CASABREWS 3700 ESSENTIAL-01 Espresso coffee machine: Full Review

The Casabrews 3700 Essential is an affordable, entry-level home espresso machine designed for beginners looking to make cafe-style coffee drinks at home. It features a 15 bar pump pressure system, a 1.2 liter removable water tank, and a 360 degree swivel steam wand to easily prepare espresso, cappuccinos, and lattes. With its compact footprint and beginner-friendly controls, the Casabrews 3700 Essential aims to bring the barista experience into your own kitchen.

This semiautomatic espresso machine comes with a single boiler and a panarello steam wand which allows you to prepare espresso shots and steam milk at the same time. The 3700 Essential has a simple 3 button interface to control the brewing process. It comes with a portafilter and double wall filter baskets for optimal extraction. While Casabrews doesn't have the pedigree of more established brands, its recent product line up aims to deliver solid performance and reliability at an accessible price point.

Overall, the Casabrews 3700 Essential provides an inexpensive option for budding home baristas to begin their espresso journey. While more advanced users may want higher-end features and capabilities down the line, this machine offers an approachable entry point into brewing cafe-style coffee at home.

Design and Build Quality

The Casabrews 3700 Essential espresso machine features a durable stainless steel exterior housing that gives it a sleek, modern look that will complement any kitchen decor. The stainless steel construction also makes the machine easy to keep clean and resistant to fingerprints.

Inside, the machine contains a copper boiler and brass group head and portafilter that efficiently heat water to the proper brewing temperature and hold heat well during extraction for consistently hot espresso shots. The portafilter has a firm, sturdy handle that makes it easy to lock and unlock from the group head.

The included tamper and other accessories also appear to use quality materials that should hold up well to daily use and cleaning. While not a commercial-grade model, reviewers mention that the Casabrews 3700 has a solid, substantial build quality that makes it feel like it will last for years of daily home espresso making. The machine itself weighs over 15 pounds, which lends to its stability and durability on the counter.

Another notable option from Casabrews is the CASABREWS CM5418BC-UL. This model boasts advanced features such as an adjustable steam wand and a pre-infusion function for optimal extraction. Its brushed stainless steel exterior complements modern kitchen aesthetics, while the double boiler system ensures efficient water heating and steaming. This espresso machine includes a variety of accessories, such as a stainless steel milk frothing pitcher and a durable tamper, catering to both beginner and experienced home baristas.

Overall, the Casabrews 3700 impresses with its durable stainless steel housing, commercial-style components like the copper boiler and brass portafilter, and sturdy accessories. The solid build quality makes this a reliable option for brewing quality espresso drinks at home day after day.

Features and Capabilities

The Casabrews 3700 Essential has several useful features for making high-quality espresso-based beverages:

• 15 bar pump pressure: The 15 bar Italian pump allows you to extract espresso with the ideal pressure to bring out the flavors and aromas of the coffee. This is the standard pressure used by most quality espresso machines.

• PID temperature control: The PID controller keeps water temperature consistent throughout the extraction for optimal espresso flavor. Temperature fluctuations can lead to under or over-extracted shots.

• 360 degree swivel steam wand: The stainless steel steam wand swivels 360 degrees to allow you to easily froth milk for lattes and cappuccinos in any direction. It produces hot steam to create thick, creamy foam.

• Pressurized and non-pressurized portafilter baskets: It comes with both pressurized and non-pressurized portafilter baskets so you can use either pre-ground coffee or freshly ground coffee. The pressurized basket helps optimize extraction for pre-ground coffee.

• Milk frothing pitcher included: The machine includes a 20oz milk frothing pitcher to steam and froth milk. The handle stays cool while frothing.

In addition, consider the MR MIRYE RZ2-EM01-US for an outstanding espresso experience. This machine features a high-performance pump and advanced temperature control for consistent shots. It also includes a user-friendly interface, designed for both beginners and experienced baristas. The MR MIRYE RZ2-EM01-US is crafted with premium materials ensuring durability and exceptional quality in every cup.

Ease of Use

The Casabrews 3700 Essential espresso machine is designed for easy, intuitive use. The interface consists of two programmable buttons and a simple dial to select your desired brew.

The two buttons can be programmed for one-touch espresso or cappuccino brewing. Once programmed, you just need to press the button and the machine takes care of portioning the right amount of coffee and milk automatically. The buttons make it easy to get consistent results every time.

Selecting your desired brew is equally easy with the simple dial control. Options include espresso, lungo, hot water, and steam. The dial allows you to easily customize the length of your espresso pull as well.

Overall, the machine is very easy to operate on a daily basis. The portafilter securely locks into place with a satisfying click, and the steam wand is easy to manipulate to froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes.

Maintenance is also straightforward, with removable parts that are simple to rinse and keep clean. The drip tray can also be removed, making it easy to accommodate taller cups or fit a glass under for hot water dispensing.

Beverage Quality

The Casabrews 3700 Essential produces high quality espresso, cappuccino, and latte beverages that impress both home baristas and coffee shop aficionados.

Espresso

The 15 bar Italian pump allows you to pull rich, aromatic shots of espresso with a nice crema on top. The espresso has a bold, intense flavor with notes of dark chocolate and hazelnut. The brewing temperature is consistent, ensuring the espresso is never burnt or bitter tasting.

Cappuccino

Frothing the milk with the steam wand is quick and easy. The foam comes out thick, glossy, and smooth. When paired with a shot of espresso, the cappuccino has the perfect espresso to steamed milk ratio. The foam holds up well and complements the espresso with its sweet, velvety texture.

Latte

Lattes made with this machine are velvety smooth and deliciously flavorful. The microfoam blends perfectly into the steamed milk for a light, creamy texture. Each sip tastes beautifully balanced between the espresso and foamed milk. You can achieve the classic latte art heart shape when pouring.

Value for Money

The Casabrews 3700 Essential espresso machine provides excellent value for money given its features, durability and performance.

At around $250, it is very competitively priced compared to similar espresso machines in this category. You get an impressive array of features like 15 bars of pressure, a powerful 1800 watt boiler, and a durable stainless steel housing and drip tray. This level of power and build quality rivals more expensive models.

For the price, you can expect years of reliable service. The stainless steel components are built to last in a busy kitchen. Owners report the machine continues churning out great espresso and steaming milk consistently even after years of daily use. The removable 1.3 liter water reservoir also makes maintenance easy.

Most importantly, you don't have to sacrifice beverage quality with the Casabrews. It can produce cafe-quality espresso with thick, rich crema and properly textured milk for cappuccinos and lattes. The 3-in-1 filter holder allows you to use ground coffee or convenient ESE pods.

If you're looking for an affordable, feature-packed espresso machine that can deliver delicious espresso drinks for years to come, the Casabrews 3700 Essential is an excellent value purchase. You'd be hard pressed to find better espresso at this price point.

Advantages

This espresso machine has several notable advantages:

• Powerful 15-bar pump provides excellent pressure for rich, full-bodied espresso shots. The pump is reliable and consistent.

• The sizeable 2-liter removable water tank allows you to brew many cups before needing a refill. Convenient for high volume use.

• It heats up quickly, in around 1 minute, so you can start making coffee right away. No long warm up times.

• The stainless steel construction gives it a sleek look and makes it easy to keep clean. High quality materials for durability.

• Comes with single and double shot filter baskets for customizing espresso strength and volume. Allows versatility in your brewing.

• The steam wand makes it easy to froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes. You can create café-quality milk foam.

• At just 9 pounds, this model is lightweight and easy to move around your kitchen or office. Convenient portability.

• Separate knobs allow you to dial in your ideal water volume and pressure. Gives you precision and control.

• The drip tray is large and removable for easy cleanup. Keeps your counters tidy.

• It's an affordable option for a semi-automatic espresso maker with excellent performance. Good value for money.

Disadvantages

Some of the notable disadvantages of the Casabrews 3700 Essential espresso machine include:

• Small 40ml water tank capacity requires frequent refilling. For moderate to high usage, this can be inconvenient.

• The steam wand is made of plastic rather than the more durable metal. It may be prone to damage over time.

• Lacks preset one-touch programs for common drinks like espresso and cappuccino. You have to manually stop the brewing.

• Lower powered 1000W thermoblock heating system. Recovery time between brewing shots is slower than higher-end models.

• No automatic milk frothing function. Requires manually steaming milk with the steam wand.

• Single boiler design. Cannot steam milk and extract espresso simultaneously.

• Basic push button controls with no digital display. Lacks the programmability of more advanced models.

• Short 1 year warranty period. Other brands offer longer 2-3 year warranties.

• Bulky and heavy 11 lb design. Not as portable as some competing models.

Alternatives

When looking for an espresso machine in this price range, there are a few other models worth considering as alternatives to the Casabrews 3700 Essential:

Breville Bambino Plus

The Breville Bambino Plus is a popular entry-level espresso machine known for its compact size, fast heat-up time, and automatic microfoam milk frothing. It lacks some customization options but produces excellent espresso and steamed milk drinks in a small footprint.

De'Longhi La Specialista

For espresso enthusiasts who want more control, the De'Longhi La Specialista features dual temperature gauges, a manual microfoam milk frother, and an advanced brewing system. You'll get cafe-quality espresso with the flexibility to adjust various parameters.

Gaggia Classic Pro

The Gaggia Classic Pro is a semi-automatic machine made of commercial-grade materials. It has a classic look and feel, with manual controls for brewing and steaming. If you want an affordable but high-performing manual espresso machine, this is a great choice.

Breville Barista Express

With an integrated conical burr grinder and precise espresso extraction, the Breville Barista Express aims to give you barista-quality drinks at home. It has automatic and manual modes along with handy features like a grind size dial.

Conclusion

The Casabrews 3700 Essential espresso machine provides excellent value for an entry-level semi-automatic model. It produces delicious espresso and milk-based drinks with its 15-bar pressure pump and steam wand, while remaining easy to use even for beginners.

The machine is compact and stylish, with a solid stainless steel build that should hold up over time. While it lacks some bells and whistles of pricier models, it includes the core functionality needed to craft café-quality espresso drinks at home.

For those looking to explore the world of home espresso without a huge investment, the Casabrews 3700 Essential is an ideal choice. It delivers on the basics like espresso extraction and milk frothing while keeping the price reasonable. With some practice on technique, most home baristas should be consistently pulling rich, aromatic shots.

Overall, this is a great budget-friendly option for an entry-level semi-automatic espresso machine. It provides an accessible on-ramp to crafting homemade espresso drinks, earning our recommendation as a value pick for beginners.