The Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista BVMC-ECMP1000-RB is good value for money and makes nice coffee drinks, considering its price tag which is lower than others in our round up.
To read about all of the models we’ve reviewed, head to the best espresso machines around or check out the best coffee makers instead.
Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista BVMC-ECMP1000-RB: What you need to know
The Mr. Coffee Café Barista is a good value coffee maker. High-end home espresso makers can cost thousands of dollars, but this model will only set you back about $200. It’s a decent machine, but other models can provide more sophisticated coffee options.
During testing, we brought in a professional barista to walk us through all the machines and make drinks with each of them. Both she and our review team sampled the drinks made with the machines. The Café Barista earned a six out of 10 in our espresso and frothing quality tests, which is pretty good considering the machine’s price.
Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista BVMC-ECMP1000-RB: Features & performance
This espresso machine earned an eight out of 10 in our ease of use evaluation. While it’s not as simple to set up as some other machines we reviewed, it’s pretty easy to use once it’s all good to go. It has three dedicated buttons: one for espresso, one for cappuccino, and one for a latte. So, you can make your favorite drink with the touch of a button.
The Café Barista’s most unique tool is its milk frother, which is integrated into the machine itself. All you do is fill up the milk tank and slip it into the machine. Once you press your preferred drink button, the machine automatically froths the milk to fit the beverage you selected. This is great because it takes the guesswork out of frothing.
As with most of the espresso machines we evaluated, this model comes with a plastic tamper. The barista we consulted warned us about these low-quality plastic tampers. They may be good enough to get the job done, but a well-made metal tamper is needed to get a tight, even tamp so this could be better.
Another one of the Café Barista’s shortcomings that’s worth noting is its relatively small water tank. At only half a liter, it’s the smallest one among the espresso machines we reviewed. Almost all the others hold at least 1 liter of water. This shouldn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things, but you may have to fill up the tank more often than you would with another machine.
Should you buy the Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista BVMC-ECMP1000-RB?
The Mr. Coffee Café Barista is a good budget alternative to a pro-style espresso machine. If you’re serious about coffee though, then you’re better off with a different model.
Contributing Reviewer: Danny Chadwick
