For British coffee lovers seeking café-quality drinks at home without the exorbitant price tag, a new contender has entered the kitchen. Cuisinart has launched its Fully Automatic Coffee Machine, a bean-to-cup marvel that promises top-tier features for a surprisingly accessible £399.99.
First Impressions: Compact and Clever Design
Upon unboxing, the machine immediately stands out for its refreshingly compact footprint, a boon for space-conscious UK households. The design is smart and uncluttered, with just a handful of small buttons on the top and all other components neatly integrated. At the rear sits a 1.5-litre water tank that is simple to detach and refill.
The front panel hosts a pair of coffee nozzles, a milk-frothing spout, and a removable drip tray. A particularly handy feature is the manually adjustable spout, which glides up and down to accommodate everything from a small espresso cup to a tall travel mug, effectively eliminating splashing. Spent coffee grounds are tidily collected behind a discreet side flap, maintaining the machine's sleek appearance.
Brewing Simplicity and Versatile Performance
Operation is straightforward. After a brief initial descaling cycle, you simply fill the bean hopper and select your drink from the preset options. The machine offers a wide range of choices, including Espresso, Double Espresso, Americano, and even Cold Brew. For milk-based favourites like lattes and cappuccinos, the integrated frother takes over, guided by the same simple presets.
There is a slight learning curve, given the minimal button array and lack of a display. However, the provided instruction manual is commendably clear. Mastering the presets is key, especially for brewing a large mug without accidentally creating a triple-shot caffeine overload. Once configured, the customisable favourite button makes preparing your regular drink a one-touch affair.
Practical Considerations for Daily Use
While the machine excels in many areas, there are a few practical points to note. The bean hopper, with a 150g capacity, might require frequent refills for heavy coffee drinkers or households brewing at a stronger strength setting. This is a minor inconvenience, however, as topping it up is an easy task.
Overall, the Cuisinart Fully Automatic Coffee Machine is a compelling package. It successfully packs features typically found on much more expensive models into a compact and user-friendly design. It produces genuinely excellent coffee, making it a machine that is easy to become fond of for any aspiring home barista.
