Saeco S-PTP Primea Touch Plus Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
by Saeco
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: SaecoBrand: Saeco
Release Date: 2006-11-01
Model: S-PTP
Color: Silver/Graphite
Product features:
- Super-automatic espresso machine with fully programmable features, accessed through large color touch screen; program all of your machine's features and cutomize up to six coffee drinks
- Touch2Cappuccino feature prepares two cappucinnos with just one touch; the built-in Cappuccinatore froths perfect foam instantly
- Saeco Brewing System allows for a choice in strength and consistency of coffee with the turn of a dial
- Built in ceramic disc grinder providing even, consistant grind every time
- Other features include 62oz. Removable water tank, 10oz Bean hopper, Aqua Prima water filter system, temperature control, removable brew group, cup warming surface, motorized adjustable drip tray and sliding wheel base
- Hoover FloorMate Spinscrub 800 Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner with Tools, H3060
- Saeco GT-1 Titan Conical Burr Grinder
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Saeco S-PTP Primea Touch Plus Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
Customer Review: Jura is Junk -- read about the Primea
Summary: 5 Stars
Positive Product Points
It's like a vending machine for your home or office. The Primea Touch Plus has many new features, never seen before on any SuperAutomatic espresso machine. The Primea Touch plus is considered an Ultra-Automatic rather than a Super-Automatic. The Color Touch Screen is an industry first, as is the One Touch up and down, motor-driven drip beverage plate. The coolest feature are the one-touch cappuccino, latte, and espresso macchiato features. Easy to use and program. Most of my guests say that the Primea looks like it is ready for take-off in the house, citing that it's appearance is spaceship-like. It comes with four COLOR manuals, a thick recipe book, and an easy to watch DVD to get started right away. I think it looks gorgeous in any operating environment! This machines gives Jura/Capresso a real run for the money!
Negative Product Points
While the Primea Touch Plus has many positive features, like any high-end product, it is not without drawbacks. Most buyers will wish the price would be lower; however, with as many technical innovations and features, the price is somewhat justified. I wish the machine had an all metal body; however, the machine already weighs almost 40 lbs by itself, with a composite body. The Cup Warmer gets very hot, so make sure not to make contact with it after thirty minutes or so. Drip Tray is on the smallish side; however for hermitic reasons, it is important to keep the brewing compartment clean.
Detailed Commentary
The Saeco Primea Touch Plus is by a long-shot (no pun intended), the most innovative and futuristic products ever produced by Saeco. The avant-garde looks and stylish color user interface simply illuminate your whole java experience.
It is easy to use! The color touch screen really simplifies daily operation. It is very clear and precise, easy to read, and of course, informative. You simply press an icon on the screen and you get what you want. If you want a cappuccino, press cappuccino and that's what comes out. You can program all of the icons to make your favorite beverage. You can adjust for milk & froth volume, coffee strength and coffee volume. It is truly simple to master the art of espresso, or at least master your favorite beverage with the Primea. One touch operation! It couldn't be more elementary.
I will first explain the individual features below, then proceed to discuss how wonderful the Primea actually is in terms of simplicity and making delicious coffee....
Warm up is a real breeze. Simply Press the "ok" icon on the color touch-screen to begin your experience, waking the machine from stand-by mode. The machine is ready to rock-and-roll in well under a minute, thanks to the upgraded stainless steel dual boiler system!
With Primea, the Power Switch is obsolete! I suggest leaving the machine powered on all the time. Instead of using the power button for on and off purposes, simply power it up unless you plan to leave the machine dormant for a few days or so. The Primea Touch Plus has sophisticated electronics inside which save energy when the machine is not being used. The Primea simply goes into "Stand-by" mode. The boilers power down when the machine is on stan-by therefore the machine is using hardly any power at all. The screen will dim when the machine is in stand-by mode; however, don't be concerned, LCD touch-screen is absolutely safe to leave on consistently. The modern technologies that are used to implement such technology allow for extreme longevity of the screen. The software built into the primea allows the machine to wake promptly from stand-by. You can program the machine to go into stand-by mode after a set amount of time has elapsed (15 minutes to 3 hours!).
Set some cups on the cup warming surface. The cup warmer on the Primea Touch Plus gets so very hot! Wonderful for preheating your cups (set them upside-down on it). Be warned though, that the surface does get hot enough to burn you. This is the hottest cup warming surface I have ever used on an espresso machine. It's purpose is obvious and it works! Cup warmer can be programmed to be on or off (depending on stand-by).
Have your hopper full of beans! It will hold enough beans to last a couple of weeks. The bean hopper has a unique seal around the cover, such that when closed, it provides a secure seal to insure your beans remain fresh during their brief stay in the hopper. When the hopper door is opened, a message appears on the screen to warn you. The machine will also warn you when it is time to add more beans to the hopper. The hopper lid is unique in that it is spring loaded and "glides" open gracefully when you press the button to open the door. Hopper also contains the Pre-ground dose, which has been artistically machined into the Saeco logo atop the machine. The aromatic smell of fresh-brewed coffee emanates from the pre-ground doser.
64 oz Water tank is no slouch. The Primea holds alot of water, it's like the water-buffalo of espresso machines. The water tank is kept hidden on the left side of the machine in an easily removable compartment. The machine will tell you when it is time to add more water.
Aqua Prima filtration system. The machine includes one Saeco Aqua Primea Filter which aids in the removal of harmful deposits and scale that build-up over time inside your machine. You will really want to protect your investment by using the Aqua Prima filter. The replacement filters are not expensive and they provide matchless protection against contamination inside your machine. Besides, you want the water infused with your beans to be of the highest quality for the best enjoyment of your beverage. The only caveat here is that you MUST prime the machine, prior to installing the prima filter. Priming your machine is basically allowing water to pass through all pipes and circuits in your machine prior to first use. The primea will do this automatically for you; however, do NOT install the filter before allowing the machine to fully prime itself. When you decide to install the cartridge (easily done with included tool), simply enter the menu and "Activate" your Aqua Prima Filter. In doing so, the machine will prime all circuits again and prime the Aqua Prima Filter.
About Ceramic Grinders. These are the latest innovation patented by Saeco. What makes the Ceramic Disc grinder so great? Consistency! Unlike conical burr grinders, found in most super-automatic espresso machines, the actual grind is consistent, which means all the flakes produced during the grinding process are the same size which allow for the most enjoyable cup of espresso/coffee from any machine! Ceramic Grinders are quiet and very durable. Extremely easy to clean and maintain, it will outlast your new BMW.
For bean selection, try to choose beans that are not oily. Oily beans mean more routine maintenance. What are oily beans? 4bucks (you know the company), has an espresso roast that is a royal example of what not to use in an espresso machine. If you can run your hands through the beans and oils remain on your fingers, they are far too oily for use in your machine. Try to choose beans that are of GOOD quality, meaning all of the oils have not been leached outside of the bean (where the flavor is). Beans that are not over roasted are divine. There are a vast number of options in the land of good beans! Lavazza has a large variety of inexpensive, tasty selections! Generally, the less expensive the bean, the lower the quality. Compare this to buying cheap gas for your car. Your machine will run better by selecting a good bag of beans :-)
The Dregs Drawer - the spent portions of coffee. The Primea has a neat compartment on the right side of the machine that contains the spent portions of coffee. Think of it as an espresso machine trash can. This only needs to be emptied after you make 24 drinks with the Primea. It has an absolutely large dump box. I recommend placing a folded paper towel at the bottom of the dump box to absorb the water from the spent portions (or "pucks"), this way when you empty it, they fly out into the trash can and don't leave a watery mess behind. The machine will display a message when it is time for the dregs drawer to be emptied.
Cleaning and Rinsing Cycles are built-in. Just as you perform the milk rinsing/cleaning cycle as mentioned below, the primea has a built-in rinsing cycle that activates upon warm-up to flush all residual coffee out of the circuit and warm the internal circuits for brewing. A few ounces of water will flow from the machine when it awakes from stand-by. The machine also has a cleaning cycle for the coffee "department" whereby you can use a cleaning tablet to remove residual oils from the brew group and internal circuits. You can do this any time you desire, through the maintenance menu.
Removable Brew Group versus Internal Brew Group,... One principal comparison factor for the Saeco machines in contrast to a Jura / Capresso machine is the brew group. On the Saeco, you can easily remove the brew group (Stored behind a door on the machine) for easy weekly rinsing. You can lubricate the moving parts of the removable Saeco brew groups easily and this should be done about once every two months or so. With an internal brew group, you can not remove it for cleaning and you can not lubricate the moving parts. You must send it in for repair (which is common amongst Jura machines). Removable Brew Groups tend to be the deciding factor for many folks when considering which machine to buy. Perhaps you may agree that it is easier and far more productive (and cost effective) to clean and maintain your brew group at home. It takes only a few moments and prevents build-up of coffee debris. You should see what the inside of a Jura looks like after a year! You want to avoid sending your product for service and with a Jura / Capresso, sending your product in for service is sure expectation. Yes, Jura/Capresso can clean itself; however, the Primea cleans itself in multiple ways through automatic rinsing and cleaning programs AND you have the OPTION to clean the brew group by rinsing at the sink in concert with the automatic programs. Automatic and Manual Options are always better than only automatic options. This makes the Saeco product the clear champion in terms of reliability and service life.
Milk Cartridges? Yes, it includes two milk cartridges. Forget siphoning milk from a tube or using a steam wand, You simply keep one cartridge for milk and one for rinsing. Fill the cartridge that has the cappuccinatore in it, with milk (it's obvious which one that is). Fill the secondary cartridge with water, to be used during the milk circuit rinsing cycle. The machine will tell you when it wants to clean the milk circuit (generally after twenty minutes of use) and it is paramount that you allow it to clean itself. Milk goes bad really easy, and the Primea has many breakthrough technologies that you will not find on a Jura/Capresso model. It uses nano-technology to keep the milk circuit sanitary. Cleaning the milk circuit could not be easier, simply insert the water cartridge when asked to perform the rinse. The color touch-screen will walk you through the entire process, to ensure you do not get perplexed in the process. The key word here is "EASY"! Every fourteen days or so, the machine will ask you to perform the milk "Cleaning Cycle," this is different from the "rinsing cycle" in that it fully automates the hermetic cleaning process of the entire milk lining system inside the machine. Simply insert a cleaning tablet (included with the machine and easy to reorder), in the milk cartridge (the one with the cappuccinatore) and follow the on-screen instructions. I make it sound much more complex than it really is, believe me.
What's Neat?
The LED Lighted Beverage Tray illuminates your beverages. While it's not intended to brew in the dark, you can. The Primea will light up the whole front side, which adds to the elegance of an already alluring product.
The Beverage Tray is Motorized! While not revolutionary, it is certainly a welcome advance of engineering. You can use a travel mug or a shot glass, size doesn't matter as the Primea is capable of accommodating an espresso demitasse or something you would take with you in the car. Adjusting the motorized beverage tray could not be more simple either! Just a light touch of the front of the drip tray moves it up or down!
Cafe Del Mondo! (Cafe of the World) There is unique little Italian cafe built right into the software of your Primea, you can make a true Italia Ristretto, Cappuccino, and many other delicious recipes directly from Cafe Del Mondo menu. It's like ordering right off of a menu. Just choose the one you want.
SBS Brew System. The Saeco Brew System allows you to control the volume of water that passes through your shot, right at the head! You can restrain the water output by simply during a dial, awesome for espresso and paramount for ristretto. Increase the volume by turning the dial to the left, for an American style coffee. Most users will leave this dial right in the center.
Quality of the parts and durability....The primea has been tried and true in europe for a couple years now. The product that we are getting in the United States is the most updated, recent revisions of the product, not a first-run product launch. What's the point? The machine has been tested, tested and tested again for absolute perfection so that is just what you get when you buy a Primea Touch Plus. It's an all-in-one coffee shop in box. The Primea uses the most durable and heavy-duty "j" style stainless-steel boilers matched with heavily lined, commercial quality tubes and internal componentry. Though Primea is expensive, alot of thought, design and ingenuity went into the production of this product. In short, you really are getting what you are paying for. Only the heaviest, most substantial parts went into this product and Saeco stands by it with a full two year warranty to back it up. Due to it's extremely high level of preceision and quality, you will likely never need to send it in for repair. DO make sure that you are following the instructions however. Make sure that you perform the simple descaling cycle when the machine tells you to. Make sure that you perform the cleaning cycles as mentioned in the book, and as the machine instructs you to do so. Properly maintaining this product will allow you to enjoy years of high quality espresso beverages and coffee drinks. It is not uncommon for Saeco SuperAutomatics to last for a decade, granted the maintenance is carried out routinely... and maintenance is so simple and brisk paced! This goes for any product, take care of it and it will take care of you :-)
The Primea includes an accessory kit in the box called "Caffeeling" which contains thick color manuals and a large recipe book, which elegantly explains the world of coffee. This machine is for the true coffee connoisseur. Watch the DVD that is included in the box to further understand your machine better. It is about thirty minutes in duration, but it will allow you to master the Primea without having to reach out to the user manuals. It is so simple to use, you'll be like a kid at Christmas upon opening the box.
For more information view saeco primea [...]
Sorry for the long commentary, I just tend to get excited over the Primea. I have really enjoyed mine ever since I have had the opportunity to own one. Please direct any questions to me, I am glad to provide any answers or respond to any comments you may have, [...]
Buying Experience
I own a coffee company and this review is by no means a ploy for advertisement. This is simply my review of my personal selection for a home espresso machine product. Please do not consider this review as an attempt to bring potential buyers to our website. I think the Primea Touch Plus is an excellent option for many people no matter where it is purchased.
Description of Saeco S-PTP Primea Touch Plus Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
Primea Touch Plus is the perfect machine for the high end consumer who is looking for not only the perfect cup of coffee, but also to make a bold and impressive statement about their lifestyle. With unrivaled style and innovation, the Touch Plus is a machine that will turn heads. Features on this machine include: patented technology that allows you to brew two cappuccinos simultaneously simply by touching an icon; a fully integrated milk container and frother; nanotechnology, which ensures that the milk inside the machine does not adhere to any of the internal components; push button cleaning cycles that remove any milk that may be left in the machine after frothing or steaming; easily adjustable drip tray; color touch screen display that makes the operation of the machine easy and completely user friendly; each of the 6 drink icons can be programmed for milk and coffee dispensing to customize each drink. Primea Touch Plus was created as a joint effort between BMW Group Design Works USA and Saeco International Group.Espresso Machines
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