Okay, so I've been using this YASHE panini press for about a month now, and here's the tea ☕.

First off - it's CUTE. The compact size is perfect for my tiny apartment kitchen. I can actually store it vertically in my cabinet which is a huge win.

The heating? Surprisingly fast! That 1200W power isn't lying - my grilled cheeses get that perfect golden crisp in like 3 minutes. The non-stick plates are legit too - melted cheese disasters wipe right off.

BUT (and this is a big but)... the temperature consistency is kinda sus? Sometimes I get those Instagram-worthy grill marks, other times it's like the machine decided to take a nap halfway through cooking. The bottom plate especially seems to have commitment issues with staying hot.

Pro tip: If you're using it for actual paninis with thick fillings, you might need to press down manually because the hinge doesn't give enough pressure. My chicken pesto panini came out looking more like a sad pancake last Tuesday 😅

Final verdict? Great for quick grilled cheeses and reheating leftovers (game changer for pizza slices!), but if you're serious about professional-level paninis, maybe invest in something heavier-duty. For $40 though? Not mad at it.