Saeco PicoBaristo Super-Automatic Espresso Machine Review 2024

Superautomatics have a reputation for being expensive. They come with numerous features that can be over the top and make the learning curve incredibly steep.

But now that’s changing…

Saeco, one of the most revered brands in the industry, offers a no-frills espresso machine that delivers a delectable cup of espresso with the same finesse and convenience as the top models. We give you an in-depth look at our Saeco PicoBaristo review!

Saeco PicoBaristo HD8927 Superautomatic Espresso Machine Overview

It’s hard not to get excited when Saeco Philips unveils a stellar coffee machine, and with the PicaBaristo, we’re on the edge of our seats.

Slim, simple, yet bursting with variety– it’s the perfect little sidekick that delivers quality in great quantities. From the robust specialty drink menu to the AquaClean filtration system that makes cleaning a hundred times easier, there’s a lot to love about this device.

Saeco went functional, and you’ll see that with the comfortable mid-range price of this espresso maker. But they also gave users just a hint of luxury, so they feel like they never left their favorite cafe.

This is a typical superautomatic. All you have to do is push a button on the LCD screen, and it does the dirty work for you- including the cleaning.

At the same time, there are enough customization options to let you adjust your drink preferences, and in minutes you have an espresso drink dialed in just the way you like it.

The Saeco PicoBaristo dimensions are 20.6” x 19.5” x 12.7”, and it weighs 15.87 pounds. The milk carafe latches onto the front of the machine, so there are no protruding parts. The result is a slim, lightweight machine that fits into tiny corners.

That’s glorious news for small apartment owners, who often dream of owning a superautomatic, but don’t have the counter space to house one.

The lower-priced model is made up of black plastic parts, which some Saeco PicoBaristo reviews have claimed wear or break rather quickly. If you’re worried about that, you can pay a bit more and get the durable stainless steel model.

One of the standout features is that it can make 11 coffee drinks, which is rare to see with a mid-range superautomatic as compact as the PicoBaristo.

This menu includes:

Alright, now let’s get to the good stuff- the features! Let’s see what this hot tamale can do.

Saeco Pico Baristo Espresso Machine HD8927 Features

What we love most about the PicoBaristo is that Saeco pays attention to the little details that make the biggest difference in the overall coffee experience.

They turned away from the fancy stuff and gave users exactly what they craved- a fast process, plenty of customization, and a delicious cup of espresso.

Water Tank

The water tank is more than just well… a tank that holds water. It needs to be the proper size so that you’re not constantly refilling it. It also needs to be easy to access for quick maintenance.

The Saeco PicoBaristo Carafe super-automatic espresso machine stainless – hd8927 has got you covered, with an above-average 60-oz water reservoir that is situated on the side of the machine with top-loading access. You just flip the lid and pour, or you can detach the tank for cleaning/refilling.

Since the tank holds 60 oz of water, this is ideal for personal use or a small household. Larger crowds, like an office, might need something over 64-oz to keep refills from becoming a chore.

Bean Hopper & Bypass Chute

The 9.3-oz capacity bean hopper on top of the PicoBaristo espresso machine is large, so you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite roasted beans for a hot minute before it’s time for a refill.

There’s also a bypass chute if you prefer pre-ground coffee, but some PicoBaristo reviews have mentioned that the coffee quality isn’t that great compared to using beans.

We think that if you’re going for a superautomatic, you’d as well take advantage of the integrated grinder instead of the chute. That’s an expensive addition that you usually have to buy separately with a semi-automatic!

Ceramic Burr Grinder

The coffee grinder is the king of the espresso machine. If you go for a cheap grinder, you can expect subpar coffee. If you go for a stainless steel variety, it might overheat and burn your beans resulting in… you guessed it- subpar coffee.

Now, a ceramic burr grinder? This little beauty won’t let you down. You get a full-bodied, aromatic cup of espresso every morning, without fail.

Saeco did right by their fans and included a ceramic burr grinder with the PicoBarista that promises at least 20,000 cups of perfect coffee.

Better yet, there are ten grind settings to choose your preferred fineness. This is more than what some higher-priced models offer, so you’re getting more bang for your buck there.

Automatic Milk Frothing System

Right off the bat, we’ll say that if you love making latte art, then look away. The PicoBaristo is a one-touch system.

It comes with its own milk container that can be stored in the fridge when not in use, and if you want tea, then you can change out the Saeco PicoBaristo carafe for an attachable black water spout.

Just be careful that everything is plugged in before hitting the start button, or else hot water will spray everywhere!

One high-tech feature that Philips included is their HygieSteam system, which automatically shoots a jet of hot steam throughout the milk frothing system after each use. This prevents milk residue from crusting up inside the tubes, and it’s one less thing you have to do.

Overall, we found the milk frother to be user-friendly, and it produces a nice, rich crema for lattes and cappuccinos.

PicoBaristo Saeco Brew Capabilities

The Pico Baristo works with your weekday mornings to ensure you get your coffee fast with the Quick Heat Boiler system.

Thanks to an aluminum and stainless steel design, it takes the PicoBaristo hd8927 around 2.5 minutes to warm up.

Use the LCD screen to customize your drink, with the ability to choose between 5 aroma strengths and 3 different temperatures. Once you find the setting combination you love, you can save it for next time by selecting the Memo function.

All you have to do is roll out of bed, fire up the machine, and in minutes you’ve got your recipe pouring out into your favorite mug.

Saeco PicoBaristo hd8927 reviews state that the 12-button display is easy to use and doesn’t overwhelm you with functions. We found the user manual to be well-written, and Saeco even provides a single-page quick-start readout to make brewing a piece of cake.

 

Philips Saeco HD8927 Accessories

Along with your PicoBaristo machine, you get a handful of cleaning supplies to make maintenance easy, plus a measuring scoop for your pre-ground coffee.

Warranty

Saeco offers a 12-month warranty on their household products, which includes the PicoBaristo 8927.

PicoBaristo vs. PicoBaristo Deluxe

You might’ve stumbled across the Saeco Pico Baristo Deluxe and wondered how this model differs from the Saeco PicoBaristo super-automatic espresso machine hd8927.

It offers the same slim and compact design with a front-loading milk carafe that can be detached and stored in the fridge.

The PicoBaristo Deluxe sm5570 ups the variety by offering a stunning number of customization options, resulting in a well-rounded superautomatic without the lofty price tag.

The menu has 12 coffee drink specialties, which isn’t much different from the hd8927’s menu with 11 drinks.

Both models have the same automatic frothing system and ceramic burr grinder, although the Saeco PicoBaristo Deluxe has 12 grind settings to choose from. If you love to perfect your grind, you can do it with the deluxe!

One more major difference is that the Pico Baristo Deluxe has four user profiles to save multiple drink preferences and settings.

If you have a family of coffee drinkers and you’re the barista who has to remember every drink, then the user profiles might be a big convenience for you.

Other than that, you get the same high-performance machine that is reliable and easy to use, so you may enjoy the hd8927 just as much if you don’t care about multiple profiles.

Philips Saeco PicoBaristo Setup & Operation

The Saeco PicoBaristo super automatic espresso machine was designed to be user-friendly, thanks to its one-touch interface and milk frother. You have the option to push a button and make coffee or customize your drink as you see fit.

Start by placing it on a flat surface and plugging it in. There is a power button that fully shuts down the machine located on the back panel.

There is an ON button on the interface that will wake the PicaBistro out of sleep mode after it’s been sitting idle- a nice energy-saving feature.

If it’s your first time using the Saeco 8927, there are a few extra steps to take before brewing, such as using the RINSE function to flush the system with water. The user manual is easy to read and will take you through the initial process step-by-step.

Now, it’s time to brew!

After choosing your preferences, you can load up the bean hopper, set your grind, and that’s it. The Pico Baristo coffee machine will take care of the rest.

Unfortunately, Saeco didn’t include a cup warming tray in the design. This is a small detail, but in the espresso world, it plays a huge role in maintaining an ideal drink temperature.

When the espresso drips into a warm cup, you get a nice hot drink. If the cup is cold, the temperature of the espresso drastically decreases.

Philips PicoBaristo Cleaning Process

With their patented AquaClean water filter, Saeco promises that you won’t need to descale your Saeco PicoBaristo carafe superautomatic espresso machine for up to 5000 cups. Best of all, you don’t have to think- the LCD interface will let you know when it’s time to descale.

With the arduous task of descaling out of the way, you can focus on the removable parts that can be cleaned regularly with a quick rinse under the faucet. This includes the water tank, drip tray, and grounds drawer. Even the brew head is removable for effortless cleaning.

One tiny inconvenience is that you should empty the drip tray everyday, but you have to remove other parts to reach it. It’s an annoying design flaw but not a dealbreaker.

We already told you about the HygieSteam technology that cleans the milk frothing system for you. The PicoBaristo Philips will even use common courtesy and ask if you want to initiate cleaning after each use. You can choose, or it will automatically do it after 10 seconds.

Saeco Pico Baristo Coffee Machine Pros vs. Cons

As you can see, the cons are few and far between. The Philips Saeco Pico Baristo espresso machine is a top-notch superautomatic for a moderate price.

Saeco focused on the most important details to ensure the best quality. You get it with the ceramic burr grinder, user-friendly interface, and customization options.

If you want convenience above all, this is also where the Saeco Philips Picobaristo prevails. The milk frothing system is automatic. All you have to do is push a button to get a rich crema. Don’t expect latte art, though; this system wasn’t designed for microfoam.

The innovation that Saeco is known for is evident in the AquaClean filter and the HygieSteam milk froth cleaning system. These are all features that are cleverly implemented and make your life easier.

We recommend the Philips Saeco Pico Barista for…

We don’t recommend the Saeco PicoBaristo Philips for…

Saeco PicoBaristo Review Conclusion

You can’t go wrong with Saeco. They are well-respected in the industry for their innovative coffee technology, which is on display with the PicoBaristo HD8927 when you choose from the diverse drink menu or push a single button to clean the machine.

To conclude this Saeco PicoBaristo review, we love that they veered away from the fancy luxury stuff and stuck to functional, making this model incredibly easy to learn. You get all of the most sought-after espresso machine features on the market but at an affordable price.

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Official Manufacturer Support

References & Resources:

• Philips, Official Brand Website
• Saeco PicoBaristo HD8927 User Manual
• Understanding Different Types of Espresso Machine, Perfect Daily Grind.
• Coffeemaker, Wikipedia.
• Non-Pump vs Pump Espresso Machines-Differences and Specifications, Kitchen Kapers.