Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe Review: Can This Newcomer Compete With the Legends?

You know I’m a bit of a super automatic espresso machine junkie, so when a new model comes out I immediately scour the product page and customer reviews. I started writing this Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe review to shed some light on a mysterious newcomer to the home coffee scene.

However, I quickly realized, I’d already tested out the exact same machine in Europe, where it’s known as the Bosch VeroCup 100. Other than the name and a couple of extremely minor differences, the Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe is identical in terms of features and performance. So, allow me to tell you all about my experiences using the machine.

Note: The images in this review are of the European version of the machine.

Overview: Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe Review

The Bosch brand name probably isn’t a stranger to you. After all, this German company has been around for almost two centuries, manufacturing home appliances, car technology and all sorts of other stuff.

Incidentally, the post-pandemic home coffee economy is booming, so it’s no surprise that Bosch took a leap into the North American coffee market. That said, they’ve been producing and selling super automatic espresso machines in Europe for a while now.

Anyway, the Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe has quickly earned a lot of positive reviews on Amazon.

As this is a super automatic, it’s got all the standard features we’ve come to expect. This includes a built-in ceramic flat burr grinder, a water filter and an auto-frothing wand for steamed milk. What’s more, an LED display with one-touch sensor keys gives you access to a handful of specialty drink recipes.

Even better, you can choose between five strength settings for each drink recipe. Beyond that, there aren’t many customization options, though Bosch markets this machine as being programmable.

Admittedly, this was my first hint that this Bosch espresso machine may not be all that it’s chalked up to be. I became even more skeptical of the value of the 300 Series VeroCafe when I saw its $899.00 price tag. Seriously, this machine is marketed as a budget device in Europe, and you’ll find it for sale in places like Lidl. 

What’s worse, that price doesn’t even reflect the optional active cup warmer feature, which adds another $100 to the bill.

Throughout this Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe review, I’ll investigate the features of this machine and compare it to similar machines that could be more deserving of your hard earned cash.

Bosch 300 Series Fully Automatic Coffee Machine Features

Now that we’ve gone over the basics of this Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe review, we can dig a little deeper. Let’s get into it!

Size and Design

Like many super automatic espresso machines, this Bosch machine is quite compact. It’s got a 9.8-inch (24.8-centimeter) wide footprint, a depth of 16.5 inches (42 centimeters) and sits at 14.9 inches (28 centimeters) tall.

What’s more, it only weighs 14.8 pounds (6.7 kilograms). Since it’s so small and light, you shouldn’t have a problem fitting it in your kitchen. That said, the 47-ounce (1.4-liter) removable water tank may be hard to access if the machine is stored beneath overhanging cabinets.

Anyway, this machine is so lightweight because it’s mostly plastic. While this isn’t unusual for super automatics, it’s still disappointing. But I’ll admit that the 300 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine looks quite a bit nicer than it actually is.

The matte silver panels and black accents give the machine a sleek and modern vibe. Plus, the VeroCafe’s slim and boxy look is unassuming and will blend into any kitchen aesthetic.

User Interface

If you’ve ever worked with other super automatic espresso machines, the user interface on this baby should look pretty familiar.

It’s got an LCD display and illuminated sensor keys on the Easy Select Panel. Using these keys, you can pick your coffee strength and brew either one cup or two cups. Conveniently, the coffee strength is represented by the number of coffee beans on the display.

Plus, you can choose between a handful of specialty drinks. I’ll talk more about those later on in this Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe review.

Incidentally, all of these keys require a quick one-tap. Even better, they’re all labeled with intuitive symbols or words in English. Pretty simple. Oh, and there’s a power button front and center on the display. I suppose that part should be obvious, but it’s worth mentioning anyway.

What’s more, the display will alert you when it’s time to empty the grounds bin or clean the unit. In fact, there’s a whole button just to activate the cleaning setting.

Ceramic Grinder

As I mentioned, this isn’t a regular home espresso machine. Rather, the Bosch 300 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine has a built-in flat burr grinder.

For whatever reason, Bosch decided to name their grinder the “Bosch Ceram Drive.” Basically, this just means it’s got ceramic burrs.

The Bosch 300 Series is a prime example of the fact that a ceramic grinder is not quieter by default. Measured 72.9 decibels underline this. To confirm this, the app on my phone registered 72.9 decibels when the grinder was running. Still, the volume itself is less annoying than the noise quality: the fully automatic grinder sounds like a lawnmower running over a branch. Of course, the machine doesn’t run in the middle of the night or continuously. But you have to be prepared for it.

In the same way, you have to live with the fact that you only have a paltry three grinder adjustment settings to choose from. By today’s standards, this just isn’t acceptable.

However, during my testing, I noted that three settings were at least enough to extract the aroma of my Coffeeness beans in different ways.

Still, you should definitely avoid using super light or very dark roasts. The grinder does not cope well with extremes.

Bean Hopper

Okay, I’ll keep this Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe review moving forward – let’s talk hoppers. This super automatic espresso machine has a bean hopper with an 8-ounce (250-gram) capacity, situated above the burr grinder.

Even better, the hopper has a rubber-sealed lid to make it air-tight. Still, I’d always recommend a designated storage canister to keep your coffee beans fresh.

At this point it should be obvious that I’m a little disappointed in the lack of grinder features in the Bosch 300 Series superautomatic espresso machine. So, I’ll propose a machine that I think is a better alternative – and is cheaper, to boot.

The DeLonghi Magnifica Start has a stainless steel conical burr grinder, but it boasts 13 grind settings. Oh, and it offers a superior auto-frothing system and the same number of specialty drinks as the Bosch machine. All for a better price.

AromaMax System

I’ll start off with a disclaimer here: I have no idea what the AromaMax System is. But that’s through no fault of my own.

In fact, I did some thorough sleuthing on the Amazon and Bosch product listings. Despite this, I couldn’t find any worthwhile information about this thing.

Rather, Bosch just writes vaguely about what the AromaMax system does. Supposedly it controls the grinding flow rate, the volumetric control and brew temperature for each beverage.

But how does it do that? Is there a PID controller tucked away somewhere inside the Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe? Or maybe a dosing scale or timer? Perhaps a tiny robot barista?

Additionally, unless you’re pulling a ristretto or lungo shot – which this machine can’t do anyway – shouldn’t all espresso shots from a super automatic require the same volume and brew temperature?

It’s possible that the brew temperature adjustment is actually in reference to the frothing time. After all, you have to steam milk to different temperatures for different drinks. But again, I’m just speculating here.

Honestly, I can’t quite figure this out. I’ll admit, the AromaMax System seems like a load of marketing jargon to me. Besides, you definitely aren’t able to adjust the brewing temperature via the user interface.

So, here’s where I enter with a different product recommendation: the Saeco Xelsis automatic espresso machine. It’s a bit more expensive than the Bosch machine, but not unreasonably so. And I promise it’d be worth it, at least if you’re interested in the upgrades.

For example, the Saeco Xelsis has adjustable grind settings, more specialty drink options, more recipe customization, better espresso quality and even features different user profiles. 

So, yeah. Worth the upgrade, I’d say. Even better, with the Xelsis you won’t have to scratch your head wondering if the machine you’re buying is worth all the money.

Milk Express Frother

I’ll concede that perhaps I’ve been a little harsh so far in this Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe review. After all, this is a brand new machine and offers all the basic features you’d expect from a super automatic.

At the same time, I’d likely be more willing to overlook some of these flaws if the VeroCafe cost half as much. But because its price tag is at the tippy-top range of what I’d consider a budget machine, I feel obligated to examine its features very closely.

With that said, I actually don’t have much to complain about regarding this Bosch machine’s milk steaming setup.

Following the industry standards, the 300 Series fully automatic espresso machine includes an automatic in-cup milk frother. It’s really easy to use, and is dishwasher safe. Even better, unlike most of the machine’s construction, the frothing wand is made of durable stainless steel.

How Do I Use the Milk Express Frother?

The Milk Express Frother is easy to use. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind before you start making cappuccinos or latte macchiatos with your fully automatic coffee machine. Basically, it works like this:

To be honest, I find this automatic variation of a classic steam wand rather clever. However, you should avoid putting too much milk in the glass to prevent overflow. I recommend filling it at most one third of the way up.

Bosch says that the frother tip sits just below the surface of the milk. This makes sense, because then the milk system can aerate the milk more effectively.

To prevent cups from overflowing and ensure that the milk foam is to your liking, you can tell the VeroCup coffee machine how long it should froth for. To do this, proceed as follows:

Specialty Drinks

If you squint your eyes half-shut, you can almost pretend the Bosch 300 Series fully automatic espresso machine is your own personal cafe.

Jokes aside, this super automatic offers four different specialty drinks: espresso, coffee, cappuccino and latte macchiato. What’s more, you can choose between five different strength levels for each beverage, which makes it seem like you have more options.

Naturally, there’s also a steam-only button, so you can make an au lait if you like.

Still, I wouldn’t say that this espresso machine offers a huge amount of specialty drinks. Plus, let’s consider that the Philips 2200 offers about the same number of drinks for almost half the price of the Bosch machine. Sure, the Philips model requires a bit more effort on your part, but it still makes sense to wonder if the Bosch machine is worth all the cash.

How Do I Use the Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe?

Fortunately, the Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe espresso machine is super easy to use. This is especially true if, like most of us, you’re somewhat familiar with modern touch-screen interfaces.

That said, even technology newbies should have a pretty easy time navigating this superautomatic. After all, it requires very little effort on the user’s part.

Still, for good measure I’ll walk you through how to make an espresso with the Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe.

First, fill the water tank with water and dump some espresso beans into the bean hopper. Next, turn the machine on and wait a few minutes for it to preheat.

Since this is a super automatic, it has a very short warm-up time. In saying that, I’m talking less than a minute.

While you wait, preheat your best espresso cup. At this point, you can also choose your beverage strength. I’d recommend starting in the middle, which is represented by three coffee beans on the display.

Once the machine is warm, place your cup on the drip tray and press the espresso button. Oh, and you’ll want to adjust the espresso volume, which I’ll discuss next.

My Observations and Recommendations

In terms of the optimal dispensing volume, there are no surprises with the 300 Series VeroCafe. You should adjust the espresso to 1.4 ounces (40 milliliters), while the factory-set coffee is already perfectly well balanced at 4 ounces (120 milliliters).

In terms of coffee strength, I can only advise you to take advantage of the five levels. Since we can’t get the grind fine enough, a little more ground coffee per shot is a good way to get more body and flavor.

By the way: The 300 Series VeroCafe coffee machine can’t make an americano because it doesn’t have a hot water dispenser.

Neither cappuccino nor latte macchiato from the VeroCafe receive barista ratings. This is because the coffee machine and spout not only take quite a long time, but the milk system doesn’t work as well as I’d like.

However, this does not mean that the drinks themselves do not receive favorable reviews. The cappuccino is a bit too frothy, but has a good texture and has an ideal temperature of 149 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius). As for the latte macchiato, it’s also at the correct temperature and looks pretty classic.

It definitely feels like the milk system is from a different era. But I still really liked the controls and the overall handling.

How Does Espresso From the Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe Taste?

Anyone who has read a bunch of fully automatic coffee machine reviews knows the most common complaint: the drinks are often just not hot enough.

Unfortunately, the Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe hasn’t solved the problem. However, that’s only the case with its espresso. With my Coffeeness Signature Espresso Roast I experienced a very velvety-soft mouthfeel and a well-balanced flavor profile with plenty of chocolate. But at 127 degrees Fahrenheit (53 degrees Celsius) it was simply too cold. Preheating cups or preparing two espressos in quick succession is unfortunately of no use.

On the other hand, the coffee naturally has a more satisfactory brewing temperature, as it is prepared with more water. Plus, it had an even more full-bodied taste.

Ultimately, while I usually prefer espresso from a fully automatic machine, I definitely recommend the coffee as a standard drink from the Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe. And to be honest, it doesn’t bother me that there is no americano option.

Best Coffee for the Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe

How Do I Clean the Bosch 300 Series Espresso Machine?

I’ll give this Bosch espresso machine one thing: cleaning it is pretty dang easy.

In fact, the service door to access the brew unit is easily accessible from the front of the machine. Cleaning it consists of rinsing it with hot water and letting it air dry.

That said, you will occasionally have to thoroughly clean and descale this espresso machine. But again, Bosch makes this easy with a dedicated Calc’n Clean setting on the front interface. Once you press the clean button, instructions on the LED display will walk you through the cleaning process.

To start you out on the right foot Bosch even gives you two cleaning tablets and one descaling tablet. Even better, the included water filter and water hardness test strip will help you prevent scale buildup from the get-go.

Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe Technical Specifications

Verdict: Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe Review

Based on my tone and commentary throughout this Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe review, I’m sure you won’t be surprised by my verdict.

Honestly, I don’t think this brand new machine is worth the money or the risk. After all, there are plenty of time-tested super automatics that cost less and offer similar features.

Alternatively, if you like the idea of more programmability there are several models that cost a bit more but have many more exciting features.

In the end, I just don’t think the features you’d get from this Bosch machine match its hefty price tag.

That said, I might be more likely to recommend this machine if it cost a couple hundred dollars less. In that case, it could be considered a truly budget-friendly super automatic espresso machine, and most of my qualms would fade away.