Make espresso drinks from scratch and on the cheap with Mr. Coffee

[MUSIC] Sure, you can spend thousands of dollars on an elite, imported espresso machine. But if you're a casual coffee drinker, that's a huge waste of money. If all you seek is the occasional stiff coffee drink softened with the sweetness of steamed milk, a gadget like the $90 Mr. Coffee Pump Espresso is a very frugal and shrewd alternative. This Mr. Coffee gadget comes with a porta-filter which can handle enough grounds for a single or double espresso shot. It's equipped with a steamer wand for frothing milk plus has a big removable water tank. Don't expect a sublime espresso experience from this appliance Even though the machine has a thermal block heating system, its brewing temperature is far from consistent. That means pulling shots of similar quality is a tall order. The steam function also lacks a variable control. Ultra-fine grounds clog the machine too, and shots from white roast tend to taste under-extracted. I definitely recommend this machine if all you want Is the odd cappuccino or latte, but if you want to have a very nice shot of pulled espresso that's great on it's own. This is not the machine for you. Here at the CNET smart home, I'm Brian Bennett. For CNET appliances, be sure to check out my review of this machine as well as other coffee makers at cnet.com. [SOUND]