These machines are best suited for people that thoroughly enjoy the ritual of making espresso, a hobbyist or other coffee culture enthusiast. The ease of use is low and the learning curve is high. However the coffee that they are capable of extracting is on par with the best machines.

These have nice frothers, powerful enough for home use. Some come with an auto-frother to simplify the process. You will have no problem making a couple of cappuccino's, however since they do not have a water reservoir you will find that they are not that practical for large gatherings. Cleaning and maintenance is fairly standard as compared to the semi and fully automatics. However, the exterior of the machine has either a brass, chrome or even copper finish that will show wear, tarnish and fingerprints if not immaculately cleaned. Other then that they are an exceptional showpiece!

To use will pull down on the machine's handle to force the hot water through the coffee. This does require some arm strength and the consistency of the pull is critical to obtaining a good extraction or espresso.