Best 6 Bean To Cup Espresso Machines: No Barista Training Required

Have you been trying to find the best bean-to-cup espresso machine that will turn your favorite coffee beans into a delicious beverage?

Then you are in the right place!

Listed below, you can find my reviews of the six best models that are currently up for sale. Check them out, find out more about the beneficial features they have to offer, and choose the best one.

The Rundown

What Does Bean-To-Cup Mean?

Bean to cup means that the espresso machine automatically grinds coffee beans right before the brewing process. Its only goal is to provide you with the freshest brewing results possible.

How Are These Machines Different From Ones With A Grinder?

These models come with an automatic built-in grinder that does everything for you. On the other hand, machines that come with a separate grinder or a built-in one (but are not automatic) grind the beans for you but you need to measure the perfect dose, tamp the coffee, etc.

What You Need To Know About Their Performance

Bean-to-cup machines require you to fill the bean container with fresh beans, set the grinding level you like, and choose the desired brewing program. Apart from that, the machine does everything else including:

• grinding the beans to the set coarseness level
• dosing the perfect amount of grinds into the brewing system
• heating the water for the brewing and steaming system
• completing the brewing process using the high extration pressure

Do You Have Different Options To Choose From?

In this case, no. These brewers are super-automatic models. This means that you do not have that much control over the machine’s performance. At the same time, this means that the machine is a perfect choice for you even if you are a beginner.

Are These Machines Made For Home Or Professional Use?

You can use these machines both at home and for professional use. If you opt for the latter, make sure that you choose a stainless steel model as they are designed to withstand the high demands.

Are They Expensive?

Well, this depends on how you look at it. Basic home models generally cost around 400 to 700 dollars. These machines, on the other hand, cost between 500 to 1500 dollars. They fit the price range for a prosumer machine that provides great professional features but at the same time comes at a more budget-friendly price.

Why You Need One?

There are many benefits to having a bean-to-cup machine:

• you always get the freshest brewing results possible
• you are in control of the grind size that the machine provides
• you get to try out differnt coffee beans and roasts
• since there is very little for you to do, the machine is super easy to use

However, there are also some downsides to these machines:

• the grinder does take up a lot of space in the machine so these machines are generally somewhat larger and bulkier
• in case that they malfunction, grinders are very expensive to replace

Do These Machines Make More Than Espresso?

Yes of course. Most machines either come with a steam wand or a frothing system that ensures you can make versatile espresso/milk-based hot beverages. You can use them to make:

• espresso
• espresso lungo
• americano
• macchiato
• cappuccino
• latte
• a flat white

What Matters The Most When Buying A Bean-To-Cup Machine?

Although these machines seem an amazing choice, there are some things you should think about when deciding which model you want to buy.

Conical Burr Grinder

First of all, we need to talk about grinder quality. Conical burr grinders are your best option as they are specially designed not to heat up during the grinding process. As a result, you never have to worry that your grounds might have a burnt flavor.

Grinding Controls

Espresso is all about the perfect grind size. For that reason, it is very important that you choose a machine that provides multiple grinding settings. While you need the finest grind for espresso, you might want to try out different coarseness levels for other beverages.

Bean Hopper And Its Position

A bean hopper is a specially designed container that is made to preserve the quality and the freshness of your coffee beans. It is usually located right above the grinder to ensure that the coffee beans can fall right into the grinder.

Additional Bypass Doser

While this is not a must-have, an additional bypass doser allows you to brew espresso using pre-ground coffee. This is a great feature for those that want to brew espresso using both whole coffee beans and pre-ground decaf coffee.

Consider The Noise

Now, this is something you might overlook but is a very important feature as you do not want to end up with a machine that is too loud. Make sure that the grinder does not create a noise higher than 70 dB (which is acceptable for most kitchen appliances).

Indicators And Alerts

This is something you can expect from the high-end models. They come with light indicators and alert systems that let you know when the bean hopper is out of beans or if the bean level is too low.

More About The Mchines…

Now that we have covered everything about the grinders and their performance, let us move on to the more basic features of the machines:

Size And Design
When it comes to bean-to-cup machines, generally, they do not come in a small size but are rather bulky. What this means is that they take up a bit more counter space than a regular espresso machine would. It is worth knowing that they are not too high, so you can find models that fit under somewhat lower top cabinets.

Customizable Performance
Since these brewers are super-automatic, you can not really customize their brewing parameters. However, they do offer plenty of different pre-programmed brewing settings you can choose from so you can still try making versatile beverages.

Control Panel
While some machines do come with button controls, you can easily find models that feature high-resolution touch screen displays. They are much more user-friendly and simpler to use. At the same time, they are more sensitive and can malfunction more often.

Milk Options
These machines provide you with versatile milk options. You can find ones that come with a:

• steamer – it uses a highly pressurized, hot steam to create a perfect milk texture.
• frothing system – it automatically creates froth and dispenses it into your espresso cup.

Water Tank
Another thing you want to keep in mind is the capacity and the placement of the water reservoir. In case it is somewhat smaller and hard to access from the front of the machine, you won’t want to refill it that often.

Automatic Cleaning Functions
The great thing about these machines is that they usually provide an automatic cleaning function that takes care of the brewing as well as a steaming/frothing system. As a result, you never have to worry wheter the machine is clean and safe for use.

Best 6 Bean To Cup Espresso Machines

Delonghi Super-Automatic Coffee Machine

This espresso coffee maker features a user-friendly touch screen display with versatile controls. It offers six different user profiles. Due to its sufficient burr grinder, you can use it to brew a majority of coffee-based beverages. Its additional bypass doser ensures you can also use pre-ground coffee.

The amazing thing about this machine is that it features a specially designed double boiler system. It allows you to brew coffee and froth your milk at the same time. As a result, you can have a complete beverage ready to serve in a very short time.

Buy On Amazon

Merol Super Automatic Coffee Machine

This is another machine that provides versatile brewing options. Firstly, you can choose whether you want to grind coffee beans or use pre-ground coffee. Secondly, you can choose desired brewing option from the multiple programs that the machine provides.

Without a doubt, this machine provides a very powerful brewing performance. It uses a 19-bar extraction pressure to capture all the delicious coffee oils and flavors that usually remain trapped inside the coffee grounds.

Buy On Amazon

Sage Barista Pro Espresso Machine

This 15 bar model also features a simple control panel with button controls and a backlit LCD display. Thanks to this feature you can make the desired adjustments much more easily.

Its steam wand provides you with complete control over its performance. It has a wide range of motion to ensure you can move it around as needed throughout the milk pitcher. It has a convenient heat-resistant grip handle that keeps your hands safe from accidental heat burns.

Buy On Amazon

Espressione Automatic Espresso Machine

The great thing about this high-end machine is that it features a bit slimmer profile. This makes it a highly desirable option for smaller kitchens and other smaller environments. It is a great option for an apartment, but an office or a dorm room too.

It comes with a specially designed Thermo block system that delivers water at a precise temperature level. It even regulates the temperature between the brewing and frothing process to ensure that you always achieve the optimal results.

Buy On Amazon

Gaggia Velasca Prestige Espresso Machine

This Italian machine features a very simple, stylish LCD display. It provides you with espresso, espresso lungo, cappuccino, and milk froth settings. Additionally, you get to adjust the aroma strength to your liking. Its backlit screen will help you make the desired adjustments as easy as possible.

Its ceramic burr grinder provides you with 10 different fineness settings. Thanks to this feature you get to choose the desired coarseness level. The machine comes with an additional bean hopper with a 10.5oz capacity that will keep your coffee beans fresh.

Buy On Amazon

Hipresso Espresso Coffee Machine

This machine for espresso, cappuccino, and lattes comes equipped with a large TFT display. It provides you with 11 different brewing options to ensure that you can easily make the desired beverage. Since it is touch-sensitive, you can set the desired program with a swipe of your finger.

With its powerful, 19-bar extraction pressure, this bean-to-cup brewer can easily extract all the delicious flavors and coffee aromas from your coffee grounds. Make sure that you always fill the grinder with fresh beans to achieve the optimal flavor brew.

Buy On Amazon

How To Make A Perfect Brew?

Since these machines are fairly easy to use, you won’t have any trouble achieving the perfect brew:

1. First thing first, make the initial grinding adjustments – the coarser the grounds the more water flows through them.
2. Add coffee beans into the bean hopper – choose ones that are not oily or flavored as this damages the grinder long-term.
3. Choose the desired operating mode (and make the adjustments if there are any, i.e. brewing volume, strength, etc.)

This is pretty much everything you need to do. If you want to make a cappuccino, latte, or any other specialized beverage use the steamer/frother to texturize and heat the milk. Once you are done using the machine, make sure you clean it thoroughly.

Are Bean-To-Cup Machines Better Than Ones With A Grinder?

Yes, and this is for a very simple reason – they come with more powerful grinders that offer higher quality. If you opt for a machine with a grinder you might end up with a separate 120 V grinder that can not compare performance-wise.

Keeping The Grinder Clean

Since you are buying a machine with a bean grinder, you need to know how to keep it clean:

1. Run the grinder until you empty it out completely.
2. Take off the top lid, unlock the handle, and remove the bean hopper from the rest of the unit.
3. Check if there are any leftover grounds around the burrs and use the vacuum to remove them.
4. Now you need to remove the top burr. To do so, lift the small handle on the grinder up and turn it in clockwise.
5. Use a small brush to remove the leftover beans and grounds that might have got stuck inside.

Once you complete these steps, you can reinstall the grinder and use the machine again.

About The Coffee Beans…

Whole coffee beans are the best for use as they allow you to achieve the freshest brewing results with every use. Once you find your bean to cup brewer, it is time you learn more about the coffee beans you need for the machine. Avoid using dark roasted coffee beans with an oily surface or added flavors. They provide grinds that are sticky and will eventually ruin the grinder.

Instead, find a medium roast you like the most as it will allow you to enjoy all the natural flavors from your beans and the beans will not damage the grinder. You can purchase them from online retailers such as Amazon or in specialized coffee shops where you can try out different flavors.