It’s very easy to use with a touchscreen on the top of the machine to select your coffee strength, and you can vary the amount of water dispensed with your coffee by holding down the on button. It remembers the amount of water you want in your coffee and will use that consistency each time you press the button to make another coffee. The main difference between the two is that this model includes a steam wand on the front, which you can use for frothing milk. Going for a steam wand, rather than an automatic system, makes a lot of sense on a budget coffee machine, since you’re more likely to get decent results.

It’s less hassle than a pod machine because you don’t have to recycle the pods. If you drink more than one coffee each day it certainly saves a lot of money ... Read more and will pay for itself in 12 months.After being impressed by the simple Beko CEG5301 for making espresso, I now have the Beko Bean To Cup Coffee Machine with Steam Wand CEG5311 in for review. Effectively the same machine, this one adds a steam wand into the mix for frothing milk. You dont need to worry about refilling your coffee machine with a jug of water any more thanks to the easy-to-use, removable water tank. Once you’ve powered on the machine, you’ll see the touch controls light up. For regular coffee, this machine is as easy to use as a pod machine, such as the Nespresso CitiZ. There are buttons for strong espresso (a regular shot) and mild espresso (a double shot in terms of volume, although the same amount of coffee is used). There’s also a button for topping up with hot water.

The Beko Bean To Cup Coffee Machine with Steam Wand CEG5311 can pour a very good shot of espresso. The crema is a little bit foamy; the best espresso has a more oily texture to it. However, given the price of the machine, the results are impressive. The LCD touch control panel makes it easy to choose between functions and gives your coffee machine a sleek and professional edge. This makes this the easiest bean-to-cup coffee machine to use; the controls are very similar to those on the Nespresso CitiZ machine. The first shot of espresso made will likely be a little watery. The second shot onwards, once the beans are in the grinder, delivers the right amount of coffee. What’s important here is the length of time the coffee takes to pour and the colour of it as it comes out. You’re after a rich honey look to the stream and the slowest pour. For me, I had to tighten the grind up to get the desired result.

Other than that, this coffee machine is largely easy to maintain. Used coffee grounds drop into the bin that you pull out with the drip tray. Since the grounds can be quite wet, it’s worth washing out this bin regularly. The spout at the front slides up and down to allow for mugs of up to 12.7cm tall, which covers larger mugs with ease. You can move the spout up and down manually, with the maximum lift allowing for cups up to 12.7cm tall – this covers larger mugs with ease. Coffee quality Once a month you’ll receive a notification that it’s time to clean the machine using the powder that’s supplied in the box – you get three sachets to get you started. It’s worth doing this when prompted to keep the Beko Bean To Cup Coffee Machine CEG5301 in the best shape. The Beko Bean To Cup Coffee Machine CEG5301 has default dispense amounts for each button, including the hot water button. You can override these defaults by pressing and holding each button and then releasing it once you have your desired amount of liquid.