Philips Baristina Bean Swap BAR320/00 White + Milk Frother

I had the opportunity to test this machine, but I'm not convinced. It looks nice and isn't too big, so it fits easily in the kitchen. It's very intuitive, so you can get started right away. The coffee is nice and hot, and you can choose between lungo/espresso and even a special. The sound quality is really good! However, the machine frequently spilled ground coffee. There's a drip tray underneath, but it was also far off the mark and in my cup, which I'm not a fan of! If you're looking for it, it's because there's supposedly too much coffee in the piston, but I don't think there's any way to adjust that. You also have to clean it thoroughly. The piston is fairly easy to empty and rinse, but be sure to hold your hand underneath it because it does leak. You also have to check the machine itself, otherwise you'll find grounds in your cup. I'm also a bit skeptical about whether the separated beans are 100% effective, but perhaps they're not completely filling the cup. It's also a shame you can only make one cup at a time. I like to drink a large mug (don't get one that's too tall, as it gets a flying lesson when the piston pops back up – the instructions warn you about this!), but if you want two cups, you have to do the whole cleaning routine in between. I've also regularly had the piston not come out or not go back and forth. It could always be solved by turning the power off and back on, but it's definitely not practical. In short, I wouldn't recommend it.

I'm incredibly happy with my new Baristina. It's small, easy to use, and hassle-free to clean.

It's very convenient that you can use two different types of beans. In the morning, I need strong coffee, and in the afternoon, a lungo is sufficient. After use, I simply rinse the filter and that's it! Luckily, I don't need such a huge machine to make such good, tasty coffee.

I'm very pleased with the Baristina. It makes delicious coffee, isn't too noisy, and is easy to clean. No more mold in your brewing unit.

Compared to the previous (first) generation, Philips has apparently added a slider at the end of the grinding cycle. The grinder now continues to run for a while after all the beans have been ground. This ensures that the mechanism that moves the portafilter doesn't get dirty and therefore doesn't get blocked anymore. I've had the machine for a while now, and it seems to be working: I haven't had any blockages!