Sometimes things sound too good to be true... because they are. But not this deal. Casabrews has slashed the price of its brand-new 5418 Pro espresso machine ahead of its release on Tuesday, August 26.
I've tested the machine for months now and my review will be going live on that official release day. But in the meantime, I'll give you a few spoilers: the 5418 Pro is an impressive budget machine with premium features like a PID controller (temperature control) and a powerful steam wand.
The MSRP is $299, but if you pre-order it, you can buy it for $159 — with an extra $10 coupon if you're a Prime member. This is a saving of up to 50%, and makes the 5418 Pro probably the cheapest espresso machine I've ever seen with a PID controller. At this discount, it's definitely enough to be one of the best espresso machines.
Premium features at a budget price point
I'll walk you through some of my review and testing quickly here. So the Casabrews 5418 Pro has a PID controller, which in layman's terms is a nifty piece of tech that controls water temperature during espresso extraction to ensure the coffee isn't burnt or weak. You'll often find this PID controller on much pricier machines like the $499 Breville Bambino Plus or the $1,995 Breville Oracle Jet.
Optimal temperature ranges from 197-204°F, so the 5418 Pro will never push water hotter or colder than that range through the coffee, and will result in a cleaner, better tasting espresso.
Despite only having one hole, the 5418 Pro's steam wand is pretty powerful. As you can see from the photo above, I was able to make velvety milk with a glossy surface. I was even able to get latte art, which is something I find tricky on budget, low-pressure machines.
The 5418 Pro is also just 5.5 inches wide, which makes it perfect for dorm rooms, tiny apartments, and even home offices.
I was really impressed by the 5418 Pro's coffee making abilities. There's just one thing that held me back from awarding it a 4 star rating... because it only ships with pressurized portafilter baskets. This is a major shot in the foot, and I'd like to see Casabrews rectify this in future. However, not all is lost. You only need a $39 accessory to turn this machine into a 4.5 star model, and I'll explain exactly how and why.
Just needs a $39 accessory to make it a 4.5-star machine
A portafilter basket is where you put the coffee. Left: dual-walled (bad). Right: single-walled (good).
The 5418 Pro comes with dual-walled (pressurized) portafilter baskets, which are physically incapable of making proper espresso. These pressurized baskets force coffee through a tiny little hole and make "fake" crema. If you want actual espresso, you'll need single-walled (non-pressurized) or bottomless portafilter baskets.
If you pre-order the 5418 Pro, it'll cost you just $159 ($149 with coupon). I've been very clear about this in my review, and I'll be very clear about it now: you need to buy a first party accessory to elevate the 5418 Pro's espresso from meh to delectable.
You'll need the Casabrews 51mm bottomless portafilter, which is $39 from Amazon. This puts the complete price at $198 ($188 with the coupon).
While I know it's really annoying to have to buy an accessory for a machine, this is, unfortunately, par for the course for coffee companies. A $500 Gaggia machine will also require you spend extra on accessories. So now the $159 Casabrews price doesn't sound so bad, huh?
Here are side-by-side photos of two shots of espresso I pulled on the 5418 Pro. Both with the same grind, same beans, about 30 seconds apart.
As you can see from the shots above, the pressurized-basket shot is frothy and way too foamy on top, which is the marker of a poor shot. The bottomless portafilter shot is more balanced, creamier, and tasted much better.
I would grab the Casabrews 5418 Pro right now — and save up to 50% — with the Casabrews bottomless portafilter. At just $198/$188 with coupon, this is one of the cheapest espresso machines of this caliber.
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