Siemens EQ6 TE651209GB Bean to Cup Coffee Machine Review

Review Summary

The Siemens EQ6 TE651209GB Bean to Cup Coffee Machine brings the sophistication of café-quality coffee to your kitchen, with a design focused on convenience, versatility, and ease of use. Designed for coffee enthusiasts and households with varied preferences, this model offers one-touch options for multiple coffee styles and an intuitive interface that simplifies the coffee-making experience. After extensive testing, here’s an in-depth review covering its design, functionality, and performance.

Design & Build Quality

The Siemens EQ6 boasts a clean, modern look with a sleek titanium finish that complements most kitchen styles. The machine feels robust, with high-quality materials used throughout, including a durable ceramic grinder that’s quieter and longer-lasting than many metal grinders found in similar models. The compact footprint, despite housing a complete espresso machine, milk frother, and grinder, fits neatly on an average countertop without feeling intrusive.

Its coffeeSelect display is an impressive feature, offering an intuitive touchscreen interface that allows you to select your drink with a few taps. The clear, simple icons make it easy to choose between coffee styles, adjust strength and volume, and personalize each cup. The adjustable spout accommodates different cup sizes, allowing room for taller latte glasses as well as standard mugs. In our tests, the machine’s ergonomic design and well-thought-out layout made the coffee preparation process straightforward and enjoyable, even for first-time users.

Coffee Quality & Customization

The EQ6 excels in providing a personalized coffee experience, a feature we appreciated in our daily use. It supports a range of drinks espresso, cappuccino, latte macchiato, americano, and more. Users can adjust the strength, temperature, and volume of each drink, which is ideal for households with diverse coffee preferences. The machine also includes a “My Coffee” memory function, allowing users to save custom settings for quick access.

Siemens’ AromaDouble Shot technology was particularly notable in our testing. This feature grinds and brews the coffee in two stages, extracting maximum flavor without added bitterness. The result was a rich, full-bodied coffee, even at higher strengths. We found that this feature enhanced the taste of stronger drinks like espressos, making them smooth yet robust.

The integrated milk frother performed consistently well. It produces a dense, creamy froth, ideal for lattes and cappuccinos, and allows for easy milk-based drink customization. However, we did notice that it works best with whole milk; alternative milks like almond or soy didn’t achieve quite the same frothy texture. Despite this, the machine's milk handling system is efficient, and we were able to prepare cappuccinos and lattes with a professional-quality finish every time.

Ease of Use & Maintenance

The Siemens EQ6 is designed with the user experience in mind, making it an ideal choice for those who want high-quality coffee without complicated setup or maintenance. The touch display is highly responsive, with icons and options that are easy to understand and operate, even without consulting the manual. From selecting coffee strength to adjusting temperature, every function is intuitive.

Maintenance is often a hassle with bean-to-cup machines, but Siemens has incorporated several automatic cleaning features that make upkeep minimal. The autoMilk Clean function automatically flushes the milk system after each use, reducing the buildup of milk residue. This feature is invaluable for maintaining hygiene, especially if the machine is used daily. Additionally, the machine includes automatic descaling and rinsing programs, which keep the internal system clean and prevent scale build-up.

The machine’s removable components, including the drip tray, water tank, and brewing unit, simplify manual cleaning. We found the ceramic grinder to be low-maintenance, requiring little attention compared to metal grinders, which can degrade over time. For added convenience, the machine also alerts you when it’s time to refill the beans or water, or to perform cleaning and descaling, ensuring it remains in optimal condition.

Performance & Efficiency

With a powerful 15-bar pump, the EQ6 delivers café-quality coffee with a smooth crema and rich aroma. It heats up quickly, making it possible to brew coffee with minimal wait time. This is particularly useful for busy mornings, as it can also prepare two drinks simultaneously, a feature we found invaluable in our testing when multiple people wanted coffee at once.

The ceramic grinder is effective yet quiet, grinding beans to an ideal consistency for balanced extraction. Its performance was consistent throughout our testing, with no noticeable variation in grind quality. The machine’s energy-saving mode is another plus, as it shuts down after a period of inactivity. However, when it goes into standby mode, it can take a moment to reheat, which may be a minor inconvenience for those who frequently prepare back-to-back cups.

Additional Features

In addition to its coffee brewing functions, the Siemens EQ6 includes several features that enhance its usability. It can use both whole beans and pre-ground coffee, allowing users to switch between different types of coffee effortlessly. The hot water function is also handy, making it easy to prepare tea or americanos without a separate kettle. The 1.7-liter water tank and 300g bean hopper offer a good capacity for daily use, although larger households might need to refill more frequently.

Safety is also a consideration, as the machine includes a child-lock feature to prevent accidental operation. This adds peace of mind for households with children, ensuring the machine can’t be operated without adult supervision.

Overall Verdict

The Siemens EQ6 TE651209GB Bean to Cup Coffee Machine is a well-rounded, feature-rich coffee maker that delivers high-quality, customizable coffee with minimal effort. Its intuitive interface, automatic cleaning systems, and variety of drink options make it a top choice for households that value both convenience and quality. While it lacks advanced connectivity options seen in some premium models, such as app control, it remains a strong contender for anyone looking to elevate their coffee experience at home.

Overall Score - 4.5/5

With a sleek design, robust features, and reliable performance, the Siemens EQ6 TE651209GB offers excellent value for coffee enthusiasts seeking a premium bean-to-cup machine.