Mr. Coffee 4-Shot Steam Espresso Review

Performance Comparison

Espresso Quality

We give the Mr. Coffee a solid thumbs down when it comes to creating enjoyable espresso shots. There wasn't much we liked about it in terms of espresso quality, crema, or shot potency.

This machine used 19 grams of espresso grounds to pull 35 grams of liquid espresso in 35 seconds. While we were impressed with the volume of the shot, we did not enjoy its very acidic, harsh tones and thin structure. Likewise, the crema was overly saturated with large bubbles instead of the silky foam we had hoped for. As for shot potency, the Mr. Coffee eked out one of the lowest extraction yields of all the machines we tested.

A 13.7% extraction yield, basically means 86.3% of the shots pulled from this machine were water. This makes for a thin, weaker brew that is less vibrant. For comparison, industry extraction yield standards (for espresso) are 18 to 22%.

Ease of Use

Right out of the box, the 4-Shot Steam Espresso has one of the easiest setups of any machine in our review. It arrives pre-assembled and requires very little prep. However, nearly every remaining function is somewhat unintuitive, leaving us no choice but to give this unit an unimpressive score for this metric.

There were many things we didn't like about the Mr. Coffee, but for the sake of time, we'll try to condense our gripes into a few sentences: A single knob controls both the brewing and steaming processes. The 16-ounce water tank is small, cannot be removed, and needs to be refilled each time you pull a shot. This machine produces very little pressure, so it brews more like a coffee machine, making puck prep a very different process. If the grounds are tamped too densely, the water won't have enough force to pass through. The machine doesn't come with a tamper — just a scoop with a flat bottom — making it difficult to create an even surface on the coffee grounds.

Cappuccinos are not this machine's strong suit. After several attempts, our results looked more like lattes or cafe au laits. The process is more involved than it needs to be, requiring the user to switch back and forth between brewing espresso and steaming milk. In the end, our milk had no foam, and our espresso was slightly burned.

On a more positive note, the Mr. Coffee won't drain your bank account, and based on our calculations, it produces some of the least expensive shots of all the machines in our lineup. So, if you bypass the urge to visit your favorite coffee shop each day, and use this machine instead, you'll save quite a bit over its lifetime.

The Mr. Coffee must be turned off, depressurized, and refilled with water between each shot. However, this unit doesn't have a power button, so it must be unplugged from the outlet to cut the power. This bizarre process left us scratching our heads in disbelief.

We were also disappointed that the Mr. Coffee arrives with very few accessories, and its user manual is difficult to understand. Lastly, we were dumbfounded that the steam wand remains hot even when not in use.

Ease of Cleaning

As a whole, we didn't like any of this machine's cleaning and maintenance routines. For such a simple machine, these processes were either very involved or took too much time.

Simply dumping the used grounds was more involved than it needed to be with the Mr. Coffee. It first requires unplugging the machine and opening the steam wand to depressurize the system. Only then can the portafilter be removed. Likewise, care must be taken when knocking the grounds loose because the filter basket often falls out of the portafilter.

Due to a smaller-than-normal water tank, purging the steam wand often requires the entire system to be unplugged and depressurized so that more water can be added to the tank. We were completely disappointed with the descaling process. It takes nearly nine hours (generally overnight), and the manufacturer recommends completing the process every one to three months, depending on water hardness. The process uses undiluted vinegar, so the machine must be flushed at least four times to remove its smell and taste.

Milk Steaming

Rich, silky, microfoam is not a legitimate expectation. The Mr. Coffee simply didn't produce the quality of foam necessary for cappuccino art.

Our in-house baristas were able to achieve decent steamed milk for lattes, but they noted that brilliant microfoam was out of the question. On par with this machine's other functions, the steaming process is more complicated than necessary. One of the biggest annoyances is that the small water tank holds enough water to pull the espresso shot, but it requires a refill before any steaming can take place — and we've already explained the steps required for a simple refill. Then, the tank usually needs another topping off in order to purge the steam wand.

Machine Customization

This unit offers zilch when it comes to customization, earning it super low scores across the board during our testing of this metric.

In addition to fixed pressure and heat settings, the Mr. Coffee ships with only one single filter basket that has fill markers for two or four shots. As mentioned, the remaining processes are unreasonably complicated and lack user-friendliness and any semblance of customization. However, in fairness, this machine simply wasn't designed to offer endless tailoring options. High-end functions just aren't featured at this price point.

Should You Buy the Mr. Coffee 4-Shot Steam Espresso?

We had higher hopes for the Mr. Coffee Espresso & Cappuccino Machine, but we were mostly left disappointed. That said, its one saving grace is its affordability. So, if you're looking to save a lot of money and are willing to sacrifice convenience and production quality, you may want to give this machine a try.

What Other Espresso Machines Should You Consider?

The De'Longhi Stilosa also comes with an appealing price tag. It performs better than the Espresso & Cappuccino Machine but it also is more expensive. If you're willing to spend a little more, the Breville Bambino Plus is an excellent machine that will give you results that are nearly cafe-quality, but it will cost you.