Having a cup of coffee in the morning is a great way to start your day. On top of boosting your energy levels, having coffee can also help to improve your focus and concentration, and can also increase your metabolic rate. However, the price for coffee has reached an all time high due to extreme climate changes (which have affected all coffee producers worldwide) and also due to inflation, with a single cup of coffee now costing around $4.90 (a 7.6% increase from 2021) according to a recent Business Insider article. As such, if you’re someone who enjoys having coffee daily, then buying an espresso machine would be a great investment. By having your own espresso machine at home, not only will you save money on coffee and avoid having to commute to coffee shops, but you’ll also be able to have a cup of joe whenever you want. So, if you’re looking for an espresso machine for your home, then check out the iLavie K2 Espresso & Cappuccino Machine (CM5060).
The iLavie K2 is a high-end espresso and cappuccino coffee machine powered by a 20 bar pump, a 1350W steam heating system, and an intelligent temperature control system, making it capable of quickly and efficiently brewing and extracting barista-quality coffee at a high-pressure and at 197°F with great flavor and a rich crema, while also featuring a commercial-grade 360-degree rotating steam wand that lets you froth milk at 212°F for a foam with a super creamy texture, a medium 1L (33.81 fl.oz.) removable water tank, a portafilter with a spoon and tamper for getting the optimal amount of coffee powder, both a single-cup and double-cup filters for extracting less or more coffee, and also a removable drip tray that allows you to use a larger cup, while also ensuring an easy cleaning. The machine also integrates an intuitive control panel equipped with simple button controls that make it easy to select between a single cup, double cup, and steam functions, plus a built-in steam control knob that lets you adjust the amount of steam from its milk frother.
This state-of-the-art espresso and cappuccino machine is great for home brewing your own cups of coffee, as it can extract rich and perfectly balanced espresso shots every single time. Not only can you use it to brew espresso, but also to make a barista-quality cappuccino, a latte, a flat white, or even a macchiato, all at a fraction of the typical cost, right from the comfort of your home.
Now, let’s have a closer look at the iLavie K2 (CM5060), and go over everything that this high-end espresso and cappuccino coffee machine has to offer you.
DESIGN & SPECS
Starting with the machine’s size, the iLavie K2 comes at a sleek and rather compact size, measuring just 11.4 inches long by 5 inches wide by 11.6 inches tall, so it won’t take practically any space within your countertop.
On top of its compact size, this espresso and cappuccino machine also sports a beautiful modern design, which gives it a lavish and stylish look, allowing it to seamlessly blend in with your kitchenware.
Moreover, the machine also packs a very durable construction, as its main body and also most of its parts are built of high-quality stainless steel.
Moving on to the different components that integrate this high-end espresso and cappuccino machine. For brewing its espresso coffee, the iLavie K2 utilizes a 20 bar pump to draw water from its water tank, starting with a low pressure pre-infusion that helps to precisely drawn out all the flavors from your coffee powder for achieving a great and balanced flavor and a rich crema. The water is then drawn at a high-pressure of 20 bar and heated by a powerful 1350W steam heating system integrated with a thermoelectric coil, which allows for a very quick and super-efficient brewing of the coffee.
Note that the machine’s 1350W steam heating system only takes between 25 to 45 seconds to preheat its thermoelectric coil.
What’s more is that the iLavie K2 also features an intelligent temperature control system integrated with two independent thermostat controls which ensure that both its coffee and milk are extracted at the most suitable temperature respectively in order to ensure that you can get the best possible flavor extraction for your coffee, and a smooth and creamy texture for the milk.
The top-side of the machine also comes equipped with a cup-heating plate that’s directly heated by the machines steam heating system, which can hold and warm up two coffee cups at the same time, and keep your cups warm to ensure you get the best coffee flavor.
In addition, the iLavie K2 also comes equipped with a built-in a commercial-grade rotating steam wand equipped with a large 0.4″ diameter nozzle, which uses steam to frothe milk, allowing you to serve a barista-quality foam that has a super smooth, velvety, and really creamy texture that’ll further enhance the flavor of your coffee.
The machine’s steam wand can be rotated within a 360-degrees radius, meaning you can have it set in the position that better suits you, especially if you want to make some latte art.
When it comes to the machine’s heating temperatures, know that its steam heating system brews coffee at 197°F (91.66°C) to ensure a great and balanced flavor, while its commercial-grade steam wand heats up and froths milk at 212°F (100°C), allowing it to create a foam with a super-soft and creamy texture.
For storing its water, this espresso and cappuccino machine comes equipped with a medium removable water tank that has a total capacity of 1L (33.81 fl.oz.). The machine’s water tank also features a MIN and a MAX water lines, making it easy for users to fill it up and also to view its current water level.
Furthermore, the iLavie K2 also comes together with a portafilter and a tamper that allow you to get the optimal amount of coffee powder when you’re looking to brew some fresh espresso coffee, along with a single-cup filter and a double-cup filter that you can use for respectively extracting less or more coffee in your espresso shots.
Not only that, but the machine also comes equipped with a removable drip tray that allows you to use a larger cup, while also allowing for an easy maintenance of the machine, as removing it makes it easier for you to clean its base when necessary.
Lastly, regarding its power specifications, note that this espresso and cappuccino machine is rated to have a Voltage of 120V at 60HZ.
INTERFACE / CONTROL PANEL
For controlling the machine, the iLavie K2 comes equipped with a built-in control panel that features a simple user interface, making it easy and straightforward to use.
The machine’s control panel integrates a set of three (x3) button controls which are marked with intuitive symbols, consisting of a Single Cup and Double Cup buttons that allows users to serve either a one shot or two shot espresso (or two one-shot espressos at the same time), followed by a Steam button for activating the machine’s steam function in case you’d like to add some milk to your coffee for a more creamy texture and some extra flavor.
Integrated at the right-side of the machine, there’s also a built-in steam control knob that lets you easily adjust the amount of steam its steam wand utilizes, allowing you to froth milk to your preferred texture.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
Inside each package users will find: their iLavie K2 Espresso and Cappuccino Machine (CM5060), along with the machine’s removable 1L (33.81 fl.oz.) watertank, a portafilter, a tamper and a measure spoon, one (x1) single-cup filter and one (x1) double-cup filter, a stainless steel milk foam cup, and also a User Manual.
FINAL THOUGHTS
You can bet that this is a high-quality espresso and cappuccino machine, as it is capable of very efficiently extracting coffee with a rich flavor every time. With it, you can easily create delicious cups of espresso, cappuccino, and other barista-quality milky coffee beverages right from the comfort of your home. The machine is also easy to operate, and is also easy to clean thanks to its stainless steel construction and its removable parts.
If you’re interested in purchasing it, know that each unit is currently discounted from its standard price of $269.99, and is now going for just $169.99 (saving you $100), and each purchase also comes accompanied by a 12-Month Warranty. You can order it online from iLavie’s Amazon Store page.
