Bean To Cup Coffee Machines…Let’s take a closer look.

If you are a coffee lover like us, there is no doubt you have come across the phrase ‘bean to cup coffee machine’ so to help explain a little more about these type of coffee making marvels, read on;

So What is a ‘Bean To Cup Coffee Machine?

The term “bean-to-cup” refers to the way that fresh coffee is ground, pressed, and brewed by a single machine all at once. These machines are perfect for anyone who likes coffee but doesn’t want to bother with making it.

Bean-to-cup machines, which used to only be found in coffee shops and operated by a barista, are now some of the best coffee machines you can keep on your own kitchen worktop. Many of them are becoming very popular because they make coffee lovers’ lives easier.

These machines have a lot of advantages over, say, coffee pod machines. First of all, the coffee quality is almost unbeatable when it comes to making it at home. This is because the beans are ground for each cup, so the taste is as fresh and fragrant as it gets. A big plus is that you don’t have to buy new pods for it every few days, which is expensive and bad for the environment. More and more coffee drinkers want to avoid this.

The best coffee maker for all coffee enthusiasts is a bean-to-cup machine. They are adaptable, quick to prepare a cappuccino, latte, or espresso, simple to use and operate, and, most importantly, they produce delicious, freshly brewed coffee.

The video below explains the various types on offer;

So welcome fellow coffee lovers, in this guide we’re going to be taking a look at three types of bean to cup coffee machines. 

Bean to cup espresso machines, usually referred to simply as ‘bean to cup machines’ or ‘bean to cup coffee machines’,  are espresso machines with an integrated grinder, which is set up to take away the requirement for barista skills.

You simply just put coffee beans it the top and you get coffee out of the bottom but there are a few different types of bean to cup coffee machines to look at.

Firstly; we have semi automatic and fully automatic, or standard bean to cup and one touch bean to cup. 

Most people are aware of the differences between these two. standard beans to cup coffee machines, like the Gaggia Brera for example have a steam wand for manual milk steaming.

So the coffee side of things is a one-touch affair but the user has to take care of the milk side of things manually.

Second; One touch machines, also known as cappuccino makers, fully automatic or super automatic machines, have a milk carafe which you fill up with milk and slot into the machine.

you then press a button such as the latte button or cappuccino button and the entire coffee is made for you at the touch of a button including the milk

Third Option; But there’s a third option that not everyone is aware of which is a hybrid version of the fully automatic machines which is a ‘Cappucinotore beans machine’ or ‘cap in cup’ as some refer to them as.

These machines have the milk frother part of the carafe system but without the carafe, so you put the pipe into your milk bottle and the milk is sucked up, steamed by the machine, frothed by the frother and delivered into your cup.

The milk texture is the same as with the carafe system but you don’t have the carafe, you just have the frother part of it and the pipe which you put into your milk bottle.

The only real negative of this type of bean to cup machine, is that they’re two touch instead of one touch, so these machines require you pressing the button for the coffee and then pressing the button for the milk.

But there are lots of positives for this type of beans and cup coffee machine, the first is price. 

When it comes to Gaggia beans to cup machines, most of the machines come in three formats;

• Standard machines, with a steam wand are the lowest priced version
• The cappucinotore version, usually called milk or deluxe, are the middle price version
• Then the one touch milk carafe version, usually called prestige is the most expensive version.

So these different versions of each machine are the same machines, just with different options concerning the milk. 

For example, the Gaggia Anima deluxe is about £70 less than the Gaggia Anima Prestige. The Gaggia Cadorna Milk is about £110 less than the Gaggia Cadorna Prestige and the Gaggia Magenta Milk is about £50 less than the Magenta Prestige.

We actually think the Milk or Deluxe versions, the Cappucinotore versions, are better than the carafe versions, the second most important reason i think the Cappucinotore versions are better than the carafe versions is milk texture potential.

If you want to use them in a similar way to the one touch machines, you can and the milk texture from the Milk, or Deluxe versions and the carafe version, is going to be almost identical. But if you want more control over both milk texture and temperature with the Cappucinotore version, you can just slide the frother off and use the steam pipe as a standard steam one as you can with the types on the standard versions.

So for example you might use the two touch system for cappuccino but then when you want foam rather than froth to make a proper flat white for example, you can slide off the frother and use the pipe as a steam wand.

It’s also great when it comes to different kinds of users, using one machine. You might want more control over the milk texture but other people using the machine might have no interest in that, so these machines are more versatile in that way than the milk carafe beans cup machine. Thirdly the Cappucinotore versions are easier to clean, all you have to do is put the pipe in water, press the froth button and you’ve rinsed the frother. you can do that a few times to be sure it’s properly rinsed and obviously you can take it apart to do more deep cleans. 

Milk carafes require more thorough cleaning cycles and in our opinion the regular cleaning in between drinks is easier with the Cappucinotore machines than with carafe machines.

Finally, if you have a milk issue with your machine and it’s a carafe type, you can’t froth milk until it’s fixed. If you have a Cappucinotore type machine and the frother develops an issue, you can still steam milk manually while that’s being fixed. 

One touch milk carafe versions are usually the most popular kinds of bean to cup coffee machines and we think that’s partly because people don’t fully appreciate the benefits of the Cappucinotore machines, which are usually cheaper. So maybe this guide will highlight the value of these medium price options a bit more.

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Bean to Cup Coffee Machine FAQ’s

How does it work?

The use of Bean to Cup coffee makers is fairly simple. They have a built-in grinder, unlike other coffee makers, so all you have to do is add the beans; at the push of a button, the machine will grind the beans, heat the water, and dispense the fresh coffee. Most machines allow you to change the quantity and intensity of the coffee that is brewed. If you want to make your coffee really special, most models also have a milk frother.

Why would I want to buy one?

A Bean to Cup coffee machine is the ideal choice for many reasons.

The coffee is freshly brewed and flavourful since the beans are only just ground before use. The more quickly ground coffee is used, the more flavour it retains since flavour begins to fade shortly after grinding.

It is really simple. With the click of a button, you can produce a professional-looking cup of coffee in minutes. The integrated coffee grinder eliminates the tedious process of manually grinding beans.

There are numerous sorts of coffee beans available, so there is something to suit every taste. 

What exactly do Bean to Cup coffee makers do and are there any drawbacks?

While the grinder is running, the devices can be quite noisy, and they do require routine descaling and cleaning. They are frequently designed with cappuccino and latte drinkers in mind, so if you’re looking to make a mean espresso, a specialised espresso machine could be more appropriate.

How much are they?

There are numerous brands and models to choose from, and pricing might vary greatly. Expect to pay no more than £300 for a basic machine, while top-of-the-line machines can cost up to £1,500.

How long does it take a bean-to-cup machine to brew a cup of coffee?

Of course, it will depend on the particular model, but in general, it takes less than 30 seconds to make a freshly produced, bean-to-cup coffee beverage. Some models can concurrently deliver two espresso-based drinks.

Additionally, you might want a stainless steel jug to froth the milk in or a milk thermometer to make sure it doesn’t become too hot and burn. When the milk is frothed, the container helps it maintain its temperature so that it isn’t too cool when it goes into your coffee.