I really liked the EM3600, it was simple and easy to use but eventually failed and was replaced with the EM3820. Very similar but not quite as well made. The only thing better is the cups don't vibrate around on the drip tray like the EM3600 did. I make 2 glass double walled cups at once and at least now I don't have to hold them. There is nothing absolutely terrible that's worse but a few minor things.
The drip tray cover is flimsy and annoying to fit.
The portafilter sometimes is hard to lock into the machine group head, it sort of gets s...Read more

I owned a Cafe Espresso (stainless) EM 3800 for EIGHT trouble free years!!! It finally packed it in, so I figured the EM 3820 would be an improvement. I was WRONG! This model has been made down to a price. Cheap crappy plastic parts - the plastic top started to warp, and the plastic drip tray cover keeps falling off. Like the EM 3800, there is a design fault that hasn't been addressed by Sunbeam....the screw that secures the circular mesh filter above the group head WELDS ITSELF to the machine. The screw is unable to be removed making removal o...Read more

I saw that Choice had reviewed coffee machines, and rated this one highly in its class, despite being cheaper than most. RRP was $150, but I found that Myer had it on sale for $99 (still on sale but at $128) so I was well pleased for the deal. I don't usually give any credence to those extended warranties, but given that there's a high-pressure pump, seals and mechanics inside, and also that the price was low, I opted to pay the extra % of the price for the peace of mind.

I wasn't disappointed. Easy to use, and great coffee. No leaking l...Read more

we bought this machine July 2011. December 2011 the seal was leaking, so we putt an other seal in. Kept leaking and we took it back to Good Guys, because it was still under warranty there was no big deal, and we got a new one. 6 moths later we had the same problem, renewed the seal... again it kept leaking, took it back as it was again under warranty, no big deal got a new one... 3 months later it started leaking again, renewed the seal, went okay, till 3 months further, start leaking again just when the machine was 1 month out of warranty. we...Read more

I bought this machine to replace the previous model which I had been making wonderful coffee with for over two years. The original machine only cost around $100 and I was fine with getting two years out of it for that price. The replacement Cafe Espresso II made an equally good coffee with lovely creme and the steamer produced think creamy milk. This machine stopped working after 6 months and, as it was under warranty, I returned it and had it replaced.

The replacement machine worked well for just under three weeks, before dying completel...Read more

This is my replacement of a Sunbeam Expresso Series I which performed exceptionally for 4 years. These are early days but these are the improvements found so far.

1. Quiet. My old Sunbeam machine screamed especially in milk frothing. The EM 3820 does a better job without the noise. It's very quiet in comparison.

2. Better design. Smooth switching. Better indicators and "ready" faster. Easier and studier refill accessibility. Solid plastic rather than a "stainless steel" (subject to rust spots) drip tray cover.

3. Scoop/tamper - much be...Read more