Gadget review: Ascaso Dream Espresso Coffee Machine

Coffee shops are popping up everywhere these days. Whether you want a macchiato, ristretto or a simple flat white, your caffeine needs are easily met.

Home coffee making machines have had something of a resurgence: from cheap filter coffee makers to gadget-festooned coffee pod metalware – each promises to replicate that barista experience. They often fall a little short – not quite having the muscle to match the industrial machines in places such as Costa or Starbucks.

The Ascaso Dream Espresso Coffee Machine promises to deliver "barista quality at home". It is certainly devilishly attractive – the Love Red model added some retro class to my dreich kitchen counter. Available in 13 funky colours from "the cow" (below) to meadow green, its handmade aluminium body, Thunderbird-like metal switches and classic gauge-style thermometer highlight its pedigree status.

Filled with freshly ground coffee, the filter holder rotated and clunked into place with reassuring precision. The Ascaso's 225cc brass boiler, 16 BAR pump and chrome brass portafilters and stainless steel filter baskets definitely seemed impressive, and I'm told by those in the know that such attributes are "professional class".

Anyway, fetching my ready warmed mug from the roof of the Ascaso (a nice touch) I flicked the switch to activate a gentle stream of coffee into my awaiting receptacle. Although an espresso specialist, the Ascaso also excels at cappuccinos. The steam wand is simply superb.

The drinks produced were of Central Perk quality, as you'd expect from a machine costing almost 500.

Ascaso Dream Espresso Coffee Machine

(495, from Harvey Nichols, www.harveynichols.com; for more information, www.ascaso.com)

• This article was first published in The Scotsman on Saturday, June 12, 2010