Best Value Bean to Cup Coffee Machines
If you're looking for a one-press, hands-off espresso that is fully customizable, this is the machine for you. Check out our Beem Espresso Grind Profession review for more information.
Its bean hoppers that can be swapped let you try different blends at the drop of a hat and its profiles mean that you can pick up right where you left at. Plus, it's less expensive than capsule machines and utilizes real coffee beans instead of pre-ground coffee beans.
1. Smeg BCC02
Created by Milan-based firm Deep Design, this sleek compact and striking machine pairs the unique retro style of the brand with cutting-edge technology. It handles every step of the coffee-making process - from grinding beans and shaping them into a puck, to making milk into a texturing process and dispenses the right amount - so you can create barista-quality hot drinks with the click of a button.
The machine also sports an elegant brushed aluminium front and is available in a variety of black, red or taupe, meaning it's a great fit for most kitchen designs. The machine is not free of flaws however. Most reviewers found that it was expensive for a cup-to- bean maker (and does not come with the milk pitcher).
However, there were plenty of glowing reviews about the quality of the coffee and the ease of using this machine. The digital display provides feedback and step-by-step directions throughout the entire brewing procedure, helping you to improve your coffee every time. The machine will even tell you to adjust the size of the grind, in case that's not what you prefer. It's almost like having a personal home barista (minus Harry Potter's invisibility cloak, and Elon Musk's rocket-building expertise).
This model is perfect for those who enjoy milky drinks. The steam wand can be adjusted up and down to fit a variety of drinking vessels, excluding Viking drinking horns. We were also impressed by the speed and efficiency at how the frothing was accomplished. It makes an excellent, full-flavoured, delicious espresso with a great crema.
The BCC02 is a fantastic all-rounder, quiet and efficient and provides excellent value for money, especially at its current price of PS499. The only problem is that it does not provide the same level of customization like other bean-to-cup machines we have tested. It has a pump that is 15 bars instead of the standard 19 bars. This is not enough for producing top-quality espressos. However it's a fantastic bean to cup machine for those who prefer their coffee strong and black. If you're interested in getting the machine ensure you take advantage of Lavazza's excellent deal Click here to view it.
2. Melitta Barista TS Smart
The Barista TS Smart has a number of characteristics that distinguish it from the rest of the competitors. Its most unique characteristic is that it can be controlled from your smartphone via the Melitta Connect app. This lets you alter the settings and also to dispense different coffee recipes that are stored inside the machine.
This makes the machine flexible and adaptable to your tastes. There are a variety of options to alter the strength of your drinks and also different sizes of cups, and whether or not to add milk. The machine also comes with two airtight bean containers that are automatically selected for different specialities. It defaults to standard espresso beans in one, and cafe crem (a German variation of long black or flat white) in the other, but you can choose the beans you prefer. There is also a chute for pre-ground beans if you want to use your own.
Users have also said they are impressed by the speed of the machine. It is more efficient than other machine they have used. The machine also alerts you if any of its hoppers is almost empty. This means that you won't run out of your favorite beverage.
The only thing that may be a disadvantage for certain people is the price tag. This machine costs nearly PS999. It is still cheaper than similar Jura machines with similar features.
The Barista TS Smart is backed by a an impressive warranty, which provides two years of coverage. This is more than the typical one-year warranty. It is a sign of confidence on the part of the manufacturer. The machine comes with an cleaning tablet, as well as an descaler. This makes it easy to maintain the machine. This is a great machine for those looking to purchase a high-quality and versatile bean-to-cup machine for a reasonable price.
3. Jura GIGA 6
The Jura GIGA 6 is a powerful espresso machine that utilizes artificial intelligence to make the finest specialty coffees. It learns your preferences and rearranges the menu of coffees to make it easier for you to select your favourite drinks. You can also select your preferred grind size as well as the temperature of water, milk and coffee foam quantities. The clever cleaning, rinsing and sanitizing programs are activated by pressing the button. This makes the maintenance of your coffee machine easier than ever.
A unique feature of the Giga 6 is that it comes with two coffee and milk spouts, meaning it can make two coffee specialties simultaneously. The dual fluid and heating system within the machine make this possible. The spouts are adjustable in height and width to accommodate different cups. There is also a spout that could be used to make iced coffee or tea using hot water.
Another amazing aspect of the Giga 6 is the ability to customize and duplicate your favourite coffees. This is especially useful for those who like having the same beverage in the morning and evening. For instance, you could create an original flat white using regular beans and then make a duplicate using decaf. You can change the ingredients such as the kind of milk you use or the amount sugar or cocoa.
Both the Giga6 and Z10 provide a variety of options for customization. For starters you can select from a variety of specialty drinks that are one-touch. You can also alter the strength of coffee and select from 10 different levels of milk foam.
The GIGA 6, Z10 and Z10 are equipped with a 4.3-inch touchscreen display in full color and a bean to coffee machine rotary switch to make it easy to navigate the various features on offer. You can also connect the GIGA 6 to your smartphone via WiFi, which allows you to download a variety of apps that let you customize your favourite drinks at the at-home comforts of your home. The only downside to this machine is that a few users have had issues with drip tray leaks. If you encounter this problem, be sure to contact the customer service team as quickly as you can.
4. Nespresso Inissia
The Nespresso Inissia is a cost-effective and easy method for espresso and coffee enthusiasts to enjoy their favourite coffee drinks at home. Its high-pressure pump and patent-pending extraction system guarantees that each cup of coffee is delicious, rich and silky smooth. Additionally the Inissia is fast in heating up and comes with a large capacity water tank that lets you make multiple cups of coffee without the need to refill often.
Inissia, a compact and sleek pod machine is ideal for kitchens that have limited counter space. It is also easy to use, with minimal effort required to set-up and operate the machine. Once the machine is fully charged, it is able to prepare the perfect cup of coffee in only 25 seconds, making it perfect for those who need immediate caffeine boost.
The Inissia also has a selection of premium coffee capsules that will satisfy any taste, from robust and intense to light and fragrant. The machine is energy efficient and shuts down after nine minutes when not used. It runs on very little electricity. Its versatile design also includes the ability to fold down the drip tray so that it can accommodate taller recipe glasses and an empty capsule container that can hold up to 11 used capsules.
Place a capsule inside the machine and press one of the two buttons to begin the brewing process. The Espresso button will deliver an espresso shot and the Lungo button will run a larger amount of water for a lungo-style coffee. You can pause or stop the brewing process at any time and, if you require more or less water, you can adjust the amount of water you use by using the control panel.
Another great feature of the Inissia is its ease of cleaning. Simply run a few minutes of water through the machine without capsules each day to rinse it and get rid of any residue. Descale the machine every three months to rid the machine of any calcium or lime deposits. Click here to view our video on how to descale the machine.