I had another cheaper machine. At some point, I realized that it didn't make good coffee. It simply made coffee. I was hesitant to spend so much money on an espresso machine, but in the end, I don't regret it at all. I drink freddo cappuccino or freddo espresso, so I don't have an opinion on the milk frother, but it makes amazing coffee. Finally, I said "good coffee." I drink Lavazza because the village doesn't have coffee for grinding, and it came out just like in the cafes. It also makes good foam. It takes a little longer to fill the cup, but not without reason. It heats up quickly, easy to use, and the filter doesn't fall off the group when you empty the ground coffee. The noise is moderate but not something I didn't expect, nor is it annoying. If someone asks me about an espresso machine, I will highly recommend it.