Bean-to-cup coffee machines are all the rage, and it is easy to understand why – they offer unparalleled taste and convenience. However, not all bean-to-cup machines are created equal, so if you’re unsure about how to select the perfect bean-to-cup coffee machine for your needs, read on for some top tips. Find the best price on bean-to-cup coffee machines that will also suit your needs can be a tricky task, but with this buyer’s guide, we hope to make the process easier.
What is a bean-to-cup coffee machine?
Bean-to-cup coffee machines are exactly what they sound like – whole coffee beans go in, and delicious freshly brewed coffee comes out. No pods, filter paper, or grounds all over the counter – just beans and hot water.
PriceCheck tip: Some bean-to-cup machines don’t come with a built-in milk frother. However, you can purchase a standalone milk frother to ensure your cappuccinos and lattes have hot and foamy milk ready to go! The Russell Hobbs milk frother is a great affordable option. Find the best price here.
Why buy a bean-to-cup coffee machine?
Quality is by far the main reason to invest in a bean-to-cup coffee machine. Many coffee experts say there’s nothing better, fresher, or smoother than a cup of coffee that has been freshly brewed from whole coffee beans. This is because the natural oils in coffee beans are bursting with flavour and aroma – so the fresher the ground coffee, the better the flavour. Coffee beans are very porous, and once ground, they quickly begin to lose flavour and moisture.
When you purchase ground coffee from a store, it was probably processed a while ago, and even though it is sealed, it will undoubtedly have begun to dry out, and lose its distinct flavour by the time it gets to our cup. This is where the real magic of a bean-to-cup machine comes in, as they freshly grind the coffee beans for each cup to create luxury-level coffee, enabling you to make barista-worthy hot beverages in the comfort of your own home.
PriceCheck tip: Not all coffee beans are equal. Find the best coffee beans in South Africa using PriceCheck’s curated listings of coffee bean options.
PriceCheck tip: Coffee pods come in all different types, and you can find the perfect blend that suits your needs on PriceCheck. Find the best specials and prices on coffee pods on PriceCheck.
The added convenience is another reason that makes these machines so popular. Of course, you could manually grind the coffee beans and make the coffee yourself. However, a high-quality bean-to-cup machine will do this effortlessly, and more, at a touch of a single button – from grinding, to brewing, heating and frothing the milk, and even cleaning the machine – everything is done for you.
What’s more, since you won’t be purchasing coffee pods, sachets or filter paper, these machines will not only save you money, but they can also be more environmentally friendly option as well. The bottom line is – if you love coffee, then a bean-to-cup coffee machine is a must-have investment.
Here are some defining features that you should look out for when you are choosing which machine to buy:
A quality grinder:
The coffee grinder is at the heart of every bean-to-cup machine – the finer the grind, the slower and more bitter the extraction, while a coarse grind makes a more acidic coffee. Looking at the quality of the grinder says a lot about the machine in question.
Miele coffee machines, for example, boast an innovative conical grinder that is designed to grind coffee beans in a unique aroma-preserving manner called AromaticSystemFresh, Miele has positioned its conical grinder directly above the brew unit to ensure that no remnants from a previous brewing process remain in the grinder. The brand says this guarantees unadulterated flavour. The conical grinder is also very quiet so even if your machine is located in your living area, it won’t make a noise when you are trying to unwind and relax.
Also read: 3 Ways to Spruce Up Your Morning Coffee
Wide range & versatility:
Any bean-to-cup coffee machine should be able to prepare a wide variety of creative coffees at a touch of a button. Whether it’s a long black, flat white, espresso macchiato, or something else – look for a coffee machine that can prepare a variety of speciality hot beverages.
For example, most Miele bean-to-cup coffee machines offer 16 different coffee variations alone. And, if you fancy tea, then Miele’s Generation 7000 range of coffee machines ensure that black, herb, fruit and green tea is always brewed at the ideal temperature respectively. Another new convenience feature is the coffee and tea pot function – perfect for when visitors arrive, as the unit can deliver up to eight cups into a pot at one time.
Personalised flavours:
High-end coffee machines will also cater for personalised flavour with regard to your coffee bean selection. Look for a machine that offers separate containers for different types of beans – so each coffee speciality is prepared with the right type of bean. Some machines even enable you to select the bean types manually or assign them permanently to particular drinks – giving you maximum flexibility.
Automatic milk frothing:
Essential for those who love a cappuccino or café latte, bean-to-cup machines will come with a milk frother or have the option to buy a frothing accessory separately. However, for maximum convenience, it is best to invest in a machine with a built-in automatic milk frother that allows you to froth milk or make a milky hot beverage at a touch of a button.
Anyone who appreciates the value of a perfect cup of coffee knows that it’s not just the quality of the beans and créma that matter – the milk froth is crucial too.
Custom programming:
One of the coolest features of more advanced bean-to-cup machines is that of being able to program your own custom coffee creations. After experimenting with various strengths, temperatures, milk contents and so on, you can ask the machine to remember exactly how to automatically make your custom coffee for you.
This type of feature will enable you to set up customised profiles with individual settings for your favourite hot beverages so that you don’t have to enter them every time. These user profiles will then contain all the parameters for your favourite drinks: bean type, quantity of coffee, water temperature and quantity, and milk/milk froth quantities if applicable.
Easy cleaning and descaling:
Cleaning is always an arduous task, so it is highly advisable to invest in a machine that has built-in automatic cleaning systems that will take care of this for you. Look for machines that offer auto clean functions for the milk pipework and brew unit as well as a machine that features an auto descaling feature. If convenience is important to you, then it’s also important to invest in a machine with parts that are dishwasher safe or that can be easily cleaned manually.
Quality and longevity:
Since bean-to-cup coffee machines are a sizeable investment, it is essential that you choose the best quality bean-to-cup coffee machine that you can afford from a well-known and loved brand. The more durable your bean-to-cup machine, the better the investment. Investing in a machine from a trusted brand will not only save you money in the long run, but it is also a better environmentally sustainable choice as it dramatically reduces the overall carbon footprint of the machine.
