The Best Coffee Machine For Coffee Beans
Once the preserve of coffee shops, bean-to-cup machine machines are now available for the ability to customize. They grind and brew beans to your specifications, and some are also able to steam milk for one-press lattes.
The top ones have saved (and adjustable) coffee settings as well as the ability to use ground coffee as a backup option. They're also ideal for busy workplaces.
Grind & Brew Plus
This model comes with an integrated burr grinder that automatically grinds whole beans before the brewing process. This ensures that the beans are freshly ground and of a uniform size. This creates the coffee pot with more flavor. It also has an in-place gold-tone filter that removes the need for paper filters, and also removes impurities that can alter the flavor of the coffee. It also comes with an insulated 12-cup carafe with a thermal insulation that keeps your coffee hot until you need it. Its timer programable lets you wake up to freshly brewed coffee with just a click of an a button, and the brew strength control allows you to choose between strong, medium or mild coffee. It comes with a convenient pause-and pour function, so you can have a cup of coffee before the brewing process ends.
Another advantage of this model is that it's very easy to use. The large buttons, well-labeled, make it easy to learn and use and the hopper that is removable and filter make cleaning a breeze. It is also dishwasher safe which eliminates the hassle of cleaning out dirt from difficult-to-access spots in the carafe and grinder.
This model can grind and brew whole bean coffee, as well as K-cups and single-serve pods. This makes it a fantastic choice for anyone who likes to switch up their coffee routine frequently or wants to brew one serving to take on the go in the form of a travel mug. It comes with a 12-cup glass cup for those who want to make a large pot of coffee. it can be set to brew 8-, 10or 12-ounce cups for a smaller serving.
Although this model is a bit more expensive than the other models we have tested, it offers some extra features that make it worth the extra cost. It has a convenient 24 hour timer with an auto shutoff (0-4 hrs), a brew-strength control and an alarm for ready. It also has a pause and pour function, which is perfect for those who are constantly on the go and can't wait for the entire brewing cycle to finish. Additionally, the commercial-grade coffee maker is constructed from stainless steel, which is resistant to stains and scratches. The included charcoal water filters assist in improving the quality of your tap water and stop lime scale buildup. The model is just a little noisy and the display on the programmable unit is difficult to read at night. It's a convenient and reliable coffee maker that comes with a top quality grinder.
Breville Smart Grinder
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro delivers the highest quality coffee experience, perfect for discerning coffee lovers. This model comes with a broad selection of grind sizes and precise dosing options with Dosing IQ technology. This model is more expensive than entry-level models, but it offers superior performance and advanced features.
The stainless steel burrs in the grinder help to reduce the heat of grinding and protect the beans essential oils. This produces a smoother, more delicious brew. It also has a convenient portafilter button that allows you to pour your coffee when the grinder is on pause. This feature is particularly useful for espresso brewing.
The grinder comes with a 1 kilogram bean to cup coffee beans container with the ability to lock it. It also has the lid lock-and-go to keep your beans fresh and ready to be brewed. The hopper is also easy to take off and can be used as an air-tight container for storing your grounds. This is a great option if you intend to use the grinder to pour over, French press or AeroPress Brewing.
A large LCD screen makes it easy to choose and program your desired grind settings. It also shows an indicator of time as the beans to cup are being ground making it simple to get the right amount of grounds for any brewing method. The Smart Grinder Pro has 60 precise grind settings, ranging from fine French press to coarse espresso. This allows you to customize your coffee.
The Smart Grinder Pro has a sleek design and an intuitive user interface that complements any kitchen decor. The grinder's robust construction and high-quality materials will ensure it can withstand frequent use as well in different brewing methods. It's easy to clean, and the included brush makes it a breeze to keep the grinder running smoothly. The manual is thorough and contains troubleshooting tips and tricks for common problems. The manual also has the recommended parts and accessories, so that you can be sure that your new grinder performs optimally.
Breville Barista Touch Impress
If you're looking to get messy but don't have the budget to purchase a professional espresso machine, the Breville Barista Touch Impress could be the perfect choice for you. It's the machine that the industry has been slowly working towards over the last few years and it really does take much of the learning curve out of manual espresso making while also being pretty damn beautiful to boot.
The machine comes with a high-quality, super-precise grinder from European manufacturer Baratza which is, for home espresso machines, is important for getting the best coffee beans for bean to cup machines possible extraction and flavour. The machine combines that with their intelligent automated dosing system and user-friendly tamping to make the most user-friendly cafe-quality coffee maker on the market. They even provide an online series of videos that help you develop the skills to get the most out of your machine and create amazing Latte art.
The machine also features sophisticated features for heating milk and frothing which makes it a fantastic option for those who love a good flat white or hot chocolate. It's got what they call the Auto MilQ which is a fancy name for the calibrated settings used for milk texturing. You can use dairy, almond or soy milk to create the micro-foam needed for making great latte art. It's certainly the most advanced automated milk frothing and heating system on any coffee maker out currently.
It is important to remember that, even though the machine produces excellent espresso, its flavor is often a little bitter and burned. This is due to the fact that it uses a low temperature to heat the water, and the resultant extract is slightly bitterness. However, it's simple to rectify by using a more powerful kettle, and then tweaking your grind coarseness and tamping to offset this.
The Barista Touch Impress is a gorgeous looking machine that feels like it was made to be the centerpiece of any kitchen. It is sleek and modern design that resembles an item of furniture that is contemporary. It comes in three colours that will be suitable for any style. If you're seeking something more lively, there are some limited edition colors to pick from. It's a little of a splurge but, If you're looking to make the leap to manual espresso, it could be worth the investment. If you can save just $2 per cup, you'll be able to break even within a year, and probably sooner.