Rocket Espresso Appartamento Nera - Espresso Machine | E61 | Heat Exchanger | Black/White

This is the perfect option for a home espresso machine. It just took a little bit of time to perfect my grind and now I pull perfect chats every time.

This machine imparts an odd smell into the water coming out of it. I have used the machine for 44-days and the odd smell still lingers in the water and steam emitted by the machine. I have used both filtered tap water and bottled water, yet the odd smell still persists. There are numerous chat posts of people experiencing the same issue. One chat board, from as far back as 2016, referenced a reply that they received from Rocket as follows; “They said that it's probably due to some residual Loctite in the group or due to the brushing they did on the mushroom.” I did some research into Loctite and discovered that it is toxic. Loctite contains a chemical called Cyanoacrylate. Which is toxic. Not sure if 3M makes a non-toxic Loctite product. While flushing the machine, I discovered a new problem. There are tiny black specks in the water coming out of the head. Some of these specks float and appear to be almost rubber-like. While others sink to the bottom and appear to be granular in nature. I am unable to determine what is causing this contamination and have not used the machine since. Based on what I am experiencing, I would not recommend spending this much money on this machine. A machine of this cost should not be tainting the water coming out of it with odd smells and unidentifiable bits.

Having had this machine since Nov 2023, I can finally share a review based on having this for over 1 year. Overall I would recommend this machine to anyone looking for a solid e61 machine, but just remember you can't get a cheap grinder so if you have a tight budget, think carefully about getting this and a cheap grinder. The good: Looks great. It really does. Zero complaints on the overall aesthetic of the machine. Easy to clean: while it's easy to clean, you have to do so regularly. I'm talking internal and external. The stainless steel front just looks so much better when it's clean but that means you regularly have to clean it. I work that into the regular maintenance of the machine with running a full cleaning cycle. If you do NOT want to clean this on a weekly basis don't get this type of machine. I use mine 5-7 days a week generally just once a day and I still make sure to keep it clean. No shot timer: I see this complaint in reviews of machines without the timer. You could pay more for that feature but either use your phone, or get a small timer. Don't pay more for something that's not necessary when there are cheaper options. The meh: Heavy: yes I was expecting this, but as a single person living alone it was a little hard to get it on my countertop but I did it. this is both a pro and con... If you have the space and rent like I do, KEEP THE BOX. Yes it's big and takes up space in my closet but I will probably move at the end of this year so I'm glad I've held on to the box. Heat exchanger: I initially was only looking at dual boiler and this is why this is 4 starts and not 5. I have yet to make latte art with this machine because the steam wand loses pressure way too fast. It still gets the job done but I didn't have issues until I got this machine. Is this a deal breaker? Absolutely not but it is a little annoying. I just don't get the microfoam I wish I could get. The pressure gage is only for the steam wand, but even brewing espresso takes the pressure down so I don't recommend pulling shots and steaming at the same time even though it's touted as a machine that can do this. Again, this is the only reason it's 4 instead of 5 stars. Water tank: I wish there was a gauge that told me what the water level is. I've been in the middle of pulling shots and it runs out of water so I have to toss those shots. I also have yet to be able to get the tank out to actually clean it. It empties fully regularly so I'm not super concerned about bacteria, but that's the hardest thing for me to try and clean. I always empty it out if I'm going to be gone traveling. Hot water spout: Not a deal breaker since I rarely rarely use this, but I wish the hot water spout was a little longer. Part of the issue is I'm space constrained, but the other issue is that I feel like it should be a little longer. That's hot steam coming out so you have to be careful not to burn yourself. It it was a little longer you could sit a cup down but I don't recommend trying that because it also shoots in different directions sometimes and again... that's hot water so be careful. Other thoughts: yes it takes a while to heat up but that's the nature of the e61 group heads. if that's a complaint, then that reviewer doesn't understand these types of machines. The portafilters it comes with are just okay. I'm upgrading myself to a bottomless portafilter soon. Get a puck screen to help with mess. I think without one it makes cleaning take longer. Always flush/backflush. I use the single shot portafilter to do this since I find that to be a little useless. Again helps with cleaning. Don't leave water in the machine if you are traveling. Since I have a hard time with the water tank cleaning, always run it dry and run a cleaning cycle before leaving for an extended period of time. If you have never had a machine like this, or have never worked with a machine like this as a barista (meaning e61), just know it takes time to learn everything but that's part of the joy of learning! All in all, I love this machine and would recommend it to anyone with the budget for a machine like this. I wouldn't, however, recommend it to someone who is curious and wants to just try an espresso machine out. I wouldn't consider this machine at this price a hobby machine that may end up collecting dust.

Dream machine - still learning how to dial it in but it’s so beautiful and easy to set up.

Upon first receiving the item, it was leaking at the bottom which made me really frustrated and disappointed. However, SCG’s customer service was incredible! They sent me a new machine and had solid communication. The new machine works great and I know I can easily reach out to them if I run into any more issues