Bean to cup coffee machines

[dpedin]

Get a moka pot and stop being a wanker.

Nah ... I get sucked in by shiny gadgets and want one!

[dpedin]

We "fell for it" and got a De'Longhi Magnifica Evo a year or so ago.

Positives:
- It is easy. Chuck in a bag of beans, press a button and you have a nice coffee. There is faff to it, but less that using a cafetiere for example. The ground bean drawer needs emptied every 10-15 cups, you can get away with emptying the drip tray at the same time. Water tank needs re-filled. Filters need changing/machine de-scaled every few months or so.
- The smell. If you love the smell of coffee then be prepared to press the button and stand by the machine just to take in the smell. Also, opening a fresh bag of beans is probably the best coffee smell.
- The variety of beans is almost endless. More on this below though.
- Their milk frother device type things does a good job, best if washed after each use.
- It has a seperate option to use ground beans too. Quite useful if you have someone who drinks full coffee and someone who drinks decaffe for example.
- You don't have to leave the last mouthful because it won't be a mouthful of ground beans.

Negatives:
- I get sucked in by the bean marketing basically every week. "Oooo.... this one says it tastes of dark chocolate and caramel". It doesn't.
- The expense doesn't end with the machine purchase, as mentioned above with filter replacement/de-scaling etc.
- Be prepared for guests to not be able to use it. You'll find them standing by the machine in the morning with an expression like they are trying to solve a quadratic equation, usually muttering something like "What's wrong with a cafetiere?"
- It might just be me and the beans that I but, but I felt like I got more different flavours from my old pod machine.

Helpful! Re de-scaling I am lucky being in Edinburgh and we have lovely soft water so de-scaling isnt an issue - the odd lead pipe in older properties might be an issue though! My daughter moved to London a few years ago and has had real problems with the water there. Her Nespresso coffee machine gave up the ghost due to the water and she phoned me one evening asking about how to put salt into the dishwasher, I was no help as I have never had to do that! I worry about my mates and one in particular who can break a glass merely by looking at it, he nearly knocked himself out on my cooker hood! I will need an exclusion zone around any new machine I buy!

[Biffer]

I can recommend Jura. Not cheap but very excellent.

Love a Jura. No ice, splash of water.

[dpedin]

I can recommend Jura. Not cheap but very excellent.

Love a Jura. No ice, splash of water.

Man after my own heart!

Looked up Jura machines, Swiss engineering and pricey but look lovely. Out of my league I'm sorry to say.

[Uncle fester]

We "fell for it" and got a De'Longhi Magnifica Evo a year or so ago.

Positives:
- It is easy. Chuck in a bag of beans, press a button and you have a nice coffee. There is faff to it, but less that using a cafetiere for example. The ground bean drawer needs emptied every 10-15 cups, you can get away with emptying the drip tray at the same time. Water tank needs re-filled. Filters need changing/machine de-scaled every few months or so.
- The smell. If you love the smell of coffee then be prepared to press the button and stand by the machine just to take in the smell. Also, opening a fresh bag of beans is probably the best coffee smell.
- The variety of beans is almost endless. More on this below though.
- Their milk frother device type things does a good job, best if washed after each use.
- It has a seperate option to use ground beans too. Quite useful if you have someone who drinks full coffee and someone who drinks decaffe for example.
- You don't have to leave the last mouthful because it won't be a mouthful of ground beans.

Negatives:
- I get sucked in by the bean marketing basically every week. "Oooo.... this one says it tastes of dark chocolate and caramel". It doesn't.
- The expense doesn't end with the machine purchase, as mentioned above with filter replacement/de-scaling etc.
- Be prepared for guests to not be able to use it. You'll find them standing by the machine in the morning with an expression like they are trying to solve a quadratic equation, usually muttering something like "What's wrong with a cafetiere?"
- It might just be me and the beans that I but, but I felt like I got more different flavours from my old pod machine.

Helpful! Re de-scaling I am lucky being in Edinburgh and we have lovely soft water so de-scaling isnt an issue - the odd lead pipe in older properties might be an issue though! My daughter moved to London a few years ago and has had real problems with the water there. Her Nespresso coffee machine gave up the ghost due to the water and she phoned me one evening asking about how to put salt into the dishwasher, I was no help as I have never had to do that! I worry about my mates and one in particular who can break a glass merely by looking at it, he nearly knocked himself out on my cooker hood! I will need an exclusion zone around any new machine I buy!

White vinegar in water does the job just fine.

[GrahamWa]

Also in Scotland after living in Bristol (broken irons, coffee machines, taps with white stalactites) so no descaling for me now. But you still need to go through the cleaning routines with little tablets and fool it into descaling even when you select soft water settings.

[Yr Alban]

I have an Aeropress at work and I use a filter cone at home. I have a burr grinder and grind beans. I also have a Delonghi bean to cup machine my wife bought me for Christmas a fair few years ago, but it doesn’t tend to get used.

[Tilly Orifice]

I have an Aeropress at work and I use a filter cone at home. I have a burr grinder and grind beans. I also have a Delonghi bean to cup machine my wife bought me for Christmas a fair few years ago, but it doesn’t tend to get used.

They'll be singing your praises for many a long year, that's for sure.

[mat the expat]

I use a cafetiere when the missus wants a mug of coffee as well, otherwise an aeropress if its just for me.

I'll admit a significant part of my enjoyment is the pure simplicity of the Aeropress, and the ease of cleaning - just take off the end cap and plunge the paper and grounds into the food recycling. I'm also a tight sod and they're £25.

Literally saved my brain traveling in WA 15 years ago where the option for coffee was International Roast outside of Perth...

[Jethro]

I'm a pod man, I only buy the pods that are on offer so it works out at around 25p a cup, and you get the prefect coffee with a good thick crema

I aspire to a good bean to cup machine, they're just so expensive for the initial lay out.

I get a nice thin layer of foam on my coffee and pay for good coffee from a small independent coffee importer in Edinburgh. Damn sure it's not that much a cup.

Pods are rip offs
I will get bean to cup when my current machine (delonghi) dies (it's over 10 years old and unlikely to keel over for same amount of time). I use a grinder cause I like to put coffee everywhere

But it's cute how the Brits think they know coffee

[laurent]

I get a nice thin layer of foam on my coffee and pay for good coffee from a small independent coffee importer in Edinburgh. Damn sure it's not that much a cup.

Pods are rip offs
I will get bean to cup when my current machine (delonghi) dies (it's over 10 years old and unlikely to keel over for same amount of time). I use a grinder cause I like to put coffee everywhere

But it's cute how the Brits think they know coffee

Bought all of it in Ireland.
There was a good roaster I was getting beans from in Dublin.

Unfortunately no good artisan nearby but a lot of choice.

[MungoMan]

The piccie on page one of the Sage-branded coffee maker shows it as appearing identical to the Breville Barista Pro - which it is. Breville took up a new name in the UK as "Breville" was already spoken for.

We've had a Breville Barista Express (tad cheaper than the Pro) for many years now and it works well. There's a lot of adjustment available in the amount and fineness of the grind, the ability to program your favourite shot if that's what you wish, plus a hot water tap hiding under the steam wand. V. useful for americanos or long blacks, that.

Get half-decent beans, work out the best grind for your taste and you're away!

[mat the expat]

The piccie on page one of the Sage-branded coffee maker shows it as appearing identical to the Breville Barista Pro - which it is. Breville took up a new name in the UK as "Breville" was already spoken for.

We've had a Breville Barista Express (tad cheaper than the Pro) for many years now and it works well. There's a lot of adjustment available in the amount and fineness of the grind, the ability to program your favourite shot if that's what you wish, plus a hot water tap hiding under the steam wand. V. useful for americanos or long blacks, that.

Get half-decent beans, work out the best grind for your taste and you're away!

I used one of these at a place we rented and liked it

Now I've moved out of an area with a million coffee-shops in walking distance, definitely on the cards

[pjm1]

Have had a Sage/Breville Sage Barista for quite a few years after our previous B2C machine eventually died.

Since then I’ve properly fallen down the coffee rabbit hole (thanks James bloody Hoffman) and also have a manual lever espresso machine and a hand grinder.

The difference (blind tasting) is noticeable but I do only drink espresso and if you’re into milky coffees it really doesn’t matter anywhere near as much. We’re talking 95% vs 99% quality for lattes or caps.

Beans are the single most important factor. Then the consistency of the grind (especially for lighter roasts) and finally the machine you make the actual coffee drink with. Assuming you’re semi competent of course.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Have had a Sage/Breville Sage Barista for quite a few years after our previous B2C machine eventually died.

Since then I’ve properly fallen down the coffee rabbit hole (thanks James bloody Hoffman) and also have a manual lever espresso machine and a hand grinder.

The difference (blind tasting) is noticeable but I do only drink espresso and if you’re into milky coffees it really doesn’t matter anywhere near as much. We’re talking 95% vs 99% quality for lattes or caps.

Beans are the single most important factor. Then the consistency of the grind (especially for lighter roasts) and finally the machine you make the actual coffee drink with. Assuming you’re semi competent of course.

Agree about the grinder. I have a reasonable one but I'm considering a Niche Zero which several friends have had good results with.

I have 3 Sage (Breville) dual boiler machines, all currently broken. I'm hoping to cobble a working one together.

[dpedin]

John Lewis have the Sage Barista Express on sale at the moment ... I nearly pressed the button yesterday. My usual prevarication and checking every review possible before making a purchase. Ive always found JL to be good with guarantees etc.

Ah shit ... I'm going for it ... purchased Thanks for all the useful comments guys, very helpful. I will let you know how I get on with it as a virgin barista.

[dpedin]

Arrived yesterday and set it up this morning. Did the pre use flush cycle relatively ok then made first cup of coffee using beans from Artisan Roast based in Edinburgh - their Janszoon blend. Made a few beginner level errors - forgot to set grind dial and didnt realise it would start as soon as I put the filter in the machine. However first cup was nice - I added some hot water to make an americano - but lots more experimenting to do. Having just extracted myself from the rabbit hole of which machine to buy, I can also see myself now disappearing down the rabbit holes of which settings to use and which coffee blend to buy. It will keep me out of trouble for a while!

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Arrived yesterday and set it up this morning. Did the pre use flush cycle relatively ok then made first cup of coffee using beans from Artisan Roast based in Edinburgh - their Janszoon blend. Made a few beginner level errors - forgot to set grind dial and didnt realise it would start as soon as I put the filter in the machine. However first cup was nice - I added some hot water to make an americano - but lots more experimenting to do. Having just extracted myself from the rabbit hole of which machine to buy, I can also see myself now disappearing down the rabbit holes of which settings to use and which coffee blend to buy. It will keep me out of trouble for a while!

When I first got an espresso machine, I wasted almost a whole bag getting the grind settings dialled in. After that it's just been minor adjustments ever since. I've been getting my beans from the same place for about 6 years now which helps.

[Biffer]

Arrived yesterday and set it up this morning. Did the pre use flush cycle relatively ok then made first cup of coffee using beans from Artisan Roast based in Edinburgh - their Janszoon blend. Made a few beginner level errors - forgot to set grind dial and didnt realise it would start as soon as I put the filter in the machine. However first cup was nice - I added some hot water to make an americano - but lots more experimenting to do. Having just extracted myself from the rabbit hole of which machine to buy, I can also see myself now disappearing down the rabbit holes of which settings to use and which coffee blend to buy. It will keep me out of trouble for a while!

Artisan Roast are excellent.

[dpedin]

Arrived yesterday and set it up this morning. Did the pre use flush cycle relatively ok then made first cup of coffee using beans from Artisan Roast based in Edinburgh - their Janszoon blend. Made a few beginner level errors - forgot to set grind dial and didnt realise it would start as soon as I put the filter in the machine. However first cup was nice - I added some hot water to make an americano - but lots more experimenting to do. Having just extracted myself from the rabbit hole of which machine to buy, I can also see myself now disappearing down the rabbit holes of which settings to use and which coffee blend to buy. It will keep me out of trouble for a while!

Artisan Roast are excellent.

No complaints from me! Enjoying the coffee so far.