Smeg Bean to Cup Coffee machine

[mgrover]

Interesting, thanks.
Possibly some bad choices were made by my mates, or bad fortune.
But the bean-to-cup machines at my ClientCos are also always crapping out.

Maybe the DeLonghis are more straightforward technology. I like what the Italians do with kitchen gear, Smeg complaints notwithstanding.

500 Squid is a lot of beans, though..

mgrover, induction units for domestic use are usually terrible, not just Smeg.
The stand-alone single-burner hobs from Tefal are passable, but the big problem (aside from reliability) is simmering.
At the lower power levels they just turn on and off to simulate low heat.

Pro cooks love them, but they are rarely simmering anything. Full blast, baby!

honestly the smeg range induction has done my nut in.

its problem is the oven when making a roast chicken, water vapour gets into the induction section by design. which wrecks havoc with the electronics from generators to the little pcb.

its soured me on the whole thing tbh

edit:

i have noticed that on the simmering, its not ideal, thankfully place we're buying is gas, am no longer interested in induction.

[Dorkeaux]

Interesting, thanks.
Possibly some bad choices were made by my mates, or bad fortune.
But the bean-to-cup machines at my ClientCos are also always crapping out.

Maybe the DeLonghis are more straightforward technology. I like what the Italians do with kitchen gear, Smeg complaints notwithstanding.

500 Squid is a lot of beans, though..

mgrover, induction units for domestic use are usually terrible, not just Smeg.
The stand-alone single-burner hobs from Tefal are passable, but the big problem (aside from reliability) is simmering.
At the lower power levels they just turn on and off to simulate low heat.

Pro cooks love them, but they are rarely simmering anything. Full blast, baby!

[ladymuck]

I agree with VWDAN. Keep it simple.

Many of my more aspirational mates have built-in bean to cup machines, or big counter-top units.
They are expensive to buy and always going wrong, requiring very expensive repairs. They also require extensive and frequent cleaning, and make a mediocre cup of coffee IMO.

My experience with my DeLonghi is completely the opposite. I've not needed to do anything to it in all the time I've had it, other than clean it. For about £500, it's proved to be a superb investment. Maybe they just don't make them like they used to

HWMBO has a Jura which failed about 5 years ago after around 20 years of heavy daily use. They replaced it with another Jura.

[Dorkeaux]

I agree with VWDAN. Keep it simple.

Many of my more aspirational mates have built-in bean to cup machines, or big counter-top units.
They are expensive to buy and always going wrong, requiring very expensive repairs. They also require extensive and frequent cleaning, and make a mediocre cup of coffee IMO.

Having a decent burr grinder, either manual or electric is more important than automating the entire bean to cup process.
Hario is a Japanese company that makes inexpensive hand grinders with ceramic burrs. I've had one for many years, it's great.

Those "grinders" with a spinning blade are not good for coffee. They make a combination of chunks and fine dust. Fine for grinding spices, though.

Aeropress is also great, and the individual parts are still replaceable when the plunger rubber or the outer cylinder wears out.
You can rinse off the paper filter disks and reuse them a dozen times, something that would appeal to NUK one would think...

I would say the Aeropress makes a very "clean" cup of coffee. Maybe too clean.. I like those Billetti (sp?) Italian espresso makers that remind me of Russian dolls..

[mgrover]

I don't want to bash Smeg but I've had nothing but issues with their induction hobs.

As a bit of a coffee nerd I'd say get the Delonghi.

This maybe worth a watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZEM1cC86t8

edit:
**** smeg.

double edit:
pulling espresso shots manually is defo the best and i dont mean a manual lever machine, but dialling in, inconsistency, shots that were decent yesturday at the same grind arent as good today cause the machine isnt consistent can be a headache.

[WTFH]

I used to have a Gaggia machine, which was great, particularly when I was working away from home, so it was only being used at weekends. If I was at home during the week, I'd use a moka pot to make a large mug which was great.
Working from home, it was too much faff to grind and make an espresso in the Gaggia, particularly if it was on a break between meetings. In the end I went for a KitchenAid Nespresso, which lasted 10 years until it started to leak, and has now been replaced with a Sage.
Yes, it's not as good as fresh ground, I accept that. But it means I can have my one proper coffee a day (silly doctors and their "medical advice"), and then a couple of decafs after it, and my wife can have her chocolate coffee things and decafs when she wants without having lots of cleaning, swapping, storing etc, and the beans/ground coffee doesn't go off.

...this thread is a good reminder, I need to organise a recycling pickup of the used pods.

[northernladuk]

I love coffee, though don't have espresso at home, but I've never had great coffee from anybodys bean to cup machine.

IMHO, if you're spending big money, the only way forward is a separate grinder and separate coffee machine. I just don't believe a machine can make coffee worthy of the price.

That said, you may genuinely be best off going another route - I just have a nice grinder (~£200), then I use a combination of french press, aeropress or V60 all of which are like £10-£20 'machines'.

Depends what you like though, if you really want espresso, latte's etc then fair enough. If you like americanos, filter coffee, etc then you won't beat coffee from a V60 or Aeropress. Genuinely, you'll be at "artisan coffee house" standard

Thanks for that. I'll have a look at that. Friend of ours has a DeLonghi (I forget which model) and was impressed with the coffee. Much better than normal instant which has given me the bug. Would be quite happy if that's the level the standard bean to cups are at. Theirs had a massive footprint though so not for me.

[vwdan]

I love coffee, though don't have espresso at home, but I've never had great coffee from anybodys bean to cup machine.

IMHO, if you're spending big money, the only way forward is a separate grinder and separate coffee machine. I just don't believe a machine can make coffee worthy of the price.

That said, you may genuinely be best off going another route - I just have a nice grinder (~£200), then I use a combination of french press, aeropress or V60 all of which are like £10-£20 'machines'.

Depends what you like though, if you really want espresso, latte's etc then fair enough. If you like americanos, filter coffee, etc then you won't beat coffee from a V60 or Aeropress. Genuinely, you'll be at "artisan coffee house" standard

[Snooky]

No idea. I have had a Delonghi Magnifica S for the past 15+ years

DeLonghi here too. Only 7 years old but makes 4-8 cups a day and still going strong!

I can understand why you wouldn't want one if space is at a premium though, the Smeg ones have quite a compact footprint

[ladymuck]

So have we! It just goes on and on. We use Lavazza Rosso beans - makes superb coffee. Have you noticed how much the price of decent coffee beans has gone up though? Sheesh.

I buy my coffee from Alfiecoffee.co.uk, the 1965 blend, which is like a traditional Italian dark roast.

[Lockhouse]

No idea. I have had a Delonghi Magnifica S for the past 15+ years

So have we! It just goes on and on. We use Lavazza Rosso beans - makes superb coffee. Have you noticed how much the price of decent coffee beans has gone up though? Sheesh.

[ladymuck]

No idea. I have had a Delonghi Magnifica S for the past 15+ years

[sadkingbilly]

ask Rimmer??

[northernladuk]

Does anyone have, or know someone that has the bean to cup Smeg coffee machine with milk frother? I'm busting to get one but just struggling with the price of it so it's got to be perfect. We've had pod makers and they got some use but have fallen by the wayside like so many kitchen gadgets. I think I'll use a proper bean to cup machine though as long as it's nice and easy and makes a decent coffee.

Has to be the Smeg one as it's got a smaller footprint and we already have the kettle, toaster and weighing scales.

Anyone any experience?