Built-In Coffee Machine Buying Guide
What Is a Built-In Coffee Machine?
A built-in coffee machine is a far cry from the classic drip coffee model that simply runs hot water over coffee grounds, extracting flavor for black coffee. While simple can sometimes be just what we want, we don't all need a drip coffee maker. And some have higher expectations. Maybe you're hoping for beautifully brewed espresso, freshly ground beans, and all of it with the press of a button. You can find it in a built-in coffee maker, and for more details on other types of machines, check out our coffee maker and espresso machine buying guide. But first, what is a built-in coffee machine? These home appliances are designed to be built into the wall, and are either installed with plumbing so that you never need to refill a carafe or tank for water, or are non-plumbed with a water container that's easy to fill. Everything takes place behind the scenes, with a hidden bean hopper or space for ground coffee and other hidden parts, like a milk frother. The idea is to make crafting coffees as easy as possible. And with just a few taps on a touchscreen, it's a simple process.
How To Use a Built-In Coffee Machine
At first glance, using a built-in coffee machine might seem like a challenge. Many of these machines can make over a dozen types of beverages—and sometimes multiple at the same time. That's where the controls and touchscreens come in. The touchscreens (or LED screens) on each appliance are here to help walk you through the process, telling you to choose your beverage, grab your mug or demitasse, and step back while the magic happens. Depending on your beverage or your machine, you could have other options, like choosing between different coffees, adjusting your grind size, adding foam and more.
In truth, there are many settings you can adjust, zeroing in on things you wouldn't even consider with a drip or pod coffee machine. With a built-in coffee machine, you can sometimes adjust the optimal temperature and even the flavor strength. The goal? To make your beverages taste their best. With several modern built-in coffee machines, you can save a coffee profile for your favorite brew type—then access your coffee fast with just a few touches. That makes the morning trudge to your coffee maker as easy as possible.
Who Are These For?
Built-in coffee machines are designed for the luxe lifestyle and made by professional appliance brands—think Miele, Jenn-Air, Bosch and Thermador. They pair perfectly with appliances like nearby wall ovens and built-in microwaves for a look that's unbeatably upscale. If you want coffee and espresso beverages at your command, a built-in coffee machine is for you. That being said, they're not budget-friendly.
If you're looking to save money, other caffeine machines would better fit your needs—and you can still enjoy incredible coffee and espresso. Choose between classic coffee machines or automatic/manual espresso makers, and you become the barista. With these, you grind your own coffee beans and can craft shots of espresso on your own. Using a manual espresso or coffee machine is more work, but if you're on a budget, it's another option that brings you rich and beautiful flavors.
Maintenance Is a Must ... Seriously
There is one thing that turns many potential built-in coffee machine users away, and that's the maintenance involved. The touchscreen interface and simple buttons are designed for ease of use, but if users don't clean and maintain their built-in coffee machines, things can easily and quickly break down. Luckily, maintenance is relatively easy—the only issue is you have to do it often. Our suggestions may be different from the directions you receive with your appliance, so keep in mind that you must always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Built-In Coffee Machine Weekly Maintenance
- To clean the exterior, use a soft cloth and warm, soapy water. Avoid abrasive cleaners.
- Open up the built-in coffee machine to access the back panel. Open the door and look at the interior of the machine.
- Find your waste container, where coffee grounds are disposed of. It is usually near the base of the machine. Remove and empty.
- Remove the drip tray as well. Depending on your built-in coffee machine, the drip tray may be dishwasher-safe.
- Next, the water container. Your machine may prompt you when it's time to descale, empty or refill your water container. If you have a plumbed machine, you may not have a water container, or you may only use it to descale your machine.
- It's time to clean the brew unit, a process that's different depending on which built-in coffee machine you own. The one thing that's the same across nearly every model is that you'll need to remove it and rinse it with warm tap water. Double-check your machine's instructions.
- When it comes to bean containers and grinders, you can clean these once every two weeks instead. When choosing between coffee varieties, check to make sure that the beans you've added are unflavored. Flavored beans are coated in oils that can damage your built-in coffee machine. To clean, remove the hopper and then the beans, using a dry cloth to wipe out the hopper and dispose of any loose grounds. Wash the hopper with warm water and unscented soap. Dust off the grind chamber with a cloth or brush.
- Quickly cleaning the milk system is a must every time that you use it. Rinse or purge the system after you've made your beverage, then wipe the wand with a damp cloth. Perform a more thorough clean once a week or so by manually rinsing the steam wand and milk container. Alternatively, use a dedicated cleaning cycle or take the system apart as directed and clean the dedicated parts. Rinse thoroughly. Milk systems are not all the same, so make sure you follow directions to keep your built-in coffee machine safe and clean.
Some machines have cleaning programs, and the appliance will tell you when it's time to run a simple cleaning program. If this is the case, follow your machine's step-by-step instructions.
No matter your machine, it's crucial that you clean it often and as directed by your manual. One of the top reasons why people run into issues with their coffee machines has nothing to do with touchscreens, coffee flavor or how the appliance works—it's about maintenance. That's why many brands have tried to make maintenance as simple as possible. If you know that weekly cleanings are going to be an issue for you, look for models that make things easier with self-clean functions and descaling reminders. But keep in mind that every built-in coffee machine will require some level of regular maintenance.
Explore Coffee Upgrades You'll Love
We just went through many of the ways that modern built-in coffee machines are the same, but how are they different? And what are some of the features you'd want in one? Keep in mind that some of these extra features boost the price of your built-in coffee machine, but they may be the perfect addition to your kitchen's caffeine fix.
First, there's the ability to make more than just coffee. Some of these appliances can make hot water for tea, craft hot chocolate and produce other beverages, too. Others can make multiple drinks at once or even a whole pot of coffee, which makes them the perfect choice for those who want to share a latte with a spouse or a roommate. But what if you live in a house with someone who prefers a different bean type to yours—or maybe you'd rather have decaf in the evenings, and regular coffee ready to go in the morning? Look for a built-in coffee machine with multiple bean hoppers. You can load in different types of beans and choose your favorite for the best brew for you. Next, presets and profiles. With some models, we mentioned that you can set up your own profiles to help get to your favorite coffees faster. Build your own drinks here and you'll be able to request them with a tap.
Finally, there's Wi-Fi connectivity. With a built-in coffee machine that connects to Wi-Fi, you can easily use the machine's app on your smartphone to do all kinds of things, from turning on your coffee machine to getting maintenance alerts and reminders. In many apps, you can also craft your favorite beverages here, then head to the machine itself to have them quickly made.
Is One Right for You?
Taking all of this into account, is a built-in coffee machine the right choice for you? We'd suggest you ask yourself a few questions: what's your budget like, can you handle a little maintenance, and most importantly, is great coffee quality important to you? If you need to stick to a strict budget, these built-in coffee machines may not be for you. The same goes for anyone who doesn't want to commit to regularly scheduled maintenance. If you fall into either of those categories, a countertop model may be better—and there are automatic and manual espresso machines that make incredible espresso shots that will fit your price range, as well as high-tech countertop coffee machines. But if you truly want the best of the best, have a love for coffee and are excited at the chance to have a touchscreen barista in your home, then a built-in coffee machine is absolutely for you.
So, which brand and model should you choose? Consider the features we've talked about above and the things that are important to you, as well as easy-clean capabilities. And if you're ordering other appliances for your home, choosing from the same brand is one concept. That way, the products will look similar and there's no interruption in the visual flow of your space.
No matter what you're looking for in your built-in coffee machine, we have a feeling you can find what you want at Abt. Our professional sales team and installers can help show you how everything works and make installation a breeze, too. Call us at 800-860-3577 with questions, or head into our Inspiration Studio at our Glenview, IL showroom to see what these products look like in person.
Built-In Coffee Machine FAQs
Are built-in coffee machines worth it?
That depends on a few factors, like your budget, how much coffee and espresso you drink, and whether you feel like you can handle the necessary maintenance of a built-in coffee machine. If you prefer something with a little less maintenance and that costs significantly less, a countertop model may be a better choice. But if you want the best coffee you can find at home made for you easily and quickly, choose a personal barista in one of these built-in coffee machines.
How do built-in coffee machines work?
With built-in coffee machines, almost everything goes on behind the built-in door. Once you've requested your beverage, the bean hopper sends fresh coffee beans to the internal grinder and your beverage is brewed with hot water via either a plumbed system or an internal water container. Your beverage is then dispensed. If you've requested a beverage with frothed dairy, a separate dairy system heats and froths your milk for the perfect latte or cappuccino.
How do you use a built-in coffee machine?
Most built-in coffee machines walk users through a step-by-step process to help them craft their own beverage. There are a few things you need to do yourself, though, like stock the appliance with unflavored coffee beans, dairy when necessary, and clean up/maintain your appliance as directed.
Why can't I use flavored coffee beans in a built-in coffee machine?
Flavored coffee beans are coated in a thick oil—that's where the sugars and flavors are. These oils can easily clog the grinder and damage the coffee maker's brew unit, and even break the machine itself. The same is true of any coffee grinder and many espresso machines. Instead, we recommend using unflavored coffees and adding in sweeteners and flavors after you've brewed your beverage via classic coffee syrups—it's the way that professional coffee shop baristas do it.
