Avedon if only says:

The Bosch Benvenuto B30 is an OK espresso maker, although expensive, and is not a particularly good machine for cappucinos. I’ve owned a Saeco, a Jura and now the Bosch: the Saeco made the best coffee but only lasted two years: replaced with a Jura which drove me mad with its washing, rinsing, cleaning cycle requirements, but it made good espresso and cappucino: then I changed countries and voltages so I bought the Bosch in the USA. It too has an annoying rinsing cycle, but unlike the Jura doesn’t seem to rinse the coffee dispenser nozzles, which still drip dark coffee dregs after the rinsing cycle ends. And there doesn’t seem to be a way to remove the klunky aluminium nozzle housing to clean them, so I expect that one day they’ll clog and stay clogged. The steamer takes twenty/thirty seconds to produce steam, without a standby position for steam. (In other words, the steam wand is active as soon as the rotary switch is turned to steam symbol, which means dribbling water condensation before it finally produces steam). The rotary selector hot water position recommends the wand tip be uncovered to dispense hot water and to “foam” milk, but that the wand tip be covered (in the down) position to steam milk. I’ve tried both positions and found no difference in results. The handbook insists that the wand tip be dismantled (with a coin) every time it’s used and all parts be washed in a dishwasher, after running a thin wire through the nozzle to get rid of any encrusted milk. I don’t bother – I just run steam and water through the thing which seems to clean it OK, but wastes alot of water which is being expensively filtered by the recommended $30 filter which lasts eight weeks. The handbook warns that the Bosch can’t handle oily roasted coffee beans – which unfortunately are the type of beans I like. So I have to push the beans down the chute to the grinder or else they stay put on the gentle slope of the hopper. Having done all this, the amount of water for an espresso is pre-determined by Bosch, so if you want your coffee very short (like a Napoli barrista’s version) you’re out of luck. The machine cost $1,200 and it should be better, but it’s what I’ve got so I’ll live with it. But I wish I’d bought another Saeco instead. Even if it only lasts a couple of years, it’s worth it. The Italians know more about making great coffee than the Germans or the Swiss.
Rating: 3 / 5

M. Lott says:

I researched espresso makers and purchased the Benvenuto 30 over a year ago. Like with many products, I was full of glee by the simple format change. So here it is, a year and 2 months later and I am still enjoying this purchase. There was the initial getting to know how to achieve my preferred ratio of espresso:steamed milk, but once that was discovered, the Benvenuto 30 has been delivering that perfect l-ahhhhhh-tte every time, ever since. I now find that when I am in town, I drive on by Starbucks or Seattle’s best, etc. Now, some reckon that the water reservoir is not big enough. This is not a problem that interferes with my routine. Perhaps these sweet people are making more single cups of coffee than I do — which by the way, big Ben makes quite nicely as well. The only drawback that I see, is the length of time required to run the cleaning and descaling cycles… But cleaning and descaling can be done when it is convenient to your schedule. You do have to hang around during cleaning and descaling for a few prompts to empty the trays or add a tablet. —minor points – ’cause it’s nice it cleans itself.

Summing up….Big Ben is worth the $$. It’s been 15 months. If we keep going like this, Big Ben will definitely pay for himself.
Rating: 5 / 5