Swan SK22110GRN Retro Espresso Coffee Machine Review: Your First Step to Becoming a Home Barista?

There’s a certain magic to the daily ritual of a café-bought coffee. The hiss of the steam wand, the rich aroma of freshly ground beans, the satisfying weight of the ceramic cup. For years, I chased that experience at home, cycling through a graveyard of pod machines and French presses. While convenient, they always missed that certain something—the deep, complex flavour and velvety crema of a true espresso. The problem, as many aspiring home baristas discover, is that professional-grade equipment comes with a professional-grade price tag and a daunting learning curve. The dream of pulling a perfect shot to kickstart the day often feels out of reach, forcing a compromise between quality, cost, and convenience. This is the precise gap the Swan SK22110GRN Retro Espresso Coffee Machine aims to fill, promising barista-style coffee without the intimidating investment.

What to Consider Before Buying a Manual Espresso Machine

A manual espresso machine is more than just an appliance; it’s a key solution for anyone looking to graduate from automated coffee pods to the hands-on art of espresso making. It puts you in control of the variables—the grind, the tamp, the extraction time—allowing for a personalised brew that pod systems simply cannot replicate. The primary benefit is the significant leap in coffee quality and the satisfaction derived from mastering a new skill. The rich, syrupy espresso and finely textured steamed milk you can produce opens up a world of lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites that taste leagues better than their instant or automated counterparts.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone with a burgeoning passion for coffee, a “prosumer” who enjoys the process as much as the result. If you’re willing to invest a little time watching tutorials, experimenting with different coffee beans, and embracing the initial trial-and-error, a machine like this is a perfect entry point. However, it might not be suitable for those who prioritise speed and minimal effort above all else. If your morning routine is a frantic rush and the thought of grinding beans, tamping, and cleaning a portafilter sounds like a chore, you would likely be better served by a high-quality pod machine or a fully automatic bean-to-cup model.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Manual espresso machines, even entry-level ones, require dedicated counter space. You need room not just for the machine itself, but also for your grinder, tamping mat, and milk jug. The Swan SK22110GRN Retro Espresso Coffee Machine is relatively compact, but measure your intended space carefully to ensure a comfortable workflow.
• Capacity/Performance: Look at the water tank capacity and the pump pressure. A 1.2-litre tank, like the one on this Swan model, is ample for several drinks before needing a refill. Pump pressure, measured in bars, is critical for espresso. The industry standard is 9 bars at the group head, so a machine advertising 15 bars, like this one, has more than enough power to extract rich flavour from the coffee puck.
• Materials & Durability: The construction material directly impacts both the price and the machine’s longevity. High-end machines use stainless steel, which is durable and offers excellent temperature stability. Budget-friendly models, including the Swan, often use a plastic chassis. While this keeps the cost down, it can feel less premium and may raise questions about long-term durability.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: A manual machine is inherently more involved than an automatic one. Consider the learning curve. You’ll need to learn about tamping, grind size, and milk steaming. Regular maintenance, such as backflushing and descaling, is also crucial for keeping the machine in good working order and ensuring your coffee always tastes its best.

Keeping these factors in mind, the Swan SK22110GRN Retro Espresso Coffee Machine stands out in several areas, particularly for its approachable price and charming aesthetic. You can explore its detailed specifications and see the full range of colours here.

While the Swan SK22110GRN Retro Espresso Coffee Machine is an excellent choice for beginners, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Retro Charm Meets Modern Functionality

Unboxing the Swan SK22110GRN Retro Espresso Coffee Machine is a delightful experience. The first thing that strikes you is its undeniable charm. Our test model came in the Retro Grey, a soft, pleasing colour that evokes a 1950s diner aesthetic, complete with chrome-effect accents and a prominent, satisfying pressure gauge on the front. It immediately stands out on a kitchen counter, a far cry from the generic black and silver boxes that dominate the market. Inside the box, we found the main unit, a 51mm portafilter, two filter baskets (for single and double shots), and a combination measuring spoon and coffee presser (tamper).

Upon lifting the machine, its plastic construction becomes apparent. At 4.41 kg, it’s very lightweight. This is a double-edged sword: it’s easy to move and clean around, but it lacks the reassuring heft of more expensive, metal-bodied machines. Initial setup is straightforward. After washing the water tank, portafilter, and baskets, the manual recommends running several cycles of hot water through both the group head and the steam wand. We strongly second this; several users noted a “plastic taste” initially, which we found dissipated completely after these flushing cycles. This simple step is crucial for priming the machine and ensuring your first coffee is a pure one.

A Deep Dive into the Swan Retro’s Performance

A coffee machine can look beautiful, but its true worth is measured in the cup. We spent several weeks putting the Swan SK22110GRN Retro Espresso Coffee Machine through its paces, pulling dozens of shots, steaming gallons of milk, and getting a feel for its daily usability. This isn’t a “press one button and walk away” appliance; it’s an interactive experience that rewards patience and practice.

The Espresso Experience: Pulling Your First Shot

The heart of any espresso machine is its ability to force hot water through finely-ground coffee at high pressure. The Swan’s 15-bar pump is more than capable on paper, and in practice, it delivers. The machine comes with pressurised (or dual-wall) filter baskets. This is a smart inclusion for a beginner-focused machine. These baskets have a single small hole on the bottom, which helps to artificially create pressure and a stable extraction, resulting in a decent shot with a thick, foamy crema even if your grind size or tamp is inconsistent. As one user noted, this makes the machine “very forgiving” when using pre-ground supermarket coffee, which is typically too coarse for non-pressurised baskets. It’s a great way to get started without investing in a high-end grinder immediately.

However, to unlock the machine’s true potential, you need to pay attention to the details. A common piece of advice from experienced users, which we wholeheartedly endorse, is to invest in a proper coffee grinder and a solid 51mm tamper. The included plastic scoop/tamper hybrid is simply not adequate for applying the even, firm pressure required for a good coffee puck. With a finer, more consistent grind and a proper tamp, the quality of the espresso improves dramatically. The flavour becomes richer, the body more substantial, and the crema more authentic. This is the journey the Swan invites you on: start simple, then upgrade your accessories and technique as you learn.

We must address some of the more concerning user reports regarding leakage and safety. Several users mentioned leaking from the group head during extraction. We experienced this ourselves when the portafilter wasn’t locked in with significant force. Because the machine is so light, you must hold the top firmly with one hand while twisting the portafilter handle with the other. Failure to secure it properly can, at best, lead to a watery mess. In a more alarming report, one user experienced the portafilter violently ejecting from the machine under pressure. This is a serious hazard that underscores the absolute necessity of ensuring it is fully locked past the 90-degree position before brewing. It’s a critical learning point that isn’t sufficiently stressed in the manual.

Mastering the Art of Milk Frothing

For many, the goal isn’t just espresso; it’s a creamy latte or a foamy cappuccino. The Swan SK22110GRN Retro Espresso Coffee Machine features a traditional Panarello-style steam wand with a variable steam pressure control dial. A Panarello wand is essentially a metal sheath with air holes that fits over the actual steam pipe. It’s designed to be foolproof, injecting a lot of air to create thick, stiff foam perfect for old-school cappuccinos. For beginners, it’s a blessing, as it makes getting some kind of foam almost guaranteed.

However, if your goal is the silky, paint-like “microfoam” needed for latte art, the standard Panarello wand is a hindrance. Here, we followed the excellent advice of a knowledgeable user and simply pulled the outer metal sleeve off. This exposes the single-hole steam wand underneath. Using this “naked” wand is much less forgiving and requires proper technique—keeping the tip just below the surface of the milk to create a vortex—but the results are infinitely better. With practice, we were able to create genuinely good microfoam suitable for basic latte art. This simple, free modification elevates the machine’s capabilities significantly for those willing to learn.

There are a couple of quirks to be aware of. The steam wand is quite short, as many users have pointed out. This means you are limited to using a smaller milk frothing jug (a 350ml one is perfect). You also need to purge the wand before steaming by opening the steam valve for a few seconds to clear out any condensed water. We did not experience the issue of milk only getting “slightly warm,” as one user reported; the 1100W thermoblock produced ample steam power to heat 200ml of milk to the ideal 65°C in about 40-50 seconds.

Design, Build Quality, and Daily Usability

Let’s be clear: you buy this machine for its looks. The retro design is its unique selling proposition, and it absolutely delivers on that front. It brings a pop of colour and personality to the kitchen that few other appliances in this price range can match. The manual controls, consisting of three buttons (power, espresso/hot water, steam) and the steam dial, are intuitive and add to the hands-on, analogue feel.

The trade-off for the affordability and charming design is the build quality. The all-plastic body, while sturdy enough, feels undeniably budget-conscious. The chrome-effect trim is also plastic and can feel a little flimsy. The biggest design flaw we encountered, and one echoed in other reviews, concerns the 1.2-litre detachable water tank. We found that unless the tank was almost completely full, its buoyancy caused it to lift up slightly from its base. This breaks the seal with the pump intake, causing the machine to leak water onto the countertop. One user solved this with tape; we found that just being mindful to press it down firmly after every refill worked, but it’s an annoying quirk that should have been addressed in the design phase.

On a more positive note, the drip tray is easily removable for cleaning, and the machine has a helpful auto-shut-off feature that powers it down after a period of inactivity. Its compact dimensions (28.5 x 20 x 31.5 cm) make it a great fit for kitchens where counter space is at a premium. The ability to produce café-quality drinks from such a small and stylish unit is its greatest strength, provided you can live with its material compromises and design quirks. For those ready to embark on their home barista journey, the Swan SK22110GRN Retro Espresso Coffee Machine offers a visually appealing and highly capable starting point.

What Other Users Are Saying

After our own extensive testing, we delved into the experiences of other owners to get a broader perspective. The sentiment is largely divided between those who adore its charm and capabilities for the price, and those frustrated by its quirks and learning curve.

On the positive side, many first-time users echo our sentiment that it’s a “great learning machine.” One happy customer mentioned, “I have never used an espresso machine before… in a couple of days I had the hang of it to the point I could make a latte in a couple of minutes.” This highlights its role as an accessible gateway into the hobby. The retro design is almost universally praised, with many buying it to match other appliances in Swan’s popular retro line. Its value for money is another frequently cited pro, with one reviewer stating it’s “just as good for half the price” as their previous expensive machine.

However, the negative feedback often centres on a few recurring issues. Leaking is the most common complaint, stemming from both the aforementioned water tank issue and problems with the group head seal. The most serious feedback, which we feel is crucial to highlight, is the report of the portafilter handle dangerously ejecting under pressure. While likely a result of not securing it properly, it points to a potential safety risk exacerbated by the machine’s lightweight build. Some users also found the instructions confusing, describing them as poorly translated, making the initial learning process more difficult than it needs to be.

How Does the Swan SK22110GRN Compare to the Alternatives?

The Swan SK22110GRN Retro Espresso Coffee Machine occupies a unique space, offering a manual experience at a pod-machine price. Its direct competitors aren’t other manual machines, but rather the convenient, automated systems that dominate the budget market. Here’s how it stacks up against three popular pod-based alternatives.

1. Nespresso Citiz Coffee Machine Black

The Nespresso Citiz by De’Longhi is built for speed, convenience, and consistency. It uses Nespresso’s Original line pods, offering a huge variety of coffee blends with zero guesswork. Where the Swan demands you learn to grind, dose, and tamp, the Citiz requires you to simply insert a pod and press a button. The coffee is ready in under 30 seconds. Someone would prefer the Citiz if their primary goal is a quick, no-fuss, reliable shot of espresso before rushing out the door. It’s for the consumer who values convenience and predictability over the craft and customisation offered by the manual Swan machine.

2. Nespresso Vertuo Plus Automatic Coffee Machine

The Vertuo Plus represents a different kind of pod system. Using barcode-reading technology and “Centrifusion” spinning extraction, it’s designed to make everything from a single espresso to a large mug of coffee, all automatically. Its strength is its versatility in drink sizes and its one-touch operation. This machine would be the better choice for a household with diverse coffee preferences, especially for those who prefer longer drinks like an Americano. The Swan is strictly an espresso and milk-based drink machine; the Vertuo Plus is a more versatile, all-purpose coffee maker for those who prioritise automation.

3. Nespresso Inissia EN 80 CW Vanilla Cream

The De’Longhi Inissia is the epitome of a compact, budget-friendly Nespresso machine. It’s incredibly small, simple, and affordable, making it perfect for tiny kitchens, student dorms, or as a secondary machine in an office. Like the Citiz, it uses Original line pods for quick and easy espresso. A buyer would choose the Inissia over the Swan if space and budget are their absolute top priorities, and they have no interest in the hands-on process of making espresso or steaming milk. The Swan offers a higher ceiling for coffee quality and skill expression, while the Inissia offers the lowest possible barrier to entry for decent pod espresso.

The Final Verdict: A Flawed Gem for the Aspiring Barista

After extensive use and consideration, we believe the Swan SK22110GRN Retro Espresso Coffee Machine is a fantastic, if flawed, entry point into the world of real espresso. It is not a machine for everyone. If you seek effortless, one-button coffee, you should look elsewhere. This machine demands engagement, practice, and a willingness to learn. It has its quirks—the plastic build, the leaky water tank, and the critical need to secure the portafilter—that are clear trade-offs for its accessible price.

However, for the coffee enthusiast on a budget, the value here is undeniable. Its beautiful retro design makes a statement on any counter, and its 15-bar pump is capable of producing genuinely delicious espresso and well-steamed milk once you get the hang of it. It’s a machine that grows with you; start with pre-ground coffee and the pressurised baskets, and as your skills improve, upgrade to a good grinder and tamper to unlock its full potential. It’s a tool, a hobby, and a coffee maker all in one.

If you’ve decided the Swan SK22110GRN Retro Espresso Coffee Machine is the right fit for your journey into home brewing, you can check its current price and purchase it here.