The Meraki espresso machine is full of superlatives: A dual-boiler espresso machine with an integrated grinder, scale, and IoT features for under €2,000 – that sounds almost too good to be true. And yes, taking a closer look, it becomes clear that the machine might actually be failing precisely because it tries to do too much at once. In the process, the Meraki loses sight of some of the basics that are the prerequisite for a good espresso machine and also for a good cup of coffee.
We tested the Meraki extensively using the extended Kaffeemacher test protocol. In this report, we share our experiences from a home barista perspective: from the first impression to build quality, operation, temperature stability, espresso quality, as well as accessories, noise levels, energy efficiency, steam performance, price-performance ratio, and, of course, the integrated grinder. The result is an honest and critical review that highlights the strengths and weaknesses of this supposed miracle machine – and warns potential buyers against being blinded by a long feature list.
The Meraki espresso machine presents itself as a compact espresso machine with a grinder. On the left is the grinder, in the middle the brew group with an integrated scale, and on the right the steam boiler.
Build Quality and Repairability – Light and (Many) Shadows
Outwardly, the Meraki makes an initial impression. A modern-industrial design with three towers (grinder, brew group, steam boiler) on a square footprint of approx. 37×37 cm. However, the housing consists mostly of plastic – no polished stainless steel surfaces, but then again, no fingerprints. Unfortunately, some parts feel wobbly, e.g., when operating the brew lever or when adjusting the display mount.
The drip tray itself is made of plastic and holds about 650 ml. The aluminum cover plate must under no circumstances go into the dishwasher. This is problematic, because how else are you supposed to clean the grooves between the grates?
Overall, however, the material feel does not convey a premium impression – partly due to minor defects on our unit.
An annoying quality issue appeared right out of the box: A piece of the coating had already chipped off the front of the machine. Different materials also lead to color discrepancies – the upper part of the machine shimmers darker than the lower part. Such details tarnish the aspirations. Here, Meraki should have either gone entirely with plastic or made the paintwork more durable.
When locking in the portafilter, we experienced another negative surprise. Not only does it turn stiffly into the bayonet, but it sounds as if metal is scraping on metal like sandpaper. Now, one might think that this would change after a few shots. But that is not the case. With every locking motion, our hair still stands on end.
At the latest when it came to the topic of repairability, our initial enthusiasm turned into frustration. We were unable to grind coarsely enough with the grinder. To change the basic alignment of the grinder, however, it must be opened completely.
A total of 13 screws had to be removed from the bottom, many of them hidden under stickers and of different types. We even ripped off the rubber feet just to get to certain screws. The Meraki is obviously not built to be disassembled or repaired by the end user – on the contrary. We could hardly believe what an enormous effort is required to access the inner workings.
Our conclusion on the construction: a nice idea, but absolutely poorly executed in terms of maintenance and longevity. If something breaks at some point (which is to be expected given the complex technology), the machine threatens to become a throwaway product. The manufacturer urgently needs to improve here and make the design more service-friendly – currently, as owners, we would not dare to tinker with it ourselves in the event of a fault.
Operation and Clever Functions in Daily Testing
The Meraki wants to set new standards. It is operated via a central touchscreen, flanked by haptic levers/buttons (e.g., brew lever). The menus offer extensive setting options: grind quantity, output weight (espresso weight), brew temperature, pre-infusion, and even automatic programs for milk drinks. Despite the functional diversity, we found the navigation relatively intuitive – at least anyone who already has experience with portafilters will find their way around quickly. Beginners will need some training, but that is precisely who Meraki wants to assist: numerous automatic features are intended to simplify the workflow and ensure reproducible results.
A highlight of the operation is the fully integrated scale technology. Scales are installed under the grinder chute as well as under the drip tray. This allows the Meraki to implement grind-by-weight and brew-by-weight: for example, you can preselect 18.5 g of coffee beans, and the grinder stops automatically when the weight is reached. In the test, this worked surprisingly well – the deviations were usually below ±0.2 g. While grinding by weight is neither particularly fast nor whispering quiet, it saves steps in the workflow and proved to be quite reliable.
We were impressed by the brewing by weight: We could, for example, program 40 g of output weight – the machine then brews and stops the extraction exactly at 40 g of espresso in the cup. This gravimetric shut-off worked "sensationally well" in the test.
I have now been able to try several espresso machines with integrated scales, including in the commercial sector. The brew-by-weight performance of the Meraki does not have to hide behind any machine on the market, especially not any for the home sector and even less so in the sub-2000 euro range. There is simply no competition!
Deviations of at most ~1 g are an excellent value that future machines will have to be measured against. In practice, this means: more consistent results without manual stopping – a real win, especially for beginners. You always have the right brew ratio in the cup. In addition, there is a pre-infusion that brews for a definable time at a brew pressure of 3 or 4 bars.
Workflow good? Brew-by-weight definitely!
The workflow with the machine is logical and catchy. We grind the desired amount of coffee into the dosing cup. This sits on scale number 1 and stops when the target weight is reached. We then fill the coffee into the portafilter.
Practical is the chic included tamping station made of wood with a leveler. We insert the portafilter for tamping and it sits flat and straight, which promotes clean and parallel tamping. After tamping, we lock it in and brew the exact amount in grams. The espresso machine stops when the exact filling quantity is reached in the cup.
Before we return to the grinder, we must explicitly praise the brew-by-weight technology: it is outstanding and for us a benchmark in terms of integrated grinder development. No complicatedly connected Bluetooth scale like with other manufacturers, but a structurally integrated scale that stops the espresso machine to the exact point by weight. Super!
Why we have to grind into the dosing cup first with an espresso grinder that has a bean hopper is less clear. The manufacturer probably copied this from the single dosing concept. With this espresso machine, it makes no sense!
In addition to scales and display gadgets, the Meraki also offers real IoT features. The CoffeeSense™ technology with NFC is particularly advertised: certain coffee bags contain an NFC chip that you simply place on a sensor on the machine. The Meraki then recognizes the bean and loads a stored recipe – i.e., recommended parameters for grind size, dose, temperature, etc. In theory, this is great: never again having to guess when setting up a new bean, instead "hand-picked barista recipes" from a cloud database.
In practice, however, our verdict is restrained. In the test, "not much" happened on the machine after scanning. While grind and brew recommendations were displayed, we know from experience: such standard values can at best be rough guidelines. And since the grinder does not convince us (more on that in a moment), we would not blindly rely on a grind size recommendation anyway. In short: a nice gimmick with limited practical use. The situation is similar with the app integration: the Meraki can be connected to the network via Wi-Fi; this allows for firmware updates and possibly app control. We tried the app (available for iOS/Android) to save recipes and control the machine. It worked, but does not provide any decisive added value, as the touchscreen handles everything important anyway.
The timer for heating up is useful, however: By programming a start time, you can let the machine preheat automatically in the morning, for example. Given the ten-minute heating time, this can be welcome. There are also practical software features such as automatic cleaning programs (backflush).
Espresso Quality and the Weaknesses of the Integrated Grinder
The Meraki comes with big promises – but ultimately, an espresso setup stands and falls with the grinder. Here, the Meraki unfortunately disappointed us. On paper, everything sounds good: a conical burr grinder developed in collaboration with Timemore, stepless adjustment, supposedly "professional." We had hoped to find the quality tested in the Timemore Sculptor (flat burrs, excellent particle distribution) in the Meraki. The reality is different.
A simpler conical grinder of unknown origin is installed – nothing fundamentally bad, but definitely not the hoped-for high-end interior. We noticed inconsistencies as soon as we started grinding: the adjustable grind size range is very limited and somewhat coarse; it lacks fine-tuning precision. Despite the "stepless" scale (0–30), we often had to search for imaginary intermediate steps between the markings in our tests to achieve reasonably suitable flow times.
We were still able to make dark espresso roasts drinkable – but with medium to light roasts, the Meraki grinder simply does not produce homogeneous coffee grounds. The particle distribution is inhomogeneous: too many fines and simultaneously coarse particles, which led to uneven extractions.
The taste remained below expectations accordingly: while darker beans came out okay, lighter coffees tended to be sour-thin or bitter-overextracted – an indication of the uneven extraction caused by inconsistent grounds. In short: The built-in grinder significantly limits the espresso quality.
With the broad main peak and the high amount of fines, the Meraki grinder's values in terms of homogeneity are comparable to the worst espresso grinders we have tested, and there are now over 70 of those.
The frustrating thing is that the machine itself – i.e., the brew group, pump, boiler – would certainly have what it takes for top-notch espresso, if it were fed with more evenly ground coffee. Temperature and pressure perform well (more on that in a moment), and the results with an external grinder were significantly better in our cross-check. But beginners in particular will likely trust the integrated solution first – and could thus be unfairly disappointed by the espresso.
Of course, you could simply operate the Meraki with a separate high-quality grinder. But honestly: Who pays ~€1800 for an all-in-one machine, only to then still have to put a second grinder next to it? That makes no sense. That is exactly the idea of the Meraki: to combine everything in one device. And this is where the concept shoots itself in the foot. We find it almost tragic: Meraki has clearly "tried hard" to build a great device with many good ideas – and then they put an inferior grinder on top that slows down the whole system. As passionate home baristas, it almost tears us apart: the machine delivers in many disciplines, but precisely in terms of coffee quality – its actual purpose – it fails at the grinder bottleneck.
Temperature Stability, Dual-Boiler Power, and Heating Time
Anyone considering purchasing the Meraki will be happy to hear that brew temperature and steam power are definitely strengths of the machine. Inside, two separate boilers (350 ml for espresso, 550 ml for steam) with PID control are at work. In our test, the temperature management during espresso extraction proved to be solid: the Meraki maintains the set brew temperature with only minor fluctuations – not quite at a professional level, but definitely stable enough for consistent results. With typical home barista operation (a few shots in a row), there were no anomalies. Only during hard "continuous stress" (several shots according to the WBC protocol) did the temperature at individual points rise slightly because the housing/interior heated up. However, this is beyond everyday use and is not a real point of criticism. Overall, we cannot complain about the temperature performance.
The rotary pump also contributes to stability by constantly maintaining ~9 bar pressure – this works exemplarily and is extremely quiet (see section on volume).
However, interested parties should realistically estimate the heating time. The manufacturer advertises "3–4 minutes" until it is ready for operation – that is only true to the extent that the steam boiler builds up pressure after ~4 minutes. However, it takes significantly more than just a few minutes until the heavy brew group and the portafilter are properly heated through. We were able to make a setting for the brew group heating on the machine (30°, 50°, or 70 °C at the brew head). With a maximum 70 °C brew head temp., it took about 8–10 minutes in our test until the Meraki was truly "up to temperature" and delivered stable espresso results. It is definitely not completely heated up in 2 or 4 minutes – this is also confirmed in everyday feeling: if you give it 10 minutes, the first shot runs significantly better than if you start after 5 minutes. We therefore recommend patience or the aforementioned timer function for preheating. Once the Meraki has finished the warm-up phase, it maintains its temperatures reliably. In the Kaffeemacher test protocol, measurements showed that the machine comes close to the target brew temperature after ~10 minutes and then fluctuates with an offset of ±2 °C.
The steam performance of the Meraki surprised us positively. The right boiler delivers powerful steam; there are three selectable power levels (e.g., medium and strong) that regulate the steam pressure. At the highest level, the small machine has real "oomph." We were able to bring a 600ml pitcher of cold milk to temperature (~60 °C) in approx. 40 seconds. The result was silky foamed, fine-pored micro-milk – absolutely café-worthy.
For comparison: The very best dual boilers can do this in ~20–25 seconds, but 40 seconds is a solid value for a home machine, especially since the Meraki does not reach its limits. It is great that you could pull the espresso in parallel while frothing milk thanks to the dual boiler (for a quick cappuccino workflow). The automatic milk frothing also convinced us – after some tinkering: the steam wand has a built-in temperature sensor that stops the frothing process as soon as the set milk temperature is reached. In practice, you have to position the pitcher correctly and tilt it slightly at the beginning so that air is drawn in; after that, you can submerge the wand a bit deeper. After a few test runs, we got the hang of it, and the automatic system actually always switched off upon reaching the target temperature, without overheating. The result was reproducible and very convenient – a feature that is especially beneficial for latte art newcomers. You could say it is a simply implemented version of an "autosteam," but it serves its purpose. We rate the steam performance overall as "top – no question."
We only have criticism regarding details: the steam nozzle is a large, four-holed stainless steel part. Nevertheless, milk stuck to it quite strongly and was only to be cleaned with some scrubbing. Here, we had expected something else after the manufacturer spoke of an easy-to-clean coating.
Overall, however, we are complaining about small things – for home baristas who like to make milk drinks, the Meraki is a hit.
Volume and Energy Efficiency
In the kitchen of a home barista, noise emissions are a factor not to be neglected. Here, the Meraki plays one of its trump cards: thanks to its rotary pump, it works whisper-quiet. We measured ~57 dB during extraction – the splashing of the espresso in the cup was louder than the pump! Even the clicking of the solenoid valve when switching off briefly drowns out the pump. In numbers and subjectively, the Meraki is one of the quietest espresso machines we have ever had in a test. Anyone coming from a vibrating portafilter machine, for example, will be astonished at how pleasantly subtle the Meraki works. Only when grinding beans does the built-in grinder make itself acoustically noticeable – it does sound quite bright and loud.
A contentious topic is energy efficiency. On one hand, Meraki installs two comparatively small boilers (0.35 L and 0.55 L), which fundamentally helps to limit energy consumption – no huge masses of water need to be heated. The heating time of ~10 minutes is also rather short compared to other dual boilers, which reduces losses. Nevertheless, the machine draws a noticeable amount of electricity during operation, mainly because both boilers are constantly active. Unlike some other dual boilers, the steam boiler cannot be switched off separately – so anyone who only pulls espresso and does not need milk foam still has to heat the steam boiler as well.
According to our measurements, the Meraki drew about 70 W continuously in idle mode (temperature maintained, no extraction), which corresponds to approx. 0.07 kWh per hour.
Accessories and Scope of Delivery
Here the Meraki can score again: The scope of delivery is exceptionally extensive and high-quality. Included are, among other things: a 58.5 mm tamper in a heavy version that fits perfectly flush with the basket, a precise 18 g stainless steel basket, a complete bottomless portafilter with a clever extra – namely a replaceable double spout. This spout (a small stainless steel plate with a double spout and seal) can be inserted into the bottom of the bottomless portafilter if required. So you have two options in one: bottomless for perfect extraction visibility, or with a spout for clean splitting into two cups. We knew of a similar solution from La Marzocco and Profitec in plastic or rubber – Meraki has implemented this exemplarily in stainless steel.
Furthermore, a magnetic dosing cup (see above), a coffee distributor/leveler disc, a blind filter for backflushing, a cleaning brush, water hardness test strips, a water filter for the tank, and even a microfiber cloth are included. Really everything you need to get started – no skimping on accessories here, but generously provided. The quality of the extras is pleasantly high: the tamper sits snugly in the hand, the dosing cup sits magnetically securely in the grinder. We see only the leveling tool with mixed feelings: while it distributes the coffee grounds, it does not replace a tamper. If you adjust it so that it does not tamp at the same time, it can help – however, we personally prefer the classic manual work for leveling or use a WDT tool. Still nice that it is included. Overall, the accessories convey the impression that Meraki has understood the needs of home baristas. We give a compliment here: hardly any machine comes into the house better equipped.
Price-Performance and Conclusion: Tried a Lot – and in the End a Flop?
The Meraki espresso machine is an ambitious project. It wants everything: a high-quality portafilter machine, smart scale technology, IoT features, convenient automation – and all this at a competitive price of around 1800 euros. On paper, this makes an unbeatable offer that makes your eyes widen in astonishment at first: "Wow, so many professional features for so little money – give it to me!". We had exactly this amazement when unboxing. But the hard truth revealed itself in the practical test: much of what sounds great does not work at a top level or brings with it new problems.
Individual aspects of the Meraki are fantastic – e.g., the gravimetric control, the quiet pump, the powerful steam unit. But in the end, the espresso in the cup counts, and here the overall package is weak because of the mediocre grinder. In addition, there are processing defects and questionable ease of maintenance. All in all, the Meraki unfortunately looks like a "show-off" that wants to impress with shiny features but does not fully deliver in practice.
We ask ourselves in every test: "Would we recommend this machine to our best friend?" With the Meraki, we have to – as much as it disappoints us – answer this question with No. Even if one wants to praise the joy of innovation, the compromises are simply too great for us. We would have a stomach ache having someone on the phone 4 weeks after the purchase: "You recommended it to me – and now this...". We believe this scenario is possible if home baristas are fascinated by the many features and then have to struggle with the pitfalls of everyday life. Of course, no machine is perfect – but here too many potential frustration points come together (grind quality, repair, material...). We see the price-performance ratio as divided: on one hand, an incredibly large amount of machine for the money, on the other hand, perhaps too much wanted and too little to the point?
One could now argue: "What do you expect for €1800? The manufacturer has to save somewhere." True, but in our opinion, savings were made at the wrong end here.
Thought experiment: The Meraki without an integrated grinder, but with slightly better build quality, for ~€1400 – that would be an exciting product. Combined with a separate high-quality single-dosing grinder (~€500–700), you would then have a great setup for approx. €2000–2100.
That is exactly why we find it difficult to recommend the Meraki. For experimenters who love the latest gadget and are prepared to accept weaknesses (or counteract them with an additional external grinder), the Meraki can still be an exciting playground. It combines things that the espresso machine market can learn from – such as the successful integration of the scale in the brewing area. In this respect, we definitely pay our respects: The Meraki is a courageous step that has shown what is possible. But for us, in its current form, it is more of a lesson than a new favorite. We hope that the manufacturer and other market players learn from this balancing act.
Our conclusion: The Meraki espresso machine is meant to be super potent, but fails due to its own ambition. It tries an "all-in-one" balancing act that it does not fully achieve. Anyone who lets themselves be blinded by the datasheet could be disappointed in the end. Instead of a new price-performance killer, you get an unbalanced mixture of genius and unfinished work. We therefore advise caution: look closely, weigh your own priorities – and in case of doubt, prefer to invest in proven quality. The idea behind the Meraki deserves recognition, but it is not enough for an unrestricted purchase recommendation in our assessment.
In the end, it remains to be said: We learned a lot from this test, and perhaps you have also gained an impression. Anyone who is curious anyway should definitely try the Meraki themselves (or perhaps pick it up as a used bargain at a discount 😉). For all others: there are better options for carefree coffee enjoyment at home. In this sense – off to the next espresso, and at the next test, we will hopefully have more reason to celebrate!
TL;DR: The Meraki is an all-singing, all-dancing machine on paper – but in practice, it is more of a wolf in sheep's clothing. Individual features (scale, dual boiler, quiet pump, automatic system) are great, but the weak grinder and some design flaws pull the overall result down significantly. For us, not a game changer, but an instructive experience with a clear warning to potential buyers: Do not be blinded by feature lists, but pay attention to what ends up in the cup!
