Hot or Not? Rocket Espresso R Cinquantotto on Test

With the R Cinquantotto, Italian espresso machine specialist Rocket wants to make your barista dreams come true. A dual boiler, Faema E61 brew group, and a high-gloss stainless steel body bring a serious touch of Italian flair to your kitchen. But does this successor to the Rocket R58 impress in our review with its espresso quality, or is it just a shiny steam machine?

This article is part of our big Coffee Special, where we bring you all the tested products, exciting insights, and valuable tips on everything coffee-related. Curious? Click here!

If you start your morning listening to your automatic coffee machine rattle, wheeze, and gurgle, you know the struggle: the dream of a perfect espresso too often ends in a burnt, bitter disappointment. For those who want the real deal, a manual espresso machine is the only way to go. Stainless steel, craftsmanship, full control– sounds tempting, right? But how much money and dedication does it really take to create the perfect specialty coffee?

This is where Milan-based Rocket Espresso step into the spotlight. With their € 2,690 R Cinquantotto, they introduce the successor to the popular R58 espresso machine. But is it truly better than other machines in this price range? Or does it all come down to the beans and your barista skills at the end of the day?

In this test we’ll reveal whether the Rocket R Cinquantotto is truly the Ferrari of espresso machines– or more of a kit-car that gives you more headaches than perfect shots. We put it through its paces in our office, running dozens of kilos of coffee through it to find out if it really delivers the Italian espresso dream. Spoiler alert: this machine is definitely hot!

On Review: What Is the Rocket R Cinquantotto Capable of?

Founded in Milan in 2007, Rocket Espresso have long since achieved cult status. Co-founded by a passionate road cyclist, the brand has always stood for Italian-made espresso perfection. But at first glance, one detail stands out– the plastic control knobs and portafilter handles. On a machine costing around € 2,700, they feel somewhat out of place. As with the La Marzocco Linea Mini R we also had on test, we would have preferred wooden handles from specialist tuners like RB.Crafts to enhance both the look and feel of the experience. After all, we drink with our eyes too!

Like many other high-end machines, the Rocket R Cinquantotto takes time to heat up. After switching it on, you’ll have to wait around 15 minutes before pulling your first shot.

The Rocket R Cinquantotto uses a dual boiler system, ensuring top-notch temperature stability with separate boilers for brewing and steaming. Thanks to the automatic PID control, which electronically regulates temperature with great precision, you can adjust both brewing and steaming temperatures independently in 1°C increments. The brew water temperature can be set between 90 and 100°C, allowing you to fine-tune it for different beans and roasts. Meanwhile, the steam boiler runs between 117 and 126°C, delivering plenty of power for silky milk foam– whether you’re using cowmilk or oat milk.

The dual boiler system really shines when things get busy: pulling an espresso while steaming milk at the same time? No problem. Even after pulling several shots back-to-back, the temperature remains stable – provided there’s enough water in the tank.

The machine comes with a side-mounted touch screen as standard, making temperature control refreshingly simple. Plugged directly into the housing, it offers quick access to all key settings. Visually, though, it takes some getting used to the mix of classic Italian espresso charm and, well, the slightly odd Panasonic gadget vibe. Think of it like the moment Tamagotchis suddenly got colour screens.

Thankfully, if you’re not a fan, you can just tuck it away in a drawer, letting the machine’s polished stainless steel finish take centre stage. If you do so, the only visible digital element left is the shot timer, which is subtly integrated and automatically starts as soon as you lift the brew lever.

At the heart of the Cinquantotto is the iconic Faema E61 brew group, a staple in the espresso world since 1961. Designed with an internal water circulation system and a rotary pump, it aims to maintain a stable brewing temperature. Combined with mechanical pre-infusion– which gently soaks the puck of ground coffee in the portafilter before applying the full desired brewing pressure – this is meant to deliver consistently high-quality espresso shots.

The downside? The E61 group takes around 20 minutes to heat up and requires more maintenance than modern alternatives such as the saturation brew group of the Lelit Bianca, for instance, as the E61 needs regular backflushing. However, thanks to improved insulation and an efficient boiler system, Rocket managed to cut the heat-up time to 15 minutes.

And the result? Whether you’re a seasoned barista or manual-espresso-rookie, the Rocket R Cinquantotto delivers consistently great shots. Our testers, using a well-calibrated grinder, achieved a thick, golden-brown crema and a well-balanced espresso that impressed from the get go.

The Cinquantotto can be run either via the built-in water tank or a direct mains water connection. Our recommendation? Plumb it in – with a water filter, of course. Why? The tank isn’t removable, can only be refilled from the top, and heats op noticeably during extended use– a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. This makes cleaning tricky and refilling especially frustrating in kitchens with overhead cabinets. While in our review of the La Marzocco Linea Mini we found the tank removal process cumbersome, Rocket takes it one step further – by not providing a removable tank at all. So, if hygiene and convenience matter to you, a direct water connection is the way to go.

The powerful steam wand of the Rocket R Cinquantotto also impressed us in this test. With multiple interchangeable tips featuring different hole sizes and configurations, it offers great flexibility. The 1.2 mm dual-hole tip, in particular, produces silky microfoam– perfect for latte art. The wand itself warms up slowly during steaming, gently heating the milk for optimal texture. However, compared to Cool-Touch steam wands, like in the Giotto R Fast Heat, for instance, it retains heat for longer, meaning the milk heats up faster, leaving slightly less time to create that ultra-fine, creamy foam.

If you rely on pro-level features like pressure profiling to adjust brew pressure throughout extraction, you might want to invest a bit more. Unlike the pricier Rocket R Nine One, the R Cinquantotto operates at a fixed nine-bar pressure– though for most home users, that’s more than enough.

Overall, the Rocket R Cinquantotto won us over with its high-quality craftsmanship and an excellent espresso experience.

Do You Really Need Rocket’s High-End Espresso Machine?

The Rocket Cinquantotto is perfect for anyone who truly loves espresso and refuses to compromise- especially if you value durability, temperature stability, and the possibility to pull multiple cappuccinos back-to-back with consistent quality. The time-tested Faema E61 brew group has proven its reliability and performance for decades, while the optional mains water connection is a game-changer for frequent users, office kitchens, and hygiene-conscious coffee lovers. And if you’re into latte art, you’ll appreciate the powerful steam wand.

However, it’s not the right choice for those who love to experiment with pressure profiling or for the occasional drinker who’d be just as happy with a more affordable single- or heat-exchange boiler machine. The Cinquantotto also demands space– both in your kitchen and your budget. But if you’re willing to make the investment, you’ll secure yourself a future of perfect espressos and a daily dose of Italian flair.

Would We Buy the Rocket Espresso R Cinquantotto?

Yes– but only if we’re also willing to invest in a high-quality grinder. As good as the Rocket R Cinquantotto is, without a precise grinder, the dream of the perfect cuppa remains just that– a dream. Grind size, consistency, and bean quality have a much bigger impact on the final cup than the machine itself. Skimp on the grinder, and even the best espresso machine will only brew average coffee.

For around € 2,700, the Rocket R Cinquantotto offers a high-end espresso machine that will delight serious baristas and caffeine addicts alike. Its dual boiler system, the robust Faema E61 brew group, and optional mains water connection make it a fantastic choice for specialty coffee lovers.

That said, we do have a few gripes. The plastic handles on the portafilters and control knobs feel out of place in this price range – we would have expected more attention to detail. The Cool-Touch steam wands of other Rocket espresso machines are also a step ahead, as the R Cinquantotto wand retains more heat, making it easier to overheat milk and requiring you to wait a little before you can handle it again. That said, in skilled hands, the Cinquantotto still produces excellent microfoam.

Bottom line: If you’re a dedicated home barista and value tradition, durability, and Italian espresso culture wrapped in a sleek stainless steel package, the R Cinquantotto is a worthy investment– as long as you also have a top-tier grinder. But if you’re after striking aesthetics or features like Cool-Touch steam wands and premium finishing touches, it’s worth exploring the alternatives.

Words: Jan Fock Photos: Jan Fock, Robin Schmitt