Bean-to-cup coffee machines are one of the ways that modern technology has revolutionised this industry. You can enjoy barista-style coffee at the press of a button when you invest in one of these machines.
The idea behind the coffee machines is that you simply provide beans, milk, and water, and the coffee machine pretty much takes care of everything else along the way. You can press a button and the drink will be made right in front of you, no skills required. This technology has been appealing to restaurants for some time, but it is now even more of a realistic option for your own home. A bean to cup machine is more affordable than ever. So, how do you choose a model for your own home?
What is your budget?
Every time you buy an appliance for your own home you will want to set a sensible budget. In the case of bean to cup machines, they can start at just a couple of hundred pounds, but the prices can be much higher. Industrial-style models or those you might see used in workplaces might cost thousands. They are designed to make multiple drinks at once, and some even integrate with kitchen cabinets or units.
If you do have a significant budget, there’s nothing wrong with splashing out. A good machine can last you a number of years and provide you with a great way to entertain guests and prepare coffee at the push of a button.
What sort of milk frother do you need?
This is one of the crucial decisions to make when you are looking for a bean to cup machine. You don’t want to go for a frother that has loads for you to operate if you simply want to get a coffee prepared as quickly as you possibly can.
You still want to enjoy barista-style drinks from your coffee machine. For this, you need to froth milk. Otherwise, a flat white, cappuccino or latte are all out of the question. So which type of frother do you need?
The main types of frothers include:
- Steam wands. This is the tool that a coffee shop barista will use to run through the milk and provide heat and texture. They can be messy.
- Separate frothers. This is a frother that is not kept in the same unit, it might be easier than a frothing arm or steam wand, but it is not necessarily perfect.
- Automatic frothers. Most of the modern bean to cup machines have an automatic frother. You might sacrifice a little control, but a good frother will do an effective job and you don’t have to do anything at all. It may even pour the milk into your coffee mug.
How easy is the interface?
A lot of the modern bean to cup coffee machines have a tablet or LED interface. It can allow you to choose your drinks and even monitor other things like coffee levels and whether you need to descale or clean the machine.
A lot of people buy these machines for their convenience. You want a barista-style coffee, but you don’t want to have to learn all of the skills to prepare it. The interface can make or break your experience. A lot of machines make it incredibly easy to choose a type of coffee drink, put your mug under the dripper and wait for it to brew. If your coffee machine feels like trying to program a spaceship then you are not likely to want to keep using it.
Are there brands to look out for?
Plenty of excellent coffee brands make machines that are suitable. Siemens, DeLonghi, Melitta and Philips are some of the household names. Always check the reviews before you look to buy a coffee machine, to give you an idea of the ease of use and convenience of the model.
Cleaning features
This is another area where the technology behind a coffee machine has come a long way. Manufacturers seem to realise that people don’t want to spend hours having to descale and clean their machines. It can become a real chore.
Many models come with automatic cleaning and rinsing systems to run hot water through the pipes and clear out the system for the next drink. It also helps if you are able to use filtered water when making your coffee, as this will be a good way to prevent limescale from building up.
Getting the right drinks
This may sound like an obvious tip. You need to ensure that you can get a drink that you will enjoy. If you like to get a mocha every time you go to your local coffee shop but your machine isn’t capable of making this type of drink, you will probably find it pretty frustrating. Make sure that you look at the drink varieties that your bean-to-cup machine can make so that you always have an option you find truly delicious. Some coffee machines are capable of making dozens of varieties of drinks.
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