Coffee and espresso
The Smeg espresso machine has no grinder, so here's what it does, what it doesn't, and the grinder to pair it with
Smeg's espresso machine has a 15 bar pump, a thermoblock and the rounded Smeg shape, in under 6 inches of counter. But the Smeg espresso machine has no grinder, its body is plastic, and its warranty is one year.
The first thing to know about the Smeg espresso machine is what it leaves out. The Smeg espresso machine has no grinder, so you'll need coffee that's already ground, paper pods, or a grinder beside it. And its body is plastic, which several owners mention.
But the Smeg espresso machine does a lot in very little space. It's under 6 inches wide, it makes espresso and steams milk, and it comes in six colors with the same names as the Smeg kettle's colors. So it can sit beside the kettle on the counter in one color.
You'd like espresso and milk drinks from a machine that takes very little counter, in a Smeg color, and you'll buy ground coffee or a grinder.
You want the grinder built in, or a machine with a metal body.
One full year from Smeg USA, on parts and labor.
Amazon or Abt Electronics, depending on the color.
What the Smeg espresso machine does
The Smeg espresso machine has a 15 bar pump and a thermoblock, which Smeg says keeps the water at the right temperature for brewing. It runs at 1,450 watts. And its filter holder (the handle you fill with coffee, also called a portafilter) is stainless steel, 51 mm across, and takes ground coffee or paper pods.
The Smeg espresso machine's buttons make a single or a double espresso, short or long, and turn on the steam. You can change the size of each shot, the coffee's temperature (low, medium or high) and the setting for your water's hardness. Then the steam wand on the side froths milk for a cappuccino, and it gives hot water too.
The Smeg espresso machine's water tank holds 37.2 ounces and lifts out to fill. The machine warns you when it needs descaling or the tank runs dry, and it goes into standby after 10, 20 or 30 minutes, whichever you choose.
The Smeg espresso machine is 5.9 inches wide, 13 inches tall and 12.9 inches deep, and it weighs 10 pounds.
What the Smeg espresso machine doesn't do
The Smeg espresso machine has no grinder. So you'll need coffee that's already ground for espresso, paper pods, or a grinder of your own, which is a second appliance on the counter.
Smeg calls it a manual espresso machine, so you fill the filter holder, press the coffee down and froth the milk yourself. That takes practice, and owners say so.
The Smeg espresso machine's body is plastic, and so is the handle of the filter holder, which Smeg's own specification says. The steel parts are the filter holder itself, the boiler, the cup tray and the steam wand. And the warranty is one year from Smeg USA, so a fault in the second year is yours to fix.
What owners say about the Smeg espresso machine
On Amazon, the Smeg espresso machine scores 4.2 out of 5 from 351 ratings on the listing for pastel green and red (September 2026). Owners write most about the espresso and about how the machine looks.
"The consistency of this machine is on point. The espresso not watery and crema is amazing."
Amazon customer, verified purchase, May 2023, in pastel green
"Takes a little practice, but performs exactly as designed and advertised. Perfectly authentic espresso is now happily part of my morning."
Amazon customer, verified purchase, December 2025, in red
But the complaints about the Smeg espresso machine are worth reading too, and most are about the plastic and what happens when it breaks.
"The only downside is that the machine is made mostly of plastic and it’s a little loud."
Amazon customer, verified purchase, February 2024, in pink
"We had this same machine for about 3.5 years but it quit working due to some software failure."
Amazon customer, verified purchase, August 2025, in red
"Called support line. They were not able to help and suggested we contact the seller."
The same owner, August 2025
The red machine's owner bought a second machine, and the second machine stopped after three months, which is inside Smeg's one-year warranty. So keep your receipt and note who sold you the machine.
The Smeg espresso machine's colors, and where to buy each color
Pastel green, red, pink and pastel blue are sold on Amazon, where the listings name the model ECF01. But black and cream are sold by Abt Electronics, a family-owned appliance store in Glenview, Illinois, as the ECF02, the model Smeg's own US site now lists. And the black machine was $500 at Abt in late September 2026.
Pastel blue and cream were short of stock in September 2026, so check that your color is in stock before you plan a kitchen around it.
Abt takes most items back within 30 days in their original packaging, and it may charge the return shipping. But espresso machines go back to Abt within 14 days, and a used one carries a 25% restocking fee. Amazon's returns follow the seller on each listing. And whichever seller you choose, the warranty is Smeg USA's.
Who makes the Smeg espresso machine
Smeg is an Italian appliance maker based in Guastalla, near Reggio Emilia, and Vittorio Bertazzoni founded it in 1948. Smeg began making small appliances in 2014, and Smeg says this espresso machine is designed and made in Italy. And there's no recall on record for this machine at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (checked September 2026).
The grinder to pair with the Smeg espresso machine
Smeg makes a grinder to sit beside its espresso machine, the CGF03, with stainless steel conical burrs and 15 grind settings from superfine to medium. Its dial sets eight presets, including single and double espresso, and a holder on the front takes a filter holder, so the coffee grinds straight into it. But for drip coffee, the grounds drop into a container that twists and locks in place instead.
The CGF03 grinder's hopper holds 240 grams of beans, about 8.5 ounces, and Smeg says the grinder works with all of its coffee machines. And the warranty is one year from Smeg USA, the same as the espresso machine's.
We link the CGF03 grinder in four of the espresso machine's colors, pastel blue, pastel green, cream and black, and not in red or pink. So a red or pink espresso machine won't have a grinder to match from us.
On Amazon, the CGF03 grinder scores 4.5 out of 5 from 30 ratings, across the four colors (September 2026). That's still only a few ratings, so here's a pleased owner and an unhappy owner.
"It’s not silent but it’s quieter than the blade grinder I used for years."
Amazon customer, verified purchase, August 2026, in black
"It's a pretty machine but it worked exactly once."
Amazon customer, verified purchase, September 2026, in pastel green
And the coffee machine guide has the other colorful espresso machines we list, including the ones with the grinder built in.
Before you buy the Smeg espresso machine
- Grinder: the Smeg espresso machine needs ground coffee, paper pods or a grinder beside it.
- Body: the Smeg espresso machine's body and the handle of its filter holder are plastic.
- Warranty: Smeg USA's warranty on the espresso machine is one year, parts and labor.
- Seller: check who sells your color, because Abt takes espresso machines back within 14 days, not the 30 days most items get.
- Space: the Smeg espresso machine is 5.9 inches wide and 12.9 inches deep.
See every color of the Smeg espresso machine
Prices: our own store's prices are today's. Abt Electronics prices were checked on September 29, 2026; the Check price button shows Abt's current price.
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