Melitta Caffeo CI Bean to Cup Coffee Machine review

Melitta Caffeo’s CI (Espresso Intelligence) Bean to Cup Espresso Machine focuses on ease of use and customisable components in an computerized arrange. 

Its My Espresso Reminiscence system can retailer 4 private preferences which might be pre-programmed into the machine, alongside making a persistently good espresso and milk foam. 

At its worth level (£849.99), it’s in no way an affordable mannequin, and it does threat being outshone by each the decrease value and flashier machines at both finish of the market. 

However after a month with the Melitta, we argue that it’s a strong bean-to-cup machine for somebody that wants a caffeine repair with minimal fuss.

The Melitta Caffeo is at present obtainable within the UK (world availability TBC) for £849.99.

Design

The Melitta is a big machine that may take up loads of your counter’s worktop (it’s 35.2cm/13.eight” excessive and 47.3cm/18.6” deep), which is price making an allowance for should you’re brief on house. 

It’s obtainable in black and stainless-steel, and it appears to be like glossy – albeit domineering. 

Below the hood, the Melitta is absolutely computerized, however designed to permit for loads of customisation and ease of use. All kinds of espresso are allotted from the identical spouts, and they are often moved up and down relying on the scale of your espresso cup. 

On the spin of a dial, it’ll take you round 5 minutes to programme in 4 totally different espresso preferences, and when you’ve sorted that, it means the Melitta Caffeo CI Bean to Cup is tremendous simple to make use of at 6.30am, even when there’s a queue for the machine. 

We cherished the My Espresso Reminiscence add-on for this, because it means there’s variation and management obtainable, however your favorite cup of espresso nonetheless doesn’t require any talent from you. In a coffee-loving household or office, the Melitta could be a secure guess for a crowd.

The elephant within the room right here is certainly the big plastic milk container used for computerized frothing (as a substitute of a steam wand). 

For the Melitta’s worth level, you’d hope they’d provide you with a extra subtle method of together with a milk frother into the general design, than what primarily appears like an added-on little bit of Tupperware related through a tube. The upshot is that it does make it simple to retailer within the fridge or detach for cleansing. 

There’s no simple solution to cover the milk field whereas it is in use because the machine is so blocky, however as a comfort, it does froth milk extremely nicely. If you need nice cappuccino froth with none know-how, you’ve come to the correct place.

Day-to-day use

It’s simple to miss the Melitta in favour of a mannequin at both excessive finish of the espresso machine market, but it surely truly incorporates a number of easy touches that inch it forward within the working. 

Utilizing a easy espresso chamber system, it’s attainable to change between two kinds of beans, in addition to a floor bean chute, so relying on the kind of flavour or power of espresso your desire, the Melitta can swap between three kinds of espresso on the flick of a lever.

Of all of the machines we’ve taken for a check run, the Melitta is the least bothered about locking its proprietor into a brand new system or espresso mindset. That is as a result of nearly all the things is customisable, even to the purpose of ‘hacking’ its presets to make a flat white (which is doesn’t at present provide) by selecting 1:1 espresso and milk. That’s, till it involves cleansing the machine.

Like the vast majority of bean-to-cup espresso machines, the CI has an computerized cleansing programme. It robotically rinses when it’s turned on or off, which helps maintain it in prime situation with out a lot effort. 

The primary draw back right here is that the drip tray fills up quick, and must be emptied out usually. That is all advantageous, however there are fairly a number of compartments in there so it might get messy shortly.

On prime of that, the milk system requires additional cleansing to to maintain it hygienic. Melitta provides a fluid for cleansing the system on a weekly foundation (costing round £1 every week), and the machine additionally reminds you to make use of a descaling pill through the bottom espresso chute when wanted. So be ready to additionally pay out for Melitta consumables.

Style

The Melitta Caffeo CI produces wealthy and fragrant espresso, and a very good crema. Going up towards the Oracle Contact by Sage, we’d say it truly surpasses the Sage for milk-based coffees: cappuccinos are completed with a prime of frothy, creamy milk (which means the crema reveals on the sides of the milk), and in terms of lattes, milk froth and milk are added to the cup earlier than espresso, so the espresso settles between the milk and froth. 

All these little touches imply the ultimate result’s a cafe-worthy creation each time, and low that appears like an actual deal with to have at house each morning. 

We additionally ran soy and oat milk by means of the automated milk frothing system and each labored extremely nicely, with a greater end result than we’ve been served by baristas. 

Eco

So far as eco credentials go, the Melitta Caffeo CI has truly taken a few of them under consideration, which is uncommon within the espresso machine market. 

There’s little or no wastage from the espresso grounds (and loads of methods to make use of the leftover pucks of espresso), plus the machine comes with a computerized switch-off setting and a ‘Zero-Watt’ button, which disconnects the machine from the mains provide with no need to unplug it. 

The timeframe for the automated switch-off is remarkably brief. Don’t be shocked if you end up having to activate the machine two or 3 times in a rushed morning, to catch it between ‘warming up’ processes after which abruptly switching off. However in assistance from saving electrical energy consumption, it’s one other baked-in element in an altogether spectacular machine.

Verdict

All in, the Melitta Caffeo CI actually has fewer bells and whistles than the Sage’s Oracle Touch or Nespresso’s Vertuo system. 

Contemplating it is one of the vital costly in the marketplace for bean-to-cup espresso machines, it could even be simple to miss – it doesn’t fairly win out on the fashion or comfort stakes (in comparison with, for instance, Nespresso’s limitless espresso pod varieties or Sage’s at-home-barista expertise), however you’d be amiss to take action. 

Regardless of the excessive price ticket, the Melitta’s reliability and experience with milk frothing means it’s a dependable, strong machine that’s extremely customisable, while nonetheless asking for minimal enter from its person. 

Should you’re on the lookout for a minimal fuss, day-after-day machine for beneath £1000, the Melitta’s the one.