Best bean-to-cup machine

[sp3ctre]

Sorting out the new kitchen and negotiating with the missus about a bean-to-cup machine. Seems like a minefield out there so have no idea what is good and what is not so good. Requirements are it must have a water feed (no filling up a container) and it must have the ability to (one way or another) make a latte (you guessed it, for the missus!).

Any thoughts?

 

[mr wilks]

Sorting out the new kitchen and negotiating with the missus about a bean-to-cup machine. Seems like a minefield out there so have no idea what is good and what is not so good. Requirements are it must have a water feed (no filling up a container) and it must have the ability to (one way or another) make a latte (you guessed it, for the missus!).

Any thoughts?

Guess it depends what kind of coffee you favour ? There is a whole lot of snobbery going on with coffee machines imo , many buy to "decorate" the kitchen
I know someone who imports then leases or sells high end £1000+ machines for restaurant/cafe & bar trade , ive tried coffee from them & whilst OK ( the smell was actually more memorable than the taste ) i rendered him speechless when i rated my favourite packet cappuccino above it
I'm not being arsey or taking the pi55 , i love these http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/gb/groceries/nescafe-cappuccino-strong-145g?langId=44&storeId=10151&krypto=QYPS3jMjMaufHbXmH0r94Sbg421i3GehYxVNpGHCqCkQQopKzr9ApYW%2BrhByMHbIMrEQTZ4Avk2A%0AixCly6Upzrdmx%2BhtHxz5edRH%2B8T9w369%2FMcKi2Tw8xhKrZ%2FuiTsp&ddkey=http:gb/groceries/nescafe-cappuccino-strong-145g
I mix the powder with hot milk in equal measure then top the cup with hot water & i couldn't be happier with the taste & flavour ( no mega coffee smell though :? ) , beats all the big high street names imo .
Also try Nescafe Azera sachets , you get the smell with those
If i want a plain black coffee then a jar of Cafe Noir does it for me
Look forward to hearing other input as i do like the taste & smell of coffee

 

[rossonr]

I have bosch tassimo and buy the Costa pods. Has the smell and proper nice taste. It's container feed. But since I've had it don't bother with any other coffee. Some machines are very high price and messing about with grinding, Cleaning etc takes away the enjoyment of drinking it IMO the tassimo is so simple put pod in push button and throw away pod when done. The nozzle comes apart and goes in dishwasher and when machine needs clean just run descaler through when light appears. And of course the main thing for me was initial cost of purchase got machine for under £80
Ray

 

[JustCruzin]

Nespresso. A touch on the pricier side but great. Pods can only really be bought online or at Selfridges or other large department stores.

Market leader for coffee purists and the best for coffee selection. I've had two Gaggia espresso machines which were good but pain to maintain and clean. Nespresso collect your used pods in free recycle bags which you can order with your coffee.

Cheers JC

 

[A1GSS]

We've got a built in Neff machine. Makes excellent coffee.

http://www.neff.co.uk/product-showroom/compact-appliances/coffee-machine/C77V60N2GB.html

No doubt some purists may find it all a bit underwhelming, but we're knocked out with it.

 

[lowrider]

Coffee beans from Cafe Nero ground when required and then use a cafeteria. Good and strong. I also has a Tassimo but can't get any coffee pods that are strong enough. Enjoy your coffee.

 

[Brasseye]

We've got a built in Neff machine. Makes excellent coffee.

http://www.neff.co.uk/product-showroom/compact-appliances/coffee-machine/C77V60N2GB.html

No doubt some purists may find it all a bit underwhelming, but we're knocked out with it.

Wow love the look of it. Very practical.

 

[sp3ctre]

We've got a built in Neff machine. Makes excellent coffee.

http://www.neff.co.uk/product-showroom/compact-appliances/coffee-machine/C77V60N2GB.html

No doubt some purists may find it all a bit underwhelming, but we're knocked out with it.

That looks great. The page says it has a water tank. I assume you can just connect it to the water supply instead, if you wish?

 

[GreyZed]

Spectre wants a proper bean to cup machine not a crappy rip off pod job!

If you drink a lot of coffee you will save a lot of money with a bean to cup machine over time as beans are much cheaper per cup in comparison to pod type machines.

I bought a DeLonghi Magnifico about 4 years ago and it has been great. They were on offer at Sainsburys and got it for under 200 notes. No cleaning like on the crappy Espresso machines. You just dump beans in the top and coffee comes out just like Costa. Has a self clean system on power up and power off. It's not a plumbed in one so I do have to fill the water container once every day or two.

Mine doesn't add the milk automatically but some do.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/small-kitchen-appliances/coffee-machines-and-accessories/espresso-capsule-machines/delonghi-magnifica-s-ecam-22-360-s-bean-to-cup-coffee-machine-silver-21485748-pdt.html

Built in and plumbed in ones are likely to be the wrong side of a grand by a good distance though.

 

[A1GSS]

We've got a built in Neff machine. Makes excellent coffee.

http://www.neff.co.uk/product-showroom/compact-appliances/coffee-machine/C77V60N2GB.html

No doubt some purists may find it all a bit underwhelming, but we're knocked out with it.

That looks great. The page says it has a water tank. I assume you can just connect it to the water supply instead, if you wish?

Well, this one isn't plumbed in but I guess others are available that have that. Filling the tank is a simple enough task though so not a real pain. Needs a bit pf attention, emptying grounds, drip tray, cleaning milk frother etc. But the coffee is great

 

[A1GSS]

Built in and plumbed in ones are likely to be the wrong side of a grand by a good distance though.

From memory it was about £1200.

 

[monaco_blue]

Another vote for proper bean to cup machines. The pod-based machines are like inkjet printers - the companies make their money on the consumables, not so much on the machine. That said it depends upon how many cups a day you're expecting the machine to make.

Have had a Delonghi machine http://www.delonghi.com/en-gb/products/coffee/coffee-makers/automatic-coffee-makers/magnifica-esam-4200s-0132212091 for perhaps 4 years and it works a treat.

 

[cj10jeeper]

You really can spend unlimited amounts. My buddy has some several £000's machine and £00's of water filter and purifier equipment, but each to their own.

I have Gaggia machines in my places and love them. Very traditional with grind beans into porter filter, brew, steam milk with wand, drink (pretty much like you see in any Costa shop)

While the pods are good I'd never use them as the price rockets up if you keep drinking coffee :thumbsdown:

 

[A1GSS]

Requirements are it must have a water feed (no filling up a container) and it must have the ability to (one way or another) make a latte (you guessed it, for the missus!)...

Well, the Neff hasn't the plumbed in water supply but has a Latte setting... and black (aka Americano), espresso, 'white', macchiato, Cappuccino, plus milk froth, hot water, and hot milk streams so you can play with the settings.

Have just had to go fire it up and make myself one.... :rofl:

 

[CornishRob]

I use a Gaggia Classic, but it's not a bean to cup.

I grind my own beans for each cup, and once you get your eye in makes amazing coffee, which a pod machine or a bean to cup machines that I have sampled can't match!

 

[dr_john]

I started a similar thread a few months ago.

Ended up getting a De Longhi, proper bean to cup, no silly pods. That way you can try out an infinite variety of beans and blends. I like a blend of Santos and Java. Does need filling with water every few days and the spent grounds emptying out, but at least there's no grinding to do.

Coffee is superb, double espresso for me.

 

[Finisterre]

Gaggia classic here too. I am interested to see what is suggested.

 

[Barrow]

I fit kitchens neff is the one ...for built in look...its on a sliding track witch u have to fill up with water but you need to fill up with coffe beans anyway

 

[LostBoy_84]

I've got a DeLonghi Perfecta bean to cup with the water tank that sounds very similar to yours Dr_John. I also take a double espresso!
Definitely a good purchase

 

[markeg]

I'm a bit of a coffee snob - so tend to stay away from most of the bean-to-cup machines as I cant justify the costs of a high-end machine for the times I am at home, and the small amount for coffee I drink. I have a simple IKEA machine (this one) for pressurising the hot water (manual tank and only takes ground beans), and use a manual grinder with adjustable ceramic mills to ensure the beans are ground correctly (machines usually have metal grinders which "burn" the coffee when grinding) - personally, I find that coffee is better through the correct choice of beans and grinder as much as choice of machine.

BTW - if you're interested in the coffee beans, I use Monmouth near London Bridge. Fantastic coffee house, and you can buy the beans there also!