Swan SK22110BLN Retro Espresso Coffee Machine with Milk Frother, Steam Pressure Control, 1.2L Detachable Water Tank, 1100W, Retro Blue

After doing a lot of research of different machines I didn't want to spend a lot of money on my first at home coffee machine. I ordered this one and was a little skeptical based on some other negative reviews.I'm really please, I've had this machine for a few months now. I followed the instructions precisely at first, and it's simple and second nature to do the various steps/buttons now.I use the coffee maker every day and I love it. It does everything I need/want it to do and I definitely don't see the point in spending more for anything other than aesthetics or very large families etc.I've encountered a few 'problems' that are also mentioned in other reviews and here is how I resolved them;Light colour coffee coming out : In the first few seconds the coffee is very dark then goes light quickly as it pours, I believe some of this is due to aeration as in the cup it still looks pretty dark. I also needed to adjust my expectation. This machine produces an espresso - not a full cup of coffee. I usually have a latte/flat white but if I have an americano style coffee I pour the espresso and top up using the kettle.Milk not hot enough - keep it going for longer :D it does take longer than I initially expected to get piping hot'Exploding' - this has happened twice. Not an explosion, the filter porter has come loose and popped off with the pressure. It didn't break my cup but could easily break a glass cup. The first time I was rushing and didn't securely lock the portafilter well enough. The second time there must have been some old coffee grids etc where the portafilter locks in because it seemed to glide into place without effort and so when it got going inevitably slid back off. So, I'd say push it into place firmly and remove before switching to the steam function.Larger 2-cup filter not working. Only a drip came out of the larger 2-cup/extra shot filter at first. After some time I realised it's because it needs more pressure to push through the extra grounds. The 'ready' green light may come on but if it's not coming out effectively I just wait an extra 30 secs and it's fine when I try again.Wand not long enough. I usually make one cup at a time. My standard size jug needs to be 2/3 filled to work with this length of wand so means making too much hot milk and being wasteful. So, using a cup or smaller jug is needed.

I bought this to see whether I would use a coffee machine daily or even if enough to justify buying a more expensive model. On opening the box though I was pleasantly surprised by the quality, style and size, and how it eventually looked on the countertop.To be fair, I wasn’t expecting this machine to be as good as it is. Easy to use, good pressure to give you a perfect crema layer on your espresso and the milk steamer is also quite powerful - ideal for latte’s, short continental style and cappuccino’s.I’ve found the best coffee is a level scoop (scoop provided with machine) of a dark roast but I prefer strong coffee so it’s down to how you personally like yours.The coffee press is easy to use and clean after use, I do find that sometimes if I use a coarser grind that they form hard cakes which are quite difficult to remove but that’s just a minor issue.I’m so happy with this machine that I’ve decided that I don’t need to upgrade any time soon.Looks good, does the job exceptionally well and is great value for money.

Love this coffee maker. Got it for my husband as a gift. Perfect for making coffee. But it falls down on the milk frothing side. I find it spits along of hot water into the milk while heating it and this changes the taste and consistency of the milk. By the time its warm its very watered down. But the coffee side works well. Bought it over a year ago now. And still going well with daily use. Easy to use. And really looks beautiful.

After 4 years of owning this machine I am finally ready to leave a review.In short - it's a great machine.Longevity - I can vouch for this machine standing the test of time. I'd had it since lockdown 2020 and it still works like it did on day one. No pressure loss and makes a great cup of coffee.Cleaning - the machine doesn't really require tablet or deep cleaning, but then I've always had a water softener so maybe it would with hard water. The coffee portafilter will need cleaning out every now and then if you use a fine ground coffee, and will require you to open it up via the screws on the base. This is an easy task and means you continue to get fresh coffee that comes out of the machine fast. I've only had to do this twice in 4 years so it's not a common occurrence.Coffee - let's get on to the important stuff, this machine makes SUCH a good coffee. We have a £700 machine at work and it does not make as good of a coffee as this machine. The Swan machine is so simple and it just works every time. 10/10 on the coffee.Frother - Again, this is really good. It's a small frother but I actually prefer that as the other machines I've used seem to have a frother that is far too large.Overall this machine is an easy 10/10 and I bought a second one for my mum, and might buy a third for myself in the office!