CASABREWS CM5418BC-UL Espresso coffee machine: Full Review

The Casabrews CM5418BC-UL is a semi-automatic espresso machine designed for home use. This espresso maker features a 15 bar Italian pump and a powerful 1850 watt thermoblock heating system to produce rich, flavorful espresso shots and milk-based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. The removable 1.5 liter water tank allows for easy filling, while the included stainless steel portafilter with pressurized baskets simplifies the espresso brewing process for beginners. With its intuitive interface and streamlined design, the Casabrews CM5418BC-UL aims to bring café-quality espresso drinks into your home.

Design and Build Quality

The Casabrews CM5418BC espresso machine features an attractive stainless steel exterior that looks great in any kitchen. The metal construction gives it a sturdy, durable feel that should hold up well to daily use.

The portafilter, drip tray, and water reservoir are all made from good quality materials that don't feel flimsy or cheap. The buttons have a nice tactile click to them when pressed. Overall, the build quality exceeds expectations for the price point.

While Made in China, the fit and finish is quite good with no noticeable flaws. All the parts connect together tightly with no wiggle or shake. The edges are smooth and rounded with no sharp corners or burs.

At around 9 pounds, this espresso maker has some heft to it that lends a sense of stability. The rubber feet also grip the counter well. Between the materials and weight, it doesn't feel like it will slide around or tip over easily.

In summary, Casabrews designed the CM5418BC with quality materials and sturdy construction. While not a commercial-grade machine, it's built to last in regular home kitchen use. The attractive stainless exterior also makes a nice addition to your countertop.

In comparison, the De'Longhi ENV150BM is another excellent choice for home espresso enthusiasts. This model offers a sleek design coupled with advanced features that elevate your coffee experience. Built with a combination of high-quality plastic and stainless steel, it ensures both durability and modern aesthetics. The ENV150BM includes a user-friendly interface with illuminated buttons, making it easy to brew your favorite espresso or lungo with just one touch. Its compact size also makes it an ideal option for kitchens with limited counter space. Overall, the De'Longhi ENV150BM is a robust, stylish, and efficient machine that complements any kitchen setting.

Features and Capabilities

The CM5418BC-UL has a professional-grade 15-bar pressure pump for perfect extraction and crema on your espresso shots. It comes with a 360-degree swivel steam wand and a handy milk frother attachment so you can easily texture milk for making cappuccinos and lattes at home.

Some of the key features include:

• 15-bar pressure pump
• 360° swivel steam wand
• Stainless steel milk frothing pitcher
• 1.5L removable water tank
• Double spout portafilter with single and double shot baskets
• 58mm tamper and measuring scoop
• Cup warming tray on top

The 15-bar pump provides the ideal pressure for extracting espresso. It allows you to brew rich, aromatic espresso with thick golden crema just like your favorite coffee shop. The steam wand makes it easy to steam and froth milk for making creamy cappuccinos and lattes. The separate hot water spout lets you make americanos or pre-heat your cups.

Overall, the CM5418BC-UL comes equipped with commercial-grade components that make it easy to pull consistent espresso shots and texture milk like a pro.

Another excellent option for coffee enthusiasts is the De'Longhi COM532M. Known for its versatility, the De'Longhi COM532M is an all-in-one coffee machine that offers both drip coffee and espresso functionalities, making it a perfect fit for various morning routines. With its advanced features like a 15-bar pump for espresso and front-loading system for convenience, this machine combines innovation with ease of use. Check out more details De'Longhi COM532M.

Ease of Use

The Casabrews CM5418BC-UL espresso machine is designed for convenient day-to-day use. The interface is straightforward with simple dials and buttons to control brewing and steaming.

The portafilter locks into place with a satisfying click and there are color-coded inserts included to help you dose the right amount of coffee. Steam and hot water knobs allow you to switch between making espresso and steaming milk with ease.

Cleaning and maintenance are also simple on this model. The drip tray, portafilter, and water reservoir are all removable for easy cleaning. The stainless steel body just needs an occasional wipe down to keep it looking nice.

Descaling is recommended every 2-3 months to keep the machine operating optimally. The descaling process is quick and straightforward following the instructions in the user manual.

Overall, the Casabrews CM5418BC-UL offers convenient controls and simple maintenance for hassle-free daily espresso making. The intuitive interface allows anyone to produce high-quality espresso drinks at home.

Beverage Quality

The CM5418BC produces high-quality espresso, cappuccino, and latte beverages that taste rich and flavorful.

The 15-bar pump provides excellent pressure for extracting the oils and flavors from ground coffee to make espresso shots with a nice, thick crema on top. The espresso is smooth with bold coffee taste without any bitterness.

The steam wand froths milk quickly and evenly for making cappuccinos and lattes. The microfoam texture is silky smooth. The steamed milk incorporates nicely into the espresso shots, creating a balanced flavor between the espresso and milk. The milk frothing system allows you to customize the milk texture and temperature as desired.

The double spout portafilter with pressurized and non-pressurized baskets provides flexibility. The pressurized basket helps optimize the brewing process for consistent tasting espresso regardless of grind size or tamping pressure. The non-pressurized basket allows you to play with grind size and tamping to influence flavor for a more traditional espresso experience.

Overall, the machine consistently delivers high-quality espresso, cappuccino, and latte beverages with rich, balanced flavor. The beverage quality rivals what you would get from high-end coffee shops.

Noise Level

The CASABREWS CM5418BC-UL produces a moderate level of noise during operation. The pump and internal mechanisms generate audible hums and whirs typical of consumer-grade espresso machines. However, the noise is not excessively loud or disruptive.

You'll hear the pump kick in with a low hum when pulling a shot. Steaming milk generates some hissing and swooshing sounds from the steam wand. Knocking out spent pucks causes a thump when they hit the knock box. Overall, the noise could be noticeable in a quiet setting, but is unlikely to disturb conversations.

The machine itself does not vibrate much on the countertop when in use. The internal components seem well balanced with minimal rattling noises. The steam wand hisses more loudly when positioned further from the milk pitcher, so keeping it immersed helps reduce noise.

For most home kitchen settings, the CM5418BC-UL operates at acceptable noise levels. It's comparable to other espresso machines in this price range. The sounds are part of the process and ambience. But the machine is not obtrusive enough to be irritating. With some background music or normal kitchen noise, the operation becomes unnoticeable.

Size and Footprint

The Casabrews CM5418BC-UL has a sleek and compact footprint that won't take up too much space on your kitchen counter. It measures 9.4 x 11.2 x 12.2 inches, so it has a width of just over 11 inches. This makes it easy to tuck into small spaces without dominating your countertop.

Despite its small footprint, the Casabrews doesn't compromise on features or capability. It can brew single or double shots of espresso as well as taller coffee drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. There is a built-in steam wand for frothing and heating milk.

In terms of storage, the drip tray is removable which helps make clean up easier. The water reservoir is also removable with a 40oz capacity, reducing the need for constant refilling. With its chrome accents and paneling, the Casabrews adds style to your kitchen decor without requiring too much space. Its size makes it perfect for use in apartments, dorms, offices and other small environments.

Value for Money

The Casabrews CM5418BC-UL espresso machine provides excellent value for money given its build quality, features, and performance.

At around $300, it is very competitively priced compared to other semi-automatic espresso machines in this class. You get a durable stainless steel construction, 15 bars of pressure, a powerful 1800 watt boiler, and useful features like a removable water tank and drip tray.

Considering it can pull consistent, restaurant-quality espresso shots and steam milk impressively for cappuccinos and lattes, the Casabrews machine punches well above its price point. It rivals more expensive models from bigger brands in terms of functionality and beverage quality.

While it may lack some bells and whistles like an integrated grinder or smart connectivity, the Casabrews focuses on the fundamentals. It provides commercial-grade hardware and excellent espresso fundamentals at an accessible price point for home baristas.

If you want an affordable workhorse espresso machine that can deliver cafe-style results without compromise, the Casabrews CM5418BC-UL is arguably one of the best values on the market. You get professional performance and durability without paying a premium.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Produces quality espresso with a good layer of crema
• 15 bar pressure pump provides the right pressure for espresso extraction
• Fast heat up time of around 30 seconds
• Removable 1.4L water tank for easy filling
• Portafilter has a triple shot basket for making more coffee
• Steam wand makes it easy to froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes
• Adjustable cup tray accommodates taller cups
• Solid overall build quality with stainless steel exterior
• Helpful accessories like tamper and measuring scoop included

Cons

• Smaller 40ml portafilter can limit drink size
• Need to wait between steaming milk and pulling shots
• No automatic milk frothing function
• Controls could be more intuitive
• Exterior can get quite hot while in use
• Louder than some other espresso machines
• Takes up a decent amount of counter space

Conclusion

The CasaBrews CM5418BC-UL is an impressive mid-range super automatic espresso machine that delivers café-quality drinks with minimal effort. It produces rich, aromatic espresso with thick crema and steams milk perfectly for cappuccinos and lattes. The intuitive touchscreen interface allows you to easily choose from a variety of pre-programmed drinks.

The build quality is excellent, with a stainless steel exterior and brass components inside. It's also designed for convenient everyday use, with features like a removable drip tray, height-adjustable spout, and auto-cleaning capabilities. Noise levels are reasonable for a pump espresso machine.

For the price, the CM5418BC-UL packs in tremendous value, outperforming most comparably priced super automatics. If you want the convenience of one-touch specialty coffee drinks at home without breaking the bank, it's easy to highly recommend this capable and well-built machine. It delivers convenience, consistency, and café-caliber results every day.