By Scott Kramer
I love coffee first thing in the morning. Fanatical about it, actually. And downing shots of good espresso is a near-euphoric experience for me, helping me jolt into the day. When I sipped my first espresso back in 1987 at a high-end coffee bar, it was a cup of illy. That was the benchmark brand for espresso, I was told.
Fast forward three decades. I’ve been very happy with my Nespresso machine. But when illy approached me to try its new X1 Anniversary Edition espresso maker, I couldn’t say no. This machine pays homage to the original that emerged 21 years ago and as the company claims “blazed a path for in-home espresso preparation” that’s popular today. This latest version has new curves, a steam wand for frothing milk, automatic flow stop, memory function for cup volume, and an automatic descaling program. Officials say it also incorporates a styling cue from the illeta, a patented invention of founder Francesco Illy back in 1935 that’s recognized as the first espresso machine to introduce automatic water dosing and high pressure.
While the Nespresso machine expertly dumbs things down for people like me who aren’t familiar with how to make a good cup — you just drop a coffee pod in and press the appropriate button — illy’s machine looks a little more intimidating to novices like me. It sports a round thermometer gauge right up front, an on/off switch on the left, and then a coffee/espresso switch to the near right and a water steaming switch on the far right. I love its industrial look. And then there is the portafilter (apparently the name of the handle with a capsule basket on the end of it) that you rotate and lock into the machine for each cup or shot — like they do at coffee shops.
Mind you, you cannot brew your own ground coffee beans with this machine. You have to use the company’s pre-packaged iperEspresso and coffee capsules. The company claims that unlike the traditional preparation process in which the espresso is brewed all at once through percolation, this machine extracts coffee from the capsule in two phases — infusion and emulsion — for a full-bodied aroma with a velvety crema.
I was able — without instructions — to make a perfect shot of espresso within maybe two minutes of setting up the machine. My trouble began when I tried making cappuccino an hour later. Steaming milk was easy, as I swiveled the steam wand outward, raised a cup of milk to engulf it, and held down the machine’s steam switch until the milk was frothy and hot. Problem was I should’ve made the espresso first, because the machine apparently heats up quicker than it cools down. I had to wait several minutes for it to cool back down to coffee-brewing temperature, to be able to brew the espresso. The included drawings-only quick start guide was a little confusing, so I watched an instruction video on YouTube that cleared things up. Regardless, the drink tasted great. As have the regular coffees I’ve brewed on it. And since I started brewing espresso before steaming the milk for cappuccinos, it’s worked like a champ.
Overall, I really like this machine that officially launches August 15. Sure, I’d like it even more if it let you brew your own ground coffee and not be confined to proprietary capsules. That said, it pretty much makes a perfect cup every time. And the less I have to think about first thing in the morning, the better.
Scott Kramer is veteran, Southern California-based writer primarily versed in golf and personal technology. Studying Computer Sciences in college, and then working as a programmer/software engineer for about a decade, triggered my passion for today’s high-end, high-tech gadgets. I can’t help myself whenever I see any kind of cool new personal technology. I feel compelled to further check it out and see what it’s all about. And even if I have no use for it personally, I’m always thinking who it might best suit. There are exciting new innovations emerging daily that are shaping the future and simplifying life. And I hope to be your eyes to that world, through the words of this column.