Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker: A Professional-Grade Machine for Home Baristas

Published on Jan. 25, 2024, 10:39 a.m.

A Brief History of Coffee and Espresso

Coffee, one of the world’s most beloved beverages, has a rich history that dates back to the 15th century in Yemen. It quickly spread throughout the Middle East and into Europe, where the cafe culture flourished. The invention of the espresso machine in early 20th century Italy revolutionized coffee culture, introducing the world to concentrated coffee that forms the base of many popular drinks today. Espresso, characterized by its rich flavor and creamy foam known as ‘crema,’ has since become a symbol of Italian craftsmanship and culinary delight.

For coffee lovers who want to brew bold, rich espresso drinks at home without breaking the bank, the Kwister CM1687 is an ideal choice. This versatile espresso machine packs professional-level pressure, precise temperature control, and easy milk frothing into a streamlined design made for home kitchens. Read on for a detailed review of the CM1687’s stand-out features, performance, and value.

Overview and Brand

The Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker is a testament to Kwister’s commitment to bringing professional-grade coffee technology into the home. This machine combines a sleek, compact design with powerful features like a 20 bar pressure pump and PID temperature control, making it ideal for any coffee enthusiast looking to replicate a café-quality espresso in the comfort of their own kitchen. Kwister, known for integrating functional design with user-friendly technology, ensures that each espresso shot is both delicious and consistent.

Key Features

20 Bar Golden Extraction Pressure: Ensures optimal extraction, unlocking the full flavor of your coffee beans.
NTC Thermostatic Control System: Precisely controls water temperature for a perfect brew every time.
Powerful Steam Control: 360° rotating stainless steel steam wand for effortless milk frothing.
TFT Touch Screen Operation: Stylish and convenient, waterproof and dustproof.
Customizable Espresso Volume: Single, double, or manual control for personalized coffee strength.
Warming Cup Function: Keeps your coffee warm for an enhanced drinking experience.

Design: A Fusion of Professionalism and Home Convenience

The Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker boasts a sleek black exterior with stainless steel accents, creating a modern yet timeless aesthetic. Its commercial-style portafilter and intuitive touchscreen panel exude a professional feel, while still being user-friendly for home baristas. The compact 12.2” x 10.4” footprint saves valuable counter space, making it a perfect fit for any kitchen.

Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker

Ease of Use: Crafting Cafe-Quality Drinks with Ease

The Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker is designed to empower anyone to become a home barista. With preset one and two shot volumes, push-button steaming, and automatic tamping, it simplifies the brewing process, allowing even beginners to effortlessly create cafe-quality espresso drinks. Simply add your grounds, lock the portafilter, and select your desired brew volume. Additionally, removable parts like the drip tray and steam wand make cleaning a breeze, so you can focus on enjoying your coffee.

Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker

Brewing: A Professional Espresso Experience

The Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker is engineered for brewing authentic espresso. Its powerful 20 bar pressure pump ensures optimal extraction, maximizing the release of aromas and flavors from your coffee beans, resulting in a rich, full-bodied espresso. Notably, the CM1687 is not compatible with coffee pods or capsules, a deliberate choice to ensure you experience the purest, most unadulterated flavor from your coffee beans.

Coffee Quality:

The high-end pressure and precision temperature control in the Kwister CM1687 allow it to consistently produce espresso shots that are not only rich in flavor but also visually appealing with a thick, creamy crema on top. This is crucial for espresso lovers who appreciate both taste and aesthetics in their coffee.

Understanding Espresso Machine Features

When choosing an espresso machine, understanding certain key features can significantly impact your buying decision and coffee experience. The Kwister CM1687 boasts a “20 bar pressure” pump, essential for extracting the full flavor from coffee beans, allowing it to achieve a coffee shop level espresso shot. This pressure refers to the force used to push water through the coffee grounds, and higher pressures generally lead to better extraction of flavors.

Furthermore, “PID temperature control” is another sophisticated feature that helps maintain consistent water temperature during the brewing process, ensuring each cup of coffee is brewed to perfection. This is particularly important because minor variations in brewing temperature can lead to noticeable differences in taste.

Another notable feature is the machine’s ability to “customize shot volumes.” This allows users to adjust the amount of espresso extracted, making it easy to cater to personal preferences, whether you like a strong short shot or a milder, larger one.

Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker

Mastering Temperature with NTC Technology

Temperature plays a pivotal role in coffee brewing, and the Kwister CM1687’s NTC temperature control system ensures that the machine consistently hits the golden range for espresso (197℉ for brewing and 248℉ for steaming). This precision prevents the under-extraction or burning of coffee, thereby ensuring each cup is as flavorful as one made by a professional barista.

20 Bar Golden Extraction Pressure: Unleashing Coffee’s Essence

The Kwister CM1687 is equipped with a professional 20 bar pressure pump, a key component in crafting exceptional espresso. High-pressure extraction maximizes the release of oils, aromas, and flavor compounds from the coffee beans, resulting in a rich, full-bodied taste. Additionally, the high pressure creates a layer of fine crema, the hallmark of Italian espresso, which not only enhances the coffee’s appearance but also locks in its aroma.

TFT Touch Screen Operation: Smart and Convenient at Your Fingertips

The Kwister CM1687 features a stylish TFT touch screen that is not only easy to use but also waterproof, dustproof, and fingerprint-resistant, making it a breeze to clean. The intuitive touch screen interface allows you to easily select your coffee type, adjust coffee volume, and access other functions.

Customizable Espresso Volume: Personalized to Your Taste

The Kwister CM1687 empowers you to tailor your espresso volume to your liking. You can choose from preset single or double espresso shots or use the manual control button to fine-tune the coffee volume, creating a cup that perfectly matches your taste preferences.

Warming Cup Function: Enhancing Your Coffee Experience

To ensure you enjoy the best possible coffee flavor, the Kwister CM1687 includes a thoughtful cup warming function. Simply place your coffee cups on the warming zone on top of the machine to preheat them, preventing your coffee from cooling down too quickly when poured into a cold cup.

Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker

Milk Frothing: 360° Swiveling Freedom for Your Creations

The Kwister CM1687 is equipped with a 360° swiveling stainless steel steam wand, allowing you to effortlessly froth milk to perfection. The stainless steel construction ensures durability and easy cleaning. You can control the texture and temperature of the milk foam by adjusting the angle and depth of the steam wand, making it suitable for various coffee drinks. Whether you prefer a dense cappuccino foam or a velvety latte microfoam, the Kwister CM1687 has you covered.

Water Capacity: Meeting the Needs of Homes and Offices

The Kwister CM1687 features a generous 50oz (approximately 1.5 liters) removable water tank, allowing you to brew multiple cups of coffee without the need for frequent refills. This is particularly convenient for home use or small offices, as it eliminates the need to interrupt your coffee-making process and ensures that everyone can enjoy their coffee simultaneously.

Child Lock Function: Prioritizing Safety

With family safety in mind, the Kwister CM1687 includes a child lock function. When activated, the machine’s buttons are locked, preventing children from accidentally operating it and ensuring a safer environment for your home.

Removable Drip Tray: Easy Cleaning and Flexible Use

The Kwister CM1687’s drip tray is designed to be removable, making daily cleaning a breeze. Additionally, the drip tray is height-adjustable, allowing you to accommodate different cup sizes or even remove it entirely to fit larger mugs or travel cups.

Automatic Shut-Off Function: Energy Efficiency

To conserve energy, the Kwister CM1687 features an automatic shut-off function. If the machine is left idle for 25 minutes, it will automatically power down, eliminating the worry of forgetting to turn it off and wasting electricity.

Innovations:

The use of PID temperature control and a high-precision 20 bar pump at this affordable price point makes the Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker stand out.

Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker

Added Features:

The warming tray keeps cups hot for serving. Other handy features include a cup height adjuster and detachable drip tray.

Noise Level: Relatively Quiet, Won’t Disrupt Daily Life

The Kwister CM1687 operates at a noise level comparable to most pump-driven espresso machines. While there is some noise during coffee extraction, it is generally not disruptive to daily life. If you are particularly sensitive to noise, you can use the machine at a slight distance.

Safety:

The Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker is ETL approved meeting North American safety standards. All parts touching water or coffee are BPA/BPS-free.

Power:

Its 950W power rating, 120V voltage, and included 39” cord can handle most home kitchen outlets. An automatic shut-off helps prevent accidents.

Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker

Cleaning:

The stainless steel construction is built to last and simple to clean. The steam wand, portafilter, and drip tray are conveniently removable for washing.

Maintenance: Prolonging Lifespan, Preserving Coffee Quality

Regular maintenance is crucial for ensuring the long-term performance and optimal coffee quality of your Kwister CM1687. It is recommended to clean the steam wand, portafilter, and drip tray regularly to prevent coffee residue from affecting the taste. Additionally, periodic descaling, depending on usage frequency, can effectively prevent limescale buildup and extend the machine’s lifespan. The Kwister CM1687 user manual provides detailed maintenance instructions to keep your machine in top condition.

Use Cases:

The Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker is ideal for home brewing of espresso-based drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and more. It has the power and precision to craft café-quality beverages in your own kitchen. The large water tank and warming tray make it easy to serve multiple drinks in one session.

User Feedback Analysis:

Overall, customer reviews indicate high satisfaction with the Kwister CM1687 espresso maker. The vast majority of users praise its performance, ease of use, and quality for the price.

In terms of performance, many reviewers say the Kwister CM1687 espresso maker brews incredibly rich, flavorful espresso with excellent crema. They note the 20 bar pressure extracts bold, aromatic shots, while the precise temperature control delivers consistent results. Users also rave about the steam wand’s ability to froth milk into silky, microfoam perfection for latte art worthy drinks.

Regarding ease of use, customers find the touchscreen interface intuitive and appreciate the convenience of features like the large 50oz tank that allows brewing multiple drinks before refilling. They describe the machine as easy to operate and maintain thanks to removable parts like the drip tray and steam wand.

As for quality and value, users overwhelmingly agree the Kwister CM1687 espresso maker punches far above its weight given its sub-$100 price point. They are impressed with the commercial-grade components like the 20 bar pump and PID heating system at this affordable cost. Many say it rivals much pricier machines.

In terms of downsides, a few users report some leakage issues, though this appears to be uncommon. Some note the frother could be hotter. But overall, the vast majority of reviews indicate customers are highly impressed with the Kwister CM1687 espresso maker’s brewing prowess, convenience, sleek design, and outstanding value. It earns consistently positive feedback as a high-performing home espresso machine with professional quality at an accessible price point.

Pros:

Excellent 20 bar pressure
Precise temperature control
Creates velvety, latte art-worthy microfoam
Large capacity 50oz water tank
Sleek, well-built construction
Intuitive touchscreen operation
Great value for the price

Cons:

Some reports of leakage
Frother could be hotter according to a few users

Value:

With commercial-level pressure and temperature precision, plus convenient features like the large tank and warming tray, the Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker punches far above its weight class. For under $100, it’s hard to beat the performance this machine delivers for brewing quality espresso drinks at home. The Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker provides exceptional value.

Conclusion

With its 20 bar pump, PID temperature control, adjustable shot volumes, and easy milk frothing, the Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker packs phenomenal performance into a quality yet affordable home espresso machine. For hobbyist baristas, it’s a top choice that elevates everyday coffee routines.

Kwister CM1687 20 Bar Espresso Coffee Maker