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This beautifully designed, sleek machine makes both coffee and espresso, two cups at a time. This is just right for serious coffee lovers who don't brew it in large pots (because it quickly develops a burnt taste.) If you want a single cup of coffee brewed from fresh, cold water, this is the way to go.

Fully automated to deliver the grind of your choice, the amount you want, and the strength of the coffee (six different settings, from mild to extra strong) - all at the time you want. You can set the timer and have hot coffee waiting for you in the morning. In addition, controls tell you when to put more water in, when more coffee grinds are needed, when the water filter should be changed and even when the machine needs cleaning. There is a built in coffee grinder and containers for two different kinds of coffee.

The height-adjustable spout is a wonderful feature because coffee mugs are all different sizes, and this lets you use a larger mug, rather than having to make your coffee in a small mug and then transfer it. There are actually two spouts, an important feature when there are two adults who want coffee at the same time. With most espresso coffee makers, the coffee must be made sequentially.

The removable water tank allows you to fill the 2 quart container at the sink. The water temperature can be adjusted. This is a nice feature, because coffee can become tepid with the addition of cold, frothed milk, so when making a latte, it's best to begin with coffee that is as hot as possible. A warming plate pre-heats mugs, eliminating the need to pour hot water into the mug and let it sit while the coffee brews.

To 'descale' the interior of the machine, a tablet is dropped in the machine and a cycle is run. With ordinary coffee makers, this has to be accomplished with vinegar and water and the cycle has to be run several times to completely get rid of the vinegar taste.

This machine is relatively quiet, but the milk frothing function is always going to be somewhat noisy.

With an MSRP of $1549, the Benvenuto is for serious coffee drinkers only. The price of this machine doesn't end with purchase, however, because there are supplies that need to be replenished periodically: coffee filters and cleaning tablets. But if you're spending retail prices at upscale coffee shops every day, the machine could pay for itself in about a year's time. Most importantly, the Bosch Benvenuto makes a great cup of coffee!