Bosch vs Smeg Filter Coffee Machines

Bosch and Smeg both sell coffee machines in a range of styles. Bosch's range runs from the TAS102EGB Tassimo Happy at £74 to the built-in Series 8 fully automatic at £2,049. Smeg starts with the DCF02GRUK slate grey and DCF02CRU cream retro drip filter machines at £199, then the ECF02WHUK retro espresso machine with frother at £319 and the BCC13WHMUK bean-to-cup machine with milk system at £649.

Bosch's filter coffee machines use OptiBoil to hold water between 92°C and 96°C, with up to 12 cups, a keep-warm function and BRITA filtration on some models. Smeg's DCF02 retro drip machines hold five cups with a 40-minute stay-warm feature and an aroma function. The ECF02WHUK has a 1350W heater, a 12-bar pump and a built-in milk frother, and it makes two drinks at once. The BCC13WHMUK adds a built-in grinder, a 19-bar pump, thermoblock heating and a 1.4-litre capacity.

Bosch suits larger households or offices that need a big-batch filter machine, or a Tassimo pod machine for quick drinks. Smeg suits buyers who want a retro kitchen feature piece, with the DCF02 suiting small households that brew a few cups a day. The BCC13WHMUK suits those who want a bean-to-cup machine with its own grinder. The retro styling is a reason to choose Smeg, especially in cream or slate grey. The DCF02 at £199 costs £125 more than the Bosch Tassimo Happy at £74, while the BCC13WHMUK at £649 is £1,400 less than the built-in Bosch Series 8 at £2,049.

Bottom line: choose Bosch if you want a large-capacity or pod machine at a lower price, with prices from £74 to £2,049. Choose Smeg if retro styling and a built-in grinder matter to you, with prices from £199 to £649.