I’m chronic. Despite always owning a coffee machine, every single day of my working life I find myself being sucked into buying a daily oat flat white from a cafe.
It’s partly the frothy milk that only the baristas seem to know how to create, and partly the small treat that comes with doing something small only for yourself.
But with coffee prices rising, and the cost of living only heading one way, I know I need to rein in my caffeine spend — and, yes, do that thing that our parents advise us millennials to do: make my coffee at home.
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Enter the Philips Series 5500 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine.
Offered the opportunity to road test the $1,399 gadget (currently $1,119 at Harvey Norman), I couldn’t refuse.
Would it replace my daily $6.50 habit? Time would tell.
What is the machine all about?
Firstly, we need to talk about the specs.
A fully automated espresso machine, the Philips machine can deliver 20 delicious coffee recipes at the touch of a button.
Whether you’re a smooth espresso, a frothy cappuccino or anything in between type of person, the Fully Automatic Machine crafts bean-to-cup coffee with a wide range of varieties available.
On top of this, there is also the option for a cooling iced coffee when the weather warms up.
People like me who love a frothy coffee will love the powerful cyclonic frothing technology, which lets you create silky smooth milk froth at the touch of a button like those in cafes — even if you’re using plant-based milk alternatives.
The machine uses fresh beans, meaning it feels authentic and cafe-level in quality.
If you skew a little bit lazy, it might appeal that this particular coffee machine cleans itself in just 10 seconds using something called AquaClean that only needs to be cleaned out every 5,000 cups.
The machine is designed to be tailored to your personal preferences, with an attractive digital display and silent brew technology allowing users to create their perfect cup.
So how did I find it?
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As a self-confessed coffee snob, it was going to take some coffee machine to persuade me to drink my caffeine at home.
But, armed with a bag of Campos beans, I was willing to give this one a go.
One of the best things about this coffee machine was how quick and easy it was to set up.
We merely got it out of the box, plugged it in and the LED screen talked me through the rest of — an instant win.
But the good news doesn’t stop there.
Upon brewing my first coffee, I was pleasantly surprised by how whisper quiet the machine was and how it didn’t bounce around on the worktop noisily as they so often do.
The milk system was super easy to use (and clean afterwards). I filled it with some oat milk and started to brew an oat flat white to test out its capabilities.
Safe to say: it’s a gamechanger.
The machine delivers exceptional, rich-tasting coffee at the simple touch of a button — with every single frilly addition you want for your order, whether that’s extra milk, froth or a double shot of coffee.
The machine looks stylish but not overly obtrusive on my benchtop, and I love the variety of drinks I can make.
I’ve even found myself making iced lattes on the slightly warmer spring days.
The verdict
I would whole-heartedly recommend this coffee machine to someone looking to invest in the real deal.
From creamy lattes to cappuccinos, each drink is brewed at exactly the right temperature and consistency — and the result is a coffee that is on par with the very best cafe-made buys.
I love how easy it’s been to tailor and set my preferences to the smart LED screen, and my husband is loving it too.
There are four different user profiles — perfect for every sort of family.
We’ve even made Babyccinos for our young daughters, so everyone can get in on the caffeine-related fun.
At $1,119, the Philips coffee machine is obviously a significant investment — but since owning the machine, I find myself ordering coffee out less, preferring to brew one at home in just three seconds and sit in the garden.
By the end of the year, it will almost have paid for itself.
And the frothy milk? No need to head to a cafe to get it anymore.
For more information and to shop the coffee machine for yourself, head here now.
