The Casabrews 3700 Essential is a budget-friendly entry to espresso, but it trips on one too many hurdles

Date:
Wed, 17 Sep 2025 10:20:42 +0000

Description:
Casabrews makes some good entry-level coffee machines, but sadly this particular model falls short of expectations.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Casabrew s 3700 Essential: one-minute review

Casabrews hasnt quite garnered the same brand recognition as names like DeLonghi or Breville. But given it was only founded in 2020, its natural we dont see Casabrews machines dominating lists of the best espresso machines just yet.

Its difficult to know what to expect from this relative new-kid-on-the-block, and in my experience testing Casabrews espresso machines so far, the brands line-up has been a real mixed bag. The 3700 Essential continues that legacy
of leaving me conflicted. While its attractively designed, impressively compact, and delivers top-notch steamed milk; theres just too little consistency when it comes to the espresso itself. Add to that a persistent problem of dripping and messes after pulling shots, and my feelings are totally split. (Image credit: Future) Casabrews 3700 Essential: price and availability List price: $129.99 / 139.99 Available in the US and UK
Discounts available on Casabrews website

The Casabrews 3700 Essential is an affordable pick thats undoubtedly on the lower end of budget espresso machines.

Those in the US can buy the Casabrews 3700 Essential at the Casabrews website or on Amazon , and regardless of where you choose to shop, itll usually set you back $139.99. That said, Casabrews frequently has discounts available on its range.

In the UK, you can still order from the Casabrews site though all prices are listed in dollars. Alternatively, you can pick it up from Amazon UK .
However, your only color choices are silver and black, and the black variant costs $149.99. Value score: 5/5 (Image credit: Future) Casabrews 3700 Essential: specifications

Type

Semi-automatic espresso machine

Drink options

2 (single and double espresso)

Pump pressure

20 bar

Water tank capacity

43.9 oz / 1.24 liters

Steam wand

Yes, manual

Side (H x W x D)

12.5 x 5.7 x 12.6 inches / 31.75 x 14.48 x 32cm

Weight

10.25lbs / 4.65kg (Image credit: Future) Casabrews 3700 Essential: design Suitable for tiny kitchens Available in 5 colors (green, blue, silver, black, beige) Some high quality details, some not so high quality

In many respects, the Casabrews 3700 Essential is basically a slightly
cheaper twin of the Casabrews CM5418: they share the same portafilter size, almost the same dimensions, and have virtually identical functions. For the most part, all that sets them apart is a $10 price difference and a pretty substantial disparity in performance (but well get to that later).

The Casabrews 3700 Essential is an espresso machine that feels made to be space-savvy. A small footprint on a budget machine is almost always a great choice. After all, if youre on the hunt for an espresso machine under $150 dollars you might be a student, someone trying to budget, or just not ready
to dive headfirst into the world of espresso. No matter what your reason for opting for a low-cost machine, you likely dont have tons of counter space, or dont want to sacrifice it.

So, whether you have a cramped kitchen or want a caffeine fix in your office, the 3700 Essential fits the bill for a compact espresso machine, thanks to it coming in at less than six inches wide. Its half an inch larger in the back than the CM5418 in the back though to accommodate a larger water tank though, which is a bit of a shame. To me, a larger tank is only ever really a bad thing, as it incentivises you going longer without changing your water stagnant water isnt ever a note you want to bring to your coffee.

Aside from the machine itself, you also get a one-shot pressurized basket, a two-shot pressurized basket, and a plastic tamp scoop. These accessories are pretty bare bones, but this is to be expected given the price. With the inclusion of two pressurized (or double-walled) baskets and no
non-pressurized (or single-walled) baskets, the 3700 Essential should in theory deliver a more consistent output, even when using coffee that is too coarse or not freshly ground. Design score: 4/5 (Image credit: Future) Casabrews 3700 Essential: performance Inconsistencies with espresso output Beware of messes and drips Steam wand performs ideally

None of the Casabrews machines Ive tested so far have had a three-way
solenoid valve to relieve pressure on the puck after extraction, but the CM3700 Essential appears to suffer the most from its absence. Post-pull dripping was a notable issue with it, even beyond the amount I had come to tolerate while using budget espresso machines. I also had issues with the
puck appearing soupier than expected, and even experienced a nightmarish portafilter sneeze which sent wet, gloopy grounds flying across my drip tray and work surface.

This is a minor annoyance in the grand scheme of things but its not difficult to find a similarly priced-machine that doesnt suffer from these problems to the same degree. All of this meant that I had to remind myself to wait a little while after pulling a shot before removing (and cleaning) my portafilter to avoid having to drop sludge into my knock box. This is a deceptively simple request for someone like me, whos likely to forget about
it entirely, and find myself greeted by a gross crusty puck the next morning. (Image credit: Future)

Thankfully, the side effects of excess portafilter pressure can be mitigated by getting properly accumulated to the rhythm of your machine. For the most part, you can avoid a big clean-up job once you figure out exactly when to stop your shot, when to remove your cup, how fine you can grind before your machine starts to choke, and when to safely and cleanly remove your portafilter. That knowledge comes with time and practice but I cant help feeling like other machines Ive tested took far less getting accustomed to.

The slightly messy fuss of the CM3700 Essential might feel worth it if I was consistently pleased with the espresso that came out of it. While I had high hopes based on my first shot, performance proved to be variable in the long run.

I had some difficulty getting a confident, clean tamp on my puck as the tamp scoop was light, awkward to wield, and ever so slightly smaller than for my basket. This meant I had to perform multiple tamping motions while shifting the tamp around the puck in order to flatten the full surface area.
Obviously, this wasnt ideal and I could see the puck getting slightly cracked with each new push, but I worked to get the best preparation I could despite my struggles.

Besides, pressurized baskets are designed to compensate for imperfect grind size or technique, essentially forcing a thicker crema and pretty good extraction even with suboptimal coffee and puck prep. Thats why so many entry-level machines include them. Thankfully, the pressurized basket had created a pleasant-looking layer of crema whichwhile not technically a sign
of well-extracted espresso in this case certainly looked the part. The taste was solid too: it had managed to produce something quite flavorful and pleasant to drink black, as is. (Image credit: Future)

However, from that point on, espresso shots from the 3700 Essential proved to be more of a gamble. To be clear, I wasnt expecting a $129 espresso machine
to rival a top of the line model, but even by budget standards the fluctuations felt a tad extreme. I compared it directly with the Casabrews CM5418 (again, the 3700 Essential cant escape the shadow of its more capable brother), and it produced more balanced results with the same beans and recipe. The 3700 Essential just doesnt inspire confidence that I could get
the same cup twice in a row, which is all you can really ask of your machine.

Its not all doom and gloom though. My tinge of disappointment was softened by how well the machine handles steaming milk. Despite being a compact and inexpensive machine, the 3700 Essential delivers the kind of steam pressure and precision you need to produce silky microfoam, as well as airy cappuccino froth.

The steam wand is controlled by a knob on the side of the machine, and while its a small detail, I did appreciate the silicone grip around its perimeter. Not only does it feel more comfortable in my hand than steel or plastic but
it offers better traction when turning, which is helpful for maintaining control while steaming. The last thing youd want is to fumble when trying to turn the knob and end up burning your milk. Performance score: 2.5/5 Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 2 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 3 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Image 4 of 4 (Image credit: Future) Should you buy the Casabrews 3700 Essential? Casabrews 3700 Essential score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Affordable coffee machine that's definitely at the budget end of the market.

5/5

Design

Very compact machine, but accessories are very bare-bones.

4/5

Performance

Inconsistencies with espresso output, and messy drips, though steam wand
works well.

2.5/5 Buy it if

Youre on a budget

There are few espresso machines that are quite so kind to your wallet as the Casabrews 3700 Essential. Even when compared to Casabrews already economical range, the 3700 Essential has the second lowest price tag out of any of the brands other machines.

You enjoy your coffee with flavored syrups

While testing it, I found that not every shot from the Casabrews 3700 Essential was a winner. However, even slightly meh espresso can serve as a good base for flavored lattes. If espresso isnt the star of the show in your favorite beverages, this machine should serve you just fine.

Youre big into milk-based drinks

If youre looking for a machine with a steam wand thatll let you make cappuccino foam or microfoam, the 3700 Essential has you covered. Its steam wand is comfortable to use and easy to get the hang of. Don't buy it if

Youre a lover of espresso or black coffee

In my testing, the Casabrews 3700 Essential produced decent shots, but that quality wavered quite a bit. The output was never so bad as to be a total dealbreaker, but youre not guaranteed the same drink every morning, no matter how closely you adhere to your usual technique.

Youre planning on getting into coffee as a hobby

A lot of the frustrations presented by the Casabrews 3700 Essential is likely to put you off the ritual of making your own espresso. Whats more, youll probably want to upgrade to another machine after a short while. Casabrews 3700 Essential: also consider

If you're not sure that the Casabrews 3700 Essential is the right coffee
maker for you, here are two alternatives to consider.

Breville / Sage Bambino

One of the most commonly-recommended espresso machines for beginners is the Breville Bambino (or Sage Bambino, as its called in the UK), and thats for good reason. While the Bambino is certainly a rung above the Casabrews 3700 Essential in terms of price, it's likely to deliver a more satisfying intro into the world of espresso.

Read our full Breville / Sage Bambino review

Casabrews CM5418

As mentioned previously, the Casabrews CM5418 and the Casabrews 3700
Essential have a whole lot in common. The former is ever so slightly more expensive, but that extra cost is more than worth it given the upgrade in performance. How I tested the Casabrews 3700 Essential (Image credit: Future)

I tested the Casabrews 3700 Essential over a period of three weeks. During this time, I used it to brew espresso and steam milk.

Across my testing, I used light, dark, and omni-roasted fresh espresso beans bought from specialty coffee roasters. I adjusted my dose and grind size in pursuit of the best recipe for each variety. All beans were ground with the Baratza Encore ESP.

Steam wand functionality was tested by using fresh, full-fat dairy milk, semi-skimmed milk, and oat milk. After each steam, I made sure to purge and clean the wand to keep it clean and functional. For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar .

First reviewed September 2025



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