This article comes to you on a coffee high. It may only take a few minutes to write, as Iām typing at lightning speed. Iāve already made two double shots of espresso this morning on the SMEG Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine (a.k.a. āManualā espresso machine) that Iāve been trying out all week. It looks amazing, like a throwback to classic espresso machines but with a modern-yet-retro look and really great soft color choices.
It works rather simply. Instead of screens, companion apps and hassles, there are only five buttons. One is the power button, two control grind volume, and the other two drink volume. Pushing combinations of them allow you to customize your drink temperature, the water hardness, etc. Itās a clever approach that keeps the look extremely clean yet makes the machine incredibly functional and simple. Thereās also a pressure gauge window that lets you see how many bars of pressure are being used to make each cup.
Setting it up took just a few minutes. All I did was attach the coffee bean grinder cup to the top ā yes, the built-in conical grinder with stainless steel burr grinds the beans with your choice of many coarse-to-superfine settings ā and fill the water tank. And itās ready to go about 60 seconds after you power on the machine. I did customize it to my various cup and heat preferences, but you certainly can use it immediately without going that extra step. My one complaint about the physical machine is that once the grinder cup is attached, the machine is too tall to fit under our upper kitchen cabinets on the counter. I assume our home is standard in that way, so Iām guessing other people may have similar issues.
As you might expect from a luxury product like this, the espresso tastes pretty good. And I love that the water tank in the rear holds way more water than any other espresso machine Iāve tried. That means I donāt need to fill the tank nearly as often. It also comes with a high-end, substantial tamp that you use to press the grinds evenly into the included 58mm portafilter. The machine is also equipped with an instant dual steam and hot water wand for making velvety cappuccinos. I just sip my shots black, so I admittedly didnāt try this function.
Flashing alerts and acoustic signals help ensure optimal performance. And a Dual Thermoblock system heats up quickly for fast brewing and steaming. Thereās also an auto-shutoff to prevent you from wasting electricity when the machine is not in use. There are four filters included for making one or two cups of espresso, including a pair of non-pressurized filters for grinding, dosing and tamping; and two pressurized filters for pre-ground coffee.
I was disappointed that the machine does not make full cups of coffee. My wife prefers a full cup of Joe in the morning. I tried making her one with this machine, but she said it tasted diluted. So I called SMEGās customer service and the representative confirmed the machine is designed for making espresso only. And for that, this $900 machine works perfectly.