I used to work at Starbucks. So while I don't know what it's like to compete for best barista titles, I do know what bad quality espresso/coffee can be. So far I've used dark french roast type beans as well as a dark medium roast type. When adjusted for grind level (feature availabe on the espresso machine itself), the espresso is fantastic! I also loved its simplicity of options for an Americano (espresso + custom amount of water selected via the app), a "MyCup" which allowed me to choose 2 espresso shots and hot water. There's a second spout that can deliver hot water as well as steam milk. I found the steamer to be just as good as the several thousand dollar espresso machines available. There is a waste dispenser as well as a magnetic drip tray that make disposal and clean up easy. My suggestion is to keep a rag on top of the drip tray to not only keep it clean but also to keep the stainless steel free of scratches.I do wonder how long it will last as the machines make a lot of noise when making the transition from espresso to hot water/steam. I bought the extra warranty to account for that potential failure. This may not be an accurate critique 5-7 years from now but I don't want to chance it as this seems to be the first semi automatic espresso machine offered by the GE Cafe line. I also think that this has a little bit of a learning curve that Nespresso or Keurig machines just don't have. It's hard to beat the simplicity of dropping in a pod versus more control but I would welcome anybody who is used to those machines to try a semi automatic or a regular espresso machine. They'll find that there's more control over flavor, and the actual character of their coffee.Overall, I think this was a great purchase for me. Flavor and quality control but the reduced cost of not having to buy Nespresso pods every month was worth it. If you're wondering the cost breakdown when comparing the repeated purchase of pods versus switching to this? It's about 15 months for a break even point.