Russell Hobbs Caffé Milano Espresso Coffee Machine

Please note this is a review of a Russell Hobbs Espresso Coffee Machine bought from HOLB. Not the customer care service from Jade Scheepers, which has been wonderful.

The Russell Hobbs Espresso machine has been replaced twice. Both times for, what I now know, is the exact same thing - it’s a terrible and quite dangerous machine that should be recalled

The first time we returned it was after 13 months because the portafilter kept exploding off the machine spraying water everywhere and destroying hundreds of rands of coffee in the process

HOLB & Jade Scheepers were wonderful in assisting me with a new replacement model

However this one started giving problems within 3 months of receiving it. Same problem. The portafilter (or adapter that holds the basket with your ground coffee beans) would explode off the machine, boiling hot water would come gushing out spilling hot dirty coffee water, and in some cases breaking the coffee cup I had placed under the pouring spout

My breaking point was when my hand and arm got badly burned and I needed medical attention

The 2nd machine has now been returned to HOLB who are due to refund us. But we have not been told if or when that refund will happen

My strong advice to consumers would be to not buy Russell Hobbs products at all.