The Satrap Espresso XA is an espresso machine sold in Coop supermarkets and at Coop Building and Hobby stores. It was the winner in the Kassensturz espresso machine test . We took a closer look at the Satrap XA and summarized what the CHF 249 machine can do here.
Test and tips for the Satrap Espresso XA
Our goal as coffee makers is to help espresso machine users get better results from their machines. We find this particularly important and exciting for more affordable espresso machines. The more expensive an espresso machine is—and we test machines that cost 1,000, 2,000, or 3,000 francs—the more we expect it to deliver. The cheaper an espresso machine is, the more a test report becomes a supplement to a guide with tips and tricks for getting the most out of a coffee machine.
That's what we set out to do with the Satrap Espresso XA. There are some things we really like about the Satrap Espresso XA. And with the appropriate motivation, we tackled the espresso machine's biggest flaws to figure out how to cover them up.
Accessories and processing: Tamper crowning
Three accessories or special features distinguish the Satrap Espresso XA. The tamper is not only very well-suited for its price range. It fits neatly with the sieve in the portafilter and has a solid metal base, making it perfect for leveling and compacting the coffee grounds. We wish many dual-boiler espresso machines costing over 1,000 Swiss francs had a tamper like this.
The portafilter is equally impressive. The filter measures 58 mm, which is a standard size for professional espresso machines and machines with the Faema E61 brewing group. In fact, the same applies here as for the tamper. The portafilter would fit perfectly on an espresso machine costing well over €1,000 without any loss of quality. The double spout and the single spout can be unscrewed and replaced.
While we don't consider pressure gauges to be particularly helpful when setting up an espresso machine, we do like the time display . It gives the barista a sense of how long the espresso has been brewing. We discuss why this can be confusing in the chapter "Setting Up the Espresso Machine and Grinder." Nevertheless, a timer is generally helpful and far from standard in the price range under 300 CHF.
While the tamper, portafilter, and time display deserve positive mention, the rest of the espresso machine is a complete contrast. Cheap plastic is everywhere—appropriate for the price, you might say. What's unfortunate, however, is that the model we tested was already the second one to drip from the steam wand during espresso extraction.
Otherwise, the machine is compact, measuring 35.5 cm long, 31.9 cm wide, and 38.4 cm high. The water tank can be removed and refilled. Important: Use softened water with all espresso machines!
Espresso quality like Russian roulette
We made good espresso with the Satrap Espresso XA. Unfortunately, despite trying all the tricks, we weren't able to achieve consistent results. The biggest problem with the machine is its temperature consistency.
What we can definitively say is that water should be drawn for at least 5 seconds before brewing an espresso. If not, then the temperature during the espresso brewing process is definitely too high. Unfortunately, however, it often exceeds the desired target temperature despite drawing water. The perfect brewing temperature for making espresso is around 93 degrees Celsius. Depending on the coffee selected, this can vary slightly. However, we're talking about a deviation of 1-2 degrees Celsius.
The Satrap Espress XA not only varies in its starting temperature every time, but also in its final temperature. In some brews, we measured temperature fluctuations of up to 15 degrees.
The temperature curve of the Satrap Espresso XA is impressively inconsistent.
In terms of extraction and taste, this is almost like a round of Russian roulette, with alternating bitterness and acidity blowing you away. Low temperatures greatly intensify the perceived acidity. High temperatures promote unpleasant bitterness. In both cases, a balancing acidity is lacking.
In addition, changing temperatures also affect the extraction rate. This is usually adjusted by the grind size, which we'll discuss in the following section.
Setting up the espresso machine and grinder
The Satrap Espresso XA features a built-in timer. This means it stops dispensing water after a preset time. By default, the espresso machine stops after 25 seconds.
Such a control system is actually more advanced than many controls on more expensive espresso machines, such as those in the dual-circuit segment . These don't stop automatically at all, but are manually stopped by the user after X amount of time or Y amount of brewed coffee.
In fact, the Satrap Espresso XA actually delivers more in this regard than other espresso machines. However, this can lead to confusion, especially if traditional setup instructions and guides are followed, or if users aren't fully familiar with the principles of setting up the grinder and espresso machine.
- A good grinder is a prerequisite for making decent coffee with the Satrap Espresso XA.
- A scale is essential to check the amount of medication used each time you use it.
The Satrap Espresso XA does not come with a double-walled sieve . A double-walled sieve allows for the use of pre-ground coffee. Normally, the espresso flow rate is adjusted by the grinder's grind setting. Since pre-ground coffee is already ground and cannot be adjusted, the resistance in the double-walled sieve extends the espresso's brewing time.
The explanations for the settings of an espresso grinder are usually as follows: the grinding level should be set so that the espresso runs out in about 25 seconds in order to achieve a filling quantity of about 20 ml/g in the cup.
Dec: Unlike a Delonghi Dedica EC 685 or a Solis Barista Perfetta Plus , the Satrap Espresso XA stops after 25 seconds, not after 20 ml/g in the cup. If the grinder's grind is set too coarsely, the cup will fill much too quickly. The machine will still stop after 25 seconds. The cup will then be full or overflowing. If the grind is set too finely, there will be barely a drop in the cup after 25 seconds. The result is the same as with a machine with volumetric stopping. The grinder must be set correctly. However, the approach is different and requires more consistent and even control of the fill level in the cup with each extraction.
Frothing milk for cappuccino with the Satrap Espresso XA
Those who enjoy cappuccino or latte macchiato are better served by the Satrap Espresso XA than those who prefer espresso. While espresso rarely tastes exactly the same as the last, the espresso machine produces a good amount of foam using the small 0.35-liter jug.
And when you pour milk foam over an espresso, the quality of the espresso no longer plays the biggest role.
Conclusion on the Satrap Espresso XA espresso machine
The Satrap Espresso XA is labeled as a piston machine on the packaging, even though it isn't. A piston machine would be a fully automatic coffee machine or a lever machine, such as the Flair or the manual rotary espresso machine Aram.
The discrepancy between packaging and contents also extends to the machine. While the tamper and portafilter make us jump for joy, the temperature inconsistency terrifies us. While we find the timer control rather than volumetric control interesting, we would prefer this for a more advanced machine and consider it problematic in the entry-level segment.
Therefore, we can hardly recommend the Satrap Espresso XA for making espresso, except for further processing into a coffee schnapps or cappuccino. Some shots will be delicious, and you can also drink the espresso neat. However, the American double latte version will often be the best solution for neutralizing bitterness and acidity.
