If you are a coffee lover, you are probably thinking about buying an espresso machine to start your day in the best possible way. However, not all coffee machines are the same, nor can they make the same type of coffee. That’s why it’s important to get to know them and know how to compare them in order to assess which one is best suited to your needs. But don’t worry, we are here to help you. In this article we compare Create Ikohs Vs Smeg Vs Russell Hobbs, three brands with very interesting espresso machines that you should know. Let’s get to it!
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Create Ikohs vs Smeg vs Russell Hobbs: a more traditional or modern espresso machine?
As you know, every coffee machine is different. Some people prefer traditional Italian coffee, while others prefer a drip coffee maker so that they can drink more per day. In this review we focus on espresso coffee machines, one of the most popular types of coffee nowadays due to the intensity of its aroma and flavour.
What distinguishes this type of coffee machine is that they do not use capsules: instead, they use freshly ground coffee for the most intense flavour. So you need a good automatic espresso machine if you like coffee and want to drink the best quality coffee.
Smeg: a professional espresso machine at your fingertips
You’re probably more familiar with this brand of coffee machine, and no wonder. The first thing to note about this company is that it has very different product lines.
The most retro is the Smeg ECF01 range, which you can find in different pastel shades (red, blue, green, pink, white and black). Despite its unattractive name, it is the brand’s best-selling model. Its heating system of the heating block allows a very fast start-up and a precise control of the degrees.
So you can always choose the temperature at which you want to drink your coffee. And how is it guaranteed to be a good espresso? Thanks to its 15 bar pressure pump. And, like its rivals, it is suitable for both ground coffee and single-dose coffee. In terms of operation, it’s really simple to use, with just 3 buttons to change the settings to your liking.
On the other hand, Smeg has the BCC01 range, with a more modern and avant-garde design, far from the vintage aesthetics of the previous range. Leaving aside its elegant design (with an aluminium plate and available in various colours), we find ourselves with a device whose water pump has a capacity of 1.4 litres (it is quite large), makes quality coffee without much effort and has a power of 1350 W to respond in all kinds of situations.
It should be noted that this range of super automatic coffee machines has a higher price than the previous range, although it has up to 7 different functions depending on how you like your coffee.
Create Ikohs: coffee machine with double coffee spout
We continue talking about Create Ikohs, which is also characterised by a very attractive design with a more vintage visual line. The Thera Retro line is a range of espresso machines that you can buy in different colours (black, red, pastel green, etc.), but their price varies. However, any of them offer a very interesting price-quality ratio, being considerably cheaper than their rivals.
Instead of offering a more digital design, it has analogue details, such as a pressure gauge in bars that will delight any fan of this type of device. Even so, it is compatible with both ground coffee and Easy Serving Espresso pods.
It has a 1.25 litre tank, a 15 bar pressure pump and 1100W of power. Plus, you can make two coffees at once, so it’s perfect for breakfast with a partner. While it can’t compete with the flavour on offer in coffee shops, or for that matter with the Smeg models, it’s delicious, the crema is what any coffee lover is looking for and it’s very easy to use.
All this with a contained size so that you can place the coffee machine in any corner of your kitchen without thinking about space, and with an attractive aesthetic that blends perfectly with any type of furniture.
Russell Hobbs: the model with cup warmer included
The third protagonist of our review is the Russell Hobbs brand, which you may be more familiar with from its drip coffee machines, although it also has a very interesting line of espresso machines: Retro Ribbon. In fact, they are valid for both ground coffee and capsules, so there is no difference in this respect with its competitors.
It reaches a pressure of 15 bar, and has a very personal feature that we particularly love. This is the “cup warmer” option, which keeps your cups warm while you wait for the coffee to brew.
In terms of design, it is more like a traditional retro line, with a squarer aesthetic than the retro Smeg and the Create Ikohs. The control indicator is a needle indicator, which adds to the 1950s coffee machine feel.
On the other hand, it has a thermoblock heater that speeds up the brewing process and heats the water quickly to the optimum espresso temperature. It also maintains the temperature.
And if you prefer a cappuccino, you can use the dedicated rotating steam wand to create milk foam. In terms of price, it is worth noting its good value for money, which is more in line with that of Create Ikohs.
Useful recommendations before buying an espresso machine
If you have decided to include an espresso machine in your kitchen, it is important that you know what some important concepts mean when evaluating different options. Below, we explain some of the most relevant ones:
- Steam tube: as you may have noticed, some models include an additional steam wand to complete your coffee with milk foam, but this is not a common feature in all models. However, if in doubt, it can be a differentiating factor to take into account.
- Design: it is common for brands to market ranges of espresso machines with a more vintage aesthetic, and in bright colours such as red or pastel shades. Therefore, the visual aspect is a feature that can also make a difference, especially if you have a kitchen with a more traditional overall design.
- Manual or automatic: espresso machines can be manual or automatic. Within the latter, there are semi-automatic, automatic and super-automatic. Semi-automatic espresso machines dispense water in an organised way, but do not grind the coffee or control the water. Super-automatics, on the other hand, take care of the entire process, including grinding, measuring the quantity and tamping the coffee.
- Ground coffee or pods: there are some coffee machines that are valid for both ground coffee and capsules, as is the case with the three featured in our review. However, there are others that do not offer this dual compatibility, so you will have to pay attention if you want one that does.
Create Ikohs vs Smeg vs Russell Hobbs: final conclusion
All three brands offer high quality espresso machines, although not all of them are a good fit depending on what you are looking for. The first major distinction we can make is obvious, and has to do with price.
Smeg coffee machines are a notch above Create Ikohs and Russell Hobbs in terms of automation, being machines that are more akin to what you might find in a coffee shop. Therefore, if you are looking for a professional coffee machine, we would definitely recommend Smeg, although it is a more expensive brand.
On the other hand, if you prefer to stick with a more affordable coffee machine, the choice is between Create Ikohs and Russell Hobbs. The price difference is not much, to be honest. In this case, they both make great coffee. They share a maximum pressure of 15 bar and have an automatic steam wand to create perfect foam. What’s more, they are compatible with both ground coffee and single-serve coffee, and you can choose between different types of coffee brews.
The Create Ikohs has a double coffee spout, although this difference is not relevant when it comes to drinking good coffee. Therefore, more subjective factors come into play, such as the design you like best or the one that best fits into your kitchen.
Any of the three coffee machines is perfect to start the day off on the right foot, and this is revealed by the good reviews from users who have already tried them on Amazon.
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