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Many people give reasons you do not buy SAECO coffee machines

I love my coffee! I bought a Sunbeam manual machine about 4 years ago. Expensive at the time but the price has reduced dramatically. This time last year i decided it was time to upgrade to a fully automatic machine to my husbands horror. We looked around for a while, and could not get any information at all out of sales people.

In the end we were in Domayne and there was a woman there who was a sales rep for Saeco. She was fantastic. She showed us inside, she explained how it worked and she even made us a cup of coffee!

We were hooked. IT WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF OUR LIVES! We had so much trouble with it. We had to take it back to Saeco four times in four months because it was faulty. We had the manager come out to our house one more time, because we would not drive all the way back to the service centre. When asked why we had so much trouble with this fully automatic machine when we had absolutely no trouble with a little sunbeam...

"Well, you have to expect that it's going to have more trouble because it has more parts that can break."

What a pathetic answer! For $1500 you would think that SAECO would make one with parts that don't break!

We have not had any trouble since then, but my lesson to anyone out there: DO NOT BUY SAECO UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE! [Especially considering that we were not the only ones at the service centre wondering why our expensive machines were so prone to problems]

Posted: 12-Jan-2006 06:17

14th January 2006
Selby

My former boss had the same problem with her SAECO machine, i think they went thru 4 machines til they got one that worked. But i must say it is the easiest thing to 'fly' It performed brilliantly at a recent baby shower. But it does get temperamental around cleaning time. But i say again, very easy to use when it is working! Makes me the best milk frother in the world!

Posted: 14-Jan-2006 05:57

Extracted from: http://members.essentialbaby.com.au/index.php?showtopic=261960

micallep 27/08/2006, 09:24 PM
Advanced Member
Posts: 886

We have the Saeco Magic........it's easy to use but after 4.5 years we've just paid $150 to have the boiler replaced. Other's that we know who also have the Saeco have all had theirs repaired at least once.

boppie 28/08/2006, 07:19 AM
Advanced Member
Posts: 305 Post #10

This is a really good site for coffee lovers and their machines, ok so it's super nerdy and comes from an engineering point of view but it will give you an idea of the differences out there.

http://www.coffeeco.com.au/articles/july2002.html

The in-laws have 2 automatic Saecos (had them for 4 years) and they've broken down a number of times. Which has put me off them.

I have a DeLonghi currently, which was a wedding gift and we got it before I was enlightened. If I bought a new machine today it would be a Rancillio Silva for sure.

Extracted from: http://www.dtvforum.info/lofiversion/index.php/t34018.html

Peter1610Apr 23 2006, 06:48 PM

Hi all,

Please forgive me if the answer to this is elsewhere in another thread, I have looked but thought it might be better to just ask.

I love my coffee & have always wanted an Espresso Machine, sadly I could not afford a top of the line machine, but I resisted buying several of the cheaper versions that some of my friends had bought (& replaced numerous times), anyway I found a machine which was discounted & was very popular, they seemed to get sold out almost as quickly as they became available, anyway, I managed to get one. Unfortunately when it arrived I noted it had been made in China, so kinda expected it may burn out. Oddly enough, it contains various Italian made parts, so I hoped for the best. Unfortunately as I prepared for my morning coffee yesterday morning, I noticed the ready light was still on. I gave it a little longer & pushed the pump button only to end up with a cup of cold water. I am guessing the heating element has gone to espresso heaven. My question is, is it possible to replace the element unit with a good quality unit & maybe install a thermostat to avoid this happening again. I will see if I can return it under warranty (only a month old) (I just hope it will be), but I feel if it is done this once, it will do it again, so my quest is to build it better. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Peter.

JohnAApr 24 2006, 07:04 AM

sounds like your boiler is gone. Happened twice to my old saeco machine. It can be replaced and cost around $150 i think from memory

John_BarberApr 24 2006, 06:59 PM
QUOTE(Peter1610 @ Apr 23 2006, 06:48 PM)

Please forgive me if the answer to this is elsewhere in another thread, I have looked but thought it might be better to just ask.

Um, and pray tell, which section on a digital broadcasting forum would you expect to cover DIY maintenance on espresso machines ??

Seriously, good luck with the boiler thing, they worry me!... JB

Peter1610Apr 27 2006, 09:21 AM

Thank you John A, for your suggestion, I suspect you may be correct. I emailed the company I purchased it from & they are happy to refund the money, unfortunately they do not have any in stock to replace it. While I suspect it may happen again if I had been able to exchange it, I am more inclined to wave the warranty & replace faulty unit with a good quality boiler unit.

Thank you for your approximate price for the item, I guess now I have a better idea of any options. I guess I should or could just save for a mid range or top of the line model, but I am on a budget & struggling a bit now, so it is not really an option for now.

As I mentioned in the original post, it is actually built with many Italian parts, so I do not think I am far off having a half decent machine, the coffee it makes is fantastic, I have been using my plunger since it died & really miss the Espresso machine. It has a really good grinder attached to the unit & I have seen name brand grinders that would struggle to keep up, so just that in it is self is probably worth holding on to. Thank you again for your suggestion, I will make a few calls & see what I can find.

John Barber. Hmm well I guess you may have a point there, but that was exactly how I found the site. When I searched Espresso Machines & Parts, I arrived here (where there was some talk about various machines), so rather than try to find the further advice I required, I felt a direct approach may have been my best option.

I am big enough to accept I may have mistaken this website as being useful & supportive to new members & those requesting some assistance.

One of the few lessons I learnt in the last century was, “a man that never made a mistake, never made anything.

Oh, I guess while I am at it, He who asks a question is a fool for 5 minutes, he who does not ask is a fool for the rest of his life.

Thank you for your insightful advise, you are in deed a shining White & please forgive the spoonerism.

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to point out the errors of my ways.

JohnAApr 27 2006, 09:28 AM

The biggest problem with these auto machine (which i gather you have) is if they are not descaled as per instructions and on time, it voids warranty, and becomes an expensive repair job.

I use to descale mine all the time and still had 2 boiler failures.

The second time i took it back to saeco they told me that it was a common fault on these machines as they used plastic boilers. Have since upgraded to brass bilers on the newer models.

Yep, best be, ring the distributor or repair centre and get them to look at it for you.

What you have described though is the same as mine. Power light was on, but the temp light never came on. Tried pulling a shot and cold water came out.

The second time thogh i noticed a small leak, and again due to the boiler.

I have had enough now I will never buy another SAECO coffee machine