CAFELAT ROBOT REVIEW: THE BEST LEVER ESPRESSO MACHINE?

The Cafelat Robot is a serious espresso maker wrapped in a cute package at a great price!

The Cafelat Robot manual espresso maker stands out from the crowd thanks to its quirky science fiction design, but I’m more interested in the quality of its espresso and how it compares to the competition. So, I bought and tested a Robot to discover exactly that. 

Dozens of shots later, I’m here to give you my unbiased opinion of this clever little device. I’ll cover not only espresso quality but also durability, value for money, and the overall user experience.

Long story short: I’m impressed.

The Full Cafelat Robot Review

A manual lever espresso machine like the Cafelat Robot is the best way to brew top-of-the-line espresso at home without dropping thousands of dollars (1). It does away with any extraneous parts – like a boiler, pump, milk steaming system, and electronic controls – so you’re only paying for what you need to make great espresso.

Hong Kong-based Cafelat was founded in 2008 by longtime espresso expert Paul Pratt. The Robot launched with a Kickstarter campaign in 2018 to considerable acclaim and has since become the brand’s flagship product (2).

What makes this little machine so beloved by novices and coffee nerds alike? That’s what I set out to discover for myself, and now I’m here to share it with you. Read on for the details.

How I Rated It

• Brewing Capability
• User-Friendliness
• Coffee Flavor
• Build Quality
• Value for Money

4.1

• see on eight ounce

How The Cafelat Robot Espresso Machine Works

The operation of the Robot is unique, even compared to other manual espresso machines (3). It centers on the portafilter and filter basket, which acts as the brewing chamber. This is why the walls of the filter basket are so tall.

Let me start by walking you through how to pull a shot:

1. Place the filter basket in the portafilter.
2. Add finely ground coffee and tamp. 
3. Place the dispersion screen on top of the puck of coffee and add near-boiling water. 
4. Lift the lever arms and lock in the portafilter. Make sure you have a waiting espresso cup.
5. Press the arms down firmly and smoothly to pull the shot.

If you’re wary about the idea of maneuvering a portafilter full of hot water into an espresso machine, I felt the same way. But it’s easier than it sounds, and you’ll master it quickly.

The Advantage Of Low Thermal Mass

Thermal mass tends to be a challenging aspect of the workflow for machines without boilers and heating elements to keep everything toasty. If your hot espresso comes in contact with a heavy piece of cold steel, it will inevitably lose some of its heat – not a good thing.

This is where the Robot shines compared to many competitors. The bottomless portafilter and filter basket have very low thermal mass, so I usually didn’t have to preheat them before making espresso. Skipping this step makes for a much more efficient workflow.

There are two exceptions. One, if you want to use the double spout rather than the bottomless portafilter, I’d recommend soaking it in hot water first, as it’s much weightier. Two, if you’re brewing very light roasts, which extract better at slightly higher temperatures, it pays to heat everything in advance.

Standard-Size Baskets

I appreciate that Pratt opted for the industry-standard 58 mm filter basket diameter, something many of his competitors overlooked. It makes it easier to mimic commercial recipes and purchase accessories like dosing cups, tampers, and funnels. 

The stainless steel baskets that come with the Robot are unusually deep, but I actually found that convenient for dosing. It was way easier to add grounds without spilling or to grind directly into the basket without making a mess of my counter.

Impressively Little Cleaning And Maintenance Required

Cleaning and maintaining the Robot is a piece of cake compared to an automatic espresso machine.

After brewing, slowly press the levers down to get the rest of the water out of the basket. Remove the dispersion screen, then knock the puck into your knock box or garbage. It should pop out cleanly. Lastly, wipe off the machine’s base and the bottom of the piston. 

There is no maintenance to speak of as the design is so simple and the components so well made. This is in stark contrast to electric machines with groups and boilers, where you need to worry about backflushing and managing scale build-up.

Does The Robot Make Good Espresso?

The Cafelat Robot is capable of incredible espresso – on par with espresso machines many times its price. 

I don’t just mean you’ll have to push the levers, although that is also true. I mean, you’ll have to practice your workflow and dial in your shot. This machine does very little for you. But if you enjoy the hobby of espresso and appreciate having total control over every aspect of the process, I’m confident you’ll find that learning curve to be part of the fun. I certainly did! 

Optimizing Your Shots

The basket holds between about 10 and 20 grams of coffee so that you can pull a single or double shot (4). But keep in mind that the more coffee you pack in, the harder it is to press the levers manually.

You can (and should) monitor the pressure using the attached pressure gauge – assuming you have the Cafelat Robot Barista version. There is a model without a pressure gauge if you want to save some cash, but I think it’s a worthwhile splurge.

One of the coolest things about manual lever machines is that you can experiment with pressure profiling (5). By adjusting the pressure applied during pre-infusion and while pulling the shot, you can coax different flavors out of your coffee (6).

A Fun, Funky, And Slightly Impractical Design

You can’t talk about the Cafelat Robot espresso maker without talking about its unique and playful look, which results from Cafelat’s collaboration with Danish artist and designer Karina Mencke (7). It has a vintage science fiction feel that is totally in keeping with its name. 

Aesthetics are entirely a matter of personal taste. It’s up to you whether you think the design of the Robot will fit nicely in your kitchen. To help on that front, it comes in a series of fun colors: vibrant blue, bold red, muted cream, or the trendy retro green. It’s no longer offered in plain polished aluminum, but you can still find some of these older models in good working order if that’s your look.

Some Design Quirks

There are a few minor design quirks that I wouldn’t mind seeing addressed in future iterations. 

For one, the area at the base between the two support legs is relatively narrow, making it nearly impossible to squeeze in a scale. I like to brew espresso by weight, especially while dialing in a new machine, and I know a lot of espresso lovers feel the same way.

For two, it would be nice to see an adjustment to the shape of the Robot’s “hands.” Pulling a shot requires a bit of muscle, and the wrench-shaped hands aren’t doing you any favors. They’re not particularly comfortable to hold while trying to exert a lot of force. According to the company, they were precision machined to hold the tamper, not a barista’s hand — arguably a strange choice. 

This is such a common complaint that Cafelat now sells a set of aluminum “mittens” that slot over the wrenches to make them more comfortable. This is a clever solution, but the mittens should be included with the purchase rather than sold separately.

A final minor complaint is that the position and angle of the pressure gauge mean that it can be challenging to see as you’re pulling a shot. It would be nice to make its angle adjustable so you’re not craning your neck to view the gauge. 

Built To Last

The Cafelat Robot is very durable, with few components and little to go wrong. Each Robot is hand-built and thoroughly tested before it leaves the factory.

The base and body are made from die-cast aluminum, which feels sturdy while not being quite as weighty as stainless steel. The remaining parts — the portafilter, filter basket, dispersion screen, and lever arms — are all stainless steel. This machine contains no plastic and has very few breakable parts.

The only fragile material is the silicone used for the drip mat on the base, the gasket, and the piston seal. The gasket and seal will likely need replacement eventually, but backups are provided with your purchase.

The Screen

The dispersion screen is another possible fault point, as it can bend or warp if not treated carefully. In 2021, Cafelat added a small rubber tip that is supposed to prevent bending, but I still suggest treating the screen as the most delicate part of the whole operation. Fortunately, if you do damage your screen, they’re sold individually and are inexpensive to replace.

The Portafilter

The portafilter is the commercial standard 58 mm diameter and comes with a single-wall basket. So you’ll need a decent espresso grinder to pull quality shots. Alternatively, Cafelat sells pressurized filter baskets suitable for pre-ground coffee, but your shots won’t reach their full potential.

I was happy to find my Robot came with a nice heavy metal tamper. Not only does it add value for money, but it’s perfectly crafted to work with the unique extra-deep baskets.

Is The Cafelat Robot Good Value For Money?

The Cafelat Robot is excellent value for money if your priority is espresso quality. It can pull a shot of espresso that rivals machines many times its cost. On the other hand, if you value ease of use, automatic features, or milk frothing, your money will be better spent elsewhere.

In general, one thing that makes manual espresso makers such great value is that little can break. Not only is the Robot inexpensive to begin with compared to an electric machine, but it should also last much longer and require no expensive service.

Do Not Buy the Cafelat Robot If…

• You like milky drinks: You can pair your Robot with a separate milk frother, but if you love a morning latte, you’re probably better off spending a bit more money for something with a steam wand. If you’re committed to the lever style, the La Pavoni Europiccola and Professional are absolute classics. If you’re willing to consider an automatic home espresso machine, I can’t say enough good things about the Breville Bambino Plus, which is only a tad more expensive than the Robot.

• You want something more portable: The Cafelat Robot doesn’t require a power source, making it technically a portable espresso maker. But it certainly hasn’t been designed for that option. The Flair Pro, on the other hand, was built with portability in mind. It disassembles quickly and is even sold with a nice little carrying case. We compared both coffee makers in this post: Cafelat Robot vs Flair espresso maker.
  
  If you’re looking for something even more travel-friendly – for a camping or hiking trip, for example – I think Wacaco is the best brand in the space. Check out the Wacaco Nanopresso or Picopresso.

• You want something less expensive: If you’re on a tight budget, the ROK EspressoGC is substantially cheaper than the Robot – just over half its cost. Its design is a bit less refined, and it lacks a pressure gauge. But its operation is very similar, and it’s capable of pulling real espresso shots at 9 bar.

The Verdict

I thoroughly enjoyed my time testing the Cafelat Robot, and I’ve been enthusiastically recommending it to my espresso geek friends. Sure, a manual coffee maker takes a little more hands-on attention, but I loved the intimate control I had over every extraction condition. Once I had my workflow dialed in, I was enjoying consistently delicious espresso shots – from a machine that costs well under $500. 

see on eight ounce coffee