For serious coffee lovers considering a remodel of their kitchen or who have a suitable cabinet vacancy available, a built-in espresso coffee machine might just be a necessary lifestyle addition.
I like to think of built-in espresso machines as the indoor equivalent of a built-in backyard grill. They should flow seamlessly with your existing kitchen design, offer top features and be as convenient as your other standard appliances, like the oven or microwave.
The Final Shot: The Bosch Automatic Coffee Machine is the top pick in this range. The built-in espresso machine looks great in any kitchen, prepares your espresso fast and has tons of options so you can make any drink you want it.
All of the options we selected are high-end models, and they come equipped with all the fully automatic bells and whistles you could dream up. Most have smart programming so they respond automatically to your every preference.
I do recommend seeking the guidance of your kitchen designer prior to any building or renovations as these machines all have cabinet specifications and possible ventilation requirements.
The Best Built-in Espresso Machine
1. Bosch BCM8450UC 24″ UL Built-In Coffee Machine
In the realm of built-in coffee machines, the Bosch BCM8450UC sets an unmatched standard for elegance, convenience, and technical innovation. This 24-inch wide beast is designed to seamlessly integrate into your kitchen while delivering a coffee experience that rivals your favorite café. Let’s explore the technical features and specifications that make the Bosch BCM8450UC a standout, and note the advantages of a built-in of this caliber.
Technical Features and Specs:
19 Bar Pump: The Bosch BCM8450UC boasts a robust 19-bar pump pressure, ensuring that every espresso shot is extracted with precision and consistency, eliminating bitterness and over-extraction from your brew process.
Versatility: With a vast selection of customizable coffee drinks, this machine offers the versatility to satisfy every coffee craving. From classic espresso and cappuccino to creamy lattes and macchiatos, it caters to diverse preferences and offers a staggering selection of drink options available with a simple button press.
Home Connect Technology: A game-changer in the coffee machine world, the Home Connect feature allows you to control and monitor your machine remotely through your smartphone or tablet. Whether you want to schedule your coffee for a specific time or adjust settings on the go, this connectivity adds a layer of convenience to your daily coffee ritual.
Bean-to-Cup Freshness: The BCM8450UC’s built-in ceramic grinder ensures that your coffee is ground fresh for every cup, preserving the flavor and aroma of your beans. It even offers two separate bean containers, allowing you to switch between different coffee blends effortlessly. This is especially helpful if you like to have multiple roasts on hand or a decaf option readily available.
Full-Color Touchscreen Display: The intuitive full-color touchscreen display simplifies coffee preparation. It provides easy navigation through drink selections and customization options, making it user-friendly without a lot of experience.
Milk Frothing Excellence: The machine features an integrated milk frother that creates velvety microfoam for your lattes and cappuccinos. It’s a true game-changer for hands-off milk base drinks.
Water Tank and Coffee Bean Containers: With a 2.4-liter water tank and a substantial bean container capacity, this machine can handle multiple coffee servings for a family or a group without the constant need for refills or bean replenishment.
Advantages of a Built-In Model:
- Seamless Integration: The most apparent advantage of the Bosch BCM8450UC is its built-in design. It integrates seamlessly into your kitchen cabinetry, offering a sleek and modern aesthetic that complements your overall decor.
- Space Efficiency: Built-in models save valuable counter space, providing a clutter-free kitchen while maintaining easy access to your coffee machine.
- Custom Kitchen: This coffee machine allows you to create a custom kitchen setup that caters to your coffee needs. It’s perfect for coffee enthusiasts who want a coffee station that’s both functional and luxurious in its efficiency and hands-off preparation.
Overall the Bosch BCM8450UC Built-In Automatic Coffee Machine is a masterpiece of coffee convenience and innovation. Its technical features, from Home Connect connectivity to bean-to-cup freshness, elevate the coffee experience. The advantages of the built-in model extend beyond mere functionality, offering a sophisticated and space-efficient addition to your kitchen. If you’re seeking a coffee machine that seamlessly combines technical prowess with the elegance of a built-in design, the Bosch BCM8450UC is a compelling choice.
Bosch BCM8450UC 24 Inch Wide Built-In Automatic Coffee Machine Hot Features:
- Automatic System for Cleaning, Milk Steam Rinsing and Descaling
- OneTouch DoubleCup Dispenses Two Beverages at the same Time
- Home Connect App Allows You to Prepare Coffee from Anywhere in the Home.
- Integrated Built-in Sensors will Alert You when Coffee Beans and Water are Running Low
- AromaDouble Shot Prepares Extra-Strong Coffee with Less Bitterness
- IndividualCup Volume Allows You to Adjust Your Coffee Cup Size
- MyFavorites Stores up to 8 of Your Favorite Coffee Preferences.
- 1 Lb. (500g) Bean Container
- 84.5 oz. (2.4L) Water Reservoir
- Stainless Steel Insulated 17 oz. (.5L) Milk Container
2. THERMADOR TCM24RS 24″ One Touch Function Fully Automatic Built-in Coffee Machine
Like the Bosch, the Thermador built-in is a luxury fully automatic machine designed to act basically, like your own personal coffee concierge.
It has settings to craft 9 different coffee beverages, including lattes and cappuccinos, all with the simple touch of a button. You can also store up to 8 favorite drink settings with temperature and strength settings so you don’t have to enter your preferences each time you’re ready to enjoy a drink.
The height-adjustable dispenser allows a ton of flexibility in fitting all cups sizes, from shot glasses for single serving espressos to travel mugs for a latte as you’re heading out the door for work. You also have the option to brew two drinks simultaneously so no one has to wait for their morning fix.
Built-in sensors alert you to when the integrated grinder and the refillable water tank are low and need to be topped off. The milk frother is integrated into the unit and requires no skill on the part of the user; the Thermador handles it from start to finish. There are also dual spouts, one for coffee and the other for the frothed milk for perfect integration.
Cleaning, de-scaling and rinsing are built-in functions that run automatically so maintenance is as hands-off as the actual brewing process.
I also love that this machine comes with a color screen and push button controls that are super intuitive and easy to use so you don’t need to read the manual to be able to run it.
The overall design is also really sleek, modern and minimalist. It’s all stainless steel and is meant to integrate seamlessly into any modern kitchen.
3. Smeg CMSU6451X 24″ Built In Fully Automatic Coffee Machine
Smeg is known for making nostalgically retro appliances, but they also make high-end built-ins and this fully automatic is another great example of Smeg functionality and aesthetics in a modern package.
Like the Bosch, this model is fully integrated with a built-in grinder and a removable water tank (no plumbing here either).
It features settings to adjust the coffee intensity, from extra light, light, medium, strong and extra strong. The coffee temperature is also adjustable at three different levels for a more customized brew.
The Smeg will also make either two drinks simultaneously, though all frothing requires some user input in filling the milk canister each time you wish to make a cappuccino. This is not as functional as the Bosch in terms of the range of drinks it can whip up for you, you’ll need to stick to straight shots, regular coffees, Americanos and Cappuccinos. No lattes or macchiatos here.
It does include an integrated cleaning and rinsing function, which is great for keeping the experience as hands-off as possible.
The LCD display is a little more old school and doesn’t offer nearly the programming options or the great connectivity as the Bosch or the Thermador. The Smeg is a little more pared down and without all the technological bells and whistles.
4. Gaggenau 200 Series Built-in Automatic Coffee Machine
Gaggenau delivers a stylish and minimalist alternative to the other options on our list with their 200 series.
This coffee machine doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of our top ranking Bosch, but it offers beautiful integration into your kitchen and an automatic process that is smooth and hands-free.
Like all the other options on our list, it has a built-in conical grinder and a detachable refillable water tank. It also has a second container for a decaf or alternative flavor in case you want to switch between bean types.
The milk containment system is integrated and doesn’t need to be refilled on a schedule, so you can froth up a latte every morning for a week without having to restock the frothing container.
The 200 series offers 6 levels of coffee strength, 3 levels of temperature, as well as a range of grind level settings that you can customize to the bean. The dispenser is height adjustable to fit a range of cups and can also accommodate brewing up two coffees simultaneously.
The continuous flow heater ensures there is no wait time and your machine is maintained at a constant brewing temperature. Aroma brewing technology enhances the aroma of the coffee using optimized infusion during the extraction process from the grounds.
This machine is also smart and can store up to 8 of your favorite beverages, using the knob-controlled mini screen to toggle through the different options available.
Cleaning is simple with automated de-scaling and an integrated rinse system and an optional built-in warming drawer is a great bonus feature for storing cups and other accessories.
5. Jenn-Air Built-In Coffee System
The Jenn-Air built-in is another solid pick for an integrated, fully automated coffee experience. I consider this machine to be on par with the Gaggenau and Smeg in terms of features and quality, and slightly lower tech than the Bosch or Thermador.
Like all the other machines here, it comes with a built in grinder and a refillable water tank. It will brew both coffee and espresso beverages and can handle a range of bean roasts.
Overall strength of the brew and temperature are both adjustable. The frothing system has an integrated milk container and the dual spouts are adjustable for cup height and can be used to pull two shots at once. Frothed milk can be used to make cappuccinos, but drinks like lattes and macchiatos aren’t supported.
The Jenn-Air also offers an LED lit control screen with side push buttons. It doesn’t support storing personalized drink options like most of the machines on this list, which is why it ranks a bit lower. It does offer time programming, but no Wifi connectivity for app activation.
Cleaning and de-scaling are handled internally and can be automated just like the other machines on the list.
