Rocket Appartamento espresso machine Overview
Today we take a look at the rocket appartamento a natural progression for those of you looking to dip your toes into the world of prosumer espresso machines, or simply looking to take a step up from an appliance little unit such as a rebel.
The Rocket Appartamento is right at the entry-level position of the Rockets’ renowned and tortiously stylish espresso machine lineup.
It packs in many of the same components down rocks for expensive machines, but it’s them all into a compact form factor suited for apartment-sized kitchens.
Let’s not mince words, this is still a very large machine. But in the world of e61 heat exchangers, this is about as small as they come.
Rocket is somewhat known for its styling and this machine is certainly no exception.
The steam and hot water knobs carry the signature rocket branding, as well as front and back face plates. But it’s not until you turn this machine to the side that it really steps away from the status quo.
12 circular cutouts from the stainless steel side reveal an interchangeable plate Beneath that is offered in several different colorways This is a nice bit of added design to an otherwise classic-looking machine.
A two-and-a-quarter liter nonflammable water reservoir is located at the back of the machine and feeds into a 1.8-liter copper boiler.
The machine also has a sensor that will indicate if the water level is too low and pause the functionality to avoid causing damage to the heating elements.
The boiler design is a typical heat exchanger with a famous e61 group. There is no PID, no pre-programmable modes, and no automatic steaming it is just a straightforward and well-executed heat exchanger.
Something that I often feel reviewers fail to properly represent is the user experience of owning a machine like this. Everything feels and sounds industrial from flipping on the power to the pinging and tuning sounds of large metal boilers.
A solid metal rocket appartamento portafilter size 58-millimeter the satisfying tactile feel of using a lever to initiate brewing instead of a button and large variable knobs for steaming even the sound and e61 group makes whilst cycling hot water or the fact that these groups hot the touch for hours after turning off the machine.
all of these things combined to create an ownership experience that is completely different than an entry-level machine from companies like Breville.
Rocket Appartamento steam performance
So we’ve determined that this machine has an appealing form factor and some killer good looks, but how does it perform?
If you’re considering upgrading from a consumer machine such as the Breville, the improved steaming pressure is one of the first things to notice. And it’s not a small step up. It’s a leap just read and listen to the differences as we steam this water pitcher up to 60 degrees Celsius.
Another added benefit to rocket appartamento espresso machines is that they use no burn steam wand which stays cooler during steaming thanks to a dual wall design.
This is an advantage in safety but the biggest advantage is that milk does not aggressively stick to the wand if not immediately wiped away. Even though you should not explain how nice this feature is to have.
And of course, being a heat exchanger machine, you have the ability to both steam and brew at the same time.
These three advantages result in you being able to pump out lattes like it’s nobody’s business for large groups, or even if you’re just making two drinks back to back each morning for you and your partner.
Okay, so the steaming performance is a big step up from more consumer-focused machines.
Rocket Appartamento espresso experience
Having us a Breville Barista Express for the better part of three years? Here’s what I noticed when I switched over.
The number one thing for me has been consistency. I know that if I do grind and tamp the same way the resulting shot of espresso will be the same every time with the barista Express.
I got pretty darn good at making coffee, but I never really got the feeling of being perfectly dialed in. With the appartamento, I can make tiny adjustments to grind size, taste the difference, and know that if I like it, the next 100 shots will be exactly the same.
I’m not sure if this has to do with having a stronger pump, the temperature stability of the e61 group head, or just a combination of all these higher-quality parts, but consistency is the main takeaway I want to give you over a lower-end appliance level unit.
observation number two is the depth and evenness of flavor. Once dialed in, I can produce a shot with this machine that contains less unpleasantly sour notes, while simultaneously giving me less harsh and bitter notes.
The flavors seem to be more dominantly straight up the middle and less so mixed. bag extracted properly extracted and over-extracted like sometimes saw from the rebel again, pinpointing exactly which components allow for this is difficult, but a better water dispersion routing, better shower screen, better pump, and heavy e61 group important filter all contribute to an overall more consistent and polished shot of espresso.
We Do Like
Now, no machine is without fault. And there are certainly a couple of things that bothered me about this machine. The clearance pin of spouts and drip tray is one of them.
Rocket Appartamento dimensions measuring in at only 3.5 inches. This machine is only designed to extract into a short glass.
If you’re an Americano or long black drinker like myself, will need to find a shorter mug or simply pull into a shot glass and then transfer into your hot water.
I also found myself emptying the drip tray that I was used to due to the added cooling flushes. And solenoid outlet constantly pours water into it. Of course, you can avoid this by running your cooling flushes into another glass instead of straight to the drip tray.
But in general, I found that using a machine like this just ended up going through more water per drink and therefore meant I was filling the water reservoir and emptying the drip tray more often.
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So who should buy it?
The Appartamento if you were like me, and you feel like you’ve maxed out the capabilities of your existing espresso machine. This is a great unit to transition you into the world of prosumer machines.
It will offer you the ability to further push your espresso quality and will also offer drastically better-steaming performance and the ability to steam and pull shots at the same time.
Does this mean that you should avoid having this as a first espresso machine? No. As long as you understand that just because it is shiny and more expensive. It does not mean that it automatically makes better espresso or makes it easier to pull espresso.
It does not mean that it automatically makes better espresso or makes it easier to pull espresso. One thing that all espresso machines have in common is that you need to learn the basics of pulling shots and dialing in before you can expect anything even remotely drinkable out of them.
Rocket Appartamento espresso machine is a handsome looking heat exchanger with a great compact footprint, great performance and a reasonable price point
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