Bean to cup espresso machines, what are they all about?
Published on Mar 25, 2011
The quality of coffee produced by bean-to-cup coffee machines has been compared to that of the skilled barista, which until now, it has been dismissed that bean-to-cup machines would never match the same quality cup of coffee as a skilled, human, barista.
This was taken as a challenge by the technically minded folk in the coffee industry to prove the critics wrong and now, for sure, the gap is narrowing. As the name suggests, these machines use whole coffee beans and automatically grind them and complete the whole process right to the extraction of the espresso into the cup, all at the touch of a button.
Rightfully earning their title as the ‘automatic’ coffee machine, some models of bean-to-cup machines even complete the milk frothing stages before presenting you with the cappuccino or latte that you just asked it for.
However, for those who are less keen to let the machine do all the work or just want to get involved in the theatrical nature of coffee preparation, most bean-to-cup machines do come with steam wands so that you can perfect your milk frothing and free pouring techniques.
So other than the fact that the machine does most of the work for you without the fuss of taking the group handles out of the machine, filling it with coffee from the separate grinder and ensuring that you get your shot extraction right, why else would you consider buying a bean-to-cup machine?
Freshly Ground Coffee Every Time
Bean-to-cup machines freshly grind the coffee beans for every cup of coffee it makes, so if the coffee beans have not been sat in the hopper for more than a couple of hours you are guaranteed a fresh espresso shot.
A great cup of coffee is reliant on getting the basics right and I’m sure that it doesn’t have to be emphasized too much that fresher is always better.
Using good quality beans also helps too, check out our range of Haute Culture Gourmet Coffee Beans help make your perfect cup of coffee.
User Friendly and Consistent Quality
Bean-to-cup machines are very user friendly and once you have set your basic preferences you can start creating quality coffee at the touch of a button. With the bean-to-cup machines having been designed, tweaked and fined tuned by industry experts who are fanatical about the scientific technicalities of preparing perfect espresso, when you press that button, these machines know exactly what to do.
What’s more, with the elimination of human error and any deficiencies in barista skills, bean-to-cup machines achieve what every true barista should strive for; consistency. See our Barista 710 Bean to cup Coffee Machine for more information on just how easy it can be.
Coffee To Your Taste
It is easy to believe that bean-to-cup machines reduce the level of flexibility in coffee preparation, whilst this may be true to some extent as the machines have purposely built in parameters, there is however, still a sufficient degree of control over the espresso shot (strength, length and often temperature), Once you find the settings to match your unique taste, these can be saved and from there the preparation reverts back to the simplicity of pressing a button and making sure there is a cup under the coffee spout.
Low Maintenance and Cleaning
Whilst your busy sipping your freshly made coffee or serving it to your client, the machine will be removing the used coffee from the brewing unit into the removable dregs tray and purging itself ready for the next use. With these systems already in place it means that the maintenance and cleaning required is minimal and significantly reduces the time and effort required for quality coffee.
Here at LeCafeShop we have a range of bean-to-cup machines suitable for all types of use including our new semi-professional bean to cup espresso machine which is perfect for barista style drinks in the comfort of your own home or in the office to impress your visitors and clients.
If you’re thinking about buying a coffee machine and already have your budget in mind, it is worth noting that when you invest in a bean-to-cup machine you do not have to spend more money on the accompanying essential such as a grinder, tamper and knock box that can so easily be forgotten about when choosing the right machine. For more advice on choosing the right machine, take a look at our ‘Choosing Your Coffee Maker’ article.
Members of the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe