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Melitta Bean to Cup Machine, With Adjustable Coffee Intensity, Adjustable Double Outlet for One or Two Cups, Cup Warming Function, Self-Cleaning Option, SOLO, Sandy-Grey, E950-877

£205.875£411.75Clearance
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The clear range of functions and components makes it perfect for singles and small households that only require frothed milk once in a blue moon. However, its successor, the Purista, shows that a ‘dedicated’ brew group is a better choice for the ultra-compact class of coffee machines. In this case, the Solo is reaching a bit, which, in turn, produces somewhat of an inferior coffee. The fact that this is seen as a cheaper entry level model is interesting. On the negative side, there are those longevity risks, the cheaper materials and the sense that this doesn’t really do as much as some of the more expensive models. At the same time, it is still quite adjustable and smart for a cheaper option in terms of its programming, energy efficiency and brewing process. By the way, I love the fact that the Melitta Caffeo Solo does not include a ground coffee compartment, directly eliminating a ‘laziness trigger’, as well as a source of dirt. The Solo is a true bean-to-cup coffee machine, not a pre-ground shortcut maker that has lost all flavor. While the factory presets are sometimes helpful, you will definitely notice a difference in the results if you set the grinder to its finest setting. Besides, coffee and espresso come out with a fuller body from beans that have been better extracted.

Aside from some complaints about the manual, the two biggest customer concerns here regard the longevity of the product and its size. The size is a benefit when trying to find a space-saving device for a kitchen. However, the inclusion of the bean container does mean that the water reservoir is a little small and needs to be topped up too regularly. The Melitta Caffeo Solo has three settings to choose from, this is less again than other bean to cup coffee machines. 3 grind options X 3 strength options means you have 9 possible settings. When you think the Sage Barista Express has a possible 180 different combinations, you can see this is not the most customisable machine. Yes, the main function of a coffee machine is to produce great tasting coffee on a consistent basis, but that doesn’t mean that looks aren’t important as well. Everything in your home should complement the overall aesthetic. If you’ve worked hard to create a beautiful clutter-free kitchen then you certainly don’t want to ruin the effect by having a huge coffee machine dominating the work surface and fitting in with nothing else around it.

Put simply, this sophisticated machine is easy to operate while providing a wide range of coffee making options, allowing you to get the perfect cup of coffee time after time, just the way you like it. Forget instant coffee, you can even forget heading out to your favourite coffee store, this beautiful looking machine will give you a rich, full flavour that could have come from an expert barista. This review covers two models, one with and one without the steamer arm (frother). Concentrating on the basics – that's Solo. Minimalistic design, smallest dimensions and easy to operate. For supreme coffee indulgence from whole beans and a soft, velvety crema that melts on the tongue. The Melitta Caffeo Solo delivered that so favourably from the start that it even undercut my test winner in the entry-level class.

If you think that great tasting coffee has to be difficult to make, then think again. Whilst it comes with comprehensive instructions, the Caffeo Solo machine is incredibly easy to use, even intuitive. On top of that, the Melitta Caffeo Solo uses the same high-quality technology in the brew group, without any added costs, that you will find in older and posher versions of Melitta fully automatic coffee machines. This is the exact same process and technology on all three options. So this bit is applicable to all models. It is a simple and easy to use machine for producing an espresso.

As one would expect, the stainless steel cone grinder on the Melitta Caffeo Solo has been set on too coarse of a setting at the factory. Still, my experience testing many Melitta fully automatic coffee machines has shown me that this factory setting continues to have value. Firstly on all 3 models you have an automated cleaning and descaling program. This is pretty standard nowadays, and I certainly would never buy one without this. This is where the differences start to appear between the models, you need to decide if want this to be a manual or automatic process.

The Melitta Solo is one of the narrowest fully automatic coffee machines on the market. The purist design and the experience of aromatic enjoyment will impress those who love pure espresso and coffee.The Melitta espresso machine is still a clever, easy to use machine that makes a good tasting cup of coffee. Newcomers can start here and then progress to more diverse, reliable machines with time.

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