I think no one would dislike Smeg’s products. Functions aside, its retro series of products always catch my attention immediately, so we also bought back many retro series products for evaluation. To be honest, whether it is placed in the office pantry or the kitchen, it is a landscape that makes people put it down.
The coffee machine we reviewed previously was a compact coffee machine that did not take up a lot of space. In comparison, this coffee machine has more complete functions, such as an additional coffee bean grinding function, and a larger water tank capacity. If you like to drink espresso every day, I think this coffee machine is very suitable as the main force of the home coffee station. If you’re curious about its capabilities, keep reading.
- PROS:
- Simple retro design
- Removable water tank
- With coffee bean flooding function
- With hot water function
- CONS:
- Price is on the high side
- Overall relatively bulky
- Product Dimensions:14"D x 14"W x 18"H
- Special Feature:Auto Shut-Off, Cup Warmer, Milk Frother
- Capacity:2.5 Quarts
- Wattage:1650 watts
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The overall design continues the style of Smeg’s retro series. There are a variety of colors to choose from, and you can choose according to the style of your kitchen. In addition to the coffee machine body, the accessories include a detachable water tank, a milk froth cup, a coffee handle, and two filters. There is no need to buy additional accessories yourself. The operation panel of the coffee machine is relatively simple and clear. With four operation buttons just above the coffee machine, you can choose from 4 different profiles (short, standard, long, progressive pre-brew) and 4 extraction temperature levels. Pre-brew level of your choice and choose single or double coffee portions. And you can also adjust the hardness of the water and the shutdown time yourself. The operation is relatively simple and smooth. The only difficulty for novices may be frothing milk, which takes time to practice.
Performance
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Before extraction, you need to grind the coffee beans first. You can choose the thickness of the coffee powder yourself. It is very simple. Just rotate the coffee bean container to the degree of submersion you need, and then press the coffee button.It is worth mentioning that the coffee bean container is well sealed, which can ensure the freshness of the coffee to a certain extent. But after many attempts, I found that finer coffee powder will produce a better concentrated taste, while coarser coffee is more suitable for cold brew coffee.
When making espresso, you need to choose in advance whether you want one cup or two cups. I usually make one cup, so I choose a single-cup filter. Occasionally when friends come over, I will make two cups. It usually takes some time for the machine to heat hot water. Generally, all the button lights light up to indicate that the heating is completed and the coffee can be extracted. The coffee extraction process is very fast, and the coffee has beautiful oil.
Perhaps the most difficult part of this machine is making milk froth. Frothing milk takes some time to practice. This coffee machine has two milk foam strength options. The first strength is more suitable for coffee such as cappuccino, and the second strength is more suitable for coffee such as latte. You can choose according to your own preferences. What I drink most every day is latte, so I basically choose the second intensity. I usually froth the milk for about one minute, and the milk foam will be very delicate.
Cleaning
The two most important parts of cleaning a coffee machine are the water tank and the drip tray. These are two places where dirt can easily hide. The water tank should be cleaned in time to avoid scale. Generally, suitable machines that need to descale the water tank will flash orange. A light will indicate that you only need to add descaling agent. If the drip tray is not cleaned for a long time, odor will develop. Cleaning these two parts is relatively simple. Just disassemble and rinse.
After daily use of the milk frother, just wipe the milk stains on the surface with a wet rag. If there are water stains or obvious stains on the outside, just wipe it with a wet rag.
Is it worth to buy?
The functions of this coffee machine are relatively comprehensive, and its design and color are the finishing touch. I admit that I was attracted by its appearance. But it is different from the compact coffee machines on the market. It takes up a lot of space and is relatively heavy. It cannot meet your need to move it frequently, and its price is on the high side. If you combine the above problems, you can Accept it, then this product is very suitable to buy. Whether it is function or design, it will make your coffee time more happy.