Anko CM5013-SA Espresso Coffee Machine $89 @ Kmart

naruto43 on 19/10/2020 - 12:06 kmart.com.au (1964 clicks)
Last edited 19/10/2020 - 16:19 by 1 other user

Australian consumer organisation CHOICE has revealed Kmart's $89 coffee machine rated better on flavour than a high-end model costing more than 10 times the price.

Of the 51 models tested, the consumer experts found the budget retailer's 'cheap-as-chips' Anko model 'certainly delivers bang for your buck' and rated better on flavour than the $949 DeLonghi La Specialista.

'In our tests, it outperformed the $949 competitor on flavour and pumped out consistently hot coffees. And it'll pretty up your kitchen bench, too: it looks the business,' the experts said.

https://www.choice.com.au/home-and-living/kitchen/coffee-mac…

Home & Garden Coffee Machine

28 May 2022 8:53pm

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rkura on 19/10/2020 - 12:11

+6

Youtube review (Swan Retro is the same model).
- nfr on 19/10/2020 - 12:33
  
  +9
  
  So it's not good for espresso and its spoon made James Hoffman uncomfortable.
- 0jay on 19/10/2020 - 13:33 Comment score below threshold.
  - Karijini on 19/10/2020 - 14:52
    
    +8
    
    And yet he is far more knowledgeable, thoughtful & insightful about brewing coffee than the appealing, sexy, good looking presenters that will tell you what the marketing companies want you to see & hear. Try not to be so shallow and you will be enlightened.
    - 0jay on 19/10/2020 - 15:57
      
      Presenter doesn’t have to beautiful but not coming over as a neurotic asshle is a plus.
  - hippocrit on 19/10/2020 - 14:54
    
    +5
    
    Each to their own, but this guy is considered by many to be the go-to person for coffee gear advice.
    
    If you give him a chance you'll actually find his reviews to be quite fair (as far as youtube reviews go anyway). Not sure why you're getting negged though, as you're allowed your opinion.
    - onlybargains on 19/10/2020 - 17:18
      
      +3
      
      Not sure why you're getting negged though, as you're allowed your opinion.
      
      People are allowed to have their opinion and others are allowed to dislike that opinion ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
    - serpserpserp on 23/10/2020 - 20:56
      
      +1
      
      To be fair, I have some gear that he has reviewed and he has taken it a bit out of context and negged it because it is something that he personally wouldn't use. That doesn't mean that it is terrible equipment, he just doesn't want to use it. Which would be fine if he wasn't (as someone has said above) a neurotic A-hole about it.
      
      I am not questioning his experience or ability, he point of view is very valid. But man, sometimes he goes on these tangents which are not very unbias. I guess that is why he has a bunch of fans!
- snackpacket on 19/10/2020 - 15:27
  
  +3
  
  He completely dismisses it because it is pressurized, stating the rubber in the basket is a no-deal. Let me just say, the rubber has ZERO effect on the quality, and there is no rubber taste whatsoever in the coffee. If James wasn't so stubborn, he'd have realised it makes fantastic coffee. He dismisses it purely based on aesthetics, not on the end product it produces.
  
  His argument - it has a rubber pressurizer, therefore the coffee tastes like rubber.
  Reality - the rubber seal does not make the coffee taste of rubber at all.
  - Phil22 on 19/10/2020 - 15:51
    
    +3
    
    You didn’t watch the video properly. He said it tasted fine but dull. He said if you pulled a normal shot, it would taste weak, hollow and empty. Can’t get good espresso from it. Nothing about rubber taste, so I don’t know where you’re getting that from.
    - snackpacket on 19/10/2020 - 16:08
      
      "I don't want rubber in my brewing environment, I'm just not a fan of that."
      "The delonghi was head and shoulders above the rest, simply because it didn't have a pressurized porta filter."
      - Phil22 on 19/10/2020 - 16:22
        
        +3
        
        @snackpacket: Yep so nothing about rubber taste. He explains clearly it doesn’t make good espresso. But he’s super snobby and picky so for an ordinary person ‘fine’ must be pretty good.
        
        snackpacket on 19/10/2020 - 16:31
        
        +1
        
        @Phil22: He says he "doesn't want rubber in the brewing environment"… And then proceeds to choose the only one that doesn't have rubber in the brewing environment, because it doesn't have rubber in the brewing environment (aka "simply because it doesn't have a pressurized porta filter".) If it's not based on the taste… then wtf are we talking about here?
        
        Phil22 on 19/10/2020 - 16:53
        
        +1
        
        @snackpacket:
        
        His argument - it has a rubber pressurizer, therefore the coffee tastes like rubber.
        
        Could you time stamp when he says the coffee tastes like rubber? He dismisses it because it tastes empty, dull, weak and hollow. That may be partly due to being a pressurised porta filter. Not based on rubber taste. Not based on aesthetics.
        
        snackpacket on 19/10/2020 - 17:27
        
        @Phil22: He doesn't say it tastes like rubber, he says he doesn't want rubber in the brewing environment. But by turning his nose up at the rubber in the brewing environment, he is implying that he is able to taste, in the end result, that there was rubber in the brewing environment.
  - cerealJay on 19/10/2020 - 16:15
    
    +1
    
    He completely dismisses it because it is pressurized
    
    To be fair, it's amazing how easy it is to make a horrible cup of coffee with a pressurized portafilter.
    
    Attempts to make adjustments to your process are hindered by the pressurized extraction. For example if you grind slightly finer, you won't see the difference in extraction time, which is necessary when fine-tuning the espresso.
    
    Equally amazing is how people become accustomed to their own crappy coffees, convinced they are "good" when actually they are bad. What I think is happening, is that regardless of taste, you get the caffeine hit, and a drink. This outweighs the bad taste, compounded by "you made it, with a $50 machine"…. the self-acquired taste of bad taste completes the delusion. It all unravels the moment you offer a coffee to a guest, who will probably lie and say "not bad" because they're being a good guest.
    - snackpacket on 19/10/2020 - 16:32
      
      Come round for one then. I'll serve you your own hat as dessert :p
      - RichieVn on 19/10/2020 - 21:30
        
        +2
        
        @snackpacket: are you all from Melbourne? because ya'll sure sound like you do
  - rebates on 12/11/2020 - 17:35
    
    Is it possible for me to get a non-pressurized basket and use it in this ANKO machine? Would I even want to? I'm a newb at all this stuff, just trying to get a decent coffee at a reasonable price without getting in too, too deep. I've got an aeropress, do you think this ANKO would make something good for me?
bdubba on 19/10/2020 - 12:15

+7

I love a bargain as much as anyone - but isn't the Kmart machine just a revision of the 'generic retro espresso machine' that appears to be sold by many other whitelabels across the world (such as Aldi) which have generally received consistently horrible reviews? I do really trust Choice as they have usually been pretty spot on - and I'm not a big fan of Delonghi either, but I also find it hard to believe that the large company who's been trying to crack in to the specialty appliance market to compete with Breville & Sunbeam put a heap of R&D in to something which is bested by literally the cheapest espresso machine money can buy.
- djones145 on 19/10/2020 - 12:16
  
  -5
  
  well since u are paying 89 bucks
  u can afford to go out and buy a coffee from a cafe lol
Dhandoftime on 19/10/2020 - 12:15

This had been out of stock for a long time.
anguscox1 on 19/10/2020 - 12:16

-1

Not a bargain, RRP
Olin on 19/10/2020 - 12:18

+6

Yep, I'd definitely cough up the additional funds and buy the Breville Barista Express, can't fault my machine over the last 3 years!
- snackpacket on 19/10/2020 - 15:37
  
  My GF has the Barista Express, and I can make WAY better coffee on the ANKO.
  - definitive on 19/10/2020 - 19:05
    
    +4
    
    Something must have gone horribly wrong
    - serpserpserp on 23/10/2020 - 21:00
      
      Yeah, it didn't have any rubber in it.
[Deactivated] on 19/10/2020 - 12:18

+4

This doesn't make it as good as the $949 machine, it just makes the $949 as bad as this $89 machine. I don't even drink coffee and can name a few $900 - $1100 machines that will absolutely shit on this Kmart one.
- swimmingtoad on 19/10/2020 - 12:24
  
  -1
  
  I think anyone with a brain can list some $900-$1100 machines that beat a $89 machine. What's your point?
  - [Deactivated] on 19/10/2020 - 12:28
    
    +7
    
    My point is that beating one machine in that price bracket doesn't make this machine "good" compared to other machines in that same price bracket
    - swimmingtoad on 19/10/2020 - 12:33
      
      -5
      
      $1100 and $89 are not in the 'same price bracket'.
      - [Deactivated] on 19/10/2020 - 13:15
        
        +1
        
        @swimmingtoad: $900 and $1100 are in a similar price bracket. You misinterpreted what I wrote.
TEER3X on 19/10/2020 - 12:19

+1

If you don't already have a good grinder, it's going to cost you a lot more. Still worth it though.
- mudkipz on 19/10/2020 - 13:48
  
  Agree with this. Get a good grinder!
  Good beans (or beans that suit your flavour preferences), combined with a good grinder goes a long way.
  A good hand grinder may also be worth considering versus a cheap electric grinder (that may not yield consistent results). Hand grinders obviously can be a bit tedious to hand crank though.
  
  YMMV
- serpserpserp on 23/10/2020 - 21:01
  
  Well it is going to cost you a lot more no matter what you buy because you need a good grinder.
Jenus on 19/10/2020 - 12:26

I was looking at this and decided to wait out for a Dedica deal at $199 when those come along.
Jimothy Wongingtons on 19/10/2020 - 12:32

+1

I guess it looks alright but id rather have 89 x 7-11 coffee…
- ShipShapeRC on 19/10/2020 - 13:18
  
  +3
  
  Remember the $3 7-11 coffee is the same size as 2 x $1 7-11 coffees!
  - Jimothy Wongingtons on 19/10/2020 - 14:26
    
    $1 size is more than enough for me. Rather have 3 coffees spaced over a few hours than tank a $3 size lol
harro112 on 19/10/2020 - 12:48

+1

"… it looks the business,' the experts said."

having seen these in store i think they look like cheap plastic rubbish tbh but each to their own i guess
- [Deactivated] on 19/10/2020 - 13:16
  
  -1
  
  As with almost everything else from Kmart. The airfryer also looks like cheap plastic rubbish.
Oldmate88 on 19/10/2020 - 13:11

Save your money and get something better
DoesntEvenMatter on 19/10/2020 - 13:12

+3

Paid ad by kmart. They do it across all platforms
- inasero on 19/10/2020 - 13:41
  
  Does choice magazine allow paid advertorials?
  - DoesntEvenMatter on 19/10/2020 - 14:04
    
    +1
    
    They deny it but I'm skeptical. Even spec wise this won't stand against a 1k machine
Chickenleg on 19/10/2020 - 13:21

I remember looking at the display model on the shelf once out of interest and it seriously looked and felt like a plastic toy. Wonder what their lifespan is.
itstuan on 19/10/2020 - 13:25

+4

Better flavour than many higher end machines? Such lies.
FizzBalls on 19/10/2020 - 13:26

+1

RRP. I saw this in store another time and didnt look very well built.
Phil22 on 19/10/2020 - 13:39

Does anyone have this machine and can comment?
jste9088 on 19/10/2020 - 13:49

+10

I used this machine when camping I wanted something cheap and relatively power conscious since it was running off an inverter. I use a Breville BES860 at home matched with a Smart grinder so this is what I am comparing it to. The kmart machine is alright. It does actually surprisingly push out a decent shot of coffee. Everything is very plastic. So I can't see it lasting a long time. I purchased it at the same price as above. When I was looking around for a cheap machine some people have suggested their is a strong plastic taste on the extract. I don't get this, but I always push a double shot through so I properly drown the plastic flavour out. The milk wand is okay. I can get it to relatively successfully stretch the milk, but its no where near as easy/smooth as I can achieve with the Breville. There is no automatic cut off either, so if you get distracted by shiny objects, be prepared to have an overflowing cup and start again. Remember a shot should be about 30ml of coffee (double is 60ml), so you do need to watch it. It doesn't come with a milk jug, so you will need to purchase one of them separately, I think these are around $10 at kmart. I wouldn't get a large one with the intention of doing more then one cup at a time, cause the wand is tiny.
The buttons are a little confusing, sometimes I couldn't work out what was going on without pressing everything (that could just be a hungover in the bush thing. Would I recommend, yes for a second home, in the bush, can't afford anything better then instant. If you can afford to spend more I would.
- Phil22 on 19/10/2020 - 13:55
  
  +1
  
  Thanks for the review
  - jste9088 on 19/10/2020 - 13:56
    
    +2
    
    All good. Its an alright little machine.
- gcaliari on 19/10/2020 - 15:24
  
  I have this machine and I completely agree with this review. I'll just add that the tamper is terrible, I had to buy a $7 coffee tamper from Victoria's basement. That plus a manual grinder and my cheap espresso setup gets the job done.
NinongSmart on 19/10/2020 - 14:16

I bought this machine back in Feb, just before the lockdowns.

The unit turns on but the pump was DOA, heating works as well. So I had to return it.

I ended up buying a Delonghi automatic - saved me from going crazy this WFH.
Benno123 on 19/10/2020 - 14:20

+1

'it looks the business'
Have I seen the same thing? It's a plastic piece of e-waste that looks and feels cheap and nasty.
- itstuan on 19/10/2020 - 14:30
  
  Lol I don’t even know what “looks business” even mean. Maybe the machine looks like it wears a black suits. A cheap one from kmart that is.
- nfr on 19/10/2020 - 15:07
  
  +1
  
  Ewaste disposal is a serious business
cubes81 on 19/10/2020 - 14:28

+3

i have one. i'm very happy with it, but i'm no coffee snob
snackpacket on 19/10/2020 - 15:09

+7
Everyone saying this machine sucks probably didn't give it enough of a go. I work at a winery as a barista, know my stuff - this machine is really freaking good once you learn it. Admittedly, that takes a LONG time. My GF has a Barista Express, I can make WAY better coffee with the Anko. Here's some tips.

You'll see a lot of people complaining it tastes of burnt plastic or rubber. It will, out of the box. FIX: run a tank or 2 of vinegar through it, then 2 or 3 tanks of water through it.

The milk wand has a little sheath. I don't use it. Much easier to control.

Get the machine extra hot before using it. I put it on Steam mode ("get hotter" mode, aka too hot to pull espresso) and then once the orange light comes on (indicating it is hot enough to steam), I vent out the steam a few times until it cools down enough to re-engage the heating mechanism (orange light goes off and it starts to re-heat), getting extra hot.

Steam your milk, (20 seconds, it is QUICK once you get it properly hot), then turn off Steam Mode button and vent the steam wand to bring the temperature down to Espresso level (100 deg).

Leave the (empty/dirty) group handle in while you do all the above, making the group head also get extremely hot. Then take it out and put your ground coffee into the nice hot group head. I always use the double shot one, but fill it about 60% (1-2 mm gap off the top). It is pressurized, so you don't need to pack it full to the fill line. (In fact, I get better results when I don't.

"Lavazza Oro" pre-ground is actually really good on this machine, if you don't have a grinder.

If anyone wants to see this, or calls BS on this, I can make a video of the process.
- gcaliari on 19/10/2020 - 15:27
  
  Thanks for the tips, I'll try extra hot setting tomorrow
  - snackpacket on 19/10/2020 - 15:29
    
    It makes a big difference. As soon as you start pulling a shot the water drops quickly down from 100 degrees. The idea is you want to keep it up around 100 as long as possible, so starting with a hot basket and with as much heat in the machine as possible will make your shot quality pro AF.
    - bobzor on 20/10/2020 - 00:08
      
      Can you make a video? Or tell me how long all these steps take to make just 1 coffee…
- itstuan on 19/10/2020 - 15:45
  
  +3
  
  Yes but if you know your stuff, you can make good coffee from any machines right? Or would you say this one make better coffee than higher end machines?
  - snackpacket on 19/10/2020 - 15:59
    
    +3
    
    This is true - I have made over 1000 coffees on this machine, and I'd say even now I am getting better at it. I use a professional machine at the winery (can't recall the name as I haven't been there in 6 months…) and I can make better coffee at home. I make better cups here than at 90% of the nearby cafes. But, in comparison, I've probably only made 30-50 coffees on the Barista Express, so perhaps I would master that one over time as well.
    
    A few things I like better about anko over barista express:
    
    It is manually timed. I like to eyeball my coffee shots, and stop them when they look good. The barista express has timed shots (programmable) but you can't really eyeball them.
    
    The steamer on the ANKO has a dial, so you can turn it up and down. If it is hot enough, as soon as you turn the dial, steam comes out. On the Barista Express, it has an on-off switch for steam, which takes about 8 seconds to begin steaming, and then once it starts, there is no way to control the flow.
    
    Anko has a temperature gauge, which I find more useful than a shot-pressure gauge. The temp gauge let's you find the exact temperate to extract the shot. The pressure gauge doesn't really show anything useful, as it only gives its data once the shot is pouring. It's like a "how'd I do?" gauge, but the thing is, you can see if your pressure was alright by inspecting the shot/crema. So I find it pretty pointless.
    - cerealJay on 19/10/2020 - 16:19
      
      +1
      
      I use a professional machine at the winery… and I can make better coffee at home
      
      This just means you make bad coffee at the winery.
      
      It's okay, wineries are not known for their coffee. In fact, serving an inferior beverage may help steer people towards the wine.
      - snackpacket on 19/10/2020 - 16:37
        
        +1
        
        @cerealJay: I make really good coffee with the Anko, that's all. I'm really happy with it.
    - itstuan on 19/10/2020 - 16:32
      
      +1
      
      Thanks for the explanation. Sounds like the Anko does make decent coffee if done right. The temperature & pressure gauge tips are very handy. I always wonder what it does.
- Asx10000 on 19/10/2020 - 16:10
  
  Thanks for your tips. If you create a youtube video and post here, I believe it will attract lots of views. Another income maybe, to make this machine an even better bargain ;)
  - snackpacket on 19/10/2020 - 16:33
    
    Haha, I'll be sure to put extra ads in it.
- brotherfranciz on 19/10/2020 - 23:09
  
  +1
  
  I can make a video of the process.
  
  I actually would appreciate it if you did make the video please? It all sounds very daunting to me as I don't really know much about making coffee.
  
  I feel like I've probably wasted my money on the Breville Barista Express not being able to use it to it's full potential.
- serpserpserp on 23/10/2020 - 21:06
  
  +1
  
  Please make a video.
  
  You had me until you mentioned Lavazza…
Cousin Eddie on 19/10/2020 - 20:55

A tea drinkers answer to a good coffee!
naruto43 on 26/10/2020 - 20:19

Just received the Coffee machine, The coffee is decent and additionally, the milk frother gives a taste that is similar to a small coffee shop.
WhoGiveAShxt on 30/10/2020 - 23:31

+1

I don't think Pru Engel From Choice understand what is a good espresso or perhaps what is coffee at all
wisdomtooth on 10/11/2020 - 16:52

Duplicate.
- DoesntEvenMatter on 11/11/2020 - 22:44
  
  That was 2yrs ago. It's over the 6month repost cut off
minircc on 15/12/2020 - 21:52

+1

I've had this machine for almost a year and use it daily. I am a coffeesnob. This is what the Anko machine is capable of for those who know what they are doing. For the price it definitely punches above its weight.

https://youtu.be/2rrAn40ZP90 (a short video of the non pressurised bottomless extraction)

I got a cheap 51mm non pressurised basket online for around $5. The bottomless portafilter was a spare I cut using a hack saw. I like to see my extractions but this step isn't necessary.

The more important thing is having a burr grinder that can go superfine and good beans.

The coffee extraction is okay with what it comes with (all pressurised machines are similar, even the Delonghi EC9335.M only comes with pressurised baskets for beginners), but the Anko becomes amazing once non pressurised. Obviously not for the beginner though.

This was posted 3 years 6 months ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

Anko CM5013-SA Espresso Coffee Machine $89 @ Kmart

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