In the last few days we have extensively tested a new fully automatic model from Miele from the compact C5 series at our roasting plant (I am a roaster and green coffee buyer for a direct import roasting plant in Hamburg). From my experience I assume that many statements from our short test can be generalized and thus also be valid for other MOdelle.
The main reason for the test was for us to prepare our own coffees in the same way as about 20% of our customers do. Otherwise, we carry out quality control for each of our products twice a week, but only for filter coffee preparations and for screen holders. Fully automatic machines are usually located somewhere between "frowned upon", "smiled at" and "unloved" among professionals in our industry....that's how it is with us. Out of 10 colleagues, nobody has a fully automatic machine at home. Of course, we are aware that many of our roasts are prepared in this way. So over with our own prejudices and into a blind test.
Our results of the test in a nutshell:
- "Espresso" works surprisingly well after adjusting the parameters (finer grind as possible and as much grind as possible, significantly reduce the amount of coffee) and when using a classic espresso roast with a high Natural content or with 20-30 % Robusta content. We gave him grades from 3 to 4 (compared to a professional using a screen carrier machine would be a 1). Light roasts taste terribly sour, pure washed coffees are also flat and grassy as medium dark roasts).
Very good about the machine is the intuitive programmability of the pre-brewing time, the coffee quantity and the brewing quantity
- "Cappuccino" also gets a school grade of 3 to 4 if you use a classic roasting with Robusta content. In more modern roasts a 5, since fruit notes are barely perceptible. The milk foam is too coarse for our requirements. Again, the intuitive programmability of all relevant parameters (except for the fineness of the milk froth)
- "Filter coffee", "Americano" or "Schümli" gets a 5 or a 6 with all of the coffees we tested (compared to the reference to Aeropress, Melitta, Hario, Chemex or French Press which all get a 1) is a plus here. Here medium dark espresso roasts with Natural or Honey content are tolerable. Very bad are filter coffee roasts and light to medium dark washed espressos (much too "weak") as well as Robustablends (bitter, ashy).
- Latte Macchiato: gets a 2-3, here it doesn't depend so much on the coffee quality anyway and most baristi in cafés prepare the drink also only reluctantly.....recommendable are exclusively classic Robustablends. The milk froth and the temperature are totally in order
- Schümli: the drink for which these machines are designed in our opinion. We've tried different roasts. We liked only one coffee from our own assortment. A 100 % honey prepared coffee in medium dark espresso roast. From our point of view, it is precisely such coffees that are recommended: medium dark roasted from dry, semi-dry or honey preparation. Gladly from Indonesia, India or Brazil. We personally didn't like Robusta at all.
The result to the device: good and intuitively programmable, very compact and space-saving, the workmanship is quite ok, the feel is too "cheap" for us. Operability is very good, unfortunately after every 4th purchase the set container as well as the waste water tank must be gelert.
Many parameters can be reprogrammed, most positively surprised us the satisfying preparation of classical Espressi. Since most users of fully automatic machines allegedly prepare mainly cappus and lattes, the machine would be a conceivable choice at least for this one.
We are sceptical about the "durability" of the machine and would in any case buy as long a "warranty extension" as possible, if this is possible. It is impossible to prepare "filter coffee" or similar beverages. These simply do not taste good to us and cannot meet our high demands.
Coffees, as I have described them above, can be bought in any good artisan roaster. I hope that this article will not be used as advertising for us and will be deleted.
close
Share this post: