Clive Coffee – Espresso Machines

Very happy with the buying experience. Ben was fantastic, and spent a fair amount of time reviewing their machines.
My machine had to replace 3 parts in under 6 months and I ended up shipping it back for further diagnosis. Hopefully, they will be able to fix it. The manufacturer has been of little help, hopefully Clive Coffee will stand behind their sale and do the right thing — we will see.

Just bought a espresso machine for my cart from
The good people at Clive. Couldn’t be happier with the service. Professional, informative and friendly. Will do business in the future for a long time! Couldn’t be more pleased!!!

I stopped by a couple more times after given them a 5 stars service and every single time I received a 1 star service from 2 different reps. What has gone wrong with them? Pretty same day I went to Seattle Coffee Gear in NW and bought a new espresso machine and received a much better service.

We ordered our Ratio Eight coffee machine from Clive last January (almost a full year ago) and our machine still hasn’t been delivered. Each delivery date they’ve given us (and there have now been six) has gone unfulfilled and the excuses and non apologetic tone of their «updates» are beyond irritating.
Don’t act like I’m lucky to be paying you half a grand for a glorified pour-​over, and drop the pretentious ‘tude for five seconds when dealing with the customers who aren’t getting what they paid for despite your repeated empty promises.
*UPDATE*
Thank you for your reply, Mark!
There IS something you can do, and it’s to send me the coffee maker I ordered and paid for almost a year ago. Thanks!
Xo

This review is for the Home Barista Class that Clive Coffee offers. Had a great Saturday morning with Victoria training us on the basics of pulling a good espresso shot and steaming milk. It’s a much more involved process than I thought (having worked at Panera previously where everything is automated), and it was very helpful to have somebody knowledgable helping you along the way. I thought 2 hours was going to be way too long to just learn how to make a latte but you get to practice pulling a LOT of shots to fine tune them. There was a slight hiccup with one of the machines being off and needing to get warmed up first, but Victoria was super apologetic and fixed it as quickly as possible. You can tell they put a lot of effort into trying to make sure the class is a seamless experience. Definitely a helpful class if you plan on making lattes at home, or like us, are just interested in learning about the process. Classes are a little pricey, but overall I think it was worth it!
As a plus, the whole shop and the back room where the classes are held are beautifully designed spaces!

I am a novice who tinkered with E61 and Mazzer electronic mini A which I thoroughly enjoyed. When I felt that it was time for me to be ambitious, I researched and looked around. Linea Mini was a contender as was GS3 and possibly something more daring. I was looking at a conical grinder too. There were so much info and options out there that it was not easy to make the choice, especially when it gets so complicated to return anything back.
In the past I had an experience with another competitor in Seattle, WA who seemed nice and approachable from their marketing videos but in actuality, I was not too impressed with my whole experience of purchasing through them. I didn’t find their tech support much help & I was not too happy with their packaging of the Rocket R58.
this time, I tried Clive Coffee. Happened to speak with Ben. I told him I want to upgrade from the current set up I had. He was amazingly patient with me, giving his input by listening to what I was looking for and what I was not liking (in more of a layman’s terms too). Ultimately, he helped me solidify my decision to buy Linea Mini. Then we talked about the different types of grinders, burrs, my pros and cons about Mazzer mini after 2 years of using it, etc. made suggestions, sent me pictures of the grinders. Now, that takes a lot of patience. In the end, I purchased the Linea Mini and Macap M7D.
after the delivery and during my setting up, I of course, called and asked a few more questions. Again, he was very helpful and engaging. So when I was having a hard time with the grinder, it was good to know that Ben can help me during their business hours. Paul and Karen were also very good to speak with as well.
At the end of the experience, I feel like I made the informed decision and don’t regret spending more than what I had planned. If I didn’t have the guidance that I had, I would have spent more and probably would not have been too happy with it.

I walked in looking for Ethiopian beans. The young girl behind the desk was so calm, polite, kind and helpful. I only needed beans but definitely going back to explore options for an espresso machine at home. Very good service very good products.

I researched espresso machines for a long time. I called Clive Coffee only because their website seemed so «hip». I was worried that they had a limited selection compared to other online stores.
I spoke with them on the phone and they were extremely helpful in walking me through terminology and the advantages and disadvantages of every machine. Paul took a lot of time with me and was very gracious. I had already talked to their competitor, «WholeLatteLove» and frankly, their website and knowledge were impressive, but Paul and Mark at Clive TOOK TIME to LISTEN and respond.
When will salespeople (of whom I am one myself!) begin to listen to their clients? They would do so much better! In the end, I spent twice as much as I wanted to, and 6 months later, I’m not the least bit disappointed!
They sold me the Profitec Pro 700 and Macap grinder. It makes the perfect espresso and cappuccino. One would think such a massive manual machine is complicated and difficult to master. NOT TRUE. The boys at Clive will walk you through the process of setting it up (yeah, I don’t read directions!), and within a day or two, you will be making perfect froth for cappuccinos and lattés! I never thought it would be possible.
Listen, why buy from these guys? Because offering everything on the market isn’t a virtue. They offer a select set of machines known for their excellence. They are passionate about what they do. You can haggle with them over price, and my experience is they are the most competitive in the market. My machine arrived in perfect condition. and is, 6 months later, my pride and joy.

The customer service at Clive Coffee is exceptional. I recently purchased a hand grinder and a stainless steel coffee filter for home use. Brad walked me through their selection of hand grinders and didn’t try to up-​sell me on a more expensive grinder when I chose the mid-​priced Zassenhaus Panama coffee mill. They have an excellent selection for a small business and I will definitely be returning for my next coffee investment.

Please note this review only focuses on Clive Coffee’s customer service with respect to placing an order and answering my questions on one of their products. I hope to update in the future as my relationship with the company continues.
I was in the market for a basic auto drip coffee machine. My wife required a machine that makes coffee at the push of a button. So I wanted to replace our old machine with a top of the line model. I research everything to the fullest. I was trying to decide between a «proven» Technivorm machine vs Clive Coffee’s own «Ratio» model. I was very impressed with the design and felt many things that are important to me as a consumer were answered by this machine and with this company. I’m not normally one to buy anything until there are a plethora of reviews, videos and a proven track record for a product. However, I made an exception with this product. I would not have made this exception without a great email conversation with Mark.
I emailed and Mark got back to me right away with some really great responses to my detailed questions. This kind of customer service makes me feel good about making an investment in a coffee machine with this company.
I’m excited to be one of the first people to get their hands on this machine and to continue to give business to Clive Coffee /​Ratio.
I hope to do a full review on the model once I receive it.

I’ve never been to the store but I saw they were selling online a coffee maker I wanted to buy. It was a new model and they were one of perhaps two online retailers who had it in stock.
I purchased the coffee maker online on Dec. 23^rd; I got it delivered to my house the NEXT DAY – Dec. 24^th. My wife wrapped it and placed it under the tree for Christmas Day.
I call this exceptional customer service. I didn’t pay for any expedited delivery. Since they’re in Portland, OR and I live near Seattle, WA, I thought they might be able to deliver it overnight, and I was right.
I’m a customer for life now, and I hope to make it down to their store to see what goodies they have for sale. This is a great company.

Clive Coffee is fantastic and Ken Higgins facilitated the repair of my espresso machine. Ken was extremely helpful on the phone as to the potential problem, was realistic, gave a reasonable estimate and well worth shipping my espresso machine from the Bay Area to him. I highly recommend Clive Coffee for their expertise, reliability and caring about their customer’s needs. Arnie and Joyce Brown

It was really cool to see all the different gadgets and coffee accessories. We have a perfectly good espresso machine at home, but we will definitely consider ordering from Clive next time we’re in the market for a new one. They have some badass looking ones in their show room. They even let the hubs try one out and make himself a shot.

This was a great place to visit to check out all the ways to make great coffee. No Mr. Coffee machines sold here! Super knowledgeable and friendly people work here. Good coffee house right next door.

We spent about an hour here checking out different machines. The guy pulled espresso for us on the two machines we were comparing. He was very knowledgable and gave very honest opinions. He did not try to sell us on any particular machine.
He invited us to come back and try the machines out ourselves before we made a final decision.
There’s a small kids’ toy area under the stairs by the bathrooms, which was really nice for keeping our kids’ bored little fingers off all the shiny coffee paraphernalia.
They sell bags of beans there, and if you don’t get any sample pulls, there’s a (totally unrelated, I believe) coffee shop next door.

Beautiful shop, very hands off sales staff. Would have loved to see more demonstration, education or sampling in-​store; the venue seems perfect for showing a potential customer the benefits of a high-​quality machine. Not much information was offered nor did I see any postings for home barista classes or anything. Perhaps they thought I was just browsing? Missed opportunity. Still, a gorgeous store — they just did not seem that eager to sell to me.

These guys are great.
First and foremost, they give you a totally honest assessment of the various coffeemakers and espresso machines with all of the pros and cons. They do not try to sell you the most expensive machine. And they know their stuff.
After asking a million questions, I felt that I had all the information I needed to choose my machine and the right coffee grinder. I ended up buying a relatively inexpensive Bonavita drip coffee maker, but I might just as well have been buying a top-​of-​the line espresso maker by the way they treated me.
Many of the machines can be repaired on site. If you live in Portland, this is reason enough to buy from them.
When I called to check on my order (and add an extra coffee carafe), Chris saw that I only lived a couple of blocks from him and offered to drop off my order on his way home from work. I was able to pick it up instead, but I think this is just reflective of the kind of business they run.
In my case, I could have ordered the same products online. I’m so glad I didn’t.

I just wanted to write a quick review (which now may not be so quick after all). I found Clive’s through
when I was doing research for an espresso machine. The importer of the machine I purchased is located in New York, and while I could have purchased directly from them, I wanted to go with a company on the West Coast.
When I rang, my call was answered immediately, and I was directed to Mark. Mark was very helpful — he was there to help, he was not «salesman-​y» — and considering I ultimately spent $ 2,200 with him, that meant a lot to me. I don’t like being pressured into a purchase, and Mark’s demeanor was very genuine. I already knew which machine I wanted, and I didn’t really need any convincing — but he still wanted to make sure I had covered all the bases and that the machine I had chosen would be a good fit for my needs. He made sure I knew that I could call back at any time with questions, and he would help me — even if was something as basic as «I just got my machine, how the heck do I pull my first shot?!» He would be available to hold me hand through the entire process.
Anyway, I ended up getting my machine, and a new grinder! They also threw in some very nice «welcome to the world of espresso» presents! And I’m so glad they did because I am definitely a newbie and it was a relief to not have to figure out some of the stuff on my own (like, how the heck do I know what size tamper goes with the porta filter??!). Oh, and the presents were all top-​quality, too; they don’t just send promo junk.
What I like about my experience with Clive’s Coffee is that they are truly dedicated to the art of the brew. They only sell products that they can personally attest to; if they try a product and don’t think it measures up, they don’t sell it. They are uncompromising in that regard, which is so refreshing. It takes the worry out of what is a very worrisome, big purchase. I’m so glad that I went with Clive’s.
For anyone considering buying an espresso machine, a grinder, or any of the other neato things they sell — when you buy from them, you’re not just buying a product, you’re buying amazing customer service and outstanding expertise. This is what the retail experience is supposed to be like — well-​trained people, who know their products, who are there to match you with the product that is right for you, not just the product that gives them the best commission. Way to go! They’ve now got a customer for life.

Pretty much the best place around to buy coffee equipment. Clive has a helpful staff and a great selection of beautiful and functional coffee-​related stuff. Plus, it’s just down the road from Water Avenue Coffee, which is great.
While their main business is probably espresso gear (which is expensive), Clive is worth a stop if only to make sure you’re stocked with proper filters or grinder cleaning tablets or other specialty essentials that are otherwise difficult to find.

We are coffee people. Clive is coffee. Investment coffee, but if you are looking to upgrade your grinder, tamper, espresso maker, etc, go here! Staff is incredibly knowledgeable. They carry high quality product lines. Very friendly and helpful. Ask for Chris, he’s the best.

I got a sample of their coffee at an open house at one of the local distilleries around Christmas time, and my husband loved it. He loved it so much that I ordered several bags from their site. Unfortunately, it was a limited edition roast and isn’t available anymore, but the other roasts that we’ve tried since have been great.
I would love to see Clive sell to local coffeeshops or open one of their own. Now that they have a showroom, hopefully I can pick up my order rather than pay for shipping.

Gorgeous, minimalist shop to match the sleek machines. Mark obviously has a fetish for walnut (not a bad thing at all.).
Mark and his colleagues are warm, knowledgeable, and expert baristas to boot. I don’t buy heaps of fancy espresso equipment – but if I need to, I’ll go back to Clive. For serious.
My only complaint is that the location is a little. meh. But who knows: within five years the inner SE industrial area could be the next Pearl! (My fingers are crossed that it doesn’t happen.)