I love a good espresso, but I don't love feeling like I'm operating a NASA launch panel just to get it.

My family of 3-9 (depending on the week) runs on caffeine. We have the CASABREWS CM5418, which has survived back-to-back espressos, mid-afternoon slumps, and my dad's inability to clean the thing out after he uses it. It's the little 20 bar workhorse that could, and it's still going strong.

But now, of course, CASABREWS had to go and up the ante with the Ultra Espresso Machine, which has a full LCD display and a design that looks like it belongs in a European cafe instead of next to our toaster. And now it's 24% off on Amazon, which is the temptation of the day for me as a professional online shopper.

The Ultra Espresso Machine is everything people love about CASABREWS. It's compact, sleek, and insanely powerful, but now with touch-screen control and a built-in milk frother that actually makes microfoam, not bubbles. The LCD interface alone makes it look smarter than all of us combined, and the upgraded brewing precision means consistently perfect crema, no matter who's behind the portafilter.

It features 20 bar professional pressure, adjustable shot volumes, and precise temperature control, all in a stainless-steel body that looks like it was designed by an Italian minimalist with trust issues. The LCD display makes it easier than ever to switch between single and double shots, steam milk, or clean the machine without the "is it blinking or is it done?" guessing game. It's basically the CM5418's glow-up: same heart, better brain, and a lot more style.

This article was written by Kendall Cornish, New York Post Commerce Editor & Reporter. Kendall, who moonlights as a private chef in the Hamptons for New York elites, lends her expertise to testing and recommending cooking products - for beginners and aspiring sous chefs alike. Simmering and seasoning her way through both jobs, Kendall dishes on everything from the best cookware for your kitchen to cooking classes that will level-up your skills to new dinnerware to upgrade your holiday hosting. Prior to joining the Post's shopping team in 2023, Kendall previously held positions at Apartment Therapy and at Dotdash Meredith's Travel + Leisure and Departures magazines.

My favorite espresso brand's foolproof (trust me) and its upgrade...