Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe Review: Should You Buy This New Machine?

In today’s initial Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe review, I’ll be taking a first look at the German manufacturer’s latest North American release. As it happens, this machine came out earlier this year, and seems to be intended as the brand’s mid-range model.

At the time of writing, the 500 Series VeroCafe is available at a pretty decent sale price on Amazon. However, it looks like the normal price will hover around the $1,000 mark. Ultimately, I’m writing this review to see whether the machine is worthy of such a substantial financial outlay. So, let’s get right to it!

Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe Review Overview

If you pay attention to such matters, you’ll know that Bosch has been making a concerted effort to break into the North American fully automatic espresso machine market recently. I don’t have access to the numbers, so I can’t tell you how well that’s going. However, the company must feel pretty confident seeing as it just released the Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe.

This addition to the lineup comes hot on the heels of the 300 Series and 800 Series machines, both of which I’ve tested out. And while there were things I liked about each of those models, I couldn’t help but feel like they were way too expensive.

Costing $879.00, the 500 Series VeroCafe is relatively affordable by fully automatic espresso machine standards. Still, that’s a big chunk of cash, and there is some seriously tough competition out there. Then again, the Bosch 500 Series seems to offer everything you’d want from a fully automatic machine. In saying that, I’m talking about the VeroCafe’s ceramic flat burr grinder, sophisticated one-touch operation and integrated automatic milk frother.

To be honest, I’m still on the fence about buying the Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe to test out. I mean, my first impression is that this machine is a wee bit better than the 300 Series and not nearly as feature-rich as the 800 Series. And as I already mentioned, both of those machines are too expensive for what you get.

Ultimately, though, I hope that taking a closer look will convince me that this is one of the best fully automatic espresso machines on the market. I’m just not going to bank on it.

Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe Features

OK, so I’ve embarked on this Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe review with more than a little skepticism. But I feel like it’s only fair to give the thing a chance to shine on its own! So, I’ll take a deep breath and guide you through the machine’s most standout features.

Size and Design

Featuring a boxy, understated design, I have no issue with the way this machine looks. Let’s just say it’ll blend into any kitchen quite nicely. I’m also happy to see that there isn’t a huge water tank jutting out awkwardly from the side of the machine. In my opinion, that was definitely an aesthetic mis-step with the 800 Series VeroCafe.

Then again, seeing as the 64-ounce (1.9-liter) reservoir is located at the rear, it could be awkward to remove the thing. So, make sure you take careful measurements before committing financially.

Oh, and while I’m on the subject, you should bear in mind that the 500 Series VeroCafe rises to around 15 inches (38 centimeters), so you’ll need to make sure it’ll fit under your wall-mounted kitchen cabinets. And don’t forget that you’ll need extra room to comfortably access that pesky water tank as well as the bean hopper.

User Interface

Seeing as I haven’t actually had my hands on the Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe yet, I’m a little bit confused by the user interface. However, I’m fairly sure I understand what’s going on here.

As it happens, the control panel is really elegant and intuitive. Essentially, there’s a small touchscreen surrounded by touch-sensitive buttons. Now, this isn’t a “swipeable” touchscreen interface, but that’s no great loss. Rather, the 500 Series keeps things refreshingly simple and straightforward.

My main gripe here is that part of the user interface is angled toward the user (good), while the rest lays flat on top of the machine (bad). This brings my DeLonghi Rivelia review to mind. You see, as a shorter person, I can struggle with a user interface that faces up from the top of the machine. Especially if the light catches it the wrong way. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but it is something to bear in mind.

Ceramic Grinder & Bean Hopper

As with its siblings, the Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe is equipped with a ceramic flat burr grinder. Plus, there are six grind adjustment settings, which isn’t terrible. Then again, it isn’t great, either.

I mean, check out the DeLonghi Magnifica Evo, which retails for a similar price. Sure, it has a stainless steel conical burr grinder, but the conical vs flat burr grinder debate hasn’t been resolved yet, to the best of my knowledge. Besides, it offers 13 grind settings, making it far superior to the Bosch grinder.

As for the 500 Series VeroCafe’s bean hopper, it offers a generous 9.5-ounce (270-gram) capacity as well as a nice lid with a rubber seal for freshness. Oh, and you’ll find a ground coffee chamber in here too, which is to be expected from a fully automatic machine nowadays. To be honest, the ground coffee bypass doser can be great for those evening decaf drinks. However, I always worry that I’ll clog up the machine if I use it too often.

AromaMax System

Bosch just loves to talk up its AromaMax System, as though it’s a revolutionary step forward for humankind. However, the manufacturer is kinda vague and doesn’t ever go into detail about what it really means.

Instead, Bosch tries to wow us with its description of the grinder, water pump, flow heater and brew group all working in beautiful harmony to bring out the best in your beans. Hold on a minute, isn’t that what happens in every fully automatic machine?

Personally, this just reeks of marketing nonsense to me. From where I’m sitting, it seems that Bosch needed some fancy-sounding “system” to lure folks in. Trust me, I’ve seen this time and time again from the likes of Jura, DeLonghi and Philips.

Milk Foam

I would get mad at Bosch for not including a milk container with the 500 Series VeroCafe. However, I think it’s a blessing in disguise, seeing as I wasn’t terribly impressed with the 800 Series milk flask.

What we’re dealing with here is an integrated milk system wherein you simply attach a hose to the dispensing spout and place the other end in a milk container. Then, once your drink is ready, you simply put the milk back in the fridge.

In my opinion, that’s way more efficient than having to deal with a dedicated milk flask. Especially if you want to use different types of milk or non-dairy milk. What’s more, the Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe can make two milk drinks at the same time. I’ll talk about that in more detail a little later.

Finally, the machine automatically flushes the system with steam after every milk-based drink. So, I have to congratulate Bosch on designing a streamlined and effective automatic frothing system!

Specialty Drinks

The Bosch 500 Series comes programmed with a fairly basic menu of specialty drinks. Many of these are accessed by pressing a flashy color icon on the user interface, but a few are hidden in the menu.

To be honest, I prefer this limited menu to the overblown excess of the 800 Series VeroCafe. I mean, all the essentials are here, including ristretto, cappuccino and flat white. Plus, you can tweak drink size, ratio of coffee to milk and coffee strength if you want. The only thing that seems to be missing is any way to create new drink profiles. Sure, the machine will save your settings, but if you’re part of a coffee-loving family, those settings might not last long.

Incidentally, I should point out that the 500 Series VeroCafe includes a real double shot function, wherein the machine grinds and brews twice. Trust me, that’s not always a given, so again, I tip my hat to the manufacturer.

Double Cup Function

As I mentioned earlier, the Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe is equipped with a double cup function. However, this isn’t the “cheater” double cup function you’ll find on many machines.

Rather than simply splitting a shot into two cups, the 500 Series actually grinds twice, so each cup receives its fair share. Even better, you can use this double cup function with milk-based specialties. Now, that isn’t something you see too often, even on the very best fully automatic espresso machines.

To be honest, it’s features like this that are starting to win me over a little. Sure, the 800 Series offers the same functionality, but it costs over $2,000. However, the 500 Series is much more reasonably priced at $879.00, and seems to offer a more streamlined approach across the board.

How Do I Use the Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe?

If my previous experience with Bosch fully automatic espresso machines is anything to go by, using the 500 Series VeroCafe will be a piece of cake. As you might imagine, preparing the machine for first-time use involves jumping through a few hoops. I’ll leave it to the user manual to explain everything, but you can expect to spend a few minutes rinsing, testing water hardness and installing the water filter.

Once all that stuff is out of the way, it’s time to fill the reservoir with cold water and add your best espresso beans to the hopper. I’d leave the grinder setting where it is for now, and adjust it according to how things work out. Now you can start making coffee drinks with the Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe!

To make an espresso, simply press the color icon and the current settings will show on the TFT screen above. You’re able to adjust the size and strength of your espresso by pressing the requisite buttons until you’re satisfied. Then, it’s simply a case of pressing the start/stop button. Assuming you’ve remembered to put a cup under the spouts, that is.

If you’re making a milk-based specialty drink, you’ll need to attach the milk pipe to the dispensing spout. Then, attach the suction pipe to the tube and put it in your milk container. Finally, press the drink icon, tweak your settings and hit the start/stop button. Oh, and don’t forget that the machine will automatically steam-clean the milk circuit once your drink is ready.

How Do I Clean the Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe?

Again, from my past experience I can tell you that Bosch makes it very easy to keep the 500 Series VeroCafe in good working order. Sure, you’ll have to put in a little effort, but you won’t be spending hours cleaning the thing.

Thanks to the manufacturer’s Calc’nClean function, the 500 Series will guide you through every step of the cleaning process. What’s more, it’ll let you know whenever something needs doing.

I’d recommend getting into the habit of rinsing and cleaning the drip tray and grounds container on a daily basis. Plus, you should keep the machine’s exterior looking snazzy by wiping off any coffee splashes with a damp cloth.

It almost goes without saying that using a water filter will be good for the machine and good for your espresso. Still, even with the filter attached, you’ll need to descale the 500 Series periodically. So, do yourself a favor and don’t ignore the machine when it asks to be descaled. Trust me, limescale will kill an espresso machine slowly and painfully.

Bosch 500 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine Specifications

Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe vs Other Fully Automatics

I’ve already mentioned the manufacturer’s other models a few times in this Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe review. Still, I figured it’d be a good idea to go a little deeper and see how the 500 Series measures up to its siblings.

Bosch 500 Series vs 300 Series VeroCafe

The Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe is the brand’s entry-level fully automatic espresso machine. I tested the 300 Series fairly recently, and didn’t end up awarding it a very high rating. That wasn’t necessarily because I disliked the machine, it’s simply the case that its $699.00 asking price is way too high.

Compact and streamlined, the 300 Series VeroCafe offers fairly average and rather old-fashioned user experience. Still, the espresso it produces is fine, and the strange Milk Express Frother actually works OK. It’s just that there are superior machines out there for the same or less money. So, I just can’t recommend the Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe unless its price drops by a couple of hundred bucks.

See Also: Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe Review

Bosch 500 Series vs 800 Series VeroCafe

The Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe is the manufacturer’s flagship machine, and it certainly looks the part. Featuring an ultra-modern design and a huge color touchscreen display, the 800 Series VeroCafe pulls out all the stops. What’s more, the 800 Series is equipped with a more advanced milk system, featuring a carafe that simply plugs into the die of the machine.

This is all well and good, but the Bosch 800 Series retails for a whopping $1,698.96. And I’d love to say that the espresso it makes is worth paying for, but it just isn’t. Rather, I was left feeling rather disappointed by the results. And don’t get me started on the “cold brew,” which is simply awful.

Listen, the Bosch 800 Series isn’t a terrible machine. But again, it costs too much money for what you get.

See Also: Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe Review

Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe vs Others Comparison Chart

Verdict: Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe Review

I admit that I started this Bosch 500 Series VeroCafe review with a rather negative tone. Still, you can’t really blame me, based on my past experiences with the brand’s machines.

Having taken a closer look at the 500 Series, I’d say it’s still a tad overpriced. However, if you can get it on sale, I’d say it’s worth considering. Otherwise, I’d tend to weigh up your options more carefully.

I know I can come off as a DeLonghi fanatic, but it’s hard to argue with the quality and performance of the Italian manufacturer’s mid-range offerings. Especially when I review a machine like the 500 Series VeroCafe. It’s not that the Bosch mid-range offering is bad, it’s just that you can get a lot more bang for your buck!