Quick Mill Rubino: Pull Espresso Shots Like The Pros

The Quick Mill Rubino is a prosumer espresso machine with a heat-exchange boiler, top-of-the-line construction quality, and a massive water reservoir packed in a compact body. Just like a professional model, it lets you brew and steam simultaneously without losing pressure. 

As we tested the Quick Mill Rubino, we found it to be precise and easy to use. Read this Quick Mill Rubino review and discover if this device can take your coffee obsession to the next level.

Summary: The Quick Mill Rubino

• Heat-exchange espresso machine with 1.8-L boiler
  
• E61 group head and vibration pump
  
• Compact stainless steel build

I have had the Rubino for the last 3 years, and still rocking like new. Great machine! Plenty of steam power and great espresso shots!

– Customer review

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Quick Mill Rubino Review

We’re no strangers to Quick Mill espresso machines; this Italian brand is committed to delivering the best coffee extraction in an attractive and user-friendly design. What exactly makes the Quick Mill Rubino 0981 stand out? Learn more below.

How We Rated It

• Brewing Capacity
• User Friendliness
• Milk Frothing
• Build Quality
• Cleaning and Maintenance

4.2

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Brewing Capacity – 4.5/5

Brewing capacity is where the Rubino excels. Featuring a powerful 1500-watt heating element, the Quick Mill Rubino heats quickly and has great pressure stability. The heating element is higher than many other espresso machines. So it brings the machine to temperature fast and helps recover quickly, which is useful when making several drinks in succession.

It has a 1.8-L copper heat-exchange boiler, allowing you to brew and steam simultaneously. Compared with stainless steel boilers, copper has better thermal properties, so the boiler easily and quickly reaches optimal temperature after brewing (again, great for brewing several shots) (1). On the other hand, copper is more prone to scale build-up and is less durable than stainless steel. 

The boiler is paired with a vibration pump with a pulsar. The vibration pump pulsar ensures excellent pressure stability, comparable to more expensive rotary pumps. This produces a more consistent extraction, though it will still be louder than a rotary pump.

Any Other Notable Features?

The Quick Mill Rubino espresso machine has an E61 group head. Originating in 1961, this group head remained the industry standard for decades because it maintains good temperature stability (2). 

What We Didn’t Like

We deducted some points from the Rubino’s brewing capacity because it lacks PID temperature control. A PID controller monitors the water temperature and adjusts to ensure the machine stays at the set temperature (3). In other words, espresso machines with PID controllers have fewer temperature fluctuations.

That being said, PID isn’t strictly necessary on a heat exchanger machine and would drive the price up. You can manage the temperature through cooling flushes.

User Friendliness – 4/5

The Quick Mill Rubino is a semi-automatic espresso machine, so a learning curve is inevitable. You’ll need to learn how to make a good puck and run cooling flushes. Still, this machine is user-friendly.

To use the Rubino, remove the cup warmer on the top and fill the 3-L water tank. Activate the brew group by lifting the lever so the boiler fills before applying heat. The machine is ready to use once the red light switches off and the boiler pressure gauge is over 1 bar.

Overall, we liked the indicator lights. You’ll quickly get used to how Rubino operates even without them, but they are a nice touch that lets you know the machine’s status. The steam pressure gauge is helpful for the same reason, though it would be nice to have a brew pressure gauge as well.

The water tank’s magnetic low water sensor is a user-friendly feature. An alarm sounds when the water tank is empty, and the magnetic sensor cuts power to the heating circuit to prevent damage to the machine. Plus, there’s nothing more annoying than running out of water while pulling a shot. 

Another nice touch is the new stainless steel cup warmer, which fits one or two cups. While we’d like to see a larger one, this strikes a nice balance with keeping the machine compact.

Milk Frothing – 4/5

Like on the Pippa model, milk frothing on the Rubino works very well. It has good frothing power that can move the milk nicely, taking about 30 seconds to froth milk for a latte. This may be a compact machine, but the large-capacity steam boiler ensures excellent steam pressure. 

To use the steam wand:

1. Turn on the pump and wait until the heating light switches off
2. Check that the pressure indicator on the boiler gauge is over 0.8 bars. 
3. Open the steam valve and discharge a little steam into the drip tray to purge the wand.
4. Immerse the wand in the milk and turn the knob. Once your milk reaches the desired temperature, close the knob. 
5. Discharge some steam after using the wand to clean the spray holes.

Great news for Americano lovers — there’s also a separate hot water wand. You operate both the steam wand and the hot water tap using knobs, which are handy for easing the steam on and off.

Build Quality – 4.5/5

Quick Mill machines are manufactured in Northern Italy. The brand has been successfully making espresso machines for over 70 years, so you can be sure you’re getting the finest Italian engineering. 

The Rubino measures 10.4” x 17.7” x 14.4”, which is compact enough to fit on most kitchen counters. Keep in mind, you store the cups on top to be preheated. Plus, you must remove the cup warmer to refill the tank, so make sure you have enough vertical space.

The build is mirror-finish stainless steel, so the Rubino looks modern and elegant and will elevate your kitchen decor. There is also a sleek all-black option, the Quick Mill Rubino Black. The build is durable and easy to clean. That being said, treat the mirror finish with care. You don’t have to tiptoe around the machine, but it tends to show scratches more than brushed stainless steel. 

The accessories include single and double filter baskets (both 58 mm commercial grade) and a 58 mm tamper. Rubino also gets extra points for the beautiful wooden tamper handle, demonstrating the manufacturer’s thought of the minor details.

Cleaning and Maintenance – 4/5

The Quick Mill Rubino has a removable drip tray, water reservoir, and portafilter, so the cleaning process is easy. Rinse them with water or mild soap if there’s a lot of coffee residue.

It would be best to do a machine backflush about once a week using the included blind filter. This removes coffee oils and build-up in the group head (4). You also have to clean the steam wand after each use. Purge the remaining milk from the wand and wipe it clean with a damp cloth. Occasionally soak the steam wand in a wand cleaner to ensure the milk remains don’t curdle. 

Do Not Buy The Quick Mill Rubino if…

• You don’t make many milky drinks — If lattes and cappuccinos aren’t your things, consider Quick Mill Alexia Evo. This single boiler design can’t brew and steam simultaneously, but it’s less expensive, more compact, AND has a PID temperature controller.
• You want a brew pressure gauge — The Quick Mill Rubino espresso machine is equipped with a steam pressure gauge only. If you’re a serious espresso lover, you probably also want to monitor brew pressure. In this case, the Quick Mill Anita is the machine for you. It has dual pressure gauges, though the trade-off is a slightly smaller boiler.

The Verdict

The Quick Mill Rubino coffee machine provides good value for money, thanks to exceptional build quality and brewing performance. Details like a commercial-grade group and portafilter, a vibration pump with pulsar, and a large water reservoir make this compact design a great choice for any serious espresso enthusiast. We were impressed with the balance between price and features.

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