The coffee gadget market has caused a massive proliferation of devices for all tastes, preferences, and budgets, but it’s still easy enough to divide them into a handful of tiers when you consider what kind of gift each would make.
The lowest tier contains cheap machines one would buy as a housewarming present for a friend or relative’s third or fourth property, like a timeshare in the country or a freshly christened yacht. The second-lowest is a mandatory gift for someone you don’t know well or care for very much, such as the wedding of a distant cousin or former nemesis. The third tier is a gift for someone you know and like, and the fourth is a treat yo’ self gift you bestow upon yourself after finishing a large project, landing a promotion at work, or finally turning a profit at your bespoke AI-powered marketing and SEO agency.
Gevi’s imaginatively named Espresso Machine lands at the high end of the second tier. This single-boiler, 15-bar machine performs essential functions like grinding coffee, pulling shots, and steaming milk at a level that’s acceptable for its cost. The mostly plastic chassis won’t impress most normal folks, but the lack of gauges, digital menus, and other customization options might actually excite the type of gruff Philistine who screams “BLACK COFFEE” at the barista before they can get a word in edgewise whenever they walk into a third-wave cafe. You might as well just stay home with that attitude, in which case, all the Americanos with none of the hassle of talking to humans are available right in your own kitchen.
Power Up
The machine is easy to assemble and comes with a small handful of chintzy accessories you’ll want to replace immediately, first among them being the glossy plastic tamper that only weighs about 80 grams—one-fifth the weight of the tamper that is included with the Casabrews 5700PRO. The included portafilter uses the same plastic for the handle, but the stainless-steel basket feels solid enough while tamping. The tank holds 2.3 liters of water and is easy to fill while attached to the machine or under a faucet. It clicks into place seamlessly with no drips or leakage. It doesn’t have a maximum or minimum fill line, but the small hole about half an inch below the hinged lid at the top serves as the former in a relatively intuitive way.
The bean hopper is a notable bright spot on the machine in terms of quality and ease of use. A durable lid outfitted with a rubber gasket keeps beans in the hopper fresh, and a clearly labeled guide to grind size adjustments is printed in white letters right above the tick on the top of the machine that indicates your current setting. It was a joy to know exactly which way to turn the dial to get a looser or tighter grind, and there’s a gratifying, clicky feel to the motion. The simple manual suggests a setting between 5 and 10 for espresso. I settled on 3 as I dialed in the machine and pulled shots daily for about three months, which yielded a consistent enough output that didn’t stress the grinder or clog up the grouphead.
