Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe Review: Style Over Substance?

I’ve got something of a sixth sense for new home espresso machines; it’s like I have a little radar in my head that lets me know when a fresh one is on the market. In fact, when I wrote my initial Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe review there weren’t any reviews about it yet. Naturally, I just had to buy the thing to test out, so today I’m updating my review. I’ll share my experiences using the Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe, and let you know what I did and didn’t like.

Join me as I explore the ins and outs of this new super automatic espresso machine!

Overview: Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe Review

The Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe fully automatic espresso machine is another newcomer from home appliance giant Bosch. A German company, Bosch has been making all kinds of appliances for centuries.

Though they’re new to the North American coffee scene, Bosch has produced super automatic espresso machines in Europe for over 50 years.

The 800 Series VeroCafe is a super automatic with a built-in ceramic grinder, an integrated milk container, auto-frothing technology and an internal brew group. What’s more, Bosch’s AromaMax System controls the grinding dose, water volume, flow rate and brew temperature.

Even better, the 800 Series VeroCafe has a large TFT LCD touchscreen display that is super easy to navigate. Through this display you can choose from a range of drink options and customize your preferred strength, aroma profile, milk ratio and drink size.

The display even allows you to access 36 different drink recipes through the CoffeeWorld feature. Needless to say, later on in this Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe review I’ll interrogate the true value of the CoffeeWorld feature.

Beyond the physical display, the 800 Series VeroCafe also has app and virtual assistant connectivity, so you can brew from your phone, Alexa or Google Home.

As it happens, you don’t get all these features for nothing; the 800 Series VeroCafe has a pretty steep price tag of $2,188.19. And while I think that’s pretty fair for a high-tech super automatic espresso machine, I’ll throw in a few alternative models throughout this Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe review.

Bosch 800 Series Fully Automatic Coffee Machine Features

Now that I’ve gone over the basics of this Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe review, let’s break it down further.

Size and Design

If you told me the Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe was a 3D printer, I’d almost believe you. This thing is so far removed from the style of classic lever espresso machines that the Italian baristas of yesteryear wouldn’t have any idea how it works.

Maybe I’m being a bit dramatic. Anyway, this is all to say that the aesthetic of this fully automatic espresso machine is definitely modern and newfangled. In fact, it looks more like a tech gadget than a coffee gadget.

I’d say this is mostly due to the boxy shape, silver-colored plastic body and large touchscreen display. I’ll talk more about the display in a bit.

If you can get down with the techy vibe, this compact espresso machine will certainly fit in your kitchen. After all, it has a 13-inch (35.2-centimeter) wide footprint, a depth of 18.4 inches (46.7 centimeters) and is 15 inches (38.1 centimeters) tall.

Incidentally, it’s also pretty lightweight, weighing only 22 pounds (10 kilograms). Again, this is due to the fact that the 800 Series VeroCafe is largely made of plastic. Kind of a bummer, but it’s almost the norm for super automatic espresso machines.

Okay, let’s keep this Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe review moving. This machine has an 81-ounce (2.4-liter) side-loading water tank. It also features an adjustable coffee spout, with a maximum cup height of 5.5 inches (14 centimeters). Even so, you won’t be able to fit tall travel mugs beneath the spout.

Finally, Bosch gives you the option of paying an extra $100 for the model that has an active cup warmer, though I don’t think it’s worth the cash.

User Interface

I’ll give this Bosch fully automatic espresso machine one thing: it’s got a fancy user interface.

Most notable, of course, is the 5-inch touchscreen TFT LCD display. TFT displays are more high-tech than standard LCD displays, with better contrast and imaging.

Even better, this display is very pretty intuitive to use. In fact, I never had to open the user manual. Seriously, the menus and adjustable settings really are that easy to navigate.

But let me back up a second. Aside from the display, the 800 Series VeroCafe has illuminated sensor keys: a power key, double cup feature, a water droplet cleaning key and a settings key.

Okay, back to the touchscreen display. There are three main menu options: Favorites, Classics and CoffeeWorld.

I’ll start with the Classics section. This is a collection of basic drinks you can make, such as: coffee, espresso, cappuccino, latte macchiato, hot milk and tea. Incidentally, these options will serve most coffee drinkers just fine. But for the more nit-picky or adventurous, there’s the CoffeeWorld section.

Basically, CoffeeWorld offers dozens of drink recipes, including regional beverages from all over the world. I’ve got a lot more to say about the CoffeeWorld drink recipes, so I’ll talk about it later on in this Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe review.

Finally, there’s the Favorites section. As you might imagine, you curate this section yourself. You can save your favorite recipes, including personalized settings like the strength and size of your brew.

While I’m on the subject I should also mention some other basic settings, like the auto-off and stand-by features. Plus, there’s an intuitive cleaning setting that walks you through the process of cleaning your machine.

Ceramic Grinder

This Bosch fully automatic espresso machine has a built-in ceramic grinder with six grind settings. Funnily enough, Bosch calls their grinder the Ceram Drive. Unfortunately, there’s not much more information about the grinder on the product page, so I’m left to speculate.

Being that this is a super automatic it’s likely that the burrs are conical, but there’s no mention of the burr type or size. And I wasn’t able to access the grinder to find out.

Inside the hopper there’s a dial for adjusting the grind size yourself. While there are only six settings, I found that to be enough.

Incidentally, there’s no option to bypass the hopper and grinder and use different coffee beans for a one-off cup. While I certainly don’t expect this feature in a super automatic, I’m always pleased when a machine does give you the option to switch it up every so often.

While I’m on the subject, I should mention the 12.5-ounce (320-gram) bean hopper. This is a pretty good size, since it’s big enough to hold the contents of most retail specialty coffee bags. Plus, the lid has a nice seal for keeping your beans fresh. However, I’d still recommend a coffee canister for long-term storage.

AromaMax System

Ah, the mysterious AromaMax system. Bosch often includes this feature into their newer machines, like the Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe.

As far as I can tell, this term represents the grinder, 19 bar pump, heating system and brew unit. There’s gotta be some kind of computer system involved too, seeing as the AromaMax System is responsible for dosing coffee grounds and controlling water flow, water volume and brew temperature.

In many ways, then, the AromaMax system is more of a barista than its user. Shh! don’t tell the super automatic people that I said that.

Jokes aside, it seems that all of the beverage customization options are also ruled by the AromaMax System. For example, you can choose between three different “AromaSelect” profiles: mild, balanced and distinctive.

You can also choose between four different strength options, pick the size of your beverage and choose your preferred coffee to milk ratio.

Novice coffee drinkers may be confused as to what all these categories mean for the final cup flavor, and I don’t blame them! To be honest, I found that maxing out the strength setting was the only way to go for decent coffee. Plus, when the aroma setting was an option (as with straight espresso) I maxed that out too.

Clearly, this super automatic is not intended for nerdy home baristas who want to know precisely how this machine does what it does. Rather, the Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe is ideal for coffee drinkers who want convenience and versatility in one package, and don’t need to understand all the ins-and-outs of their morning cuppa.

Milk Foam

The Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe comes equipped with a super user-friendly milk system. In fact, there’s a 23.7-ounce (700-milliliter) integrated milk container for auto-frothing.

Naturally, there are pros and cons to this system. For one thing, it’s very easy to use. You simply plug the carafe into the slide of the machine. What’s more, the container is dishwasher safe, so keeping it clean shouldn’t be a problem.

However, it isn’t remotely insulated – which means you’ll have to remember to put it back in the fridge when you’re done using it.

Even more annoying, switching between different types of milk and plant milk could be a bit of a hassle. After all, it’s not as easy as pouring different milk into a milk pitcher for the next drink; you’ll have to empty out the whole container if you want a different option.

Finally, an integrated milk container obviously doesn’t allow for any manual milk steaming, which means no latte art.

So, if you want to play around with both manual and automatic steaming, the Gaggia Accademia could be a good option. Plus, it offers a comparable intuitive display and drink customization options.

Specialty Drinks

Okay, here’s where the Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe could get some mixed reviews. This espresso machine boasts 36 different specialty drink options, organized under the CoffeeWorld menu.

The idea behind this feature is that it offers coffee recipes from all over the world. In fact, you’ll see some classic French recipes here, like the Café au Lait, alongside Viennese drinks, americanos and cortados. I could see this feature being either exciting or overwhelming, depending on the tech savviness and coffee knowledge of the user. Plus, while each “exotic” drink is being prepared the screen shows an iconic scene from the country of origin.

That said, I’ll admit that I’m skeptical. True coffee professionals may see 36 drink options and say, really? I mean, there’s only so much you can do with an automatic espresso machine, coffee beans, water and milk.

If this machine also had built-in syrups or sweeteners (which it doesn’t), I could maybe believe that there are 36 genuinely unique recipes wrapped up in this thing. But in my experience, many of these drink recipes produce the same or very similar beverages, just under different names.

I will say that I enjoyed some drinks more than others. For example, the Bosch somehow managed to create a really authentic cafe con leche that was strong, sweet and delicious. What’s more, the latte macchiato was quite spectacular. Heck, you can even program the wait time between milk foam and espresso.

Double Cup Function

This Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe espresso machine has a handy double-cup function to brew two cups of joe at once. This feature is super easy to access, since it has a designated touch button on the front interface.

Even better, the double-cup function works with coffee and milk drinks alike. Just make sure the water tank, milk container and bean hopper are topped off beforehand.

For the record, some Bosch 800 Series espresso machines also offer a coffee pot feature, although that wasn’t the case for mine..

Home Connect App

We’ve come to expect smart controls in high-end super automatics, and the Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe is up to the task! This baby connects to WiFi, the Home Connect App, Alexa and Google Home.

Whichever connectivity method you choose, these smart controls give you easy access to drink customization features and remote brewing options. What’s more, the app will automatically create a personalized coffee playlist, full of your favorite drink choices.

Even better, you can turn the machine on and program it to brew whatever drink you like – all from the comfort of your bed or couch.

That said, you’ll still need to prep the coffee maker ahead of time by filling the water tank, bean hopper and milk container. Oh, and don’t forget to leave a latte cup underneath the coffee spout – that’ll prevent a big mess.

However, you may be better off brewing coffee-only beverages from the app. Since the milk container isn’t insulated, I’d be worried about letting the milk sit out for too long.

For another great option with app connectivity, consider the DeLonghi Dinamica Plus. For starters, it’s significantly more affordable than this Bosch espresso machine. Despite this, the Dinamica Plus offers smart controls, several specialty drink options and automatic milk frothing.

Even better, with the DeLonghi espresso machine you wouldn’t have to deal with the gimmicky CoffeeWorld settings.

How to Use the Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe

As I already mentioned in my Bosch 800 series VeroCafe review, using this fully automatic espresso machine looks super easy.

That said, if you’re new to the coffee world you may find it overwhelming to have so many customization options. Meanwhile, tech folks and seasoned coffee drinkers alike should have no problem navigating this thing.

Consequently, I’ll cater this brief guide to those of you who may need some extra pointers on the coffee brewing process.

So, once you’ve done the initial start-up as detailed in the user manual, here’s what ya do:

First, tap the power key to turn the machine on, then give it a few minutes to heat up before you brew.

In the meantime, you can fill the tank with water, dump some espresso beans into the hopper and pour cold milk into the milk container. And don’t forget to grab your favorite cappuccino cup for the occasion.

Once you’re ready, use the touch display to choose your drink. Let’s say you want a cappuccino. Tap the Classics icon and choose Cappuccino. From there, you can pick your aroma profile, strength, milk ratio and drink size. For simplicity’s sake, we’ll just keep the default settings.

Now, press the Start icon. Within one minute, your capp will start brewing. Enjoy!

My Observations

Overall, I had a great time playing with the Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe. As I already mentioned, it’s super easy to start making drinks with this machine without consulting the user manual. So, major points there.

But I just can’t help feeling like this machine is a wee bit overpriced. Sure, the touchscreen display is beautiful, and the ceramic grinder is relatively quiet. And I do have to congratulate the manufacturer on its cafe con leche! However, the machine’s construction leaves a lot to be desired, especially when we’re talking about the flimsy dispenser spout and ill-fitting water tank lid.

As for espresso quality, let’s just say I’ve tasted better. The espresso was just OK, even when all settings were maxed out. However, I yearned for a bit more depth and complexity. And don’t even bother with the Ristretto option. For some unknown reason you aren’t able to tinker with Aroma settings for this drink.

Coffee options include so-called “Slow Brew,” with a backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge as the drink is prepared. I actually enjoyed this coffee version, although it was a little on the thin side. And as for the cold brew function, do yourself a favor and pretend it isn’t there.

The machine took around five minutes to conjure up its approximation of this beloved drink, and the results were dreadful. You’d be way better off preparing a double shot of espresso over ice and adding a little cold water.

Listen, it’s my job to be really critical when I’m testing coffee equipment. In my opinion, the Bosch 800 is just fine. In fact, I’d say it’ll please a lot of folks. Still, it wouldn’t be my first option if I had a couple of grand to spend on a fully automatic machine.

Best Coffee for the Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe

Bosch 800 Series Espresso Machine Cleaning

Cleaning the Bosch 800 Series espresso machine is super easy, thanks to the built-in Calc’n Clean feature. This feature offers a step-by-step guide for the cleaning and descaling process.

What’s more, Bosch includes a few extra materials to help you out in this regard. This includes:

For what it’s worth, the water filter alone has the biggest impact on scale prevention. But Bosch has a few more tricks up their sleeve.

The 800 Series VeroCafe has pre-rinse and post-rinse settings, both of which are automatically activated when the machine turns on and off.

Beyond this daily maintenance, it’s also helpful that the milk container, drip tray and most of the brew unit are removable so you can quickly rinse them in your sink.

Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe Technical Specifications

Verdict: Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe Review

So, there you have it, my Bosch 800 Series VeroCafe review.

Looking back on this new machine, I have to say that it is very cool. Still, I don’t know that it contributes anything genuinely unique or useful to the already bloated market for home espresso machines.

Perhaps that makes me a cynic, or it means I’m spoiled by my experiences with other machines. Either way, I really wanted to be convinced, but was left feeling let down.

If you get the 800 Series VeroCafe and think it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you, give me a shout. Tell me why I’m wrong to criticize!