Can bean-to-cup machine make quality espresso/cappuccino?

Can bean-to-cup machine make quality espresso/cappuccino? - Crop barista whipping milk in stainless steel cup

I want to buy myself a coffee machine so I can get nice and tasty coffee throughout the day. Basically my goals are

  • Don't really want to invest half the day in front of my machine, experimenting with all sort of weirdness
  • Do want excellent and nice looking coffee.
  • Do want to have milk foam.
  • Don't want to go over 500 euros.

I'm OK with a cup of coffee taking like 15 minutes of preparation, but not much more.

I heard from people that a bean-to-cup machine makes not a real cappuccino or espresso, because that can only be done by a portafilter machine, where you have to grind the beans yourself and prepare for much longer. Is that correct, or is that only fanboy sayings?


EDIT: By "coffee", I mean espresso and cappuccino.



Best Answer

Your best bet is to buy an inexpensive Nespresso type machine. I've been looking for a good coffee machine and I bought a professional machine for nearly 900€. The other option would have been an Nespresso for about 100€. Buy one with a milk foamer. A little bit more expensive, but within your range. Why do I recommend this type of machine? Capsules! All your cups come out equal. No hassle. A little bit more expensive than grinding your own coffee.

The next best bet is consumer grade expresso machine from Krups (for instance), but then you have to grind your own coffee.




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Can bean-to-cup machine make quality espresso/cappuccino? - Side view of crop unrecognizable cafe worker pouring fresh milk into big stainless still cup while preparing beverage at counter with coffee machine in modern cafe
Can bean-to-cup machine make quality espresso/cappuccino? - Crop barista preparing milk for coffee using coffee machine
Can bean-to-cup machine make quality espresso/cappuccino? - Crop barista preparing coffee in cafe



Can you make cappuccino with espresso beans?

As long as the beans are ground to the right size, you can use them to make espresso. That means you can use any type of coffee bean to make cappuccino, latte and other espresso based drinks.

Do espresso machines make cappuccinos?

Many espresso machines do have an integrated frothing wand which allows the user to steam milk separately and then use it to create cappuccinos, lattes, macchiatos, and other beverages with espresso as their base.

Do bean to cup machines make good coffee?

If you have enough space and a large enough coffee machine budget then a bean to cup coffee machine is undoubtedly your best option when it comes to quality of coffee and the range of coffees that you can make.

What kind of coffee do you use in a cappuccino machine?

First, you'll need espresso! You'll need to make espresso for a cappuccino: simply strong coffee will not do! This means you'll need the following: Espresso roast coffee: The roast is important to get the right dark, bitter flavor. Also make sure to use a fine grind on the espresso when you make it.



How To Dial In A Bean To Cup Machine (Like A Nerd)




More answers regarding can bean-to-cup machine make quality espresso/cappuccino?

Answer 2

You can get one of these if you don't mind a little manual labour when making your coffee:
http://aerobie.com/products/aeropress.htm

I have one myself and it produces some really good coffee. You do not get any real crema though, and you have to grind your own beans for best results.

Also, I would not recommend it if you are planning on making coffee for a group of people. Making more than two espresso shots in one go is not very practical.

[EDIT]
Just saw the note about milk foaming being a required feature. In that case, the aeropress is clearly not an option.

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