A cup of hot coffee has become an effective way for many people to start a new day of work or relieve fatigue. But there are various types of coffee machines on the market, ranging from a few hundred yuan to tens of thousands of yuan, including fully automatic, semi-automatic, capsule machines, drip filters, etc. Many consumers exclaimed that they were "dazzled". Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation issued a consumer alert, inviting industry experts to sort out the core indicators for coffee machine selection, helping consumers make decisions according to their needs and make scientific choices.
First, let's look at safety and materials. This is the 'hard threshold' and also the bottom line. To identify the CCC logo accurately, it is the basic "ID card" for products to enter the market. Pay attention to the material of the product, especially the food contact materials that need to pass the inspection. The internal pipelines, brewer, water tank and other components of the coffee machine will be in long-term contact with hot water and coffee oil. It is recommended to prioritize purchasing products that have been tested or certified for food contact materials, or to request relevant testing reports from customer service to avoid the release of harmful substances from inferior materials.
Choose 'soft indicators' again, five models, and match them accordingly. At present, there are five mainstream products in the household coffee machine market. The fully automatic Italian style machine is suitable for office workers, multi person households, and milk and coffee enthusiasts. It integrates functions such as grinding, automatic powder pressing, extraction, automatic slag removal, and milk frothing, and produces stable products. Some models can adjust the concentration and cup size; The semi automatic grinding machine is suitable for coffee enthusiasts and latte art practitioners. It can manually grind, press, and froth milk, with controllable taste; Semi automatic Italian machines are suitable for consumers who want to get started but don't want too much trouble. They can directly use coffee powder, eliminating the grinding process, but adding a touch of hands-on fun compared to fully automatic machines; Capsule machines are suitable for single person consumption and minimalism, with zero cleaning burden and small size, but the long-term consumable cost is relatively high; Drip drip machines are suitable for consumers who only drink black coffee and prefer a light taste, with zero operating barriers and affordable prices. Consumers can be seated according to their willingness to drink, number of drinkers, and taste preferences.
Focus on four dimensions and understand the "internal strength" of coffee machines. Taking Italian coffee machines, which have the highest market share, as an example, consumers can focus on the following four indicators and request testing reports or explanations from customer service or e-commerce. In terms of noise, according to the GB/T 46503-2025 "Household and Similar Use Coffee Machines" standard, machines with grinding function should have a noise level of ≤ 80 dB (a), while machines without grinding function should have a noise level of ≤ 65 dB (a). In terms of milk foam, models with steam foaming function should have a milk foam moisture content of ≤ 15%. The lower the moisture content, the denser and longer the milk foam, and the better the latte effect. In terms of extraction quality, for Italian espresso, it is recommended to have an extraction rate of 18% to 22%, a coffee concentration of 8% to 12%, an extraction temperature of about 92 degrees Celsius, and a time control of 25 seconds to 30 seconds. In terms of continuous cup making ability, after the new machine is preheated and stabilized, it should be able to produce more than 5 cups continuously without significant quality degradation. It should be noted that the dual boiler model has an independent extraction and steam system, so there is no need to wait for the boiler to heat up when making milk coffee, and continuous cup production is more stable; Single boiler models are more suitable for single cup or intermittent production.
Pay attention to daily maintenance, good machines are "nurtured". Even the best coffee machine, if not cleaned properly, can affect its taste and lifespan. Priority should be given to selecting a brewer that is easy to disassemble and can be used to regularly rinse coffee grounds and residual oil; It is recommended to use filtered or purified water, which can help extend the lifespan of the heating element; Regularly remove scale according to the instructions, and some models come with a scale removal reminder function. It is recommended to enable it.
Source: City Language
Shangguan account author: Shanghai Market Supervision
