Barsetto One-Touch Espresso Machine Review: Is It Worth It?
Hello and welcome, Sam here. I have traveled to the café streets of Tel Aviv for coffee and brought the lessons home to my counter. The Barsetto One-Touch is a single-serve capsule espresso machine sold in the US as model BARSM1. It has a 19 bar pump and a 0.7 L (23.7 fl oz) tank.
The machine takes Nespresso Original capsules and preheats in about 40 seconds. Two buttons set a short or long shot. The 19 bar number is a pump rating, not the pressure at the coffee. Only 4 Amazon ratings exist, at 2.2 stars, and the warranty runs 90 days.
Here come capsule fit, shot sizes and descaling, and no brand paid a cent. The Hamilton Beach 40726 offers a close spec with a better rating record. The verdict is no at full price, with a few buyers who still fit.
What Is the Barsetto One-Touch?
The Barsetto One-Touch is a single-serve capsule espresso machine with a 19 bar pump and a 0.7 L (23.7 fl oz) removable tank. Koolatron distributes the model, BARSM1, in the United States.
The machine brews from Nespresso Original capsules. Two buttons start a short or a long shot, so one press runs the whole cycle.
Nestlé Nespresso S.A. does not make or endorse the machine. The manual states that Nestlé has not sponsored, endorsed or approved the machine and is not affiliated with Koolatron.
Neither the manual nor the Amazon listing names a steam wand or milk frother. Milk drinks need a separate frother.
Small kitchens and pod users suit the machine best. The body takes little counter space, and no grinder, tamper or milk wand adds work.
What Comes in the Barsetto One-Touch Box?
The Barsetto One-Touch box comes with the espresso machine, drip tray, capsule collection tray and cup holder grid. The manual lists these parts as the standard set.
The base package holds no capsules. A separate Koolatron kit, model BARSCKIT, adds a 20-capsule sampler pack and lists at $137.
Box Parts:
- Espresso machine
- Drip tray
- Capsule collection tray
- Cup holder grid
No descaler comes in the box. The manual names household descaler or citric acid for the mineral cleaning cycle.
How Does the Barsetto One-Touch Work?
The Barsetto One-Touch works by heating water, then pushing it through a capsule at high pressure. A press of the short or long cup button starts the cycle.
Hot water needs time to build, so the machine preheats first. The manual puts this at about 40 seconds. The Amazon listing says the first shot comes in under 45 seconds. Once the machine is hot, up to 8 more shots follow with no wait.
A shot starts when the user lifts the handle, drops in a capsule, closes the handle and presses a button. The handle must stay closed during brewing, because hot water fills the holder. Coffee flows out and stops at the stored volume.
Lifting the handle after the shot drops the used capsule into the collection tray.
Which Capsules Fit the Barsetto One-Touch?
The Barsetto One-Touch fits Nespresso Original line capsules and Barsetto capsules. The manual warns against any other capsule type.
The Amazon listing also names Lavazza and other standard espresso capsules. The manual does not repeat that claim, so the manual wording is the safer guide.
Nespresso VertuoLine capsules do not fit, because the manual names only the Original line.
Keurig K-Cups do not fit either. Keurig pods belong to a separate single-serve system.
What Are the Barsetto One-Touch Specs?
The Barsetto One-Touch specs list a 19 bar pump, a 0.7 L (23.7 fl oz) tank and a 1050 W heater. The machine runs on 120 V at 60 Hz.
The pump pushes hot water through the coffee, and bar is the unit that measures that pressure. The 19 bar rating is the figure the listing gives for this pump. The 0.7 L tank holds the water the pump draws from, and the heater warms it. Preheat takes about 40 seconds.
The BARSM1 listing gives the size of the body. It is 4.2 in (10.7 cm) wide, 14.5 in (36.8 cm) deep and 9.5 in (24.1 cm) high. Weight is near 9 to 10 lb (4.1 to 4.5 kg).
Key Specs:
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Pump | 19 bar |
| Tank | 0.7 L (23.7 fl oz) |
| Power | 1050 W at 120 V, 60 Hz |
| Preheat | About 40 seconds |
| Weight | 9 to 10 lb (4.1 to 4.5 kg) |
The two cup buttons carry indicator lights. The machine enters standby after 4 minutes with no use.
What Outlet Does the Barsetto One-Touch Need?
The Barsetto One-Touch does need a standard 120 V US outlet that supports 1050 W. The Amazon listing gives the voltage as 110 V and warns that a converter may be needed abroad.
The cord is short on purpose. The manual recommends against extension cords. A buyer who needs one must use a grounded 3-wire cord rated for 15 amperes and 120 volts.
The listing shows UL, CSA and ETL marks. These marks cover electrical safety for North American outlets.
Does the Barsetto One-Touch Make Real Espresso?
No. The Barsetto One-Touch makes capsule espresso, not the shot a bean-to-cup machine pulls. The coffee comes from a sealed capsule with a fixed dose.
The capsule sets the dose, the grind and the bean before the machine does anything. Only the water volume changes. Shot control is therefore narrow, because the main things that shape a shot are already decided.
The 19 bar figure on the box is the pump rating. That is the most force the pump can make, not the pressure the coffee feels. Café espresso targets about 9 bar (130 psi) at the coffee, so the pump number says little about the cup.
Achille Gaggia's lever machines set the 9 bar standard in the 1940s. Most espresso baskets and groups are still built around that figure.
How Big Are the Barsetto One-Touch Shots?
The Barsetto One-Touch shots are not big, at 35 ml (1.23 fl oz) small and 70 ml (2.47 fl oz) large. Both default volumes can be changed.
The small cup button stores any volume between 25 ml and 45 ml (0.85 to 1.5 fl oz). The large cup button stores 55 ml to 85 ml (1.9 to 2.9 fl oz).
Shot Volumes:
| Button | Default | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Small cup | 35 ml (1.23 fl oz) | 25 to 45 ml |
| Large cup | 70 ml (2.47 fl oz) | 55 to 85 ml |
| Standby | After 4 minutes | No setting |
Reprogramming starts with a 3 second hold on the button. A second press starts the brew, and a third press stops it at the chosen volume. The change works only after preheating ends.
What Do Barsetto One-Touch Reviews Say?
Barsetto One-Touch reviews say little, with 2.2 out of 5 stars across 4 ratings on Amazon. Most of those ratings are one star and the rest are five stars.
A Wayfair Canada listing shows a similar result. It gives 2 out of 5 stars from a single review. Neither page gives the reason behind the low score, so a buyer cannot tell what went wrong.
The rating pool is tiny, which limits what the scores can prove. A handful of votes cannot show how the machine holds up over a year of use.
What Are the Barsetto One-Touch Complaints?
The Barsetto One-Touch complaints cannot be traced to a named fault, because the few reviews give no detail. The low stars point to a mixed record, not a known defect.
Because the reviews name no fault, the next place to look is how pod machines behave in general. Third-party capsules cause trouble on these machines. One buyer of Nespresso-style pods reported leaks and clogging on a different machine.
The manual, unlike the reviews, names real handling risks. Opening the handle during a brew ejects the capsule. The hot water can then scald.
How Do You Descale the Barsetto One-Touch?
The Barsetto One-Touch is descaled by running a descaler and water mix through the machine and waiting 20 minutes. The manual gives the mix as 4 parts water to 1 part household descaler.
Citric acid works as a substitute. The ratio for it is 100 parts water to 3 parts citric acid.
Vinegar is not on the manual's list. The manual names only household descaler and citric acid, so those are the two choices it supports.
The amount of each liquid depends on the tank size. A full 0.7 L tank at the 4 to 1 ratio holds about 560 ml (19 fl oz) of water and 140 ml (4.7 fl oz) of descaler.
The cycle has eight steps. Fill the tank to the MAX line, preheat, close the handle and run the liquid through a container. Wait 20 minutes, then flush the rest.
A rinse closes the job. The tank is refilled with clean water and run empty. This clears out the leftover descaler. The manual asks for descaling on a regular basis by local water quality.
How Do You Clean the Barsetto One-Touch?
The Barsetto One-Touch is cleaned by emptying the capsule tray and wiping each part. The user unplugs the machine and lets it cool first.
A dry cloth cleans the tank and the capsule holder.
The outer parts take a damp cloth instead. It wipes the cup holder grid and the body. The machine must never go under water.
The drip tray and the used capsule compartment hold liquid and spent capsules. The Amazon listing says the drip tray and used capsule compartment are top-rack dishwasher safe. The manual does not state that, so hand washing is the cautious route.
How Does the Barsetto One-Touch Compare With the Hamilton Beach 40726?
The Barsetto One-Touch compares closely with the Hamilton Beach 40726, since both use a 19 bar pump and Nespresso Original capsules. Hamilton Beach lists a 22 oz (650 mL) tank.
The tank sizes are nearly the same, because the Barsetto holds 0.7 L (23.7 fl oz). Both machines shut off after 4 minutes. Hamilton Beach adds adjustable cup sizes of 20 to 70 ml for espresso and 70 to 120 ml for lungo.
Prices overlap too. Walmart lists the Hamilton Beach at $164.45, and the Navy Exchange lists it at $129.99.
Side by Side:
| Feature | Barsetto One-Touch | Hamilton Beach 40726 |
|---|---|---|
| Pump | 19 bar | 19 bar |
| Tank | 0.7 L (23.7 fl oz) | 22 oz (650 mL) |
| Auto shutoff | 4 minutes | 4 minutes |
| Rating | 2.2 stars, 4 ratings | 4.6 stars, 8 ratings |
| Warranty | 90 days | Not found |
Ratings set the two machines apart. The Hamilton Beach has 4.6 stars from 8 ratings. The Barsetto holds 2.2 stars from 4 ratings, so the Hamilton Beach carries a far better rating record.
How Does the Barsetto One-Touch Differ From the Barsetto BAE02?
The Barsetto One-Touch differs from the Barsetto BAE02 in type, because the BAE02 is a bean-to-cup semi-automatic with a built-in grinder. The BAE02 lists at $599.
The BAE02 has a 15 bar Ulka pump, a 2200 W heater and a 2.8 L (95 fl oz) tank. Two boilers and a 58 mm portafilter complete the build.
That 2200 W heater draws about 18 A at 120 V. A standard US circuit is rated for 15 A, so the load exceeds it.
The BAE02 listing also gives a voltage of 220 to 240 V. A US outlet supplies less than that, so the machine needs a transformer. The One-Touch runs on 120 V and needs no such part.
The warranties differ too. The BAE02 warranty runs 1 year, while the One-Touch warranty runs 90 days.
How Much Does the Barsetto One-Touch Cost?
The Barsetto One-Touch costs $159.99 at Home Depot. Greentoe lists the BARSM1 at $159, though the listing shows the machine out of stock.
The BARSCKIT bundle comes with a 20-capsule sampler and lists at $137. That kit price is the lowest figure found, and the listing is also out of stock.
The machine price is not the only cost. The One-Touch takes only pods, so every cup needs a new capsule. Capsules therefore add to the running cost for as long as the machine is in use.
What Warranty Covers the Barsetto One-Touch?
The Barsetto One-Touch warranty covers defects in material and workmanship for 90 days from the retail purchase date. The purchase receipt is required.
Coverage includes replacement parts, labor and return shipping to the customer. Koolatron asks buyers to register the machine online and keep the dated receipt.
Commercial use is excluded. So are damage from abuse, accident, misuse and neglect. Koolatron runs service centers in Batavia, New York and Brantford, Ontario.
Is the Barsetto One-Touch Worth It?
No. The Barsetto One-Touch is not worth full price, given its thin rating record and 90-day warranty. A sale price near $135 changes the math.
The strengths are real. Preheating takes about 40 seconds, shot volumes can be set, and the controls are two buttons.
Pros:
- Preheat in about 40 seconds
- Adjustable shot volumes
- Two-button controls
Cons:
- Pods only
- Only 4 online ratings
- 90-day warranty
The weaknesses are just as clear. Only pods fit, only 4 ratings exist online, and the Hamilton Beach 40726 offers a similar spec with a longer rating record.
Who Should Skip the Barsetto One-Touch?
Anyone who wants milk drinks or hand-dosed shots should skip the Barsetto One-Touch, since the machine has no steam wand and no portafilter. A semi-automatic machine fits that goal.
A short warranty is another reason to pass. The Barsetto One-Touch carries a 90-day warranty, which is short for a $160 appliance. Buyers who want long coverage on that price have little protection here.
Voltage is a third reason. Buyers outside 120 V regions need a converter, so they do better with a model built for local voltage.
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