Fracino heavenly -is it heaven or hell?

So considering an espresso machine for the home and your search reveals the Fracino!

Its a hell of a price for what is a machine for the home -I see that Pennine have a special on-line price of £675 ~ in my opinion far too much for such a machine. I have no personal experience with this particular model but on previous forays into Fracino machines I know they are made down to a price - sometimes to “cheap and nasty”.

There seem to be a few comments on blogs that certain features - the steam for example - have a “mind of their own”. I think if I had paid the above price I would have made somewhat stronger and more of a blunt comment.

Alternatives to the above are many - for example the Ascaso Uno espresso machine which is sold by Verde Coffee and many other for a slightly more reasonable price of around £350. Many of the Gaggia home machines are reasonably priced and for a domestic machine good value.

I would be interested if you have any experience of the machine - please do let me know? Heaven or Hell?