The Casabrews CM5418 is a small but mighty espresso machine for the casual coffee lover

Date:
Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Description:
A great entry-level espresso machine if you're on a tight budget or short on space.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Casabrew s CM5418: one-minute review

For many folks attempting to recreate the cafe experience at home, the absolute best of the best espresso machines just arent a practical choice.

Not only do luxury options come with a pretty crushing price tag, they also tend to be larger and offer fewer beginner-friendly modifications. Although, you could argue that this is by design; those who approach espresso as a deeply-involved hobby wont mind trading off some extra counter space and time in exchange for perfectly dialled-in shots. Meanwhile, if your goal is a consistently pretty tasty output with very few bells and whistles, something like the Casabrews CM5418 really hits the mark.

At just $139.99 / 149.99, the CM5418 is a seriously budget-friendly espresso machine, even when compared to the rest of Casabrews already low-cost lineup. There are a few areas where cut corners feel like an obvious downgrade:
mainly in the feel of the portafilter and the accessories the machine comes with. However, it performs consistently with the aid of its double-walled baskets, continually producing well-extracted espresso with noticeable crema that the majority of coffee enjoyers would be pleased with.

It may be worth investing in a couple of upgrades if you want to be able to pull espresso that wows, but in the meantime, you can enjoy perfectly
pleasant americanos, lattes, and more from the CM5418 as is. (Image credit: Future) Casabrews CM5418: price and availability List price: $139.99 / 149.99 (price varies depending on color variants) Available in the US and UK Discounts available on Casabrews' website

When it comes to espresso machines that are kind to your wallet, the price of the Casabrews CM5418 is close to as good as it gets.

In the US, you can purchase the Casabrews CM5418 for $139.99 at the Casabrews site and on Amazon . Though its worth noting that the MSRP for colored versions is a little higher, at $169.99. The Casabrews site has regular
coupon codes and sales, so you may be able to score this machine for even cheaper.

Casabrews ships to the UK as well, but all the prices are listed in US dollars. Alternatively, you can pick up the CM5418 from Amazon UK . Unfortunately, the full color range isnt available on Amazon UK, but this
wont be an issue if you had your heart set on a silver or black version.
Value score: 5/5 (Image credit: Future) Casabrews CM5418: specifications

Type

Semi-automatic espresso machine

Drink options

2 (single and double espresso)

Pump pressure

20 bar

Water tank capacity

34oz / 1 liter

Steam wand

Yes, manual

Side (H x W x D)

12.28 x 5.47 x 11.97 inches / 31.19 x 13.89 x 30.14cm

Weight

8.6lb / 3.9kg (Image credit: Future) Casabrews CM5418: design Small-scale, charming design Available in seven colors Cheap-feeling portafilter and disappointing accessories

The Casabrews CM5418 is a compact little espresso machine thatd be right at home in small kitchens, office spaces, or even on the road in a campervan. With it coming in at under six inches wide, you really shouldnt have any difficulty finding a home for it, even in living areas that are tight on space. Whats more, its exceptionally light too. So even if you do decide to store in the cupboard between uses, youll only have to shift 8.6lbs in and
out each time.

Id prefer to keep my machine out of the counter though, and not just for conveniences sake; the CM5418 actually looks rather cute. The pressure gauge on the front face is not only a very practical clue of how well your espresso is extracting but also adds some visual interest to a machine lacking a LCD screen. Though this is actually inline with my own preferences, to be honest: I found the four simple, tactile buttons on the CM5418 to be far more satisfying to use than the digital displays or touchscreens found on some expensive espresso machines. (Image credit: Future)

If you fancy jazzing up your coffee station a bit, theres a decently wide range of color options to choose from: silver, black, beige, sapphire blue, baby blue, pastel green, and pink. This is a win for anyone whos a sucker for color coordination, but you will end up paying a $30 premium for any color other than silver. Such is the cost of beauty, I guess.

True to its lower price point, the CM5418s build doesnt feel composed of particular high-end materials. But, in my time testing it, I never found the slight compromise on component quality to be much of an issue. That is, with the exception of the machines 51mm portafilter.

Not only is the portafilter handle made from a hard plastic that really
doesnt feel especially pleasant in the hand, but the mechanism for securing the basket into it is a little unwieldy too. The standard method involves having a spring clip to maintain tension when the basket is pushed into the portafilter, but the CM5418 baskets have a notch that has to be threaded into a gap in the portafilters lip instead. As a result, the basket wobbles and clacks around noisily when the portafilter is moved, and its not difficult to disturb your puck preparation with this instability. I didnt have any
problems with the basket outright falling out of the portafilter during my tests, but its not hard to imagine that the looseness of the threads could occasionally lead to you accidentally sending your basket flying into your knock box. (Image credit: Future)

The CM5418 comes with a one shot basket and a two shot basket, both of which are pressurized. Casabrews decision to not include a non-pressurized basket says a lot about how beginner-friendly this machine is supposed to be.
Instead of relying on the resistance of water traveling through your coffee puck, the extra wall in a pressurized basket does the heavy lifting when it comes to regulating extraction pressure and creating the appearance of crema. As a result, less precision is needed for a consistent output and you can
even get away with using preground coffee. However, the trade off is that you just wont achieve the same peak in flavor.

If you do find that youd prefer to use a non-pressurized basket with your CM5418, youre in a bit of a pickle. Not only does the machine have a relatively uncommon grouphead size of 51mm but as mentioned before, the portafilter doesnt use a spring clip. Not even on the Casabrews website is there an option to buy single-walled baskets that are compatible with the CM5418s stock portafilter. So, if you want to make this change, youll have to purchase a whole new portafilter.

Even if you dont opt for a single-walled upgrade, there are some accessories youll want to pick up that arent covered by what you get in-box. For example, the CM5418 doesnt come with a stainless steel jug to steam your milk in. So, if youre going to try your hand at lattes, thats worth chucking in your basket. A plastic tamp-scoop is included thats extremely lightweight, and the scoop end makes it difficult to position your hand for proper tamping. Its fine in a pinch, but definitely not ideal. For the price, these are less deal breakers and more annoying yet understandable cut corners. (Image credit: Future) Design score: 3.5/5 Casabrews CM5418: performance Quick heat-up time and simple operation Consistent espresso output Impressive steam wand

As with most entry/mid level espresso machines, the CM5418s water is heated using a thermoblock rather than a traditional boiler. The main benefit of a thermoblock heating system (other than cutting down cost) is just how speedy it makes the preheating process. As a matter of fact, the CM5418 is ready to go in about 40 seconds. While this isnt quite as fast as the 5-second heat up time promised from the CM5418 Pro, its still far from anything that would disrupt your morning routine. After all, 40 seconds isnt the kind of wait
that would get in the way of your coffee-making flow; it's like the perfect amount of time to grab your favorite mug and weigh out your beans.

Thanks to the double-walled baskets, pulling a tasty shot of espresso with
the CM5418 is a lot more foolproof than it would otherwise be. Of course, the beans you choose still matter as does your grind size, extraction time, and dosage but pressurized baskets help to crank the difficulty meter down a
bit. Youre still aiming for that bullseye although the area of the bullseye
is just that bit bigger. So, while I still dealt with some fussing adjusting my grind for the best extraction, it didnt take too much effort to get to something tasty. (Image credit: Future)

For the majority of my test shots, I used Mask of the Mire from Dark Arts Coffee. These beans yielded espresso which was nutty and sweet, if lacking in complexity just a bit. Though its not hard to imagine that my shots could
fare better with some slight upgrades to the machine, what I had was consistently great for the basis of an americano or a milk drink despite
being a tad boring on its own.

Even right out of the box, the steam wand had a fluid range of motion that made it easy to position it at the right point in my milk jug. Its operated
by a knob on the side of the machine and responds quickly to activation, meaning you can get straight into aerating your milk without much fuss. Some other budget espresso machines like the (non Arte) DeLonghi Dedica have whats called a panarello wand, which is best suited to making fluffy, dry
cappuccino foam, but majorly falls down when it comes to creating microfoam. Meanwhile, the CM5418 has no trouble delivering velvety milk well suited to a flat white.

As mentioned before, the water (and subsequently, the steam) is heated with a thermoblock and while this makes the process faster, it does mean that
pulling espresso and steaming milk cant be done at the same time. Switching between modes takes mere seconds. So, this is really only a problem if you anticipate making multiple milk-based drinks in a row. 4.5/5 (Image credit: Future) Should you buy the Casabrews CM5418? Casabrews CM5418 score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Espresso machines don't get much more affordable than this.

5/5

Design

Small, charming design in a choice of colors, but accessories feel cheap.

3.5/5

Performance

Quick to heat up, easy to use, and more consistent than many of the budget espresso machines we;ve tested.

4.5/5 Buy it if

Youre looking for an espresso machine under $150

Putting together a coffee setup can get pricey really quick, and if youre trying to keep costs low, its worth splurging most of your budget on a good grinder.

You tend to follow the same espresso recipe daily

The CM5418s single-walled baskets and lack of temperature controls make it a little more difficult to finetune your recipe to get the very most out of a new bag of beans. If youre a creature of habit who doesnt experiment too much with their coffee, this shouldnt be a problem.

Youre a fan of milk-based drinks

The CM5418 has a steam wand that does a superb job at whipping up steamed milk, foam, or microfoam. If youre not the type to drink your espresso straight, this machine is a winner. Don't buy it if

Your budget for an espresso machine is $250+

If you can afford to drop hundreds of dollars on an espresso machine, its worth considering more high-end options than the CM5418. Its an impressive performer at its price range, but it would definitely get blown out of the water by luxury models.

You want a bean-to-cup machine

After you pick up a CM5418 (or any espresso machine for that matter), a great grinder should be the next thing on your shopping list. Though if youd prefer to save yourself the hassle, you can always opt for a bean-to-cup machine instead. Casabrews CM5418: also consider

If youre unsure of whether the Casabrews CM5418 is the right espresso machine for you, its worth checking out these alternatives:

Breville / Sage Bambino

The Breville Bambino (or Sage Bambino, as its known in the UK) is a definite jump-up in price from the CM5418, but its still good value. This machine
heats up lightning fast and is a good fit for those beginning their journey with coffee as a full-blown hobby.

Read our full Breville / Sage Bambino review

De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685

Our reigning champion in the arena of the best budget espresso machines, the DeLonghi Dedica Style EC685 is another fun-sized espresso machine thats well-suited for beginners. Its just a tad more expensive than the Casabrews CM5418 and less suited for producing microfoam, but it comes from a much more established brand (making upgrades and repairs an easier process).

Read our full De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 review How I tested the Casabrews CM5418 (Image credit: Future)

I tested the Casabrews CM5418 over a period of four weeks, using it regularly to make black and milk-based espresso drinks.

During my tests, I alternated between using light, dark, and omni-roasted fresh espresso beans bought from specialty coffee roasters. All beans were ground using the Baratza Encore ESP, with the grind size adjusted a number of times to achieve the optimal result.

The steam wand was tested with 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 operational. For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar .

First reviewed September 2025



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/home/coffee-machines/casabrews-cm5418-review


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