because of good insulation and a rotary pump.

Others have said that this isn't for beginners. Look, if you want a machine you'll have for a very long time, don't waste your money on lesser espresso makers. Yes, it's a bit complicated at first, but most places that sell these types of machines offer barista courses. Do one of those - you won't regret it.

Most important question of all: Does it make good coffee. YES!!! Probably as good as, or better than, what you get at your favourite coffee shop. Just takes a little practice. Don't forget - get yourself a good grinder, and use the freshest roasted beans you can find. (Not from the supermarket.)

The coffee machine for the serious coffee lover – If you are seriously into coffee and home espresso, then you will already know about this machine. So this review is for those of you who just want to know what it's like to own. The machine is 100% quality. Everything about it is well engineered. If you've looked at the countless YouTube reviews, you will already know that is has commercial grade internals. The rotary pump is super quiet, this machine can be plumbed or you can use the water tank, the fit and finish is perfect. There is nothing "cheap" about this machine that makes you second guess where your $4000+ went.

The ECM Synchronika's since 2018 have an upgraded PID controller that allows you to increase the steam boiler temp to 132C, which gives you 2 bar of steam pressure. This is commercial grade pressure. If you're not use to it, it can take some time to work it out and rehone your milk foaming technique. But once you do, it can steam a jug of milk to microfoam perfection in far less time than it takes to pull the shot.

With 2 boilers, the machine does take a bit of to heat up but I've found it's at operating temp within about 15-20min even on a cold winter morning.

The reset time of the steam boiler after doing milk is less than a minute, so even with lots of coffees to do, you can punch them out fairly quickly.

The machine is beautiful to look at and is a work of art on a kitchen bench. It's just gorgeous.

The stainless steel is fairly easy to keep clean, and I use some stainless steel wipes and a microfibre cloth.

Maintenance is minimal. Cleaning the group head is simple with the blind shot basket. The shower screen can be removed with just a teaspoon and is very easy to get out. It's a little tricker getting it back in with the group head seal, but after 2 or 3 times doing it now I've mastered it. Being a scaled down commercial machine, replacements parts and servicing is easy to do, and again (if you've seen the YouTube reviews), getting the side and back panels off is just a few screws.

Does it make good coffee? Of course it does. The PID controller keeps brew temp spot on, and I'm able to pull shot after shot after shot of solid consistency. But how good the coffee is, is obviously down to a lot more than just the machine. But assuming you know how to dial in your grinder, extract a shot properly, and foam your milk correctly and to the right temp, then using this machine to make yourself a coffee will be an absolute pleasure.

This machine isn't for the first time coffee machine owner. Nobody gets into a Formula 1 car as their first car, and likewise this machine isn't really aimed at first timers. This is the machine you get when you know what you're doing, and you're now chasing the very best.

The Rolls Royce of Coffee Machines – I've had this for a year and its an exceptional design and very well built. I love my machine, It's faultless for its coffee and dual boilers with separate temperature settings really help. This is a top end "prosumer" machine so you may need to experiment or take a barrister course, but once you've practiced the coffee is perfect. Also really need to ensure you have good fresh coffee beans and a good grinder. Don't waste your money if your only going to get some average beans.. Also looks amazing in the kitchen. - Harlan