Casabrews Ultra Espresso Machine Review – Is It the Right Machine for You?
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Yooooo. How are you? I’m good. Just raising a kid, drinking coffee, working the day job.
Casabrews reached out to me asking if I wanted to review their Ultra espresso machine. Knowing how popular home espresso brewing is getting, I said yes. I have higher end machines (Ascaso Duo https://www.robscoffeeguide.com/articles/ascaso-steel-duo-espresso- machine-review and La Marzocco GS3 https://www.robscoffeeguide.com/articles/la-marzocco-gs3-av-complete-overview) and want to know what’s possible from an entry level espresso machine.
VIDEO COMING SOON
Long story short, this espresso machine is good, but it’s definitely for a particular buyer.
Here’s a clear breakdown to help you decide if it’s the machine for you.
(As always, I’ve linked to essential gear to get the most out of the Casabrews Ultra Espresso Machine.)
Shop my recommended setup for the Casabrews Ultra 👉🏼 https://amzn.to/4olJI43
Key Features of the Casabrews Ultra
Here are the key selling points of this machine.
Thermoblock Heating System – Heats on demand which means it’s just a minute from startup to brewing. This machine maintains decent thermal stability but there are tricks to make your brews better. I’ll highlight those in another post.
PID Temperature Control – It’s not a ton of options but an 8 degree range for brew water helps you get the best out of your coffee. Learn how brew temp affects coffee here.
Programmable Shot Volume – Set single and double shot buttons for repeatable results. A great feature. Two thumbs up.
Integrated Steam Wand – For milk-based drinks like lattes or cappuccinos.
Compact Size – Small footprint fit on any countertop.
Legit Water Reservoir - 2.2L means you’ll be brewing all week long without worry about a refill. Just make sure to use filtered water.
Is This Espresso Machine for You?
Here’s how the Casabrews Ultra stacks up against the questions most people actually ask:
1. Is It Easy to Use?
Yep—especially if you’re new to espresso.
With pressurized filter baskets and shot volume programming, the Casabrews Ultra helps reduce the guesswork. You can get repeatable results once you find the grind and dose that works.
What you’ll still need:
A proper espresso scale to measure dose and yield.
A small milk pitcher (12 oz or smaller) to fit comfortably under the steam wand. I found that steaming milk for larger drinks (12oz+) is cumbersome.
Because this machine doesn’t have the steam power required to heat up that volume of milk efficiently.
The larger milk pitchers don’t fit very well with the steam wand. It’s not just this espresso machine, it’s widespread.
⚖️ Best espresso scales under $50: https://amzn.to/40GWCzs
🥛 My favorite milk steaming pitcher of all time (Barista Hustle 400ml). https://amzn.to/4l7vJvS
2. Does It Make Good Espresso?
Absolutely, no joke, it can—with the right grinder and workflow.
I would say the Casabrews Ultra holds up well for medium and dark roasts but light roasts are much more challenging, especially beginners. You’ll need a decent burr grinder to avoid channeling and weak extractions, but with practice, it can produce shots close to coffee shop quality.
What’s nice:
The thermoblock heats up in about 30–40 seconds, making it fast to use.
Programmable shot volume adds convenience and consistency once dialed in.
🎉 Recommended grinders for Casabrews Ultra: https://amzn.to/3ITmMc4
3. How Is the Steam Power?
Adequate—but not pro-level. You know how your coffee shop steams quickly and easily? That’s not what the Ultra (or other espresso machines at the price point) does. It’s my one hangup but I wouldn’t call it a dealbreaker.
The Ultra has enough steam for a latte or cappuccino, but the silky microfoam texture can take some practice. I’ll probably film a video on that in the near future. In the meantime, follow these steps.
💨 You’ll need a 350-400ml steam pitcher. Check this one out: https://amzn.to/4l7vJvS
How to steam silky milk with the Casabrews Ultra Espresso Machine:
Switch Ultra to “steam” and allow 20-30 seconds for heat up
Place milk pitcher under steam wand with 1/2 inch of the wand submerged under the milk. Aime fir the center of the milk and then tilt your pitcher slightly
Turn on the steam and allow it to ramp up. After about 10-20 seconds gently lower your milk pitcher slightly allowing a little air to escape. You’ll hear a hissing noise. Do this for 5 seconds to aerate the milk.
You’ll start to notice the milk starting to spin. This is good. The air you just intriduced is incor paying into the milk.
Continue this for about one minute stopping only when t he milk pitch V is too hot C to touch for more then a I seconds
Turn v off you stream wand, remove the pitcher, and wipe the steam wand off
With the milk to keep the foam and liquid milk incorporated.
Pure into your mug
Sounding off
The Casabrews Ultra isn’t crazy loud when pulling shots but it is pretty loud when streaming milk. That’s the nature of espresso machines at the under $1000 price range. The issue is the thermoblock and the water pump working hard to create steam and pressure.
Not a dealbreaker but something to be aware of especially if you have small children in the house or a sensitivity to loud sounds.
Other Stuff You’ll Need
You’re almost ready to go dight out if the box, but you need a few more items, in my opinion.
Here’s what we recommend to get the most from the Casabrews Ultra:
Grinder: A consistent burr grinder makes or breaks your espresso results.
Tamper: The included tamper is plastic. Upgrade to a spring-loaded version.
Knock Box: Keeps your coffee station clean.
👉 Budget espresso grinders: https://amzn.to/3ITmMc4
🔨 Tamper that rules: https://amzn.to/4m7teLd
🤜🏼 Casabrews Knockbox: https://amzn.to/45wuwcO
Final Verdict
The Casabrews Ultra is a great choice for beginners and casual espresso drinkers who want something better than pod machines but aren’t ready to commit to high-end gear. It offers a solid entry into real espresso at a very fair price.
Just remember you need to pair it with some additional gear to get the results you want.
Skip it if you’re chasing café-tier shots or want total control over every variable.
Where to Buy
👉 Amazon, $209: https://amzn.to/3IVgIjk
