Review of Siemens TK60001 Surpresso S20

An automatic espresso machine.
Reviewed by Lars Tufvesson January 5, 2005. lars@bizzbook.com

Specifications

Time to unwrap the box the machine comes in. You will find the following things in the box:

The machine itself: Siemens TK60001 Surpresso S20.
A bag of coffee beans for espresso coffee: 250 grammes Segafredo Zanetti Espresso Casa.
A book with instructions in several languages in separate chapters:
- de
- en
- fr
- it
- nl
- tr
- es
- ru
- pl
An extra leaflet with instructions on how to use and clean the steamer that is used to froth and heat milk.
A short and more visual instruction broschure in german and english.
A measure to get the correct amount pre-ground espresso/coffee powder into the machine.
A paper strip to measure water hardness, to be able to set up the machine correctly before using it for the first time.
Two cleaning pills, to be able to run the automatic cleaning programme.
A bag with descaling mixture, to be able to run the automatic descaling programme.

To be able to enjoy an espresso, cappuccino or caffe latte, you need more things than what is in the box:

Small espresso cups with thick walls. By pre-warming the cups before brewing the espresso, you will be able to keep the appropriate temperature of the espresso longer. The automatic espresso machine has a surface above the machine that is intended for storing and heating espresso cups, but the cups do usually not get warm enough. To get the cups warm enough, you should heat them up with hot water before use.
Big cups of heat-resistant glass, for caffe latte.
The enthusiast should also invest in cappuccino cups.
A book with receipes on espresso drinks.
A cup made of metal to froth and heat milk. You can feel how warm the milk is through the metal. In this way, you can stop warming the milk at the correct temperature, before the milk starts boiling. To froth and warm 0.2 liters of milk for a caffe latte, you should have a cup that can hold three times as much. That usually means a cup for measuring 0.5 liters.
- The enthusiast makes sure that the cup has a large and pointy tip, to be able to do latte art: Nice patterns in the drinking cup that appears when mixing white milk with black or brown espresso. Latte art requires a lot of training, though.
The enthusiast also gets a 0.3 liter cup for making espresso drinks that requires less milk, and a larger cup for occasions when many people should be served.

For espresso, cappuccino, tea and other warm drinks
Effect 1300 W
Thermo block pump preassure system capable of 15 bars
Aroma whirl system for optimal espresso aroma, with a dynamic brewing chamber
Display with symbols
Adjustment for water hardness. (Four possible values.)
Detachable water container 1.8 liters
Built in coffee grinder capable of holding around 0.25 kilos of coffee beans.
Adjustment for degree of grinding
Adjustment for amount of espresso/coffee powder. The brewing chamber can contain between 7 and 14 grammes of espresso/coffee powder.
Separate chamber for pre-ground espresso/coffee powder.
Area on the top for storing and heating espresso cups.
Brewing one or two cups at the same time. The height of the tip where the espresso comes out can be adjusted to accommodate different cup heights.
A steamer for hot water and steam, that can be used to froth and heat milk for a cappuccino.
Detachable tray for waste water. Separate tray for coffee dregs.
Counter for number of brewings.
Fully automatic cleaning programme when machine is started and turned off.
Automatic cleaning programme with cleaning pills.
Automatic descaling programme.
Automatic turn-off after a maximum of three hours.
Energy-saving standby function.
Control lights.
1.1 meters of power cord.
Height 345 mm. Width 273 mm. Depth 480 mm.