Bean to cup machine questions.

[Dadam]

I got one of these 18 months ago
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00400OMU0

It is a bean to cup "espresso machine" which means it grinds the beans then brews espresso shots. However I only really use it for a mug of coffee. I like this style which gives the crema "froth" better than the coffee from a drip machine.

On rare occasions I'll make a latte/cappucino style milky using the steam wand and one or two shots. The bottom right button is for 2 cups of "cafe lungo" which are like larger espressos. I find putting a mug under both nozzles and using that button gives about 240ml i.e a medium mug of nice strong but flavourful coffee. Alternatively you could use the 1 or 2 shot espresso buttons and top up with hot water from the steam wand.

It does the job for me. It takes a little time to tune in the manual grind and strength settings.
I've not had experience of any other machines but I find this hits the sweet spot of coffee quality vs faff. On a morning I want to hit a button and get a nice coffee not mess with a barista type machine.

Maintenance wise, every couple of days you have to empty and clean out the hopper where the pucks of used grounds get dumped. For us it wants descaling every couple of months. I've just used generic descaling tablets not the special delonghi liquid. Apart from that, after a descale I pull the filter unit out and clean round everywhere that's accessible.

 

[Tenkaykev]

We have a Melitta Avanza. It makes excellent coffee. It's quite compact and gives a full mug ( there's a rotary dial for dispense quantity).
The Guardian did an evaluation of bean to cup machines recently

https://www.theguardian.com/thefilt...211&gbraid=0AAAAADnLzZoRN0Ic5R4yMnsTwFeEtGj7_

 

[Jameshow]

Given this:

plus your advancing years , I doubt you'll get payback on a bean to cup machine....

I'll pm you for disposal when needed!!

 

[albion]

Bean to cup are expensive with more to fail. I paid about £10 for my electric grinder 5 plus years ago.
And my very cheap Currys Logic Espresso maker is still going strong after many a year.

I buy beans when on offer. What happens is you get bored with one type of bean, usually meaning the changed bean then tastes far better. It takes less than 60 seconds to wash out the portafilter and out in the ground coffee.
Essentially I drink caffe crema. No milk, no sugar. The length of the grind dictates the crema meaning if I buy ground coffee, I often regrind it for a few seconds.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Ex barista here, I'm a double espresso girl
I love the kind of machine @Dadam linked to, but sadly I don't have the worktop space.
Just as well, or I would end up coffee poisoning myself for the quantities I would drink!
Also, I wouldn't use all the other features of the machine, just the espresso really.
I buy coffee beans, grind them myself, then use them in a small 1 mug filter machine.
I make a really strong, long coffee, does me.

beans seem to be nearly twice as expensive as ground coffee.

Do you think? I find they are quite a bit cheaper than ground, like for like.

They do seem to need a fair amount of maintenance especially if you use to heat milk.

Indeed they do; not as much as a professional coffee machine, but nevertheless they need looked after.

I'd stick to pods...or get a cafetiere/filter machine.

I agree that would be best for the OP's needs.

I buy Kilo bags for £30/£35

I buy a Kg bag (sometimes it's 1.2 Kg in special offer) for £10.99 ... on the coffee strength scale it's 9/10

I got one of these 18 months ago
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00400OMU0

Very nice!
I was going to get that one for my new kitchen, but I don't have the worktop space 😭

 

[stephec]

For what you want Dave they're a bit of an overkill.

They're designed to produce espresso, but once you've watered that down you may as well have a pod machine

And if you really want a quality espresso you'd get one from a proper espresso machine and separate grinder, the grinder can cost as much as the espresso machine and will be of equal importance.

 

[Webbo2]

I can cheaper beans but I buy ones that are described as Berry flavour and the full description tends to be a bit pseudos corner, however the coffee tastes like the description. Plus there are new ones to try every time I order.

 

[albion]

They're designed to produce espresso, but once you've watered that down you may as well have a pod machine
And if you really want a quality espresso you'd get one from a proper espresso machine and separate grinder, the grinder can cost as much as the espresso machine and will be of equal importance.

A burr grinder sounds overkill, plus tastebuds get used to differing methods.
I just run my espresso maker until it fills my mug. Beans extracted to maximum make for a very cheap high quality cuppa.
Am using a 1.2kg bag but as the last was the same beans from a 1kg bag I am very much looking forward to my next bean change.

 

[newts]

I've had a Sage Barista Pro bean to cup for a few years. Maintenance is minimal, flush cycle every few weeks & descale every 6 months. It takes a bit of time & practice to dial in new beans for grind size & extracting the coffee shot but very much worth it if you enjoy good coffee. Aeropress or Moka pot will make very good coffee with minimal effort/practice at very low price point. Pod machines are very convenient but will never match an espresso machine extracting flavour from freshly ground beans.

 

[Shortfall]

I've had 2 versions of the Magnifica above and would recommend. I prefer my coffee a little hotter than they could supply which some might consider sacrilege but I'm drinking it for me and not coffee snobs. I now use an Aeropress which cost around 30 quid, is maintenance free and makes a decent tasting brew. Maybe not quite as good as a nice espresso at a good independent but it probably costs me pennies a cup and not a fiver. I grind my own beans with a Kenwood burr grinder which I seem to remember was about 50 quid in some or other sale at Amazon and I've got a Lavazza milk frother which again wasn't a lot of money.

 

[Tenkaykev]

Ex barista here, I'm a double espresso girl
I love the kind of machine @Dadam linked to, but sadly I don't have the worktop space.
Just as well, or I would end up coffee poisoning myself for the quantities I would drink!
Also, I wouldn't use all the other features of the machine, just the espresso really.
I buy coffee beans, grind them myself, then use them in a small 1 mug filter machine.
I make a really strong, long coffee, does me.

Do you think? I find they are quite a bit cheaper than ground, like for like.

Indeed they do; not as much as a professional coffee machine, but nevertheless they need looked after.


I agree that would be best for the OP's needs.

I buy a Kg bag (sometimes it's 1.2 Kg in special offer) for £10.99 ... on the coffee strength scale it's 9/10

Very nice!
I was going to get that one for my new kitchen, but I don't have the worktop space 😭

Mrs Tkk came back from Lidl last week with a 1.2kg bag of coffee beans. They were loaded up yesterday and I have to say I am quite impressed with how good the coffee is ☕️

 

[richardfm]

I have one of these https://amzn.eu/d/02diEnrP and use beans from here https://hard-lines.co.uk/
Together they make excellent coffee

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Mrs Tkk came back from Lidl last week with a 1.2kg bag of coffee beans. They were loaded up yesterday and I have to say I am quite impressed with how good the coffee is ☕️

Yes, that's the ones I get.
Lidl sell 3 kinds, I get the strongest then grind it very fine

 

[BrumJim]

Get an Aeropress. Fantastic coffee and a fraction of the price.

 

[Binky]

This is mine, a Ninja Luxe Cafe.

Brilliant, does the lot. Built in bean hopper and grinder, milk frother, hot water etc.
Makes espresso, americano, cold brew etc etc. I now way prefer the coffee I make at home to the coffee from a "proper" cafe. Usually the americanos you get are too weak for my taste. With this easy to adjust strength/quantity/temperature.
I wouldn't have a pod machine, all the ones I've tried not been very nice tasting and the plastic waste and cost of pods puts me off.
The Ninja is easy to use and clean. Although the eagle eyed will notice I do need to give it a wipe, ahem..