Automatic coffee makers: benefits and how to choose the ideal one

Do you want the perfect coffee at home? Coffee lovers have the opportunity to enjoy an americano, a ristretto, a latte or a cappuccino at home with the flavor and aroma of their favorite café, thanks to automatic coffee machines, an appliance that has become a must-have in many homes due to its ease of use, simple maintenance and very successful results, in many cases almost like those from professional establishments.

Do we drink coffee at home every day or only occasionally? Do we make several during the morning? Do we want the machine to do everything? Do we like to try different coffee varieties? If you are considering buying one, before deciding on one model or another, the answers to these questions are essential to find the best coffee machine which will simply be the one you really need.

From the simplest automatic machines or those that grind the coffee to the thickness we want, to superautomatic machines, we have a very wide range of options if we want to choose the one that best fits what we are looking for.

To give you a simple guide, in this post you will see:

1. What automatic coffee machines are.
2. Differences between automatic, superautomatic and manual coffee machines.
3. Advantages of automatic coffee machines.
4. Disadvantages of automatic coffee machines.
5. Top brands of automatic coffee machines.
6. Maintenance of automatic coffee machines.

1. What are automatic coffee machines

Barista PRO manual espresso machine by Sage Breville

An automatic coffee machine is a compact appliance that allows you to prepare at home quickly and very easily an espresso coffee with great flavor and aroma, almost like the one from our favorite café.

Without having the knowledge of professional or amateur baristas about pressure, temperature or the correct dose for each cup, we can enjoy a great coffee with just the push of a button and, in some cases (depending on the model), even the precise grind setting and milk foamed to the right degree.

2. Differences between automatic, superautomatic and manual machines

2.1. Automatic machines

Automatic coffee machines take care of the entire extraction process, once the portafilter with the ground coffee is placed in the machine. They are compact machines that don't take up much space in the kitchen, like the Lumero by WMF.

From the simplest models, where we must start and stop the extraction manually when we have the desired amount, to the most complete ones, where we can program the drink to our liking, we find a wide variety of models and prices.

With this type of machines, when we want to make one or two coffees at the same time, we only have to press a button to achieve the extraction, since both the water pressure and temperature are set by default, although there are some models, like the Bambino by Sage Breville or the 50’Style by SMEG, that allow adjusting the latter.

50’Style espresso machine by SMEG, Lumero espresso machine by WMF and Bambino espresso machine by Sage Breville

But there is part of the “making a coffee” process in which the human factor intervenes and which can change the result of each coffee:

• the grind size of the bean,
• the amount of ground coffee we put in the portafilter,
• and its tamping.

Some automatic models, like the Barista Express by Sage Breville, include a bean hopper and a burr grinder, so they allow grinding the coffee to taste (they offer several grind options) and fill the portafilter directly with the necessary grams

If we also want it with milk, we have the option to froth it with the steam wand, that small steam outlet tube usually located to the right of the portafilter. And this is another factor that we can adjust ourselves and not the machine.

In addition, there are models, like the Barista Touch by Sage Breville that come with pre-programmed beverages and also offer the possibility to save different custom options for the household members. So, whenever we want a cappuccino or a strong black coffee just the way we like it, we only have to choose that drink on the control panel.

2.2. Superautomatic machines

Superautomatic coffee machines do everything starting from whole beans - that is, you put the whole beans into the corresponding hopper, and by simply selecting the type of coffee you want and pressing a button, the machine does everything.

They have a bean hopper and a built-in grinder. They grind and brew with the appropriate pressure and temperature, extracting the chosen drink in seconds. Without having to do anything more than press a button and place the cup on the drip tray, they let you enjoy a coffee full of aroma and flavor.

They control all stages of the process precisely, including cleaning, although in some cases they allow adjusting water temperature parameters or grind level. They are very easy to use and very intuitive, designed to make coffee moments simple.

Some models, like the Evidence by Krups, include a frothing accessory ideally thought out for lovers of milk coffees and cappuccinos: a container that easily attaches to the steam outlet nozzle to froth milk comfortably without holding it.

Superautomatic Evidence espresso machine by Krups

2.3. Manual machines

Manual coffee machines are those that require greater human intervention. From the grind setting of the coffee bean, the grams of ground coffee per dose, the water amount and temperature and the bar pressure, each and every step is controlled manually. They are the perfect machines for expert baristas, since they are professionals who know all the secrets for preparing and obtaining a good coffee.

There are models that allow performing some steps of the process manually, such as choosing grind coarseness, the amount to fill in the portafilter or the intensity of the resulting coffee, for example. They are a great option for amateur baristas, or those who want to get started in this world, but do not want to stop enjoying a good automatically prepared coffee when they wish.

We could also consider the simplest automatic machines as manual machines: those that have an on/off button and an indicator light that illuminates when the water is hot. The process is intervened manually, since we have to grind the coffee, fill the portafilter, place it in the machine and turn the wheel to start the extraction, turning it the opposite way to stop it, but it is not possible to adjust anything else. They are machines that perform their function, achieving a good coffee simply and effectively.

3. Advantages of automatic coffee machines

• They are comfortable and very easy to use. In many cases, you only have to press a button.
• You don't need to be an expert barista to enjoy a good coffee; the machine takes care of preparing it.
• They allow you to prepare coffee in very little time.
• The cost per coffee is lower than that of capsule coffee.
• You can choose the bean you want and the coffee variety you like most on each occasion.
• Some models allow you to program one or more beverages so the result is always the same, to each person's taste.
• There are many models to choose from, which allows you to find the one you really need or want to add to your kitchen.

Quattro Force Arabica espresso machine by Krups

4. Disadvantages of automatic coffee machines

• They do not allow intervention in many phases of coffee preparation, since everything or almost everything is automated.
• Although it takes very little time to have the coffee in the cup, you must spend a minimal amount of time putting the ground coffee in the filter/portafilter, or grinding it if you buy beans.
• Even if the coffee is very good, it doesn't have the charm of the coffee served and enjoyed in your favorite café.
• Depending on the model, the price varies considerably and they are more expensive than conventional machines (Italian or French ones).
• They require proper maintenance to avoid breakdowns. In case of a failure, having more components can make repair more costly. For this reason, it is important to choose a solid brand to ensure the quality of both the product and its technical service.

5. Best brands of automatic coffee machines

As mentioned at the beginning of the post, if you are considering buying an automatic coffee machine, the most important thing to bear in mind is what you really need.

Brands like Krups (with an excellent quality-price ratio), Philips, WMF, Smeg or Sage-Breville (true specialists, with machines designed for enjoyment), for example, are a guarantee of quality and offer great results.

6. Maintenance of automatic coffee machines

Good maintenance and cleaning are essential for the proper functioning of our coffee machine, according to the manufacturer's instructions. In this way, we will not only extend its durability, but the flavor and aroma result of each coffee will be as expected.

Depending on each type, we should consider that:

• With automatic machines it is necessary to clean the portafilter with water after each coffee, trying to remove all residues, as well as the drip tray, and periodically wash the water tank. The outer casing of the machine can be cleaned with a cloth or a damp cloth.
• If the machine has a steam wand for frothing milk, it is very important to clean it after each use. The head is usually removable, so it is easy to clean. We can also release steam to remove any milk residues that may have remained inside the steam tube.
• Automatic machines that have a bean hopper and grinder, as well as superautomatics, usually include self-cleaning or purge systems among their functions. Some, like the SMEG superautomatic machine with steam, have alert systems if the coffee grounds container is full, if the water tank is empty or if it is time to descale. Others, like the Quattro Force Arabica by Krups, have a self-cleaning system that performs maintenance and descaling automatically.

The number of times we use the machine, as well as the hardness of the water used, are factors that determine the frequency of maintenance. For this, using products like Krups coffee machine cleaning tablets is essential if we want our machine to run smoothly and the resulting coffee to be as it should be.