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Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2: two-minute evaluation
The Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2 is a handbook espresso machine that sits extra on the prosumer finish of the market. Its complete raison d’être is round serving to you make barista-quality espresso by hand and, it achieves this due to the help of some sensible options that assist streamline the method, whereas leaving management absolutely in your fingers.
As a whole package deal, the Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2 is an undeniably polished product. It has a silhouette simply glossy sufficient to fulfil its prosumer aspirations and its tiltable touchscreen is tremendous straightforward to make use of. It additionally comes with virtually each accent you can need and every is engineered to such a excessive normal that they’re an actual pleasure to make use of, particularly the hefty tamper and occasional distributor.
Beneath the hood, it has {hardware} as spectacular as any of the best coffee makers we’ve examined. Its rotary pump maintains stress higher than the vibration pump many mass market machines rock, whereas its twin boilers make sure the steam wand gained’t begin to sputter out half method via foaming your milk.
It’s the Meraki’s sensible options that basically set it aside from different machines although — quite than automating each a part of your espresso making routine, it augments them. For instance, its built-in scale means that you can grind espresso to a particular weight each time, whereas a second scale enables you to brew your espresso by weight, making it far simpler to dial in a really particular grind to extraction ratio. In the meantime, an built-in temperature sensor within the steam wand means you may set it to chop out when your milk hits your goal warmth, which is less complicated than counting on temperature alone.
So what’s it like in use? Actually, fairly slick. Dialing in your good grind and dose feels way more granular than typical, due to the built-in scales. These solidly constructed equipment make transferring, night out and tamping your espresso far simpler, then you may simply set to extract a ristretto or lengthy black relying in your desire. Frothing milk isn’t my favourite a part of making a espresso, but that temperature sensor allowed me to pay attention extra on honing my method.
Consequently, the entire handbook course of felt as rewarding as ever, whereas producing scrumptious and exceedingly constant espresso. I used to be capable of extract simply the correct taste profile out of even cheaper beans time and again, whereas the one brew I produced with a extra premium batch actually let its beautiful mango tasting notes shine via. Regardless of the actual fact I’m not a serious fan of milk in espresso, even the macchiato I whipped up utilizing its steaming wand tasted nice, with simply the correct quantity of froth so as to add texture with out overpowering the flavour of the espresso.
Actually my solely substantial criticism of the Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2 is its value. Coming in at $1,799 / £1,599 / AU$2,799, it resides firmly on the premium finish of the market and I think about there might be fairly a number of individuals who balk on the concept of dropping that a lot on a handbook espresso maker. Nevertheless, value will not be the identical as worth: the expertise of utilizing this machine and the standard outcomes you’ll get out of it completely warrant that value for these that may stretch to it.
Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2 evaluation: value & availability
- Accessible now
- Checklist value of $1,799 / £1,599 / AU$2,799
- Accessible in white and black colorways
Having first been accessible for pre-order in March 2026, the Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2 is on the market now. It is available in two colorways: black or white. And barring a knock field, it comes with just about each accent you can want, whether or not that’s a tamper, espresso distributor, cleansing brush, or blind portafilter basket for backflushing.
You’ll pay a premium for this premium system although. At a listing value of $1,799 / £1,599 / AU$2,799, that is an undeniably prosumer system that is available in on the high value vary of the best bean-to-cup makers we’ve featured. Whereas it’s not fairly as spendy as one thing just like the $2,799.95 / £1,915 (round AU$3,865) Breville Oracle Touch (recognized below the model title Sage within the UK) or the £2,199 (round $2,970 / AU$4,100) Siemens EQ900 Plus, it’s an costly machine and doesn’t include as many automated options as some machines. I’d argue it’s nicely well worth the value you’ll pay however such a premium handbook machine gained’t be for everybody.
Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2 evaluation: specs
|
Class |
Specification |
|---|---|
|
Kind |
Handbook espresso machine |
|
Dimensions |
14.57 x 14.57 x 16.34 inches / 370 x 370 x 415mm |
|
Weight |
32 lbs / 14.5kg |
|
Water tank capability |
2.1 quarts / 2 liters |
|
Steam wand |
360-degree articulating with temperature sensor |
|
Max stress |
9 bar extraction |
Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2 evaluation: design
- Enticing, suitably professional-looking design
- Properly-made equipment
- CoffeeSense solely helpful for Meraki beans
I’ll be upfront right here: I flat out love the way in which the Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2 appears to be like. At 14.57 x 14.57 x 16.34 inches / 370 x 370 x 415mm, it’s hardly the sveltest machine I’ve ever examined. However the reality its water tank, bean hopper and boilers are all separate towers prevents it from wanting too hulking on my countertop, whereas the combo of its chrome fixtures and pivotable contact display screen give it simply sufficient aptitude to face out out of your common espresso machine.
Nevertheless it’s not simply the Meraki’s aesthetics which might be completed to a excessive normal. All of the equipment packaged with it really feel critically premium, and there weren’t any obvious omissions. All the things has a reassuring solidity to it: the portafilter has a splendidly tactile picket deal with, whereas the strong metallic of each the espresso distributor and tamp has adequate heft to provide you actual confidence when producing the proper puck of grounds. Additional little touches just like the picket field for storing the equipment on simply add that ultimate polish to the expertise.
Don’t be fooled by this deal with appears to be like although. Beneath the Meraki’s glossy exterior beats the ferocious industrial coronary heart of a prosumer espresso machine. Discrete boilers for the brew system and steam wand ought to imply that you simply don’t have to fret concerning the wand’s stress giving out half method via steaming, whereas its rotary pump maintains 9 bars of stress extra persistently than the vibration pump utilized by many dwelling machines.
The Meraki additionally has a good quantity of capability. The water tank itself has a quantity of two.1qt / 2,000ml, which I’d say is fairly common for a espresso maker — you’ll get loads of brews out of that, even when it’s not as colossal as one thing like the massive 2.6qt / 2.5L Breville Oracle Contact. In the meantime, the Meraki’s bean hopper measures 2.36 inches excessive by 4.06 inches diameter / 60 x 103mm. Usually I discovered that was adequate to gasoline round 4 double espressos however, naturally, your mileage will fluctuate relying on the way you wish to dose your grounds.
One of many issues I really like concerning the Meraki is that it sits firmly within the camp of a handbook espresso machine — there’s no bean-to-cup perform right here — but it surely comes full of options to make you higher at pulling photographs and foaming milks.
Maybe probably the most explicitly ‘sensible’ perform is its CoffeeSense function. This lets you scan a tag on suitable Meraki espresso luggage and it’ll counsel the advisable grind dimension, dosing weight and extraction temperature for these beans that can assist you get the very best outcome out of these beans. I can undoubtedly see how that will be a neat function for somebody who’s blissful to stay with one model of beans however a part of the enjoyment of espresso for me is making an attempt completely different varieties and growers, so I’m undecided I’d get as a lot use out of this as some.
Nevertheless it additionally gives different methods to make dialing in your good brew simpler. Constructed-in scales beneath each the grinder and grouphead can help you grind your beans and specific your espresso by weight, supplying you with actually exact management over every. In the meantime, Auto mode calculates the correct brew weight based mostly on how a lot espresso you’ve floor, making it straightforward to manually repair your self a espresso without having an excessive amount of trial and error balancing brew time and grind. These are unbelievable as a information, permitting you to essentially construct confidence earlier than you begin improvising like a real handbook maestro.
One other spectacular component of the Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2’s design is its steam wand. It has a cool-touch design — though the pinnacle nonetheless will get scorching so cautious to not brush in opposition to it — and it’s tremendous versatile, making it straightforward to get it at an ideal angle for frothing your milk. Extra innovatively, it has a built-in temperature sensor that means that you can cease steaming milk on the good temperature, quite than having to depend on contact alone.
None of those options are compelled on you and so they’re suitably gentle contact that it’s very easy to begin trusting your individual instincts when you’re prepared. However I’ve by no means used an espresso machine that’s helped information me so nicely between newbie and prosumer espresso making earlier than — it’s simply the correct quantity of help with out making you depending on its assist.
Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2 evaluation: efficiency
- Nice automated options that don’t take away your management
- Steams milk with fixed stress and to your chosen temperature
- Produces splendidly well-extracted, constant espresso
So how straightforward is it to make espresso utilizing the Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2? Properly, truthfully, at first I discovered it just a little unpredictable. Tiny variations in tamping stress appeared to supply wildly completely different outcomes — the primary brew ran via the puck incontinently regardless of the fantastic grind I’d used, whereas the second over-extracted to such an excessive it made my mouth pucker like I’d licked an ibuprofen. Then I spotted my mistake.
Seems I’d barely underestimated the Meraki’s grinder — because it’s calibrated for espresso, my default intuition to whack the grinder on one of many lowest settings was producing a silt that simply channeled or clogged the portafilter basket relying on how firmly it was tamped. After a little bit of experimentation, I used to be capable of dial in on my good outcomes although, deciding on a grind of 10.
Thankfully, the Meraki’s grinder completely fits this type of tinkering. Not solely do you may have very granular management over the fineness of your grind, however the truth that you may dose utilizing the built-in scale beneath the grinder makes tweaking the precise amount of espresso you need super-repeatable. In computerized mode, I may merely dial in 18g for a double shot and it could cease grinding as soon as it hit my desired dose, or I may go off-piste and easily grind it up manually utilizing my finest judgement.
Making ready the puck at all times felt like a breeze — all I needed to do was place the portafilter on high of the dosing cup, flip it after which give it a number of faucets to switch my grounds. A number of twists of the espresso distributor and the grounds could be properly distributed, which means all I needed to do was tamp it down with that splendidly sturdy tamper. Every software is so nicely put collectively that it’s a very satisfying course of and it feels straightforward to get skilled outcomes.
And with that, I used to be able to go — or at the least as soon as the water was heated up. Whereas the 2 minutes and 10 seconds it took the twin boiler to warmth up the primary time is slower than some client espresso machines, it’s truly fairly quick in comparison with many prosumer models, which may typically take upwards of quarter-hour. Moreover, one other neat function of the Meraki is your potential to set the boiler to return on at a particular time of day, which means it may be all warmed up and able to go on your first espresso of the day.
As soon as I’d truly correctly calibrated my grind and dosing, extracting correctly was a breeze. In Computerized mode, I merely needed to set the burden of my drink — for instance, 36g for an espresso — and set it to run, whereas in Handbook mode I may merely run it till I used to be proud of the amount. Due to that rotary pump, it produced a gentle stream of espresso, neither hemorrhaging espresso too quick nor letting it dribble out in suits and begins. It’s additionally fairly quiet, hitting simply 65dB and making extra of a whir than the juddering noise I’m used to from vibration-pumped machines.
Steaming milk has by no means actually been my forte. As a black espresso drinker, I’ve by no means had a lot have to develop the knack. However the Meraki additionally makes this so much simpler. Not solely does its twin boiler imply that it maintained fixed stress all through steaming however, due to its built-in thermostat, the steam wand clicked off when my milk had reached my goal temperature, which means I may simply deal with creating the correct degree of froth and getting it swirling. Not solely did this assist me whip up a satisfactory macchiato however, after I’d gained a bit extra confidence, I used to be capable of make a good handbook latte utilizing contact alone.
So what have been the outcomes like? Fairly sensational. Even making an attempt with some comparatively reasonably priced decaf beans, the espresso the Meraki produced had a secure, fantastically caramel crema, simply the correct velvety texture and never straying too far into bitterness or acidity. Every shot I poured remained constant, displaying how straightforward it’s to maintain getting these nice outcomes. And after I examined it out with a premium bag of Dahwe beans from Ritual Espresso Roasters, the outcomes genuinely blew me away: the flavour was flat out beautiful, sustaining a pitch good steadiness of not being aggressively floral however confidently speaking its mango overtones.
I’ll admit that I a lot want making espresso than scrubbing up the mess I’ve made however cleansing up right here is fairly easy. On a regular basis use actually solely requires you to purge the steam wand, then give it, the portafilter and the grouphead a wipedown with a humid fabric. Even doing the deep clear on the finish of my evaluation wasn’t notably arduous. Cleansing the steam wand includes working it for bursts of 10 seconds a number of occasions whereas submerged in chilly water. Ensuring the machine’s innards keep squeaky clear is even simpler — simply pop within the blind portafilter basket, pop it within the machine after which choose the cleansing choice and a tutorial will stroll you thru the remainder.
There’s at all times one thing deeply satisfying about making espresso your self and that’s why I’ve at all times been an enormous fan of handbook machines. However what I like most concerning the Meraki Espresso Machine is that it makes it a lot simpler to take your hand-crafted espresso to the subsequent degree. Automated options don’t take away your company — they as a substitute help it, permitting you to freestyle an increasing number of as your expertise develop. And the tip result’s splendidly extracted and completely constant espresso. So in the end, if you happen to like getting fingers on together with your espresso and cash’s not an object, you’re going to get nice outcomes out of the Meraki.
Ought to I purchase the Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2?
|
Attribute |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Worth |
That is undeniably a premium espresso machine. However given its high quality and the constant outcomes it achieves, I’d argue it’s value each cent. |
4.5/5 |
|
Design |
Sleekly designed with rather well engineered equipment. Twin boiler and rotary pump assist preserve constant temperature and stress. Sensible options actually streamline your coffee-making with out taking you out of the driving seat. Nevertheless, the CoffeeSense function solely works with Meraki beans. |
4.5/5 |
|
Efficiency |
Warms up rapidly, straightforward to dial in your good amount of grounds and occasional dimension, temperature sensor in steam wand makes steaming milk simpler, produces excellently well-extracted espresso that tastes constant time after time, straightforward sufficient to scrub. |
5/5 |
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Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2 evaluation: additionally think about
|
Class |
Meraki Espresso Gen 2 |
Breville Barista Contact Impress (Chilly Extraction) |
La Pavoni Europiccola (Millennium) |
|
Kind |
Twin Boiler / Built-in Grinder |
Single Boiler (ThermoJet) / Built-in Grinder |
Handbook Lever / Single Boiler |
|
Dimensions |
14.57 x 14.57 x 16.34 inches / 370 x 370 x 415 mm |
16.42 x 13.11 x 13.50 inches / 417 x 333 x 343 mm |
12.6 x 7.87 x 11.42 inches / 320 x 200 x 290 mm |
|
Weight |
32 lbs / 14.5kg |
24.2 lbs / 11kg |
12.1 lbs / 5.5kg |
|
Water tank capability |
2.1 quarts / 2 litres |
2.1 quarts / 2 litres |
0.8 quarts / 0.8 litres |
|
Steam wand |
Skilled 360° articulating cool-touch |
Auto MilQ |
Handbook |
|
Max stress |
9 bar |
9 bar |
Handbook |
How I examined the Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2
- Examined it over two weeks
- Tried quite a lot of drinks, beans and milks
- Measured how lengthy it took to heat up and the way loud the pump is
When testing the Meraki Espresso Machine Gen 2, I used it over the course of a number of weeks. I experimented with completely different grind ranges, used completely different types of beans and tamped at a spread of pressures to see how constant its outcomes have been. I additionally tried to make quite a lot of drinks and steamed a number of completely different types of milk to see how the steam wand carried out.
To grasp how nicely the Meraki labored as a handbook machine, I made certain to extract a number of coffees with out utilizing the automated dosing and steamed milk utilizing contact alone, quite than relying purely on the steam wand’s temperature sensor. When assessing the efficiency of the boiler and pump, I not solely timed how lengthy it took to warmth up within the morning however I additionally used a sound degree meter to report how a lot noise it made throughout extraction.
On the subject of my very own expertise, I’ve been making and ingesting espresso each day for nicely over 20 years. I’ve additionally gotten fingers on with a variety of machines, whether or not they’re De’longhi, Breville or Gaggia. My most popular tipple to make with a machine is a double espresso or lengthy black, though any time the climate will not be positively arctic, chilly brew is my go-to.
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