In North America, the Melitta brand is synonymous with paper filters and pour-over coffee makers. However, the German manufacturer also produces a line of mid-range fully automatic espresso machines. Most of these aren’t sold on these shores, but in today’s Melitta CI Touch review I’ll be discussing a model that’s now available on Amazon.
The Melitta CI Touch isn’t particularly innovative or packed with features. Neither does it offer a huge variety of specialty coffees. However, it’s reliable, brews a great cup of coffee from any beans and produces excellent milk foam.
In Europe, the Melitta CI Touch is becoming more affordable as the brand releases newer models. But in North America, you’ll pay $1,875.92 for this super automatic machine.
So, is the Melitta CI Touch worth buying, or should you opt for a machine from DeLonghi, Philips or Gaggia? Keep reading to find out what I think!
Melitta CI Touch
Successful update, but too pricey
Flavorful espresso
Excellent milk foam
Easy to clean
Two bean hoppers
Currently overpriced
Complicated menu navigation
| Melitta CI Touch | |
| Manufacturer | Melitta |
|---|---|
| Model number | F630 |
| Product category | Super automatic espresso machine |
| Removable brew group | |
| Housing material | Plastic with stainless steel parts |
| Color options | Black, Gray |
| Milk frother | Cappuccinatore |
| User interface | Color TFT with buttons |
| App | |
| User profiles | 4 |
| Removable water reservoir | |
| Water reservoir capacity | 60.9 fl oz / 1.8 l |
| Number of boilers | 1 |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar |
| Maximum cup height | 5.5 in / 14.0 cm |
| Minimum cup height | 3.2 in / 8.1 cm |
| Grinder | Stainless steel conical burr grinder |
| Grind adjustment levels | 5 |
| Bean hopper capacity | 9.5 oz / 270.0 g |
| Pre-ground coffee bypass | |
| Grounds discard container capacity | 16 |
| Specialty drinks | 10 |
| Pre-infusion | |
| Adjustable coffee temperature | |
| Adjustable milk foam temperature | |
| Adjustable milk temperature | |
| 2-cup function | Yes |
| Pot function | |
| Hot water function | |
| Hot milk function | |
| Milk foam only option | |
| Water filter | |
| Power consumption | 1400 W |
| Weight | 20.4 lb / 9.3 kg |
| Dimensions | 13.6 x 10.0 x 18.7 in |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Notes | Included Accessories: User manual, water filter, measuring scoop, cleaning supplies |
| Current price on Amazon | $1,875.92 |
| All specifications | |
Table of Contents
Where’s the Touchscreen? Melitta CI Touch Review Overview
Coffeeness Medium Roast Espresso
Well-balanced with chocolate & hazelnut notes
Freshly roasted in Brooklyn
Very low acidity
Melitta may know a thing or two about automatically processing beans into ground coffee – but the company knows nothing about marketing.
After all, we don’t have to look far to find a reason for the CI Touch’s apparent unpopularity: the name leads customers straight down the wrong path.
When we hear the word “Touch,” we immediately think of a touchscreen, or at least a particularly modern form of operation. However, this fully automatic machine comes with only a (small) TFT color display and sensor buttons.
Sure, you can “touch” them, but that has nothing to do with the generally accepted definition of the term. And it certainly wasn’t enough of a reason to justify a new, more expensive machine. I mean, the old Caffeo CI worked just fine without any touch controls.
It would have been wiser to highlight the actual improvements (including those compared to the Melitta Caffeo Barista). After all, Melitta has made significant functional improvements and implemented clear changes compared to its predecessor, the Caffeo CI:
Even though five grind settings still fall short of the precision offered by high-quality coffee grinders, each additional setting brings us closer to the perfect interplay of all the components involved in the extraction process.
You can only achieve the perfect espresso if you can calibrate your fully automatic coffee machine to a 0.8-ounce (25 milliliter) serving. It’s that simple.
In addition to espresso, coffee (or café crème), cappuccino and latte macchiato, there’s also americano, lungo and others. You don’t necessarily need them, but they add variety.
A little taller, slimmer and above all, lighter. The Melitta CI Touch is designed to meet the needs of the modern household.
Is that really enough for an update? In my opinion, it is. The first two points ultimately result in better coffee and espresso. That’s exactly what matters to me. And no one has anything against a nice-looking machine.
When it comes to all the other basic functions, the similarity between the CI Touch and the Caffeo CI becomes clear once again. What I already liked about the predecessor also stood out positively in my Melitta CI Touch review:
Two bean compartments
Relatively quiet stainless steel grinder
4 user profiles (My Coffee Memory)
Espresso and milk foam delivered in the correct order (Italian Preparation Process)
One-touch drinks via all-in-one spout
External milk container and pipework for milk foam
Adjustable coffee strength, volume and temperature
Removable water tank with Pro Aqua filter
Melitta CI Touch Notable Features
Now that you have a better idea of what this machine is all about, let’s take a closer look at the Melitta CI Touch’s standout features.
Size and Design
I’ll admit to really liking the look of the Melitta CI Touch. It has a modern, boxy silhouette and a sleek, understated vibe. With that said, you should be aware that the machine is mostly made of plastic. The CI Touch has some nice features, including clear level markers on the removable 61-ounce (1.8-liter) water tank, and cool LED lighting under the dispensing spouts.
Speaking of, the height-adjustable spout has nozzles for both coffee and milk, which means you don’t have to move your latte glass. Oh, and the “Double Cup” function means that you can make two milk-based drinks at the same time, which isn’t always a given with fully automatic machines.
Specialty Drinks
The Melitta CI Touch has an extensive menu of 10 specialty drinks. Four of those have dedicated buttons on the user interface, while you’ll have to go into the menu to make an americano, ristretto and other specialties.
Incidentally, Melitta has been touting its “Italian Preparation Process” for years. I find it almost funny that a manufacturer has to advertise that its cappuccino is made “the right way.”
Then again, many fully automatic espresso machines suffer from the problem that a cappuccino always ends up looking like a mini latte macchiato – and is prepared that way, too.
Milk Foam
With a cappuccino maker that uses a pipe and an external milk container, you usually have to settle for the milk foam consistency that the fully automatic coffee machine can produce.
However, the Melitta CI Touch uses nozzles, pressure and temperature to produce different foam textures for different drinks.
You can imagine how much I love that. Even if the layering of a latte macchiato or cappuccino looks a bit odd in photos, this fully automatic coffee machine does its job well and is incredibly versatile.
That’s a clear improvement over its predecessor, which only offered one type of milk foam (albeit a very tasty one). I just wonder why that is. Because the milk container and hose look identical to me.
Grinder
Another reason for the Melitta CI Touch’s lackluster success could be the other vague marketing terms that Melitta is so obsessed with – but that no one really gets.
In addition to the nonsense about the touchscreen, we have, for example, the “ultra-quiet grinder.” It’s true that this stainless steel conical burr grinder makes much less noise than similar models. Melitta promises 63 decibels, which is definitely quiet.
However, during testing, the machine produced a sound somewhat reminiscent of a circular saw, which is less pleasant than the purring and whirring of Jura coffee machines.
I really appreciate the fact that the CI Touch has two 5-ounce (135-gram) bean hoppers. However, “Manual Bean Select” means that you have to manually (using a lever) select which of the two bean hoppers to use during preparation. On the Melitta Caffeo Barista TS Smart fully automatic coffee machine, this feature is called “Automatic Bean Select” and – surprise – works automatically.
The Melitta CI Touch in Use
The current trend in user design is “simplicity.” Melitta is usually a leader in this regard, even though it’s clear that increasing functionality can sometimes be difficult to incorporate into the concept.
Navigating the CI Touch menu isn’t exactly intuitive. You have to turn the dial and press a lot of buttons before you find the setting you want. So, I’d recommend consulting the user manual or taking some time to get familiar with the machine.
However, you’ll get the hang of it relatively quickly once you get used to the “Melitta Menu.” And once you’re comfortable, there’s hardly anything standing in the way of a very good cup of coffee or espresso. As always, my Arne profile is based on the smallest possible fill volume, which I set to 0.8 ounces (25 milliliters).
What’s more, the CI Touch has no problem when I set the coffee strength to maximum and keep the grind size extra-fine.
It could very well have been the case that the CI Touch couldn’t handle the two additional grind settings compared to the Caffeo CI. How great that it works after all!
But in true Melitta fashion, the CI Touch fully automatic coffee machine also has a few quirks typical of the brand:
The maximum capacity is 7.4 ounces (220 milliliters), so you won’t be able to fill large glasses. The only solution is to use the 2-cup setting.
In the quick menu, you can only adjust the coffee and milk amounts together. To adjust the individual settings, you’ll need to navigate deep into the menu.
This is a bit annoying, but once I found the correct settings for good espresso I was a happy camper!
How Do Espresso & Coffee From the Melitta CI Touch Taste?
If you use high-quality espresso beans and manage to get past the initial setup hurdles, the Melitta CI Touch will reward you with an outstanding flavor profile. It’s no coincidence that its predecessor, the Caffeo CI, sat in our old office for months and was used constantly every day.
During the testing phase of my Melitta CI Touch review, I used my Coffeeness Espresso Blend. The machine consistently produced full-bodied espresso shots with notes of chocolate, caramel and nuts. In other words, the Melitta CI Touch brought out all the flavors I expect from my beans.
As for the “regular” coffee, I felt like it wasn’t as watery as it might have been. Then again, I still prefer an americano to an espresso brewed with extra water. Fortunately, the CI Touch has an americano coffee setting to help us out.
Just a reminder: Here, an espresso is extracted according to standard espresso guidelines and only then diluted with hot water to make coffee. This preserves the flavor profile.
With the two bean hoppers, you’re perfectly equipped to embark on a real coffee discovery journey. Just make sure to check that you select the correct hopper before use.
Best Coffee for the Melitta CI Touch
Coffeeness Medium Roast Espresso
Well-balanced with chocolate & hazelnut notes
Freshly roasted in Brooklyn
Very low acidity
After 10 years reviewing super automatics and espresso machines, and over 15 years reviewing coffee beans, we’re proud to offer our own Coffeeness Espresso Blend. Comprising ethically farmed and sourced coffee beans, our Espresso Blend is expertly roasted in small batches to guarantee freshness.
This premium blend of direct trade Brazilian coffee beans produces rich, bold and complex espresso that’s ideal straight or paired with milk. Featuring notes of chocolate and hazelnut, our Espresso Blend is particularly low in acidity, making it easy on the stomach.
Here’s how we recommend setting up your Melitta CI Touch for the perfect cup of coffee:
Grind setting: Finest
Attention: Only make changes when the grinder is running!
Coffee & espresso strength: Highest setting
Espresso volume: 0.8 ounces (25 milliliters)
Temperature: Adjust to taste
Melitta CI Touch Cleaning
There’s one thing you can always count on with Melitta: easy cleaning. The CI Touch also features the “Easy Steam Cleaning” function. This allows you to place the milk frothing tube in a holder on the drip tray to rinse it with hot water.
However, the drip tray is quite small, which means you need to empty it frequently if you use the automatic cleaning function. But that’s not a bad thing, since it practically forces you to keep your machine clean.
In general, touchscreen and non-touchscreen machines are exactly the same when it comes to cleaning: the automatic programs only start on their own when you turn the machine on or off. Otherwise, Melitta will ask if you want to rinse the coffee circuit after brewing.
Do yourself a favor and place a collection container next to the machine. Then you can run the rinse cycle every time without having to empty the drip tray right away.
A removable brew unit is always a plus. As it happens, Melitta uses the same model as many other major brand manufacturers. Although it’s made of plastic, it looks very high-quality and sturdy. However, that doesn’t change the fact that you should treat it with care and re-grease it regularly.
And here’s a friendly reminder: If you rinse the brew group daily, your machine will last longer!
Final Thoughts: Melitta CI Touch Review
Melitta CI Touch
Successful update, but too pricey
Flavorful espresso
Excellent milk foam
Easy to clean
Two bean hoppers
Currently overpriced
Complicated menu navigation
| Melitta CI Touch | |
| Manufacturer | Melitta |
|---|---|
| Model number | F630 |
| Product category | Super automatic espresso machine |
| Removable brew group | |
| Housing material | Plastic with stainless steel parts |
| Color options | Black, Gray |
| Milk frother | Cappuccinatore |
| User interface | Color TFT with buttons |
| App | |
| User profiles | 4 |
| Removable water reservoir | |
| Water reservoir capacity | 60.9 fl oz / 1.8 l |
| Number of boilers | 1 |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar |
| Maximum cup height | 5.5 in / 14.0 cm |
| Minimum cup height | 3.2 in / 8.1 cm |
| Grinder | Stainless steel conical burr grinder |
| Grind adjustment levels | 5 |
| Bean hopper capacity | 9.5 oz / 270.0 g |
| Pre-ground coffee bypass | |
| Grounds discard container capacity | 16 |
| Specialty drinks | 10 |
| Pre-infusion | |
| Adjustable coffee temperature | |
| Adjustable milk foam temperature | |
| Adjustable milk temperature | |
| 2-cup function | Yes |
| Pot function | |
| Hot water function | |
| Hot milk function | |
| Milk foam only option | |
| Water filter | |
| Power consumption | 1400 W |
| Weight | 20.4 lb / 9.3 kg |
| Dimensions | 13.6 x 10.0 x 18.7 in |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Notes | Included Accessories: User manual, water filter, measuring scoop, cleaning supplies |
| Current price on Amazon | $1,875.92 |
| All specifications | |
The Melitta CI Touch is a very good fully automatic espresso machine that makes excellent espresso. I really like the way this machine looks and I’m also very impressed by the way it adjusts the milk foam texture for different drinks.
With all that said, the Melitta CI Touch is rather expensive, especially when compared with DeLonghi espresso machines. Come to think of it, many of the best Philips espresso machines are much more affordable, too.
I’d like to see the price of this Melitta machine come down by a few hundred dollars. If that happens, I’ll be urging you to buy it. Sure, the menu is a little confusing and there’s no touchscreen interface. But this is a high-quality coffee machine that could become very popular indeed.
Do you own the Melitta CI Touch? Is it worth the investment? Share your thoughts in the comments section!