The Melitta Caffeo Solo Review: So Compact, So Coffee, So Good?

In my original Melitta Caffeo Solo review, I tested out the model with no milk system. And this led me to ask a few questions. I mean, can a fully automatic coffee machine with no milk frothing system be called a fully automatic coffee machine at all? Wouldn’t it be better to call it a coffee machine with a built-in grinder and elevated price?

Here’s the thing, though: this “coffee machine without many bells and whistles” produced great coffee and espresso, turning its apparent disadvantages into advantages.

Then again, this only works if you use high-quality, freshly ground coffee beans rather than supermarket trash. The Melitta Caffeo Solo may look smart, but it’s no magician.

In today’s Melitta Caffeo Solo review I’ll be discussing the “Melitta Caffeo Solo & Milk,” which is currently available on Amazon for just $Check price. So, does the addition of a steam wand make this machine a real contender in the crowded super automatic sector? Let’s find out!

Overview: Melitta Caffeo Solo Review

If we check out the Solo without comparing it to other machines, it makes for a rather perfect prototype of a super automatic espresso machine in principle. I say this because it only has a grinder, water tank, brew group and pump. It also has an extremely small footprint. And since the milk frother is conveniently located on the front, you can tuck the machine away into some of the tiniest spots in your kitchen.

However, you do have to leave room to remove the water tank and need clearance above it to pour in your coffee beans. Even at first glance, this chic little machine shows off its advantages in terms of size.

To make them fit into the confines of a compact machine, all of the parts that require filling — the bean hopper, water tank and drip tray — will seem somewhat petite. There are some who might think of these as too petite.

The drip tray of this easy-to-rinse appliance fills up extremely quickly. Plus, the 40-ounce (1.2-liter) water tank is also below average in size.

This does have the “disadvantage” that you have to refill, empty and clean the machine more often. However, as you know, I see this as an absolute advantage. Check out what I say about cleaning and descaling below.

In my original review, I said the lack of a milk frothing option was a disadvantage. However, that did mean you got unusually high-quality housing materials — with the exception of a slightly dodgy water tank lid — and a high level of functionality for a great price.

Fortunately, the Melitta Caffeo Solo & Milk also feels really solid and well-built.

On top of that, the Melitta Caffeo Solo uses the same high-quality technology in the brew group that you’ll find in older and posher Melitta machines.

Melitta Caffeo Solo Features

User Interface

Although the Solo can only make coffee and espresso automatically, you can easily make all of the necessary settings adjustments. With the Melitta Caffeo Solo, everything comes in threes: grind settings, coffee strength levels and temperature settings.

The whole process is shown on a narrow, minimalistic display. And the menu and display leave no room for doubt about the meaning of any symbols. You can easily adjust the Melitta Caffeo Solo in just a few presses of a button, even if you have never seen a fully automatic coffee machine up close.

The left-hand knob regulates the amount of coffee brewed, ranging from between 1 ounce and 7.4 ounces (30 milliliters and 220 milliliters), while the right-hand knob is the power switch. In between, there are buttons for single-cup brewing, double-cup brewing and setting the coffee strength.

That’s all. Wonderfully simple, isn’t it?

To make sure everything is clear, the display uses bean symbols and scales that even complete beginners could understand. Even though the size of the display is adequate for most, some of you might want to fetch your readers first thing in the morning.

Grinder

Melitta made a peculiar design choice about the placement of the lever to adjust the grinder settings on the Solo. Instead of making the adjustment within the bean compartment itself, you have to remove the service panel to find it next to the brew group.

Having the grind adjustment lever situated behind the service panel definitely detracts from the idea of the machine being so small and compact that you can place it anywhere. However, keep in mind that you only have to set the grinder to the finest setting once. After that, you’ll most likely never mess with it again.

As one would expect, the Melitta Caffeo Solo’s stainless steel conical burr grinder has been set on too coarse of a setting at the factory.

While the factory presets are sometimes helpful, you will definitely notice a difference in the results if you adjust the grinder to its finest setting. Besides, coffee and espresso come out with a fuller body from beans that have been properly extracted.

That brings me to my next point. In my opinion, the Solo is quite loud, but not unbearably so. Melitta admits in the product data that this grinder is definitely not “whisper quiet.” With that in mind, this machine could be ideal for people who live alone!

Bean Hopper

By the way, I love the fact that the Melitta Caffeo Solo does not include a ground coffee compartment, directly eliminating a “laziness trigger,” as well as a source of potential clogging. The Solo is a true bean-to-cup coffee machine, not a shortcut for making flavorless coffee and espresso.

I also like the fact that the coffee machine can only hold 4.4 ounces (125 grams) of coffee beans at a time.

Having to refill the hopper forces you to use fresh espresso beans whenever possible, which will enrich your mornings with a greater coffee flavor. This works especially well with low-acid roasts and powerful notes of chocolate and caramel. That’s why my personal stock of Brazilian Coffeeness beans always finds its way to the grinder at the moment.

The coffee bean lid is a bit dodgy, very much like the water tank lid I previously mentioned. Here, you can definitely see that costs had to be cut to achieve a low price. With that in mind, it’s best to be gentle with these lids when you’re cleaning them.

Milk Foam

As I mentioned earlier, my first Melitta Caffeo Solo review dealt with the bare-bones model. To be honest, I’d say that the inclusion of a manual milk frother feels a bit like an afterthought.

It’s almost as if the manufacturer panicked after having been brave enough to release a machine without a milk system. So, they quickly released a sibling with a steam wand slapped on the front.

Listen, I love steaming milk by hand, especially when I’m using a real espresso machine. However, the Melitta’s steam wand is rather flimsy and lacking in the pressure department. So, if you’re a lover of milk-based coffee drinks, I’d recommend investing a little more in a machine with an automatic milk foam system.

Water Tank

I did find it somewhat annoying to have to constantly empty, fill and clean the machine, even if it’s only designed for one person — max two — to use. If you drink a lot of coffee, you may be miffed by this as well.

Apart from the test strip for water hardness, the Melitta Caffeo Solo coffee maker doesn’t come with any spectacular accessories. So, if you want to use a water filter to reduce limescale buildup, I recommend you order one separately.

Melitta’s own water filter is called “Pro Aqua” and comes from Claris. The price per cartridge will set you back $19.99, though it’s less costly to indulge in the three-pack. Each cartridge lasts about three months based on average metropolitan limescale levels.

The Melitta Caffeo Solo in Use

One great thing about the Melitta Caffeo Solo is that even beginners will have no problem getting great results out of the machine. Whereas other machines have to include a whole encyclopedia to explain how to get started, the operating instructions for the Solo are incredibly user-friendly.

The spout height is fairly standard at a maximum of 5.3 inches (3.5 centimeters). No need to worry, though; practically all of your cups will fit under the coffee nozzles without a problem.

One thing that some people may have to get used to is how there’s no need to make settings adjustments with each use. Once you program in your desired parameters, the coffee machine will brew coffee and espresso using these exact settings until you change them.

Espresso Preparation

Let’s move on to one of the elephants in the room: the question of whether this compact version of a fully automatic coffee machine can deliver excellent espresso in your cup? If it doesn’t, this category of machine makes no sense at all.

As we have since discovered, there’s little to worry about here. Before you start brewing, though:

Using these settings, if you find the taste less than sensational, I recommend you recalibrate to brew two espressos of 0.7-0.9 ounces (20-25 milliliters). Doing so will provide you with greater body in the cup and a wee bit more to sip and enjoy as well.

Coffee Preparation

When it comes to black coffee, you can’t expect the same results from the Melitta Caffeo Solo as from a full-sized fully automatic espresso machine. Although it’s a decent substitute, it doesn’t come close to the quality of the original.

Generally speaking, an americano is always a better idea with a fully automatic coffee machinethan an extended espresso. Fortunately, the milk wand doubles as a hot water dispenser.

So, of course, the question remains as to whether the Melitta Caffeo Solo could replace your classic drip coffee machine? After all, that is Melitta’s claim and the reason the Caffeo Solo exists.

Unfortunately, this way of thinking is misguided, as we must never forget that a super automatic espresso machine and a drip coffee machine have two completely different preparation principles.

A fully automatic coffee machine cannot make drip coffee, and a regular filter coffee machine cannot make espresso. Not only because of the pressure required but also because of “incidental” things like coffee filters.

In other words, the Melitta Caffeo Solo and a Moccamaster cannot effectively replace one another.

If you want to have a foot in both the filtered coffee and espresso worlds, you can just buy one of each. That’s what some people have commented below this review, at least. I have to say, I do agree with their logic and wouldn’t think of it as over the top to do so.

That said, if you find this cost prohibitive or simply inconvenient, you’ll have to decide which style of coffee you want to wake up to each morning.

Best Coffee Beans for the Melitta Caffeo Solo

Melitta Caffeo Solo Cleaning

Unfortunately, I don’t have any viable statistics at hand on whether milk or coffee residue is responsible for the majority of all error messages or filthy coffee machines. Though one nice thing about the Caffeo Solo is that at least we don’t have to worry about clogged milk hoses.

The cleaning program is just as pared down as the machine itself but also just as intent on doing a proper job. A short rinse with water through the coffee spout starts automatically, but you have to activate the longer program for a thorough rinse. You initiate this cleaning cycle by pushing the coffee brewing and on/off buttons simultaneously.

However, this cycle is one reason why the drip tray fills up so quickly. So, no matter how much you want to outsmart the automatic cleaning, you simply have to accept this fact with the Melitta Caffeo Solo. Its smaller size means more frequent emptying of collection containers.

Thankfully, the removable brewing unit is quick and easy to clean. Just rinse it under running water and then reinsert it.

While Melitta recommends attending to the brew group once a week, I recommend daily cleaning. It doesn’t take long, and doing so will prolong the life of the machine.

I can’t stress this enough: the water tank, drip tray and grounds container really should be cleaned between sessions.

In terms of durability and performance for the life of the machine, the Melitta Caffeo Solo is a step above the competition — even some of the high-end machines that are out there.

Incidentally, there are “special” cleaning tablets that Melitta sells under the name Perfect Clean. Still, my opinion on this remains unchanged: as long as the composition is right, you can clean your coffee machine with whatever you like. The same applies to the descaler you want to use.

Melitta Caffeo Solo Technical Specifications

Melitta Caffeo Solo vs DeLonghi Magnifica S

If you find yourself in the market for a compact and affordable super automatic, chances are you’ll consider the DeLonghi Magnifica S alongside the Melitta Caffeo Solo.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of the DeLonghi Magnifica S. And I’d say that the machine’s manual milk frother is a better option for cappuccino lovers.

Still, whereas the DeLonghi Magnifica S has to make more compromises in terms of preparation and the cup results, the Melitta Caffeo Solo achieves even better coffee thanks to its unflinching focus on the essentials.

Costing $499.95, the DeLonghi Magnifica S is only slightly more affordable than the Caffeo Solo. To be honest, you can’t really go wrong with either machine, so perhaps it’ll come down to a coin toss!

See Also: DeLonghi Magnifica S Review

Melitta Caffeo Solo vs DeLonghi Magnifica S Comparison Chart

Verdict: Melitta Caffeo Solo Review

One thing is clear: if you expect to get the perfect latte macchiato or flat white from your machine, the Melitta Caffeo Solo might not be the best choice. Sure, you’ve got a milk steaming option, but without sufficient power to create sumptuous milk foam.

That said, the Melitta Caffeo Solo has finally closed a gap in the market that has long been ignored by manufacturers and is gaining more and more momentum.

The clear range of functions and components makes it perfect for singles and small households that only require frothed milk once in a blue moon.

To be frank, the Melitta Caffeo Solo still has room for improvement, especially when it comes to the quality of coffee brewed. Still, if you look at it on its own, the Melitta Caffeo Solo does almost everything right. It’s easy to clean thanks to its simplicity, easy to descale and sells for an affordable price.

The Melitta Caffeo Solo brews nice coffee and has a functional, space-saving design. Sure, you could, of course, still buy a “complete” machine. However, the question is: do you really want that?