Automatic coffee makers: Find the model that is right for you
created on 11.7.2017
Espresso, white coffee, cappuccino, latte macchiato… Automatic coffee makers are true all-rounders that deliver at the push of a button. If you want a wide range of coffee-based drinks at your disposal without having to go through barista school, an automatic coffee maker is what you need.
Decision criteria
With or without milk frother?
A key criterion when selecting your fully automatic is whether or not you require a milk frother. If you do, then you have the choice between a steam nozzle or a built-in milk container.
The “De’Lonthi ESAM 3200 Magnifica”, for example, is equipped with a steam nozzle. It allows you to manually froth milk by inserting the nozzle in a milk jug at a slight angle and carefully moving the jug back and forth. This technique takes a bit of practice and you need to make sure your milk does not overheat.
External milk systems (cappuccinatore), as featured in the “Siemens EQ6 s400”, use a suction pipe to pump milk from a container or straight from a milk carton and froth it. The main advantage being that the froth is produced automatically and cleaning is a piece of cake.
More models with an external milk system
Alternatively, you can also go for an automatic coffee maker with a built-in milk container. Like the “De De'Longhi ECAM 45.760.W Eletta Cappuccino Top" that pumps and froths the milk straight from the container. If you regularly drink white coffees (e.g. cappuccino or latte macchiato), an automatic coffee maker with a built-in milk container is the way to go.
More models with a built-in milk container
After you’ve said yea or nay to a milk frother, there are several other criteria you should keep in mind when shopping for an automatic coffee maker. The following features and recommendations will help you find the coffee maker that is perfect for you:
The compact ones
As model sizes may vary considerably, it’s worth knowing exactly how much space you’ve got for your new coffee maker. The “Koenig Finessa” is just 18 cm wide and thus the dwarven king of the automatics that fits easily into the smallest of kitchens. What’s more, it boasts an elegant design, brief heat-up time and a silent grinder. Due to its compact size, it does not feature a built-in milk frother.
Tip: If you’re a die-hard cappuccino, latte macchiato or milk coffee consumer, you’re probably better off with the somewhat larger “De'Longhi ETAM 29.660.SB” that has a milk frother.
The powerful ones
If you live in a household where coffee is the staff of life and regular coffee breaks are elementary to your daily routine, we recommend the “Miele CM 7500 CHF”. It features a generous tank (2.2l) and bean container (500g) and the option of brewing two cups simultaneously. This gives you the power to supply a whole army of coffee aficionados with a steaming pick-me-up in a flash.
For an office environment, we would suggest stepping it up a notch and going for the “Saeco Royal Office” – an automatic coffee maker with an even larger water tank (6l) and bean container (750g). Despite its Italian roots, this coffee maker has lost its Mediterranean laid-back mentality and gone down the Swiss clockwork route instead, knocking out an impressive 30–40 cups a day with ease!
More models with a large water tank and bean container
The versatile ones
Espresso, macchiato, ristretto, doppio, caffè crema, cappuccino, latte macchiato, white coffee, you name it; the “Siemens EQ.9 TI903509DE” masters them all. This all-rounder even lets you create and save several user profiles for your personal coffee creation settings (e.g. coarseness, mixing ratio, etc.).
More models with numerous beverages at the push of a button
The low-maintenance ones
For easy cleaning and care, it’s important that the water tank, coffee grounds container and drip tray are accessible from the front. This saves you moving the machine each time it needs cleaning. The “De'Longhi ECAM 22.110.SB Magnifica S” fulfils this criterion and also features a fully-automatic rinsing and descaling programme as well as a removable brewing unit (the latter’s cleanness influences the coffee aroma). It almost puts the fun into cleaning!
More models with water tanks and grounds containers at the front
The remote-controllable ones
If you’re after even more comfort and want to control your automatic coffee maker from the comfort of your sofa, there’s the “Saeco GranBaristo Avanti Karaffe HD8977/01”. It gives you a choice of 18 different beverages prepared for you at the touch of your smartphone or tablet. Naturally, you can customize and save settings like strength, quantity, temperature and taste for each individual beverage.
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