Yup, looks like there's twice as much branding on the Starbucks one. The question is, can you get a separate portafilter, cause I've heard bad things about the starbucks one.

You can order a replacement (or upgrade) portafilter direct through Saeco or if they are out of stock on an item they will refer you to partsguru.com

The portafilter that comes with the Starbucks Barista is the same as the "Saeco mechanically pressurized portafilter".

The "upgraded" version is the "Saeco Gran Crema pressurized automatic portafilter" which goes for $14 more.

My old Estro Vapore came with the gran crema and it felt like a heavy-restaurant-quality part and it was only due to my carelessness when cleaning that I damaged it and had to order a replacement.

As of summer 2007 parts guru was out of stock on the Gran Crema and Saeco was waiting for a boat from Italy with no ETA so I ended up with the cheaper replacement.

In comparing it to the Starbucks I'd say the Starbucks is an odd frankenportafilter; it has the heavy duty rubberized handle of the Gran Crema but the cheaper filter mechanism (go figure). About a week into the new machine the EOM portafilter has been "seasoned" and the espresso is hot, heavy, and has a great dark layer of crema every time.

So all this to say that the Saeco replacements are interchangeable with the Starbucks parts and you get the bonus of no decals or branding on the Saeco parts.

Thanks a lot for the information. I've searched high an low for a replacement for my Barista as my office mates have wrecked the stock filter.

Being retired and on a fixed income I am both financialy and karmicaly tied to the Barista gifted to me as a "rescue unit" which I breathed life back into by replacing its heating element.
For basically two hours work and $50 cash out of pocket and a little surfing on the net I started pulling shots like crazy! Steaming milk was a nobrainer for this little machine.

I have to agree about the PF. I had to open up the bugger and heat press a steel post to replace the plastic one thet retains the spring. I haven't seen the SAeco version but want to and want to see the guts before I buy.

In my view it is a totally interdependet system and without the back pressure the pressurized PF provides the "crema" is thin and instant coffee like. I have enlarged the hole to the diameter of a tooth pick and that seems to be a happy compromise.

Now, I have a question. I think I may have had an over heat, I don't know quite how it happened but when on steam it never developes enough heat to really generate steam, it's sort of "steam light", the kind you'd get from an entry level Braun (no slight intended I was there once!). Additionally there is increased discharge from the group after the steam button is engaged for a few moments.

Any comments are most welcome!

I have a barista..my daughter moved and she is the only one that operated it...How can I find picture instructions on how to operate?? I don't even know which is the power button....help...