Casabrews · Thermoblock5700PRO
An all-in-one semi-automatic espresso machine with a built-in conical burr grinder, PID-controlled thermocoil heating, and a 58mm portafilter — all under $600 street price. TikTok made it famous; the specs make the case on their own.
The short version
The 5700PRO packages a real conical burr grinder, PID temperature control, and a manual steam wand into a compact brushed-steel body at a price that undercuts most integrated-grinder rivals by a significant margin.
Buyers must accept a vibratory pump that is audibly noisy, a fairly involved setup workflow, and a shot-quality ceiling that stops well short of a dedicated grinder-plus-machine pairing.
Why people buy it
- Integrated conical burr grinder with 15 settings and grind-memory function eliminates the need for a separate grinder at this price tier
- PID temperature control via thermocoil heating system delivers consistent water temperature shot to shot
Why they don’t
- Vibratory ULKA pump is genuinely loud — measured ~65 dB brewing, ~75 dB frothing — and vibrates the countertop noticeably
The full tally
- Integrated conical burr grinder with 15 settings and grind-memory function eliminates the need for a separate grinder at this price tier
- PID temperature control via thermocoil heating system delivers consistent water temperature shot to shot
- 58mm commercial-standard portafilter with single and double baskets, plus a distributor and tamper, included in the box
- LCD display shows real-time grinding and extraction animations plus a built-in shot timer
- Vibratory ULKA pump is genuinely loud — measured ~65 dB brewing, ~75 dB frothing — and vibrates the countertop noticeably
- Shot quality is capped by the built-in grinder: 15 stepped settings cannot match a standalone espresso-grade burr grinder for dialling precision
- Manufacturer includes a spare grinder burr assembly in the box, which raises legitimate questions about expected grinder longevity
What the community knows
Years of owner threads, distilled — well regarded.
Affordable all-in-one with sleek design and acceptable short-term shot quality, but newcomer status, unproven long-term durability, documented thermoblock/sensor issues, and minimal parts ecosystem leave the five-year question unanswered—reason to prefer battle-tested…
Value
price-to-performance the community respects
Beginner fit
kind to first-timers
Design pull
All 9 community measures
price-to-performance the community respects
shows up every morning, year after year
parts and repairs — you are never stranded
mods, guides, and community know-how around it
kind to first-timers
years before you outgrow or replace it
how far the cup can go, per dollar
speed and simplicity, day to day
Worth knowing before you buy — Most owners wish they had put the money toward a Breville Barista Express or saved longer for a used Gaggia Classic—more documented reliability for not much more outlay.
Known weak points — Water level sensor failures causing persistent fill-tank errors; thermoblock temperature instability requiring manual cooldown after steaming; grinder distribution unevenness requiring manual redistribution; calcium buildup risk from lack of water filtration in tank.
The measurements
Scored 0–5 on the same rubric as everything on file — the words matter more than the numbers.
The measurements
0–5, one rubric- Shot ceiling
- capable2.5
- Steam power
- workable2.5
- Built to last
- fair2.5
- Easy daily
- demanding2
Position in the market
Every dot is a rival, measured the same way. The gold one is this.
- Lower half for shot ceiling
- a higher ceiling than 14 of the 237 machines we’ve measured
- A value pick at this level
- 82% of machines this capable cost more
- Lower half for build
- sturdier than 16% of the field, by the community’s own record
Every dot is a machine measured on the same rubric. See the whole market
Living with it
The part spec sheets skip: counter space, upkeep, and what owners learn later.
The honest note — Owners who catch the bug typically outgrow the built-in grinder's limited step resolution before the machine itself. Natural next step is a standalone machine in the Breville Barista Express Pro or De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro tier, or splitting into a dedicated grinder paired with a single-boiler like the Breville Bambino Plus.
The full spec sheet
- Type
- Thermoblock / thermojet
- Heat-up time
- 45 seconds
- Steam power
- 2.5/5
- Brew + steam at once
- No
- Guest recovery
- 2/5
- Shot quality ceiling
- 2.5/5
- PID temperature control
- Yes
- Milk system
- Manual steam wand
- One-touch drinks
- 2
- Removable brew group
- No
- Hot-water tap
- Yes
- Workflow demand
- 3/5
- Maintenance
- 3/5
- Noise
- 4/5
- Build longevity
- 2.5/5
- Dimensions
- 32.5 × 28.4 × 41.9 cm
Before it arrives
What completes this machine — the faded pieces can wait.
Descaler & backflush kit — Electric boilers scale up and grouts gunk up — a descaler plus backflush routine is what keeps the machine alive for a decade.
- Descaler & backflush kit — Electric boilers scale up and grouts gunk up — a descaler plus backflush routine is what keeps the machine alive for a decade.
- Coffee scale with timer — Espresso is a ratio. A 0.1g scale with a built-in timer is the single biggest consistency upgrade for any manual machine.
- Espresso cups & glassware — Proper demitasse and latte glasses keep the drink hot and look the part.
Feed it right
Week one is dial-in — and stale beans will lose it.
Coffee more than a few weeks past roast won’t extract predictably, and a new machine gets blamed for it. While you learn it, a forgiving medium-light roast keeps dial-in kind — bright enough to taste progress, sweet enough to drink the misses.
Pick your coffee — any of these dials in beautifully here:
Wild Ember - Ethiopian Buno Dambi UddoSCA 92Medium roast · Odo Shakiso, Guji Zone, Oromia · NaturalBlueberry · MarmaladeSteady and repeatable — right for this setup’s lane.CA$26.83 · roasted to order
Etherea - Ethiopian YirgacheffeSCA 88Medium roast · NaturalJasmine · BergamotSteady and repeatable — right for this setup’s lane.CA$24.16 · roasted to order
Sergio - Brazillian Fazenda Joia Rara Aerobic FermentedSCA 88Medium-light · Cerrado Mineiro · Aerobic FermentedHoney · OrangeSteady and repeatable — right for this setup’s lane.CA$29.18 · roasted to orderNo proper grinder yet? Sort that first — it decides more of the cup than the machine does. We ship whole bean, roast-dated, timed so it lands fresh the week your burrs do.
Roasted to order, daily, in Ajax, Ontario · ships Canada-wide. We’re the roastery behind this database — measuring the machines is how we make sure the coffee gets a fair shot.
On film
How it runs on camera, from around the community.
Common questions
Does the 5700PRO require an external grinder?
No. The machine ships with an integrated conical burr grinder with 15 adjustable grind settings and a grind-memory function. No separate grinder is needed.
Can the 5700PRO brew and steam milk at the same time?
No. The thermocoil heating system is a single-circuit design, so you must brew your espresso shot first, then switch to steam mode to froth milk.
What portafilter size does the 5700PRO use?
It uses a 58mm stainless steel portafilter, which is the commercial-standard diameter. Single and double-wall filter baskets are included in the box.
How loud is the 5700PRO?
TechRadar measured approximately 65 dB during brewing and 75 dB during milk frothing — noticeably louder than premium rotary-pump machines, though not extraordinary for a home vibratory-pump machine.
Why does the box include a spare grinder?
Casabrews includes a spare burr grinder assembly, which reviewers have noted raises questions about longevity. The manufacturer frames it as goodwill, but it is a fair thing to keep an eye on over the long term.
Worth comparing
Breville
Duo Temp Pro (BES810BSS)
Breville's entry-level manual machine that punches above its price with PID temperature control, low-pressure pre-infusion, and a proper manual steam wand — all without a built-in grinder or a solenoid valve.
US$399–499
Breville
Barista Express Impress (BES876)
An all-in-one semi-automatic with a built-in conical burr grinder, automated dosing feedback, and an assisted 22 lb tamping lever — the Barista Express upgraded to remove the two most common beginner failure points.
US$649–799 · CA$1,115–1,150
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