Fully automatic coffee machines

Comfort at the touch of a button

Fully automatic coffee machines are the most convenient way to prepare espresso and other coffee specialties at home or in the office. The effort required is minimal: the machine grinds, doses, brews, and froths milk – all automatically. At the touch of a button, you can enjoy espresso, cappuccino, latte macchiato, Americano, and many other classics.

What is a fully automatic coffee machine?

As the name suggests, a fully automatic coffee machine takes care of almost all the steps involved in making coffee. Solid models are available from around €300, offering significantly more convenience than filter, capsule, or portafilter machines. An integrated grinder freshly grinds the beans, the machine dispenses the water and ground coffee, and brews the coffee under pressure. Many machines also feature an automatic milk system – some even with a chilled milk tank.

A fully automatic coffee machine allows you to prepare numerous drinks at the touch of a button. It's important to choose the right beans – for example, varieties roasted specifically for fully automatic coffee machines.

Structure and technology

A fully automatic coffee machine essentially consists of five central components:

water tank

Depending on the model, it holds between a few and several liters. Smaller tanks are usually sufficient for households, while larger or permanently installed systems are more practical in offices or restaurants.

Bean hopper

Here too, smaller is often better. Since coffee beans lose aroma as soon as they come into contact with air, they should not be stored in the container for weeks.

grinder

The heart of the fully automatic coffee machine. Whether made of steel or ceramic, conical or disc-shaped – the crucial factors are quality and the ability to individually adjust the grind. This allows the grinding result to be optimally adapted to the beans used and the desired beverage.

Brewing unit

This is where the coffee is made. Good machines generate stable pressure and even extraction – crucial for taste and crema.

Cleaning system

Modern fully automatic coffee machines have automatic cleaning and descaling programs. Nevertheless, the water tank, grounds container, and milk system must be cleaned manually on a regular basis. Limescale filters should be changed according to the manufacturer's instructions – limescale is the biggest enemy of any machine.

Minimal care, maximum impact

Even though a fully automatic coffee machine greatly simplifies preparation, it still requires some attention. Only through regular cleaning and correctly adjusting the grind, water quantity, temperature, and pressure can the full aroma of the coffee beans be extracted.

Users who enjoy experimenting can achieve surprisingly good results with individual settings – almost at barista level.

Limitations of the fully automatic machine

As convenient as it is, a fully automatic machine can't quite match the quality of a high-end portafilter machine. The crema is usually a bit thinner, the milk foam less fine-pored, and true espresso aficionados swear by the manual control over pressure, temperature, and brewing time.

For all those who good coffee without much effort For those who want to enjoy coffee, a fully automatic coffee machine is a worthwhile investment – ​​reliable, versatile and fast.