Our guide to thebest espresso machinesincludes lots more options to check out.
Just press the buttons on the side of the group unit, then gently pull to remove it.
The caddy simply lifts out, and you’re free to wash it using dish soap and water.
This is the first machine in the BCC series with an automatic milk frothing system
The final button, on the right, starts the machine’s quick clean cycle.
Dirty water will be flushed out, leaving the machine ready to use again next time.
It’s easy to clean by hand with dish soap and warm water.
The BCC13 heats milk enough to break down lactose for a sweet foam that never tastes scalded
I carried out our regular test of an espresso by placing a teaspoonful of demerara sugar on top.
The built-in milk frother is very consistent, producing thick and creamy foam for cappuccinos and lattes.
The BCC13 will save this preset for future use.
This won’t affect the presets.
The only real downside is that the Smeg BCC13 can’t handle plant milks particularly well.
It’s impressive just how much it cleans out each time.
The reservoir is generously sized and well designed, with a sturdy carry handle that makes it easy to remove from the back of the BCC13
Should you buy the Smeg BCC13?
The biggest downside is that it’s only available in the US at the time of writing.
Read we test.
The machine has a removable side panel that lets you access the brew group for cleaning
Used grounds drop into a caddy in the bottom of the machine, and the machine will warn you when it needs emptying
You have a choice of nine drink types, plus hot water for tea. The button at the bottom serves as a ‘shift’ button on a keyboard, letting you pick a secondary option
Espresso has a rich, thick crema every time, and is consistently well extracted
Scooping out a spoonful lets you see just how much foam the BCC13 can produce for a latte macchiato
Smeg warns that plant milks may not froth as well as dairy milk, and it’s not wrong - an oat milk cappuccino (left) had barely any foam compared to the same drink made with full-fat dairy (right)
You’ll be prompted to run a quick cleaning cycle after using the automatic milk frother
I tested the BCC13 using Brazilian Arabica coffee beans
