Wirsh 20-Bar-Espressomaschine | Home Barista Plus mit Manometer und Dampflanze

Wirsh,

Thanks for all your help with my new espresso machine. When a part needed fixing, you replaced the entire machine at no cost. You really went above and beyond. Thanks for everything!

Wirsh Home Barista Plus.
I bought this machine after looking at a De'longhi machine and realizing that the Wirsh machine had better specs, was ALL metal, and cost less! I couldn't have been more right. I've owned this machine since Christmas and use it 3x per day! It's a fantastic machine!

Upgrades:
Don't forget to upgrade to a bottomless portafilter and get their 30lb spring tamper. I also got their stainless steel frothing pitcher too.

and now, I'm making cafe-grade espresso at home now!

Buy it! Buy it! Buy it!

Having used & absolutely loved the older model of Wirsh’s compact espresso machine which I ended up gifting to my cousin, I decided to buy the new model when I moved apartments.

Practicing barista skills at home since a few years now and Wirsh has been a solid driver to up my coffee game.

Below is my take on this machine from a snob’s pov. If you aren’t one, GO BUY THIS MACHINE, you’ll love it.

If you are a snob, I will try to list the differences with the older model with pros & cons that I think could help my fellow home baristas make a wise choice.

Pros:
1. A upgraded 20 bar pump with a pressure gauge to assist for that perfect espresso extraction

2. The stainless steel design with a touch screen panel gives an ultra premium look to this machine. It was instantly noticed by friends who came over.

3. Times between espresso extraction and steam preheat is almost under 10 seconds which is a HUGE improvement since I don’t have to wait for 30 seconds to get the steam pumping out of the wand.

4. Steam wand although looks sleek but is powerful enough to create a whirlpool for about 200-250ml milk in the pitcher.

5. Although minor but the steam/water knob has a rubber grip and feels great to control.

6. Anti slippery suction knobs to keep the machine in position while locking & unlocking the portafilter

7. Portafilter is redesigned to give a more professional look.

8. Water dispersion from shower screen is even which gives a good body to the espresso extraction process.

9. Tamper is now a solid metal spoon with a heavy base instead of a plastic one which can easily de shape after some months of use.

10. The portafilter basket now comes with a max indicator which the older model missed making the judgement relatively easier.

Cons:
1. The portafilter feels lighter than previous model and I wish it was more sturdier like before.

2. The maximum angle of steam wand could have been more obtuse. A restricted steam wand angle could need more hands on experience for swirling the milk for latte art. Does that mean it is bad? NOT AT ALL; I was able to get a decent latte art using the existing maximum angle of the steam wand.

3. The spoon size of the tamper is smaller. This is subjective and is not a deal breaker. I used the spoon to carve melon balls for my cocktail … lol.

4. The max indicator on the portafilter could be deceiving as I was having some trouble locking it in when filled up to the max indicator.

So far this has been a great espresso machine wrt quality, looks & price. Better coffee beverages is more savings by avoiding trips to cafes!

I asked a question on the forum, that doesn’t appear on the list but I got an answer over the email. I was asking for a gasket replacement for the group head, and they answered that unfortunately the machine is discontinued, the very same one that appears on the website as “BEST SELLER”. I keep seeing recent reviews from the machine that is “discontinued”, really?

I'm not new to brewing espresso, but needed a new machine. When I saw the $2500 and up price tags for the medium level machines, I thought perhaps those machines went to buyers who cancelled Starbuck's and used the money they saved to buy those coffee makers.

I have used the Wirsh CM1665 B for about 3 months, with excellent results. The reviewers who say that the Wirsh machine has no heat adjustment are wrong. You can raise or lower the water up to 2 degrees C up or down, in two step of 1 degree each.

The three temps in the manual are exactly accurate by my own measurement, However, with the instant-on and aluminum hardware, you MUST pre-heat the machine and portafilter with blank shots for about 20 seconds to achieve these temperatures.

It's basic but mostly steel. The cold water tank is plastic and the heating block is aluminum. The brew head (where hot water meets the coffee) and the included standard portafilter handle/basket are entirely stainless steel and aluminum, meaning there is no plastic inside the actual extraction zone, It comes with a usable steel tamper on the one end of a stem and a 5 gm spoon on the other.

The 2 cup basket does not hold 18 gms of grounds. I bought a 51mm bottomless basket that does works with up to 18 gms and a compatible bottomless portafilter, both of which make it easier to see the coffee as it comes from the machine. You can also see all your mistakes (AI on the net can help you solve them).

But bare bones otherwise. Get your own scale, tamper, leveler, and a grinder. I chose the best-in-class from different manufacturers. The grinder is the most important (perhaps more so than the machine), as it will enable you to create finer or courser grinds for different roasts of beans.

This CM 1665 B does everything I've asked it to do. if you grind correctly and follow puck technique, you'll get a wonder cup of java.