Crossland Coffee CC1 Version 1.5 Espresso Machine

This review is for the version 1.0 I have been using this machine for close to a year now with a Mazzer Mini manual.

Espresso is quite consistent where all other elements of the brewing process are consistent (bean, grind, tamp). I have found steam to be inconsistent, occasionally having a huge amount of pressure, and occasionally low pressure. Steam wand is properly cleaned after each use and flushed.

I have noticed the water temperature has started to overshoot by four degrees when reheating, but it does come back up to temperature very quickly, making multiple pulls easy.

Having multiple programmable brew cycles is a great feature as my wife prefers a longer espresso than I do, and the Crossland solves the problem easily.

Fit and Finish:

When I received my machine the water pump was loose in its rubber mounting, but rather than send the unit back I just placed it back where it belongs. I have had to do this twice in the machine's lifetime. It is not a big deal for me. a couple of screws and problem solved.

There are two screws on the bottom of where the trip tray sits that prevents the drip tray from sitting flush, and once the screws were files short, they have not been an issue. The drip tray on the whole is the weakest part of the unit, with a poorly matched, stamped stainless steel drip tray cover (mine arrived slightly warped and gratefully fits snugly enough to hold the slight warping in place) and the tray scratches quite easily, which was very noticeable at first, but has since become less noticeable as the whole tray becomes more uniformly scratched to look well loved ;-)

Steaming is normally fast with a dedicated steam boiler, and the steam is usually endless. A good purge of water from the steam wand is necessary, and occasionally takes longer than I expect, but the performance of the steam boiler is excellent. Bleeding the water from the steam also helps normalize pressure from the stead wand.

The water pump seems to be very consistent on the Crossland, I am very pleased with it. For no fuss espresso, the Crossland is made for those who don't want to have to study the subtle nuances of their espresso machine. Having said that, the built in PID was a major selling feature for me, and that kind of feedback is something I appreciate every time I use the machine.

All in all, for an easy to use espresso machine at this price point, I could not be much happier with the Crossland's performance, but would be a little happier with some fine tuning to the fit and finish of the machine.

I would purchase this machine again, and recommend it to friends looking for a first "better quality" espresso machine.

(Posted on 4/15/13)

I have had a lesser espresso machine for many years, minor failure caused me to want to upgrade. Spent an even week watching all the videos on products I could afford and settled on the CC1 as the best combination of features for price.

I have not been disappointed, Although as a geek, I want to learn what the "undocumented" settings are in the setup area, in general, the system produces a marvelous double shot without complaint.

Complaints about the drip tray and water reservoir are valid, but minor issues at this price. To have a system that has a boiler as well as a thermoblock for steam AND a PID all under a kilo-buck is wonderful.

I have set the "single cup" setting for what appears to be the butter zone - 0-0-27 and have almost dialed the grinder into this zone as well. I plan to "play" with settings on the other two available programs. I understand why they are the way they are, but wish they were just labeled "1", "2" and "3" really.

Steam function is a little odd - dial, then press. Getting back to "normal" is apparently backwards though - press, then dial - and DON'T press again - or you get water before you expect it!

The only real issue I have is the system tends to "spit" on occasion. After pumping, the three-way valve dumps the extra pressure in the brew group into the reservoir - sometimes a bit forcefully. If the res. has the right amount of water in it, it will throw water quite a distance.

(Posted on 3/22/13)

The CC1 is a well constructed machine, and I have obtained great results with it, when used in tandem with Baratza Vario grinder. The steam is ample. The design is a good match to our kitchen (brushed stainless appliances and detail). Takes some time to build up steam, but we're okay with it. I've opened the machine up, and the interior functional layout and component choice looks excellent. I appreciate the programmability of temperature, pre-infusion, etc., although I use these features less often than I might have guessed, even when switching beans. The water reservoir is adequate - I prefer to refill the machine more often than to leave water sitting too long in the machine.

I have minor qualms with this machine in ergonomics (drip tray and reservoir could be better designed and positioned), and, above all, in software. Frankly, I think it needs an update. Unfortunately, I don't see any straightforward way for the firmware to be user modified. There are several minor but opaque display bugs that frequently have led us to fail to switch between modes (i.e., brew vs steam). I spent some time on the phone with seattle coffee gear before I understood that the problems we were encountering with the machine (e.g., lack of steam) were due to minor LCD user interface display bugs, and not to functionality of the machine.

In short, this machine has only minor flaws, in my opinion, and seems to be perfect for home espresso use, with only the caveats noted above.

(Posted on 2/13/13)

Wow, I studied all your videos before receiving this machine and was pleasantly surprised. Slight bite to the brew, though. I tried playing with time, temp and pre-infusion getting close but not quite there.
A local roaster said before you mess with the machine adjust the grind for the best flavor.
I adjusted Rocky 2 steps toward the coarse and nailed it. Just as smooth as my favorite coffee house.
Nearly every morning I make a double espresso and a double latte.
Wonderful!
I am using 0 pre-infusion, 0 wait and 27 sec. brew. Smooth and delicate layers of flavor.
Working on latte art now.
Love the machine.

(Posted on 2/12/13)

Nice lattes!

(Posted on 1/20/13)

Just got this machine prior to holidays - expect a learning curve to get it right. CC-1 is high quality & cleverly designed, allowing manipulation and fine-tuning of coffee extraction and steam set-up. Love the digital temperature read-out, which is where Rancilio Silvia needs to be (at same price as Silvia sans Read-out).

Only gripes are awkward & low-volume water tank that's hard to see water level of due to tinted plastic, and backwash function is not discussed in owner's manual.

(Posted on 12/30/12)

I am the previous owner of a Breville Cafe Roma. I was looking to upgrade, searching for the better tasting, piping hot espresso & smooth micro-foamy drinks at home. Lots of research and blog reading lead me to the Gaggia/Sylvia choices after initially considering a new Breville; then an accidental discovery of the Seattle Coffee Videos lead me in the direction of the Sylvia + PID.

Since the Sylvia/PID would be $800 or so, I thought maybe I should consider an Oscar. Looking for more information, I called SCG and the CC1 was suggested and an alternative to both. After watching videos and researching specs, I made the decision to purchase the CC1.

The machine looks better in person than online, feeling heavy and substantial. I did not come across any sharp flashings or edges, but the drip dray is stamped and is a bit cheap. The steam wand articulates and feels solid. I like that the bottomless filter is included; however I found it to be messy and more trouble than it is worth.

The CC1 is easy to program and clean. It steams milk beautifully - it last longer than the Gaggia Classic, but the steam is a bit more moist. The cup-warmer is kind of a joke - the metal drain pan sits 1/4" above the hot part of the housing, so it really only takes a chill off slightly. Take the tray off, and I could see cups getting plenty warm up there.

The drain pipe/water tank location is pretty stupid. No other word for it. It works OK, but even the Gaggia Classic can be refilled from above, and that design is older than I am. To mimic so much about the form of the GC, then flub the water tank is kind of a fail; however the value of the rest of the machine outweighs this snafu for me.

(Posted on 12/26/12)

I called SCG to get help deciding between a PID's Silvia or spending more for a Nuova Simonelli Oscar. SGC suggested the CC1, which I knew nothing about. The combination of long steam time, PID, and auto-priming was perfect.
For less than the price of a PID Sylvia, I get digital control and pretty decent steam, plus a 58 mm portafilter and commercial steam tip. The look is a bit boxy, but the other two - Oscar and Sylvia - are not lookers either.
I had a minor issue when first turning the machine on - it had shipped with the power switch turned on - but was quickly remedied by a call to SCG - on Christmas Eve day!

(Posted on 12/26/12)

Was looking at getting a new machine and wanted a PID controlled unit. Kept coming back to the CC1 vs others in this range and happy with my choice. The PID on this unit gives tweaks for almost anything right down to infusions and dwell time, and it's nice having 3 settings at different temps etc to switch between (cup 1, 2, pod which is just a 3rd setting). Looks good too and unique vs other machines in this range, quality is great and components are laid out well inside. Does it have the heavy solid fit/finish of the big stainless machines, no, but then again it doesn't cost a few grand either. Thermoblock gives fast controlled steaming ability and recovery time to pull a shot since you don't have to wait for the boiler to cool down like on the Silvia. For the money it's a bargain for what it offers and it's feature set.

(Posted on 8/21/12)

I am a long-time Silvia owner, a machine I had to leave behind when I moved from Europe to the States. This year I decided to buy a new espresso machine for my home and decided that I wanted to see if there was a machine that would fix the little things that I did not like about my previous one, namely the ability to control temperature and shot time as well as more available steam for frothing milk.

I did quite a bit of research and the CC1 seemed to be exactly that machine I was looking for. After I arrived at home and put it into operation, my first impression was that it is quite a heavy machine (which is positive in my opinion), the casing is all stainless steel.

Programming is very easy - I use only two settings: double shot and another one for backflushing.

It took me a while to get my Rocky grinder, the shot/preinfusion time and temperature adjusted, but once I did, the coffee extraction was great, just what you would expect from a great single boiler machine.

Oh, and by the way, what is true for the Silvia is true for the CC1, too: Get a good grinder and never, ever, use pre-ground beans. I now even roast the coffee myself, which makes my setup as good as it gets.

The steam wand on this machine is great, my Silvia V1 often ran out of steam, the CC1 does not, maybe it is because of the thermo block.

The biggest strength of this machine is the consistency of the results, I just dial in the best settings for you and luckily my tamp pressure seems to be consistent enough to give me very predictable results each time. I am a beginner in Latte Art, but I succeed creating a flower pattern almost every time with this machine.

I am not particularly fond of the design of this machine, it looks like a little robot, it's not ugly either, but the Silvia clearly looks better. Another thing I don't like are the push buttons: The responsiveness to pushing is not great and you can't really tell whether you activated the steam or not, an acoustic or visual indicator would be an improvement.

Overall, this is a great buy, the espresso and lattes I get with the CC1 are great and the results are super-consistent. I'd recommend everyone to check it out if you are in the market for a single-boiler machine.

Pros: Price, sturdy, lots of steam, temperature control, shot timer, pre-infusion, three program settings

Cons: Looks, hard to tell whether you switched off the steam

(Posted on 8/18/12)

The CC1 is an exceptional machine. Been using it for over 2 months. It warms up quickly and can deliver a superb shot after only 30-40 minutes of being on. I live in San Francisco and only feed this machine Four Barrel, Sight Glass, Intelligentsia or Ritual coffee. It makes a better shot than any coffee shop in town. It's far superior to my previous two machines (Single boiler Braun from the mid 90s and a Lello machine) Moving from steaming to shots takes less than a minute and I generally do a 10 second blind shot inbetween for best results. Steam pressure is VERY impressive. I'm not sure I would get much added value out of a quality dual boiler unit. Definitely not enough to justify spending almost double the price.

The bottomless portafilter is a must. Also, watch the machine very carefully the first few uses. I filled the boiler properly and still got an HH (overheat) error after my second use. It's really no big deal. The machine has performed flawlessly since.

It has one of the best warranties in the business, so no need to be overly concerned about quality. From what I see, it looks well built.

I should note that I'm using a modified KitchenAid Pro Line grinder and my shots are consistently tiger striped with zero or occasionally, very small sprays. Also, occasionally the machine will drip a few ounces of water from the steam wand during warm up. But I've never used a single boiler or thermoblock machine that doesn't do this.

Pros:
Quick Brewing, Large Water Container, Great Taste, Quiet

Cons:
Leaky

(Posted on 5/9/12)

The CC1 is a machine that I can grow into. I like the built in PID for controling the brew temperature. I also like the ability to accurately control pre-infusion and overall brew time. Switching between steam and brewing is pretty fast and the computer controls are intuitive.

I did have one problem with my CC1 that was self inflicted. Between SCG and Crossland the problem was solved quickly via email. While the CC1 is not a work of art, it seems to me that the money that wasn't spent on nice curves and chrome was put into the functionality and quality build materials.

I have been visiting some local coffee roasters/espresso businesses for a while and I can easily match or better the espresso quality with the CC1 at home.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Large Water Container, Easy To Clean

Cons:

(Posted on 4/27/12)

I recently upgraded from a low end Breville to the CC1 paired with a Rocky grinder. I must say that this was a match made in heaven. I have put about a pound of coffee through the machine of a lighter roast ("City") and a pound of Starbucks Tribute Blend ("Full City" to Dark Roast). Since we like both the small batch lighter roasted coffees in our area as well as some of the Starbucks blends, I found that using the CC1 settings (1cup, 2cup, and Pod) work perfectly. I can set a shorter brew time for the darker roast on the 1cup setting and a lower temp/brew time for the lighter roasts on the 2cup setting. For the Pod setting I set the temp to the highest available (210 degrees) and use it for my hot water. I simply turn the setting to Pod, let it come up to temp (which it does very quickly) and then dispense the hot water through the steam wand. Afterwards I switch back to the 1 or 2 cup setting and have a nice hot Americano without having to heat water in the microwave or on the stove top.

I am very pleased with the performance so far. The machine is easy enough to use that you can be getting very good shots on the first day but yet advanced enough that you feel you have really good control over the product you are making. By controlling the variables using the PID and then saving the settings, I can get repeatable results without having to temperature surf.

With any espresso machine there will be trade offs. Some may not like the "no frills" appearance or the way the water is filled at the side instead of at the top. For me those were not deal breakers and for the price I got some really nice features that normally cost extra as an add on (like the PID that comes standard on the CC1).

As someone who enjoys the fine nuances and flavors of single origin coffee, the CC1 is perfect for pulling out the very best your beans have to offer.

Pros:
Quick Brewing, Easy To Use, Large Water Container, Great Taste, Quiet, Easy To Clean

Cons:
A bit plain looking

(Posted on 4/23/12)

Had to return first one as there was something in the steam tube. Second one works great. Like the way it maintains brew temp and steamer works very well-nice thick foam. Very tasty espresso. It takes a while to reach desired temp in morning but maintains temp thereafter. I would have preferred to have the steam control on the front so it could be operated by my left hand and I could hold the pitcher in right, but no big deal.

Pros:
Great Taste, Easy To Clean, Quick Brewing, Great Temperature control, Easy To Use, Large Water Container, Steamer works great

Cons:
Slow start, Noisy

(Posted on 4/4/12)

This is my first espresso machine, but it might be my last, because it's that good. The PID is great for morning convenience because I know the boiler is at exactly 201F, no temperature surfing like its closest competition, the Silvia. I like the programmable settings too, so it can be automatic by time, or semi-auto by setting the shot timer longer than you need. And, the preinfusion makes a difference in my shots! It has the three-way solenoid which is important to me for a dry puck, which makes for an easy cleanup.But the bit that surprises me the most is how often I use the steamer. I normally drink straight espresso, but I find myself making cappuccinos or lattes more often now. The thermoblock steam heats up in the time it takes to get the milk from the fridge, and steams the milk rapidly. And with the PID, the boiler is ready to pull a shot almost immediately after steaming.The water container is easy enough to refill, but taking it out completely is a bit of a hassle and takes a few attempts to get the hang of it. Lastly, I do have a small concern about longevity. [@]and [@]have been around for a long time and parts and mods are readily available. I hope [@]lives up to that same level of after-purchase care!

Pros:
Programmable, Easy To Use, Pid, 58mm portafilter, Thermoblock steam

Cons:
New vendor, Awkward water chamber

(Posted on 3/26/12)

The Crossland is probably the best balance between convenience and great tasting espresso in the under-$1000 semi-automatic category.

In a week day morning, every second counts. Convenience is important. In a weekend, I like to take the time to twist the parameter and try to make an even better coffee. The programmability allows me to reproduce the learning from a weekend with a press of a button.

I turn it on at 6:00am every day: 2+ hours before I use it. Thanks to the boiler + thermoblock design, it can be used with a regular 24 hours timer switch. Although, it is ready within 2 min, turning it on in advance allows the entire machine to be warmed (not just the boiler). The espresso will not be cool by surrounding cold components.

The built-in PID temperature control keeps the machine at optimal temperature, giving consistence shot. As important, it saves time: I can pull a shot anytime without surfing or waiting for the precise temperature.

It lets me programs pre-infusion, wait time, and brew time. Once the button is pressed, I can reach for the fridge and to prepare the milk.

The separate thermoblock for steaming eliminates the wait time between brewing and steaming. The steam wand gives dry steam and is pretty powerful. I am able to warm ~10oz of milk within 2 minutes and making microfoam.

I had a Gaggia Classic before. Crossland is by far better on every aspect.

I was considering between Crossland and Rancilio Silvia with PID. The taste is comparable. The convenience of the Crossland clearly leads. After owning it for two months (making 1 to 2 cups everyday), I am very pleased about my decision.

Pros:
Usable with timer switch, Easy To Use, Pid, Quick Brewing, Great Taste

Cons:
Water filling

(Posted on 3/3/12)

I upgrade for a Saeco Sirena that I used for about a year. The price is cheaper than other similar machines in this category. The integrated PID is extremely easy to use and the interface is simple, clean, and quick. The construction is solid. Water tank is easy to fill, actually too easy that I fill it when its only 2/3 full. Drip tray is large.

My only minor critique so far. While the portafilter feels great and is balanced well in the hand, the handle is a tad short (as discussed in the other video on the CC1), but as far as functionality and ease of use the portafilter (even with a 'short' handle) is solid and I enjoy using it.

With all the pros that come with this machine, you can't beat it, especially for this price. This machine and a baratza preciso grinder, all for under 1K, I am happy and my student budget is as well.

Pros:
Quiet, Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Large Water Container

Cons:

(Posted on 9/16/11)