Casabrews 3700Essential Espresso Machine: A Beginner’s Guide to Affordable, Café-Quality Coffee at Home

Article by: Diana Fountaine

Published: MARCH 28, 2025

For many interested in trying home espresso for the first time, buying a new machine can feel overwhelming. With endless options for every budget, influencer recommendations and conflicting Amazon reviews make what should be a simple decision more complicated. Despite the clutter, the 3700Essential espresso machine from Casabrews stands out with its sleek design, intuitive controls, and wallet-friendly price, making it one of the best options available.

What’s in the Box? The 3700Essential’s Beginner-Friendly Setup.

Out of the box, the 3700Essential includes a 49oz removable water tank, a plastic scoop that doubles as a tamper, and a portafilter with two baskets for one or two-cup espresso servings. However, a separate milk pitcher for frothing must be purchased. The two included pressurized baskets help beginners and those without a quality burr grinder use pre-ground coffee. Espresso isn’t a type of bean, roast, or grind—it’s a brew method that relies on pressure. The machine pumps hot water through tightly compacted, finely ground coffee to create espresso.

The 3700Essential features a professional Italian 20-bar pressure system capable of producing excellent espresso. However, finding the right grind to generate sufficient pressure can be tricky. The pressurized portafilter baskets simplify the process, allowing beginners to start brewing immediately. As users gain confidence, they can upgrade to a burr grinder like the Tornado and eventually switch to a non-pressurized portafilter basket for a more advanced experience.

Setting Up Your Machine

Start by washing and drying all removable parts with a small amount of dish detergent. Avoid submerging the portafilter in water to prevent rust. Next, run at least one full cycle (or a full water tank) through the machine. Once completed, the machine is ready for brewing espresso.

Preheating Your Machine

Preheating ensures the machine and portafilter reach the proper temperature. Unlike automatic drip machines, espresso machines require warming up first. Preheating applies to all coffee machines, including auto drip machines. One reason barista-made pour-overs taste superior is the attention to preheating. Turn the machine on, and the blue lights on all buttons will flash, indicating the heating process. Once they stop, attach the portafilter without coffee grounds and run a brew cycle to ensure proper preheating.

Adding Your Grounds

Decide whether to brew one or two cups of espresso, then add coffee grounds. Use the scoop to fill the filter basket to the designated line. Press the grounds down evenly using the tamper end of the scoop tool. The basket doesn’t need to be completely full, but there must be enough space for water to contact the coffee grounds evenly during brewing.

Brewing Espresso

After tamping the grounds flat and even, insert the portafilter into the brew head and turn it to the right. If turning the portafilter feels difficult, too many grounds may be in the basket. Once secured, press either the one- or two-cup button to start brewing. The machine’s efficient brewing process ensures consistent results with minimal effort, allowing users to enjoy high-quality espresso at home.

Dialing in Your Grind

Pre-ground supermarket coffee works fine, but grinding beans fresh enhances espresso quality. Grind size directly affects brewing time. Regardless of using the one- or two-cup basket, total brew time should fall between 20 and 40 seconds. If brewing takes longer than 40 seconds or very little coffee emerges, the grind is too fine. If brewing finishes in under 20 seconds, the grind is too coarse. These rules apply to both pressurized and non-pressurized baskets. Mastering the grind size allows users to extract the optimal flavors from their coffee beans, enhancing their overall espresso experience.

Steaming Milk

After mastering espresso, steaming milk becomes the next step for making lattes, cappuccinos, cortados, and other milk-based espresso drinks. The 3700Essential includes a professional-grade steam nozzle capable of producing excellent foam. Press the steam button and allow the machine to reach optimal temperature. Next, purge the steam wand by turning the steam dial completely and waiting for steam to emerge.

Use a milk pitcher and pour in enough cold milk, ensuring it stays at least one inch below the spout. Never fill the pitcher more than an inch above the spout’s base. Insert the steam wand just below the milk’s surface and turn the steam dial fully on. Hold the pitcher by the handle with one hand while placing the other hand on the bottom of the pitcher. When the pitcher reaches hand temperature, lower the steam wand further into the milk. Periodically touch the side of the pitcher to check the heat level. Once the pitcher becomes too hot to hold comfortably, turn off the steam nozzle and remove the pitcher.

After steaming, purge the steam wand again by turning the dial the opposite way and allowing steam to escape for a few seconds. Wipe the wand with a damp towel to remove residual milk. Proper maintenance of the steam wand ensures consistent frothing performance and prevents milk buildup that could affect future use.

Pour and Enjoy

After steaming the milk, pour it over your shot of espresso and enjoy your drink. The smooth texture of the milk complements the rich espresso, creating a balanced and flavorful beverage. For those interested in latte art, Casabrews offers tutorials to help beginners refine their skills and create visually appealing designs.

Why Choose the 3700Essential?

The 3700Essential serves as an excellent choice for coffee lovers new to espresso or anyone looking to start a home espresso journey without breaking the bank. Its professional-grade tools, intuitive features, and excellent build quality empower users to craft café-quality drinks at home, their way. The machine’s affordability makes it accessible to a wide range of consumers, while its high-performance capabilities allow users to refine their brewing techniques over time. Whether seeking a simple espresso shot or crafting complex milk-based drinks, the 3700Essential delivers consistent results that rival those of commercial espresso machines. With proper care and practice, this machine becomes an essential tool for coffee enthusiasts striving for perfection in every cup.

Maintaining Your Machine

To ensure the longevity of the 3700Essential, regular cleaning and maintenance are necessary. Remove and rinse the portafilter and filter baskets after each use. Empty and rinse the drip tray frequently to prevent buildup. The steam wand should be wiped down after each use to remove milk residue, and purging the wand before and after steaming is essential. Additionally, descaling the machine every few months removes mineral deposits that can affect performance. Using filtered water helps reduce the frequency of descaling. Proper maintenance ensures the machine continues to operate efficiently and produces high-quality espresso for years to come.