- 5418 PRO Espresso Machine with Fast Heating System and Steam Wand

Have had this machine for three months, wanted to wait to write a review until it had undergone at least one descaling cycle. IMO, I shouldn't have had the need to even consider a new machine, but my Bambino Plus croaked after a little over two years, shortly after the warranty expired. I decided that if these machines only lasted two years, I was going to look for something a lot less expensive but still did a decent job, and after quite a bit of research and reading many reviews, settled on the 5418 Pro. I am the only one in the house who uses it, but it gets used daily. It is not as hefty in appearance or feel as the Bambino Plus but so far it has performed very well and even though it is fairly light weight, it stays in place when inserting the portafilter, unlike the Bambino that I basically had to hug in order to insert the portafilter. It's footprint is quite small which is a huge plus in my small kitchen with limited counter space. The steam feature has enough oomph to do a great job of frothing the milk, and so far I haven't had any problems with the hole in it clogging up and needing cleaned, which was a recurring issue on the Bambino. It heats extremely quickly and there is no waiting required between pulling the shot and using the steam feature. I let the portafilter sit in place, still attached, while I steam the milk and by that time, any excess water has dripped through and the grounds have firmed up enough that they usually can be knocked out in one piece. The descaling process went without issue, and the machine worked properly afterward. So far, I am quite pleasantly surprised with the performance of this little machine and very satisfied with the espresso it puts out. It has been quite easy to keep clean and looking nice.

This is my first espresso machine. The first thing you should know is to select the right beans -- especially if you choose the bottomless portafilter (optional, but recommended.) I bought a bag of Starbucks non-espresso dark roast beans, and it couldn't get to the espresso pressure in the bottomless filter; those beans are too oily for espresso. Their dark roast espresso beans work great, though. Here's why this is the best Casabrews machine (in my opinion.) The "Flash heat" tech is ready to brew FIVE SECONDS after hitting the power button (feels more like 3.) There are machines that take anywhere from 30 seconds to about 20 minutes to heat up. I don't know about you, but I don't like waiting. This same tech is ready to froth milk 5 seconds after brewing. You can't froth at the same time, but you're already potentially on your daily limit of caffeine while your "friends" are still waiting for their clunky machines with double boilers to warm up..! I've used mine daily since late November. If you have hard water, you will have to descale more often (I've done it once so far.) In my case, I use a Kangen filter on the 11.5 (alkaline) setting. This causes faster buildup, but the taste is worth it, and I've always used 11.5 pH for all coffee--drip and Keurig. I use 17.5g of those Starbucks beans -- different beans may require different amounts. If you overfill the basket, you will get more steam and dripping. If you underfill it, you won't hit espresso pressure and it will taste weak and sour due to underextraction. I prefer tending toward overextraction. This could cause some bitterness, but that's easily-fixed by adding a few pinches of salt (I use Himalayan Sea Salt) or some almond milk. The punch and complexity are worth it, though -- it's the SOUL of the beans! ⚡😍🤩💪🏼 I've also used preground espresso, but it won't be quite as strong. That works fine with the pressurized double basket that comes with this machine -- but it won't reach pressure with the bottomless basket. The long-ground grains have lost their potency. I drink this if it's already early evening or later--so I could actually SLEEP! Two things you'll want to get right away are a WDT tool (a bunch of needles like a long comb) and a "knock box" (where you tap the filter to remove the leftover coffee puck.) I 3D-printed a knockbox from Thingiverse.com Make sure you select enough infill and 4 walls because it'll have to take a lot of abuse. It also helps to have a dosing funnel (also 3D-printed from there.) Any concerns about food grade stuff is addressed by either buying PET-G food grade filament or wet-sanding (which I opted for.) The WDT tool breaks up the coffee clumps, and you'll want to stir it down and into the arcs of the filter to prevent sputtering, uneven flow, and bad espresso. I also have a 3D-printed distributor--but many consider it unnecessary. I like it because it helps to center the grinds and then I tamp it down (I got an aftermarket tamper--one that has ridges; it works better than the flat ones.) I have a flat metal tamper, too. I just don't use it. Making a double takes about 5 minutes--starting from grinding beans, weighing, transferring, stirring, tamping, putting on the included puck screen and attaching the portafilter. After that, you just press the button. I always get 3 streams that consolidate into one, and good crema (a bit of foam.) I use a digital Etek scale (~ $10.) On scale use... My Etek can measure volume. But there are TWO settings. One is for milk (slightly different density) and one is for water. The one for water is approximately the same as the gram unit setting--as water is 1 gram per milliliter. Make sure if you are leaving it on the milliliter setting that you are using the water one. It has a drop icon. The milk setting has a cup with an "M" on it. You will put too much coffee in if you try to measure it with the milk setting. I found that out recently, as I was not aware of the separate setting for milk. So LIVE and LEARN! 🤓📈📊 If the machine gets accumulated mineral deposits, I take a straightened paper clip and carefully (VERY) insert into the hole in the mounting plate. I then run 2-3 doubles without the portafilter. If it gets more far-gone, I use citric acid (1 tablespoon per liter of water.) You could buy some descaling powder from a dollar store, but I think citric acid is more economical. I use it on my Kangen machine which is why I had it. You will then want to run a few cycles of doubles through to get rid of any aftertaste. You might be tempted to use vinegar and water. I used that on my Keurig and I had to run probably 6 or more cycles to get the vinegar taste out; I don't recommend it! Make sure you run some hot water through the frothing tube after each use -- and wipe it down to remove the milk before it gets too solidified. This is done by turning the dial all the way back to the left, having the machine on, and then turning it all the way to the right. After you see the flow is constant (not sputtering or uneven--I watch for about 5 seconds), turn the dial back to the far-left. That's it! This machine has changed my morning routine. I eat grits and a fried egg with it so I don't bounce off into the stratosphere on a caffeine high. The taste is quite good. I very rarely drink drip coffee (or even use it or the Keurig for coffee) since having this resource. Being away from home is hard, because it's hard to find good espresso -- especially at those licensed "Starbucks." Those are the ones that just pay to use their materials, but are not the genuine deal. Let me know how yours works out, how it tastes, and if you have any questions! 💯 Note: I made the video before I started using other tools mentioned, above.

I’ve been using the Casabrews 5418 Pro for a few months now and it’s been a solid addition to my kitchen. It looks sleek and feels well‑built for the price, and it heats up extremely fast — reaching brewing temperature in just a few seconds thanks to its FlashHeat™ system. The 20‑bar pump and built‑in pressure gauge give you good feedback while pulling shots, and the steam wand produces nicely textured milk for lattes and cappuccinos.  The removable water tank is a nice touch and makes refilling easy. While it’s not perfect — the included portafilter and tamper feel a budget‑oriented and the pressurized baskets don’t deliver espresso as rich as you’d get from higher‑end machines — it’s a great performer for beginners or casual espresso drinkers. Upgrade the portafilter basket and tamper but for a more premium experience especially if using it daily. That said, the included accessories are perfectly fine for a casual user. Overall, this machine offers excellent value for the price. If you want a compact, easy‑to‑use espresso maker that consistently produces enjoyable drinks (especially milk‑based ones), this is a great choice. I am more than pleased with my purchase and you will be too. One thing that I learned and it’s the most significant piece of information I will pass along. You don’t need an espresso dark roast coffee for espresso. It’s your preferred roast, grind, and freshness that make the difference. Try your favorite roast in an espresso grind and enjoy!

Happy with this espresso machine. Heats quickly and pulls consistent shots. Easy to steam milk without having to wait too long. Used 2x a day for more than 6 months, without issue. Water storage is handy and easy to fill and replace. Only slight negative is it is very lightweight and can slip around counter when tightening the portafilter.

Hope not to jinx it and have to change this review in six months but I'm extremely pleased with this machine. I've gone through two DeLonghis that lasted me each 4-5 years and I've liked them a lot, but both have eventually leaked and had quirks that were never ever answered/remedied by their customer service. I bought this Casabrews on spec, after looking through all sorts of alternatives, even hand models. I read through customer reviews, including the negative ones complaining about noise, its weight (or, rather lack of), claims over shoddy materials (its plastic components), alleged issues with its wand and basket, the quality of its shots, and so on. I was concerned about buying a product from a relatively new company with a short track record. But, OTOH, there were some very positive, persuasive reviews online. I'm from a coffee-producing nation and have more of it in my veins than blood so it's an absolute daily must-have that an increasingly leaking DeLonghi wasn't going to provide for long so I was facing an emergency. That this model was on sale at Amazon was a welcome incentive since, by the same token that I know what I like in coffee and scoff at the pretentious, opinionated coffee snobishness that too often characterizes conversations over it in the US, I've never been persuaded by the fancy-schmancy high-end, pocket-gouging machines on the market. While I've only had it for several weeks, I'm delighted with it. It's way faster than my old DeLonghis. I love that I don't have to hover over it watching to make sure it doesn't overflow because it turns itself off--and while I'm perfectly happy with the amount I'm getting without tinkering with it, it's programmable for longer shots. It's relatively quieter--noise complaints are likely from new users of espresso machines unused to their noise. It is lighter than my old machines, but the good news is that the basket fit loosens with use and a light hand on top of it solves the issue. The quibble about the basket falling from the wand seems to be more, again, about unobservant users who don't notice their design and the notch that locks the basket in place. It's also a preferable design than the wire in the DeLonghis, which would get loose and end up in our countertop compost bin when shaking out the puck. I even prefer the wetter pucks of used coffee it produces because they're way easier to scoop out of the basket than the DeLonghi's rock hard ones (even bent one of my demitasse spoons once). And, most importantly, the coffee is ABSOLUTELY FINE, even preferable to what I'd been getting from my old machines. And, hey, if it happens to have a short life, I'll just return and revise my rating and review.

Works great for us. Casual intermittent use. We have a coffee station table setup with all the accessories. Easy to use. Try not to let the water tank go empty, as there is a process to reprime the system. We still use the supplied portafilter and it seems to work fine. We dialed in our cuisinart grinder for the perfect grind size and the espresso is great. Coffeemaking is great science and interesting fun. This fit our budget and i wouldnt upgrade if i had to buy another espresso maker.

The fastest way to brew. I really like this machine. It is just the right size, incredibly fast readiness. You can keep making shots for a group of people with a speed of professional shop. Nice, consistently well made drink quality. I like the attention to detail, like top cover where you can rest accessories. It is a good looking equipment and I especially adore the old school pressure gauge.

I’m no expert like many who offer such detailed and wonderful advice but I really enjoy my coffee. Black. No sugar. Bold brew and roasted properly. I buy my beans from a local knowledgeable coffee roaster. Great variety and custom roasted to order. Great advantage to store bought products. This little unit is perfect for my daily espresso shot. Took me a bit but I’m quite satisfied with my results after a couple weeks. Directions are clear and easy to follow. Unit is sturdy. Takes up less space and looks great. I researched for months before ordering the Casabrew unit. No regrets!

Replacement for very old and venerable macchina, the Cafe Roma. Broke with Breville this time because of repeatedly atrocious customer service and parts availability re: a wide variety of wildly overpriced equipment and so far am mighty impressed by this new unit from Casabrews. It loves my preferred Nabob and Decaf Illy grinds - amazing crema (even compared to the old Cafe Roma) and luscious espresso. Heating cycle for the unit as well as the v. Easily cleaned frothing wand is pretty amazing and is so good it induces actual use whereas i have otherwise always relied on workarounds involving microwave and handheld. I was skeptical about the much vaunted tech improvements (e.g. PID temp reg) but became a believer overnight. I want to thank all the other reviewers whose thoughtful, accurate, and kind reflections helped me make this good choice. I think this machine is tremendous value that exceeds my needs and expectations.

The 5418 Pro is a great machine. Its PID really helps bring out the flavor of the extracted coffee, and I use it more often in preference to my Dedica Duo, which was a more expensive machine. Equally impressive was the help provided by Casabrews after-sales team, who also get 5 stars for being thorough, well-informed, and effective. I rarely write reviews on Amazon, but I definitely was impressed enough to post this one!

Great little Expresso machine. This was our second Casabrew machine as we had the non-pro version first. We gave that away to our son then ordered this one, the PRO. It brews a wonderful cup or two of delicious Expresso, Latte or Americano coffee. Unfortunately the first Pro machine I received had an issue with the steamer. It would start to work, run for 6 seconds then stop. I used Casabrew's support email, described the issue and attached a video. The very next day I received a response, apologizing profusely, offering me a full refund or a new machine. I asked for a replacement. Within an hour I received an email confirming that the replacement had been shipped. Love dealing with a company that stands behind its product 100% and values its customers.

So far so good

Oui c’est très bon pour une machine espresso de cette valeur👍