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Ah, yes, it’s time to review the intriguing Ariete 1318R Moderna Espresso Machine. As a coffee lover who owns one of these bad boys, I have a lot to say.
My goal is to give you an all-rounded opinion before you head off to the shops to get one (or not). So let’s dive right in.
My Quick Rating
What’s Included?
- Built-in grinder
- Filter holder + filter
- 800cc removable water tank
- Removable coffee holder and drip tray
- Milk frother
- Espresso maker (obviously)
Brewing Espresso
I’ve had a fair share of coffees in my time, and I have to say that this espresso machine is one of the best, well, unless you spend ridiculous money on a luxury machine.
The Ariete 1318R Moderna Espresso Machine heats up very quickly (under 5 minutes) once it’s turned on – there’s no twiddling your thumbs with this one!
All that’s left is to use the built-in grinder to grind the coffee beans to your preferred size and put the filter holder in place before turning on the espresso function.
However, this wouldn’t be an honest review if I didn’t talk about the issues I had. During the first couple of attempts to make espresso, I noticed that the filter was leaking hot water out of its sides. Thankfully, the problem didn’t cause too much of a mess. Although, the end result was a water-drowned espresso – yuck!
I did eventually fix the problem by applying moderate force to lock the filter in place, a lot more than when I used other machines. So keep this in mind if you decide to invest in this espresso machine.
Milk Frothing
The milk frother nozzle can be easily moved around from its original position (next to the espresso function). I cannot stress how happy I was with this feature! Milk frothing can lead to mess anywhere, so this nifty feature helps you get the angle just right. The result is hot and frothy milk ready to join your espresso.
Now, when you buy this machine, it will not come with a milk frothing jug. Therefore, you need to pick one up alongside purchasing the machine.
To use the milk frothing function, you’ll need to wait for the machine to heat the water. The process typically takes a few minutes, and you’re ready to go.
With that being said, I’ve found that it takes me two frothing cycles before the milk is adequately warm and has the right texture.
So you basically have to wait an extra 30 seconds after you’ve used the frother the first time before you can go for round 2 (there’s a flashing icon that tells you it needs to re-charge).
Cleaning The Machine
This wouldn’t be a full review of the Ariete 1318R Moderna Espresso Machine unless we talked about cleaning it!
As I mentioned, the coffee holder, drip tray, and water tank are all removable. This design is brilliant for keeping the machine clean without being an eyesore.
All in all, I typically do a thorough clean once a month to keep it in good condition (roughly around 30 minutes). A little bit of water, white vinegar, a clean cloth, and a small brush does the trick on everything.
The End Result
I’ve enjoyed my purchase thus far and actively use the Ariete 1318R Moderna Espresso Machine every day (maybe a little too often).
The online shop I got it from provided me with two years warranty, so I don’t need to worry about being covered if things start to go wrong, and I’m happy to say that the cappuccinos I make are fabulous.
What more do you need?