Spector Espresso Coffee Machine: Review & Analysis [2024]

Beyond enjoying a well-brewed coffee cup, making your own cuppa can bring extra satisfaction, home coffee machine prices vary greatly and the quality often reflects the pricing.

If you're in the market for the lowest-priced, very affordable espresso coffee machine then consider the Spector Espresso Coffee Machine. It's certainly not the ritziest coffee machine on the market, but it gets the job done at the lowest price you could reasonably expect.

Spector Espresso Coffee Machine: Quick Overview

The Spector Espresso Coffee Machine is cost-effective and useful. It has a simple and stylish look that makes your kitchen or cafe look classy. And while it doesn't have the fancy features of an expensive model, it has a good set of basic features that ensure a consistently tasty and rich espresso.

The machine packs a robust 20-bar pressure pump that ensures professional-standard extraction with a hearty crema and a deeply flavourful coffee drink. The bar pressure is comparable to many mid-range home coffee makers like the Breville Bambino Plus, which has a 15-bar pressure pump. It also has a simple and intuitive interface for quick and easy coffee brewing with an adjustable steam wand for milk frothing and trying your hand at latte art.

Spector's espresso coffee machine includes an aluminium alloy boiler, ensuring smooth and swift transitions between brewing and steaming. The machine's durable construction and minimalistic features make it a top pick for any home brewer looking for a low budget pick.

While it's a decent machine at the price, Spector cannot be compared with the robustness and consistency of more expensive but still reasonably priced home coffee machines like the Bambino Plus, the Dynamic Duo, or the Sunbeam Barista Max.

The quick overview above should give you a fair assessment of this budget coffee machine to make a decision. But if you need to learn more, I go over the pros and cons of the Spector Espresso Coffee Machine below to help you decide if it's the right fit for your home coffee escapades.

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Pros of Spector Espresso Coffee Machine

Let’s go over the pros and features that make the Spector Espresso Coffee Machine shine:

#1 - Compact Design

The Spector Espresso Coffee Machine is modern and looks pretty good on a kitchen counter. It has a simple, elegant look with neat lines and basic colours.

Spector's ergonomically designed components, such as its portafilter handle and steam wand, ensure comfort as you make your favourite cup of coffee. Likewise, the compact shape maximises countertop space without compromising performance, making it suitable for diverse kitchen setups.

#2 - Milk Frothing with Adjustable Steam Wand

Spector's adjustable steam wand is a great feature. Because, again, you don't see this with some expensive coffee makers. The steam wand makes it easy to get creamy and smooth textures in lattes and cappuccinos, which makes making coffee more fun. And while it only allows for a degree of manual control in the frothing process, the experience felt quite typical.

The machine lets you make reasonable quality foam, albeit with a bit of a learning curve. You can change the steam temperature and pressure using the steam adjustment dial, which is common with modern espresso machines. So, whether you want a thick, smooth microfoam or a lighter, fluffy froth, Spector's steam wand can help. But don't expect it to be as good as the LatteCrema frothing in better home coffee machines.

#3 - Detachable Water Tank and Drip Tray

Cleaning the Spector Espresso Coffee Machine is easy with a removable water tank and drip tray. After you have made your cup of coffee, you can lift the drip tray and clean it. Similarly, the water tank is easy to detach for deep cleaning. However, these functionalities are quite far from the cleaning ease of automatic coffee machines like De’Longhi Dinamica with auto-cleaning cycles.

#4 - Handy Mug Warmer

The Spector Coffee Machine includes a handy mug warmer, ensuring your brew stays enjoyably hot even during unforeseen interruptions on chilly winter mornings. While not an innovative addition, this practical feature is a nod toward user-friendly functionality and daily practicality.

#5 - Low Budget

While it doesn’t have the features or the quality of many home coffee machines, the Spector holds its own for those just dipping their toes into the coffee-brewing world for under $200. Its affordability and good value for money make it the best low-budget home coffee maker in Australia.

Cons of the Spector Espresso Coffee Machine

There are several ways the Spector Espresso Coffee Machine could have done better. Though it is very decent considering the price, here are a few pitfalls:

#1 - No Milk Jug

Notably absent is a milk jug amongst its accessories. Any small jug or mug can work for steaming your milk, but a dedicated jug would be ideal. I recommend getting a stainless steel milk jug to go along with the Spector Espresso Coffee Machine.

#2 - Low Ground Coffee Capacity

The portafilter can only take a small amount of ground coffee, which doesn't produce beyond two cups. So, when you're entertaining and needing more cups, expect to allocate time to topping up the portafilter. More versatile coffee machines like the De’Longhi PrimaDonna Soul or the Breville Oracle Touch are ideal if you intend to use the machine for a large family.

The Competition

If the Spector Espresso Coffee Machine falls short of your coffee dreams, here's a brief run-through of some alternative machines that might better suit your caffeinated needs. Likewise, my in-depth guide on the best home coffee machines in Australia offers a comprehensive overview.

#1. Breville Bambino Plus

For a coffee machine that offers more control and functionality while remaining on a medium budget, get the Breville Bambino Plus. It's a compact coffee machine that lets you adjust shot volumes and pre-infusion. Built with stainless steel, it is a durable and sturdy machine with modern aesthetics.

The Bambino Plus has a steam wand that works automatically once you set your preferred temperature and foam levels. Its portafilter comes with four coffee filter baskets. It also comes with a two-year warranty, a year more than what you get with the Spector Machine.

If you do not want the automatic milk frothing then you can save $100 and go for the base Bambino model.

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#2. De'Longhi Stilosa EC260.BK

The De'Longhi Stilosa EC260.BK has a 15-bar pump pressure that ensures the extraction of rich and flavourful espresso shots and an adjustable steam wand to froth milk for cappuccinos or lattes. The machine's sleek stainless steel exterior with black matte and glossy finish exudes sophistication, making it a stylish addition to any kitchen countertop.

Equipped with user-friendly controls, the De'Longhi Stilosa guarantees a hassle-free brewing experience. The dual-function filter holder accommodates both ground coffee and Easy Serve Espresso (ESE) pods, catering to diverse preferences. Likewise, the 1L water tank and the drip tray are removable and it can accommodate coffee cups up to 110mm in height.

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#3. Swan SK22110WHTN Nordic

The Swan SK22110WHTN Nordic Espresso Coffee Machine packs a 15-bar pressure pump.

The coffee maker includes an integrated steam wand for frothy milk for cappuccinos and lattes, while the spacious removable 1.2 L water tank minimises the need for frequent refills. As well as ground coffee it can also take ESE pods and has milk pressure control.

While it certainly looks pretty nice it is still a rebranded low-grade machine, it may be a little bit better the the Spector, but now you are paying this much seriously consider the Bambino for a better quality machine that should last longer.

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What Higher-End Features Are Missing on the Spector Espresso Coffee Machine?

The Spector Espresso Coffee Machine is a well-equipped coffee maker with several features. However, when compared to many espresso machines, there are features that the Spector Espresso Coffee Machine lacks:

• Pre-infusion: This feature gradually applies pressure to the portafilter to evenly distribute the beans' flavour, resulting in a better-tasting drink.
• Dual boilers: Dual boilers heat machines quicker than other boilers (e.g., single boiler), allowing you to make drinks and steam milk simultaneously.
• Super-automatic functionality: Super-automatic machines grind, tamp, brew, and everything else, making it the best choice for making many drinks back-to-back.
• Built-in grinder: Some high-end machines come with a built-in grinder for fresh coffee grounds.
• One-touch specialty recipes: Some machines have pre-programmed settings for different types of coffee.

Note that the presence or absence of these features does not necessarily determine the quality of the coffee produced by the machine. When choosing a coffee machine, consider your personal preferences and needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Spector Espresso Coffee Machine.

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Should You Buy the Spector Espresso Coffee Machine?

The Spector Espresso Coffee Machine is a great deal when considering its price. It's easy to use and straightforward to operate. I recommend it for coffee fans who want to enjoy brewing coffee at home on a very low budget, you will save money on going to buy coffee out so often.