Gemilai Espresso Machine Review: All You Need to Know About the Owl

In today’s Gemilai espresso machine review, I’ll be taking a first look at the Owl, a machine that seems too good to be true. While I haven’t yet had a chance to test out the Gemilai Owl, I’ve been doing a ton of research to find out whether this affordable model is worth buying.

Chances are, the Gemilai Owl Espresso Machine will end up in the Coffeeness kitchen. But whether or not it’ll end up on my list of the best home espresso machines is another matter. To be honest, I’d love to put it through its paces, so I’ll add it to the list of machines I need to buy. In the meantime, let’s take a closer look at what the Owl is all about.

Gemilai Espresso Machine Review Overview

As it happens, this is the first time I’ve reviewed a Gemilai product. Still, I’ve noticed that the brand’s espresso machines have been making waves over the past couple of years.

To be honest, I don’t know too much about the Chinese company, other than the fact that it makes both commercial and domestic espresso machines. Oh, and it’s supposedly very well known in Southeast Asia. However, it seems like Gemilai knows what it’s doing, and sells a small range of home espresso machines on the North American market.

For the purposes of this Gemilai espresso machine review, I’ll be looking at the Gemilai Owl G3006 Espresso Machine, which costs just $399.99. That puts the Owl squarely in the budget espresso machine category.

Featuring a very cool design, 58mm portafilter and adjustable PID control, the Gemilai Owl promises to punch way above its weight in the espresso quality department. And while you shouldn’t expect super high-quality construction, the Gemilai Owl seems to be the real deal.

What’s crazy is that this Gemilai espresso machine’s asking price is almost suspiciously low. I mean, I can’t think of another model that can touch this thing in terms of what you get for the money. Still, from everything I’ve seen and heard, the Gemilai Owl G3006 is actually capable of producing great espresso and milk foam. Either way, you won’t have to spend much money if you feel like buying the Owl is a little risky.

Gemilai Owl Espresso Machine Features

Let’s go a little deeper in this Gemilai espresso machine review by taking a closer look at the Owl’s most notable features.

Build Quality and Design

I have to hand it to the Gemilai design team – they’ve really nailed it. Personally, I love how the Gemilai Owl looks. Aside from the fact that the machine is nice and compact, it’s also sleek and boxy, with a retro-futuristic aesthetic that’s very fashionable right now.

I appreciate the fact that the Gemilai Owl has a generous drip tray, as well as a cool pressure gauge and small digital LCD screen. And clever touches like an exposed group head and steam wand lever only add to the overall vibe.

As far as I know, the housing is mainly stainless steel, although the water tank and drip tray are plastic. And as you might expect at this price point, the materials used aren’t of the highest quality. With that in mind, this Gemilai espresso machine will likely feel slightly flimsy and lightweight compared to more expensive models.

User Interface

The Gemilai Owl’s user interface consists of four buttons on top of the machine, as well as a digital screen. There’s a single shot, double shot, manual extraction and steam function button, with the first two offering volumetric programming for adjusting your shot volumes.

As for the screen, it displays the current temperature, which you can adjust using +/- buttons. Even better, you can adjust the pre-infusion time here, which is a great feature to have. As if all that weren’t enough, the screen doubles as a shot timer when your espresso is extracting.

Speaking of, the Gemilai Owl also has a nice manometer that displays pressure at the group head during extraction. This is a really nice touch, seeing as a pressure gauge can help you diagnose any potential issues with your grind size and puck preparation.

Thermoblock Heater & PID Temperature Control

The Gemiali Owl Espresso Machine is equipped with a powerful 1500-watt thermoblock. In case you don’t know, a thermoblock is essentially an on-demand heater, so your Gemilai espresso machine will be ready to go in under a minute. Still, I’d recommend waiting around 10 minutes after switching the machine on. That way, it’ll be nice and toasty, and the group head will be up to temperature.

As I mentioned earlier, you can change the brewing temperature on this machine. That’s because the Owl has been fitted with an adjustable PID controller. You can set the brewing temperature anywhere between 176 and 215 degrees Fahrenheit (80 and 102 degrees Celsius), and adjust in two-degree increments. I have to say I’m blown away to find this feature on a $400 espresso machine, but I sure ain’t complaining!

Group Head

Upon first inspection, the Gemilai Owl appears to have an E61 heat exchanger group head. However, the shiny exposed group head is kind of just for show. That isn’t surprising, seeing as you only find heat exchanger group heads on much more expensive prosumer espresso machines.

Still, what is surprising is that the manufacturer equipped the group head with its own heating element. This means you’ll enjoy enhanced thermal stability and minimal temperature loss during espresso extraction. To be honest, some of the Best Breville espresso machines I’ve tested could really benefit from this feature. So, I congratulate Gemilai for going the extra mile.

Portafilter

As I already mentioned in passing, this Gemilai espresso machine comes with a premium 58mm portafilter with open spouts. Sure, it’d be nice to have a bottomless portafilter, but I’m sure you could upgrade relatively inexpensively.

Personally, I’m just impressed by the fact that this machine has a 58mm portafilter, seeing as this is what you’ll find on the best commercial espresso machines. Oh, and you only get single wall filter baskets, which is a relief. I mean, most budget espresso machines I’ve tested come with pressurized baskets, seeing as their pumps aren’t really up to snuff.

Steam Wand

From everything I’ve heard, the Gemilai Owl offers a surprising amount of steam pressure. What’s more, the machine’s professional steam wand is mounted on a ball joint for maximum articulation.

While the steam wand lever on the side of the machine looks super cool, I’m not sure that you can use it to regulate steam pressure. Rather, it’s likely just an on/off type thing. Either way, if the machine can deliver a decent amount of steam power I’ll be happy.

By the way, seeing as this is a single thermoblock espresso machine, you won’t be able to make coffee and steam milk at the same time. What’s more, the Owl will need around a minute to heat up to the correct temperature for steaming milk. And once you’re done, you’ll need to perform a 10-second cooling flush to bring the machine back to brewing temperature.

Water Tank

The Gemiali Owl’s 57-ounce (1.7-liter) removable water tank is mounted at the rear of the machine. From my experience, this can be a pain in the rear end if space is tight in your kitchen, and you may have to move the machine to access the reservoir. Still, at least the Owl is fairly lightweight!

From what I can gather, there’s no option for installing a water filter, so I’d recommend using fresh, filtered water in there. Oh, and don’t leave water hanging out in the reservoir for days. That’ll just encourage algae to start growing, which isn’t the best thing for good-tasting coffee.

Accessories

For such an inexpensive espresso machine, the Gemilai Owl comes with a ton of accessories. For starters, you’ll get a coffee scoop and a decent plastic espresso tamper with a metal base. What’s more, the manufacturer throws in a group head brush and even a screwdriver. Sure, there’s no milk pitcher in the box, but you can easily find a milk steaming pitcher on Amazon for very little money.

How Do I Use the Gemilai Espresso Machine?

Using the Gemilai Owl Espresso Machine will be very straightforward if you’re already familiar with espresso preparation. However, if you’re a complete newbie, it’ll take time to get the hang of things. So, allow me to give you a brief tutorial. Oh, and before going any further I should remind you that owning a good burr coffee grinder is essential for getting good results. Check out my guide to the best espresso grinders for inspiration. While you’re at it, get hold of a quality coffee scale too.

Start by filling the reservoir with filtered water before powering up the machine. Then, wait for around 10 minutes for the Owl to heat up properly. Next, dose your portafilter with the double shot basket installed. I’d recommend starting with a dose of around 15-17 grams of ground coffee.

Once that’s done, tamp firmly and evenly before locking the portafilter into place in the group head. At this point, tare an espresso cup on the scale and place it below the spouts.

When you’re starting out, I’d recommend aiming for a 2:1 brew ratio, meaning you’ll want to see 30-34 grams of espresso in around 25-30 seconds. To achieve this, I’d use the manual extraction button, remembering to press it again to stop the flow of coffee.

If everything was right with your dose, tamping and grind size, the pressure gauge needle will hover at around 9 bar during the extraction. However, if your shot ran too fast or slow, I’d start by adjusting the grind size accordingly and trying again.

How Do I Clean the Gemilai Owl Espresso Machine?

Fortunately, you won’t have to spend a ton of time on cleaning and maintenance with this Gemilai espresso machine. That said, you should get into the habit of performing a few daily tasks.

For starters, make sure to empty the portafilter after each use and give it a good rinse. While you’re at it, use the included brush to scrub the dispersion screen, before running hot water through the brew group for a couple of seconds.

As I mentioned earlier, you don’t want to leave water in the reservoir for too long. Plus, it’s always a good idea to give the water tank a once-over with warm, soapy water once every couple of weeks.

No matter how well-filtered your water, you will need to descale the Gemilai Owl every so often. The manufacturer recommends doing so once every three months, which sounds about right. I won’t bore you with the details here, but I urge you to descale on a regular basis. Trust me, limescale buildup inside the machine won’t do it any favors.

Gemilai G3006 Technical Specifications

Gemilai Owl vs Other Espresso Machines

Let’s continue this Gemilai espresso machine review by looking at how the Owl meanures up to the competition.

Gemilai Owl vs Breville Bambino Plus

Costing $499.95, the Breville Bambino Plus is a good deal more expensive than the Gemilai Owl. However, it’s still sitting squarely in the budget espresso machine category.

Regular Coffeeness readers will know how much I love this compact Breville machine. And while it has its faults, I find that the Bambino Plus is a real workhorse that can produce excellent espresso. Even better, the Breville Bambino Plus is equipped with a wonderful automatic steam wand that can whip up gorgeous microfoam.

Ultimately, the Bambino Plus is going to feature better materials. However, it seems like the Gemilai Owl might offer more to those who are serious about espresso as a hobby.

See Also: Breville Bambino Plus Review

Gemilai Owl vs Gaggia Classic Pro

At this point, the Gaggia Classic Pro is an institution among true espresso nerds. This single boiler machine has been around for decades, and still captures the hearts and minds of home baristas.

It’s easy to see why. I mean, for just $454.66 you’re getting a solid machine with professional features like a 58mm portafilter and commercial steam wand.

With all that said, the Gaggia Classic Pro is a temperamental beast, and it takes a lot of time and patience to get the best out of the thing. What’s more, this is a single boiler machine, so it takes around half an hour to heat up.

I can see the Classic Pro appealing to those who like a challenge and value authenticity. Plus, you can geek out to the max by adding mods to the Gaggia. Alternatively, the Gemilai Owl will offer an easier way to get top-notch espresso.

See Also: Gaggia Classic Pro Review

Gemilai Espresso Machine vs Others Comparison Chart

Verdict: Gemilai Espresso Machine Review

Having reached the end of this initial Gemilai espresso machine review, I have to say I’m more than a little intrigued. I think we can all agree that this machine’s asking price seems stupidly low. And while I don’t expect that the machine will feel premium in terms of its build quality, it seems to offer some advanced features.

If the Gemilai Owl performs as well as I hope it will, I’m going to be very pleased. So, keep checking back in if you’re interested to know what I think. I started out on the fence about whether I’d buy the Gemilai Owl, but I think I just have to bite the bullet!

Gemilai Owl Espresso Machine FAQ