Retro coffee machines are those with a vintage aesthetic, reminiscent of coffee machines from the 1950s, in which pastel and light colours predominate. And if there are two brands that specialise in this type of coffee machines, they are the two protagonists of our review: Swan vs Create. But which of the two is more interesting in this aspect? In this article, we are going to explain the advantages of each one so that you can choose which one best meets your needs.
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You probably don’t know much about either of the two brands, and the truth is that their origins are very different. Swan (which, incidentally, means “swan” in English) is a British brand that manufactures a wide range of retro-style coffee machines, as well as other household appliances and kitchen utensils. The company was founded in 1931 in the United Kingdom and has since established itself as a well-known brand in the domestic appliance industry.
In addition to coffee machines, Swan manufactures other household and kitchen appliances such as kettles, toasters and microwaves, among others. The brand is known for its stylish and practical designs, and many of its products are popular with consumers looking for a reliable, high-quality appliance at an affordable price.
What about Create? We can’t talk about this brand without talking about Ikohs, which is the company from which it was born. It was in 2014 when Ikohs decided to launch Create, its line of coffee machines, which, over time, evolved into automatic espresso machines with a very defined and recognisable retro line.
How would we define the retro coffee machines of each brand?
Swan’s retro-style coffee machines are available in various colours, such as cream, red and blue, and feature a classic design with modern functionality. Some of the features you can expect from a Swan retro coffee maker include a reusable and washable filter, a keep warm function and an automatic shut-off function for safety. They also tend to have a large capacity and are capable of brewing several cups of coffee at once. All of this, we will see below.
In the case of Create, we are talking about modern, versatile and easy-to-use coffee machines. Overall, they are designed to offer a high quality coffee experience at home, with a range of features and customisation options to suit different preferences. The machines are also designed to be easy to operate, with intuitive touch screens and user-friendly controls.
Swan vs Create: Our featured coffee makers
As you can imagine, the variety of coffee machines that each brand has is quite wide. That’s why I want to take a closer look at two models that are quite similar and whose comparison allows me to give you a more specific idea of what each brand’s coffee machines are like. For this reason, I have focused on the Swan Retro One Touch and Create Thera Matt Retro models.
Swan Retro One Touch – Large milk container
The Swan coffee machine is one of the brand’s most sought-after on Amazon, so it has aroused all our curiosity. The first thing we noticed is that you can buy it in various colours: blue, cream, grey and green. Particularly, the one I like the most is green, although the blue is super original because it is not a usual shade. But, let’s get to the important thing, which is its technical specifications.
The maximum power it can reach is 1200 watts, and the pump pressure is 15 bar. As you can see, these figures are very much in line with most coffee machines of this type. In fact, as long as the pump pressure is over 9 bar, the coffee will come out as strong as possible.
One of the most striking things about the Swan coffee maker is that it has a 1.7 litre water tank, so we can make more coffees than with the Create coffee maker, as you will see below. Even the frother tank is larger than usual, as it is 500 ml. In fact, we’ve already told you that this is one of the main differences compared to its rival, which only has an adjustable frother.
The downside of having this tank is that it takes away space for the double coffee spout, so we can only brew one coffee at a time. However, this can be any size you want (the maximum cup size that fits is a large breakfast cup, so you won’t have a problem).
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Create Thera Matt Retro – A wide range of colours to choose from
This semi-automatic coffee maker is available in a range of colours, all of which have the characteristic pastel shade of retro coffee makers: blue, green, cream, mustard, black, red, pink and pistachio. Apparently, it has more controls than the Swan coffee maker, but what I like most is the wooden bezel around the temperature gauge.
Aesthetic issues aside, this is a coffee machine with 15 bar pressure and 1100 watts of power, so it has enough power to make the best espressos. I also really like the fact that we can make two coffees at the same time, as long as they are espressos, thanks to the dual spout and the larger filter holder. This is something that the Swan doesn’t allow, and can be useful if you have guests at home to save time.
The water tank is 1.25 litres, about average, and there is also a removable tray that can heat the cup. OK, it doesn’t do wonders, but at least we don’t have the mug sitting on a cold tray. And, as you’ve probably seen, it has a swivelling frother with which we can make frothed milk. But you have to do it after pouring the coffee, because you can’t automatically make a cappuccino. However, it is very easy to use.
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Swan vs Create: The most important differences
Now that you know some of the more detailed features of the two coffee machines I’ve introduced you to, I’ll summarise the main differences and which brand “wins” each battle:
We can make cappuccinos in both coffee machines, but the Swan Retro One Touch has a built-in milk reservoir, which makes the process easier for us. All we have to do is press the button for the milk froth to be created, whereas with the Create Thera Retro Matt, it is a manual process that takes longer.
Only the Create coffee machine allows two coffees to be made at the same time; however, they cannot be large coffees, but espressos.
The variety of colours available is greater in the Create retro coffee machines than in the Swan ones, although in all cases there are pastel colours typical of vintage designs.
Swan vs Create: Which coffee machine should I choose?
Once I have analysed all the characteristics and differences between the two coffee machines, my decision is clearer, although I must admit that it is not the easiest one to make. My money is on Create, because it seems to me to be better value for money. Bearing in mind that the pressure and power are practically the same, I find it more practical to have a double coffee spout, because the milk froth is really easy to make. It may not be as easy as with the Swan, but it’s not complicated at all, whereas two coffees at the same time are impossible with the Swan.
In addition, aesthetic criteria are important when choosing a retro coffee machine. And I find Create’s design more elegant and original than that of Swan. The wooden finishes seem to me to be a great choice, and they are very much in keeping with my personality. There is also a wider variety of colours to choose from, which always appeals to more people.
Finally, the price is lower than that of the Swan coffee machines. It is true that this brand has a more consolidated trajectory in the market, but I am of the opinion that we should bet on new brands and give them the opportunity to grow, in a market in which, fortunately, there is room for everyone.