The Meraki espresso machine boasts superlatives: A dual-boiler espresso machine with integrated grinder, scale, and IoT features for under 2000 € – that sounds almost too good to be true. And yes, in fact, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the machine may be failing precisely because it tries to do so much at once. In doing so, the Meraki loses sight of some fundamentals that are essential for a good espresso machine and for good coffee.
We tested the Meraki thoroughly using an extended coffee maker test protocol. In this report, we share our experiences from a home barista perspective: from first impressions through build quality, 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 sheds light on both the strengths and weaknesses of this supposedly miraculous machine – and warns potential buyers not to be dazzled by a long feature list.
The Meraki espresso machine presents itself as a compact espresso machine with a grinder. On the left the grinder, in the middle the brewing group with integrated scale, on the right the steam boiler.
Build Quality and Repairability – Light and (Much) Shadow
Externally, the Meraki initially makes an impression. A modern-industrial design with three towers (grinder, brewing group, steam boiler) in a square footprint of approximately 37×37 cm. However, the housing consists mostly of plastic – no polished stainless steel surfaces, but also no fingerprints. Unfortunately, some elements feel wobbly, for example when operating the brew lever or when adjusting the display mounting.
The drip tray itself is made of plastic and holds approximately 650 ml. The aluminum cover plate must not go in the dishwasher. That's problematic because how else are you supposed to clean the grooves between the grilles?
Overall, however, the material feel conveys no premium impression – also due to minor defects on our unit.
An annoying quality problem appeared right out of the box: A piece of the coating on the front of the machine was already chipped off. Different materials also lead to color deviations – the upper part of the machine shimmers darker than the lower part. Such details detract from the claim. Meraki should have either gone completely with plastic or made the paint more durable.
When inserting the portafilter, we experienced another negative surprise. Not only does it turn stiffly into the bayonet, but it sounds as if metal on metal scrapes like sandpaper. One might think that this changes with a few pulls. But that's not the case. With each insertion, our hair stands on end.
When we reached the topic of 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 clearly not designed to be disassembled or repaired by the end user – quite the opposite. We could hardly believe how much effort was required to access the internals.
Our conclusion on construction: nicely thought out, but in terms of maintenance and longevity absolutely poorly executed. When something eventually breaks (which is likely given the complex technology), the machine threatens to become a throwaway product. The manufacturer should urgently make improvements here and design it in a more service-friendly way – currently, as owners, we wouldn't dare to take matters into our own hands if something goes wrong.
Operation and Clever Features in Everyday Use
The Meraki wants to set new standards. Operation is via a central touchscreen, flanked by haptic levers/buttons (e.g., brew lever). The menus offer extensive adjustment options: grinding amount, output amount (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 anyone with portafilter experience quickly finds their way around. Beginners will need some familiarization, but that's exactly who Meraki wants to help: numerous automatic features are designed to simplify the workflow and ensure reproducible results.
A highlight of the operation is the fully integrated scale technology. Scales are built in under the grinder outlet as well as under the drip tray. This allows the Meraki to achieve 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 that weight is reached. In testing, this worked remarkably well – deviations were usually under ±0.2 g. While grinding by weight is neither particularly fast nor silent, it saves steps in the workflow and proved to be quite reliable.
We were impressed by brewing by weight: for example, we could program 40 g output weight – the machine then brews and stops the pull exactly at 40 g of espresso in the cup. This gravimetric shutdown worked "sensationally well" in testing.
I've now had the opportunity to try several espresso machines with integrated scales, even in commercial settings. The Meraki's brew-by-weight performance doesn't have to hide behind any machine on the market, certainly not in the home category, and even less in the sub-2000 euro range. There's simply no competition!
Deviations of at most ~1 g are an excellent value against which future machines must be measured. In practice this means: More consistent results without manual stopping – a real benefit, especially for beginners. You always have the correct brew ratio in the cup. There's also a pre-infusion that brews over a definable time with a brew 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 stands on scale number 1 and stops when the target amount is reached. We then pour the coffee into the portafilter.
What's practical is the elegant tamping station supplied with the machine, made of wood with a leveler. We insert the portafilter for tamping and it lies flat and straight, which promotes clean and parallel tamping. After tamping, we insert it and brew the exact brew amount in grams. The espresso machine stops when the exact fill amount in the cup is reached.
Before we return to the grinder, we must explicitly praise the brew-by-weight technology: it's excellent and for us a benchmark in terms of integrated grinder development. No complicated Bluetooth scale like with other manufacturers, but a structurally connected scale that stops the espresso machine by weight to the point. Great!
Why we have to initially grind into the dosing cup with an espresso grinder with a bean hopper is less clear. The manufacturer probably copied the single dosing concept here. With this espresso machine, it doesn't make sense!
Besides the scale and display gimmicks, the Meraki also offers genuine 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, dose, temperature, etc. In theory, this is wonderful: no more guessing when setting up a new bean, instead "hand-picked barista recipes" from a cloud database.
In practice, however, our verdict is cautious. After scanning, "not much" happened on the machine. Although grinding and brewing recommendations were displayed, we know from experience: such standard values can at best be rough guidelines. And since the grinder didn't convince us (more on that shortly), we wouldn't blindly rely on a grind recommendation anyway. In short: a nice gimmick with limited practical benefit. The same goes for the app integration: the Meraki can be connected to the network via WiFi; firmware updates and possibly app control are possible through it. We tried the app (available for iOS/Android) to save recipes and control the machine. That worked, but doesn't provide significant added value since the touchscreen handles everything important anyway.
However, the warm-up timer is useful: by programming a start time, you can have the machine automatically preheat in the morning, for example. Given the ten-minute warm-up time, that can be welcome. There are also practical software features like automatic cleaning programs (backflush).
Espresso Quality and the Weaknesses of the Integrated Grinder
The Meraki comes with big promises – but ultimately, an espresso setup lives or dies by the grinder. Here the Meraki unfortunately disappointed us. On paper, everything sounds good: a conical burr set developed in collaboration with Timemore, stepless adjustment, allegedly "professional". We had hoped to find the quality proven in the Timemore Sculptor (flat burrs, excellent particle distribution) in the Meraki. Reality looks different.
A simpler conical burr set of unknown origin is installed – nothing fundamentally bad, but definitely not the hoped-for high-end internals. Already while grinding, we noticed inconsistencies: the adjustable grind range is very limited and somewhat coarse, lacking fine-tuning precision. Despite the "stepless" scale (0–30), we often had to search for imaginary intermediate steps between the markings to achieve half-decent flow times in our tests.
We managed to get dark espresso roasts drinkable – but with medium to light roasts, the Meraki grinder simply doesn't produce homogeneous coffee grounds. The particle distribution is inhomogeneous: too many fines and simultaneously coarse particles, resulting in uneven extractions.
The taste remained correspondingly below expectations: 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 ground coffee. In short: the built-in grinder significantly limits espresso quality.
With the broad main peak and the high fine content, the Meraki grinder's values in terms of homogeneity are comparable to the worst espresso grinders we've tested, and that's now over 70.
What's frustrating is that the machine itself – the brewing group, pump, boiler – actually has what it takes for top espressos if only it were fed with evenly ground coffee. Temperature and pressure perform well (more on that shortly), and results with an external grinder were significantly better in our comparison test. But beginners in particular will likely initially trust the integrated solution – and could thus be unjustly disappointed with 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 have to place a second grinder next to it anyway? That makes no sense. That's exactly the idea behind the Meraki: to combine everything in one device. And here the concept shoots itself in the foot. We almost find it tragic: Meraki clearly "tried hard" to build a great machine with many good ideas – and then they put an below-average grinder on top that bottlenecks the entire system. As passionate home baristas, it almost breaks our hearts: the machine delivers in many disciplines, yet it fails precisely where it matters most – in coffee quality, its actual reason for being – because of the bottleneck that is the grinder.
Temperature Stability, Dual-Boiler Power, and Warm-up Time
Anyone considering purchasing the Meraki will be pleased to hear that brewing temperature and steam performance are indeed strengths of the machine. Inside, two separate boilers (350 ml for espresso, 550 ml for steam) work with PID control. In our test, temperature control during espresso extraction showed itself to be solid: the Meraki maintains the set brewing temperature with only minor fluctuations – not absolutely at professional level, but definitely stable enough for consistent results. In typical home barista operation (a few pulls in succession), there were no irregularities. Only under hard "stress testing" (multiple shots according to WBC protocol) did the temperature rise slightly at certain points because the housing/interior heated up. But that's beyond everyday use and isn't a real criticism. Overall, we can't complain about temperature performance.
The rotary pump also contributes to stability by maintaining constant ~9 bar pressure – that works exemplarily and remarkably quietly (see noise section).
However, interested parties should realistically assess the warm-up time. The manufacturer advertises "3–4 minutes" until ready for operation – that's accurate at best insofar as the steam boiler builds pressure after ~4 minutes. But until the heavy brewing group and portafilter are properly heated through takes significantly more than just a few minutes. We were able to make a setting on the machine for brewing group heating (30°, 50°, or 70 °C at brew head). With the maximum 70 °C brew head temp, it took approximately 8–10 minutes in our test until the Meraki was truly "at temperature" and delivering stable espresso results. At 2 or 4 minutes, it's definitely not fully heated up – this is also confirmed by everyday feel: if you give it 10 minutes, the first pull runs much better than if you start after 5 minutes. So we recommend patience here, or use the aforementioned pre-heat timer. Once the Meraki has its warm-up phase behind it, it maintains its temperatures reliably. In the coffee maker test protocol, measurements showed that after ~10 minutes the machine comes close to the target brewing temperature and then oscillates 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 steam pressure. On the highest setting, the small machine really has "oomph". We were able to bring 600ml of cold milk to temperature (~60 °C) in approximately 40 seconds. The result was silky frothed, fine-pored microfoam – absolutely café-worthy.
For comparison: the very best dual-boilers manage it in ~20–25 seconds, but 40 seconds is a solid value for a household machine, especially since the Meraki doesn't reach its limits doing it. Great is that thanks to the dual boiler, you could simultaneously pull espresso while steaming milk (for a quick cappuccino workflow). The automatic milk steaming also impressed us – after some tinkering: the steam wand has a built-in temperature sensor that stops the steaming process once the set milk temperature is reached. In practice, you have to position the pitcher correctly and tilt it slightly at the beginning so air is drawn in; then you can dip the wand a bit deeper. After a few test runs, we got the hang of it and the automatic function actually always shut off when reaching the target temperature, without overheating. The result was reproducible and very convenient – a feature that especially benefits latte art beginners. You could say it's a simply implemented version of an "autosteam," but it serves its purpose. We rate overall steam performance as "top – no question."
We only have criticism on details: the steam nozzle is a large, four-hole stainless steel part. Nevertheless, milk stuck to it quite firmly and was only removed with some scrubbing. We expected something different here, after the manufacturer speaks of an easily cleanable coating.
Overall, though, we're complaining about small things – for home baristas who love making milk drinks, the Meraki is fantastic.
Noise Level and Energy Efficiency
In a household barista's kitchen, noise emissions are a non-negligible factor. Here the Meraki plays one of its trump cards: thanks to its rotary pump, it operates whisper-quiet. We measured ~57 dB during extraction – the espresso splashing in the cup was louder than the pump! Even the click of the solenoid valve when shutting off briefly drowns out the pump. In numbers and subjectively, the Meraki is thus one of the quietest espresso machines we've ever tested. Anyone coming from a vibrating portafilter machine will be amazed at how pleasantly quiet the Meraki operates. Only when grinding beans does the built-in grinder make itself acoustically known – it sounds quite bright and loud.
A mixed topic is energy efficiency. On one hand, Meraki installs two comparatively small boilers (0.35 L and 0.55 L), which in principle helps limit energy consumption – you don't need to heat massive amounts of water. Also, the ~10 minute warm-up time is relatively short compared to other dual-boilers, which reduces losses. Nevertheless, the machine consumes noticeable power during operation, especially because both boilers are continuously active. Unlike some other dual-boilers, the steam boiler can't be switched off separately – so if you only brew espresso and don't need milk foam, you still have to heat the steam boiler.
According to our measurements, the Meraki drew approximately 70 W continuously in idle mode (maintaining temperature, without extraction), which corresponds to about 0.07 kWh per hour.
Accessories and Included Items
Here the Meraki can score points again: the included items are extraordinarily comprehensive and high-quality. Included are: a 58.5 mm tamper in heavy design 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 double outlet and seal) can be inserted into the bottom of the bottomless portafilter if needed. So you have two options in one: bottomless for perfect extraction visibility, or with spout for clean splitting into two cups. We knew this solution similarly from La Marzocco and Profitec in plastic or rubber – Meraki has exemplarily implemented it in stainless steel.
Additionally included are a magnetic dosing cup (see above), a coffee distributor/leveler disc, a blind basket for backflushing, cleaning brush, water hardness test strips, water filter for the tank, and even a microfiber cloth. Really everything you need to get started – no skimping on accessories here, but generously provided. The quality of the included items is pleasantly high: the tamper feels substantial in the hand, the dosing cup sits securely magnetic in the grinder. Only the leveling tool we see ambivalently: while it does distribute the ground coffee, it doesn't replace a tamper. If you set it so it doesn't tamp simultaneously, it can help – we personally prefer classic hand work when leveling or use a WDT tool. Still, nice that it's included. Overall, the accessories convey the impression that Meraki understood the needs of home baristas. We give credit here: hardly any machine comes into the home better equipped.
Value for Money and Conclusion: Attempted Much – and in the End, a Blender?
The Meraki espresso machine is an ambitious project. It wants everything: high-quality portafilter machine, smart scale technology, IoT features, convenient automation – and all at a bargain price of around 1800 euros. On paper, that's an unbeatable offer that initially makes you stare wide-eyed: "Wow, so many pro features for so little money – sign me up!". We felt exactly that amazement when unboxing too. But the harsh reality revealed itself in practical testing: much of what sounds great doesn't function at top level or brings new problems with it.
Individual aspects of the Meraki are fantastic – for example, the gravimetric control, the quiet pump, the powerful steam unit. But ultimately, what counts is the espresso in the cup, and here the overall package falters because of the mediocre grinder. Add to that build quality issues and questionable serviceability. In sum, the Meraki thus unfortunately comes across like a "blender," wanting to impress with shiny features but not quite delivering fully on the court in practice.
We ask ourselves with every test: "Would we recommend this machine to our best friend?" With the Meraki, we unfortunately – much as it disappoints us – have to answer this question with no. Even if one wants to praise the innovation drive, the compromises are simply too great. We'd have heartburn if someone called us four weeks after purchase saying: "You recommended it to me – and now this…". We think exactly this scenario is possible if home baristas let themselves be fascinated by the many features and then struggle with the quirks in everyday use. Of course, no machine is perfect – but here too many potential frustration points come together (grind quality, repairs, materials…). We see the value for money as mixed: on the one hand an unbelievable amount of machine for the money, on the other hand perhaps too much attempted and not enough on target?
One could now argue: "What do you expect for 1800 €? The manufacturer has to save somewhere." True, but in our opinion, they saved at the wrong end.
Thought experiment: the Meraki without integrated grinder, but with somewhat better build quality, for ~1400 € – that would be an exciting product. Combined with a separate high-quality single-dosing grinder (~500–700 €), you'd have around 2000–2100 € an excellent setup.
Exactly for this reason, we find it hard to recommend the Meraki. For those who love experimenting and love the latest gadget and are willing to accept weaknesses (or counteract with an additional external grinder), the Meraki can still be an exciting playground. It combines things from which the espresso machine market can learn – such as the successful integration of the scale in the brew area. In that respect, we certainly give it credit: the Meraki is a bold step that showed what's possible. But for us, in its current form, it's more of 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-intentioned but fails due to its own ambition. It attempts an "all-in-one" balancing act that it doesn't fully achieve. Anyone dazzled by the data sheet could end up disappointed. Instead of a new price-to-performance killer, you get an unbalanced mix of genius and unfinished. We therefore advise caution: look closely, weigh your own priorities – and in doubt rather invest in proven quality. The idea behind the Meraki deserves recognition, but it's not quite enough for our unqualified buying recommendations.
Ultimately, one more thing to say: we learned a lot from this test, and perhaps you've also gotten an impression. Those who are still curious should definitely try the Meraki themselves (or maybe snag it as a used bargain with a discount 😉). For everyone else: there are better options for worry-free coffee enjoyment at home. In that sense – on to the next espresso, and in our next test we hopefully have more reason to celebrate again!
TL;DR: the Meraki is a jack-of-all-trades on paper – in practice more wolf in sheep's clothing. Individual features (scale, dual-boiler, quiet pump, automation) are great, but the weak grinder and some design flaws pull the overall result way down. For us, no game changer, but an instructive experience with clear warning for buyers: don't let feature lists dazzle you, instead pay attention to what lands in the cup!
