Reviews Philips Saeco HD8833/47 Syntia Automatic Espresso Machine

I have had my Philips Saeco HD8833/47 Syntia machine for over 4 years. During that time, I have found it to be very reliable- consistently producing good quality coffee with ease. Since the machine is relatively small in size, it does not hold a massive quantity of beans, the water tank does have to be filled often (but it is very easy to fill), and the waste bucket needs to be emptied after 4-5 uses (easy to dump).

In particular, the Saeco HD8833/47 Syntia machine produces coffee not only with consistent flavor, but also with an excellent crema- a hallmark of good coffee making! I have been drinking espresso for a long time and I appreciate a well-balanced, properly extracted, silky crema and rich cup of gold. This machine is quick and consistent with every cup.

Reviews Philips Saeco RI9737/20 Vienna Plus Automatic Espresso Machine

Compared this Philips Saeco RI9737/20 Vienna Plus with my Gaggia Classic semi-automatic and also the Espressione and was unable to tell the difference once adjusted properly. There are two controls on the Saeco that would apply to coffee strength. One is for adjusting the grind which does, of course, affect strength.

After setting the Saeco RI9737/20 grind back to #10, I went up two clicks towards positive on the strength dial, and found that setting to make the perfect espresso (for our tastes), matching the Gaggia Classic perfectly using a Rocky Rancillio grinder. Lot's of crema, but remember the type of coffee used can affect the amount of crema anyway.