In September my 3 year old Hottop B2K+ stopped heating. Hottop USA suggested that I should replace the fusible link. I ordered one from them, installed it and while I had heat again I also had very loud metal on metal scraping noise. I assumed the problem was my extremely limited mechanical skills had re-assembled the machine incorrectly. Instead of trying to dis-assemble and re-assemble again I gave up and ordered a new Hottop B2K. I tried to sell the B2K+ here on HB but had no buyer (the sale post is no longer on the site). I decided to send the B2K+ to Hottop USA for repair. I sent it last week to them and it arrive there on Friday. On Saturday i received an email telling me I had not assembled the machine incorrectly. The metal scraping noise was due to a stripped motor gearbox. They installed a new motor and sent the machine back to me. It arrived one week after I had sent it. They also replaced, at my request, the heating element since they had the machine apart. I did the first roast on the refurbished machine today and it is as quiet and the new B2K I just bought.

Based on this experience I suggest that anyone who is not confident in their own mechanical skills should use Hottop's refurbishing service. I certainly will from now on. The experience with Hottop was as good as I have had with anyone since I started in 2002 and vastly netter than most others including other recent ones. Hottop's service was comparable with Stefano's.

I have decided to keep the old B2K+ and will try to sell the brand new B2K. Part of my problem with working on any espresso machine is my vision disability. The same disability makes the B2K+ with larger display numbers and knobs for adjusting rather than small buttons to push. significantly easier to operate than the B2K.

I've had great experience getting troubleshooting advice by email and quick shipment of parts I have ordered.