Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine: A Feature-Packed Option for Home Baristas

The Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine is an intuitive, compact espresso maker ideal for home use. With a sleek stainless steel design and intuitive touchscreen interface, this machine allows you to brew cafe-quality espresso drinks with ease. In this review, we’ll take a close look at the design, features, performance, and overall value of the Capresso Café TS.

Overview

The Capresso Café TS has a compact footprint measuring 10.5” x 8” x 11.75”, making it a great size for small kitchen counters. The stainless steel housing gives it a sleek, modern look. The touchscreen display features four preset buttons for brewing single or double shots of espresso, steaming milk, frothing milk, and dispensing hot water.

Key Features

• 15 bars of pressure for rich espresso
• Built-in steam wand froths milk for cappuccinos and lattes
• Pre-infusion cycle helps optimize espresso extraction
• 47 oz removable water tank
• 30 minute auto shutoff feature
• Portafilter with commercial style spouts
• Warming tray on top

Design and Appearance

The Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine has an attractive stainless steel exterior with black accents on the touchscreen and dials. The machine looks elegant and high-end. The frothing wand folds away neatly when not in use. The warming tray on top provides space to pre-heat cups and the integrated storage area allows you to stow accessories under the lid. Overall, the machine has a smart, minimalist aesthetic perfect for modern kitchens.

Features and Performance

Touchscreen Interface

The intuitive touchscreen interface illuminates specific functions like espresso brewing and steam wand activation with just a tap. It’s simple to operate even for beginners.

Preset Buttons

With dedicated buttons for single and double shot espresso, hot water for Americanos, steam for lattes, and froth for cappuccinos, you can make all your favorite drinks with one touch ease.

15-bar Pump

The 15-bar pump provides excellent pressure for rich, full-bodied espresso with thick crema.

Frother

The frothing wand creates smooth, creamy milk froth for topping lattes and cappuccinos. The steam is highly adjustable via the dial.

Removable Water Tank

The 47 oz water tank is removable for quick and easy refills. The tank has a smart folding handle design for transport.

Technical Specifications and Features

Technical Parameters

The technical parameters of the coffee machine, such as power, capacity, and dimensions, are crucial for consumers when choosing a coffee maker. The Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine boasts a power rating of 950 watts, a water tank capacity of 50 ounces, and dimensions of 10.5 inches x 8 inches x 11.75 inches. These parameters determine the performance and suitability of the coffee machine for various scenarios.

Special Features

The Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine offers several special features, including programmable start, automatic cleaning, and coffee strength adjustment. These features enhance the user experience, making coffee preparation more convenient and personalized.

Design Characteristics

The design characteristics of the coffee machine include aesthetics and material selection. The Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine features a stainless steel construction with a sleek and minimalist design, suitable for modern home environments. Additionally, its intelligent touchscreen interface design makes operation simple and intuitive, allowing users to easily create their favorite coffee beverages.

Coffee Making Quality

In addition to technical parameters and special features, the coffee machine’s brewing quality is also a key concern for consumers. The Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine utilizes a 15-bar pressure system to ensure rich coffee flavor and abundant foam, providing users with a high-quality coffee experience.

Ease of Use

Despite the lackluster manual, the Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine is fairly straightforward to operate. The learning curve is minimal thanks to the pre-programmed drink options. Once you understand the basics, it’s simple to pull consistent shots and froth milk. Keep in mind that making layered drinks like cappuccinos does take some technique.

Durability and Quality

The Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine seems decently built, especially considering its affordable price point. The stainless steel housing should resist scratches and wear well over time. However, some customers have reported issues like leaking and rusting after several months, so long-term durability remains uncertain.

Milk Frothing

The steam wand can produce froth but has limited power. Stretching the milk to get microfoam takes practice and results are just decent rather than silky smooth. The metal cup can get very hot.

Cleaning

While some parts like the removable water tank and drip tray are easy to clean, the frothing wand and brewing system may require more effort. Descaling is recommended every 2-3 months to keep things running smoothly.

Noise Level

The pump and heating elements produce audible noise during the brew process. However, the sound is reasonable for a home espresso machine. Just don’t expect commercial café quietness.

Power

With a 950 watt rating, the Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine has ample power for fast heating without excessive energy draw. The 30-minute automatic shutoff helps conserve electricity.

Use Cases

The Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine is ideal for home use. It has the right features and capacity for 1-3 coffee drinkers. The espresso, frothing, and steaming functions allow you to make all the basics like lattes, cappuccinos, americanos, and more. While not a commercial grade model, it can handle daily home use well. It’s also compact enough to leave on the counter without taking up too much space.

Analyzing User Experiences

Reviews portray a mix of satisfaction and frustration with the Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine, highlighting several areas for improvement.

Regarding the instruction manual, owners widely agree it is woefully inadequate. The scant pages omit important details, leaving users baffled. Many have to find the full manual online or turn to YouTube tutorials just to operate their new machine. Capresso did a major disservice by not providing sufficient guidance upfront.

A common grievance is water leaks stemming from multiple points - the water tank, brewing head, steam wand. Troubled users end up with puddles on their counters, even when following the directions. The shoddy waterproofing spells a design flaw Capresso must quickly remedy.

Capresso touts the Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine as a milk frothing champion, but the diminutive stainless steel frothing wand tells a different story. While producing luxuriously smooth froth, it struggles to fully immerse in taller milk pitchers, requiring constant angling. The result is uneven heating and foaming. Latte aficionados may find it frustrating.

Brewing times are also hit or miss. Users report the pre-programmed times often yield low espresso volumes or weak flavor. The machine doesn’t consistently saturate the grounds properly before stopping. Dialing in the right grind size and dose helps, but inconsistencies remain.

For its attractive price point, the Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine delivers respectable performance when it cooperates. But lackluster instructions, leaks, finicky frothing, and off-the-mark brewing leave many owners with a bitter aftertaste. Capresso needs to smooth out these kinks for the Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine to earn high marks.

Pros

• Compact size
• Sleek stainless steel design
• Easy to use touchscreen interface
• Preset one-touch buttons for espresso, cappuccino etc
• Quick heat up time
• Removable water tank for easy filling
• Lower price than many comparable models

Cons

• Basic manual lacks key details
• Frothing wand could be improved
• Long term durability is uncertain
• Some reports of leaking and other issues after months of use

Value

At an MSRP around $200, the Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine hits an attractive price point compared to similar semi-automatic machines that can run $400-600. For casual drinkers new to homemade espresso, it offers an approachable option. But frequent users making multiple drinks daily may find themselves frustrated by its limitations.

Given the mixed durability complaints, purchasing an extended warranty is advisable. When factoring in the added costs of descaling, replacements, and upgrades, the value proposition of the Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine diminishes somewhat. Spending more initially on a better built machine with fewer quirks can save money and headaches in the long run.

So in summary, while reasonably priced, the Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine’s budget build and operation come with compromises. It satisfies curiosity over convenience for infrequent espresso drinkers, but falls short for budding home baristas.

Conclusion

For its affordable price point, the Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine delivers solid performance and convenience. The intuitive interface allows you to brew high-quality espresso drinks with one-touch ease. While it may lack the build quality and longevity of pricier models, it’s a great budget-friendly choice for beginner home baristas. As long as your expectations align with the price, the Capresso Café TS Touchscreen Espresso Machine is a recommended product that makes crafting café-style drinks at home a breeze.

Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 10.5” x 8” x 11.75”
• Item Weight: 8 pounds
• Material: Stainless steel
• Capacity: 50 ounces
• Pressure System: 15 bars
• Heating System: Stainless steel ThermoBlock
• Water Tank: Removable
• Interface: Touchscreen
• Milk Frothing: Adjustable steam dial
• Power: 950 watts
• Model Number: 129.05
• Warranty: Unknown

Box Contents

The box includes:

• Capresso Café TS espresso machine
• Portafilter
• 1 and 2 cup filter baskets
• Coffee scoop/tamper
• Cleaning tool
• Water filter
• User Manual

How to Use

1. Fill water tank and ensure it’s inserted properly
2. Turn on machine and allow to preheat
3. Grind coffee beans and dose portafilter basket
4. Tamp grounds and lock portafilter into group head
5. Place cup under portafilter spouts
6. Select single or double shot preset
7. Steam milk using wand before or after shots
8. Froth milk with steam wand if making a cappuccino

Enjoy café-style drinks at home! Clean machine after each use.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get the best tasting espresso from this machine?

To get the best tasting espresso, make sure to use fresh, finely ground coffee beans. Tamp the grounds firmly into the filter basket to ensure even water distribution. The 15-bar pump provides optimal pressure for extracting flavorful espresso. Experiment with grind size and dose to dial in your preferred flavor profile.

What milk texturing capabilities does this machine have?

This espresso machine comes with a steaming wand that can be used to froth and texture milk for lattes and cappuccinos. It produces steam at a consistent temperature and pressure to create rich, creamy microfoam. The steam dial allows you to adjust power as needed.

Does this machine have a built-in grinder?

No, the Capresso Café TS does not contain a built-in grinder. You’ll need to purchase a separate burr or blade grinder to freshly grind coffee beans for espresso. Using pre-ground coffee is not recommended as it will quickly become stale and negatively impact flavor.

Tips

• Always use fresh, filtered water to prevent mineral buildup and off tastes.

• Clean the steaming wand immediately after use to prevent dried milk from accumulating.

• Descale the machine regularly with an appropriate descaling solution to maintain performance.

• Allow 20-30 minutes for the machine to fully heat up initially for optimal brew temperature.

• Adjust grind size finer if espresso shots are extracted too quickly or coarser if they extract too slowly.