Best Saeco Incanto Carafe Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020:

Philips Saeco is full of praise for describing the Incanto Carafe, its new high-end machine presented as being “at the forefront”: simplicity, compactness, multiple recipes and easy cleaning are the main arguments put forward. This model, equipped with a milk carafe, also has a ground coffee compartment. Besides the promise of performance, the machine highlights an elegant design; what is it really?

Presentation

Philips recently announced the introduction of  new all-automatic coffee machines . Called Incanto, the range includes 3 models developed by the Italian brand Saeco. Prices range from € 599 to € 769, depending on the equipment of the machines. Our test model is considered to be the most elaborate and incorporates a milk carafe. The other two are equipped with a steam nozzle and an automatic milk frother respectively.

The Incanto range (“enchantment” in Italian) succeeds the Minuto range which it will gradually replace. If the ranges follow one another, the promises remain fairly identical: compactness, practicality, ease of use and design.

The three machines in the Incanto range have a lot in common with those in the Minuto range: size and weight (21.5 x 42.9 x 33 cm for 7 kg), pressure (15 bar), a system of automatic descaling, the capacity of the bean container (250 g), the capacity of the coffee grounds container (14 pancakes), the water tank (1.8 l) and the ABS plastic structure.

Will this machine convince us more than the mid-range Saeco Minuto (2 stars) tested recently? For the record, we particularly criticized him for his manufacturing quality, which was too low-end in the choice of plastic materials. 

Best Saeco Incanto Carafe Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020

1. Saeco Incanto Carafe Super Automatic Espresso Machine with AquaClean filter, Stainless Steel, HD8917/48

2. Saeco HD8927/47 PicoBaristo Super Automatic Espresso Machine, 1.8 L, Stainless Steel

3. Saeco HD8917/47 Incanto Carafe Super Automatic Espresso Machine, Stainless Steel

4. Saeco Xelsis SM7684/04 Super Automatic Espresso Machine, Titanium Metal Front

5. Saeco HD8924/47 PicoBaristo AMF Automatic Espresso Machine, Stainless Steel, 21

Ease of use

In the preamble, it is clear to note the similarities of the machine with the models of the Minuto range, not only in appearance: same size, same weight, same pressure and same capacities (tanks, tank). The dimensions and the weight nevertheless attest to a real compactness, comparable to those of the Melitta Solo Caffeo . The comparison with the Melitta stops there. Because if we have agreed on the compactness of this Saeco Incanto Carafe, we will not go so far as to qualify this machine with the same adjectives as those which we attribute to its rival (elegant, robust and endowed with beautiful finishes).

Indeed, as we reproached the Minuto, the design of the Incanto, however positioned in the high-end, shows itself on a whole new level. To the eye, the Incanto is an illusion, but to the touch, we see that plastics and certain elements such as the adjustable spout, are classified in the radius of the low end. 

The machine incorporates a small screen with 3 colors (yellow, green and red depending on the nature of the messages to be delivered) and 6 physical buttons. This new model gains in modernity compared to the Minuto – which we compare to an old dashboard of a family R25 – and remains easy to use. Unfortunately, it does not reach the comfort tactile surfaces of Barista T . In addition, the icons supposed to represent the actions to be carried out (empty the coffee grounds container …) often lack clarity. Nothing beats a written message, like on the Melitta Caffeo Varianza.

Incanto offers 4 recipes: short and long espresso as well as cappuccino and latte macchiato. Purists will appreciate the possibility of customizing the intensity and volume settings of the drinks, which they can then keep in memory.

Easy maintenance

To remove the drain pan, first press the buttons on the sides. This water collector contains several compartments which constitute as many obstacles during cleaning. In addition, the length of the tank, added to the fairly low edges, requires a certain precision in the movements, under penalty of spilling the water on the ground before reaching the sink.

Automatic cleaning is part of it, with a dedicated “CALC CLEAN” button accessible from the front. This lights up after 5,000 cups prepared, to alert the user that it is time to descale the machine. However, this operation requires you to have the instructions to follow the steps.

Speed

The times measured on the Incanto are exactly the same as those of the Minuto. Between the start of the machine, the rinsing and the preparation of an espresso, the first coffee in the morning is ready in 1 min 45 s; a time that is found on the Panasonic NC-ZA1 models and the Melitta Caffeo Varianza and Barista T  ; only the Melitta Caffeo Solo is slightly faster at the moment, preparing an espresso in 1 min 24 s. Preparing a Cappuccino takes 1 min 41 s.

Power consumption

By default, the machine switches off after 15 minutes (announced and measured). Users can choose to set the shutdown times to 30, 60 or 180 minutes. During these 15 minutes with the screen on, the device consumes 2 W. Then, the machine switches off and its consumption becomes zero again. Practical: a button on the front provides for taking the machine out of its torpor without having to use the button housed at the back.

According to our measurements, based on the preparation of 3 coffees per day, the use of this machine generates an electrical consumption of 0.07 kWh, which represents approximately 15 cents per month.

Noise

This machine ranks among the quietest. Preheating and rinsing barely exceed 56 dB; at the time of grinding the grains, the noise emissions rise to 69 dB. The coffee flow is discreet (55 dB). Here we note real improvements compared to the ** Minuto ** which, for its part, stands among the noisiest: 73 dB when grinding the grains and then 70 dB during the flow. 

CONCLUSION

If we recognize in the Saeco Incanto Carafe certain qualities of speed and compactness, this coffee machine is quite disappointing for a high-end model. It lacks modernity, practicality and the manufacturing materials remain too low-end. We prefer the Melitta Caffeo Varianza , more successful in its proposals.

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