The Satrap Espresso XA is an espresso machine sold in Coop supermarkets as well as in Coop DIY and hobby stores. In the Kassensturz espresso machine test, it was crowned test winner. We took a closer look at the Satrap XA and summarize here what the device that costs 249 francs can do.
Test and tips for the Satrap Espresso XA
Our mission as coffee experts is to help espresso machine users get better results from their machines. We find this particularly important and interesting for more affordable espresso machines. The more expensive an espresso machine is – and we test machines that cost 1000, 2000 or 3000 francs – the more we expect the espresso machine to deliver. The cheaper an espresso machine is, the more a test report becomes a supplement to an instruction manual with tips and tricks to get the most out of a coffee machine.
That's how we approached the Satrap Espresso XA as well. We really like some things about the Satrap Espresso XA. And correspondingly motivated, we tackled the biggest problem areas of the espresso machine to figure out how to work around them.
Accessories and build quality: Tamper triumph
Three accessories or features stand out positively for the Satrap Espresso XA. The tamper is not only very well suited for its price class. It closes cleanly with the filter basket in the portafilter, has a solid metal base and is therefore perfect for leveling and properly tamping the ground coffee. We wish many a dual boiler espresso machine costing over 1000 francs had such a tamper.
The portafilter is equally impressive. The filter basket measures 58mm, which is a standard size for professional espresso machines and machines with a Faema E61 group head. In fact, the same applies here as it does for the tamper. The portafilter would make a good impression on an espresso machine costing well over 1000 euros without any loss of quality. The dual spout or single spout can be unscrewed and replaced.
While we don't consider pressure gauges to be of real help when setting up an espresso machine, we like the timer display. It gives the barista a sense of how long the espresso has been running. Why this can also lead to confusion, we discuss in the chapter "Setting up the espresso machine and grinder". Nevertheless, a timer is fundamentally helpful and anything but standard in the price range under 300 CHF.
As positive as the tamper, the portafilter and the timer display must be mentioned, the rest of the espresso machine is a stark contrast. Cheap plastic everywhere – one might say appropriate for the price. However, it's unsightly that the tested model was already the second one that dripped from the steam wand during espresso extraction.
Otherwise, the machine is compact at 35.5 cm in length, 31.9 cm in width and 38.4 cm in height. The water tank can be removed and refilled. Important: use softened water in all espresso machines!
Espresso quality like Russian roulette
We made good espresso with the Satrap Espresso XA. Unfortunately, however, even with all tricks and tips, we couldn't achieve consistent results. The biggest problem with the machine is temperature stability.
What we can say reliably is: before extracting an espresso, at least 5 seconds of water should be run through. If not, the temperature during espresso extraction is definitely too high. However, it's unfortunately the case that even with water flushing, it often exceeds the desired target temperature. The perfect brewing temperature for espresso is around 93 degrees. Depending on the choice of coffee, this varies slightly up or down. But we're talking about a deviation of 1 – 2 degrees Celsius.
The Satrap Espresso XA is not only inconsistent with its starting temperature each time, but also with its ending temperature. In some extractions we measured temperature fluctuations of up to 15 degrees.
The temperature curve of the Satrap Espresso XA is remarkably inconsistent.
From an extraction and flavor perspective, it amounts to a round of Russian roulette, alternating between bitterness and acidity that knock you off your feet. Low temperatures greatly intensify perceived acidity. High temperatures bring out unpleasant bitterness. In both cases, a balancing acidity is missing.
Furthermore, the fluctuating temperature also affects the extraction speed. This is normally controlled via the grind setting, which we discuss in the following section.
Setting up the espresso machine and grinder
The Satrap Espresso XA has a time control built in. This means it stops the water extraction after an adjustable and thus preset time. By default, the espresso machine stops after 25 seconds.
Such a control is actually more advanced than many controls on more expensive espresso machines, for example in the dual boiler segment. These don't stop automatically at all, but are stopped after time X or extraction amount Y by the users.
In fact, the Satrap Espresso XA delivers more than other espresso machines here. However, this can especially lead to confusion when following classical setup instructions and guides or if users haven't fully internalized the principle of adjusting the grinder and espresso machine.
- A good grinder is the prerequisite for being able to make decent coffee with the Satrap Espresso XA at all.
- A scale is essential for controlling the extraction amount, and at every extraction.
The Satrap Espresso XA comes without a double-walled filter basket. A double-walled filter basket allows the use of pre-ground coffee. Normally, the flow rate of the espresso is controlled via the grind setting of the grinder. Since pre-ground coffee is already ground and can no longer be adjusted, the resistance in the double-walled basket takes over the task of prolonging the extraction time of the espresso.
Explanations for adjusting an espresso grinder usually go like this: the grind setting should be adjusted so that the espresso extraction time is approximately 25 seconds, to achieve a yield of approximately 20 ml/g in the cup.
Unlike a Delonghi Dedica EC 685 or a Solis Barista Perfetta Plus, the Satrap Espresso XA doesn't stop after 20 ml/g in the cup, but after 25 seconds. If the grind setting of the grinder is chosen too coarse, the cup fills up much too quickly. The machine will still stop after 25 seconds. The cup is then full or overflowing. If the grind setting is chosen too fine, hardly any drops fall into the cup in 25 seconds. The consequence is the same as with a machine with volumetric stopping. The grinder must be set correctly. However, the approach is different and requires more consistent and uniform control of the fill amount in the cup with each extraction.
Steaming milk for cappuccino with the Satrap Espresso XA
If you like to drink cappuccino or latte macchiato, you'll be better off with the Satrap Espresso XA than those who prefer to drink espresso. Because while the espresso rarely tastes the same as the previous one, you can steam the milk foam nicely with the espresso machine if you use the small pitcher (0.35 liters).
And when you pour milk foam onto an espresso, the espresso quality no longer plays the biggest role.
Conclusion on the Satrap Espresso XA espresso machine
The Satrap Espresso XA is labeled as a piston machine on the packaging, even though it is not a piston machine. A piston machine would be a fully automatic coffee machine or a manual lever machine like the Flair or the manual Aram espresso apparatus.
The discrepancy between packaging and contents runs through the machine as well. While the tamper and portafilter make us jump for joy, the temperature inconsistency gives us the chills. While we find the timer control instead of volumetric control interesting, we would prefer it for a more advanced machine and think it's problematic in the entry-level segment.
That's why we can hardly recommend the Satrap Espresso XA for making espresso, except for further processing into coffee liqueur or cappuccino. Some extractions will be delicious and you can drink the espresso neat. But often the American double-latte version will be the best solution for neutralizing bitterness and acidity.
