For years, my morning routine felt incomplete, a frantic dash without that perfect cup of coffee. I yearned for the rich, aromatic brew of a high-street café, but the daily cost and time spent queuing simply weren’t sustainable. My old filter machine just wasn’t cutting it, producing bland, uninspiring coffee that offered little joy. This persistent problem had to be solved; without a truly satisfying coffee experience at home, my mornings would forever lack that essential spark, and my wallet would continue to suffer from expensive takeout habits. A proper home coffee solution would have been a game-changer.
Navigating the World of Coffee Machines: What to Ponder Before a Purchase
Purchasing a quality coffee machine is about more than just convenience; it’s about transforming your daily ritual and ensuring that every cup meets your specific desires. People seek out such appliances to overcome the blandness of instant coffee, the expense of café visits, or simply to enjoy the craft of brewing from the comfort of their kitchen. An ideal customer for a high-end, fully automatic coffee machine is someone who deeply appreciates quality coffee, enjoys variety, values customisation, and is willing to invest in a premium experience. They might host guests frequently or simply be a serious coffee enthusiast who consumes multiple cups daily.
Conversely, if you’re someone who only occasionally drinks coffee, prefers a simple, no-frills black coffee, or has a very limited budget, a sophisticated bean-to-cup model might be an overinvestment. In such cases, a basic drip coffee maker, a French press, or even a simpler pod machine could suffice. Before committing to a purchase, consider your daily coffee consumption habits, the types of beverages you enjoy (espresso, latte, cold brew, etc.), your willingness to engage with machine maintenance, and, crucially, your budget. Think about features like milk frothing, programmability, ease of cleaning, and the overall footprint the machine will occupy in your kitchen.
Introducing the SIEMENS EQ700 TQ717GB3: Your Personal Barista
The SIEMENS EQ700 Fully Automatic Bean to Cup Coffee Machine is more than just an appliance; it’s a promise of café-quality coffee at your fingertips. This sleek, stainless steel black unit delivers a diverse range of beverages, from classic espressos to exotic international specialities, all with impressive customisation options. Upon purchase, you receive the machine itself, an integrated milk container, a water filter, a test strip for water hardness, an insertion aid, a welcome box, and comprehensive instruction leaflets. It stands out in the market by offering advanced features like Cold Brew and Slow Brew, along with extensive connectivity through the Home Connect App, which typically requires separate, more expensive models from competitors or is a premium add-on in previous Siemens iterations. This particular EQ700 coffee machine, the TQ717GB3 model, is ideal for the discerning home barista who craves variety, convenience, and superior taste, and is not afraid of modern smart technology. It might not be the best fit for someone who prefers a purely manual brewing process or has limited counter space.
Pros:
* Intuitive 5″ iSelect touch display for easy navigation and customisation.
* Extensive beverage selection (35+ with Home Connect, including Cold Brew/Slow Brew).
* Personalised profiles and ‘Favourites’ to save up to 30 custom drinks.
* Advanced iAroma System ensures optimal flavour extraction.
* Automatic milk system cleaning (autoMilk Clean) for hygiene.
Cons:
* The water tank is quite narrow, making it slightly difficult to clean thoroughly.
* Requires a specific tool for inserting the water filter, which could be misplaced.
* Waste water container is also narrow, requiring careful handling to avoid spills.
* Short power cable can limit placement options.
* Premium price point, though competitive for its feature set.
Deep Dive into the EQ700‘s Capabilities and Advantages
Having spent a considerable amount of time with the SIEMENS EQ700 TQ717GB3, I can confidently say it has revolutionised my coffee experience. Every feature feels meticulously designed to deliver both convenience and unparalleled flavour.
Effortless Navigation with the iSelect Display
The first thing that truly impressed me about the EQ700 coffee machine is its 5-inch iSelect full-touch display. It’s not just a screen; it’s the gateway to your personalised coffee journey. The touch and slide functionality makes navigating through the vast menu incredibly intuitive. I remember struggling with button-heavy machines in the past, often getting lost in sub-menus. With the EQ700, selecting a beverage, adjusting strength, or changing milk quantity is as simple as swiping and tapping on a smartphone. This ease of use means less fumbling and more time enjoying your perfectly crafted drink. This feature is crucial because it democratises complex coffee-making, making it accessible even for those who aren’t tech-savvy, while still offering the depth that enthusiasts crave. It solves the problem of needing to be an expert barista to get a great cup of coffee at home.
Personalised Perfection with aromaSelect and Favourites
One of the standout benefits for a true coffee connoisseur is the aromaSelect function. This allows you to choose from three distinct coffee aroma settings: mild, balanced, or distinctive. Depending on the beans I’m using or my mood, I can fine-tune the flavour profile. For a robust morning wake-up, ‘distinctive’ brings out the bold notes, while an afternoon pick-me-up might call for a ‘balanced’ setting. This level of customisation ensures that every cup of coffee is tailored to my exact preference at that moment.
Beyond aroma, the EQ700 truly excels in personalisation with its ‘Favourites’ feature, allowing me to save up to 30 customised beverages. This means I can adjust coffee strength, water quantity, and milk volume for my espresso macchiato, my partner’s extra-hot latte, and my friend’s double-shot Americano, and store them all under unique profiles. This is a massive time-saver, especially in the mornings, eliminating the need to re-adjust settings every time. It ensures consistent, perfect drinks for everyone in the household, drastically reducing morning decision fatigue and ensuring nobody’s preferred brew is forgotten. It means fewer complaints about coffee being too weak or too milky, which is a common problem with less sophisticated machines.
Smart Technology: Home Connect, CoffeeWorld, Cold Brew, and Slow Brew
The integration of the Home Connect App takes the EQ700 fully automatic coffee machine into a league of its own. Not only can I operate the machine remotely from my phone, but the app also unlocks an entire “CoffeeWorld” with 35 international beverages. Discovering new concoctions like the Austrian Wiener Melange or a Spanish Café con Leche has been a delightful journey. I’ve even named specific coffee creations in the app for friends, so when they visit, their preferred drink is just a tap away. The remote operation also allows me to initiate the machine’s warm-up and rinse cycle from bed, so by the time I reach the kitchen, it’s ready to brew.
What truly sets the SIEMENS EQ700 apart, however, is its Cold Brew and Slow Brew functionalities. Cold Brew, a game-changer for summer, produces a less acidic, smoother coffee extract without heat, perfect for enjoying over ice. The Slow Brew function, on the other hand, extends the brewing time, resulting in a deeper, richer, and incredibly aromatic flavour that truly highlights the nuances of the beans. These specialized brewing methods provide versatility that few other machines offer, catering to every coffee craving imaginable. The machine also has a pot function, allowing for a whole pot of Caffé Crema, ideal for entertaining or when you need more than a single cup. These diverse options solve the problem of needing multiple brewing devices for different coffee styles.
The iAroma System: The Heart of Flavour
Underpinning all of these features is Siemens’ iAroma System, a sophisticated symphony of engineering that ensures every cup is exceptional. This system expertly coordinates four key components:
* Ceramic Grinder: The durable ceramic grinder ensures precise and consistent grinding, which is fundamental for extracting a rich coffee aroma. I’ve used many machines where the grinder struggles with consistency, leading to uneven extraction. The EQ700’s grinder is remarkably uniform, ensuring optimal flavour from my preferred beans, whether they are a robusta-arabica blend or 100% arabica. I often switch between 3-4 different types of beans, and the adjustable grind allows me to get the best out of each.
* Intelligent Heater: Achieving the correct brewing temperature is paramount for coffee extraction. The intelligent heater in the bean-to-cup coffee maker quickly heats water to the ideal temperature for each beverage type, which is critical for aromatic development. This eliminates the lukewarm coffee problem I often faced with my previous machines.
* Smart Water Pump: The water pump automatically adjusts water pressure, flow, and volume to ensure precise extraction. This level of control means that whether it’s a short, intense espresso or a longer coffee, the water interacts with the grounds optimally, leading to a consistently flavourful result.
* Advanced Brewing Unit: The high-tech brewing unit works in conjunction with the other elements to deliver an optimal brew experience, guaranteeing full coffee flavour with precise water quantity and fresh beans. The result is a crema that’s consistently perfect and a taste that rivals professional cafés. This integrated system solves the fundamental problem of inconsistent quality found in less advanced machines.
Integrated Milk Container & autoMilk Clean
For anyone who loves milk-based coffees, the integrated milk container is a godsend. It’s neatly tucked away, keeping milk fresh and cold. The machine also allows for precise adjustment of milk temperature, ensuring lattes and cappuccinos are served exactly how I like them – extra hot! What truly makes this feature shine is the autoMilk Clean system. After each milk beverage, the machine automatically steam cleans the milk system. This is not just a convenience; it’s a hygiene essential. Knowing that the milk lines are always spotless without manual scrubbing gives immense peace of mind and prevents the build-up of bacteria, ensuring that every milky coffee tastes fresh and pure. This addresses a common frustration with coffee machines: the tedious and often messy cleaning of milk frothers.
Dual Cup Function & Active Cup Warmer
The ability to make two coffees simultaneously is a feature I never knew I needed until I had it. My old machine couldn’t do this, and it often led to one person’s coffee getting cold while the other was being prepared. With the SIEMENS EQ700 TQ717GB3, both my partner and I can have our morning coffees brewed at the same time, perfectly hot and ready. This is particularly useful when entertaining. Adding to this convenience is the active cup warmer, which ensures that cups are pre-heated, preserving the temperature and integrity of the coffee as it’s dispensed. Cold cups can dramatically reduce the enjoyment of a hot beverage, so this thoughtful detail further elevates the experience.
Maintenance & Longevity
While high-end coffee machines can sometimes be daunting to maintain, the EQ700 makes it relatively straightforward. The machine’s display and the Home Connect App will proactively inform you when the water is low, the drip trays need emptying, or a cleaning cycle is due. The cleaning tablets and descaling solutions, designed specifically for Siemens appliances, are surprisingly cost-effective compared to some other brands I’ve used. Access to the electronics for maintenance is also user-friendly, not requiring special tools. The only minor quibbles I have are the narrow design of the water tank and waste water tray, which can make cleaning them a bit fiddly, and the short power cable, which can limit placement options. However, these are minor points when weighed against the overall performance and convenience. I haven’t experienced any leaks, and the machine’s robust build quality gives me confidence in its long-term durability.
Voices from Other EQ700 Owners
Having extensively used the EQ700 myself, I’ve also noticed that other users online echo much of my positive experience. Many are genuinely impressed by the rich, creamy, and flavourful coffee it produces, from espresso to various lattes. The vast selection of beverages, especially the “Coffee World” options via the Home Connect app, consistently receives high praise for expanding their coffee horizons. People frequently highlight how simple the machine is to operate and maintain, with the automatic prompts for cleaning and refilling being a significant plus. While acknowledging the initial investment, numerous reviewers conclude that the fully automatic coffee machine is worth every penny, offering a café-quality experience that justifies the cost. The ability to make two coffees at once and the customisation features are also commonly celebrated, making it a hit for households with multiple coffee drinkers.
Final Thoughts: Elevating Your Daily Coffee Ritual
The problem of inconsistent, uninspiring, or overly expensive coffee is one that many of us face daily. Without addressing it, we continue to compromise on taste, convenience, or budget, allowing our morning ritual to fall short of its potential. The SIEMENS EQ700 Fully Automatic Bean to Cup Coffee Machine offers an exceptional solution, transforming your kitchen into a personal coffee sanctuary.
This EQ700 coffee machine is a great fit for solving this dilemma for several reasons. Firstly, its iAroma System guarantees a consistently delicious and perfectly brewed cup every time, eliminating guesswork. Secondly, the sheer variety of 35+ beverages, including unique Cold Brew and Slow Brew options accessible via the Home Connect App, ensures there’s always something to satisfy your specific craving. Finally, its intuitive iSelect display and autoMilk Clean function make daily operation and maintenance refreshingly simple. Don’t settle for less; elevate your coffee experience today. To explore more about this incredible machine and bring café-quality coffee home, Click here to check it out!