Side by Side Comparison of: Mr. Coffee vs Chefs Star®

Love it and I have had it almost A year now. I got off Mt dew and started drinking White Chocolate Mocha from star bucks. I wanted to start making them at home and this was the thing to get. The milk it makes is just like star bucks. It make 2 shots of espresso very good. clean up is a snap. It has help up to me making about 6 mocha's a week. No problems yet.

Several days I spent reviewing 'all in one' espresso machines, and there's a lot to filter through (get it? ah my jokes are too corny anyhow). After doing a heavy amount of research I was satisfied with this choice. Took me a few weeks to pull the trigger, but I couldn't be happier that I did. I was addicted to kwik trip lattes, Starbucks lattes, anyplace that has a latte you name it. I'm quite positive this has already paid for itself by not having to go to all those places.But let's talk more about the thing!It's kind of big but it has its own dedicated spot in my kitchen. It's nice enough to be left out and not have to store away in a cabinet. What I REALLY like about it is that it's pretty much an all in one system without the thousand dollars plus all in one cost. I push one button and all the magic happens, and it's quite entertaining to watch the espresso cascade through the milk and create separate layers. I also like that I can take the milk and store it in my fridge. I've done some temperature tests and only noticed a 5-degree increase after making a double latte before I put it back in the fridge. This is nice as you would think to be so close to all that heat it would be a much bigger temperature fluctuation. Just make sure you put the blasted spout up otherwise you'll have a fun time cleaning up a giant mess of milk. I really wish there was some sort of sensor that assisted with this issue as I guess I'm stupider than I thought when it comes to lifting that lever.For anyone who wanted to know, it fits a full-sized pint glass underneath it if you remove the drip tray. It is a tight fit as you will have to angle the pint glass to slide it in but I use pint glasses for my large lattes consistently. The latte puts out almost double the amount of milk that the cappicino does. I think all single servings should be able to fit in your regular sized coffee mug.Another aspect I really like is the cleaning aspect. Just hold the top button for the coffee grind connector (w/e you call it) to get cleaned and hold the bottom button for the milk frother to get cleaned... that's pretty simple! I did notice that the milk froth cleaner doesn't get all the milk out of the metal tube, but since it slides right off and is pretty easy to clean it's not that big of a deal to me.So ultimately how does this compare to all the places I regularly go to? It's spot on. Sure it's not the sugar loaded 1500 calorie Starbucks grade latte, but as far as the espresso taste goes it's very close. I actually prefer not adding any sugar or other diabetes contributing nonsense half these latte makers add and find this is a much healthier option for me as well.If you enjoyed my review please like it. Cheers!

I went on Amazon to purchase my 3rd Keurig frothing pitcher (they are such junk that they self-destruct starting a month after purchasing & are unusable 6 to 9 months out), when I noticed Mr. Coffee had an espresso machine with a milk frothing device. I thought, Mr. Coffee, that's a company (unlike Keurig) which one can trust to make a well engineered product. (I now have 3 Mr. Coffee burr coffee grinders, so I reason to believe this was so.) So I bought it, & can say, it took a little time to get into a routine of using it without spilling coffee grinds all over the place.I have purchased several espresso makers over the years, a good European electric one w/o a frother, a good Senseo w/o frother that requires pods, a that makes good but weak espresso, an expensive European stainless steel stove top one w/o frother that makes strong espresso, the Keurig that requries expensive pods, makes bad espresso, takes too much time to use, is in every way poorly engineered, and has a milk frother that costs about $35 to replace every 6 to 9 months merely because it is made of cheap plastic.With all that in mind & with the Mr. Coffee machine routine mastered, I can say, & my partner says every day, the Mr. Coffee machine makes the best tasting espresso/cappuccino ever experienced, better than Starbucks by far, better than all my other espresso machines, better milk frothing too, better engineered by far at such a reasonable price and without expensive pods (where who knows where the coffee is from).If Mr. Coffee comes up with a new & improved espresso machine w/milk frother, I will purchase that one too, not the least of which is because I appreciate a supporting an excellent company that makes the investment in Research & Development to come up with a great product that does what the customer is led to believe it should do.

I love this machine! I've been using my Mr. Coffee Cafe Barista for 9 months and it's still going strong. I mainly bought it because I was spending way to much getting coffee drinks like lattes and macchiatos at the coffeehouse. My favorite feature is the fact that it steams and froths the milk at the same time. You can also control the amount of froth that it makes which is an awesome feature. I also have a Mr. Coffee burr grinder Mr. Coffee BVMC-BMH23 Automatic Burr Mill Grinder, Black/Silver so that I am making the freshest coffee possible and I buy my coffee freshly roasted from a local company. The results are great!Here are some tips from an experienced user:1. The milk container lid is where it connects to the main part of machine. Be gentle with the little hole in the back because it can break if pushed too hard. A replacement can be found at Mr.Coffee website for a reasonable price, though.2. Buy a couple of replacements of the clear plastic straw looking part because it will probably get lost and leave you feeling sad that you can't steam your milk! (from experience).3. Never wash the portafilter in the dishwashing machine. Just don't do it. It will lose the nice shine because it is aluminum. (yes, again I know from experience).4. Before going out and buying another machine if one of the parts fails... see if they carry a replacement. Pretty much everything that can be removed can also be replaced on their website. I was impressed with the reasonable prices and quick shipping on the Mr. Coffee website.I had another machine that had great reviews made by Hamilton Beach back in the day, but it was really lacking compared to this machine. I am so happy with my purchase. Long live the Cafe Barista!

It's only my 3rd day enjoying the espresso maker and so far so good! I'm no espresso expert what so ever, but this unit fits my needs. 2 things I wish were different though, I wish the milk would froth hotter. With my old espresso maker I frothed manually making the milk as hot as I wanted, but this is not an option on this unit since it's done automatically. Still it's great to have frothed milk with a push of a button.. Also wish there would be a button for frothing alone. I feel that I will end up damaging the cappuccino button( that's the option that makes the most froth) or the whole frothing system since I have to press it like 4 times to get the perfect amount of frothed milk for my white mocha... Other than that the Espresso maker is just great! It's small enough to fit the limited counter space I have, cleaning is a breeze, and I get a perfect espresso shot with just the right crema for my morning mocha!If wondering, for my espresso I use "lavazza inblu"(I've tried so many including "illy", "Starbucks" and even the budget friendly Bustelo, but for my taste nothing better than "inblu".)For the white chocolate syrup I use "Torani White Chocolate Sauce"(the taste is similar to the brand that Starbucks use to sell. Sadly it's not available but at least I found a good substitute.)

We are a Cuban family of 5 that drink espresso multiple times a day, and two of us drink lattes every morning. We have a traditional espresso machine and were looking into another one to make the lattes, and during that search, I found this amazing machine for both espressos and lattes!The set up was fairly easy and straightforward, just MAKE SURE THAT YOU REMOVE THE RED COVER FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WATER CONTAINER before you start using the machine. The water container is extremely convenient, as it holds a large amount of water and you won't need to fill it every time you make an espresso -unlike traditional espresso machines.There are three different options: ESPRESSO, CAPPUCCINO AND LATTE. You have one button for each option. If you press the button ONCE, you will get a small portion (single shot). If you press it TWICE you will get a bigger portion (double shot). Under those buttons you have another feature that lets you set the amount of froth that you want (little to none for Lattes and lots for cappuccinos.) After you plug the machine your three buttons will start flashing. You have to wait a few minutes until their light is fixed, when that happens you can start using the machine.To make an espresso you simply fill up the filter with your desired brand of ground coffee (you have a single and double shot filters between which you can easily switch) and press the espresso button either once or twice. Your coffee will start pouring within SECONDS. To make a latter of cappuccino is the same procedure, except that you will need to fill up the milk container. To remove the milk container simply pull it horizontally towards you; to put it back, push it horizontally towards the machine until it "clicks" into place. You have arrows on the container and on the surface of the machine that will touch each other when the milk container is correctly inserted.The only inconvenience for us is that even a double shot is not enough for us 5, we have to make TWO double shots. But since it takes seconds for the espresso to be ready, we can't complain. With our traditional espresso machine we had to wait 5 minutes for the espresso to start pouring. Besides, sometimes only my parents are home and if they made too much then it would go to waste, so they do a single shot with this machine and that's just enough for both of them.I was hesitant before buying this machine because of all the negative reviews about how fast it broke down, but I'm glad I decided to take the risk and buy it. I have been using for almost three weeks now Multiple times a day for both espressos and lattes and I have not seen any sign of deterioration (fingers crossed). I will update my review if this changes, but so far, my family and I are completely in love with this awesome machine!

Wanted to add this is the second frother we have purchased and They work great! However the Newer one all of sudden stopped hearing. I contacted the company and they sent me a brand new one. No questions asked within the week. Very impressed with company and product!

I've been using this every day for over a year and I LOVE it! My sister has a MUCH more expensive frother, but this one works absolutely just as well. It's REALLY quiet, does it's job well, cleans easily, and is durable. I've brought it with me back and forth to work and I've taken it it camping, and I've never once had any problems with it. It is VERY easy to clean - I just rinse it and wipe it out with a paper towel. Every once in a while, I wipe under the rubber seal on the lid as well. I once left it with a little cream in it for over 24 hours, and still cleaned up with just a short soak in hot water and a paper towel wipe. The amount of frothiness you get is really dependent on the product you are frothing. I froth coconut milk, and I find that even that differs between brands. Regular milk froths well, and all the creamers I've used froth up into a marshmallowy yumminess. My favorite is to use mostly coconut milk (Simple Truth) with a dash of Sweet Cream or cinnamon coffee creamer (Nestle Coffee Mate). Super thick and creamy. It also works great for mixing up Matcha powder.

I love this frother. When I bought it, I expected it would just warm my milk . I thought getting a good foam for my coffee at home was not possible.I was so wrong! I got way more than I expected. My coffee doesn't get immediately cooled off by cold milk and the froth is perfect! And if you like a good cappuccino, the foam is amazing. I spent over 200 dollars for a cappuccino machine and didn't get nearly as good a foam. I no longer have to go to a coffee shop for a good latte or cappuccino. I can't recommend this product enough! If you are considering buying this, do not hesitate. You won't be sorry.

Great little frother/warmer. My husband loves a french press so no keruig or automatic drip over in our house. But he complains that adding in his milk always cools down his coffee. So this was the perfect fathers day gift So this frother does a fantastic job at keeping him happy. I've used it a couple of times to make the kiddos a baby chino, I've frothed milk for my own iced coffee when I feel like treating myself. I'm looking forward to winter and gourmet hot chocolates. Definitely worth it if your or your spouse is a bit of a coffee snob (as i lovingly tease my husband - there isn't anything wrong with liking good coffee) Only down side is having to hand wash, as a quick rinse doesn't quite get the milk residue off the bottom.

I used a Nespresso aeroccino frother on a recent trip and loved the ease of frothing milk with an electronic frother (previously I used a steamer spout on a coffee machine) but didn't want to spend $100 for a frother. This little unit is PERFECT. Works just as well as the aeroccino at less than half the cost of the aeroccino. Like others, I occasionally run the milk through 2 or 3 cycles to heat the milk up more. The froth is terrific. Stiff microbubbles that hold up throughout the drinking process and still have foam left to scoop up with a spoon. I use a french press to make my coffee, foam the milk while I'm making the rest of my breakfast, and everything is going much faster in the mornings with less cleanup. Since I live in California with it's recent drought I use the excess hot water in the kettle for the french press to put a little soap detergent and two inches of the hot water into a dish pan and then hand wash everything without running tap water to get hot water. So both time, labor and water efficient! Love this little machine but will have to see how durable it is. Oh, I also bought the pack of replacement whisks at the same time because I know inevitably one will get lost and they may not offer replacement whisks in the future because you know how things come and go in today's marketplace.

UPDATE: Apparently this model frother is made by a single manufacturer who then sells it to retailers. Those companies then affix a brand name on it, or sell it without any labels whatsoever. This Chefs Star is an example of the latter; when it arrived I noted nowhere on the appliance or in the user's manual does it say "Chefs Star." The bottom of the heating base says "Model MMF-008" and that's it. Regardless of brand name, get one that looks exactly like this.This is the model that everyone is raving about.On to my review.Bottom line first: This milk warmer and frother is EVERYTHING people around the Net and on Amazon have said it is. Get this Chef's Star automatic frother, it is the best one you could ever hope to find. Yes, other types and models may work well and some have received good reviews too. However, I settled on this particular warmer/frother because it has CONSISTENTLY received the highest ratings and best reviews.Backstory - Why I Wanted This (it was NOT to make lattes).I'm one of those Keurig converts. Once you make coffee by the cup, you will never go back to making coffee by the pot. My problem was I like a LOT of Half & Half in my coffee. (Note: Those powdered creamers are not an option. While I don't hate people, but I do hate some things. I don't like root canals, I don't like getting pulled over for speeding. I HATE dropping food on the floor and my dogs grabbing it before I can. In regards to coffee I HATE Coffeemate. And I HATE even more, that fraudulent cream, aka liquid Coffeemate they sell in the dairy cooler at the supermarket. Query, since Coffeemate is non-dairy, why do they sell it in the refrigerated section? Because it is a SCAM, that's why. I digress, forgive me.)Anyway, my solution to hot coffee rendered warm or cool (because I poured cold Half & Half into the cup) was to MICROWAVE the coffee and cream, for about a minute, voila! a hot cup of coffee. That was OK but sometimes I would spill coffee inside the microwave, on the counter, or on the floor. After trying a few other solutions I found out about a "milk warmer" and frother (having lattes would be an additional bonus, I concluded).Note: I tried all kinds of things to warm up the Half & Half, including a kettle that heats water (OK, but hard to clean. And sometimes the H & H would foam and overflow). Also tried those little water heaters that's a coil dropped into water except I put it into the cream. No way, those are a fire hazard.After deciding to buy a milk frother I put many hours research into this purchase, NOT because of the money, but because I wanted one that would perform well, clean easy, and would last a few years under daily use (two coffees every morning). After watching videos on YouTube and reading reviews on Amazon I settled on getting the Chefs Star Premier Frother.What made me finally decide on the Chef's Star was a video on YouTube titled something like "The Top Ten Milk Frothers." #1 was a $200 machine. No way I'm paying $200 for a "Half & Half warmer." When I checked for pricing on # 2 on the list, this Chefs Star, I was happy to see it was selling for less than $50 on places like Amazon. # 2 on the list and less than $50, I'm all in on that deal. I checked a few others, but decided on the Chefs Star because everywhere I looked THIS model was always highly rated.Summary of this Model: Pictures and video do NOT do this justice. I was "SHOCKED" (well maybe not shocked, but very surprised) at the quality of materials and manufacture of this machine. By that I mean:- Lifting it out of the box I immediately noted it was heavy and had a quality feel to it. That was a good sign.- The stainless steel is thick, not thin metal as many manufacturers use to keep cost down. (The thick metal acts as insulation from the heat the appliance generates. When this is operating you can touch the container anywhere and it does NOT burn).- Even the plastic lid is thick. The lid is polished to where it does not have pores. Pores collect liquids and eventually may create microscopic bacteria, or simply start to stink. Nonporous surfaces also make cleanup easier. The lid has nonstick effect to it.- The handle is well made and firmly attached to the container.- The non-stick coating inside is thick and firmly applied. It is similar to nonstick coatings on the more expensive pots and pans.- The overall fit and finish makes this feel and look like a $200 appliance, something made by Krups or Cuisinart.Pros and ConsCons: There are none. Yeah, you can find some flaws, but I could not any, not worth talking about or that mattered to me.Pros: Quality manufacture, quality materials.Easy to use. Marks inside for min and max fill easy to see.The separate stir and whisk attachments are magnetic. So they are easy to attach and remove.Performs great, both as a milk or liquid warmer, or milk frother. Heats Half & Half sufficiently hot to keep my coffee HOT after adding heated cream/milk.Makes huge amount of foam for a latte.Easy to clean.And finally, an excellent value (I paid less than $50 shipping included. But six months later the price is down to $30 with free shipping!)Note: I stuck my finger into the milk as it was being heated. It heated the Half & Half to the point I had to remove my finger as it was getting too hot. Fluids are NOT heated steaming hot, but liquids get sufficiently hot.Note: There is no adjustment for heat. (That makes it easy to use.) I have cycled the machine twice to see if that makes the Half & Half hotter after the second cycle, but the machine must have a safety thermostat. It senses the heat of the liquid and if at max temp it will not heat liquid hotter, even if you cycle the contents multiple times..Some Tips and Tricks- There's one whisk and one stirrer included with the machine. The stirrer is quite tiny, the size of a pea. That is easily lost or misplaced, so pay attention here:I keep the lesser-used whisk in an empty prescription bottle and that's stored in a cabinet. Why stow it? IMO when heating liquids, milk for example, will splash on to the lid and into the nooks and crannies of the whisk. End result, you will have to use unnecessary extra effort to clean the whisk or stirrer stowed inside the lid. So if you are not using an attachment stow it in a container and keep it in a kitchen cabinet.- Be mindful of the guide lines on the inside of the container. There's a line showing MINIMUM fill, and MAX fill, for heating liquids or when using the frother.Why the minimum fill mark? If you do not place enough liquid in the container you risk BURNING and DAMAGING the device's internal heating element. (Basically, liquid or a substance acts as a coolant for the electrical heating element, just as your car's radiator cools the engine. Filling to the MIN line assures the element will not overheat and burn out. Bottom line, if you break rules this should NOT be one of em. Always fill to the minimum mark.) Note: When people complain about their machine no longer heats liquids it is a safe bet they "fried" the heating element because they did not have liquid inside, or not enough.What about filling beyond the MAX line? Oy vey, all kinds of things will happen and not happen. Firstly, your milk or liquid may not fully heat. Second, the little machine that could, won't... make foam that is. These machines are precisely engineered to foam and heat liquids. Someone spent months getting things just right on this machine, including where to put the MAX fill line.Interesting, too little or too much liquid may cause the liquid to spill over on to the counter, or worse, splash everywhere, requiring you to have your cat lick it up, or spend five minutes cleaning up surfaces. You also don't want to risk splashing liquid on your nice silk robe, $100 tie or satin blouse.- Always place the lid on machine. The main concern is splashing. Also if you fill to the max line, the lid has a rubber gasket that assures the liquid will not spin overflow over the rim of the machine. When I have whisked milk or heated it, I have seen drops of milk splatter on the lid. Note: The less amount of liquid in the machine the more the stirrer will splatter. The lid is there for a reason, use it.Note: When in a pinch you can place anything on the top to act as a lid. The lid is simply plastic. There's no switches, locks, or other mechanical functionality to it. Bonus Tip: I stowed my lid, no need for it. I now use a 4.25" plastic lid from a Trader Joe's coffee can. It fits perfect on the lip, works well in preventing splashing, and it cleans in five seconds under the faucet. I also use a small Corning glass bowl and doubles as a lid and place to stow a small spoon I use to stir my coffee, and a brush I use to scoop the cream out of the container and into the cup.- Don't let your kids operate this. You just know they will turn it on without the lid in place, just to watch it in action. End result, a big mess. (Note: Don't freak out if you can't find the lid and get it in place in time. In a pinch use a paper towel or a small plate. Better to splat on a plate than cleaning milk off a zillion surfaces, or God forbid, your silk tie or blouse.)- If you are like me and just want to heat milk, use the stirrer, NOT the whisk (the whisk has a coiled wire).- I used the wire whisk to make latte foam and the thing worked fantastic. The wire whisk turns Half and Half into "whip cream," so to speak.- Heat: The stainless steel container is very well designed, and with your safety in mind. I kid you not, after heating the milk the stainless side does not feel hot to the touch. You could kiss it and your lips would not suffer injury. Because of this feature (it is well insulated) there's no warnings anywhere (on the machine or in the manual) that says "HOT SURFACE!"- Pouring: You will notice there is not a dramatic pouring spout designed in the metal. On the edge opposite the handle there's a slight curve, that is the spout. You really don't need a pronounced spout on a machine like this. But when pouring heated milk POUR SLOWLY so that milk does not spill on the side or go everywhere except in the cup.- Nonstick Coating: Don't ruin the nonstick coating. I suggest you buy a package of plastic picnic spoons (or take some from your deli or Starbucks the next time you eat). Use a plastic spoon to scoop out foam. DO NOT USE METAL SPOONS because no matter how careful you are over time the nonstick coating will get damaged.- Also, when cleaning DO NOT USE ANYTHING THAT WILL SCRATCH THE SURFACE. (Inside information: Nonstick coatings are living, breathing creatures. So be gentle on Mr. Nonstick Coating. Besides, how would you like it if someone took a Brillo pad to your face.)- Pre-Drinking Cleaning: Right after I have made my coffee I immediately rinse the frother, clean it, and dry it with a paper towel. Even if I am intending to have two cups of coffee I still clean the machine because I might get distracted and never have that second cup.So as we all do, we forget to clean the machine and have to attend to it later. That's not a catastrophe, but the milk ends up getting caked on into the nooks, crannies, and crevices, making cleanup all the more laborious. It takes very little time to clean it so why not do it ahead of time.Bonus Tip: I have put water into the machine and let it cycle. I then let the machine sit. If I forget to clean the machine, the water has made cleanup a lot easier, even the next day.Bonus Tip: I have used this to reheat my coffee that as cooled down. It works very well. It holds about six ounces. If I have more cooled coffee than that I get a second cup and use this device to heat a couple batches of coffee.Secret Recipe: The other day I did something really cool. I had my ice cream, but no whip cream. I used my Half & Half with the whisk / frother attachment. After making a batch of "whip cream" I added about two tablespoons of maple syrup while the machine was running. I had a wonderful tasting "butterscotch" topping on my ice cream. I will be doing that on a regular basis!- Cleaning: Obviously, never put the container in the dishwasher. And even though I can, I never place the lid in the dishwasher.I use three things for cleanup: Hot water, a plastic bristle brush (such as that comes with hair coloring), and paper towels. I do NOT use dish soap, but when I do, I use just a little.First, remove the whisk or stirrer from the machine AND PLACE IT IN A SAFE PLACE, where it is not going to fall into the disposer, or drop on the floor and bounce under the stove, or if you are in my house, taken by one of dogs and chewed into little pieces or swallowed. (Note: I saw replacement stirrers and whisks for sale on the Internet, for $10 each.) Tip, put it inside a clear drinking glass in a cabinet.Second, rinse out the container and rinse off the lid. I then use the angled small brush to clean around the whisk and clean out the milk that has lightly bonded to the bottom of the container. Also brush the edges. (We are talking about 15 seconds here.)Third, use paper towels to dry everything. A cloth towel in the kitchen is a bacteria factory. I don't use cloth dish towels in the kitchen, I use paper towels for everything.While the above sounds like a lot of work, cleanup takes about 60 seconds.- Air dry: Place the lid upside down and atop the container so that everything can air dry. Leave a gap between the lid and container so air gets inside the container. If you press the lid into place that will form an airtight seal. That's not good. Sometimes moisture will form inside. Moisture trapped in a closed container is not good. Over the long term bacteria or mold can form. Yes, this is unlikely, but why risk it.- Bonus Tip: When using this machine, or cleaning, or changing whisks, always do so over a kitchen counter. That way if you drop something it will not break, or dent.- Bonus Tip: I am buying a spare stirrer and whisk. I cannot afford to be out of action, not even for one morning. So when I lose the stirrer I can use the spare. Always plan ahead.Bonus Tip: I have my unit sitting inside a small stainless bowl. If there's overflow the content will spill into the bowl, not on to the counter. That happened once and I was glad I had the bowl to catch the Half & Half.That's it. There's a test tomorrow. I have set your browser to come back to this page and administer a 100-question exam. (I don't grade on the curve, and 70% is an "F"). Good luck.

Actually, this is a pretty good little machine. I have a cappuccino every morning..... and it makes a pretty good one. I realized when I bought it, it was not top of the line. It was very INEXPENSIVE, comparatively. So my expectations were, that this was NOT going to be one of the expensive machines. That said, it works better than I expected. The milk is foamy and HOT. The espresso is hot. To me it tastes good. I ordered this because while I was in France, I had a cappuccino every morning....this little machine does a nice job. Not top quality, but impressive. I like it.

First, this product works as advertised. The coffee tastes as good as the cafe offerings. It's quite fast too and easy to clean. We buy Starbucks espresso grind. There is a gotcha, though. Nothing serious. The froth dispenser folds away nicely when not used which is where it has been a few times as I made cappuccino and walked away. It leaves a heck of a mess with chocolate milk all over the counter (I love mochaccino). I'm sure I'll learn not to do that but we are not always at our best when we need coffee the most. Other than that I love the look and even the sound of this machine. My wife drinks mostly espresso and using a double and then a single with the same grind makes is the way she likes it: not too strong. I may soon apply at Ozo's.

So far, so good!! What I have been looking for all these years. Only gave 4 stars because I have only had it two weeks, and will give 5 stars if it holds up forever! My kids are saving so much $$ not going to Starbucks and Dunkins. We bought the Starbucks flavored syrups and mocha powder from Amazon, and add that to some flavored, store bought coffee creamers that I use in the milk dispenser...YUM-O!! I also bought the see-through glasses as shown in the picture, and you get a very impressive, fancy drink to serve to your guests.

This is a good product, but if you have more money to spend, buy a higher quality one. I do like the frother. I have been using this at least once a day for 8 months, no real problems. I will say that sometimes it doesn't brew as well as other days, sometimes it takes a minute to get going. It is loud, but this is my first espresso machine, and think they are all loud. I would have given it five stars had it always had a consistent brew. Overall I love this product, great price and would purchase again if shopping on the same budget as before.

I bought this machine as a replacement for Krupps espresso machine which died. During last 5 years I tried several very different devices from Seico, Krupps, DeLongi and now MrCoffee.I give this coffee maker 4 stars because Seico espresso machine was better, but in general this coffee maker is quite good for the money.Pros:- Its cheap- Espresso is good- Almost automatic frothing, less hassle with additional cups and stuff- Robust to coffee grind and quantity, if you do something really wrong it shuts off and saves the pump- Big water tankCons- No way to stay clean while recharging coffee- Frothing function cheats and provides something more like whip than steamed milk- Cleaning and washing of milk container takes some effort

This machine is amazing, does it all with a push of a button! Making expensive coffee shop drinks at home for a fraction of the cost. Regret not buying something like this a long time ago!Update: 11/30/13 - As we used this item more, (my wife and I) it has proven to be possibly just a faulty machine we received as the porta filter area drips about 6 drops of water if the espresso isn't in the porta filter section. Also, the o-ring for the milk cartridge after a month also makes a leaky squeaky noise. I would like to mention Mr Coffee had excellent customer support and sent me a new unit, BUT all the leaking should have not been doing tins after only 2-4 weeks of ownership. Again, I would purchase this item only new for warranty coverage or buy from bed bath and beyond and exchange it forever if it does fail which is possible as long as I didn't just get a faulty machine. But works great and makes great drinks so we still would buy again just warning to make sure buyers spend the extra change and get a brand new warrantied model like we did.I dropped my 5 star rating to 4 just because $200 brand new machine should not have issues like that but appreciate the customer service and replacement, although somewhat of an unnecessary hassle.

I really like this little machine but there's one problem. There's a maximum & minimum line and if I put more than the minimum in it overflows quickly. That means I can't heat enough milk to make 2 cups of Chai. The amount of foam is good though.

I really like this milk frother. I use it to make a latte every morning. I've had it for a few months now. It has two attachments; one that froths and one that just stirs the milk. The attachment that you're not using gets stored in the lid. It's a little difficult to remove them, but I have long nails that get in the way. I've used it with normal milk, soy milk and almond milk. It works well every time. My only complaint is that it doesn't pour very well. It always spills a little milk on the counter. It's not difficult to clean the machine. I fill it with water and wipe it with a soft, soapy sponge. You just have to be careful not to get the bottom too wet or submerge it in water.

I love the frother. It did a great job making billows of froth out of my organic soy milk (better than Starbucks). I purchased it in July. It is 7 months and now the unit just heats the milk and leaves little bubbles. No more froth. I am trying to contact Super Deals to see what the warranty might be and/or have them help me with this problem.UPDATE: Received a replacement unit a month ago. This morning the frother would not turn on. Hoping to get a replacement for the replacement

I really like this milk frother. I've used it quite a bit and so far so good. It's not the most consistent little gadget--sometimes the milk does not froth very well, which is why it's only 4/5 stars. I want to say 90% of the time, it froths beautifully, and 10% of the time I think it forgets what it was doing and it delivers slightly warm milk.Overall I am happy with the product. It does it's job and does it quickly. I turn it on right after I add the water to the french-press, and by the time the coffee is ready, so is the milk.

I used to have an Aroma frother that I bought at Target. It was a small, compact frother that got the job done and I like it. This is my point of comparison for the above Chef Star frother. Pros and Cons below for the Chef Star item:PROS:SUPER QUIET - I double checked that it turned on because when you fill milk to the lines, you can't even hear it. By far my favorite aspect of this machine.EASY TO CLEAN - I've only had it a short while, but the teflon inside is great quality and most times I can rinse and wipe dry.SEPARATE BASE - At first I didn't like the separate base, but when cleaning, it was convenient.CONTAINER - Esthetically, the frother is nice and the outside is cool to the touch so no chance of burning yourself.FROTH - I like low froth so I use the plain black insert. If you like alot of foam, there's another round metal insert that you can swap out and it's stored conveniently in the lid. Perfect design aspect.CONS:BIG - This is almost twice the size of my previous frother and is a bit annoying as I have very little counter space. Seems like it could be smaller for what it does. (Unnecessarily big)HEAT - The initial heat up is pretty quick, but I usually have to do 2 rounds and the frother doesn't like to over heat the milk so it's hard to get it to the hot temperature I like. Maybe there's a way around this, but I haven't figured it out yet.RECOMMENDATIONS:Don't get this if you like REALLY HOT milk or need a compact frother. It's not compact.Get the $3 protection plan. My last frother lasted about a year and a half and I would have liked to replace it when it broke given these little machines are pricey.

I have been using it everyday for a week, even bought a second one for the office. Today, however, it is only producing bubbly milk and the instruction manual has no help for the problem. Not sure what went wrong as it was working fine yesterday, such a shame.Update - After doing some more research I came across a review for a similar product that said if you use non-dairy milk the results can vary, even from carton to carton of the same milk. I just tried it again with soy milk, instead of Almond Milk and it worked perfectly! FYI the previous carton of Almond Milk worked just fine.Anyway, I'm back to being very pleased with this product :)

This is my 1st coffee maker. I finally bought one because my addiction to coffee keeps growing. In the office I've always drank from drip coffee makers and was used to the room of customizing how much creamer I put into my coffee. Well with this machine it's predefined for the cappuccino option. I didn't know that but apparently there's a coffee milk ratio with cappuccino, so this machine will deliver that. The milk frother froths with steam. My awesome friend has one that mixes and the difference is notable. I keep the froth setting on high but it doesn't compare to the mixer. Other than that it makes pretty good coffee. I gave it 3 stars because I really wanted a milk frother, I got one but it's just okay.

I wanted to love this thing, but unfortunately it has been pretty disappointing. I shouldn't have had such high expectations given the price tag, but less than a month of owning this thing and: the portafilter plastic handle broke inside so it slides off of the ground basket, it leaks water through the the dispenser when not in use, and half the time it does not dispense milk and I just get a lot of steam when making a latte. I will use this until it stops working which I only expect will be a few more months and then I'll just throw down some serious cash for a real espresso machine. Lots of plastic and not built to last.

the main unit is good but the main problem is that the suction part of the creamer department pours out creamer instead of steam. did everything i could cleaned it daily and still pours out instead of steam on cappuccinos and latte's.

CONSIt's LOUD. Too many parts too it: the milk reservoir...the lid, 3 parts come apart off the lid and it's tedious to clean and get all the milk residue out of it. Milk foam notch is useless. I keep it at the lowest, minimum setting for lattes and ALOT of foam is produced anyways. Im afraid to crank it up for cappuchino setting. No need.. Also overall material of the machine is cheap. After a few uses I can see already coffee stains forming on the espresso extraction aluminum cups thingies. Doesn't come out with wash.PROS: The price is ok. Doesn't take long to make 1 cup. Makes good decent espresso. I prefer this over starbucks and Dunkin. Saves me lots of $$$. It has a large water reservoir for espresso water in the back that is clear plastic and removable.In all it is ok but not the best. Will upgrade in a few years when I can afford it.

I didnt realize mine is not working properly. It only fills a cup half way and the frother doesnt really froth much.I thought it was due to using coconut milk . But when I used half and half it would really froth then it wouldnt as much so I guess from ready the reviews this should not be happening. I do clean it regularly and use filtered water.I follow the directions to a t. Basically I make a latter and/or a capucino on the max FROTHER and I have a little froth.I like alot. It sounds like mine is not working right either.I will say thought I have saved about $ 800.00 already NOT going to Starbucks.

Makes wonderful lattes but the shots are very very small. The shots are incredibly small and not at all the amount they claim, I measured it up. The machine is loud. Otherwise, I'm having fun put extra froth in my drinks! I may never buy a coffee shop latte again, these are way better! And I love my lattes and cappuccinos! One in the morn, noon and night. Sometimes in between.

Not sure why I bought this product as I already have an Nespresso Aeroccino 3 which does a great job. It is much cheaper than the Aeroccino and the quality of the build explains why. It does the job i.e. it heats milk and froths it. The froth is much denser and "heavier" than the Aeroccino, this is a matter of taste but I prefer the lighter and frothier product produced by the Aeroccino. Milk in the Chef Star also can stick to the bottom of the container as if the temperature is too high. All in all this product does what it says it claims to do, but I shall just keep it as back-up to my much preferred Nespresso machine.

It's OK but I wouldn't buy it again, given the choice. It looks nice and it does the job but...If you like lattes, on the bigger size, you will need to heat milk twice. The size is not enough, particularly if you want to froth the milk.It burns the milk... every time. So you have to be checking on it and turn it off before it automatically turns off. Even so, there's always a coat of burnt milk in the bottom which makes it hard to clean.It does not work on almond mild (it heats it but without foam)The stainless steel cover looks cool but you have to maintain it a lot... else, it's always stained.So yes, it does the job but requires more of your work

This is a well constructed product that compares well to similar products at this price point, but has some basic design annoyances that would detour me from ordering it again.Pro:*looks great.*reasonably priced* easy to clean (just be sure to rinse it immediately after use)Con:It over-froths the milk leading to an undesirable product. The result is 100% foam, when a good latte requires about 50% warm milk and 50% foam. The issue is that it keeps the frothing coil spinning the entire time that the milk is heating, despite this being way longer than you would likely desire that the milk be frothed for. It takes about 1-2 minutes for cold milk to heat up (depending on the temp and volume that you use), however the optimal amount of time for frothing is more like 30 seconds. So you either get too much foam, or you can shut the unit off early before the milk has heated all the way. I wish that the machine would take this into account and limit the amount of time that the frothing coil spun around, or otherwise give people more control over this feature.The other issue major issue is that the unit always overflows when you fill it to the maximum recommended level. This could be solved in multiple ways (better fitting seal, lower recommended fill setting, higher walls, or reduce the time of frothing as I suggested in my other complaint). As it is, it simply means that you need to be conscious not to fill it to the recommended level, which means that the actual capacity is less than the product claims. (Note: Just to confirm that I did not misunderstand the directions, I am referring to the recommended fill line about half way up the wall of the interior, I am not filling this all the way to the top with milk).Also, here is my cleaning tip:The easiest way to clean this is simply to rinse it out immediately after using. Every few days I'll also run a 'cleaning cycle' of water and drop of soap and then pressing the on button to let the unit do the cleaning for me. Then I just rinse it out and it's clean without having to use a sponge. If

I gave 3 stars because the highest temp on it is 65 degrees. It's great for making hot chocolate for the kids but that's about it. Who drinks their coffee at only 65 degrees? I like my coffee hot. Seems to work good for hot chocolate though. It does heat up in about a minute but it only holds enough milk for one small cup of coffee/hot chocolate so I need to refill & heat for each kid. If you like your coffee hot & want to heat enough milk for a few people than this isn't the frother you are looking for.

Truly a fabulous milk frother. I had previously been using the Capresso frothPro modelhttp://smile.amazon.com/Capresso-202-04-frothPRO/dp/B003LXY2HA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442772935&sr=8-1&keywords=capers+milk+frother, which worked well initially, but over time began to produce less and less froth. I suspect because the Capresso model uses a plastic frothing disk, it deteriorates over time and with use. This one, however, produces stiff, excellent frothy milk. Now I use the Capresso to heat almond milk and top it off with some whole milk froth from the Chefs Star, which makes a lovely Chai latte. I read in a different review that this company markets this model under several different brands. I haven't looked for them, but this model is by far and away better than any other frother I have tried. It is true that if you fill it a micro-millimeter over the froth fill line it overflows, and the fill line is very difficult to see, especially if you are older and need reading glasses, but what I do now is just fill it until it barely covers the wire frothing piece and it is fine. Also, if it does overflow it's not that big a deal, as it cleans up very easily. I highly recommend this item, and absolutely love it. I've been using it daily for over a month and it produces the same wonderfully stiff froth every time. It's also one of the least expensive models on the market.Update 6/9/2016This product has failed after less than a year of use. It will no longer heat anything, and it starts automatically now when I put it on the base, without pressing any buttons. While it lasted it was a good product, but I really dislike products that aren't built to last. I suppose I'll have to continue my search for a decent milk frother.

The product is good in terms of making quick rich creamy froth (I use Vitamin D Milk). But if you not careful, its burning the milk. The volume of way less than what is being shown (Product Image). Maximum 1 Cup of milk. It comes with two pluggable accessories. One is intended for boiling milk and little froth. The other one is purely for Froth purpose. The second one doesn't heat the milk much (its just warm). I consider this as a product design(engineering) issue. Considering these issue, its pricey.

Honestly I wasted money. It works not bad actually, but even if I buy Starbucks coffee beans it doesn’t taste Starbucks quality. Coffee metal thingies are hard to clean. Parts that are for milk are also hard to clean. The machine, however looks good on my kitchen counter. So there is at least one plus.

I returned this item because I was disappointed in the amount of plastic and the design was annoying. Flavor was decent and I probably could have perfected it with a few more tries, but it wasn't worth it to me for a product I didn't love. Overall, this unit may work for some people, but I didn't love it and three figures is too costly for something I don't love.Design Flaws:1) Taller travel-height mugs don't fit;2) The milk dispenser is made of plastic made to look like metal (would it really have been that costly to use food grade stainless steel here?);3) The "metal" lever that adjusts the milk dispenser nozzle is also made of cheap plastic, and doesn't feel like it will last;4) Unit is obnoxiously loud and took multiple cycles for me to get enough milk5) The milk dispenser nozzle is an accident waiting to happen because it must be pointed towards the mug every time (the mug can't be placed or removed if the nozzle is left in the dispensing position), and I could see myself forgetting to move it if I was tired or trying to multi-task;6) The milk reservoir is huge, doesn't include markings, and has a plastic lid with a straw that is required for operation -- might be okay if you intend to store the entire reservoir in the fridge, but I wanted a quick pour, steam, wash option.

- my unit was making warm coffee instead of hot,- cappuccino was a late- late was a warm coffee with milk- the milk container is difficult to clean after it has been used

Santa brought this for my wife, and after opening and testing, we're sending it back. Despite the high approval ratings it did not live up. It doesnt froth the milk properly, and for the wife, that's a show stopper.Ordered the ninja coffee bar and will see if that one works.

Worked well until it broke 4 days after the warranty ended. I would have thought that a $199 espresso machine, at the time, would last longer than a year. I've bought other machines from Mr. Coffee, and they have lasted years, even the cheaper espresso machine that was under $50, so this was a surprise to me.

We purchased the Cafe Barista in December, 2014. It made a great cup of coffee, and we used it on a daily basis (with regular cleanings as recommended in the manual) until it suddenly stopped making foam and starting dripping water out of base about 14 months after purchase. Just another large piece of plastic to be added to a landfill; his will be the last Mr. Coffee purchase that I make; nothing seems to last much longer than the 1 year warranty.

I have been used this not too long at all. Maybe about 10 times and it already has a problem. It will not heat up my milk :'( I don't want or like to write bad review but I just want other customers to be careful. It works great for the first few times but now, all it does is spin. The milk won't be hot anymore.

I really thought this mild steamer was the greatest thing, until it stopped working three days after the return date. I followed the instructions to the letter, never submerging it to clean it. I used it approximately twenty times. This morning I wanted some steamed milk for my coffee and when I plugged the steamer in and attempted to turn it on, it would come on for about half a second and then turn off. I tried about ten times to get it to work before I gave up. I guess I should've gone with a more reputable brand.

This product worked great and delivered fine for the first month I owned it. I take care to follow instructions and a lot of caution when cleaning these type of heating frothers since I have ordered one before and it got burnt out after the third time using it. At least this one lasted a little while longer. I would recommend an extended warranty of you but this product. You are going to need it.

This is a great frother but I can never get my milk hot enough. I've pushed the button up to 4 times and I end up putting m milk in the microwave. I had such high hopes but I'm returning this today.

Ordered this in January of 2016 and worked well for the first few months. It is a bit of pain to wash, you need to SCRUB is out every day as warm milk makes a film all over the inside. This last week I noticed the milk is not getting as warm as it has in the past and it is not frothing well...the froth bubbles out and dissolves within 60 seconds of adding it to my espresso rather than being thick and laying on top. I'm disappointed and will have to get something else now.

I'm so disappointed. The majority of reviews seem to be positive but my mine will be negative. It leaks all over the place. I filled to max the first time and thought I'd over did it but apparently this is not the case. It leak when I filled it half way. Most of the milk ended up on my counter, the appliance itself, the base of it, BIG MESS. No bueno. Back it goes!

I've had this product for 5 months now and it is the worst espresso maker I have ever purchased. The espresso does not pull a nice crema shot, and now the milk frother is not working. Every use is a fight for a luke warm cup of horrible coffe. Save your money, I wasted mine.

I don’t understand what’s wrong with this machine! It’s oretty easy and self explanatory on how to make a large cup of coffee and for some reason no matter how many times I press twice for a large i get a tiny cup! I’m very unhappy with this machine.

Returned this product. Not what I wanted. Replaced with a different item.

I've had this espresso machine for less than a year and it has already died. Definitely a waste of money.

The machines are damaged and do not give milk :( Im very disappointed

I'm really dissapointed because when it works, this is a GREAT machine. Very user friendly, quick clean up, and it makes very tasty brews. When it doesn't work, it's completely awful. It's hard to describe the milk, so I've attached photos.We've gone through two of these machines in the last 14 months. The first machine was purchased for me as a Christmas gift in December 2014. It worked well and I loved brewing my own expresso at home. Then, around the tenth month we noticed that less expresso than usual was coming out the machine. Around the 12th month, it started curdling the milk.Though we cleaned our machine religiously after each brew and use fresh milk, when the milk went into the cup, it looked spoiled and made the coffee completely undrinkable. Luckily the machine was under warranty, so we were able to send it back and get a second machine in February 2016. Like the first one, it worked great at first. Then, last week, it began curdling the milk again. It's been two months this time.I called and spoke to Mr. Coffee's customer service about an hour ago and the rep was friendly and helpful, but said she wasn't sure why our machine was doing that. I asked her for suggestions on how to fix it because I didn't want a refund or a new machine, I just want my current one to work properly.She then put me on hold and spoke to her supervisor who also was not sure. So, they're sending us another machine...our third one in less than two years.I'll take the new machine, but I'm planning to look for something similar under a different brand. I don't want to keep replacing them.

I purchaded this item twice and both lasted approximately 3 months, the first one less time, loved it when it worked but..... would not order it again, not wiorth the money!

Changing a 5 star review to 1 star. Why?? Well it worked amazingly first, two months later it stoppped working because the little piece of plastic on the inside that needs to be removed for cleaning purposes no longer properly attaches- thus there's barely any foam. The price seemed to good to be true. It's time to buy the more expensive Nescafé frother. Ultimately it's worth spending a bit more at first, my mother had the Nescafé frother for 8 years and it works beautifully.

Good foamer, but heater element died after 6 months. Still spins and foams, but the foam is cold. As a result, less foam and not suitable for cappuccino. Foam collapses quickly and easily when cold.

This never worked perfectly. I went beyond the return date before deciding to return it. Now I've had it 4 months. I use it at the most once a week. It no longer works at all to froth warm milk...only cold.

DO NOT PURCHASE!!! I used this item twice before it completely stopped working. To make matters worse it's now outside of the return date. Very upset and unsatisfied with this purchase. A complete waste of money, with no options of getting a working frother without having to waste more money😞

Do Not Buy This Product!!!!! Worked well for 3 months then died with no warning. Went to heat milK as usual for morning coffee but the unit did not turn on. I double checked outlet, cord and base unit but still no power. I had read of this in other reviews but took my chances. Huge Mistake!!!! Of course it is out of warranty. This is a total waste of money.