The Meraki espresso machine boasts superlatives: a dual-boiler espresso machine with an integrated grinder, scale, and IoT features for under €2000 – it sounds almost too good to be true. And yes, upon closer inspection, it actually turns out that the machine might be failing precisely because it tries to do so much at once. In doing so, the Meraki loses sight of some fundamental aspects that are prerequisites for a good espresso machine and also for good coffee.
We thoroughly tested the Meraki using the extended Kaffeemacher test protocol. In this report, we share our experiences from a home-barista perspective: from the first impression to craftsmanship, operation, temperature stability, espresso quality, accessories, noise level, energy efficiency, steam performance, value for money, and, of course, the integrated grinder. The result is an honest and critical test report that highlights the strengths and weaknesses of this supposed miracle machine – and warns potential buyers against being dazzled 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, on the right the steam boiler.
Craftsmanship and Repairability – Strengths and (many) Weaknesses
Outwardly, the Meraki initially makes an 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 also no fingerprints. Unfortunately, some parts feel wobbly, for example, when operating the brew lever or when adjusting the display mount.
The drip tray itself is made of plastic and holds approximately 650 ml. The aluminum cover plate must not be put in the dishwasher. 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 – also due to minor defects on our unit.
An annoying quality problem became apparent directly out-of-the-box: a piece of the coating had already chipped off the front of the machine. Different materials also lead to color variations – the upper part of the machine shimmers darker than the lower part. Such details spoil the claim. Here, Meraki should have either opted entirely for plastic or made the paintwork more durable.
When inserting the portafilter, we experienced another negative surprise. Not only did it turn stiffly into the bayonet, but it sounded as if metal was scratching on metal like sandpaper. Now, one might think that this would change after a few uses. But that is not the case. With every insertion, our hair still stood on end.
At the latest, when it came to repairability, our initial enthusiasm turned into frustration. We couldn't grind coarse enough with the grinder. To change the basic alignment of the grinder, however, it must be completely opened.
A total of 13 screws had to be removed from the bottom, many of them hidden under stickers and in different designs. We even tore 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 the enormous effort required to get to the inner workings.
Our conclusion on the construction: nicely conceived, but absolutely poorly executed in terms of maintenance and durability. If something breaks down eventually (which is to be expected with the complex technology), the machine is at risk of becoming a disposable product. Here, the manufacturer should urgently make improvements and design the product to be more service-friendly – currently, we as owners would not dare to tinker with it ourselves in case of a fault.
Operation and clever functions in everyday use
The Meraki aims to set new standards. Operation is via a central touch display, flanked by haptic levers/buttons (e.g., brew lever). The menus offer extensive setting options: grind quantity, output quantity (espresso weight), brewing temperature, pre-infusion, and even automatic programs for milk drinks. Despite the variety of functions, we found the navigation relatively intuitive – at least those with previous portafilter experience will quickly find their way around. Beginners will need some time to learn, but it is precisely for them that Meraki wants to provide assistance: 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 outlet and under the drip tray. This allows the Meraki to implement Grind-by-Weight and Brew-by-Weight: for example, you can pre-select 18.5 g of bean output, and the grinder automatically stops when the target weight is reached. In the test, this worked surprisingly well – deviations were usually less than ±0.2 g. While grinding by weight is neither particularly fast nor whisper-quiet, it saves steps in the workflow and proved to be quite reliable.
We were impressed by the Brew-by-Weight function: for example, we could program an output weight of 40 g – the machine then brews and stops the shot exactly at 40 g of espresso in the cup. This gravimetric shutdown worked "sensibly well" in the test.
I have since had the opportunity to try out several espresso machines with integrated scales, also in the catering sector. The Brew-by-Weight performance of the Meraki does not have to hide behind any machine on the market, especially not behind any for home use, and even less so in the sub-2000 Euro range. There is no competition there!
Deviations of at most ~1 g are an excellent value by which future machines must be measured. In practice, this means: More consistent results without manual stopping – a real gain, especially for beginners. You always have the right brewing ratio in the cup. In addition, there is a pre-infusion that brews for a definable time with a brewing pressure of 3 or 4 bar.
Workflow good? Brew-by-Weight definitely!
The workflow with the machine is logical and intuitive. We grind the desired amount of coffee into the dosing cup. This sits on scale number 1 and stops when the target amount is reached. We then fill the coffee into the portafilter.
The stylish included tamping station made of wood with a leveler is practical. We insert the portafilter for tamping, and it lies flat and straight, which promotes clean and parallel tamping. After tamping, we lock it in and brew the exact brew quantity in grams. The espresso machine stops when the exact fill quantity is reached in the cup.
Before we return to the grinder, we must expressly praise the Brew-by-Weight technology: it is excellent and for us a benchmark in integrated grinder development. No complicated connected Bluetooth scale like with other manufacturers, but a structurally connected scale that stops the espresso machine exactly by weight. Super!
Why we first have to grind into the dosing cup with an espresso grinder with a bean hopper is less clear. Here, the manufacturer probably copied the single dosing concept. With this espresso machine, it makes no sense!
In addition to scales and display gimmicks, the Meraki also offers real IoT features. The CoffeeSense™ technology with NFC is particularly advertised: certain coffee packages 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, great: no more guessing when setting up a new bean, instead "hand-picked barista recipes" from a cloud database.
In practice, however, our judgment is reserved. In the test, "not much" happened on the machine after the scan. Grinding and brewing recommendations were displayed, but we know from experience that such standard values can at best be rough guidelines. And since the grinder did 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 app connection is similar: the Meraki can be integrated into the network via WLAN; firmware updates and, if necessary, app control are possible via this. We tried out the app (available for iOS/Android) to save recipes and control the machine. This worked, but does not provide any decisive added value, as the touch display already regulates everything important.
However, the timer for heating up is useful: by programming a start time, the machine can be preheated automatically in the morning, for example. Given the ten-minute heating time, this can be welcome. In addition, there are 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 or falls with the grinder. Here, the Meraki unfortunately disappointed us. On paper, it all sounds good: a conical grinder developed in collaboration with Timemore, stepless adjustment, supposedly "professional." We had hoped to find the proven quality of the Timemore Sculptor (flat burrs, excellent particle distribution) in the Meraki. The reality is different.
What is installed is a simpler conical burr grinder – not inherently bad, but definitely not the high-end internal workings we had hoped for. Already during grinding, we noticed inconsistencies: the adjustable grind size range is very limited and somewhat coarse, lacking fine-tuning precision. Despite the "stepless" scale (0–30), in our tests, we often had to search for imaginary intermediate steps between the markings to achieve halfway suitable extraction times.
We were still able to get dark espresso roasts to be drinkable – but with medium to light roasts, the Meraki grinder simply does not produce a homogeneous coffee ground. The particle distribution is inhomogeneous: too many fines and at the same time 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-over-extracted – an indication of uneven extraction due to inconsistent grind. In short: the built-in grinder significantly limits the espresso quality.
With its wide main peak and high fines content, the values of the Meraki grinder in terms of homogeneity are comparable to the worst espresso grinders we have tested, and that is now over 70.
The frustrating thing is that the machine itself – meaning the brew group, pump, boiler – certainly has the potential for top espressos, 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 probably initially trust the integrated solution – and could thus be unfairly disappointed with the espresso.
Of course, one could simply operate the Meraki with a separate high-quality grinder. But seriously: 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's precisely the idea of the Meraki: to unite everything in one device. And here, the concept shoots itself in the foot. We find it almost tragic: Meraki has visibly "striven" to build a great device with many good ideas – and then they top it off with a subpar grinder that slows down the overall system. As passionate home baristas, it almost breaks our hearts: The machine delivers in many disciplines, but precisely when it comes to coffee quality – its actual purpose – it fails at the bottleneck of the grinder.
Temperature Stability, Dual Boiler Power, and Heat-up Time
Anyone considering purchasing the Meraki will be pleased to hear that brew temperature and steam performance 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 control during espresso extraction proved to be solid: the Meraki maintains the set brew temperature with only minor fluctuations – not absolutely at a professional level, but definitely stable enough for consistent results. In typical home-barista operation (a few extractions in a row), there were no abnormalities. Only under harsh "continuous stress" (several shots according to the WBC protocol) did the temperature rise slightly at individual points 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 maintaining a constant ~9 Bar pressure – this works excellently and is also exceptionally quiet (see the "Noise Level" section).
However, interested parties should realistically estimate the heating time. The manufacturer advertises "3–4 minutes" until operational readiness – this is true at most insofar as the steam boiler builds up pressure after ~4 minutes. However, until the heavy brew group and the portafilter are properly heated through, significantly more than just a few minutes pass. We were able to set the brew group heating on the machine (30°, 50° or 70°C at the brew head). With a maximum of 70°C brew head temp., it took approximately 8–10 minutes in our test until the Meraki was really "up to temperature" and delivered stable espresso results. In 2 or 4 minutes, it is definitely not completely heated up – this is also confirmed in everyday experience: If you give it 10 minutes, the first shot runs much better than if you start after just 5 minutes. Here, we therefore recommend patience or the aforementioned timer function for preheating. Once the Meraki has completed the heating phase, however, 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 positively surprised us. 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 manage this in ~20–25 seconds, but 40 seconds is a solid value for a household machine, especially since the Meraki does not reach its limits here. What's great is that you could extract espresso in parallel during milk frothing thanks to the dual boiler (for a quick cappuccino workflow). The automatic milk frothing also convinced us – after a bit of 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 initially tilt it slightly so that air is drawn in; after that, you can immerse the wand a little deeper. After a few test runs, we got the hang of it, and the automatic system actually always switched off when the target temperature was reached, without overheating. The result was reproducible and very convenient – a feature that particularly benefits latte art novices. You could say it's a simply implemented variant of "autosteam," but it serves its purpose. We rate the overall steam performance as "top – no question."
Our criticism only concerns details: The steam nozzle is a large, four-hole stainless steel part. Nevertheless, milk stuck to it quite strongly and could only be cleaned with some scrubbing. Here we had expected something else, as the manufacturer talks about an easy-to-clean coating.
Overall, however, we are nitpicking here – for home baristas who like to make milk drinks, the Meraki is a powerhouse.
Noise Level and Energy Efficiency
In a home barista's kitchen, noise emissions are a factor not to be underestimated. Here, the Meraki plays one of its trump cards: thanks to its rotary pump, it operates whisper-quietly. We measured ~57 dB during extraction – the gurgling 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 speaking, the Meraki is one of the quietest espresso machines we have ever tested. Anyone coming from a vibrating portafilter machine, for example, will be amazed at how pleasantly discreetly the Meraki works. Only when grinding beans does the integrated grinder make itself acoustically noticeable – it sounds quite bright and loud.
Energy efficiency is a mixed bag. On the one hand, Meraki uses two relatively small boilers (0.35 L and 0.55 L), which fundamentally helps to limit energy consumption – no huge amounts of water need to be heated. The heat-up time of ~10 minutes is also rather short compared to other dual boilers, which reduces losses. Nevertheless, the machine consumes noticeable electricity during operation, especially because both boilers are constantly active. Unlike some other dual boilers, the steam boiler cannot be switched off separately – so anyone who only brews espresso and does not need milk froth still has to heat the steam boiler.
According to our measurements, the Meraki drew about 70 W continuously in idle mode (temperature maintained, no extraction), which corresponds to about 0.07 kWh per hour.
Accessories and Scope of Delivery
This is where the Meraki truly shines: The scope of delivery is exceptionally comprehensive and high-quality. Included are, among other things: a heavy 58.5 mm tamper that perfectly flushes with the portafilter basket, a precise 18 g stainless steel basket, a complete bottomless portafilter with a clever extra – namely an interchangeable double spout. This spout (a small stainless steel plate with a double pourer and gasket) can be inserted into the bottomless portafilter if needed. This gives you two options in one: bottomless for perfect extraction visibility, or with a spout for clean splitting into two cups. We knew a similar solution from La Marzocco and Profitec in plastic or rubber – Meraki has exemplarily implemented this 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. Truly everything you need to get started – no expense is spared on accessories here, but rather generously provided. The quality of the included items is pleasingly high: The tamper feels substantial in hand, and the dosing cup sits securely magnetically in the grinder. Only the leveling tool is something we view ambivalently: While it distributes the coffee grounds, it doesn't replace a tamper. If you adjust it so that it doesn't tamp at the same time, it can be helpful – however, we personally prefer traditional manual leveling or using a WDT tool. Nevertheless, it's nice that it's included. Overall, the accessories convey the impression that Meraki has understood the needs of home baristas. We praise it here: hardly any other machine comes so well-equipped.
Price-Performance and Conclusion: Tried a lot – and in the end, a bluffer?
The Meraki espresso machine is an ambitious project. It wants to be everything: a high-quality portafilter machine, smart weighing technology, IoT features, convenient automation – and all at a bargain price of around 1800 Euros. On paper, this makes for an unbeatable offer that initially makes you stare with wide eyes: "Wow, so many professional features for so little money – I want it!" We had the same astonishment when unboxing it. But the harsh truth revealed itself in the practical test: much of what sounds great doesn't perform at a top level or brings new problems with it.
Individual aspects of the Meraki are fantastic – e.g., the gravimetric control, the quiet pump, the powerful steam unit. But in the end, it's the espresso in the cup that counts, and here the overall package falters due to the mediocre grinder. Added to this are manufacturing defects and questionable ease of maintenance. In total, the Meraki unfortunately comes across as a "bluffer" that wants to impress with shiny features but doesn't fully deliver in practice.
In every test, we ask ourselves: "Would we recommend this machine to our best friend?" With the Meraki, as disappointed as we are, we have to answer this question with no. Even if one wants to praise the innovative spirit, the compromises are simply too great for us. We would have a bad feeling if someone called us 4 weeks after purchase: "You recommended it to me – and now this...". We consider exactly this scenario possible if home baristas are fascinated by the many features and then have to struggle with the pitfalls in everyday life. Of course, no machine is perfect – but here, too many potential points of frustration come together (grind quality, repair, material...). We view the price-performance as mixed: On the one hand, an incredible amount of machine for the money, but 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 in the wrong place 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's why we find it difficult to recommend the Meraki. For those who like to experiment, who love the latest gadget and are willing 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 that respect, we certainly respect it: The Meraki is a courageous step that has shown what is possible. But for us, in its current form, it is more a lesson than a new favorite. We hope the manufacturer and other market players learn from this balancing act.
Our conclusion: The Meraki espresso machine is well-intended and super potent, but it fails due to its own ambition. It attempts an "all-in-one" balancing act that it doesn't fully achieve. Those who are blinded by the spec sheet might ultimately be disappointed. Instead of a new price-performance killer, you get an unbalanced mix of ingenious and unfinished. We therefore advise caution: Look closely, weigh your own priorities – and when in doubt, invest in proven quality. The idea behind the Meraki deserves recognition, but in our assessment, it's not enough for an unqualified purchase recommendation.
Ultimately, it must be said: We learned a lot from this test, and perhaps you too have gained an impression. If you are still curious, you should definitely try the Meraki yourself (or perhaps snag it as a used bargain with a discount 😉). For everyone else: There are better options for worry-free coffee enjoyment at home. In this sense – on to the next espresso, and in the next test, we hope to have more reason to celebrate!
TL;DR: The Meraki is a jack-of-all-trades on paper – but in practice, more of a wolf in sheep's clothing. Individual features (scale, dual boiler, quiet pump, automatic) are great, but the weak grinder and some design flaws significantly drag down the overall result. For us, it's not a game changer, but a valuable learning experience with a clear warning to potential buyers: Don't be blinded by feature lists, but pay attention to what ends up in your cup!
