Compared to both the Lattissima+ and the Map Coffee Bella machines, the Intelia is a behemoth of a machine. It kind of needs to be though, given it does everything for making a cup of coffee. It grinds the beans, pumps water through the ground beans, froths milk and then cleans itself.
But for all its simplicity, the Intelia is littered with design flaws, unnecessary difficulties and ultimately – a disappointing brew. While many are minor frustrations, collectively they make using the espresso machine more hassle than it’s worth.
Take, for example, the water tank. While it discreetly sits in the main body, hidden away, the design of the actual container means that the machine will tell you water has run out when there is literally still enough water for another cup or two of water in the jug.
Even the self-cleaning mechanism is a frustration – The Intelia pours water through the coffee spout every time the machine powers on or off. This means that the drip tray realistically needs to be emptied and washed every day, which makes the “self cleaning” concept a little bit of a misnomer.
But ultimately, the biggest disappointment was the actual coffee itself. While coffee is a really subjective thing, the first few cups out of the machine were undrinkable. Even after changing the beans, the end result was disappointing – that nice crema you expect on top of an espresso was consistently thin and weak.
Like: The simplicity. It’s easy to use and set up.
Dislike: The design flaws and the quality of coffee.
Price: $999
Web: Philips
Nick Broughall is the Australian Editor of TechRadar.com, where he gets to indulge his passion for geekery and the lastest technology. He is also the Editor of EFTM.com.au, where he gets to indulge his passion for manliness, from sampling fine liquor to the joys of growing a beard. It’s a pretty good life, really.
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