Saeco Syntia Stainless Steel Compact Espresso Machine - Certified Refurbished

We've had our Syntia refurbished model for about 3 months now and it works great. It is our first super automatic and takes a little getting used to some of the features, but all in all it has worked well and produces a good espresso. The frothing feature can be a little messy since it has to warm up and spit out water before it is ready to steam milk, but once you get the system down it works well. I wish it had a cup warmer so the coffee would stay hot longer, but all in all a great buy and would recommend it! Also Seattle Coffee Gear was easy to work with and answered all my questions before I made the purchase. Would happily buy from them again.

(Posted on 3/9/13)

This machine was a big step up from my older Starbucks Barista...and it is is slick! I guess it should be for the price, even for the refurbishe one! Once I dechipered instruction manual I was on my way to brewing great expressos, lattes (with rich creamy foamed milk) and capaccinos! It is a very easy-to-use machine that makes it a pleasure to brew one's own expresso. I am very pleased.

(Posted on 3/3/13)

This is by far the best espresso machine we have owned. We each have our program to get just the cup we want.
Only one hang up ; if you run out of coffee during the grind or water during the extraction, the brew group dumps the puck and starts over. I just have to remember to check both before pulling our second cup. De scaling is time consuming but easy as pie.

(Posted on 2/20/13)

There are some minuses, like the hottest temp setting isn't all that hot (unless you 1st run an empty bypass shot,) or two hoppers, but at that price, anything beyond a good shot from a superauto is asking too much. You could get a great semi auto and a great grinder for the same price and have greater control (and if you're good- a better shot,) but I wanted easy (but good) for me and esp. my wife. I have about 6 shots a day and it's been greatt. btw- get good beans, it makes a difference. I'm very happy with the purchase.

(Posted on 2/20/13)

We purchased a refurbished Saeco Syntia from SCG. They had the best price, fast FREE shipping and very friendly poeple! Highly recommended! The machine is just what we wanted. Very compact for our smaller kitchen, very stylish stainless steel design and it makes great coffee - yes, we use it for coffee. Easy to clean and maintain. We have to see about the long-term need of maintenance but since we bought the extended warranty (total 3 years) we are not that worried. A+++ so far!

(Posted on 12/27/12)

All the other reviews that I have read haven't been generous enough. This is by far the best product I have purchased this year. The first thing you will notice is the quality of the machine. From the very first time I used it it didn't disappoint. Every shot of espresso was brewed to perfection, each shot was ejected from the machine in compress puck form, and the frothing wand does its job.

When I first started to research these machines I was overwhelmed with the thought of becoming my own "Barista", I wanted to hit a button and have a great shot of espresso. My budget for this was $600-800 dollars and I purchased this refurbished machine for $500. What a deal.

If you are looking for a machine that only requires you to decide what espresso bean to buy and the rest just happens then this is it.

Matthew Wallace

(Posted on 12/13/12)

We just received our refurbished machine yesterday and went all night experimenting with all the features and such. We love it. It makes great coffee and frothing milk is super easy with the wand. This maybe a Starbucks killer for us which will save us a lot of $$ over the year.

Making coffee house drinks in my pj's is very cool and I would recommend this machine because the price vs features is very good. The machine itself only had a couple very minor scratches that you can't notice unless you really really look.

Get one.... you'll be happy.

(Posted on 12/4/12)

I am extremely pleased with this espresso maker. I drink only one cup a day, and have been using a French press or stovetop espresso maker, and then heating raw goat's milk in a separate pan. Honestly, it was a lot of work for one cup of coffee.
I did a lot of research and considered a lot of options, from the Ranchilio Silva/Rocky combo to the Nespresso machines, and I definitely feel I made the right choice with the Syntia. I don't know how Saeco does it, but they have a magic automatic espresso maker that has its own little tiny elf barista inside there. The espresso is PERFECT. And all I do is buy quality, fresh beans and push a button.
Cleanup is super fast and easy, and maintenance is as well. Cleaning up the spilled ground beans from around the brew group every week is about as complicated as it gets (that barista is a little messy in his enthusiasm, but I forgive him). I haven't had to descale yet, but I take that seriously as I have hard well water-- but the whole programming system makes it really straightforward.
I thought I might feel limited by the choices of coffee brew (short or long, single or double, weak, strong, strongest), but I am perfectly happy with it. And I now can offer espresso to guests after dinner, without having to spend a lot of time in the kitchen to provide it!

(Posted on 10/11/12)

This review is as much about the tremendous service I received from Teri and the entire SCG crew as much as the Syntia Compact. High marks for both.

I was replacing a 7 year old Saeco V'spresso machine that was at the end of its life. My online research for a replacement brought me to Seattle Coffee Gear. I'm so happy I found them.

I was looking to find a superautomatic espresso machine that was similar to the V'spresso and thought I would try one of SCG's refurbished models to save some money.

It arrived promptly, but during shipment, the dispenser head must have taken quite a wack in the box because it was damaged. An email to Teri and very quickly, she sent me a UPS return authorization label (RMA) with the promise that as soon as I had dropped off the damaged unit at the UPS store, I should call them and they would immediately ship me a replacement while the original machine was still in transit back to Seattle.

The next day, the replacement Syntia arrived in perfect condition, literally less than 24 hours after my communication with Teri. I cannot overstate the high level of customer service I received. prompt, friendly and professional.

Now on to the Syntia itself. It's slightly smaller than my V'spresso, but seems to be more well constructed. Little conveniences like the ease of access to the water tank on the front of the machine instead of the back makes refilling it, which because of its smaller size, happens more often than my V'spresso, actually much easier.

The stainless steel finish is very easy to wipe down and it looks great in my kitchen. It feels much more solid than the plastic of my V'spresso.

The bean compartment lid on the top has a rubber seal, which actually makes the grinding process more quiet than I am accustomed to. A nice plus.

The display is large and bright and very easy to read, again when compared to my previous experience with the text only display of my old V'spresso. Another improvement.

So how about the actual coffee? Excellent. I do like a bit of flavor in my espresso and I decided to try the Lavazza Super Creme Espresso with my new Syntia. Delicious. A nice rich coffee taste with just enough flavor to make it even more delicious.

I consider the price/value of the refurbished Syntia Compact to be extremely good. Like any complex machine, it does require weekly and monthly care to ensure consistent coffee taste and to prolong the life of the machine. After getting 7 years of service out of my previous machine, I'm hoping for a similar lifespan or better from the Syntia.

It should be noted that the refurbished machines do not come with a water filter as the new units do, but that is easily remedied by ordering the very reasonably priced Saeco Maintenance Kit, which includes two Intenza filters, two replacement rubber gaskets for the brew group, a small tube of lubricant and two bottles of decalcifier. Even if the refurbished unit came with a water filter I would have purchased the kit.

Did I mention I got 7 years of service from my last machine?! Take the time to maintain your own machine and watch the price of an espresso drop to pennies for each additional year you keep your machine in good working order.

I highly recommend the Syntia compact and more importantly, Teri and the good people at Seattle Coffee Gear.

(Posted on 10/4/12)

Three weeks ago I bought the refurbished Syntia espresso machine. So far, it makes the best coffee I have ever consumed at home. It is easy to set up, use (just the touch of a button) and clean. There is no leaking, no overheating or problems whatsoever! I also purchased the three year extended warranty because I am concerned that perhaps the refurbished machine will not continue to work. It would be nice to know how much the machine was used in the past. So far, I am happy.

(Posted on 9/18/12)

This is my first machine, and it's a good one to start with. I like that there are very few buttons, it's very intuitive. It makes a good latte, but you don't have much control over strength of the brew, etc. It does take a fair amount of maintence to keep it running well, but that will depend on how many cups you make in a day. I feel like I am constantly filling up the water dispenser, or dumping the dregs, or brushing out the brewing assembly. I've also wasted a lot of coffee with incomplete cycles because I didn't have enough beans, or water, or whatever.

However, all in all, I am very pleased and glad I bough this (and I bought a refurb, so the cost was fine with me).

(Posted on 8/27/12)

I really enjoy the Saeco Synthia. It has exceeded my expectations on quality of materials, the way it's built, and its technology!

As an added bonus my wife can make her own cup of coffee it is so easy!

(Posted on 8/2/12)

The machine looked like it was going to be harder to set up than it was - no problems. I had read reviews about the quality of coffee improving after the first pound and while I still have no idea why that might be (I bought the refurbished model), it still seemed true. Coffee is excellent! The small water container is easy to fill. I was looking forward to making excellent foam and maybe even learning how to do designs but it does not make nearly enough foam to do that. I had asked if it made better foam the the Vienna plus (which I bought and sent back as it was cheesy looking plastic and too big) as making good foam was a criteria for me. I was told that it made much better foam than the Vienna Plus. When I called back to ask about the low level of foam, i was told that to get the micro foam necessary for making designs (and, in my opinion, for a quality latte) I would need a significantly more expensive machine....hard to believe.

(Posted on 7/23/12)

My refurbished Syntia looks great and works perfectly. Be sure to run through at least one bag of coffee beans before judging the taste. You won't be disappointed!
P.S. I keep mine virtually permanently set at 'three beans' and the finest grind.

(Posted on 7/18/12)

My coffee never tasted better whether espresso or american style. Controls are easy to understand, the price was great re-furbished from SCG and I was in operation within minutes from opening the box. Very easy to remove and clean brew group - unlike some other super automatics. Makes a surprisingly delicious long coffee!

(Posted on 7/14/12)

I have had my refurbished machine for 3 months. I use it daily or twice a day for making americanos or a latte. LOVE IT! I previously had a gaggia semiautomatic but got tired of the constant grinding, rinsing, etc. This has been a great solution for making a great cup of coffee without much thought. I was helped GREATLY by the videos on this site to know how to properly use the machine. My family is always blown away how different and BETTER my coffee tastes. I do use a locally roasted espresso bean, which is very tasty. only complaint is that I have to fill the water every day or other day and I have to be sure to clean behind the brew head and waste container weekly. Not really a problem at all compaired to what I had to do before!
Thank you Seattle Coffee Gear for a great machine

Pros:
Easy To Use, Quick Brewing, Quiet, Great Taste

Cons:
Small Water Container

(Posted on 3/16/12)

I've had this machine for about 2 weeks. Right after it arrived (took 9 days to arrive) I used it for a bunch of friends who came for dinner. I'd practiced and had a latte within minutes of getting the machine out, and it was really fast for making a few cappucinos for the folks who wanted it. I'd ordered some custom roasted coffee from a local roaster, one full test and one half-caf. Since then I've made a double shot latte every morning, with pretty good results. I like coffee so strong you can practically chew it, so had adjusted the ground down a little and put the aroma to "three beans." My favorite things about the machine are how fast it heats up, that you can press the espresso pre-set button twice to brew a double shot, and that the other pre-set makes what is a small, but good-tasting version of what is practically an Americano. Things that have been a bit harder - the bypass is persnickety, and will only take a precise grind. It dumped a bunch of decaf into the dregs bucket and processed plain water a few times until I figured out the grind wasn't fine enough. Also, the machine seems to go through a lot of water just warming up or shutting down. I keep a mug under the spouts to catch the water because it is easier to dump that out than to pull out and dump the drip tray. Altogether, though, I am really happy with it. I had some heartache about spending this much on something that is a luxury in my life, but am really glad I did. I didn't have an expensive latte habit at other locations, but was frustrated with trying to make a good coffee at home, and this has solved the problem! Now I just have to find a bean and roast I really like. Oh, and the added benefit of having my house smell like a coffee bar isn't bad, either! :)

Pros:
Quick Brewing, Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Fast Startup

Cons:
Noisy

(Posted on 2/11/12)

The videos were very helpful and the price was good as well. I shopped around & decided to let them have my order as they were so helpful on the phone and the reviews were also good.

I chose this machine for the small size and stainless steel. Very happy with each cup of coffee & even brew tea in the evening.

Pros:
Great Taste, Commercial Grade, Easy To Use, Easy To Clean

Cons:
Small Water Container

(Posted on 1/30/12)

This machine replaced Gaggia Syncrony that we owned for about 10 years. THE MODEL WITHOUT MILK CONTAINER WAS DISCONTINUED AND WE ABSOLUTELY DID NOT WANT ONE WITH AUTOMATIC FROTHER. Simply does not work to our taste or liking (too watery).
Our only option at this time was "refurb" ...so we ordered one.
We were pleseantly suprised with excellent industrial design and cosmetics along with nice choice of prime quality materials. As for cofee quality it matches Starbucks and closely resembles cofee shots we are getting from our friend's Nuova Simonelli Microbar Super Automatic Espresso Machine ($6000 beast).
The machine we got had few flaws but these were immediately adressed and corrected by the store staff.
We highly recommend the machine and establishment that sold it to us.

Pros:
Easy To Use, Commercial Grade, Quiet, Easy To Clean, Quick Brewing, Great Taste

Cons:
Leaky

(Posted on 1/24/12)

I bought this machine specifically for my office. It's great to come into work every day, press the button and get a great cup of espresso without standing in line at Starbucks and paying 5 bucks for it. It also makes my office smell great :)

Pros:
Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Quick Brewing, Great Taste

Cons:
Small Water Container

(Posted on 12/16/11)

This machine is absolutely awesome. It makes great expresso and alows you to change the strenth/taste of the coffee that is brewed. With one touch of a buttom it grinds and brews the coffee and it is easy to froth the milk. It is great to be able to make a professional cappuccino at home. I love this machine.

Pros:
Quick Brewing, Easy To Use, Easy To Clean, Great Taste

Cons:

(Posted on 12/4/11)

One of the best things about this machine (as opposed to nespresso or pods) is that you can use your favorite local beans - non-oily of course. It is very tidy and simple. The machine is not huge so there is frequent emptying and refilling, but way way easier than grinding and tampering. I had the pleasure of going to the shop and trying out several automatics and this one found a spot in my heart.

Pros:
Great Taste, Stylish, Quiet, Easy To Use, Quick Brewing

Cons:
Small Water Container

(Posted on 11/20/11)