The Takeaway:

1. Our Pick: Saeco Xelsis

2. Value Pick: Saeco Intelia

3. For Home: DeLonghi ESAM3300

4. For Office: Jura Giga 5

5. Under 1000: Delonghi Magnifica XS

6. Under $500: Gaggia Brera

7. Best Rated: Jura ENA Micro 9

8. Budget Pick: Saeco XSmall Vapore

On this review, we’ll show you the overall best super-automatic espresso machine available on the market today. Plus, we also give our analysis on the best fully automatic espresso machines suited for each purpose.

Does a Higher Price Mean Better Quality Espresso?

This is a common question for anyone who’s looking to buy any coffee maker: does the $500 machine make coffee just as good as the $3200 machine?

In most cases, yes. It really just depends. It usually comes back to whatever coffee bean you’re putting into them. If you use quality beans, the machine plays little part in how it’s going to taste.

What is a Super Automatic Espresso Machine?

Super automatic espresso machines are by far the most convenient way to make top quality espressos. As their name suggests, they do everything for you! They’re totally automated. They are usually referred to as “bean-to-cup machines”: you put fresh roasted coffee beans on their top, turn it on, push a button, and you’ll have your freshly made espresso and another multitude of drinks. And yes, you can also make regular old black coffee.

Some of the top rated super automatic espresso machines can range anywhere from $400 up to $3200 (for non-commercial models), but they’re worth the money, given their speed and the great quality of their espresso. With that said, the increasing competition between the best coffee maker brands has resulted in some very affordable models that manage to keep the quality of the espresso at its best.

What’s the difference between regular coffee and Espresso?

The difference between regular coffee and espresso is that the espresso is pressure-brewed through finer grinds. There’s pressure applied to the water that pushes through the grind, as opposed to a regular drip made coffee where gravity is pulling the water down through coarser grinds.

As the water pushes through it comes out as almost like a froth, instead of a liquid. Part of that froth will rest on the top of the espresso as a foam known as the “crema” (Italian for cream). And it’s very sought after to have a very rich, thick, creamy crema. It’s where a lot of the oils collect from the coffee beans, which makes it extremely flavorful.

Best Super Automatic Espresso Machines – Part I

Our Pick
Value Pick
For Home
For Office
Primary Rating:
4.5
Primary Rating:
4.0
Primary Rating:
4.7
Primary Rating:
4.0
$1,625.88
N/A
$1,596.00
N/A
Dimensions:
23.4" x 14.5" x 20.5"
Dimensions:
17" x 13" x 18"17" x 13" x 18"
Dimensions:
17" x 13" x 18"
Dimensions:
20" x 17" x 13"
Product Weight:
25.8 lbs
Product Weight:
24.7 lbs
Product Weight:
23.1 lbs
Product Weight:
40 lbs
Water Tank Capacity:
1.7 L
Water Tank Capacity:
1.8 L
Water Tank Capacity:
1.8 L
Water Tank Capacity:
2.6 L
Hopper Capacity:
450 g
Hopper Capacity:
300 g
Hopper Capacity:
200 g
Hopper Capacity:
280 g
Boiler:
Double Thermoblocks
Boiler:
Quick Heat Boiler
Boiler:
Double Thermoblocks
Boiler:
Double Thermoblocks
Milk Carafe Capacity:
600 ml
Milk Carafe Capacity:
500 ml
Milk Carafe Capacity:
None
Milk Carafe Capacity:
None
Material:
Stainless steel / ABS
Material:
Stainless steel
Material:
Plastic
Material:
Stainless steel / ABS
Display:
Touchscreen
Display:
Basic
Display:
N/A
Display:
TFT
Grind Settings:
12
Grind Settings:
10
Grind Settings:
13
Grind Settings:
5
Our Pick
Primary Rating:
4.5
$1,625.88
Dimensions:
23.4" x 14.5" x 20.5"
Product Weight:
25.8 lbs
Water Tank Capacity:
1.7 L
Hopper Capacity:
450 g
Boiler:
Double Thermoblocks
Milk Carafe Capacity:
600 ml
Material:
Stainless steel / ABS
Display:
Touchscreen
Grind Settings:
12
Value Pick
Primary Rating:
4.0
N/A
Dimensions:
17" x 13" x 18"17" x 13" x 18"
Product Weight:
24.7 lbs
Water Tank Capacity:
1.8 L
Hopper Capacity:
300 g
Boiler:
Quick Heat Boiler
Milk Carafe Capacity:
500 ml
Material:
Stainless steel
Display:
Basic
Grind Settings:
10
For Home
Primary Rating:
4.7
$1,596.00
Dimensions:
17" x 13" x 18"
Product Weight:
23.1 lbs
Water Tank Capacity:
1.8 L
Hopper Capacity:
200 g
Boiler:
Double Thermoblocks
Milk Carafe Capacity:
None
Material:
Plastic
Display:
N/A
Grind Settings:
13
For Office
Primary Rating:
4.0
N/A
Dimensions:
20" x 17" x 13"
Product Weight:
40 lbs
Water Tank Capacity:
2.6 L
Hopper Capacity:
280 g
Boiler:
Double Thermoblocks
Milk Carafe Capacity:
None
Material:
Stainless steel / ABS
Display:
TFT
Grind Settings:
5
04/11/2024 05:36 am GMT

Our Pick: Saeco Xelsis

Our Pick
Saeco Xelsis SM7684 Espresso Machine
4.5

Recommended For: A household with multiple coffee drinkers and individuals who enjoy specialty coffee but are too busy to make/buy it every day.

Check Latest Price Read Detailed Review

The Saeco Philips Xelsis Fully Automatic Espresso Machine is one of the finest one-touch, modern, highly programmable pieces of equipment you’ll find in the market.

The thing that sets this machine apart from other high-end competitors is its programmability. It lets you program everything! 

If you have a large family, have coffee-enthusiastic friends coming over to your place often or if you decide to use it at your office, this will be the machine to go with.

It allows you to store up to 6 personalized profiles that you can set for each user, and the machine will identify the user preference for each type of drink.

Being a one-touch machine, the SAECO Xelsis includes an auto-frothing system that will pour the programmed amount of milk and coffee without any extra input from the user.

Best Features of the Saeco Xelsis

  • Customize and fine-tune your drinks from milk and espresso volume and order, to dose, temperature, and texture
  •  15 different drinks to choose from including espresso, coffee, cappuccino, latte macchiato, caffe latte, flat white, espresso lungo, americano, espresso macchiato, ristretto, espresso doppio, cafe au lait, cafe cortado, milk froth, warm milk and hot water.
  • 6 Customizable User Profiles
  • Make 2 cups of coffee drinks at the same time
  • Touchscreen Control
  • HygieSteam System for easy cleaning of the milk system
  • Double Thermoblocks for accurate temperature controls

Value Pick: Saeco Intelia Deluxe

In terms of best overall value for a super automatic espresso machine, few can compete with the powerhouse that is the Saeco Intelia Deluxe.

Made in Italy, it’s built with high-quality components you’d expect to find on a machine that costs two or three times the price. And with a user-friendly control panel and interface, making your morning cappuccino or latte is remarkably easy and intuitive.

Unlike many budget-friendly super automatic machines, the Saeco Intelia Deluxe features a fully stainless steel front panel. Not only does this give the machine its high-end appearance, but stainless steel is more durable and easier to clean than plastic. This adds to the longevity of the machine. The Intelia Deluxe also features a steel drip tray grate, further contributing to the machines overall high-quality feel.

In terms of espresso-making ability, the Intelia Deluxe combines the efficiency and precision of its built-in ceramic burr grinder with the quality-focused functionality of pre-infusion brewing. The ceramic burrs are crafted in such a way as to minimize heat buildup in the grinding process.

This results in a more consistent grind, which in turn produces richer, more aromatic espresso. After the coffee is ground, the Intelia Deluxe pre-wets the coffee grounds before brewing. This process produces more even espresso extraction — ultimately resulting in deeper flavors, thicker crema, and overall tastier shots of espresso.

Saeco Intelia Rightfront

The Saeco Intelia Deluxe features a simple but effective automatic milk frother. Nothing fancy or complicated, just straightforward, easy to use, and built to last. A tube extends from the steam wand apparatus and is placed into a pitcher of cold milk.

When you make a drink selection, the milk is siphoned from the pitcher into the frother where it is instantly steamed and heated. Perfectly frothed milk pours into your mug, serving as the base of a delicious latte or cappuccino. And unlike many super automatic machines, the Intelia Deluxe produces milk that is scalding. So, while you might have to wait a minute or two to drink your latte, you won’t have to worry about it cooling off too quickly.

While the controls and interface of the Intelia Deluxe are very easy to use, the machine doesn’t have many programmable drink settings like some machines have. Instead, the controls are more hands-on, meaning you need to monitor the volume of milk steamed, as well as manually select your desired espresso volume each time you make a drink.

This isn’t as convenient as some of the more high-tech super automatic espresso machines on the market. However, the extreme high quality of the components and espresso-making ability make the Intelia Deluxe well worth the effort of a few extra button presses.

Features Summary

  • 10 grinder fineness settings
  • 5 grind dose settings to adjust coffee strength
  • Makes 4 drinks: espresso, espresso lungo, hot water, and milk froth
  • Built-in ceramic burr grinder
  • Bypass coffee doser for using pre-ground coffee
  • Pre-infusion brewing
  • Automatic Capp Cina tore milk frother
  • Optional Panarello steam wand available for purchase
  • 10-ounce coffee bean hopper
  • 50-ounce water reservoir
  • Removable brew group for easy rinsing
  • Drip tray with stainless steel grate
  • Stainless steel front panel
  • Automatic stand-by mode

Update: Unfortunately, this product has been discontinued.

For Home: DeLonghi Magnifica

Best for Home
Delonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica Espresso Machine
4.8

Recommended For: Coffee purists and newbies. This is an exceptional, entry-level super-automatic machine that’s full-featured and very newbie-friendly.

Check Latest Price Read Detailed Review

The DeLonghi Magnifica Super-Automatic Espresso Machine is one of the most reliable and best bean-to-cup espresso machines you’ll find for personal and family use. It’s specially designed for a kitchen countertop, with its water reservoir coming out from the front of the machine, so that you won’t need to move the machine when it needs a refill. It sells at a price of $695 on Amazon.

Features:

  • Bean Hopper that can hold 12 oz. of beans
  • Double water boiler: a thermal block style and a steam boiler
  • Bypass Doser (pre-ground coffee funnel) with included scoop
  • Adjustable dispenser for different sizes of cups
  • Volume and dosage selectors
  • Descaling system
  • Buttons for single or double serve
  • Steam arm for steaming and frothing milk
  • Cup warmer with space for 3 coffee cups

This is a very practical, straightforward, machine, ideal for everyday use. It’s made to last, with less fancy components that could need repair in the long run. You don’t get a digital display with the Magnifica, but you won’t miss it, all the important signals will be displayed with its warning light, and you’ll be saving quite a bit of money by not paying for LCDs, software, bells and whistles. One of the best super automatic espresso machines for the money, without a doubt!

I don’t usually write reviews, but this machine deserves every good word said about it. I have owned one for 3.5 years now, and it’s still going strong. So if reliability is what has you sitting on the fence, jump off and buy one… – Buddha (Amazon Customer)

For Office: Jura Giga 5

If you’re shopping for a super automatic espresso machine for your office, chances are a standard home espresso machine won’t keep up with the number of drinks consumed by your employees or co-workers on a daily basis. You need a machine that can crank out delicious cappuccinos and lattes all day, every day. The Jura Giga 5 Espresso Machine is the best coffee machine for the task.

Compared to most super automatic espresso machines designed for home use, the Jura Giga 5 is extremely expensive. But it’s one of the only machines on the market designed to consistently produce 20 to 50 drinks per day without slowing down. So how is it capable of making so many drinks every day? The answer is simple:

Double everything. That means two built-in ceramic burr grinders, two water heaters, and two water pumps. With the Jura Giga 5, you can make two full drinks — espresso and milk — at the same time.

The Jura Giga 5 is as automatic and hands-free as they come. Just choose your drink selection and make sure there’s milk in the thermally insulated milk carafe. After that, the machine makes the beverage start to finish with one touch. The beans grind, the milk froths, and the drink is ready.

With the Jura Giga 5, practically every aspect of your beverage can be customized. This makes the machine particularly well-suited for office environments as no two coffee drinkers are alike. Everyone can have their espresso exactly how they like it.

A crystal clear LCD screen shows you all of the machine’s options, and a rotary selection dial allows you to choose one of the 18 pre-programmed drink choices. These include the classic espresso drinks — espresso, coffee, macchiato, cappuccino, and latte. There are also a variety of specialty drinks such as Irish Coffee and Cafe Melange.

When a specialty drink is selected, the LCD screen displays step-by-step instructions to create the drinks, as most involve extra ingredients other than espresso and milk.

JURA GIGA 5 Frontview

As a brand, Jura has a reputation for producing machines that brew the best espresso among the many super automatic espresso machines available. Every component of the machine contributes to the high-quality espresso produced. From the ceramic burr grinders that grind the coffee evenly and consistently, to the particular brew group that utilizes pre-infusion brewing technology to create rich, aromatic shots of espresso.

If you’re looking for a way to spoil all the coffee drinkers at the office, set up the Jura Giga 5 in the break room!

Features:

  • Two ceramic burr grinders
  • Each grinder hopper holds 9.8 ounces of whole bean coffee
  • Rubber gaskets on bean hopper lids create a secure seal to keep coffee fresh
  • 87-ounce water reservoir
  • Hot water spigot
  • Dual espresso spouts
  • Sliding brew group moves up and down to accommodate large and small cups
  • Adjustable width coffee spouts
  • Still drip tray grate
  • Dual 15 bar water pumps
  • Dual thermoblock heating systems
  • Automatic cleaning and descaling program
  • Adjustable water hardness
  • 20-ounce double-walled milk thermos
  • Removable milk splatter guard
  • LCD color display
  • One touch drink making
  • 18 drink selections
  • A selection of specialty espresso drinks with on-screen step-by-step preparation instructions

Best Super Automatic Coffee Machines – Part II

Under $1000
Under $500
Best Rated
Budget Pick
Primary Rating:
4.0
Primary Rating:
4.6
Primary Rating:
4.5
Primary Rating:
4.6
$779.00
$539.00
N/A
N/A
Dimensions:
17" x 9.4" x 13.8"
Dimensions:
10" x 15.5" x 11.5"
Dimensions:
17.5" x 9" x 12.7"
Dimensions:
15.2" x 16.7" x 15.3"
Product Weight:
19.84 lbs
Product Weight:
18 lbs
Product Weight:
20.7 lbs
Product Weight:
15.67 lbs
Water Tank Capacity:
1.8 L
Water Tank Capacity:
1.2 L
Water Tank Capacity:
1.1 L
Water Tank Capacity:
1 L
Hopper Capacity:
8.8 oz
Hopper Capacity:
250 g
Hopper Capacity:
124 g
Hopper Capacity:
184 g
Boiler:
Single
Boiler:
Single
Boiler:
Single
Boiler:
Single
Material:
Plastic
Material:
Stainless Steel
Material:
Plastic
Material:
Plastic
Display:
LCD
Display:
LED
Display:
Basic
Display:
N/A
Grind Settings:
13
Grind Settings:
5
Grind Settings:
5
Grind Settings:
5
Under $1000
Primary Rating:
4.0
$779.00
Dimensions:
17" x 9.4" x 13.8"
Product Weight:
19.84 lbs
Water Tank Capacity:
1.8 L
Hopper Capacity:
8.8 oz
Boiler:
Single
Material:
Plastic
Display:
LCD
Grind Settings:
13
Under $500
Primary Rating:
4.6
$539.00
Dimensions:
10" x 15.5" x 11.5"
Product Weight:
18 lbs
Water Tank Capacity:
1.2 L
Hopper Capacity:
250 g
Boiler:
Single
Material:
Stainless Steel
Display:
LED
Grind Settings:
5
Best Rated
Primary Rating:
4.5
N/A
Dimensions:
17.5" x 9" x 12.7"
Product Weight:
20.7 lbs
Water Tank Capacity:
1.1 L
Hopper Capacity:
124 g
Boiler:
Single
Material:
Plastic
Display:
Basic
Grind Settings:
5
Budget Pick
Primary Rating:
4.6
N/A
Dimensions:
15.2" x 16.7" x 15.3"
Product Weight:
15.67 lbs
Water Tank Capacity:
1 L
Hopper Capacity:
184 g
Boiler:
Single
Material:
Plastic
Display:
N/A
Grind Settings:
5
09/16/2023 08:47 pm GMT

Under 1000: Delonghi Magnifica XS

The DeLonghi ECAM 22110 SB Compact Automatic Cappuccino, Latte and Espresso Machine presents a super compact and stylish design: 9.4 x 13.4 x 16.9 inches, weighing only 20 pounds.

It comes with a 9 oz. capacity beans hopper with a selector for 7 different levels of –low noise- grinding to cater your preference. As all the best espresso machines, the ECAM has a bypass doser for pre-ground coffee, ideal if you need to make your morning decaf and you don’t want to mix it with your previous blend.

To its right side, you’ll find a large removable water reservoir that you can fill in site or at the sink.

The ECAM 22110 SB can prepare the best espresso, double espresso, crema coffee, latte, cappuccino and long coffees.

This machine is very fast, making a delicious espresso in less than 40 seconds, double espresso in less than 50, a long coffee in just over a minute and two long coffees in 1 min. 45 sec.

You can make up to 15 coffees before you need to clear the grounds bin. Once you turn it off the machine will start its own automatic rinsing process.


Under $500: Gaggia Brera

The Gaggia Brera Super Automatic Espresso Machine is of great benefit to anyone who ends up visiting places like Starbucks, local coffee houses or baristas, and pay $6 or $7 for a specialty cup of coffee every day (if not multiple times every single day).

If you’re one of these people, you’re already spending hundreds of dollars monthly, so investing less than $500 into a machine like this one ends up being a huge money saver –without loss of coffee quality. With this espresso maker, you’ll get just as good a cup of coffee or a shot of espresso as you’d get from a $2,000 machine.

One of the parts in which this machine really shines is in the fact that it’s so compact. It’s only 12 inches high. A lot of people have a limited counter height available in their kitchens, because of their cabinets. This Brera will be a perfect solution for them.

Another great feature for this machine that really stands out is the fact that both the water reservoir and the drop container, where your used coffee pucks are kept, are very accessible on the front. This means that once you place this machine in your kitchen counter, you won’t need to touch it or move it anymore. Other different machines have reservoirs on the side or even the back, so you need to constantly handle them. Every time you move your machine there’s a possibility of damaging it.

The downside of it being this compact is its capacity. The bean hopper on top holds a maximum of 8.8 oz. of beans, and the water reservoir holds about 40 oz. of water. If you’re someone who makes around 10 cups or shots of espresso a day, or you constantly entertain people at your household, you’d probably want to go with something that’s bigger. For the sheer fact that you won’t need to re-fill the machine as often.

On top, you’ll find a passive cup warmer. The word “passive” means there’s no direct heating element that warms it, it warms indirectly with the steam and hot water that it’s producing. If you like your cups to be heated properly before you make your coffee, this warmer might not do the trick for you. A lot of these super-automatics will have some form of a cup warmer. Some of the bigger or more expensive ones have a specific heating unit that’s made just to heat that element.

The bean hopper has a bypass doser where you can put different grinds in, which is a huge beneficial feature. Most of the best super automatics include this feature, so if you don’t have access to beans, you can add your own dose of pre-ground coffee. With the Brera you won’t even need to touch the beans hopper lid, you’ll have access to the bypass doser independently.

Every super-automatic coffee maker will have a built-in coffee grinder. That’s the “bean-to-cup” concept we saw above, which is fantastic. The grinder will grind the amount needed for one brewing process, and it’s very quiet.

There are 5 different adjustments to select how fine you want your coffee grinds. Remember: when you’re making espresso, adjust your grinder to a really fine setting. The finer the grind, the more flavor you get out of it.

The coffee dispenser on the front has an adjustable spout to accommodate different sizes of cups and mugs. The front panel has 4 different buttons that control the power, the coffee intensity, and 2 programmable settings. You can program these two last buttons to adjust the amount of coffee that you want the machine pouring for each of your cups, shots or mugs. All the settings will show on its front color LCD screen.

Overall you’re getting great value out of this super-automatic. It’s one of the best machines out there on the market, and it’s our choice for the best super automatic espresso machine under 500 dollars.

Best Rated: Jura ENA Micro 9

Jura ENA Micro 9 One Touch Automatic Coffee Machine

Recommended For: Anyone who wants a home espresso machine that's convenient, space-conscious, and capable of producing high-quality espresso, cappuccinos, and lattes.

Check Latest Price

The Jura ENA Micro 9 consistently receives high ratings from its customers. It’s the smallest, most compact One Touch machine made by Jura and is perfect for small kitchens. Or, if you simply don’t want a large machine taking up your counter space.

The compact size of the Jura ENA Micro 9 is owed to an updated brew group design which allows the machine to be 11% shorter than previous models. This lets you place the machine under low-hanging kitchen cabinets without interference.

As its name implies, the Jura ENA Micro 9 One Touch is a one-touch machine. Choose between single shot or double shot espresso, cappuccino or latte, and with a single press of the button the machine prepares your drink. A built-in conical burr grinder grinds the perfect amount of coffee for the drink. Afterward, it brews the shot of espresso after first frothing the milk with the automatic milk frother.

The milk frother is built into the group head of the machine, allowing you to keep your coffee mug in place throughout the duration of the drink making process. A tube extends from the group head and is positioned in a pitcher milk, where it’s drawn into the machine for instant heating. Despite the diminutive stature of the Jura ENA Micro 9, the milk it produces is among the hottest of any super-automatic machine available.

Jura Ena 9 Rightfront

You won’t find a huge variety of drink options or customizable drink settings on the Jura ENA Micro 9. However, overall, the machine is well-built, easy to use, and makes consistently delicious espresso drinks. It’s no wonder customers who purchase the Jura ENA Micro 9 rate it so highly!

Features:

  • Jura’s smallest one touch model
  • One touch drink making
  • Makes single shot espresso, double shot espresso, cappuccino, and latte
  • Built-in conical burr grinder
  • Built-in milk frother
  • Grinder bypass doser for using pre-ground coffee
  • Adjustable height coffee spouts
  • Holds 4 ounces of whole bean coffee
  • 37-ounce water reservoir
  • Hot water spigot
  • Rinse feature cleans the milk frother
  • Change volume of espresso shot
  • Change strength of espresso
  • Change temperature of espresso
  • Change volume of milk for cappuccino and latte
  • Auto-off function

Update: Product has been discontinued and upgraded to Jura ENA Micro 90. 

Budget Pick: Saeco XSmall Vapore

Budget Pick
Saeco Xsmall Vapore Automatic Espresso Machine
4.6

Recommended For: Espresso novices, casual drinkers, and those on a tight budget.

Check Latest Price

The Philips Saeco XSmall Vapore is one of the most affordable super automatic espresso machines on the market, without sacrificing the quality of its components or drinks.

Since the Philips Saeco XSmall Vapore has a built-in ceramic burr grinder and integrated milk frother, it qualifies as a super automatic espresso machine. However, it doesn’t have many of the “hands-off” features found on more expensive super automatic machines.

For example, instead of having an automatic milk frother, it features a more traditional Panarello steam wand. This requires you, the barista, to manually steam and monitor the milk.

While you can program the settings for single and double shot espressos including grind, dose, and volume, there are no further customization options that allow you to save the drink configuration.

Despite being limited in automatic brewing features, the Philips Saeco XSmall brews high-quality espresso on par with higher-end machines. And since the milk steaming is manual, you have complete control over how hot the milk gets. Many times super automatic machines with automatic milk frothing produce milk that is too cool for the average coffee drinker.

Phillips Saeco Rightfront

Another benefit of the Philips Saeco XSmall is its small footprint. It’s a great machine for small kitchens with limited counter space. Although it’s small in size, it still has a full-sized brew group inside, similar to those found on Saeco’s more expensive models. So if you have a tight budget but still want a quality espresso machine, the Philips Saeco XSmall Valore super automatic espresso machine is an excellent choice that produces delicious results.

Features:

  • Built-in burr grinder
  • 6.5-ounce bean hopper
  • 33-ounce water reservoir
  • Metal drip tray grate
  • Panarello steam wand
  • Removable brew group
  • Programmable single and double espresso buttons

What it’s missing:

  • No adjustable height coffee spout
  • No automatic milk frothing
  • No cup warming tray
  • No grinder bypass doser

Also Great

Refurbished: Jura Impressa C9

One of the best ways to get a great deal on a super automatic espresso machine is to find a high-quality refurbished unit. Thanks to Amazon’s Certified Refurbished program, you can find a machine that’s as good as new for a deeply discounted price. The best part is Amazon Certified Refurbished products come with a minimum 90-day limited warranty, so if the product isn’t up to snuff, you can send it back for a refund.

One of the best deals on a refurbished super automatic espresso machine is the Jura Impressa C9. It’s a one-touch machine that creates delicious espresso and milk-based drinks on your command.

The Jura Impressa C9 has all the features you’d expect a high-end super automatic espresso machine to have. This includes a built-in burr grinder, a built-in milk frother, pre-infusion brewing, and the ability to customize drink selections. There are nine different espresso drinks to choose from including the classics like espresso, ristretto espresso, cappuccino, and regular coffee (americano).

While most espresso machines have a display screen, the Jura Impressa C9 keeps things straightforward and elegant with a plain text display. No complicated menus to navigate — everything you need to know and see is spelled out in minimalist red letters and numbers.

One of the only potential negatives of the Jura Impressa C9 is the fact that the milk frother and espresso brewer are located separately on the machine. This means that you have to monitor the drink-making process, moving the cup from under the milk frother to under the espresso spout. Although this is slightly inconvenient, the cost-savings of a refurbished unit more than make up for it.

Jura Impressa C9 Frontview

On top of all the great features of the Jura Impressa C9, it has an extra feature that will help you save money on your monthly electric bill. It’s Jura’s patented Zero-Energy switch, which completely disconnects the machine from the power supply after your coffee beverages have been brewed.

The Jura Impressa C9 would make an excellent espresso machine brand new at full price. However, it is an even better deal if you can find it certified refurbished. Take advantage of the deal and use the money saved to stock up on coffee!

Features:

  • One-touch operation
  • Patented Zero-Energy switch
  • Plain text display and rotary control switch for simple drink selection and customization
  • Adjustable height coffee spout
  • Grinder bypass doser
  • 9 programmable beverages
  • Pre-infusion brewing
  • Built-in burr grinder
  • Built-in automatic milk frother
  • Thermoblock heating system
  • 15-bar water pump
  • 7.1-ounce coffee bean hopper
  • 63.6-ounce water reservoir
  • Automatic milk rinsing
  • Adjustable water hardness
  • Clearyl Blue water filter included

Made in Italy: Saeco GranBaristo

Italy is the birthplace of espresso. So it’s fitting that one of the best manufacturers of super automatic espresso machines — Philips Saeco — still makes their machines in Italy.

One of their best is the Philips Saeco GranBaristo. With a full stainless steel face and a sleek digital control panel and interface, it’s one of the more attractive machines you can put on your counter top. And thanks to a full suite of quality brewing components, the GranBaristo brews exceedingly delicious espresso and milk-based drinks.

At the core of the machine is Saeco’s new and improved VariPresso brew group. Unlike other brew groups that operate at a static level of pressure, the VariPresso adjusts the internal pressure automatically to adapt to a wide variety of espresso styles. In addition to making delicious, velvety shots of espresso, the variable pressure of the VariPresso enables the GranBaristo to brew a true cup of drip coffee — not just espresso diluted with water.

The GranBaristo’s automatic milk frother is positioned just to the left of the brew group, and the milk pours out in the same area as the espresso. This allows you to keep your cup in one place throughout the drink-making process for a hands-off experience. Simply make your drink selection and the GranBaristo takes care of the rest.

Saeco Granbaristo Rightfront

Each of the three milk-based options and three espresso-only drink options can be adjusted to meet your exact taste preferences with a broad range of customizations. You can change the grind setting to optimize coffee extraction, increase or decrease the coffee dose, and adjust the output volume of espresso. You can also customize the amount of milk used in the cappuccino and latte settings so that your drink comes out exactly how you like it.

While it’s not quite the same as traveling to Italy, the robust features of the Saeco GranBaristo give you an everyday taste of authentic espresso in the comfort of your home.

Features:

  • Removable bean hopper
  • Comes with a second bean hopper to easily change coffee varieties
  • Stainless steel front
  • Built-in conical grinder with ceramic burrs
  • Built-in automatic milk frother
  • Removable coffee spout to accommodate tall cups
  • 3 programmable milk-based drinks
  • 3 programmable espresso based drinks
  • Features a drip coffee function
  • Features a milk-only program
  • Upgraded removable VariPresso brew group
  • Bypass ground coffee doser

Dual Boiler: KitchenAid Pro Line

The KitchenAid Pro Line Super Automatic Espresso Maker is a wonderful machine in the sub-$1000 price range, full-featured, capable, and well loved by its user base. The machine features dual independent boilers, allowing you to switch from brewing to frothing in the blink of an eye. The machine also features a separate hot water dispenser, so that in addition to making the perfect cup of coffee, you can make other hot drinks (tea, hot chocolate, etc.).

The frothing arm swivels both horizontally and vertically, which means you can move it out of the way as needed, adding to the convenience of the unit’s design. The KitchenAid also features a frothing pitcher, which allows you to express your artistic flair and decorate your coffee creations if you wish to. All that, plus extras like the cup warmer and rail that holds 4-6 espresso cups to pre-warm them makes the KitchenAid a fantastic addition to any home.

The boilers heat quickly, but they’re not truly quick-heat. It can take up to six minutes for them to reach temperature. That’s not a long time to wait for the perfect cup of coffee, but there are machines that offer faster water heating on the market. This fact is seldom a deal breaker but is definitely worth mentioning.

Stylishly designed, this espresso machine will fit into and make a fine addition to any home. Perfect for everyday use or for small, intimate gatherings. If you and your family are coffee fanatics, you could do far worse than KitchenAid’s outstanding offering. See details of the brewing process on the video below.

One-Touch: Jura Impressa S9

Jura’s low-end offering is simply exquisite. Fully programmable, the Jura Impressa S9 Espresso Machine will have you making world-class cappuccino and latte macchiato (two fairly advanced coffee drinks that beginners can mess up rather easily) with the touch of a single button. The best part? You don’t even have to move the cup! That’s right, since the machine is “bean to brew,” no matter what kind of coffee creation you want to make, you simply put the cup under the outlet port, press the button for your desired selection, and presto! Instant coffee perfection.

This is the kind of machine that a complete coffee neophyte can use to make people think he (or she) is a professional barista, or was so in a former life. It’s easy to program, and the menu system comes complete with graphical hints and clues so you won’t accidentally wind up making the wrong kind of drink for yourself or your guests.

Not only is programming simple, and operation as easy as pushing a button for the desired drink, but keeping the Impressa S9 clean is a snap too. The coffee maker comes with built-in, cleaning and descaling programs to keep it pristine and ready for use at a moment’s notice.

Its sleek, attractive design makes it look a bit intimidating, but don’t let its appearance fool you, this is one of the most user-friendly automatic coffee makers on the market today, and its handsome design will fit into most any kitchen. A true work of art, capable of making a staggering variety of perfect coffee drinks.

Professional: Jura Impressa XJ9

Jura makes a complete line of automatic espresso machines to fit every budget. The Impressa XJ9 Super-Automatic Espresso Maker sits at the top of the lineup from this company and is a world-class machine by any reckoning. There’s a lot to like here, but let’s start with the basics.

First of all, the XJ9 has a 500g bean container, which gives you the ability to load the machine before a dinner party and make all the coffee you like. That, coupled with its impressive 4-liter water tank will keep you from having to refill the machine all evening. Bear in mind that not everyone will want (or need) that kind of capacity, so it may be the case that the XJ9 is actually too much coffee machine for some users. If you’re a power drinker, though, or if you regularly have coffee-loving guests over, then its expansive capacity will be one of the things you like best about this model.

Like all the units in the Jura line up, it is fully programmable and features one-touch operation. The menu is graphically oriented, with cues to keep you informed as to what drink you’re currently whipping up, and what stage the unit is in, in that drink’s creation. It also comes with easy-clean features, including de-scaling, and its attractive design and styling make it a classy addition to any home kitchen. Truly a wonder.

Quality of the Coffee Beans

The quality of the beans you use will also determine the lifespan of your coffee machine. Over-roasted beans will tend to have an excess of oils that will, in the long term, clog and jam some internal mechanisms. They will also produce unwanted residue in your bean hopper, that with time will turn into a super-glue. There’s some people who will prefer over-roasted beans, since they produce a stronger taste and a thicker crema, but it comes with a cost if you’re using your own machine.

Besides big retailers, where you will have a great variety of options, it’s a good idea to get your fresh beans from your favorite café (usually the one with the biggest line at the front). Buy small bags, and buy them more frequently, they’ll stay fresher that way. Look for “roasted on” dates, not “use by” dates. Coffee will be at its best from around the 4th to the 18th or the 20th day. Keep your beans sealed and stored in a cold, dry place; don’t store them in the fridge, it’s a moist environment, not great for coffee.

Best Beans for Super Automatic Espresso Machines

KICKING HORSE’S CLIFF HANGER ESPRESSO BEANS

One of the most important factors in the resulting taste of your espresso will be, without a doubt, the type and quality of the coffee beans you are using.

Buying the best coffee maker won’t assure great taste or texture… what it will do is give you the most out of what you put into it. Think of an analogy with a car. Doesn’t matter if you have a Ferrari or a Lambo, if you use poor quality fuel you’ll get a poor performance.

You should definitely make sure that the beans you put into your super-automatic are just as high a quality as you want your shot of espresso to be. When it comes to the best coffee beans for super automatic espresso machines there are a few choices. Amazon carry a vast selection of them.

A good choice from them would be the Kicking Horse’s Cliff Hanger Espresso Beans. You can buy a 2.2 pound bag of premium quality coffee beans for under $27. It also comes in different kinds and qualities, including a super high-quality premium blend available for closer to $30. You want to make sure that you put only the best coffee beans in your machine or it’s a waste.


What is the Best Super Automatic Espresso Machine?

When you decide to get your hands on a super automatic espresso machine make sure to consider what you want the machine for. The best super automatic espresso machine for office spaces might not be the best one for you to have at home. Weigh the good and the bad against each option and you’re sure to make the right decision.

We hope we have provided a useful guide for you to make a good, informed, decision on which is the best super automatic espresso machine for your needs. We’re sure you’ll soon be enjoying one of the greatest cups of espresso you’ll ever have. At least, until you make your next shot. 


References & Resources:

De’LonghiGaggiaSaecoBrevilleNespressoKicking Horse | KitchenAid | Jura | Energy Star

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