Sage Oracle Touch Bean
Best bean-to-cup espresso machine
Star rating: 5/5
Wattage: 2400W
This bean-to-cup machine by Sage is the premium offering by a brand renowned for its expert coffee appliances. The brushed-metal outer takes some effort to keep clean of finger marks, but beyond that it’s hard to fault the Oracle Touch. It combines full automation with great adjustability, meaning both beginner baristas and coffee experts have what they need to make a great coffee every time. The only irks we found were that its water-tank top-up is positioned just above the touchscreen controls, so it’s easy to get drips onto the screen. It could also do with better non-slip feet, as you twist to lock the portafilter into place. However, we’re scraping the barrel here. Read our full Sage Oracle Touch espresso machine review.
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Star rating: 5/5
Wattage: 1450W
This bean-to-cup coffee machine has the grandeur of a heavy duty commercial machine in a countertop package. It’s packed with useful little features, like a bean sensor to flag when the coffee is running low and a one-second quick-start function, but it’s the sophistication brought by the main features that make it so special. It has a dual heating system for the water and milk, smart tamping function for compressing its grinds and it produces deliciously smooth, rich espresso. Read our full De’Longhi La Specialista Maestro coffee machine review.
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Jura E8 Automatic Coffee Machine
For people who want quality and variety, the Jura E8 Automatic Coffee Machine provides precisely that. You don’t just get espresso with this. You get 13 other types of coffee, including latte macchiato, flat white, ristretto, cappuccino, and hot water for tea.
Jura uses a patented Pulse Extraction Process to optimize extraction time for the perfect cup of espresso or whatever else you’re brewing. Its one-touch button system allows you to brew your coffee without complicated or time-consuming processes or even so much as moving your cup.
You also get the following features with the Jura E8:
- Multi-level aroma grinder
What Is A Superautomatic
Superautomatics or Fully Automatics Espresso Machines are also sometimes referred to as Automatic Espresso Makers or Bean to Cup Machines. As their name implies, these machines are known for their automatic functionality. These machines are defined by their ability to make a coffee quickly and easily using whole beans. The work of making the coffee is left to the machine from start to finish. But don’t be fooled, you will end up with a café quality drink each and every time.
With a push of a button, the machine will grind a specified quantity of espresso beans, tamp the ground coffee, heat water on demand, and deliver a specified volume of coffee. All of these tasks are automatically completed by the machine.
Additionally, superautomatics will eject spent coffee grinds known as dregs, into a dump box. Typically, superautomatics can make 10 to 20 consecutive coffees, depending on the machine, before additional beans and/or water must be added or the dump box needs to be emptied.
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Saeco Xelsis Super Automatic Espresso Machine Titanium Metal Front Sm7684/04
The stylish Saeco Xelsis SM7684 will leave your friends wanting to halt their weekly rotations and have every Sunday brunch at your house. Thanks to the Xelsis LatteDuo technology, youll be able to brew two cups of coffee at a time for them. Since you likely have some picky drinkers in your group, you can switch between brewing 15 different kinds of espresso and coffee drinks.
Were pretty sure your friends will already be in awe of you by now, so get ready for more oohs and aahs when you ask them how strong theyd like their drink, how hot they want it, and their preference of coffee to milk ratio. Once youve taken their order, the user-friendly touch screen will let you adjust the settings without missing out on the latest gossip going around the table.
Pros
- Ceramic burr grinder prevents overheating, so you dont have to worry about your coffee beans having a burned flavor
- 12 different grind settings so you can brew everything from bold espressos to smooth coffee
- HygieSteam technology cleans the entire milk system with the press of a button
Cons
- One of the most expensive options, which is a reflection of its many features
- Some people may not like the individual milk reservoir design
Melitta Caffeo Ci Bean
Best bean-to-cup coffee machine for busy households
Pros:
- Milk container is a little clumsy
Star rating: 4.5/5
Wattage: 1500W
This coffee machine can make two drinks simultaneously, which will be of huge benefit to busy families who have to push to get out of the door in the morning. This is a premium machine that delivers consistently good coffee that’s rich, flavoursome and aromatic with a smooth and reliable crema. We did think the detachable milk container was a little impractical. But, all in all, this machine will give you everything you need to produce professional standard coffees in a convenient way. Read our full Melitta Caffeo Cl coffee machine review.
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What To Expect Of A Commercial Espresso Maker
Generally, commercial espresso makers are fast, convenient, easy to clean, and able to create a variety of different drinks at the touch of a button. Each one is a little different, though, so to find the one thats right for you, the first thing you should consider is what you need for your business. An office, a small coffee shop, and a large restaurant all have different needs.
How Is One Machine Different From The Others
There are a lot of things all super automatic espresso machines have in common. They are automatic , so they already check the easy-to-use criterion, with ready-made programs available at your fingertips.
But the best automatic espresso machines have something special about them. It might be highly programmable, easy to maintain, or extremely well-designed. Depending on your personal style of coffee drinking, you can find an option that is best suited for you.
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Gaggia Cadorna Prestige Super
If youre the type of person who wants an espresso lungo one minute and café au lait the next, youll appreciate that the Cadorna Prestige offers 14 different beverage options. Made in Italy, this is one of the best automatic espresso machines for tailoring coffee to your preferenceyou can even save user profiles for a family of up to four.
The Cadorna Prestige is ideal for people who live fast-paced lives since it has a quick heat boiler system. Dont be surprised if your espresso tastes better than what you purchase at a coffee shop the machines pre-brewing feature enhances flavor by soaking the coffee grounds in water before beginning to brew.
Pros
- A splash-free espresso tray ensures you get a perfect crema layer with every cup
- It contains an automatic cleaner so you can run to your next appointment with an empty sink and coffee in hand
- Ten grinder settings you can brew a light cup of coffee with coarse grinds to a rich espresso with fine grinds
- Easy to maintain and clean with the removable brew group and drip tray
Cons
- Even though its the newer model, the cost is higher than other Gaggias machines in this guide.
Presets And Customization Options
Depending on how devoted you are to having your espresso a certain way, the preset and customization options on an espresso machine can make or break that model for you. Some of the most advanced super-automatic espresso machines weve seen, like the Saeco Xelsis, DeLonghi Dinamica Plus, and Breville Oracle, offer customizable recipes and settings so that you can easily define your perfect espresso drink.
Many other espresso machines come with a variety of presets, which take less work but cant be customized. If you do opt for a machine with just presets, make sure that the presets available fit your tastes.
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Rancilio Egro One Most Versatile Automatic Coffee Machine For Commercial Use
This sleek Italian beauty is the markets top-of-the-top. Rancilio Egro One will blow your mind with its features.
It might also blow your budget, but you will get what you paid for.
Rancilio Egro One is everything that your busy coffee shop needs. In this case, a higher price is perfectly justified.
Over 200 cups of espresso every day? No problem with a double boiler system and ditting grinders.
The touch screen is a standard feature for this machine type, and you even have a USB port for adding media.
Hoppers hold 1.4 lb each great.
This machine comes with a steep learning curve. Why? Well, everything is programmable and adjustable. But once you get the hang of it, you will enjoy the freedom of adjusting the drinks.
The iSteam wand is also programmable. That means no overheating and more freedom in making cappuccinos and lattes.
I was surprised by how silent this machine is, especially considering its size and weight. It wont ruin your vibe, even in the morning.
It is the most versatile machine on this list 48 different drinks.
Cleaning: Frequent But Simple
A few routine cleaning tasks are required for this espresso/cappuccino machine, but most are quick and easy. The one I had to do most often was empty and rinse the drip tray, which takes very little time. I typically discarded the used espresso pucks while doing this because the coffee grounds container and drip tray are connected. Philips makes the process even easier thanks to a light-up sensor that notifies you when the drip tray and coffee container need to be emptied. It takes around 12 espresso shots until the coffee container is full, and emptying the drip tray depends on how frequently you turn the machine on and off.
Philips recommends cleaning the frothing wand after every use. This may be tedious if you make multiple lattes and cappuccinos a day, but the few added seconds are worth it to avoid dried milk clogging the frother. Users should also remove and rinse the brew group once a week . The most rigorous cleaning process would be descaling the machine, but if your purchase includes an AquaClean water filter, it will take 5,000 cups before you need to descale.
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Water Tank And Bean Hopper Capacity
Automatic espresso makers vary in terms of their capacity: water tank size, milk carafe size, and bean hopper . This impacts how much espresso they can churn out without needing to be refilled.
Choose based on your needs: If its just for your own enjoyment, a smaller one will do. But if you want to brew for your family or office, choose something with enough capacity. Some super automatic espresso machines can only handle a few shots at a time, while others will comfortably make at least a dozen shots in a row.
Jura Impressa X9 Super Automatic Commercial Espresso
The Jura Impressa X9 super-automatic commercial espresso machine is one of a kind and can deliver good shots in an extremely short time. The best thing about the Jura Impressa X9 is that it can be designed to suit your tastes. Ten of the different varieties can be assigned their keys and make according to them. It can make popular beverages like latte, macchiato, and cappuccino, all according to your tastes. It makes it easier for you, as you will not need to change the cups around as you make them. In terms of user-friendliness, the Jura Impressa X9 is top-notch and is very easy to use and operate. The integrated display system that has been designed with a keypad makes the Jura Impressa X9 great at self-service at high speeds.
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What Certifications Does An Espresso Maker Need To Be Used In A Business
To be used in a business, an espresso maker must be certified by the National Sanitation Foundation and the Electrical Testing Laboratories . These certifications have nothing to do with the taste of the espresso and everything to do with the safety aspects of using the equipment .
References
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Milk Foam: Many Opportunities To Play
Theres really no need to talk about the milk foam itself with Jura super automatic espresso machines as the quality has reached a level that will delight fans of any milk-based coffee specialties. Just know that when Jura talks about fine foam, you can take it literally.
If you want, you can set the milk foam temperature daringly high and completely customize the ratio of milk to milk foam.
During our livestream, a user shared his recipe for a flat white. He tried it out with the Jura Z8, and we adapted the settings for the Jura Z10. I have to say, we enjoyed it very much:
- Coffee strength eight out of 10
- Espresso 45 milliliters
- Milk foam 14 seconds
As you can see, the milk foam is specified here in seconds. Weve gotten used to this by now, but we still cant precisely track the amount. Nevertheless, heres the conversion weve come up with so far:
- 1 second of hot milk = 6 grams = 5.8 milliliters
- 1 second of milk foam = 4 5 grams
Note that 200 milliliters of milk takes about 35 seconds. So, since milk foam has a larger volume, the time will be correspondingly shorter. For example, when making a Cappuccino, I set it to 14 seconds of foam.
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Best Commercial Machine For High Volume: La Marzocco Gb5 S Av
When youre responsible for serving the masses their daily caffeine, you need a workhorse of a machine that you can rely on for quality and repeatability.
When you choose theLa Marzocco GB5 S AV, thats exactly what you get: a well-built workhorse that just works. An update to the original GB5, this machine boasts dual PID controls, a hot water tap dose, and dual boilers to keep your brewing during the busiest times. La Marzocco has also added vacuum-insulated double-walled steam wands and built-in scales for maximized workflow behind the bar.
Even cleaning and maintenance is a cinch for this machinea big headache business owners typically want to avoidautomatic backflush, scale restrictors, and easy-rebuild steam valves make it easier than ever to keep your machine in tip-top shape. Dont choose between style and functionality when you can have it all with the La Marzocco GB5 S.
How Much Are You Willing To Spend
There is no need to sugarcoat anything.
More money will give you more durable coffee machines with more bells and whistles.
John Moretti from BaristaJoy said it nicely Expensive espresso machines are equipped with significantly more features than cheap machines and have a host of more functions and capabilities as well.
However, perhaps you dont need all the high-end options. In that case, there is a wide range of machines for every budget.
The final price will depend on all the other factors from this list.
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Nuova Simonelli Appia Ii Volumetric 2 Group
The Nuova Simonelli Appia II Volumetric 2 Group is a sturdy machine that inherits a lot of features. It comes with an 11L boiler having a stainless steel construction and raised group heads that make it possible to fit larger cups beneath.
This professional espresso machine features the soft infusion system that wets the ground coffee during brewing. That provides a uniform extraction, great flavor as well as brew consistent shot all the time. It has a cup warming feature that heats the cup, thus improving the temperature.
This semi-automatic espresso machine comes with a smart wand system that makes frothed milk by stretching and steaming the milk with the touch of a button. It is worth mentioning that it has an automated cleaning with the touch of a button. And it can make up to 100 cups of drinks per hour.
Other features include a turbo cream feature that turns milk into a thick froth. A reverse mirror that provides for a better view of the brewing cycle. Dual brew groups, and a water level Indicator. It has a programmable group head that can be programmed into single/double short or single/double long.
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Key specifications of Nuova Simonelli Appia II Volumetric 2 Group include:
- Dimensions: 30.5 x 21 x 22 inches
- Reverse Mirror: Yes
- Cannot be used to make other coffee drinks.
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What Is A Super
A super-automatic espresso machine is essentially just an automatic espresso maker. That means that water is heated internally, and you have a selectable menu or a set of buttons to tell the machine how much water to dispense, what kind of espresso drink you want, and how concentrated you want your espresso drink.
These espresso machines get termed super-automatic because they go above and beyond what many other automated espresso machines offer. While many espresso machines will do the work of heating water for you, you still have to dispense the coffee grounds into a portafilter and connect it to the water outlet manually. With a super-automatic espresso machine, even that step is taken care of inside your espresso maker. So, theres nothing more you need to do than put your mug under the spout and press the button for the drink you want.
Importantly, super-automatic espresso machines are very hands-off when it comes to making your espresso drinks. In most cases, you dont even have to deal with the leftover coffee grounds immediately theyll be automatically dumped into a waster container.
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