Saeco Xelsis SM7684 Espresso Machine Review 2024

Nothing gets the day rolling like that first tantalizing sip of a perfectly brewed cup of Joe. Now to achieve that level of perfection consistently is the challenge we haven’t been able to master without a professional barista…until now.

The Xelsis Espresso Machine SM 7684 is all about personal customization, with an impressive drink menu and adjustable settings to get it just right in the comfort of home.

We break it down with a highly detailed Saeco Xelsis review, so you can decide if this machine is right for you.

Saeco Xelsis Espresso Machine Overview

Saeco’s coffee machine Xelsis SM7684 lives up to the Italian brand’s reputation for innovation and luxury, providing everything you need to savor a truly superior tasting coffee without having to run to the local cafe.

Saeco Xelsis reviews agree that the standout feature is the touchscreen display located on the front of the machine and aptly named the Coffee Equalizer. Choose from 15 different types of coffee drinks with the swipe of a finger, and customize every detail, from the temperature of the milk to the caffeine strength.

Saeco Xelsis dimensions are 19.3 x 11.2 x 15.5 inches. In other words, it’s a big machine. If you live in a tiny apartment or your kitchen is lacking counter space, this might b e too bulky for you.

Other Philips Saeco Xelsis Specifications to Consider

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• The 2-liter water tank is located at the front of the machine; just pull it out for refills. This makes it easier if you have a low ceiling or wall-mounted cabinets.
• The bean hopper, though located on the top, features a wide opening to pour the beans without spilling them all over the place. It holds up to 12 oz of coffee beans.
• The adjustable coffee and milk dispensing spout have a flexible milk tube that connects an internal cappuccinatore to a milk container. This makes it easy to steam or froth milk.

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• A drip tray is situated at the bottom to catch splashes, alerting you with a built-in sensor when the tray is nearing full capacity.
• Along the right side of the machine, you’ll find the waste container and a service door leading to the brew group for manual cleaning.

Note: There is a separate container for pre-ground beans, but some users have reported a malfunction where the machine will cancel out the brew and dump the pre-ground coffee, resulting in total waste.

Saeco Xelsis Titanium Vs. Stainless Steel

If materials are a priority, Saeco Xelsis Philips offers 2 models:

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• Saeco Xelsis Automatic Espresso Machine Stainless Steel Metal SM7685/04
• Saeco Xelsis Automatic Espresso Machine Titanium Metal SM7684/04

As far as pricing, features, and performance go, both are identical. The difference is in the materials used for the designs. While the sm7685 offers a complete stainless steel finish, the sm7684 is plastic with a titanium front.

Manufacturers prefer both materials for durability and strength, but steel is heavier than titanium. Therefore, the sm7685 weighs 40.3 lbs while the sm7684 weighs 25.8 lbs.

This vast difference in weight can be a game-changer for some depending on kitchen size or the number of stairs you have to trudge up in your apartment building while carrying your coffee maker.

Aesthetics are also at play whether you prefer the look of a sleek, all-metal finish or a black plastic body with neat titanium trim.

The Saeco Xelsis Titanium SM7684/04 and the stainless Steel SM7685/04 are offered at the same price on the Philips website, but the Saeco Xelsis titanium reviews have placed the SM7684 as the best selling of the two.

Keeping up so far? This is only the beginning of our Saeco Xelsis SM7684 espresso machine review. Let’s take a look at the features that set it apart from other superautomatics.

Stand Out Features of the Xelsis Espresso Machine

If you love coffee but are too busy to make it at home, then the Xelsis SM7684 Espresso Machine was designed to give you that perfect cup with very little effort.

Saeco Xelsis Espresso Machine Touchscreen Display: Coffee Equalizer

The touch screen is a high-tech piece of equipment that sets this Xelsis espresso machine above the rest and makes the price worth it. It’s a simple setup to navigate, highly responsive, and lets you choose from 15 different types of coffee drinks.

The beauty is that you only have to follow prompts on a screen instead of dealing with a bunch of confusing buttons.

Brew 15 Different Coffee Drinks

As mentioned above, you get a full-fledged menu of coffee drinks to choose from- all at the push of a button. This is also one of the defining features of the SM7684, and of course, you can customize any of the drinks to your liking.

The variety is there, but what about the quality? The prowess of the Xelsis Saeco is one of the most raved-about features in the reviews. Making drinks with this coffee machine is straightforward; the chosen settings are precise, and the taste is superior.

Here is a list of all 15 coffee drinks you can make, along with heating options for milk and hot water:

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• Coffee
• Ristretto
• Espresso
• Espresso Intenso
• Espresso Lungo
• Caffe Crema
• Espresso Macchiato
• Cappuccino
• Latte Macchiato

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• Flat White
• Caffe Americano
• Caffe Latte
• Espresso Doppio
• Cafe au lait
• Cafe Cortado
• Milk Froth
• Warm Milk
• Hot Water

6 Saved Personal Profiles

A huge advantage of this coffee maker is the flexibility with customization. Now every coffee lover in the family can have it their way with the push of a button. You can adjust the strength of your coffee, the temperature, the amount of milk froth, and more.

The Coffee Equalizer will create a personal profile for up to 6 people, so once you nail your formula, you can save it. That means you get the same delicious brew every single morning without having to guess anything.

This Xelsis Espresso Machine Brews 2 Drinks at a Time With the Latteduo Feature.

Yep, you can brew not one but two coffee drinks at the same time. That includes cappuccinos and macchiatos.

Patented Ceramic Grinder

This Saeco Xelsis superautomatic espresso machine is all about quality, choosing the finest materials and parts to create a superior taste. The ceramic grinder ensures a proper grind yet is gentle enough to not overheat and burn the coffee beans.

There are 12 settings to adjust the intensity, so you get to customize your grind once again. The high-performance blades promise to stay in pristine condition for up to 8 years, extracting only the most aromatic flavors.

One important factor to note is that, like many other super automatics, the Xelsis coffee grinder can be finicky when it comes to beans. If the beans are too oily, like with a dark roast, then the grinder might clog.

This can be a deal-breaker for some who expect to use the beans of their choosing for the colossal price of the machine.

AquaClean Water Filter

The Xelsis water system centers on purification. Saeco engineers promise 625 cups of filtered water and 5000 cups before descaling.

The purification system takes the water on a longer path through the machine, resulting in deeper purification to improve the overall quality and taste of the coffee.

HygieSteam Automatic Steam Clean

If you don’t like time-consuming clean-up, then the good news is that Philips Saeco Xelsis maintenance is low-key, thanks to the HygieSteam self-cleaning system.

We all know what a pain it is to clean milk residue, so Saeco solved this problem with an automatic steamer that targets the entire milk circuit, including the spout and tubes.

This is a major upgrade from older Saeco Xelsis superautomatics, as this model rinses itself before it starts up and shuts down. As soon as one milk coffee is made, it steams the entire circuit and is ready for the next drink order.

Some Saeco Xelsis machine reviews have noted that the HygieSteam feature is straightforward to use, and there is an easy-to-follow user manual for periodic manual cleaning.

Xelsis Coffee Maker Setup and Operation

This is without a doubt a high-tech espresso machine, but using it is as smooth as the cappuccino it produces. Simply follow the prompts on the display screen.

For fun, you can head over to the Philips Saeco Xelsis coffee machine website, where a mock Coffee Equalizer display screen is available for you to play around with. It is identical to the real thing, letting you practice using the different settings, drink options, and profile preferences.

When you’re ready to mix your magic brew on the real Saeco Xelsis automatic espresso machine, here’s how to do it:

1. Getting Started

Before you start punching buttons and saving preferences, your brand new Xelsis will go through an adjustment period to reach peak performance. It’s recommended to brew at least 5 cups of coffee before saving your profile so that the machine can adjust properly.

Similarly, with the grinder, it’s recommended to wait until the 100-150 cup mark to adjust the grinder knob to your desired level.

Did I mention that you shouldn’t turn that knob more than once at a time, AND you have to make a cup of coffee at each setting? This can be tedious for some, but on the flip side- once you find the right level, then it’s perfect coffee from here on out.

2. Place Your Cup Under the Adjustable Coffee and Milk Spout

You can use a traditional smaller-sized espresso cup or a mug, as long as it isn’t larger than 5.6 inches high. Remember, you can brew 2 coffee drinks at once!

3. Make Your Selection on the Display Screen

Tap “Drinks” to choose from 15 different coffee drinks, or tap “Profiles” if you already have your favorite coffee down pat.

4. Load up the bean hopper and hit the START button

This coffee machine warms up quickly, which is much appreciated if you know the feeling of waiting on a kettle to boil for a French press.

Another plus is that it’s quiet, which is great news if you finally got that newborn down after a sleepless night, and coffee is your savior.

In minutes, you’re kicking back with a delectable professional-grade coffee right in the comfort of your own home. Hear that burst of steam? Oh, that’s just the Philips Saeco Xelsis coffee machine taking care of the clean-up all by itself- no help necessary.

Saeco Xelsis SM7684 Espresso Machine Accessories

This luxurious super-automatic comes with all of the accessories you need to start brewing right away. That’s a great perk at no extra cost to you, considering the price. Here is what’s included in the box:

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• Saeco Xelsis milk carafe with lid and milk tube
• Cleaning brush
• Grease tube

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• Water hardness test strip
• AquaClean filter to reduce mineral build-up

Saeco Xelsis Coffee Machine Pros vs. Cons (checklist/table)

PROS

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• Can make 15 coffee drinks
• Ability to customize settings
• Can save up to 6 profiles
• Ceramic grinder with 12 adjustment settings
• HygieSteam automatic cleaning system
• AquaClean water purification
• Easy-to-use touchscreen display

CONS

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• Saeco Xelsis price is high
• Oily bean varieties, like dark roast, can clog the grinder
• Pre-ground beans can potentially be canceled and dumped
• Reports of lukewarm drinks; heating might not meet some consumers expectations
• The large, heavy machine may not be practical for small kitchens

The Saeco Xelsis superautomatic machine’s price tag is steep. But if budget is not an issue and you crave convenience, this allows you to make high-quality coffee drinks at home with little effort.

The SM7684 Espresso Machine boasts an array of high-tech features that are straightforward to use and consistent. Customization is all yours, with adjustable settings and the ability to save 6 personal profiles.

The self-cleaning HygieSteam and AquaClean features not only make your life easier but ensure sanitation and water purification is top-notch. Everything can be controlled from the touchscreen Coffee Equalizer, which makes for a pleasant, easy experience.

Keep in mind that you need to be careful regarding the type of coffee you use. Pre-ground coffee might be canceled out by the machine and dumped, while oily beans might clog the grinder. It’s not fun to have to be picky with your beans after paying such a lofty price for the machine, which can be a drawback for some.

Now, if you live in a tiny apartment or your kitchen lacks counter space, know that this is a large, heavy machine that might be too cumbersome, especially if you have to lug it up a few flights of stairs.

Conclusion of Our Saeco Xelsis Review

If you are a big coffee drinker who puts a lot of thought into your brew but doesn’t have the time to make it manually or run to a cafe, the Xelsis could give you a great-tasting cup without sacrificing convenience – as long as you have the counter space for it.

Families with multiple coffee drinkers will probably love the Xelsis’ smart features.  Each member can save their personal profiles and be their own barista, brewing their favorite drinks in no time and not having to worry about the cleanup.

To conclude this Saeco Xelsis review, this high-end coffee maker is for those who appreciate coffee and value for money. Though the price is high, you’re getting the innovation, convenience, and quality that Saeco is well-known for. Plus, think of all the money you’ll save on those daily latte runs- the sm7684 will pay for itself in the long run.

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Official Manufacturer Support

• Philips, Official Brand Website
• Saeco Xelsis Espresso Machine User Manual
• Research Finds Increasing Acceptance For Automatic Coffee Machines, Foodservice Equipment & Supplies
• Benefits of Espresso Machines, Industry Today
• What You Need to Know Before You Buy an Espresso Machine, Perfect Daily Grind