Monday, August 10, 2015

My Saeco GranBaristo and a Free Printable!

Saeco generously provided me with the Saeco GranBaristo, but have not paid or asked me to write a review. All opinions are my own!

A few weeks ago, Saeco invited me to attend a coffee event. Their knowledgeable staff and a barista from Rooster Coffee talked about different aspects of coffee beans and espresso makers. I left that event positively buzzing from my caffeine intake and my excitement over my new coffee maker!

Until this point, I used to make coffee at home using a moka pot. If I wanted to be fancy, I would use my manual milk frother. While I could make an okay cup of coffee, I would always apologize before making a cup of coffee for guests “Sorry, I hope this okay. I just make my coffee with my little moka pot. I won’t be offended if you don’t like it” Jeeeez, no confidence.

Since getting the Saeco GranBaristo, I can’t wait to offer my guests a coffee. It’s pretty much the first thing that comes out of my mouth when people come over. “Hi! Come in. Can I offer you a cappuccino? A latté?” It has upped my hosting 100% and has totally changed my morning and afternoon tea times to coffee breaks. My favourite drink is the espresso macchiato. It’s beautiful and delicious. I just don’t think I’ll ever be able to buy a drink at a fancy coffee place again!

Saeco GranBaristo - Espresso Macchiato

I am so impressed with the sleekness of this machine. It can make 16 different drinks and is only 8 inches wide. With my condo, counter space comes at a premium, and I have no issues leaving this out. It looks great and I use it at least twice a day. As this machine also has a hot water function, I’ve been able to get rid of my stove top kettle (in addition to my moka pot and manual milk frother) so it seems like a pretty great upgrade!

Saeco Granbaristo

In terms of function, there are two parts of this machine that make it a total winner for me,  and the first is that it’s a bean-to-cup machine. It grinds whole beans fresh for you for each cup of coffee. That’s amazing! First off, coffee beans lose their aromatics very quickly after being ground, so grinding them right before using them is ideal. Secondly, whole beans are far cheaper than pods. At the Saeco event, we were also provided with a bag of the House Espresso from Rooster Coffee and it was so good that I went back last week to get a second bag. I’ve made coffees for half a dozen people and they’ve all commented on the freshness, aroma, and taste.

Saeco GranBaristo in action

The second part of the GranBaristo that I love is the milk frother. This thing is a total game changer. I’ve been told that whole milk or 3% milk makes the best froth, but we drink 2% at home so that’s what I use and it’s great! The steamed milk comes out beautifully silky and the froth comes out nice and thick. This machine also created a beautiful crema. I seriously cannot say enough good things about the quality of the drinks.

The machine gives you a prompt when the water needs refilling or the spill tray or spent grounds tray needs to be emptied. The only learning curve for me was remembering what drinks the icons on the front made. I wish it was written underneath the icons. At this point I’ve almost made each drink, but I made myself a little chalkboard inspired coffee menu as a reminder. I love the way coffee art looks in the kitchen. Click here to download the printable!

Coffee Menu Art for the Kitchen

From the time I turn on the machine to the time I’m sitting on my couch with my macchiato is probably about 3 minutes; I have an 11 month old, so anything that gets caffeine in me with expediency is a welcome addition in my home :)

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