This has to be one of the most beautifully engineered coffee machines I have ever seen, which also happens to be almost maintenance free.
Once you have mastered the grind and portafilter preparation you are good to go for that professional shot that everybody so desires. Coffee flavours are definitely some of the best I have ever been able to achieve. I also own a very nice Bezzera Mitica espresso machine which is really good at making perfect shots, however the Little Guy is a much better choice when it comes to flavour extractions. We only use fresh light roasted Jamaica Blue Mountain beans which when done with the Little Guy come out absolutely perfect.
The only small negative I have is that it needs an insulated steam arm/wand as the little neoprene protector is not enough to stop you getting burned when doing the milk.