The coffee itself, ground on a fine setting, had a good balance of acidity to bold, rich flavour and a good aroma. A small light beneath the outlet illuminates the coffee cup which is a great touch, as it highlights the swirl of silky caramel-coloured crema as espresso is being pulled. This machine is easy to switch on, quick to warm up and importantly, quiet during the grinding and brewing. It's possible over long periods of time that the inside may need a thorough soak, but the process was simple during testing. Smeg's contained this into one removable section that's accessed by a door on the side of the machine and rinsible under the tap. Removing the brew-group of bean-to-cup machines is an occasional but essential cleaning step for helping prolong its life, and can be a daunting task. This means your precious crema is protected from splashing out. The machine should be set to the the water hardness of your local area as this can affect the flavour of the coffee it produces. Whereas most coffee machines offer an adjustable drip tray, the espresso outlet itself is height adjustable to accommodate mugs and espresso cups alike by lowering and rising. It's also equipped with a descaling alert for which a cycle should be used. An alarm lets you know when the water tank is empty in addition to the LED flashing icon.Īnother tells you when the bean compartment is empty, when the coffee grounds container needs emptying or the drip tray is full, although that's easy to see with an indicator. Through its four-button interface, eight functions are selectable across two menus ristretto, espresso, coffee, hot water, light ristretto, light espresso, long coffee and the steam function. It's worth keeping hold of the instruction manual.
The brushed metal outer repels greasy finger marks which is very practical note considering its aesthetic elegance. The grind coarseness is adjustable by dial from inside the compartment, which offers you personalisation depending on your favourite coffee. We found a jug more practical for refilling the water tank than removing it each time. The bean compartment has a lid that lifts up and off from the top, so is easily accessible to fill under low cupboards. We attached the power wire before rinsing and filling its water tank. This was the smallest bean-to-cup machine we've ever tested and thanks to its diminutive size, the machine is a lightweight doddle to lift onto the countertop. Unboxing the Smeg bean-to-cup coffee machine For more, visit our reviews section and find over 400 practical buyer's guides and product reviews.
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SMEG ESPRESSO MACHINE FULL
But if milky coffee-house classics are your thing, the BCC02 model offers a steam wand that’s adjustable outwards to accommodate your favourite coffee mug.ĭiscover our full list of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines, and the best coffee machines also featuring espresso and coffee pod machines. For lovers of black coffee, Smeg's BCC01 automatic coffee machine is the perfect choice.