The Quick Mill Anita: The Best Bang for Your Buck

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Bottom Line Up Front

Are you in the market for a multifaceted espresso machine, that is bursting with commercial grade features while still being simple enough for home use? If you are, then the Quick Mill Anita is just the product for you.

The Quick Mill Anita Semi-automatic Espresso Machine boasts commercial grade features in a compact, kitchen-friendly design.

Quickmill Anita Espresso Machine

This stainless steel espresso machine comes with several upgraded components including its heat exchange system that allows you to both steam and brew on demand.  The extra large pull out drip tray ensures that there is plenty of room for flushing activities and minimizes emptying chores.

The user friendly design of this espresso machine makes it the ideal addition to the kitchen of any espresso fanatic. Its compact size was created to scale with most home kitchens and to easily fit underneath the counter space, while still allowing plenty of room to create beverages. This model is easy enough to use for the beginning home barista but has enough features to meet the expectations of any seasoned professional.

This advanced home espresso machine has some of the same technical and mechanical features found in the brand’s commercial grade Andreja Premium model. However, the Anita is delivered in a more compact package that uses a water reserve instead of plumbing directly into a water source; making it a desirable option for some home users that aren’t next to a water source or who rent.

The Anita features a professional-grade E-61 grouphead with built-in pre-infusion features. The included 1,400 watt heating element on this machine packs the power of a commercial grade device into this simple, home-friendly machine.

Best for home, office, small restaurant (output capacity of 20 Espressos per hour).

At a Glance

• Commercial Quality E61 Group and 1.6 L Copper Boiler
• Large 3L Water Tank, Hinged Lid, and Magnetic Water Level Sensor
• Large Pull Out 50 Ounce Drip Tray
• Independent Steam Wand (w/ 4 Hole Tip) and Hot-water Nozzles
• 52 Watt Ulka Pump
• Large Electronic Indicator Lights
• 1400 Watts of Heating Power

Specifications

• Height: 15.75 inches 40.0 centimeters
• Width: 10.75 inches 27.3 centimeters
• Depth: 17.25 inches 43.8 centimeters
• Weight: 47 pounds 21.3 kilograms
• Amps & Volts: 15 Amps & 110 Volts USA/NA – 220 Volts Europe
• Watts: 1400 Watt heater

Quick Mill Anita Pros, Cons, Comparisons, and Tips

Pros

• Large Drip Tray – The Anita features a large 50 oz drip tray.
• Separate Boiler and Brew Pressure Gauges.
• Slim Design – This unit consumes minimal counter space while fitting underneath most kitchen cabinets.
• Top Quality Materials and Fit and Finish – Made in Italy of premium stainless steel, the machine is backed by Quick Mill’s superb support for all of its models – keeping extra parts on hand for many years after a model has been discontinued.

Cons

• Somewhat Noisy – Like all vibratory pump equipped units, the pump is somewhat loud.  You will need to step up in feature set and price to find a unit equipped, with a rotatory pump if noise is a concern. The Quick Mill Vetrano Rotary, fixes this issue by including a rotary pump (but at a higher price).
• Slow to Warm Up From a Cold Start – Do to the stainless steel construction (46 lbs in total) and copper boiler, the machine takes 18-22 minutes to warm up to brew temperature when turned off.
• Steam and Water Arms are NOT “No Burn” – The arms feature a rubberized protective covering applied along specific areas to shield against heat.  If users touch an unprotected area, they risk being burned. “No Burn” style steam arms can be installed as an optional upgrade but when buying new, why not just upgrade the Andreja Premium or Vetrano Rotary that already have them stock?

Comparison to Similar Products

The Anita features a larger drip tray than the Andreja Premium but unlike its more costly sibling, it is not able to be plumbed directly to water lines.

Techniques, Tips and Tricks

I find that a Digital Thermometer that screws directly into you group head to be very handy in dialing in a HX espresso machine during initial flushes. Also, an appliance timer can be used for turning the machine off and on to conserve energy.

Mike’s Detailed Review of the Quick Mill Anita

The Anita Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine by Quick Mill is truly where the rubber starts to meet the road in the premium prosumer models.

The Anita perfectly straddles the crossroads between entry level and the “dedicated espresso fan level” and is even excellent for light restaurant use (as if any espresso machine sold at such a high price point as this one can be called entry level in most circles).

Build Quality

This model features a sleek exterior, made from highly polished stainless steel. The stainless steel outer housing with removable cup warmer, and the device’s pull out drip tray are all made with ultra durable steel that gives this machine true lasting power. The Quick Mill line of home espresso machines has developed a longstanding reputation of excellence within the industry, and the Anita is no exception.

The #304 stainless steel used throughout the machine is highly resistant to both rust and acidic stains from beverages such as coffee and espresso; making it both durable and easy to clean and care for. The steam and hot water wands are also constructed of the same material. As always with Quick Mill products, the entire frame is made of steel and it is just not a thin covering utilized by some other brands.

Features

Power Switches

The Anita comes standard with the three position power switch feature.  The device can either be in the ‘on’ position, the ‘off’ position’ or on the ‘boiler only’ position.

Pressure Gauges

On the front, there are two different pressure gauges. The first is for boiler pressure monitoring and the other is dedicated to the pump pressure. The boiler is mediated by a pressure controller. When this controller senses a drop in pressure; it reacts and turns on the device’s heating element. This easy monitoring of pressure gauges allows you to access precise information to time your shots for perfect extraction and flavor with every use.

There is an access port tied to these gauges that can be accessed without removing the outer shell, that allows for easy pressure adjustments.

Commercial Grade Boiler

The Quick Mill Anita comes standard with a large 1.6 liter copper boiler.  This insulated boiling system is able to warm up in as little as twenty minutes but 45 minutes to an hour is better as the grouphead needs to reach thermal equilibrium for optimal operation.

The boiler also comes outfitted with a high-quality vacuum breaker that allows the machine to operate a timer without vapor lock. This means when a certain temperature level is reached, the machine will continuously brew at the same level throughout the day.

A consistent temperature is essential to creating a great espresso drink; and this heat exchanger boiler allows for even temperature regulation.

The included thermo-siphon circulation technology operates continuously to help maintain these consistent brewing temps. The heavy insulation in this boiler also helps prevent external overheating and damage to the kitchen, while protecting the device’s internal components.

E61 Grouphead

On the Quick Mill Anita, you will find an included E61 Grouphead. This is a commercial grade device invented by Faema in the early 1960s that works to insure temperature stability when creating drinks.

A dual pre-infusion system is built into all E61 based machines that presoaks the grinds just prior to brewing and assists with minimizing some channeling issues.

The beauty of the copper boiler coupled with the E61 Group lies in its heat exchange functionality; allowing home baristas to brew and steam all at the same time. A shot of espresso can be poured, while milk is being frothed for a cappuccino. This means there is no need to switch into different using modes when operating the system; making it ultra user friendly.

The downside is that you may need to do a little temperature surfing to dial in the temperatures correctly. To read more about E61 Groups and Heat Exchanger based Machines click here.

Vibratory Pump

The Quick Mill Anita comes with an Ulka 52 watt vibratory pump with thermal overload protection. The overload protection helps to keep the pump operating at the proper rate and will protect against heat related damage.

The pump, like all vibratory units, can be a bit loud for some tastes but is quieter than the 41 watt models installed by other manufactures. If you require minimal noise, you may want look at rotary pump units such as the Quick Mill Vetrano Rotary, the Rocket Giotti Evoluzione V2 in the HX class of machines and many of the premium double boiler espresso machines are also fitted with rotary pumps.

Stainless Steel Drip Tray

The Anita comes outfitted with a large, pull-out stainless steel drip tray. The over-sized design helps prevent counter spills and stains. The tray can hold up to 50 ounces of liquid and can be easily removed for cleaning.

The stainless steel covering of this tray leaves it immune to rusting and staining; meaning the drip tray will continue to maintain the same polished look as the rest of the machine. For cleaning chores, microfiber towels are dandy for keeping everything hygienic and sparkly.

Steam Wand and Hot Water Nozzle

The Anita is the lowest priced model in Quick Mill’s line that you will find with separate steam wands and hot water arms. The machine’s wands are crafted from ultra durable stainless steel which will prevent the wand from occurring stains or cosmetic damage while in use.

A four holed .9 mm steam tip is included. This steaming device makes it easy to create common espresso based drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes.

The included hot water nozzle allows hot water to be available on demand. The nozzle has an easily accessible control knob and makes it simple to create popular beverages such as Café Americanos, tea or hot water.

Some users find that the knobs are a bit small for their hands. If you think that this may be the case for you, you may want to consider models that have optional joystick control levers for steaming and hot water dispensing such as the Quick Mill Andreja and the Quick Mill Vetrano Rotary.

3 Liter Water Tank with Hinged Lid and Magnetic Low Water Sensor

The Quick Mill Anita is furnished with a magnetic sensing unit that provides you an discernible audio warning as soon as the water level is low. The warning notifies you before running completely out of water.

Even so, you can continue to finish the shot you are pulling and a few more ahead of the sensor turning off the electricity to the heater. Note that even should you choose not to supply additional water then only the heating unit power is powered off; the pump’s electric power continues to be made available enabling the rest of a shot to be finished.

The 3 liter water reservoir provides an adequate amount of water for several days of brewing (dependent on usage) but as with any HX machine the flushing regime may empty your water quick than you would believe. If you feel this may be a concern for you, you may consider upgrading to the Quick Mill Andreja that has an optional direct plumbing kit that allows you hook directly into your water lines.

The Rocket Cellini Premium Plus and the Rocket Giotti Evoluzione V2 also feature included direct plumbing kits.

The Vetrano is also a direct plumbing machine (doesn’t feature a built in tank).  A hinged lid is a feature on the newest models of the Anita and it makes it much more convenient to refill water.

Chrome Plated Brass Portafilters

The Quick Mill Anita comes outfitted with both a single and double commercial quality brass portafilters that are covered with durable chrome plating. These artfully designed portafilters allows for ultra important temperature stability while creating espresso drinks.

However, especially for beginners, it is handy to have a bottomless portafilter to see channeling issues. Click here to read more about bottomless portafliters and the effects of channeling.

As with all of the E61 type Heat Exchanger Models,a Digital Temperature Gauge which screws straight into your grouphead is an excellent option that enables you to swiftly dial in the right temperatures to ensure you will not devote allot of time as well as water to reach the correct temperature for your shots.

Foodal’s Rating

This is a great machine that will serve you decades and given Quick Mill’s history of part support I doubt you’ll need to upgrade anytime soon.

Like any espresso machine, a good burr grinder is a requirement along with fresh roasted coffee beans.

Quickmill Anita Espresso Machine available on Amazon

With commercial grade features and components, Quick Mill’s Anita is perfect for any home or office that wants a high functioning yet compact espresso making device and doesn’t break the bank in costs.

Want to know more?  Read our Espresso Machine Buying Guide and our Guide to Semi-Automatics Models.