Melitta Barista SE® Coffee Machine

£659.99

Currently available via Harts of Stur at the special price of £450

I love a fancy coffee from the coffee shop on the way to work, but I’ve never been able to reproduce them at home – I don’t know if it's something about the making process, the bean grinding or that perfect blend of coffee and milk, but I can’t seem to perfect it myself. Therefore, when I was given the chance to test out the Melitta Barista SE bean to cup coffee machine I was super excited. It boasts to deliver a whole range of barista quality coffee specialities, all in the comfort of your own home.

Now, the Barista SE is not a small unit, and it does take up a large part of the kitchen counter, but this is because it is a coffee grinder and dual drink maker all in one. To achieve all 18 of its popular pre-set coffee specialities, the machine boasts a water, coffee and milk compartment so this makes sense for its size. I will say I was a little intimidated by the machine when I first opened it as it looked like something from a coffee shop with so many choices and options to choose from. However, after a little playing around and cleaning, I was ready to fill up each of the tanks to make my chosen drinks.

The only way to start any barista quality drink is with freshly ground coffee, and this is the first step in the machine’s process. You pour coffee beans into the grinding compartment, and you can go about making your breakfast without the dreaded loud crunching and whirring of the coffee grinder. This is because the Barista SE Coffee Machine features a Quiet Mark certification meaning that the grinder is designed to be super quiet for easy use no matter the time of day – great for getting the coffee started in the morning whilst your family is sleeping!

Once the coffee is done it is delivered into one of the two bean chambers and is ready to use for a whole variety of coffee drinks. In fact, the machine has 2 coffee bean chambers so you can even choose between two different coffee bean types depending on your preference. This complete customizability of your coffee is what makes the Barista SE special, as it is like having your own barista in your home. The pre-set specialities include everything from an espresso to a nice latte or even some more fancy coffees.

You can also select 14 additional coffee variations such as flat white, ristretto and americano via the menu.

I tend to stick to my usual coffee choices out of habit, so many of these coffees were new to me. One of the great perks of this machine is that it allows you to experiment with all those coffee options you might have been hesitant to try before. With each drink, you can adjust the strength, grind size, temperature, and number of coffees.

For those who prefer not to enjoy their coffee solo, the Barista SE features two cup slots, allowing you to prepare drinks for yourself and a loved one simultaneously. This dual use has a further adjustable head so you can ensure your cup will fit under it, and then you can choose a coffee to suit each of your tastes. I loved that you can even save 4 personalised profile coffees for you and your family to make it even easier to make your favourite drink every day.

The entire unit is controlled and supported by the front display which makes it super easy and intuitive to make your favourite coffees. The display is also vital for the cleaning of the unit, as it provides step-by-step instructions to clean each component.

Cleaning is a big part of any kitchen appliance, especially a coffee machine where milk is involved. I love that the Barista SE can be taken apart for a thorough cleaning. Furthermore, between each use you can blast hot water and steam through parts to help reduce any residue buildup. This is something I’ve always liked about Melitta products – no matter how complex and great each machine is, they always ensure that they’re easy to clean so you are never faced with a massive cleaning job, just to enjoy ‘at home’ barista quality coffees from the comfort of your own home.

The Barista SE would make a great gift for any coffee lover (or family).

Pros:

• 4 customisable profiles to make your favourite drinks even easier
• Can make a whole range of barista quality drinks perfectly blending the water, coffee and milk needs
• Easy cleaning design for ease of use

Cons:

• High price point for a coffee machine
• Large size which may not be suitable for small kitchens with limited counter space