“I want to start this review off by giving praise where it's due - to Cliff & Pebble! When I purchased my machine, they were there every step of the way (even when they were in Italy for a week!) I emailed for support and I got an answer back usually within an hour, sometimes less!
Not only that, but they are the only coffee retailer that I found that offered the most convenient payment options (namely, Klarna) - PLUS they give you a 10% discount when getting a machine and grinder together. SUPER CLUTCH! Last but not least, their shipping time was FAST. Considering you're ordering a 60lb machine, you'd think shipping would be slow - but that wasn't the case. I got my machine in a very timely manner.
Great service, great selection, great store!
------- Moving on to reviewing my Rocket Giotto.
This thing is a BEAST! It's absolutely beautiful, for one, but then it's also built very well. Super sturdy and just FEELS premium. It's also very heavy, which again speaks to the build quality of this thing.
As my first espresso machine it definitely does have its learning curves - but that's expected of course, especially for a beginner, like myself. It has a shot timer, a PID temp control for the boiler, a steam pressure gauge and a boiler pressure gauge - so you know how well you're dialing in your shots.
The machine comes with a water reservoir built in that's easy to change and isn't super loud. It also lets you steam your milk and pull a shot at the same time (though, I'm admittedly not at that level yet, lol).
If you're in the market and have a budget for a great prosumer machine, Rocket is a great way to go if you want a great machine that is built to last! With a 3 year warranty that is offered through Cliff & Pebble, you know that it'll definitely be worth it. Starbucks hasn't been on my mind since! :)”
“Had a tough time deciding between the Giotto and Mozzafiato, but glad I went with this guy. This shape is beautiful and crafted well. Boiler heats up quickly, great steaming power, and the subtle shot timer is a nice feature. Consistent shots with this guy.”
“This is a huge step up from my old Breville Infuser which recently stopped working. I really like the level of control this allows. Shot quality has been very consistent, which I struggled with before. I am a little concerned by the instructions to never descale the machine, and don't want to have to periodically send it in for that.”
“Wow! It's absolutely beautiful and performs just as well! What a difference from my last one. The espresso is top quality and delicious. It only took me a couple of days to dial it in just right! One of my favorite things is the quality of the milk frother! I like it hot, and I get to do it my way! The milk texture comes out just perfect! There are a couple of things that I liked better on my old machine, so here are just a couple of cons. You have to pull out the the whole machine to fill up the water, there is no water supply indicator (just a light that lights up when it needs to be filled) and it will only take a very small cup under the brewhead! Other than that, LOVE IT!”
