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Solis SL-90

Solis SL-90
alaScore 77

23 reviews

Nov, 2024

alaTest has collected and analyzed 23 reviews of Solis SL-90. The average rating for this product is 4.0/5, compared to an average rating of 4.2/5 for other products in the same category for all reviews. Comments about the noise and price are on the whole positive. The size and capacity are also mentioned favorably. Some have doubts about the maintenance, while reviews about the reliability and design are different.

usability, capacity, size, price, noise

maintenance

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other products in the same category the Solis SL-90 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 77/100 = Good quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 23 reviews)

User Reviews  

Showing 23 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

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Showing 1 - 10 of 23 Show Reviews: in English

Consumer review (coffeegeek.com)

Great performance, Nice machine (internally) Nice Looking machine (externally) makes great coffee.

 

Overall, I like this machine. The distributor was able to get me some non crema-enhanced filter cups, and it made the machine top notch as far as the output goes. I wish the structural integrity was better, but I've learned to hold the top of the...

Heavy duty brass boiler, high powered heaters with very little lag time between ready lights. Good quality filter holder. Lots of steam with this machine. Steam wand parks above the drip tray so it can be purged without another container which is a...

Structurally not very impressive. Frame twists when cranking the porta-filter into place. Too much plastic holding things together. Cup heater is not very warm. Wont take much of a chill off the cups. I still have to preheat everything in hot water

Sep, 2010

Consumer review (coffeegeek.com)

amateurish machine.

 

seems overpriced for what it is. doesn't really have the power to make a good shot. the frother works well but it is weak on the espresso. maybe i got a defective unit, could be the problem but was expecting a lot more from what i heard about this...

steam

power

Apr, 2010

Consumer review (coffeegeek.com)

Decent machine for a novice but will quickly outgrow.

 

This was my first espresso machine and after using it for a few weeks, I had a bit of buyer's remorse but have kept using the machine for over a year now. Despite doing research before making this purchase, I admittedly didn't know much about making...

Great at frothing milk and making milk-based espresso drinks ; Provides hot water on demand for tea ; Easy to use, takes some of the guess work out of making espresso, good for a novice

The preinfusion feature--you can't disable this ; The portafilter is smaller than a standard professional grade size and produces uneven shots if doing a double into two different cups ; It comes with pressurized filters and shots are average even with...

Mar, 2010

Consumer review (coffeegeek.com)

A very nice home espresso machine, will produce a good shot.

 

I sold my large Faema because it was too much work- cleaning and maintaining. I also wanted a unit I could keep in the kitchen. I think my initial disappointment was from taking this big step down, and also because I didn't have a quality grinder to...

A nice looking compact machine that is well designed, simple to use and able to produce a good shot of espresso ; Has plenty of steam, does a good job of micro frothing milk for your lattes ; You can set the shot volumes, and the machine auto shuts...

Comes with a built in tamper, be sure to buy a decent one ; Takes about 30 seconds to switch to steam, and about a minute to switch back

Jun, 2007

Consumer review (coffeegeek.com)

Overall in its price range, the SL-90 is hard to beat.

 

I bought the SL-90 to replace my leaking Krups Semi Commercial Maximo and in almost all aspects has been a great improvement. It heats up quickly and the cup warmer does a much better job than the Krups. Programmed shot sizes is nice. I used the...

Produces good repeatable shots, great steam, well controlled temperatures, heavy-duty internal construction

Smallish portafiller, no 3-way solenoid valve results in "puff" when removing portafiller, long cool down or need to bleed pressure after steaming to produce another shot

Apr, 2007

Consumer review (coffeegeek.com)

Nice idea which should be executed with higher quality parts

 

I purchased this machine after comparing features. I wanted a machine which would upgrade the quality of the espresso from the cheap models purchased locally, and still be usable by my wife, who is not an equipment geek. I purchased the SL90 on line...

Very easy to use. The volume of shots may be set in easy increments using push buttons. Once the volume is set, repeating is a cinch ; The setup is very intuitive, and, if the machine is working, the quality is consistent ; When you use the pressure...

Cheap plastic construction ; Electronic parts which failed ; Espresso quality is not first rate ; Once steam is engaged, it takes time to get back to brewing ; Cup warmer is worthless ; Height is too low over drip rail ; Not as reliable as I had hoped

Oct, 2006

Consumer review (coffeegeek.com)

A reliable source of good-to-excellent espresso.

 

I was originally looking for a Gaggia Espresso/Coffee or an Innova/Ascaso Arc when I bought this machine. On the other hand, my bids on both of those easily got blown out of the water, but late at night I managed to win the auction on the SL90 for a...

Very good looking machine (I have the newly released white-silver colour scheme, which I believe to be better than the older black-silver one), great fit&finish ; The quality and intensity of the espresso are excellent ; Substantial machine. It's...

The water tank hose came loose during shipping and it's hard to figure out how to disassemble the machine and reconnect it ; Solis pressurized filter much more finicky with respect to grind and tamp than Krups or DeLonghi pressurized filters ; Built-in...

Jun, 2006

Consumer review (coffeegeek.com)

Great coffee, damn easy to use, with possibility of really having some fun

 

After having a small introductory Breville espresso machine (wedding present), then finding out there was so much more to home espresso, I did what any good geek does, and went in search of an upgrade.

Large water tank ; Brass portafilter ; great steamer ; easy to use ; great size

pressurised baskets ; basket retainer mechanism ; fixed steam wand ; some may want a more flashy look

Apr, 2006

Consumer review (coffeegeek.com)

In it's class the SL90 delivers, but you could quickly outgrow it.

 

First, some comments about product concerns or improvements. The drip tray needs to be deeper because it has to be drained fairly often. The built-in tamper is mainly useful while you are learning "and" using the included pressurized filters. Once...

Makes better espresso than you'll get at many "coffee bars" if you use the non-pressurized filters. Love the see-thru water reservoir that makes it so easy to see when you need to refill. Great steaming capability that allowed me to quickly get up to...

If you need to make multiple (more than two) sequential drinks, it's not that much fun to use. Very succeptible to internal disconnect of the hoses and some electrical plugs during shipment

Oct, 2003

Consumer review (coffeegeek.com)

Zero to Latte in under five minutes and great shots, too!

 

Minneapolis isn't a coffee Mecca. We have Starbucks, Dunn Bros., Carabou Coffee and numerous independents all of whom provide perfectly adequate product. There is much written about Deity shots and I suppose, since I've never been to Italy or Seattle...

I can pull a better shot than I've ever had before in a commercial coffee house and they tell me it will get a lot better when I use the non-pressurized filter I just ordered

Many complain about the lack of torsional rigidity when turning the portafilter. I haven't had any problems with it but the machine does flex. Some also complain that the housing is plastic rather than stainless. I don't see this as much of a...

Jun, 2003

Price comparison for Solis SL-90

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