Casabrews CM5418 Review

This low-cost espresso machine is the best for daily espresso drinkers seeking a home latte maker that can save money versus going to a cafe. It's a great value at purchase, and it'll continue to prove its worth over time with each shot you pull.

Performance Comparison

Espresso Quality

It doesn't matter how cheap an espresso machine is if it can't brew a standard espresso. The quality of the espresso — its sweetness, mouthfeel, crema, lack of harshness, etc. — plays a significant role in the value an espresso machine brings. That's why it makes up the most of our overall score.

We had numerous testers compare the taste and visual presence of the shots the Casabrews pulled. Our lead tester, Lesely Robinson, said, “we were pleasantly surprised” by the quality of the espresso. Overall, the tasters agreed that the shots lacked harsh flavors and were generally lightly acidic with a hint of sweetness. Visually, the shots looked robust and were topped with a lush cream every time, thanks to the pressurized basket and aeration nozzles.

While the art of espresso lies in the sensory experience it provides, we also took a scientific approach to measuring its quality. As such, we used a refractometer to measure the extraction yield of the Casabrews' shots. This is essentially a measurement of the amount of dissolved coffee solids that exist in the espresso.

The industry standard extraction yield range for espresso is 18% to 22%, and the Casabrews landed right in the sweet spot with a 20.7% yield. This is an admirable feat for such an inexpensive machine. It's especially interesting because the size of the machine's double shot basked was too small to fit the coffee roaster's recommended 19 grams of grounds. The Casabrews documentation recommends using 13 to 15 grams. We were able to fit 16 grams into the basket and used that amount for this test. The result was a well-balanced extraction. However, this number can vary based on many factors, like the coffee roast, grind, and the user's skill and familiarity with the machine. Still, achieving an ideal yield is something to celebrate.

Ease of Use

One of the Casabrews best features is its simplicity. Even if you don't know how an espresso machine works, you might be able to figure it out in a few minutes just by looking at its straightforward design.

Setting up the Casabrews is as easy as can be — you only need to fill the water tank and run water through the steam wand for about 10 seconds. The whole process takes less than a minute before you can make your first brew.

The interface is basic, simple, and clearly laid out. There's a button for turning the device on and off, a button each for one-cup and two-cup shot options, and a steam activation button — and on the side is a dial that controls both the steam wand pressure and the water flow for when you're dispensing hot water for Americanos and teas. Plus, this machine's compact dimensions allow it to be used just about anywhere. There's sure to be enough room on your kitchen counter, even if you use it in a small RV.

Other bits and bobs were less than ideal. For instance, we didn't love how the basket sits in the portafilter. The basket has a little nub that slides into a groove in the basket that doesn't sit quite right, which made it difficult to remove the used espresso puck without the filter basket falling out. The portafilter itself has a good weight to it, but it's made of cast aluminum rather than the stainless steel often seen on more premium models. The plastic tamper fits the portafilter perfectly and was pleasant to use.

While going through the motions of making a cappuccino, the Casabrews performed well. We were able to make the drink in under three minutes. The experience was a bit unsettling, though. The machine rattles as it pulls its shots, enough so that it can move your cup and may occasionally knock it off the base if you're not standing there to slide it back into place. Otherwise, making the drink is an easy, uneventful process. The machine doesn't have the ability to backflush, so it drips a lot after you're done pulling shots, but the drip tray has a red float that will indicate when it needs to be emptied.

Ease of Cleaning

Being a simple machine, the Casabrews is also relatively simple to clean and maintain. You'll need to perform standard daily cleaning tasks like cleaning out the filter, wiping and purging the steam wand, and emptying the drip tray.

As far as weekly and monthly tasks, the product documentation is vague and doesn't provide any specific direction. However, if any issues arise that require troubleshooting, the instructions do list some cleaning tasks to perform. Also worth noting — the stainless steel exterior shows water spots and fingerprints, which can be a nuisance to wipe clean, but if you opt for one of the colored variants this is much less of an issue.

The machine will need to be descaled every 500 cycles, which is far less often than is recommended for many other espresso machines. The Casabrews will let you know it is time by blinking its five indicator lights five times upon startup, and it will continue to do so on each startup until you complete the descaling process. Fortunately, you can use any commercial descaling agent or citric acid to get the job done. Unfortunately, you'll need to perform a task about every five minutes during the 33-minute cleaning process.

Milk Steaming

Transforming milk into microfoam is essential for a satisfying latte or cappuccino. The Casabrews is capable of steaming up a decadent foam with a lovely texture and glossy finish, but it takes a while to achieve it. That's because the steam wand pressure is quite low. While this allows for a gentle, forgiving steaming process that creates very few large bubbles, it takes longer than average to build a substantial amount of foam. The pressure is adjustable, but even the highest pressure setting is lower than we'd prefer. The force of the steam is consistent, though, which is helpful in creating luscious foam each and every time.

And since the milk takes a little longer to steam, you might be inclined to steam your milk before you pull your shots. An espresso shot that sits for too long can become bitter, so it's usually best to mix it with steamed milk right away. But therein lies an issue with the Casabrews — the machine is prone to overheating. You can't extract the espresso and steam milk simultaneously, and the machine's internal overheating protection may prevent you from pulling a shot right after steaming your milk. You can get around this by purging the boiler through the steam wand for several seconds, but it's something to be aware of. Likewise, the machine isn't built to make multiple milk drinks back-to-back and will often need time to cool between drinks. A family of espresso drinkers may overload this machine if everyone wants a drink at the same time.

Machine Customization

The Casabrews CM5418 is not a complex machine. There's nothing hiding up its sleeves — what you see is what you get.

The volume of the espresso can be controlled with one or two-shot options. You can also use it as a manual machine to dial in your drink exactly as you want it. The steam wand pressure is adjustable as well. However, as mentioned, the strongest setting is a bit too gentle for our liking, so you may never want to adjust it lower than the maximum pressure. There are no temperature adjustments or timer settings. All in all, it has a few useful control customizations but nothing extraordinary.

Should You Buy the Casabrews CM5418?

The Casabrews CM5418 is a basic and reliable espresso machine for budget-minded shoppers. It's a frugal option, but it makes good espresso, and it does so consistently. Plus, it provides a lot of value. A low cost per shot complements the low initial purchase price, thanks in part to its ideal extraction yield. In the long run, you'll save lots of money using this machine instead of making a daily coffee run to your local cafe, and you'll even recoup the purchase cost of the machine after making a few dozen lattes. The Casabrews is a great bargain for those looking to save.

What Other Espresso Machines Should You Consider?

While the Casabrews will work for those more focused on price and value, we tested several top-ranked espresso machines that you can use to craft barista-level brews at home. If you still prefer to shy away from a high price tag but want to step it up from the Casabrews, the Breville Bambino amps up the build quality and eliminates all of the milk-steaming issues present in the Casabrews. One step further up the chain, the Breville Bambino Plus has nicer accessories and is also great for beginners. If you were considering the Casabrews because of its compact size, take a look at the travel-friendly Flair Classic, which is more versatile for road trips and makes great-tasting espresso.