it's better that a steam machine
I upgraded from a very cheap little steam-only machine with no pump, and the cafe chic certainly makes better espresso than that. The company claims that Cafe Chic is easy to clean, and they are telling the truth- the bad news is that as messy as this machine is, it has to be easy to clean or you'd never get to enjoy the products of your labors. As soon as I turn on the steam function, steam also comes out of the espresso maker, which has a very ineffective seal and leaks badly- I constantly have soggy coffegrounds all over everything. The steamer itself is nice, it does a good job in relatively little time, but it's in a very bad place. The steamer is off to the side, and very low, so it's difficult to get the steamed milk out without spillage. In the picture, the steamer actually looks usable, but the picture is NOT accurate- point in fact, the picture includes 2 espresso shot cups, which are not included. The espresso maker comes with a micro-filter that also has problems, your grounds don't drain, so the best of your espresso just sits there...Bottom line- it makes decent espresso, or as good as it can get while using a mere 15 bars of pressure, at an inexpensive price, but you get what you pay for. If you can, save up a little extra and go for something pricier- it'll be worth it. Wish I had...