Apex Espresso Machine V2 (Grey)

After three months I am convinced this is one of my all time best purchases. I've been making espresso for nearly 35 years using the cheapest machines and many expensive like the Rancilio Silvia and the Classic Gaggia. This machine has many features that machines twice as expensive have. It doesn't have a brass boiler or a fancy name plate. But it does the job and it gets it done deliciously. The Rancilio Silvia cost me $750 dollars 12 years ago and I rarely could dial in the best shots. It took me a year to semi-master it, yet I threw away a lot of sour or astringent shots. I replaced it about 5 years later with the Classic Gaggia. It never failed to give me a good shot, but not all that great either even after 7 years of frequent use. But, the Mii Coffee gave me excellent shots (no exaggeration) after dialing in the best pressure and setting the timing to my exact preference in less than a half dozen tries. None of the 'bad' shots were terrible enough to toss in the sink either. A little bit of milk fixes most issues with espresso in my experience. But I like the bitter chocolate taste so I don't have to use milk often or sugar.I watched a few how-to videos on YouTube, so that helped me to quickly get up and running. I recommend YouTube for any and all hints to draw that perfect cup.I also roast my own coffee so that is a plus IMO. Buying storebought coffee is a crap shoot. But if you have to buy your whole beans on YouTube then I recommend Lavazza, any variety, I've tried them all and they have never let me down. I do not recommend Star Bucks unless you like disappointment when opening the bag for the first time expecting the fresh coffee aroma.I am very happy with my purchase and as usual I will update this review if I experience problems.BTW, I also recommend purchasing a bottomless portafilter and other accessories to assist you to make that perfect God shot. Good luck!

Odd interaction with this item. It arrived with a broken water pump. When I contacted Amazon, I was told to contact the seller. (Miicoffee) After explaining that the pump wasn’t working, he asked for a video, and that they would review it and determine if I need a replacement. (I paid, it doesn’t work, it needs a replacement, end of story) Now, he was honest enough to let me know it would be quicker to get a replacement through Amazon. I appreciated that….I went back to Amazon, they insisted on “trouble shooting”. I’m a 30 year professional pilot, I know how to turn on a machine and push a button to pump water. After the troubleshooting determined that the pump didn’t work, I was told they could give me a refund. I asked for a replacement, I still want the item, I understand that sometimes it can come broken from the manufacturer. He told me no, the inventory wasn’t reliable.I’ve had to submit a return. Now I wait a week for my refund. In the meantime, I’ve ordered another machine so that I can actually get the item I’m trying to buy. This was by far the most painful purchase I’ve made on Amazon. I’m now paying 2x’s for a machine in order to get a working one. I’ll have to wait for my refund.

Capabilities/Features: 4/5Price: 5/5Build Quality: 1/5Customer Support: 5/5Longevity: TBDOverall, I think this is a great deal for someone getting into espresso that already knows enough about coffee and is willing to put in the extra effort to play with all the variables in creating great espresso. Many people say that the steam wand isn't great, but you can ask Miicoffee for a free single hole wand tip which will help improve your experience.My main issue with the machine is the build quality. Firs off, overall it is a very geavy/sturdy frame. Taking the portafilter in and out of the machine can be done with minimal amount of bracing the machine. That said, I did expect some build issues seeing as it is a cheap(er) espresso machine with capabilities above it's cost point (Pre-infusion, PID Temperature control, flow rate control, pressure gage, etc.). The frame itself is sturdy, but the walls have a few rough edges and don't perfectly line up with other components - for example the water tank is not flush with the side of the machine. That said, those are minor issues.The biggest issue I have found is the "touch screen". This is one of the most counterintuitive parts of the machine. It is not really a touch screen - it is a screen with hidden press buttons (similar to a non-mechanical keyboard) behind the + and - labels. The labels do not line up well with where you actually need to press. When I was first using the machine, I didn't know this and accidentally pushed too hard on the screen pushing it into the machine (see picture). While I could open the back of the unit fairly easily, it was difficult to implement a fix (connecting the silver edge connector to the screen component chassis). I had to use some tools to hold and press the screen back into it's slot. Now I am just super delicate with how I touch the screen. As a mechanical engineer, this bugs me a lot as I should need to worry about being that delicate with a machine like this. I feel like this could have easily been fixed if the screen A) was an actual touch screen, B) had obvious physical press buttons, and/or C) was actually bolted to the unit frame (not held together by the plastic silver piece).Since this is a newer product, only time will tell how long this will hold up and whether or not it will be easy to fix with replacement parts.

We've had this for about a month and it's performing perfectly. The pressure gauge is very handy and allows us to easily dial in to 9 bars (using a Sette 270 grinder, it's fun to see the pressure swing between, for example, a 4d and a 4f). It's operating exactly as we hoped it would, with high quality shot output. The steaming wand works great and, once you get the hang of it, easily makes "silky milky" as Lance Hedrick would say. The light was a nice surprise. We also love that once it heats up it makes no sound! We bought a CAPFEI 58mm bottomless portafilter to use with it - fits great (mentioning this because we bought two others first that didn't fit). The water tank is easy to fill and the tray slides out easily for cleaning. It's a fantastic espresso maker and we highly recommend it if you're looking for a solid machine at a lower price point.