As a former professional barista, this has been my machine of choice for the entire five years I've been making espresso at home. I've had several opportunities to upgrade, and haven't been able to justify doing so. I'd have to spend a LOT more money to get better results.Right out of the box, its performance is only OKAY. You're not going to get coffee-shop results from pressurized filter baskets and plastic frothing aids, period. It's important to understand that. But if you're a skilled barista with enough technical know-how to remove the "idiot-proofing" mechanisms, this machine can deliver an amazing double-shot of espresso and small quantities of perfectly frothed milk for a fraction of the price of other machines - and it's built simply enough that this is fairly easy. There are lots of tutorials out there with detailed instructions, for anyone interested in trying this out.I modified my setup by replacing the stock steam wand with the Rancilio #10049046 (around $25, plus a couple bucks at most for hose clamps), and by sawing off the bottom of the portafilter and filing down the screw socket to fit a DeLonghi #607706 filter basket (around $20). I also bought a 51mm heavy steel tamper (around $15, with removable/customizable handle) because the little built-in plastic tamper is useless (in fact I removed the built-in tamper to re-route the steam wand to the right side of the machine, which I like better).It sounds like a lot of work and investment, but the trick is that because the stock performance isn't great, you can find these machines in excellent used condition REALLY CHEAP. The total cost of my first machine after all modifications was only $125 or so. I've since managed to snag a couple at thrift stores for $15 each - which appear to have only been used once or twice. All-told, I've spent less than $350 on TWO fully-functional modified machines (so I always have a backup), plus enough spare parts to keep both of them tip-top for at least a couple of decades by my reckoning.I'd say these machines have good longevity. With proper care, they seem to keep on trucking pretty well through daily use (usually 2-3 cups per day, but sometimes a lot more). I dealt some heat damage to the wiring in the first unit I bought by forgetfully leaving it on for long stretches (entirely too often), but it was still functional (just smelled of hot plastic) when I replaced it after about 2.5 years of regular use. Boiler and pump were fine, so I kept them as spares.The biggest innate limiting factor is capacity. This isn't a problem for me, since my go-to drink is very "short" - a double-shot with only 4-6 oz of half-and-half. If you're looking to bring your "Venti" drink habit home with you, this machine might be underwhelming. Even if you raise the machine up to accommodate a taller pitcher, it doesn't build up enough steam to properly froth more than 8-10 oz of milk at a time.Speed and timing is also a factor. I get best results by steaming the milk right before pulling the shot (single boiler means you can't do both at once), then swirling/conditioning the milk while the shot is pulling (do it the other way around and the shot will go flat before the milk is ready). The machine also needs a moment to rest between shots for best results and mess-reduction. Trying to remove the portafilter immediately after pulling a shot often lets out a little burst of pressurized water and grounds. If you pick up an extra filter basket, you can make two drinks fairly quickly back-to-back by filling and tamping both baskets before you start, then leaving the spent puck from the first drink in the machine while you steam the milk for the second one; this usually eliminates excess pressure and moisture from the used basket and makes it quick and clean to swap out for the fresh one.The biggest external limiting factor is your grinder. A decent grinder is critical. I've been using a Capresso Infinity burr grinder since I bought my first machine, and I find it adequate - though I'll definitely upgrade my grinder before I ever dream of buying a different espresso machine. Most of the negative reviews I've read for this machine are from people using pre-ground or improperly ground coffee beans. Even with a pressurized basket, an unsuitable grind will yield poor results. With a modified/de-pressurized basket, the quality of the shot absolutely depends on the grind being fine enough and consistent enough (and tamped properly) to provide the resistance/pressure necessary for optimal extraction.One annoying little thing about this setup is that there's no tensioning spring/clip to hold the filter basket in the portafilter handle. You have to use the little flip-up holder to keep it in place while knocking the spent puck of grounds out (whether you're using the stock version or the modified version). Not ideal for a typical box or chute with a knock-bar. Easiest method seems to be knocking horizontally against the inside wall of a large receptacle while firmly holding the little flipper/stopper in place with my thumb. This is not a dealbreaker for me, but is a fussy step.BOTTOM LINE: this isn't the best machine to buy if you want straight-outta-the-box plug-and-play convenience. But if you're looking for good espresso on a budget, are willing to do a little tinkering, and know how to properly control your variables, I'd say this is the best bang for your buck. No bells and whistles, but it can easily outperform machines that cost hundreds of dollars more. I've worked on a couple of big commercial machines (Nuova Simonelli) over a handful of years, and while this little machine requires more finesse, the quality it delivers (albeit on a smaller scale) is just as good.With the abundance of mediocre and poorly-trained baristas out there, it's VERY rare to get a better shot/latte from a coffee shop than what I can make with this machine at home.