Gevi Espresso Machine Review: Quick but Quirky
The coffee gadget The market has caused a massive proliferation of devices for all tastes, preferences and budgets, but it’s still quite easy to divide them into a handful of tiers when you consider the type of gift each would make.
The lowest tier contains inexpensive machines that one would buy as a housewarming gift for a friend or relative’s third or fourth property, such as a timeshare in the country or a newly christened yacht. The second lowest is an obligatory gift for someone you don’t know well or care about much, such as the wedding of a distant cousin or former enemy. The third level is a gift for someone you know And like, and the fourth is a gift you give yourself after completing a big project, landing a promotion at work, or finally making a profit in your bespoke AI-powered marketing and SEO agency.
Gevi’s imaginatively named espresso machine arrives at the upper end of the second level. This 15 bar single boiler machine performs essential functions such as grinding coffee, pulling shots and steaming milk at an acceptable level for its cost. The mostly plastic chassis won’t impress most normal people, but the lack of gauges, digital menus, and other customization options might actually excite the type of gruff philistine who shouts “BLACK COFFEE” at the barista before he can say a word every time he walks into a third-wave coffee shop. You might as well stay home with that attitude, in which case all the Americanos without having to talk to humans are available right in your own kitchen.
Power on
The machine is easy to assemble and comes with a small handful of chintzy accessories that you’ll want to replace immediately, the first of which being the shiny plastic tamper which weighs only about 80 grams, a fifth of the weight of the tamper included with the Casabrews 5700PRO. The included portafilter uses the same plastic for the handle, but the stainless steel basket feels sturdy enough when tamping. The reservoir holds 2.3 liters of water and is easy to fill when attached to the machine or under a tap. It snaps on perfectly, with no drips or leaks. It doesn’t have a maximum or minimum fill line, but the small hole about a half-inch below the hinged lid at the top serves as a relatively intuitive prime.
The bean hopper is a notable positive point of the machine in terms of quality and ease of use. A durable lid equipped with a rubber seal keeps beans fresh in the hopper, and a clearly labeled guide for grind size adjustments is printed in white letters just above the check mark on the top of the machine that indicates your current setting. It was a joy to know exactly which direction to turn the dial for a looser or tighter grind, and the movement provides a rewarding clicking sensation. The simple manual suggests a setting between 5 and 10 for espresso. I opted for 3 by dialing the machine and firing shots daily for about three months, which gave a consistent enough output that didn’t stress the grinder or clog the group head.
