ROCKET ESPRESSO APPARTAMENTO REVIEW: CHECK OUT THE NEW TCA!

The new Rocket Appartamento TCA takes this already popular espresso machine to the next level!

I first reviewed the Rocket Espresso Appartamento espresso machine nearly five years ago, and I loved most things about it. It was as beautiful, compact, and high-performance as promised. But it felt a little overpriced, a little imperfect – like it was benefiting from the emerging hype around prosumer espresso gear.

Fast forward to 2024 and the release of the new Rocket Appartamento TCA. It feels like high time to revisit this machine and its update for a fresh review. Read on for my thoughts on the Appartamento TCA and how it compares to the original.

A Full Review Of The Rocket Appartamento 

The Rocket Appartamento is a relatively new addition to the Rocket Espresso line, released in 2016 to immediate fanfare. As it turns out, there’s a hot market for a stylish prosumer-grade espresso machine with a compact footprint. No surprise, given how many of us live in smaller homes without much counter space (1).

The TCA model released this year represents the first substantial upgrade to the original. Previous changes were largely aesthetic. This Rocket Appartamento review will start with the key differences in the latest model. For now, both versions are still available, so I’ll help you decide which, if either, is right for you.

How We Rated It

• Brewing Capability
• User-Friendliness
• Milk Frothing
• Build Quality
• Value For Money

4.2

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Appartamento Vs Appartamento TCA

The key difference between the Appartamento and Appartamento TCA is the Temperature Control Adjustment that lends the latter its name. I’ll talk much more about that below, but first, here’s a quick summary of what else is new.

Many of the changes are aesthetic. The TCA is a fantastic looking machine. To my eye, it looks sleeker and more premium overall. 

It adds a large Rocket logo running down the back of the machine and rounder knobs for the steam and hot water wands adorned with soft-touch grips. They’ve also added soft-touch rubber to the E61 lever and portafilter handle. Instead of metal rails around the cup warming tray up top, the TCA simply extends the side panels up to form an enclosure, which I think is a much cleaner look. Even the E61 has been refashioned with a more angular front.

The side panels on the TCA are thicker, which makes this machine noticably quieter. It also updates the look as the circular cut-outs on the side are more recessed.

Lastly, the TCA features an ECO mode that allows you to put your machine into standby without fully powering down (2). In my experience, the heat-up time out of standby is at least 10 minutes faster than heating from cold. 

Defining Features: Boiler, Pump, And Group Head

The Rocket Appartamento is technically the brand’s entry-level model, as the smallest and least expensive option, but don’t let that fool you into thinking this isn’t a high-end piece of equipment. Its quality and consistency are a massive step up from the typical appliance-style home espresso machine.

This machine was designed to be ultra-compact, hence the name Appartamento. It was built for apartment dwellers with limited counter space. That said, I was surprised by how few sacrifices Rocket designers made to achieve the machine’s slender footprint.

The Rocket Appartamento TCA features the exact same 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and vibratory pump as the larger and more expensive Cronometro Type V models. The Appartamento’s boiler is almost identical, but it isn’t insulated, so it’s a bit less energy-efficient.

Both versions of the Appartamento feature the classic thermosiphon E61 group head found on the rest of Rocket’s models — and indeed on most prosumer and many commercial espresso machines (3). They come standard with Rocket’s innovative dual pre-infusion system, a mechanical system that uses a progressively working piston and static pre-infusion chamber to improve puck saturation and espresso flavor.

The pressure gauge on the front panel monitors boiler pressure but not extraction pressure. This was a common complaint about the original Appartamento, and I’m a little disappointed to see it wasn’t addressed with the TCA.

Temperature Control Adjustment

The biggest change to the TCA model is the Temperature Control Adjustment that gives it its name. To me, it seems to offer kind of an unusual compromise between having a PID and not. It essentially allows you to adjust the boiler pressure to one of four settings using the E61 lever, providing an extra degree of temperature control and stability versus the older pressure stat model.

Personally, I’m not sure I’m sold on the system. Anyone with experience using a heat-exchanger machine already knows how to adjust the temperature using cooling flushes, so the TCA adds cost and complexity without adding a ton of additional control. On the other hand, for less experienced users, the ease of use may appeal.

What’s It Like To Use The Rocket Appartamento?

Any prosumer espresso machine feels a bit intimidating if you’re upgrading for the first time – the Appartamento included. You can’t just push a button for a shot of high-quality espresso, but that’s part of the appeal. 

Heat exchanger boilers can be particularly tricky, as it takes some time to learn how to use cooling flushes to manage temperature. This is one aspect where the TCA simplifies the user experience, especially if you’re new to making espresso at home. It feels more intuitive to set the boiler pressure.

In either case, the Rocket Appartamento has a relatively short learning curve that anyone can master. I made what I consider to be good coffee on the first attempt, and I was pulling great espresso shots after a few days of experimentation.

How long does it take the Appartamento to heat up?

Thanks to its compact design, it warms up relatively quickly. I like to give it about 20 minutes to ensure temperature stability, but you could probably push it to 15 minutes in a pinch. I know that sounds long compared to the 30-second heat-up time of most thermoblock machines. But trust me, it’s worth the wait. 

The top of the machine acts as a cup warmer, so the 20-minute warm-up time is an excellent chance to get your mugs toasty while you wait.

Using The E61 Lever

As with all E61 machines, you use the small lever on the side of the group to start and stop the shot as well as control pre-infusion. I much prefer the tactile experience of the lever compared to push-button machines, and getting to manage pre-infusion timing is a huge benefit.

The TCA model is unique because the E61 lever is also used to control the temperature settings. From the outset, Rocket’s brand ethos has been to prioritize clean and classic design, so they avoid modern additions like digital controls and displays. While I can’t fault the aesthetic, it does complicate using the machine. 

Setting the temperature involves switching the Appartamento on and off, toggling the lever up and down, and watching for various indicator light colors and blinks. I won’t walk you through the details here, but I definitely suggest keeping the manual handy for the first few weeks – and maybe watching some YouTube videos. 

Cleaning And Maintenance

The Appartamento requires the same basic maintenance as any E61 machine. Use filtered water to avoid the need to descale, keep the seals and gaskets lubricated, and backflush regularly. The Appartamento is sold with a supply of cleaning tablets, a blind basket, and a set of instructions, and your best bet is to use them as prescribed.

One thing worth keeping in mind is that the Appartamento’s compact design makes it more difficult to service yourself. It’s pretty cramped inside. If things go wrong, I suggest hiring a technician with experience with these models or sending it back to your dealer for repairs.

Luckily, there isn’t much to go wrong. Heat exchanger espresso machines tend to be more reliable than double boilers. And the E61 brew head is so common that it’s easy to find skilled technicians and spare parts should you have a problem.

Frothing And Steaming Remains Excellent

In my original review, I described the milk frothing on the Rocket Appartamento as “excellent,” and that remains unchanged. Because it has the same boiler as the larger Cronometro models, it has the same steam power, which is a welcome surprise from its small frame. 

The TCA model improves the experience further by allowing you more control over boiler pressure. You can set it to Low (0.9 bar), Med (1 bar), High (1.1 bar), and Very High (1.2 bar).

Steam pressure is controlled by the iconic R knob, making it easy to dial on and off. The steam wand comes standard with a two-hole tip, which I think is nicely balanced with the pressure, but you can easily swap it for something more or less intense.

Using the 2-hole tip and the High setting, it took me less than 30 seconds to steam milk for a latte, essentially the same time it takes to pull a shot.

Both the steam wand and the hot water wand are fully articulated, making them easy to position in any milk pitcher size. And both use double-wall designs (aka no burn), so their exterior barely gets hot to the touch. You should still steer clear of the steam tip, though.

Build Quality And Longevity

The Appartamento uses the same components as the higher-end Evoluzione line, including the copper boiler, stainless steel casing, magnetic drip tray, and 58mm commercial-grade portafilters. 

It even comes with an aluminum tamper, a satisfying step up from the useless plastic tampers typically included with entry-level models.

How long does the Rocket Appartamento last?

As long as you treat your Rocket Espresso machine well, it should last at least a decade. That’s the perk of a prosumer machine with commercial-grade components. Most people I know who bought the first Appartamentos in 2016 are either still using them or were able to resell them when they wanted to upgrade. 

Rocket Takes Aesthetics Seriously, And You Should Too

Rocket espresso machines are all gorgeous. If I’m being completely honest, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend a Rocket if you don’t care about aesthetics, because you’re definitely paying a premium for its good looks (4).

This machine’s stand-out design feature is the unique laser cut-outs on the side, which you won’t find on any other Rocket models. They immediately identify it as the Appartamento. The circular cut-outs come standard in black, white, and copper, but there is plenty of customization potential if you want to personalize your machine. 

The TCA edition keeps the cut-outs, as well it should, but differs in the details. The circles are a bit deeper thanks to the thicker casing, and the color options vary – including the option for a powder-coated black exterior in place of the traditional shiny steel. This clearly replaces the Serie Nera (aka Black Series) Appartamento, which was phased out with the introduction of the TCA.

The Compact Footprint

True to its name, the Appartamento is well suited for apartment dwellers with small kitchens. It’s the brand’s smallest model, with the exception of the strange little portable Porta Via.

The TCA model measures 10.65″ wide x 17.65″ deep x 14″ tall, and the older version is nearly identical – but about an inch less deep. The extra space for the TCA is to accommodate a larger water reservoir (2.5 liters compared to 2.25), which I think is absolutely a worthwhile trade. The cooling flushes required for an HX machine mean you run through water fairly quickly.

Is The Rocket Appartamento Worth It?

The new Rocket Appartamento TCA is priced at $2150, and I consider that to be good value when you factor in performance, quality, and beauty. There are definitely cheaper HX machines on the market, but I don’t think any can match the Rocket in all three of those categories.

That said, I’m almost inclined to say the original Appartamento is an even better value right now because it seems to be on sale everywhere since the introduction of the TCA. If you’re not worried about that PID, you can nab yourself a great deal.

Don’t Buy The Rocket Appartamento If…

• You really want temperature control: The Appartamento TCA is a step in the right direction when it comes to brew temperature management, but it can’t match the true control afforded by a double-boiler machine with a PID. For that, I’d steer you towards the Rocket R58. It’s a big step up in price, but you definitely get what you pay for.  Alternatively, if you’re not set on the Rocket brand, the Profitec Pro 300 and Breville Dual Boiler are both great options.
• You want a direct-plumb machine: If you’re not a fan of refilling water tanks and emptying drip trays, consider an upgrade to a machine like the Rocket Espresso Giotto Evoluzione or Mozzafiato. These heat-exchanger models are available with a rotary pump that allows for direct plumbing to a water line – not to mention quieter operation.
• You don’t care about the Rocket aesthetic: When you buy a Rocket espresso machine, you pay a bit of a premium for its very cool look. If it’s going to be the focal point of your home or business, that’s money well spent. But if looks don’t matter to you, there are better value choices. Consider the Lelit Mara X, Profitec Pro 500, or ECM Mechanika – three fantastic heat exchanger machines with their own temperature management systems.

The Verdict

If you’re looking for a prosumer espresso machine with a compact footprint but all the performance of a full-size model, the Rocket Espresso Appartamento (or TCA) is a fantastic choice. 

Regardless of the precise model you choose, you’re getting the same 1.8L heat exchange copper boiler, E61 group with dual pre-infusion, and iconic good looks as Rocket’s more expensive models. This little powerhouse can keep up with its big brothers while still fitting comfortably in an apartment kitchen. Add to that the unique style of the laser cut-outs, and you’ve got something pretty special!

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