Kambrook KES110

Has died after owing for 6 years- noooooo! – Loved this machine! My son bought it for me, and tonight- it died then I searched for it- and now find it discontinued loved it- used it almost every day. Show details

Great little machine – Not bad for it's price, coffee is pretty good for at home quality. Note, if you're a die-hard coffee fan, you'd know that this coffee machine doesn't make that coffee cremor that cafe machines make. However if you're someone who loves a standard white coffee, then this is up your alley. Since the machine makes as much or as little as you want (you… Read more

have to turn it off when you get to the amount you want), you just gotta get the milk to coffee proportion right to get it to taste right. The steamer is basic, again, its not like a cafe style where its just a metal steam rod that heats/froths the milk in seconds. This one has a removable plastic cover which is there to make the steam really easy to handle and froths the milk at a steady pace. Always remove the black plastic to clean the metal rod underneath after every use to keep it in top shape. Note, found that sometimes the steam can be inconsistent with the plastic cover (could be its not cleaned or placed on properly) so before steaming your milk, run the steam into the cup to make sure its steam not a stream of water that comes out. Otherwise you'll have watery milk. Anyway, as you've realised by now, it takes a while to get used to and a bit of a playing around, but once you get it, its pretty good for the price that you pay for

Great Value – great machine - I bought mine some years ago and it is still operating beautifully - makes a great cup of coffee, easy to clean and compact (takes up very little bench space). I want another one for my caravan but can't find one instore - I hope they're still available!  Show details ·  1

Probably what you'd expect from a Espresso machine under $100 – I went from using an Aldi pod machine to this and was happy to sacrifice the efficiency of the pod for a more environmentally conscious product. The milk steaming feature is handy and while it takes a while to brew the coffee, I can't complain for a machine at this price. Pretty hassle-free cleaning and maintenance too.  Show details

Easy to Use. Easy to Clean – I really wanted an affordable Cappuccino / Espresso coffee machine. For $79.95, it was a bargain. The instructions are easy to follow and clean up is easy. It makes an excellent cup of coffee and the frother works great. It also comes with a little milk jug for the frother and there is a choice of filters depending on how many cups you want to make. It is so much cheaper than the capsules and looks and works like a professional machine.  Show details

Great tasting coffee! – The coffee tastes great, and it's easy to use. The main drawback I find is that it leaks when building the pressure up, often dripping from the milk nozzle. I also find cleaning the milk nozzle bit of a pain, so bought a separate milk frother that I find does a more satisfactory job. Overall though very good value for money. I paid $89, and have been using it for 3 months now.  Show details

More than happy – Simple and reliable. I had it for 2 years now, and never had any issues with it. it saved my sanity through baby's newborn stage :) Tips: Milk nozzle needs regular clean with the needle( on top of water tank). And also it doesn't have a timer, so don't go far if you flicked it on, if it overflows you'd have to start from the beginning.  Show details

Simple concept, exellent result! – Basically a very solid sturdy closed water container that heats up when the valve into the coffee is turned on, pushes the steam and water through and into the cup(s). Frothed milk is made the same way via the adjacent pipe coming out of the side (turn the valve to the frothing function). A little finicky but you just have ensure that the nozzle… Read more

of the frother is just below the surface of the milk (use skim milk for max result).

There is no crema (because the pressure of the steam coming through would be too low... :) ) but the coffee taste is brilliant... There is crema-like effect once you pour on the frothed milk :). In full agreement with all the other positive posters on the site :).... Just off now to make my second (and last) cup for the day!

Great little machine – Bought the Kambrook KES 110 from Big W for $70. Was very happy but decided to buy a Breville 800ES for $380 about a year later. What an expensive mistake. I gave the Breville away after 6 months and went back to the Kambrook cause the coffee tastes much better with it. Brilliant little machine still going strong nearly 4 years after I… Read more

purchased it.

What a pity the KES 110 has been discontinued, they should reinstate it and start selling it again.

Only downfall is water holder size but this is a very small issue.

Coffee is good but frother doesn't work – I purchased this today from Harvey Norman, will be returning it tomorrow. The coffee machine is easy enough to use and i can't fault the strength of the coffee. The frother however seems to be faulty. I have worked with coffee machines before, i expected this would not perform as well as the ones they have at work, being a cheap machine… Read more

but when i went to froth the milk i noticed it wasn't frothing properly.

It ended up spitting and burning my hand before there was even any froth to see. I think the most i can get from it is about a tea spoon before it violently spits.

I've tried different milk levels, i've tried leaving it to cool before using it again but it just doesn't work. Very disappointing as i largely purchased it to make mochas.

Oh also the coffee seems to spit out of the nozzle a bit too, but only a few drops.

Love my Kambrook Coffee Maker – I did a lot of research and tried a couple of fancy coffee makers before purchasing the Kambrook. I am super happy with my $75 BIG W purchase. The Kambrook is easy to use and makes one perfect cup of coffee for me every morning without fail. No fuss, no mess, easy to use. I don't use the milk frother anymore because I add a small dash of milk… Read more

to my long black, but the frother works really well, especially with skim milk.

Tip - don't press the coffee in too hard.

This machine only makes one cup of coffee and you have wait some time if making a second cup.

Slip sliding a tray – Small, workmanlike little unit but for it's price makes a decent coffee with the right blend and some practice. Would suit a single household or small office environment, best at making one cup at a time. One niggly drawback is that the drip tray seems very slippery compared to other machines I have used-cups go sliding off in all directions if… Read more

you're not attentive! Their lifespan isn't great either, I'm onto my second Kambrook now but for this low price it is still a decent unit that fills a good niche in the budget range of coffee machines and given the cost of cafe coffee these days could be a real money saver for you too.

Three years old an going strong – After three years of drinking lovely coffee out of my Kambrook cappuccino maker, I still use it once or twice every day with no complaints. I found the milk frother works best if the top of the silver frothing jug wall is just touching the frothing frame above it, and if moving the jug around a bit, do so slowly and gently. After use, while it is… Read more

still hot I wipe down the milk frothing outlet with a wet cloth so I don't burn my fingers, turn the machine off, and then turn the dial to steam again and let it expel all the remaining steam and pressure. When it cools down, I empty the remaining water out of it. That way I know exactly how much water to put in it every time. You only have to measure that once. For the price it is incredible value, making coffee as good as some machines worth thousands of dollars.

This unit is value for it's price – This unit I discovered after purchase was not a 15 bar pressure but much lower. I use it regularly and its easy to operate and so far reliable. Downside is that the water tank is a bit small and not removable. The only thing that worries me is that the water tank really stinks of plastic. Phongs of plastic - which begs the question "Is it safe''.?

Steam driven coffee machine - not an espresso machine! – We have one of these at work, and nobody uses it except for me, because nobody understands how it is supposed to work. This is a steam driven coffee machine which uses steam pressure inside of a pressure vessel (boiler) to force water through the ground coffee, unlike true espresso machines which use a high pressure electric pump. The difference… Read more

in practice is that steam driven machines only produce around 3 bar of pressure, compared to about 9 bar of pressure produced by an electric pump machine ( they are advertised as 15 bar generally, but in practice do not reach this pressure at the portafilter). This all means that pressure is not high enough in steam driven machines to extract the oils and aromatics in the coffee needed to produce a true espresso. Instead, think something more akin to drip coffee produced by a drip machine. Strong, black but watery coffee with no crema and no thickness.

That all being said, it produces powerful steam, and you can make a reasonable cappucino if you use a quality brand of preground coffee (don't bother grinding your own, its not worth it with this machine). The machine itself seems fairly robust and well built, and only has one combined rotary switch to select steam output or grouphead output, so should be durable, and has proven to be in my experience. Not a bad little machine, just be aware that it is not a true espresso machine, and learn how to use it properly, and you will make coffee that is, at the very least, miles better than instant.

Similar but different – I had a similar experience with mine. I think there must have been a dodgy batch. Unfortunately, due to my cutting back on my coffee intake, mine lasted until it was just out of warranty. It had been a replacement for one which had lasted for years (a previous model, I think). I was frequently complimented on the fact I could make a better coffee… Read more

than most of the coffee outlets and most of those who had big, fancy automatic machines. We'd had one of those too but it was a failure. Still, even it produced a better result than most of the current crop of machines I've had the displeasure of experiencing.

Extremely Surprised! – At first I was sceptical as the price for the machine is extremely cheap, $79, compared to other machines retailing between $100 and $1,000+. However I decided to give it a try and I must say that I am extremely surprised. It brews exactly like the coffee I buy every morning on my way to work! Obviously it also depends on the type of coffee… Read more

beans you use as well but having said that, the beans I bought weren’t expensive, they were actually only $8.00 for a 250g bag of ground espresso. I use the Oxfam Organic World Blend Ground Espresso and find that it tastes delicious and is grounded perfectly to ensure the water filters through easily. Not only is it tasty and works well with the coffee machine but profits from the Oxfam Coffee go to a much needed cause in third world counties to help with poverty and other issues. Highly recommended!

It comes with a steam wand and milk jug so you’re able to heat and froth your milk for that barista-styled finish. The milk jug is a little small but you can just easily buy a larger one from almost any department store if you’re going to be brewing 2 or more cups of coffee at a time. I’m the only one using the machine in my house and find the milk jug a perfect size for 1 cup of coffee.

Lastly, it’s a smaller machine but I find it convenient as it’s easier to clean and fits anywhere in my kitchen. Also, I’ve read that the internal mechanisms inside the machine are far less complex than the expensive coffee machines so in theory I would assume that there are a lot less things that could break, which is definitely a good thing. I've only purchased this quite recently however reading previous reviews, the machine can last quite a while.

All in all, I am one very happy coffee addict and would happily purchase another in the future.

Basic, cheap and works perfectly - worth every cent – Bought this due to try to reduce my coffee bill but due to the price, had very low expectations. I have to say, after just under a year of daily use, this little machine is probably the best money I have ever spent. You will need to buy your own tamp and grinder and get your grind right for best results but once you do, you can honestly make cafe… Read more ·  1

quality coffee for a fraction of the price.

It's very 'manual' in its operation - no frills is probably the best description. I would estimate the cost of each coffee at less than 50 cents and its honestly really good once you master it.

I was willing to leave it out for recycling if it was rubbish and expected this would be the outcome (due to the price) but I couldn't live without it!

Downside: Its small, very manual operation, takes some practice to get a nice brew, no tamp included, small milk jug

Rated 5 stars due to the amazing value this machine offers Very cheap, works perfectly, saves you a fortune Small milk jug, no tamp included

Great little machine. 8,700 cups of coffee for $69 – This machine was marketed as a Breville 14 years ago. Kambrook for the last 2 or so years. We are on our forth machine now. They last between 2 to 3 years. Bloody good for $69. We take it on holiday with us, car or suitcase if interstate. It gets used at least 8 times a day on average. Minor leaks from steamer on 2 of the units, however, $69. If… Read more ·  5

you learn how to use it you can make great cappuccino, latte, flats, short black, whatever. We have friends that use pod machines at 50 cents a cup or $1200 units that last 5 years. Do the maths. As long as these units are made we will keep buying them. All units end the same way. Get up one morning and.........nothing. No power light. Finished. 8 times a day x 7= 56 x 52 weeks x 3 years.= 8,700 odd cups of coffee for me or 2 up (as we do) 17,400 with my wife. Cheap. Beyond satisfied. We have bought 5 of these units over the years as gifts for friends. All of them are still working. Eldest being 5 years old with irregular use. And Yes, we are coffee addicts. Does the job. No frills. Cheap to replace. For $69.....Nothing

Aluminium for a drinking water tank? – My KES110 has an aluminium heater tank. it has started oxidizing the aluminium producing aluminium oxide. The end product taste is vile The water comes out milky with the aluminium in it. This is a very serious health issue and also may account for the taste some have noted. There’s a reason that your electric jug is made from stainless steel… Read more

even though it costs more. It doesn't react with the oxygen atom in the water molecule (heat is a catalyst in the reaction, more heat, more conversion. Aluminium + oxygen + heat = Aluminium Oxide).

Aluminium is cheap. The same reason that lead was used years ago in paint, toothpaste, petrol, lipstick, and more.

How long are we going to let the big corporations/Chinese manufacturers bend us over? Till it kills us I guess.

Homer S

Aluminium water heater tank

Addition to my previous review here – I do not agree with [name removed] that coffee tastes awful, but I must add this extra info: after using the machine for approx 9 months it simply broke - it makes ~ 1/3 of the cup and then water steam spills out all over the machine. And if I use bigger coffee filter (the one for two cups) then it produces hardly any coffee at all. I think it… Read more

lost a seal or something. I replaced it at BigW with a new machine (they did not want to give me money back). Lets see how long this will run for.

Piece of junk – Only people who have never used an entry level espresso machine could drink the "coffee" this thing spits out and i mean spits. Experimented with fineness of grind on my Iberital conical burr machine, tried warming the filter cup first, trying to brew mid stream, following instructions to the letter and all the tips in other reviews...was a… Read more

painful experience trying to drink the results. Very hard to get any Crema. Awful extractions awful taste. Previously i was using the Aldi Lumina Espresso machine (with the very same batch of beans and beautiful results) which i loved but the switch died so looking for an equivalent replacement....this is not it. Only for the absolute novice who's never tasted anything but instant coffee. A $10 plunger is better. The milk frother can be made to do some sort of average job Too light to be used as an anchor. too awkward to be a paperweight.

Good little espresso maker,so far – Had this machine almost 2 months,use almost everyday,so far so good,when you get the hang of it you will be an expert barista.i do a blank run first before i put coffee in holder as water dosent come out boiling straight away,usually half a cup run thru first.this also makes sure its nice and clean from the last use.i usually get a bit of "crema"… Read more

on the top of my coffee as it comes out,which is good for a machine.Easy to clean,very good price,only drawback,it dosent hold enough water,only 500ml ,but its okay if your single. Cheap price,but still makes a quality espresso Water tank a bit small,only for one person at a time,maybe two

convenient expresso – Perfect little espresso maker, convenient and simple system. Frothing worked unusually well for an inexpensive machine. It also seemed to get full value out of the coffee to judge by the grounds after use. My only concern is that on a recent occasion when I emptied the boiler after use, the water was cloudy and the same colour as the boiler… Read more

liner. I have asked Kambrook what the liner coating is but still waiting for a response. It may be harmless but for now I will check out the similar Krups XP1020 (overseas only- Amazon but check voltage). I will stay with my old gas ring type espresso til I hear further. Mechanical simplicity and made excellent coffee plus froth Water in boiler was tainted same colour as boiler liner

It is our first cappucino machine and we are really happy with it – This is a quick and easy machine to operate. Lots of pressure for frothy milk and we only paid $52 for it at BigW. It is easy to clean. We find it really good for making one or two cups at a time. Havent tried to make more at one time. Quality seems good and most important makes a great cup of coffee inexpensive, easy to use, consistent results, great pressure for frothy milk

A surprising little beast! – The mechanism couldn't be simpler. There is no pump or thermoblock heater to fail. It is based on the original steam powered espresso machines with a pressure-cap filled boiler. This machine operates on considerably lower pressure than its more expensive counterparts and has only one moving part, namely the brew-standby-steam valve. A lot less to… Read more

go wrong than other types.

I have been playing around with it since this morning, making espresso and cappuccino. I need to perfect my grind and then I will get perfect coffees for me and mine. It was so much fun!

P.S. I have discovered three very important points to take note of to get the best out of this machine. Point One - a fine grind - if using ground coffee, buy only espresso grinds. If using beans the grinder must be set to espresso or ground until the grind is like fine beach sand but not like flour. It's all to do with surface area when extracting, so fine grinds give the water greater contact with the beans. Point Two - tamping the grindings in the filter basket. If too loose, the hot water will run through too fast to give a decent strength with no crema. If too tight, the water won't flow at all. Buy a decent tamper from a coffee supplies shop or make one out of a flattened soup spoon like I did. Point Three - do not allow steam through the filter basket or your shot will taste bitter and burned. Turn off the Brew switch as soon as your espresso shot is in the cup. You will need to experiment with all of the above but the end result is well worth it! Inexpensive. Compact. Easy to clean.

We really liked it every day for 365 days and then it stopped working – We used it every day, sometimes twice for 1 year. We got our $42 worth but it did stop working. We also had to clean the milk frother lots or it would get clogged. It was a great size for 2 coffees. Overall we did like it and would buy another but only if it was $40 or less as we feel it will not last. We have gone back to our oversized Delongi for now. Compact and quick coffee It broke after 1 year Show reply