I Tried a $140 Espresso Machine that Pulls Creamy Shots and Is Slimmer Than a Blender

9.0 / 10 SCORE Casabrews CM5418 $140 at Amazon Pros Intuitive operation Quality of espresso and foam Weighted portafilter Narrow size fits in small spaces Price Variety of colors Cons Toggling between steam and coffee operation Lightweight scoop/tamp In testing espresso machines to find the best in class, we found that a really good model will cost north of $400. We found a serviceable budget pick at a fraction of that cost, but it still requires a good deal of kitchen real estate. As an apartment dweller with limited counter space, I was eager to try the Casabrews CM5418, a diminutive espresso machine crafted by coffee enthusiasts and available for under $150. If the economy has you down and you're hoping to blunt your coffee shop spending by making espresso drinks at home, here's everything you need to know about the $140 Casabrews before buying. The $140 Casabrews is slimmer than most blenders. Pamela Vachon/CNET Casabrews CM5418 at a glance Style: Semiautomatic espresso ... Read full article.