The Philips Baristina bean-to-cup machine makes espresso from freshly roasted beans with remarkable ease – perfect for anybody looking to simplify their morning routine
At first I was a little bit dubious about Philips latest drop, the Baristina. See, it is neither an espresso maker, nor a traditional coffee machine.
Being a self-confessed coffee addict, I had my doubts about the necessity of the product. I already had a grinder, which I rarely whipped out, and couldn’t see the need for yet another flashy gadget collecting dust on my countertop. But despite my initial reservation, I was quickly converted after just a couple of uses.
Despite my minimum five-cup-a-day caffeine obsession – this love is pretty new found. I am yet to delve into the world of proper coffee gadgets having been content with just the standard pod machines. But Philips’ latest offering is a brilliant entry-level bean-to-cup espresso machine – completely foolproof, even for novices like me.
My newbie status does not mean I’m completely clueless. Everyone knows a cup made straight from the bean is far more desirable than a processed pod.
But being faced with the prospect of actually making the fresh cup is nothing short of terrifying. With the Philips Baristina, however, brewing espresso using freshly roasted beans is as easy as using coffee pods.
Unlike most coffee machines, where the entire brewing procedure happens in the machine, the Baristina uses a portafilter handle reminiscent of a manual espresso machine.
Place the empty handle into position, select your drink, and the Baristina will grind the appropriate quantity of coffee into the filter basket, tamp it down, then brew it for you.
The brilliant design is made that much better with the use of the portafilter – as there’s no need to detach the machine’s side panel, clear messy internal chambers, remove components, or wipe up stray coffee grounds that have escaped.
It’s also a stylish compact coffee maker. While its casing is plastic, the matte finish and range of sophisticated colours mean it doesn’t look cheap or attract fingerprints.
After more than a few uses the coffee was always well-brewed using my usual choice of beans.
The only drawback is that users can’t adjust the grind size – meaning the time length of brewing is completely out of your control. So a different choice of beans is sometimes necessary.
It should also be noted that the Baristina doesn’t include a steam wand or any other means of frothing milk, though it’s sold bundled with a separate milk frother, if cappuccinos and lattes are your thing.
But the beauty of the Baristina is in its simplicity – limited steps and you’ll be presented with cafe quality espresso – at a great price.
For more information, find the Baristina here.