The EGF03 is Smegs espresso machine with a built-in grinder and steam wand.
Semi-automatic machines are the most common youll see in households, and often appear on ourbest espresso machines.
Could the EGF03 be one of them?
Then youre ready to brew delectable espresso.
The steam arm is pretty easy to master, too, and is fun to play around with.
Smeg also makes an espresso machine without a grinder, theSmeg ECF02($529).
If youre super into coffee though, youll want to get one of thebest coffee grinders.
Coffee grinders can be expensive, though, so is this Smeg machine worth your $1,100?
Find out in this Smeg EGF03 Espresso Machine with Grinder review.
This $1,000+ price tag makes it much more expensive than theKitchenAid Semi-Automatic, which is $699.
Our favorite semi-automatic machine, theNinja Luxe Cafe, is just $499 pretty cheap for an espresso machine.
If youre after an automatic machine, SmegsBean to Cupis $849.
The priciest machine on Smegs roster is theMini Pro although its 1,399 and only available in the U.K.
I cant lie, it does this aesthetic so well.
The EGF03 is available in a variety of colors: I tested the red and black finishes.
The back of the machine houses the half-gallon water tank, which has a handy max and min line.
On the top of the machine is the bean hopper, which holds more than it initially suggests.
You use these buttons to program customization options like activating short, long and progressive shots.
However, I found these buttons so frustrating to navigate that I simply stuck with the default shot setting.
The espresso shots still tasted great, though, so its not all a loss.
This tamper is much better than the ECF02s plastic, flimsy tamper/scoop combination that struggled to tamp evenly.
There are 15 grind prefs ranging from superfine to medium.
I found the best result was setting 7, or fine.
This produced a velvety smooth espresso with thick crema.
A single shot doses 0.47 ounces of coffee and a double shot doses 0.72 ounces.
There was minimal discrepancy between measurements: the biggest variation was just 0.01 ounces.
Single-wall portafilters are generally considered to pull superior shots, as they dont aerate the espresso during extraction.
I used single-walled portafilters to extract the best flavor of espresso.
The EGF03 is a semi-automatic machine so it flows a pre-set amount of water through the portafilter.
In testing, the machine produced espresso shots really consistently.
Oh, how I love to be proved wrong.
The ECF02 utilizes 9 bar pressure, whereas the EGF03 has 20 bar.
To texture milk for latte art, you need a strong steam wand.
This is to create a powerful vortex that textures the milk, resulting in a velvety microfoam.
I was able to pour perfect latte art every time: check this out.
The latte art isnt the best, but thats a me problem rather than a Smeg problem.
Im a bit rusty after not working in a coffee shop for over three years now.
You should purge the steam wand before and after every use, though.
The Espresso Machine with Grinder is a pretty bulky machine, at 18 inches tall and 27 pounds.
Smeg EGF03 Espresso Machine with Grinder review: How does it compare?
My favorite semi-automatic espresso machine is KitchenAids Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder.
I know what youre thinking you just said the EGF03 lights up when its ready to go.
On the KitchenAid, the heating light is just that: a heating light.
Theres a separate lightsolelyfor cleaning instructions.
With this small change, the Smeg EGF03 would be much easier to operate.
TheBreville Barista Expressis one of the most well known espresso machines on the market.
Its just $749 compared to the EGF03s $1,100 and is our best espresso machine for beginners.
Its one of the priciest semi-automatic espresso machines Ive seen.
For the fantastic aesthetic, though, the price could be worth it.
