Review: CBTL Americano Single Serve Coffee, Espresso, and Hot Beverage System

CBTL has introduced the Americano single serve coffee, espresso, and hot beverage system recently, and it's packed with features you'll love in a single serve coffee maker. We received the CBTL system from them (thanks for sending) a few weeks ago and have been using it daily since. The machine look and feel is modern, and there's even an adjustable cup stand that just makes sense when you make coffee, espresso, and also hot chocolate with such a machine. We also really love the fact you can use a really tall travel mug to make coffee to go.

Features of the CBTL Americano Single Serve Coffee and Espresso Maker

• Twin pressure system provides high pressure (15 bar) for espresso or low (3.5 bar) for coffee and tea
• Features automatic beverage proportioning
• 51 oz water tank
• Automatic capsule ejection
• Large used capsule storage
• Energy saving features
• Colors: Saphire Black, Admiral Red and Titanium Silver
• Uses coffee capsules to make coffees
• Flavored powders are available to mix with hot water for cocoa etc.

The water tank is huge and easy to fill.

We think the water tank is both easy to use and enormous. It's nice to see a well designed but large tank and the overall machine feels solid but we would like to see it feel maybe a bit more premium. At $149.99 you expect the machine to be higher end feeling, and it doesn't let you down on the controls, but the front black plastic feels a bit too shiny.

Brewing Espresso and Coffee with the CBTL Americano

You get a little taste of the wide selection of coffees, espresso, and powders available.  

Using the CBTL Americano is really easy. You simply pick a coffee or espresso capsule you want to use, and then raise the level ejecting the previous capsule into the storage bin. The new capsule is place in the top, and you then pull down the lever which puts the capsule into place and then push the beverage button of your choice.

The single serve capsules are packaged 10 per box with a retail price of $5.50. Flavors include four espressos, four coffees and four teas: Italian Espresso; Continental Espresso; Premium Espresso; Premium Decaf Espresso; Viennese Brew; French Brew; House Brew; House Decaf Brew; Chai Tea; English Breakfast Tea; Tropical Passion Tea; and Moroccan Mint Tea. In addition, exclusive powders - the French Deluxe Vanilla and Special Dutch Chocolate - are sold in single serve sachets.

You get an 8, 10, 12, long and short espresso plus iced coffee setting.

We received a variety of capsule with the machine to try and really enjoyed all the varieties of capsules. The Americano can brew a short and long espresso, as well as an 8, 10 and 12-ounce coffee, and a 9-ounce "Iced coffee" setting. We didn't try and iced coffees (as it's 10 degrees out right now), but we did try a bunch of different coffees and espressos.

Here's a sampling of what we tried:

Coffee produced will have a nice creamy top.

The house brew is mild and inviting and will please a wide range of coffee drinkers.

Features We Think Make the CBTL Americano Stand Out

We have to say the coffee cup stand. It has 3 different places to place it in the front of the machine for espresso, coffee, and travel mugs or tall coffee mugs. Great design and great idea.

Final Thoughts on the CBTL Americano

This is an excellent single serve coffee and espresso maker. We did also try some of the powders - the cocoa and it was good as well. The design of the machine is well thought out, with the water reservoir standing out as large at 51 oz. We think the coffees and teas produced all had amazing flavor, and the ease of use because of the coffee capsules make this a great way to get more coffee variety into your life.

We also can't tell you how much it means to have a machine designed to fit almost any coffee mug or travel mug. The ability for the machine to enhance your life but not take away your favorite coffee cups is one many of the other single serve coffee makers could learn from.

The Americano is available at Bed Bath and Beyond as well as online at CBTL.com. Thanks again to CBTL for sending us the Americano to review.

Read More in: CBTL | Reviews | Single Serve Coffee Machines

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