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I just signed on at this site and I have enjoyed reading some of the forums and can tell that there is good info here.
I have had a Saeco Incanto RS for a couple years. I got it after much comparison shopping and had decided on it because it was basically one button to espresso and I am always busy since I work at home, clean house and manage kids (yada yada, I know). I liked the steamer wand also.
That said, if I were to buy a machine today, I would go for something less automatic. I like to fiddle around with things and really feel I am missing out by not having more control over the machine.
The main reason I am unhappy with this machine is that despite cleaning the brew group, it is impossible to get all the coffee residue out from where the coffee is tamped. This results in stale coffee flavors getting into my fresh beans! I have called Saeco, and they are very friendly with the customer service, etc. but they do not have a good solution for this.
Also, and maybe most frustrating, is that the chamber which holds beans is not insulated from the boiler and it is warm there. Thus, you cannot store any beans inside because they stale immediately. I don't like to store beans there anyway, but even the few left after brewing a few shots are a problem.
Partly, this is just a rant (I feel a little better now but, if anyone has advice or experience with this machine, please help!!
Thanks very much, Alicia
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colin
Admin Admin
Posts: 746
Karma: 19
Re:Saeco Incanto RS displeasure... - 2008/08/04 22:07I am always steering people away from these plastic monstrosities - so many issues: a-) water has to travel too far to the group and then your cup... b-) Coffee is left in the hopper no matter what. c-) Virtually impossible to give them a jolly good cleaning to get out the primordial coffee oils
As our new friend Alicia has pointed out - there is just so many things that are wrong with these units... hardly makes up for simply pressing a button after adding water and beans...
and yet, these units continue to fly off the shelves of vendors.
Like hot-cakes.
No accounting for taste I guess!Colin is the Senior editor and creator of the CoffeeCrew.Com Website
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aliciaf
User Coffee Lover
Posts: 4
Karma: 2
Re:Saeco Incanto RS displeasure... - 2008/08/05 13:22Well, I guess there is no hope for me with this machine... I have known for a while that it is an inherently bad design, but I was wishing someone would have a tip that would help.
BTW, I do have taste... and I know a bit about good coffee, but I had read some good recommendations for this machine. I was considering the Rancilio Silvia at the same time and should have chosen that. I thought the built in burr grinder of the Incanto was a good feature for me
Anyway, I did get the Incanto (not refurbished) for a cheap price -- $534 on Amazon with multiple discounts and free shipping, when they were going for close to $1000 at many retailers.
So now, how to convince my husband that I should invest in another machine? Maybe I will try to sell this on Ebay. If I get a couple hundred for it, it would help.
So, keep steering people away and I will too
Thanks, Alicia
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colin
Admin Admin
Posts: 746
Karma: 19
Re:Saeco Incanto RS displeasure... - 2008/08/05 22:13List it on Ebay for $500 and shipping.
You may luck out.
Cut your losses. Once your Hub has a shot from the Silvia, he will be sold.
My coffee zen master once said: "You cannot eat Pizza every day... but once you get hooked to a good latte or cappuccino... you have to have it every day!"Colin is the Senior editor and creator of the CoffeeCrew.Com Website
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meshie
User Coffee Lover
Posts: 2
Karma: 2
Re:Saeco Incanto RS displeasure... - 2008/08/20 08:18Saeco Incanto, in general, is garbage. We've had ongoing problems with ours (that you can see at the web link in my profile).
Have you had the machine serviced at all? Or just a call to ask if there's a solution? I'm from Toronto, and our Saeco reps here are totally useless. We've sent in our machine six times, and they aren't able to fix our problem. I think it's similar - the brew group gets clogged up and needs to be constantly cleaned, but it never gets really clean, and the red light comes on constantly... thus, we're without coffee for most of the time.
We're using ours as a $900 cup warmer at the moment and have resorted to manual mocha machine. Quite sad. But I wouldn't give up... eBay is a viable option. Get rid of it and pass off the problem to someone else willing. Or fight the good fight, even if it's a losing battle, like me. I'm very close to calling Saeco in Bologna to tell them about the abhorrent service we've received from them since March 2008. And the poor quality of their Incanto machine.
We had a superautomatic Saeco for close to 20 years, probably when the company had some integrity and didn't outsource its parts - never broke on us once. Still makes great coffee. Now, I'd never buy anything from them again.Just say no to Saeco
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colin
Admin Admin
Posts: 746
Karma: 19
Re:Saeco Incanto RS displeasure... - 2008/08/20 11:26Your blog - SaecoSucks is an awesome read and I suggest everyone have a good look before they drop a 1000 bones on one of these lumps of plastic.Colin is the Senior editor and creator of the CoffeeCrew.Com Website
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meshie
User Coffee Lover
Posts: 2
Karma: 2
Re:Saeco Incanto RS displeasure... - 2008/08/20 18:23Yea... it's been a headache, and that is understated, to say the least. Tonight, one of their reps came by to look at the machine and offer me some solutions. He was very nice. He actually said for the taste of the coffee, you should clean out the brew group once very couple of days - which makes sense, since it gets all clogged up with old residue, like aliciaf mentioned already. Yet the booklet will tell you that cleaning it once a month is sufficient... It's so poorly designed and finicky... our option at this point is to upgrade the machine and pay the difference. GUH. But it's for my parents, and they like the automatic, so you know, as long as it frickin' works, I'd be happy for them...
But I would personally take a closer look at this Silvia, and the non-automatic machines. If it means superior coffee, and a machine that doesn't break down every week, then the small effort is definitely worth it. I've been without a decent espresso for a month and a half now. :-|
Colin/others, what do you think about the Gaggia Achilles? Lever model... Gaggia is another Saeco brand, now that they've bought it out, but it seems promising.Just say no to Saeco
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