Beko Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine Review: Espresso on a Budget

Worth When Reviewed

Not out there within the US

With a one-touch LED management panel, 19 bar stress, a pre-brewing system, a steam wand and two espresso power ranges, the Beko bean-to-cup espresso machine packs in so much for its worth level.

However does it ship? We drank lots of espresso to search out out.     

Design and construct

• 1.5 litre detachable water tank
• Adjustable spout
• 125g bean hopper capability

The Beko bean-to-cup is just about an oblong black field with a stainless-steel façade. At 38cm excessive, it’s not as tall as different bean-to-cups and, at 23.6cm large and 43.6cm deep, its footprint is smaller than comparable machines. However it’s nonetheless a major presence in your worktop.

A method that Beko has saved prices down is obvious at a look: its design is considerably primary. This isn’t a espresso machine that makes an announcement in your kitchen. It’s purposeful, sensible and missing in model prospers. Nonetheless, in opposition to the fitting backdrop, it has a sure minimalist enchantment.

The 1.5-litre water tank is on the again. You may take away it to fill from the faucet and the lid attaches with a swing hinge, so there’s no likelihood you’ll lose it or ship it skating throughout your countertop by chance.

The bean hopper is on the high of the machine, above the grinder, as you’d anticipate. It has a snug-fitting, smoky-plastic, pull-off lid, and can take 125g of beans, with the choice to decide on between 5 completely different grinder settings. As is frequent with bean to cup machines, you may solely flip the dial to change the grinding settings whereas the grinder is definitely working.

The façade of the machine hosts the spout, the steam wand, and the detachable drip tray. The spout is adjustable up and down; should you take away the drip tray, you’ve got the peak to dispense right into a latte glass, which is a characteristic you don’t get with another machines.

The steam wand swings outwards to the fitting, and there’s the clearance to make use of a steel jug beneath. As for the drip tray, it has a steel grid, a plastic base, and pulls out to disclose the espresso grinds drawer behind.    

It’s not too heavy a machine – about 7.5kg – however it’s a little unwieldy to unpack. Within the field are three descaler packets, a pin wheel, a brush and a fabric, alongside the guide. The guide is somewhat sparse, however extra about that later.

The aspect of the machine hosts the hatch for the filter, which is simple to entry. 

Management panel

• LED touchscreen
• Two espresso strengths
• Scorching water dispense

You management the machine utilizing an LED touchscreen on high. The facility button is on the left, adopted by 4 illuminated icons: steam, sizzling water (which dispenses by way of steam wand), robust espresso and gentle espresso.

Different icons will illuminate to warn you when it is advisable refill the water tank, the espresso bean hopper, empty the grinds drawer or descale.  

Alex Greenwood / Foundry

Making espresso

• Auto-rinse characteristic
• Pre-brewing system
• 19 bar stress

On first use, after filling the water tank, it is advisable clear the machine by urgent the recent water button. That is quite simple and uncomplicated for a machine of this sort. There’s no particular processes or tablets it is advisable use to flush out the pipes.

Clearly, it is advisable fill the bean hopper. The guide doesn’t let you know the amount of beans it could maintain, so it’s important to gauge roughly what number of it should take so the lid will match again on correctly.

When switched on, the machine will auto-rinse into the drip tray. We discovered this implies it is advisable empty the drip tray very often or depart a vessel below the spout, as it should rinse itself out periodically should you depart it on.

You then put your cup beneath the spout and select both robust or gentle espresso by urgent and holding the button to set the quantity of espresso you need. When the machine has distributed the suitable quantity, from 25ml to 250ml, you launch the button, it should beep twice, and thus set the quantity for subsequent time. This additionally works for the recent water button.

The again of the spout will gentle up whereas it’s making espresso, and the grinds find yourself within the grind drawer. 

And that 19 bar stress actually delivers. The espresso is nice. It smells and tastes good, with a wealthy Guinness color and an honest crema. It’s espresso store high quality.

Though its operation appears easy, issues can come up if somebody tries to make use of the machine with out understanding precisely what they’re doing. It is vitally straightforward to press a few buttons and discover that you simply’ve reset the portions. In contrast to pricier machines, which can point out the set espresso power that’s been set, Beko’s machine doesn’t present any such suggestions.

Nor will you get lots of assist from the guide. Extra detailed recommendation would have been reassuring at this level.

After a mistake alongside these traces, we had points attempting to reset the memorised quantity and have been by no means certain if it had been put proper. In our expertise, should you attempt to appropriate an error, you can also make it worse. Given the equipment’s worth level, it wouldn’t be an enormous shock to search out that its inside mechanism is a bit delicate.

Alex Greenwood / Foundry

Utilizing the steam wand

• Nice froth
• No dial
• Quick heat-up time

To make a latte or cappuccino, first make your espresso, then press the steam button with the wand pointing to the drip tray. The residual water within the wand will drain whereas the crimson gentle flashes. When the crimson gentle stops, knock the wand sideways and place your milk container beneath to steam your milk. The additional heating course of to provide the steam doesn’t take lengthy.

The steamed milk is splendidly frothy and light-weight.  

Our assumption was that you simply press the steam button once more to cease it however as soon as once more, we needed to determine it out with trial and error. The guide doesn’t present step-by-step directions on working the machine on a day-to-day foundation after it’s arrange.

Totally different modes

The Beko has three completely different modes: default, eco (vitality saving) and pace (sooner brewing).

You modify the modes by urgent the facility button for 5 seconds in standby mode. Then the recent water, robust espresso and gentle espresso buttons will flash. You then press the recent water button for the eco mode, robust espresso for pace mode, and gentle espresso for the default setting. Two beeps will sound and set the mode.

Worth and availability

There are three variations of Beko’s bean-to-cup machine within the vary. All are significantly decrease in worth – by a whole lot of kilos – than different out there bean-to-cup machines. You may browse the complete vary on the Beko website. Essentially the most reasonably priced mannequin (£199) doesn’t have a steam wand. The mid-range mannequin that we examined does (£224) and eventually, there’s a bean-to-cup with an built-in milk cup (£249). There’s not a lot worth benefit from shopping for at any particular retailer, however ensure you’re getting the mannequin you need.

There’s even a extra environmentally pleasant choice, the BioCoffee mannequin, the place upcycled espresso grounds have been used to make elements of the drip tray and product housing. It’s out there on the time of writing from Currys for £189. 

Verdict

The Beko bean-to-cup is exceptionally priced, makes nice espresso and steams milk nicely. For that, we have now given it a powerful rating. Nonetheless, and maybe inevitably, there are compromises to be made due to its worth level. It may be complicated to make use of and maybe temperamental. We’d advocate cautious remedy should you purchase one.