I just tested the luxurious new coffee machine made by the brand that ‘invented espresso’ — and it’s the closest you can get to professional coffee at home

The Smeg EMC02 — A.K.A the Mini Pro in the U.K. and Manual Espresso Machine in the U.S. — is definitely one of the best espresso machines money can buy these days. It has an impressive triple-Thermoblock heating system that allows for simultaneous espresso and milk heating and fantastic pressure maintenance. Not only does it function well, it looks a treat too.

The EMC02 is the first proper collaboration between Italian kitchenware brand Smeg and Italian coffee brand La Pavoni — the latter of which is reputed to have invented espresso. As in, literally made the first espresso using its traditional lever espresso machine back in 1905.

Can La Pavoni x Smeg’s first collaborative espresso machine live up to each brands’ reputations? Find out the full story in this Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso Machine review.

Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso Machine: Cheat sheet

• Who is it for? Serious coffee lovers wanting to upgrade to a multi-boiler setup for simultaneous espresso and milk brewing
• What does it do well? It’s a great machine — three boilers, PID temperature display, manual extraction including optional pre-infusion time, and a professional-grade steam wand
• What are its weaknesses? Not really a weakness, but bear in mind you’ll need a separate grinder
• What should you use it for? I wouldn’t recommend this machine for beginners — this is a coffee lover’s dream

Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso Machine: Specs

Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso Machine review: Price & availability

The Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso Machine (what a mouthful) is a massive $1,800 from Smeg U.S., but you can find it under the name Smeg Semi-Professional Espresso machine for $1,499 at Williams Sonoma.

In the U.K., it’s got a much easier name — Smeg Mini Pro — and is $1,399 from John Lewis, $1,399 direct from Smeg, and $1,399 from Selfridges. It’s also available in white, black, and the beautiful jade in the U.K., whereas the U.S. seems to be just white and black.

Even for a dual (or triple, in this case) boiler espresso machine, $1,800 is objectively expensive. Breville’s Dual Boiler Espresso Machine is $1,599 and the Rancilio Silvia Pro X is $1,990. Both of these dual boiler machines are around the same price as the EMC02. This is an objectively massive price for a powerful, impressive espresso machine.

For less serious coffee fanatics, I’d recommend a single-boiler machine to save on some $$$. The De’Longhi La Specialista Opera (semi-automatic) I use every day is just $899, which is a lot of money, but still lower than the EMC02’s $1,800. For complete beginners, I’d recommend the $499 Ninja Luxe Cafe.

Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso Machine review: Design

As with other Smeg products I’ve got my hands on, the EMC02’s design really outperforms the rest. It’s available in white, black, and jade, and I was lucky enough to get the jade colorway for testing. Jade is by far the most appealing color to me, but if you’re more of a monochrome-lover or minimalist, the black and white options would be better.

With the EMC02, gone is the retro-cool vibe of other Smeg gear. The EMC02 is modern, sleek, and almost industrialist. This is more of a versatile stylishness, and I prefer this over other Smeg options.

The front of the machine has a little screen for water temperature and that counts down during extraction (it can also measure pre-infusion time). There are three buttons: steam/hot water, single shot, double shot, as on the Smeg Espresso Machine and Smeg Espresso Machine with Grinder.

There are two ways to begin extraction: by pressing the single/double button or by raising the lever. I liked raising the lever as it made me feel like I was using the traditional pump espresso machines from Italian days of yore.

At the back of the machine is the 57.5 fluid ounce water tank, which I found was easy to get in and out. However, the water tank lid was warped and didn’t fit on properly. This is likely because I was using a test model, so it will have been scuffed up by my fellow journalists who tested it before me. Even so, this does suggest a longevity issue for home users, so beware.

I was quite surprised to read that the EMC02 only has 15-bar pressure. Considering its very premium price tag, I was expecting at least 19-bar. My De’Longhi La Specialista Opera ($899) boasts a 19-bar pressure.

Espresso only needs to be extracted at 9-bar pressure, but you might want to go as high as 19 to increase the golden window of extraction. Some say that higher pressure (PSI) can extract a more complex shot, but the risk of overextraction and burnt, bitter coffee is much stronger. Even so, 9-bar is all you really need, so this is fine.

It’s not ideal to extract espresso at any more than around 11-bar as that results in a bitter, overextracted drink — you’ll be able to tell what pressure you’re at from the on-machine pressure gauge.

While this isn’t a surprise on dual (or triple) boiler machines, it’s worth remembering that the EMC02 is not a bean-to-cup espresso machine. You will need one of the best grinders to achieve delicious coffee — I do not recommend pre-ground store-bought espresso, ever.

Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso Machine review: Espresso

I’m going to preface this section with a bit of information about the difference between a manual and automatic espresso machine, and explain the difference between various group heads.

An automatic espresso machine is that: automatic. It will make coffee at the touch of a button, and voila. A semi-automatic (most espresso machines fall into this category) will have both a pre-determined shot time and capacity for user control. Semi-automatics will extract a set amount of water for a set amount of time when you press the ‘single/double shot’ button, but users can also start and stop this extraction at will.

A manual espresso machine is neither: the user must dial in all settings. You have to do everything: measure coffee into a portafilter, set pre-infusion time (easy on the EMC02 with a range of customizable pre-infusion times), and start the water flow. The water flow will stop at about 60 seconds, but it’s meant to be controlled by you.

The Smeg EMC02 also has an E61-style group head. Most modern machines have a Thermoblock group head, and the Smeg EMC02 appears to be one of them. However, this group head is designed to look (and behave) like an E61. E61s are traditional (dating back to the 1960s) group heads famous for their slow heat-up time yet delicious espresso extraction. The dual boiler Bianca Lelit ($2,199) and the Rocket Appartamento are modern examples of an E61 group head.

The EMC02’s group head looks like an E61, but it heats up in minutes rather than hours. This means it does get very hot to the touch, so you mustn't touch the group head while the machine is on. I learnt this the hard way (ouch).

Given that the EMC02 is a manual espresso machine, it will not stop pulling espresso until you tell it to. The EMC02 does have an auto function, but I don’t think that’s where it excels. It is, at heart, a manual machine, and it should be treated as such.

Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso Machine review: Extraction

There are two ways to start extraction: either auto-press the single/double shot button, or pull the lever. I decided to pull the lever as it made me feel much cooler, like I was completely engrossed in my craft.

The EMC02 has a PID monitor, which means the machine monitors the temperature of shots to prevent burning the espresso (or extracting too weakly). You’ll want to find an espresso machine with a PID if you’re a serious espresso drinker, as machines without can pull inconsistent shots.

As with any espresso machine, I had to play around with the ratios, grind, and tamping to find my optimal espresso extraction. At first, I thought my espresso was extracting too quickly (in around 23 seconds rather than the ‘golden window’ of 25-28), but the pressure gauge read ‘9’, and the shot tasted utterly divine, so I think so-called optimal ratios are up to each individual user. You may disagree, and that’s fine. I think the espresso tasted perfect, even at 23 seconds.

I used my Breville/Sage Dose Control Pro ($149) grinder — which I maintain is hated unfairly in the coffee world, and discussed why in my linked review — to grind my washed Ethiopian beans espresso-fine. I loaded up the double-shot non-pressurized portafilter with 18g of coffee and extracted it. However, I got 36g in just 14 seconds, so I knew something was up. The espresso tasted good, don’t get me wrong, but it was very weak.

To try again, I dosed 21g of even finer ground coffee and tamped with all my might. This time, I got 36g espresso in 23 seconds, which looked and tasted much better. The espresso was balanced, but light and fruity, with sourness that made my tongue tingle.

I will note that the drip tray and portafilter are too close together to fit a mug and one of the best coffee scales — you’ll need to pull the shot into a small shot glass and then pour it into your mug should you be using a scale.

Once I had this dose and grind sorted, I started making every single colleague a coffee, whether they liked it or not. One colleague said the cappuccino was the “Best cappuccino you’ve [me, Erin] ever made”. Another (who is a coffee roaster) said the flat white was juicy and delicious. Not to pat myself on the back too much or anything, but every colleague said the Smeg EMC02 made a delectable coffee.

Now, I’m not sure if that’s just general politeness or not, but the coffees I drank were all 10/10 too. The espresso was rich yet light, balanced yet complex. The milk was perfect, too, with velvety microfoam.

With every single espresso shot I pulled, the whole puck popped out of the portafilter with just one or two knocks. This is the marker of a great shot — the coffee grounds were compact and saturated with water, telling me that the espresso was perfectly extracted.

Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso Machine review: Milk

The EMC02 steam wand is powerful. It’s much more powerful than the De’Longhi La Specialista Opera and the KitchenAid Semi Automatic espresso machine’s steam wands. I was able to heat a whole jug of milk quickly and with pristine microfoam.

As you can see, the milk texture in this flat white is pretty perfect. If you’re used to home espresso machines (like I am now), then I would recommend doing a few practice rounds before making a drink for someone else. The powerful wand does take a second or two to get accustomed to — likely even longer if you’ve never used a prosumer or commercial espresso machine before.

Speaking of commercial espresso machines, the steam wand on the Smeg EMC02 behaves almost exactly like one. The joint between the wand and the machine is very dextrous, making it possible to adjust the angle of the steam wand more than other machines I’ve used. Furthermore, there’s a lovely silicone heatproof tab on the wand’s ‘elbow’ that means you can adjust during steaming.

This is one of the most impressive steam wands I’ve ever used — not just in actual baseline performance, but in usability and mobility, too. It’s almost identical to a professional steam wand.

Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso Machine review: Storage & maintenance

As this is a very large machine, it’ll need a whole countertop of storage. It’s 17 inches high and 14 inches deep, so that aforementioned countertop also requires relatively high overhead cabinets and a deep unit.

In terms of maintenance, there’s the usual cleaning. If you live in a hard water area (like me) you’ll want to descale the machine regularly to prevent sediment buildup in the internal pipes. Smeg sells espresso machine cleaner for $19, but I’ll let you decide if you need a Smeg-branded cleaning solution or not. Smeg also sells a range of coffee accessories like premium milk jugs (with better spouts for improved latte art) and tamping mats.

The drip tray is very easy to clean, and it has a red tab that pops up when it’s due to be emptied. I found it easy to clean the group head too with a brush and paper towels.

In the U.K., Smeg offers a 2 year warranty and in the U.S., that’s a 2 year warranty with an extra year after purchasing from select retailers.

Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso Machine review: How does it compare?

Now, the answer to this question will depend on how confident or competent you are with espresso machines. Do you have experience with a home espresso machine, and want to upgrade to a prosumer setup?

Then the Smeg EMC02 will delight you. It’s a dual boiler machine, which is the best type of espresso machine. You’ll be able to master your coffee craft with enough dedication and knowledge.

Single boiler machines like De’Longhi’s line of La Specialista machines, or KitchenAid’s home machines simply can’t compare. If you’re a coffee aficionado, then a dual boiler machine is the only way forward.

The Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso Machine is more of a Bianca Lelit-caliber machine, not your standard Ninja or Casabrews. It’s for serious coffee drinkers.

There are no buttons telling you what to press and when; users must dial in pretty much everything. This ensures more consistent, successful shots in the long run, but it means there’s a bit of a learning curve for complete beginners.

As a result, I wouldn’t recommend this for beginners. It’s a bit finicky, and might scare off newcomers rather than welcome them. For beginners, I’d recommend any of De’Longhi’s La Specialista range (I love my Opera) and the Ninja Luxe Cafe. For beginners who want the best of the best, any of Breville’s espresso machines would do the trick. The Breville Bambino Plus ($499) would probably sort you out in this regard.

Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso Machine review: Verdict

The Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro Manual Espresso machine is the closest I’ve ever come to my days as a professional barista. The machine is adept at pulling espresso shots back-to-back, and the triple Thermoblock heaters mean that I can switch between espresso and steaming milk without any heating up time.

Although the machine’s not perfect — it’s ridiculously expensive, especially in the U.S., and the group head gets really hot — it’s 90% of the way there. Every colleague I made coffee for during testing told me it was delicious. Now, I’m not sure if this was just ego-stroking or not, but the coffee I made for myself was also luxurious.

All in all, the Smeg EMC02 Mini Pro is not for beginners. It’s in the Bianca Lelit and Rancilio Silvia Pro X caliber of espresso machines, and requires a decent amount of studying before use. But if you’re up for the challenge? Oh boy, is this an espresso machine and a half.