CHULUX Slim Espresso Machine with Milk Frother

CHULUX Slim Espresso Machine with Milk Frother

By CHULUX · Espresso Machines · Kitchen & Cooking

  • 20-bar Italian pump with a 1350W fast-heating boiler
  • Steam wand for latte and cappuccino
  • Pressure gauge plus pre-infusion
  • 40 oz water tank
  • About 5.5 inches wide

Lowest price seen
$139.99
from $139.99 at CHULUX official store (D2C) · Checked Sep 28, 2026

Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Problems, parts and running costs

Summary

A narrow 5.5-inch semi-automatic espresso machine with a steam wand, pressure gauge and pre-infusion, aimed at small kitchens and beginners. Check the accessory fit before you buy: the brew hardware is 51 mm, but aftermarket portafilters do not always seat.

Strengths

  • Only about 5.5 inches wide, so it fits a cramped counter.
  • The 40 oz removable tank is generous for a body this narrow.
  • A real-time pressure gauge and pre-infusion at this price.
  • The steam wand makes milk drinks without a separate frother.
  • CHULUX sells exact-model replacement parts, which is unusual for a cheap machine.
  • One exact-model owner reports genuinely good espresso after moving to an unpressurized setup and using a capable grinder.

Weaknesses

  • The 20-bar figure is the pump maximum, not pressure at the puck; no instrumented test measured brew temperature or pressure.
  • Owners and feedback summaries report pressure loss and internal leaks after some months.
  • Steam power is limited, and the wand is uninsulated and can feel loose.
  • Aftermarket 51 mm portafilters may not seat because the ears are too thick.
  • Shot consistency varies day to day, and switching from steam back to brewing needs the documented cooldown.
  • No built-in grinder, so a capable grinder is an extra cost if you leave pre-ground coffee.

Verified specifications

ModelJH-C5010, 120 V, sold in several colors and finishes.
Dimensions11.7 × 5.5 × 12.5 in (D × W × H); 7.8 lb. Pastel-green listings give 11.8 × 5.6 × 12.4 in and 8.04 lb.
Power1350 W.
Pumpmanufacturer-rated 20-bar Italian pump; that is the pump maximum, not a measured pressure at the puck.
Preheatabout 30 seconds claimed; the manual and manufacturer say espresso in 1–3 minutes.
Water tank40 fl oz, removable.
Pressure gaugereal-time extraction gauge.
Pre-infusionlow-pressure pre-wetting before extraction.
Steam and hot watersteam wand plus a hot-water mode documented in the manual.
Auto shut-off25 minutes of inactivity.
Brew hardware51 mm portafilter with single and double baskets; CHULUX sells a 51 mm upgrade portafilter.
Controlssingle- and double-cup buttons with resettable default volumes.
Descalingdocumented descaling procedure in the manual.
Warrantyone year on the exact-model manual and CHULUX’s warranty page.
Full research notes and sources

What the 20-bar number means

The pump is rated to 20 bar, which is a maximum and a common marketing figure. Proper espresso extraction does not need that much pressure at the puck, and no exact-model test measured puck pressure, brew-temperature stability or steam output. Treat the number as a specification, not a performance promise. What actually separates this machine is the very narrow body, the gauge and pre-infusion, and the fact that the manufacturer sells replacement parts.

Accessories and fit

The brew hardware is 51 mm, but that does not guarantee fit. One exact-model owner found a nominally correct 51 mm Normcore bottomless portafilter would not seat because the ears were too thick. Buy accessories listed specifically for the JH-C5010, or use CHULUX’s own 51 mm upgrade portafilter, $32.99 direct.

Parts, upkeep and running costs

Repairability is this machine’s unexpected strength. CHULUX sells exact-model original parts including one- and two-cup filters, portafilter, water tank, drip-tray pieces, the 3-way valve, steam valve, brew-head seal and brew head. The electronics and pump are not fully user-serviceable, but a real parts channel is better than most cheap machines offer. Clean the brew path and steam wand and descale on schedule; milk residue clogs the tip quickly.

There is no subscription and no proprietary capsule. Coffee, milk, water and cleaning supplies depend on use, and CHULUX publishes no model-specific consumable or fixed schedule, so a defensible annual running cost cannot be calculated. The machine draws 1350 W, but no measured annual energy use was found.

Reliability and warranty

Deduplicated marketplace and review-summary feedback points to pressure loss and leaks after some months of use, with secondary complaints about steam-wand noise, wand looseness, milk baking onto the uninsulated wand and inconsistent shots. Those reports do not give a failure rate, but they make the return window and warranty worth checking. Switching from steam back to brewing can trigger flashing buttons, which CHULUX’s FAQ attributes to overheat protection and says to clear by running hot water for about 20 seconds.

The warranty is one year, per both the exact-model manual and CHULUX’s warranty page, which covers manufacturing and functional defects and includes shipping on approved US cases. Some CHULUX promotional footers display two-year wording, but the model manual and the dedicated warranty page agree on one year, so use that unless your order grants longer.

Is it worth it?

At $99.99 to $110 it is a strong beginner machine, with the narrow body, gauge, pre-infusion and parts support doing more for the money than the pressure rating. CHULUX lists the black JH-C5010 at $139.99 and Abunda lists a silver one at $109.99 (2026). Around $140 the value thins out, because the De’Longhi Stilosa EC260BK is $149.95 and a Breville Bambino is $299.95 with a 54 mm portafilter. Above $150 the Stilosa is the safer value for buyers who want an established brand and a stainless-steel boiler. The slim footprint has to matter to you for this to beat those.

Which model this is

This page covers the CHULUX Slim Espresso Machine with milk frother, model JH-C5010, in the black US variant, ASIN B0DG8X6481. Do not confuse it with the JH-C5262 or other generic 20-bar slim machines.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

Stores:

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