MAttinata Mattino PRO Espresso coffee machine: Full Review

The MAttinata Mattino PRO is an automatic espresso machine designed for home use. It features a sleek stainless steel exterior and aims to bring cafe-quality espresso drinks into your kitchen.

This single-boiler espresso machine comes with a built-in burr grinder, allowing you to grind beans right before extraction for maximum freshness. It has a rapid 25-second heat up time so you can go from off to espresso in less than half a minute.

With the MAttinata Mattino Pro, you can brew espresso, lungos, americanos and make milk-based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. It has an adjustable manual milk frother to let you texture milk to your liking. The machine allows you to save customized espresso and milk settings for convenience and consistency.

Overall, the MAttinata Mattino Pro provides an affordable automatic all-in-one espresso solution for crafting cafe-style drinks at home. This review will take a closer look at the design, performance, ease of use and other features of this popular home espresso machine.

Design and Build Quality

The MAttinata Mattino PRO espresso machine features a sleek stainless steel exterior that will look great on any kitchen countertop. The machine itself is compact in size at 11.4 x 8.3 x 12.2 inches, making it easy to fit under upper cabinets or place on smaller counter spaces.

Despite its smaller footprint, the machine is sturdily constructed and weighs in at over 16 lbs. The stainless steel used in the housing seems durable enough for daily use without showing scratches or wear over time. The materials used in the interior components like the boiler and brewing components also appear to be of reasonable quality and should hold up well.

Overall the Mattino Pro has an attractive, streamlined design with a premium stainless steel finish. The size is compact without feeling flimsy or cheap given the sturdy metal construction. While not overly imposing on a countertop, the machine looks and feels well-built for its class.

In comparison, the DeLonghi BCO430 combines multiple functionalities, featuring a coffee maker and espresso machine in one unit. Its sleek design matches that of modern kitchen decor, offering ease of use and versatility. The build quality is impressive, ensuring durability in everyday operations. This model also emphasizes brewing flexibility, allowing for ground coffee as well as pods, catering to various preferences and habits for coffee lovers. The DeLonghi BCO430’s compact form factor makes it ideal for kitchens with limited space while providing a professional brewing experience.

Ease of Use

The MAttinata Mattino PRO espresso machine is designed for convenient everyday use. It has an intuitive interface with just a few buttons for core functions like brewing, steaming, and programming.

The front panel has well-labeled buttons for single and double shots, steam, and power. There is also a program button to customize shot volumes and a dial for selecting the amount of coffee. The buttons have LED lights that indicate when a function is active.

The interface is very user-friendly with minimal clutter. Everything is clearly laid out which makes the learning curve gentle. Within a few uses, most people will get the hang of operating the machine.

The LCD display is small but functional. It shows basic parameters like shot volume and boiler temperature. The text is sharp and legible.

When it comes to drink programming, the Mattino PRO allows you to customize volumes for espresso and milk. You can dial in the perfect shot and save it to a preset button. The saved volumes are very consistent. This makes the brewing process fast and automated.

Overall, ease of use is a strong suit for the Mattino PRO. It's an accessible home espresso machine that doesn't require much practice or learning to operate proficiently.

In comparison, the Espressione EM-1040 offers a similarly user-friendly experience. It features a straightforward control panel that simplifies the espresso-making process. The machine heats up quickly and offers a steam wand for frothing milk, making it perfect for lattes and cappuccinos. With its sleek design and reliable performance, the EM-1040 is a great choice for both beginners and experienced users. Its compact size ensures it fits nicely on any countertop, making espresso-making accessible to everyone.

Brewing Performance

Mattinata Mattino's 15-bar pressure system is about average for home espresso machines in this price range. The most notable feature is the PID temperature control, which helps regulate water temperature during the entire brewing process. The end result is decent consistency shot-to-shot when using the same coffee blend.

You can customize the brew by adjusting the grind size, dose, and tamp pressure. The 3-in-1 filter basket allows you to brew a single shot, double shot, or two single shots simultaneously. While you have some control, keep in mind that this is still a beginner/entry-level machine lacking more advanced pressure profiling features found on prosumer models.

The Mattinata Mattino can pull standard 1.5 ounce shots in 25-30 seconds. Shot volume can be programmed via the digital display. Without a built-in grinder, you'll need a separate burr or blade grinder to get freshly ground coffee. Using pre-ground coffee is not recommended as it will quickly go stale and limit the machine's potential.

Overall, while not as adjustable as a semi-automatic, the Mattinata Mattino provides respectable brewing capabilities for an appliance-grade super automatic espresso machine. It's a good fit if you want consistent, fuss-free espresso without getting into advanced pressure profiling techniques.

Milk Frothing Ability

The Mattinata Mattino Pro comes with a powerful steam wand that makes it easy to froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes. The steam wand produces hot, dry steam with plenty of pressure for quickly aerating milk.

During testing, the steam wand was able to produce thick, creamy, and smooth microfoam consistently. The microfoam quality is on par with high-end espresso machines costing much more. You can easily achieve the silky texture required for latte art with the right technique.

Operating the steam wand is straightforward. Simply insert the tip just below the surface of the milk and let the steam power do the work. The milk is frothed hot and fast. One downside is the wand doesn't have a lot of range of motion for directing the steam, but it gets the job done.

Overall, the steam wand on the Mattinata Mattino Pro performs excellently for home brewing. It froths milk quickly and makes microfoam quality comparable to specialty coffee shops. You can easily make cafe-style milk drinks with this machine.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The Mattinata Mattino Pro is designed for easy cleaning and maintenance. The machine has a descaling program that guides you through the descaling process when needed. Descaling helps remove mineral deposits from the internal components to maintain optimal performance.

To access the internal components for cleaning, the top of the machine lifts up to reveal the brewing chamber. The water reservoir and drip tray are removable for rinsing under water. The steam wand can also be detached for cleaning to remove any built up milk residue.

The drip tray has a red light indicator to let you know when it needs to be emptied. Overall, the cleaning process for the Mattinata Mattino Pro is straightforward with removable parts that are simple to rinse and maintain. The descaling program takes care of the internal cleaning to prolong the life of your machine with minimal effort.

Coffee Customization

The MAttinata Mattino PRO allows you to customize your coffee to your exact preferences. Here are some of the customization options:

Grind Settings

You can adjust the grind size to fine-tune the flavor and intensity of your espresso. The integrated conical burr grinder has 15 adjustable grind settings to give you control over the size of the coffee grounds, from ultra-fine for intense espresso to coarse for drip coffee. This allows you to dial in the perfect grind for the beans you are using.

Coffee Strength

The MAttinata Mattino PRO has adjustable coffee strength settings, allowing you to brew anything from a short ristretto to a long lungo. Simply select your desired strength from the control panel to make your coffee exactly as strong or mild as you want.

Volume

You can customize the volume of coffee that is brewed with each pull of the lever. The options range from 30ml up to 220ml, so you can brew a single shot, double shot, or longer pull to fill your cup or mug. This gives you complete control over the final volume.

Temperature

The machine allows you to adjust the water boiler temperature, so you can fine-tune the extraction and flavor of your shots. Higher temperatures will produce a more intense, robust coffee, while lower temperatures give a milder, sweeter cup.

Value for Money

The MAttinata Mattino Pro offers excellent value considering its build quality, features, and performance. Here are some of the aspects that make this model a great value purchase:

Price - The Mattino Pro is very competitively priced under $200. For an automatic machine with dual stainless steel boilers, a milk frother, and solid construction, this price range is quite affordable. Comparable models from premium brands can cost 2-3 times more.

Included Accessories - The Mattino Pro comes with 2 portafilter baskets for single and double shots, a tamper, measuring scoop, and a milk frothing pitcher. Having these key accessories included rather than sold separately adds to the value.

Warranty - MAttinata provides a 1 year warranty on the Mattino Pro, which covers defects and breakdowns. A year of coverage is fairly standard for espresso machines in this price range. More expensive commercial-grade models may offer longer 2-3 year warranties.

Overall, considering the combination of quality, customization, and included accessories, the MAttinata Mattino Pro provides exceptional value for money. It's a great choice for someone wanting high-end espresso and milk drinks at home without the premium price tag.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Simple and intuitive interface for easy use
• Brews espresso and regular coffee
• Fast heat up time
• 19-bar pump provides excellent pressure
• Automatically cleans and descales
• Makes cappuccinos and lattes with built-in milk frother
• Compact size takes up minimal counter space

Cons

• Small 37 oz water tank requires frequent refilling
• Steam wand could be more powerful for better milk frothing
• Only comes with single and double shot filter baskets
• Lacks advanced customization options or pre-programmed drinks
• Price is higher than some comparative models

Conclusion

The Mattinata Mattino Pro is a compact, stylish, and user-friendly espresso machine that punches above its weight. It's easy to use even for beginners but also allows customization options for experienced baristas. The excellent crema and tasty espresso shots make it suitable for espresso purists who value quality in the cup over fancy features.

While it may lack some bells and whistles like an integrated milk frother, its solid performance, quality build, and affordable price make it an excellent choice for home use. The semi-automatic operation reduces effort while still allowing you to craft an artisanal shot.

Overall, the Mattino Pro is recommended for espresso aficionados seeking restaurant-quality shots at home without breaking the bank. Its simplicity and small footprint also make it ideal for students, small households, offices, and RV/mobile use. If you don't need to make milk-based drinks, the Mattino Pro is a smart, value-for-money option that consistently delivers pure, rich espresso.