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This is our review of the Solis Barista Perfetta Plus espresso machine.
Our readers send us more than 100 emails across the US about the Solis Barista Perfetta Plus. The below table shows our rating for the Solis Barista Perfetta Plus espresso machine:
| Overall Score | 85.71/100 |
| Easy to clean | 8.84/10 |
| Temperature Control | 8.74/10 |
| Flavor | 8.64/10 |
| Easy to use | 8.54/10 |
| Blending power | 8.44/10 |
| Value for money | 8.30/10 |
| Brand Reputation | 8.50/10 |
A purely amateur espresso machine, Barista Perfetta Plus is a golden middle between professional equipment and semi-professional features. With solenoid, enlarged group head, pressurized and unpressurized filters, professional steam wand, and pressure gauge Solis Barista Perfetta Plus is a compact, fast, and good-looking espresso machine. Unfortunately, it is hard to warm up the Solis evenly, especially the group head. That’s why this espresso machine tends to brew a bit sourer than the Breville Barista Express.
| Feature | Specs |
| Product Name | Solis Barista Perfetta |
| Brand Name | Solis |
| Price | $479 |
| Machine type | Semi-automatic |
| Skill Level | For beginner |
| Model Number | Perfetta Plus 1170 |
| Housing Color | Stainless Steel |
| Machine Material | Stainless Steel |
| Housing Material | Stainless Steel |
| Weight | 12.56 lbs / 5.7 kg |
| Dimensions | 7″W x 17″D x 12.5″H |
| Water Reservoir Capacity | 67 oz |
| Tamper Size | 54mm |
| Brew Group Size (mm) | 54mm |
| Portafilter Size | 54mm |
| Pump pressure | 15 bars |
| Cup clearance | 3.5 inches |
| Bypass Doser | No |
| Pressurized Portafilter Baskets | 1 cup (single shot), 2 cups (double shot) |
| Non-pressurized Portafilter Baskets | 1 cup (single shot), 2 cups (double shot) |
| Portafilter Type | None-commercial Style |
| Coffee Grounds Quantity for Portafilter Baskets | 7 grams for a single shot or 14 grams for a double shot. |
| Pre-infusion | Yes |
| PID temp control | Yes |
| Boiler Features | Rapid Steam |
| Brew Boiler Auto-Fill | Yes |
| Auto On | No |
| Brew Boiler Heater Location | Internal |
| Frother | 360-degree wand |
| Number of Boilers | 1 |
| Boiler Configuration | Single-Boiler for Dual-Use |
| Ground, E.S.E., Pod, and Capsule Compatibility | Ground Coffee and ESE Pod Friendly |
| Water Source | Built-In Reservoir |
| Digital display | No |
| Removable Drip Tray | Yes |
| Pressure gauge | Yes |
| Water Reservoir Material | Plastic |
| Manufacturer | Solis Barista Perfetta |
| Case Material | Plastic/Metal |
| Boiler Material | Stainless Steel-lined Aluminum |
| Grind sizes | No |
| Variable brew temp | 3 settings |
| Boiler type | Thermoblock |
| Auto-off | Yes |
| Heat-up time | 52 Seconds |
| Brew Boiler Material | Brass |
| Number of Pressurized Portafilter Baskets | 5 filter baskets: Two pressurized (1-cup and 2-cup), two unpressurized + one for ESE pods |
| Integrated Grinder | No |
| Bean Hopper | No |
| Integrated Tamper | Includes a separate wood handle tamper |
| Portafilter Material | Chrome Plated Brass |
| Volt | 110V-120V (US) |
| Power | 1550 W |
| Warranty | 2 years limited |
| Pros | Cons |
| Milk frothing on this machine is positive and quite efficient | It is hard to evenly warm up the machine |
| The machine makes decent and strong shots | The group head warms up later, that’s why the Solis tends to brew a bit more sour coffee |
| A less automated, but more professional machine for this price | In the class of at-home espresso machines, Solis is designed to be used by amateurs, not professionals or espresso-geeks. |
| It is a compact, fast, and good-looking machine | Like the plastic frame or plastic water tubes, you will find a lot of plastic parts inside the machine |
| Its semi-professional features like a solenoid, enlarged group head, pressurized and unpressurized filters, professional steam wand, and pressure gauge make it the perfect upgrade for home users | – |
| A perfect machine for espresso and cappuccino | – |
| The machine is easy to maintain. It is comfortable to use and clean this machine | – |
| Semi-Automatic control makes the learning curve short | – |
| Temperature control is fairly accurate | – |
| Steam pressure is good | – |
The below table will show you the difference between the Solis Barista Perfitta and its competitors.
| Features | Solis Barista Perfetta Plus |
Gaggia RI9380/46 Classic Pro |
Breville Barista Express |
Breville Cafe Roma |
Breville Dual Boiler |
Rancilio Silivia Espresso Machine |
| Machine Type | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic | Semi-automatic |
| Price | $479.00 | $449.21 | $699.95 | $249.99 | $1,599.95 | $830.00 |
| Color | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Item Dimensions (WxDxH) | 7″W x 17″D x 12.5″H | 9.5″W x 8″D x 14.2″H inches | 12.5″W x 13.8″D x 15.9″H inches | 9.0″W x 9.0″D x 12.0″H inches | 15.9″W x 14.7″D x 14.9″H inches | 9.25″ W x 11.25″ D x 13.7″ H inches |
| Reservoir Size | 67 oz | 72 oz | 67 oz | 41 oz | 84 oz | 67 oz |
| Boiler type | Single-Boiler for Dual-Use | Single-Boiler for Dual-Use | Single boiler | Single boiler | Dual Boiler | Single boiler |
| Item Weight | 12.56 lbs / 5.7 kg | 20.00 lbs/9kg | 23.00 lbs/10.5 kg | 13.2 lbs/6 kg | 30.00 lbs/13.6 kg | 30.80 lbs/14 kg |
| Bottomless Portafilter Size | 54mm | 58 mm | 54mm | 51mm | 58mm | 58mm |
| Material | Stainless Steel and plastic | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Built-in Grinder | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Auto Shut Off | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pod Friendly | Yes! With E.S.E pods | Yes! With E.S.E pods | Yes! With E.S.E pods | Yes! With E.S.E pods | No | Yes! With E.S.E pods |
| Warm-Up Time | 52 Seconds | 45 seconds | 5 minutes | 5 Minutes | 10 minutes | 10 minutes |
| Skill Level | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Get It | See it on Amazon | See it on Amazon | See it on Amazon | See it on Amazon | See it on Amazon | See it on Amazon |
There is no doubt that Solis Barista Perfetta Plus is a golden middle between professional machines and purely amateur espresso makers, and also at a reasonable price of $479.00.
Another affordable espresso machine Gaggia Classic priced at $ 449.21. Definitely, with almost unlimited ways to upgrade it. What’s more, it will brew even better espresso.
Suppose you can pay $100 more; you’ll get a more excellent machine with a built-in grinder, the Breville Barista Express. But if you’re on the budget, Cafe Roma and Duo Temp Pro would be the best bang for your buck, but they are without a grinder.
Want to brew and steam milk at the same time? Check out Breville Dual Boiler or Dynamic Duo; these two sisters of Breville’s espresso family will provide you with a better espresso.
Rapping up, Solis Barista Perfetta Plus is a good espresso machine with all the accessories in the box + it can fulfill the needs of a complete newbie but not a more experienced home barista.
Solis has a long history of a range of home appliances and electronics. Between the birth of DeLonghi (1902) and Breville (1932), in 1908, Dr. W. Schaufelberger founded Solis in Switzerland. The heating pad was the first of their products, and in 2011 Solis launched their most successful product ever, Solis Hair Dryer. According to Solis, in 1985, they launched their first espresso machine, and now Solis Barista Perfetta Plus is their most successful espresso machine ever.
Solis Scala conical burr grinder and Espresso machines have a special reputation for being high quality, user friendly, and affordable.
Solis has previously been very popular in the European market, but when it introduced some of its products to the US market in the 1950s, it was well-received here.
Although Solis claims five colors, there are currently only three colors available in the market: metallic silver, red and black. Yellow and blue are not yet available in the market.
Although Solis claims to have used stainless steel material in the machine, I found many plastic parts under the brutal metal “outfit” of this Solis espresso maker when I looked at the machine while disassembling it. For example, plastic frames, plastic tubes for water passage, etc. That means plastic is everywhere in the machine where it can be used; that’s why I wrote in my review that the machine is made of steel and plastic. You don’t have to worry too much because it is the same with every cheap espresso machine. If you want to buy a complete stainless steel machine with stainless steel tubes for passing water, you can check out the next-generation super-automatic machine, the Breville Oracle Touch.
You’ll find that Solis also used plastic in the interior of the group head, although the plastic in that part of the machine affected the espresso taste. This plastic makes it difficult to heat the portafilter basket properly, resulting in less extraction. It is the point that this machine of the Solis is beaten against its rivals. If you want to overcome this machine defect, pre-heat your coffee cups by putting them under steam or hot water before extraction. Also, if you deem it appropriate, remove the plastic floor inside the portafilter as this floor has no practical benefit.
Pre-Pewing / Pre-Infusion is a great feature. Under this feature, the machine injects 5 ml of water into the portafilter basket and then intermits for 3 seconds so that the beans steep and bloom and their fragrance spreads well. Then the machine starts brewing again after the break.
Another useful thing is its steam stick. In some homes, coffee brewers do not like the Pannarello steam wand. For such users, Solis Barista Perfetta Plus is a great choice. Like the professional machines, it is a standard steam rod, not a Pannarello.
You may have to practice using it, but it will give you a soft, creamy milk foam without any big bubbles when you get used to it.
This steaming wand rotates in every direction, so there is no problem moving the rod to the most comfortable position, nor does it stick to the extreme position. In addition, it is located just above the specially designed hole in the drip tray. You can use this position to extract water/steam for milk without disturbing it.
On other machines, the steam rod gets very hot after applying foam which can cause burning of your fingers, but the metal steam rod at Solis Barista is really hot but does not burn your fingers because there is a silicone tube mounted on top of the steam rod which protects fingers from possible burns.
Unlike older Solis Barista Perfect Pro, Solis Barista Perfetta Plus uses Thermo blocks as heating elements.
Like De’Longhi Dedica Coffee Machine EC680 and KRUPS XP344C51 Calvi Steam and Pump Compact Espresso Machine, the Solis Barista Perfetta Plus’s Thermoblock element takes water from its reservoir and heats it on the fly; instead of heating a full boiler of water. This technology manages the brew and the steam function in Solis Barista and makes it more compact. Though the warm-up time is shorter than other espresso machines, we still highly recommend waiting 5+ minutes to warm the group head and the portafilter basket for better espresso.
Unlike Delonghi Dedica and other common espresso machines, in this machine, you do not have to wait for the Thermoblock to cool after steaming milk, but: In Solis Barista Perfetta Plus, when you finish steaming milk at a temperature of 140°C, the machine automatically takes the hot water out of the thermal block and fill it with fresh cold water so that you can start brewing your next cup immediately after steaming.
The Krups Calvi also has a drainage system from its Thermoblock, almost like the Perfetta Plus, but the difference between the two machines is that the Krups Calvi has a very limited drip tray that fills up after 2-3 cappuccinos. The advantage of the large drip tray is that you have to empty it on average after every 10-15 espressos or 4-5 cappuccinos. The Perfetta Plus, by contrast, has a 450ml drip tray, and this size is sufficient for machines using Thermoblock technology.
Its 3-way solenoid valve is one of these features, which puts Solis Barista Perfetta Plus in the line of professional machines even though it is not a professional machine. According to Solis, all of their machines have these valves.
This valve immediately sucks off all the water out of the filter basket, which stops the extraction process. The result is that your machine does not produce over-extracted coffee, nor do the drops of coffee from the filter basket spoil the shiny metal cup stand, nor are you at the risk of splashing coffee in your kitchen.
Another advantage of this process is that your puck does not stay wet but dries out, so you can easily remove it from the portafilter. In addition, this valve keeps the Thermoblock clean because the backpressure pushes the coffee into the drain instead of the heating element.
A pressure gauge is a round dial thermometer or manometer that gives the machine a professional/retro shape. You will find pressure gauges on every cheap espresso machine, but they are just a token and do not work properly on most machines. What matters is which machine’s pressure gauge accurately reflects the pressure.
The pressure gauge of the Solis Barista Perfetta Plus works exactly like that of the Breville Barista Express or the DeLonghi La Specialista, plus it is installed in the group head of the machine in the right place.
Espresso machines commonly used in homes have a group head of 51 mm in diameter, while the Solis Barista Perfetta Plus has a 54 mm group head. The machine comes with 54 mm diameter both pressurized and non-pressure filter baskets, easily fixed in its group head. The pressurized filter basket is for pre-ground coffee and beginners, and the non-pressure filter basket is for professional baristas, which is better to use only with good ground coffee.
Solis Barista Perfetta Plus has a 54 mm size bottomless portafilter.
Although most professionals say bigger diameter = better espresso, this is not a roll of thumb because Italian La Pavoni and Bravel Cafe Roma still use 51mm portafilter baskets. There are many more nuances to making high-quality espresso beside the size of the filter basket. But one thing is for sure, the larger the size of the filter basket, the more ground it will hold and the better the extraction. So a big portafilter = better espresso is important in the quality of the espresso, although not entirely dependent on it.
The Solis Barista Perfetta Plus has an auto shut-off timer that you can adjust to your liking.
Brewing Volume
The machine has a programmable volume for both espresso and a double espresso. If you want to make Americano or any other drink, you can adjust it from 30 to 300 ml according to your preferences. As your drink reaches your adjusted volume, the machine stops extraction.
Solis Barista Perfetta Plus includes everything you need for everyday machine use.
Although 54mm portafilters are easy to find on Amazon, the original brand made is difficult for a Newbie to find. Maybe that’s why Solis has put almost everything you need in the machine box.
Four filter baskets of 54 mm diameter come with accessories with the Solis Barista Perfetta Plus, two of which are pressurized (1-cup and 2-cup) and two non-pressurized (1-cup and 2-cup). A 5th basket is also included in the accessories, which is actually for the use of ESE pods. The inner diameter of this filter basket is 44 mm according to ESE pods, but its outer size and shape are such that it can be easily fixed in the group head of 54 diameters.
The machine accessories include a 54 mm metal tamper, which weighs 365 grams and is quite good.
This rubber disc is used to turn the machine’s filter into a blind filter during cleaning. It improves the cleanliness of the machine.
The accessories of the machine include a 300 ml milk jug. Although it is made of very thin metal, I can say that it is of suitable size and better according to the condition of this machine.
It is fixed in your machine’s water reservoir and provides clean and clear water for your daily coffee by eliminating water contamination.
Use this brush to clean the parts of the machine when you are cleaning the machine daily or descaling the machine after two months.
With the help of this scoop, you can measure ground and whole coffee beans. This coffee scoop is filled with 5 grams of whole coffee beans. Ground coffee beans weigh up to 7 grams in this plastic scoop, enough for a single shot.
If you want to get a double shot of espresso, you need to use two scoops of ground beans. In many cases, these are my measurements. Please measure them again on your kitchen scale for your satisfaction.
With this kit, you can test your home tap water to see how hard it is.
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