Casabrews CM5418 vs 3700 Essential: Which Should You Buy?

I earn a commission if you buy through the Amazon links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Prices, ratings and buy boxes were read from the Amazon listings on 24 October 2026 at a US delivery ZIP.

Buy the CASABREWS 3700 Essential if you want the better deal. Amazon asked $99.99 for it against $118.99 for the CASABREWS CM5418, both have a 51mm portafilter and ship with pressurized baskets, and Tom’s Guide’s reviewer rated them near-identical and called the 3700 the better buy. Spend the extra $19 on the CM5418 only if black espresso matters more to you than milk drinks, because TechRadar’s reviewer found it gave more balanced shots from the same beans. Owners rate the CM5418 4.3 stars and the 3700 4.2, with about the same share of critical reviews.

Quick Comparison

Quick verdict:

• CASABREWS 3700 Essential wins for: most buyers, milk drinks and anyone who wants the lowest price and the bigger 43.9 oz tank
• CASABREWS CM5418 wins for: buyers who mostly drink straight espresso and will pay $19 more for what TechRadar found to be steadier shots
• My pick for most people: the 3700 Essential, with the $19 saved put toward a bottomless portafilter, which both reviewers say helps either machine more than the choice of machine does

Casabrews CM5418 vs 3700 Essential: Specs Side by Side

These are the figures on the Amazon listings, with reviewer measurements where the listing is silent or disagrees.

How This Comparison Was Put Together

This is a research-based comparison; I have not used either machine, and nothing here is a report from my kitchen. I read both Amazon listings, the star split for each, and the first page of critical reviews for each, which is ten reviews apiece. I read Tom’s Guide’s CM5418 review and its 3700 Essential review, which tested both machines, and TechRadar’s 3700 Essential review, which also pulled shots on the CM5418 for comparison.

I could not establish whether the CM5418 Amazon ships today includes the changes Tom’s Guide says the maker made to it, which are a brewing temperature raised by 50°F and a flush program. I also could not settle the weights, since the reviewers disagree, or whether the 3700 has a PID as its listing panel claims. One reviewer, Tom’s Guide, chose the 3700 and one, TechRadar, chose the CM5418, and neither tested both machines over years.

Espresso Shots: Which Machine Pulls the Better Shot?

Both machines ship with only pressurized, or dual-walled, baskets in one-cup and two-cup sizes. A pressurized basket forces water through a tiny hole to build thick crema and forgives coarse or stale grounds, which is why it suits pre-ground coffee and beginners, but it flattens the flavor of freshly ground specialty beans. Tom’s Guide’s reviewer found shots from the stock basket bitter and flat on the CM5418 and strong, a little bitter and not well rounded on the 3700. Both tasted far better through Casabrews’ bottomless portafilter, which the reviewer priced at $38 on Amazon.

The two reviewers split on whether the machines differ. Tom’s Guide called their performance near-identical, and its verdict on the CM5418 says the 3700 is the better deal. TechRadar’s reviewer pulled shots on both with the same beans and recipe and found the CM5418 more balanced, while the 3700 could not be relied on to repeat the same cup, and scored its performance 2.5 out of 5. TechRadar also reports dripping and a soupy puck after brewing on the 3700 and says none of the Casabrews machines it has tested has a three-way solenoid valve to relieve pressure after the shot.

Both listings advertise pre-infusion, a gentle low-pressure first stage before full pressure. The 3700 listing’s feature panel also names PID temperature control, which Tom’s Guide says the machine does not have, so treat that as a listing claim rather than a spec.

Verdict on shots: a slight edge to the CM5418 on the one direct comparison available, though the basket changes the result more than the machine does.

Steam Wand and Milk Drinks

Tom’s Guide says Casabrews confirmed that the two machines use the same steam wand. Its reviewer still got smoother milk from the 3700, found its wand joint easier to position, and said the overheating problem after steaming is more prevalent on the CM5418. TechRadar rated the 3700’s steam wand top-notch, with enough pressure for silky microfoam and a silicone grip on the control knob.

Both machines need a routine after steaming. Turn the steam button off and purge the wand for about ten seconds, or the one-cup and two-cup lights flash and you cannot pull a shot until the machine cools. The CM5418 listing warns about this itself: do not brew straight after frothing, or the machine goes into overheating protection. Tom’s Guide says the CM5418 does this after every use of the wand.

Owner reports on the 3700 do not match the reviewers. Three of the ten critical reviews I read say the wand only heated the milk or stopped producing steam after about three months. For a milk-first buyer, my steps for frothing milk with an espresso machine and the fixes in why a steam wand will not froth are worth reading before you buy either.

Verdict on milk: the 3700, on both reviewers’ evidence, with the owner caveat above.

Pressure Gauge and Controls

The CM5418 has a round pressure gauge on the front and the 3700 has a B logo in its place. Tom’s Guide’s reviewer points out that the gauge has no numbers, only a marked espresso range, so it is either ornamental or inaccurate, and wished Casabrews had left it off. One owner in the critical reviews says the gauge stopped working after about two years while the machine kept pulling shots.

Both have four buttons for power, single shot, double shot and steam, plus a steam dial on the right. Tom’s Guide preferred the 3700’s round buttons and simpler look to the CM5418’s oblong ones. A gauge only helps if you can read an exact pressure from it, and Tom’s Guide says this one does not show one, so I would not pay extra for it.

Size, Tank and Footprint

The listings put the CM5418 at 5.47 inches wide and the 3700 at 6.5, but the reviewers measured both at under six inches wide, and TechRadar says the 3700 is about half an inch deeper at the back to hold its larger tank. Either fits between a toaster and an air fryer. Tom’s Guide adds that you need access to the back, for the tank, and the right side, for the steam dial.

The tank is the clear difference: 34 oz on the CM5418 and 43.9 oz on the 3700, about 29 percent more. TechRadar argues that a bigger tank only tempts you to leave water standing, so the extra capacity matters most if you make several drinks in a row.

What Owners Report

The star split is almost the same. The CM5418 has 71 percent five-star ratings and 12 percent one- or two-star, and the 3700 has 69 percent and 14 percent. Of the written reviews, 25 percent of the CM5418’s are critical and 26 percent of the 3700’s, and both are sold by CASABREWS rather than Amazon.

CM5418, first page of critical reviews: four of the ten describe leaking, a machine that stopped working properly despite cleaning and flushing, a gauge that died after about two years, or repeated glitches and resets when the water ran out. Two mention noise or vibration, one a tray that shakes the cup, and two mention heat, one a wait of about 30 minutes before brewing again and one a maximum temperature of only 160°F. One says the one-cup button pours too much water and makes weak shots.

3700 Essential, first page of critical reviews: three say the wand only heated milk or stopped steaming after about three months, and three raise the portafilter, with a basket that falls out when knocking out grounds, a portafilter exterior that corroded after six months, and a plastic part inside the portafilter. Two report leaking after about a year, one for the third time. One calls the espresso extremely inconsistent after about 200 drinks.

Neither machine has a clean record, and several owners report trouble after a year or two of use. If a leak turns up, see why an espresso machine leaks water, and keep descaling on schedule with how often to descale an espresso machine.

Price and What You Will Also Need

The gap is $19, about 16 percent of the CM5418’s price. Tom’s Guide priced the bottomless portafilter it recommends at $38 and a milk jug at $15, and says neither machine comes with cleaning tablets, so plan on roughly $50 of extras on either one. That makes the $19 small next to what you will spend anyway.

Neither machine has a grinder. A pressurized basket tolerates pre-ground coffee, but the bottomless upgrade only pays off with fresh, properly ground beans, so budget for one of the grinders in my best espresso grinder guide. Casabrews discounts often, and TechRadar lists the 3700 at $129.99, so check both prices before buying. If the CM5418 comes within a few dollars of the 3700, take the CM5418.

Other Machines to Consider

Tom’s Guide calls the $299 Casabrews 5418 Pro, which adds a PID and faster heating, not worth its list price and would buy a Breville Bambino at that money. My Bambino Plus review covers that step up. For a bit more than the 3700, Tom’s Guide leans toward the De’Longhi Stilosa for its steam wand and steadier heating, but TechGearLab scored it 44 out of 100, so the sources disagree; see my De’Longhi Stilosa review.

If you want a pressure gauge, my Gevi 20-Bar review covers another budget machine that has one. For more choices, see my best espresso machine under $200, best semi-automatic espresso machine and best espresso machine under $500 guides, or the coffee hub.

Who Should Buy Each

Buy the CASABREWS 3700 Essential if:

• you make lattes, cappuccinos or flavored drinks more often than straight shots, since both reviewers rated its steam wand well
• you want the lowest price or the larger 43.9 oz tank
• you plan to buy the bottomless portafilter and want the savings to cover part of it

Check CASABREWS 3700 Essential Price on Amazon

Buy the CASABREWS CM5418 if:

• you drink mostly straight espresso or americanos and want the steadier shots TechRadar found
• you prefer a longer owner record, with 8,183 ratings against 3,760
• you like the look of the gauge and accept that its dial has no numbers

Check CASABREWS CM5418 Price on Amazon

Verdict

The CASABREWS 3700 Essential is the better buy for most people. It costs $19 less, holds more water, and Tom’s Guide found it easier to steam milk on, with fewer overheating problems, while the owner ratings are 4.2 against 4.3 stars with almost the same critical share.

The CM5418 is the right call if shots come first: TechRadar’s reviewer found it steadier than the 3700 on the same beans, and it has the longer owner record. Whichever you pick, expect to buy a bottomless portafilter, learn the post-steam purge, and treat owner reports of leaks and failures after a year or two as a real risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the CASABREWS CM5418 worth paying more than the 3700 Essential?

Usually not. It costs $19 more on Amazon and Tom’s Guide called the pair near-identical and the 3700 the better deal. TechRadar found the CM5418 pulled steadier shots on the same beans, so it is worth the extra if you mostly drink straight espresso.

Which makes better espresso, the CM5418 or the 3700 Essential?

The CM5418, narrowly, on TechRadar’s direct comparison; Tom’s Guide found no real difference. Both ship with pressurized baskets, and both reviewers say a bottomless portafilter, about $38, improves either machine more than switching machines does.

Does the CM5418 pressure gauge matter?

Not much. Tom’s Guide says the dial has no numbers, only a marked espresso range, so it cannot tell you the exact pressure. One owner reports the gauge dying after about two years. It is a feature of the look, not a reason to pay more.

Which is better for lattes and cappuccinos?

The 3700 Essential, on both reviewers’ evidence. Tom’s Guide got smoother milk and fewer overheating problems from it, and TechRadar praised its wand. Several owners say the wand only heated their milk, so expect a learning curve either way.

Do I need to buy anything else for either machine?

Yes. Neither includes a milk jug, a sturdy tamper, cleaning tablets or a grinder. Tom’s Guide priced the bottomless portafilter it recommends at $38 and a milk jug at $15, so plan on roughly $50 of extras.

Are there better machines near this price?

Possibly. Tom’s Guide leans toward the De’Longhi Stilosa for a little more money, though TechGearLab scored it 44 out of 100. The Breville Bambino is the step up it recommends instead of the $299 Casabrews 5418 Pro.

About Glenn

I'm Glenn, and I started Kitchenware Compare to cut through conflicting product reviews and help readers pick kitchen gear with confidence. I don't own or test the products I write about — these guides are built from verified-purchase reviews, manufacturer specifications, and independent testing where it exists, with the reasoning shown, not just a rating.