Saeco Xelsis SM7685/00 Silver
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According to our Fully automatic espresso machine expert
The Saeco Xelsis SM7685/00 Silver has a completely stainless steel casing and is easily operated via the color touchscreen color display. Save coffee recipes for 8 people by setting the amount of milk froth, aroma strength, grind setting, and temperature. This allows your friends and family to prepare their favorite cup of coffee with 1 push of a button. You can make 2 cappuccinos or latte macchiatos at the same time. Convenient when you've got visitors, for example. The HygieSteam function cleans the milk system automatically with steam. All you need to do is press the button. AquaClean ensures you can prepare up to 5,000 cups of coffee without having to descale your coffee machine. Simply sit back and relax. The LED lighting in the water tank and underneath the coffee spout gives the machine a luxurious look.
High-end build qualityThis fully automatic machine was made with durable materials and components. That means it's a good choice if you're looking for a coffee machine with a long lifespan. With the clear touchscreen color display, the machine will help you do the cleaning programs.
Milk specialty preparation method | Automatically at the touch of a button | |
|---|---|---|
Milk frothing method | Milk tube | |
Amount of maintenance | Medium effort | |
Sturdiness | Mid-range | |
2 milk specialties at once | ||
Suitable for ground coffee | ||
Hot water function | ||
Adjustable coffee strength |
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Installation It all starts with unpacking the box. The machine comes well packaged with all hoses, reservoirs, other supplies, an extensive manual and a short installation manual.
I will then work on the latter. It is clearly described which steps must be taken to make the device ready for use. Even when the machine is switched on, you as an ignorant consumer are neatly taken step by step in the process. However, it takes a long time to clear the air from the scale filter, so that it remains in the water reservoir and does not float upwards due to the air pressure. Thanks to this filter, you can make up to 5000 cups of coffee without having to descale. But within 15 minutes the Saeco is operational and you are ready for your first cup of coffee.
Usage You don't need to know electronics or difficult menus. At a glance you can see all the functions on the device, which are very well-arranged 4. When you press such a function, you come to easy, understandable menus that do exactly what you think they should do. I had made my first cappuccino within 2 minutes after installation and I was still slow. Make sure that you push the tube that is connected to the milk carafe all the way through and click through to the end (on the coffee supply, which is also quite movable, so that both small and large cups/glasses can be used without splashing), because otherwise the milk supply in the coffee is not optimal.
The first time I was mainly concerned with adjusting my personal preferences. That alone was of course a fun process, because I love coffee and testing flavors. You can do this with all coffees indicated on the touchscreen, it does not matter whether you have an espresso, a latte macchiato, lungo, ristretto, latte or regular coffee in mind (there are 15 coffee options!). You can adjust various settings yourself, such as the temperature, the amount of milk and the degree of milk foam (if applicable) and/or coffee, the strength of the coffee, but also whether the coffee or milk should first enter the cup. . These adjustments are shown as an equalizer, just like on a stereo; by sliding (touch screen of course) the buttons, you arrive at your personal preference.
By the way, 2 cups can be brewed at the same time. It is a pity that you cannot use your own setting for each cup; a setting is for 2 cups at the same time or you have to set both cups separately. This small problem is made up for extensively by creating your own profiles. As many as 8 profiles, or 8 people, can save their own personal preferences in the menu of this machine. As a result, you immediately have your own personal cup of coffee that tastes best to you within a few pushes of the buttons. Very easy, because now you don't have to 'equalize' and adjust your coffee every time.
Guests who do not want freshly ground coffee with caffeine can also offer a 'decaf', for example; next to the bean container (which can be neatly closed airtight, so that the beans stay fresh longer), is a small container for ground coffee. Ideal for guests who don't like freshly ground bean coffee.
Maintenance The Saeco Xelsis maintains itself; the device indicates when there is not enough water in the reservoir, but also when the container is full of coffee grounds. Descaling is only necessary after 5000 cups, I'm not there yet. After using the teat cup, the machine gives a steam boost to the milk line, so that bacteria are killed. Regularly clean the milk supply tube yourself, just like the milk cup. The milk cup can also be easily disconnected, so that if there is still milk in it, it can simply be placed in the refrigerator. Parts in and on the machine are easy to disconnect and rinse, but can also be put in the dishwasher, just like the drip tray that fills up quickly without noticing. Keep good records, therefore, to guarantee the quality of the cup of coffee. It is also nice that the machine flushes automatically when starting up, but also when shutting down, so that the pipes always remain clean.
What was experienced as a (small) disadvantage was that when refilling the water reservoir, I first had to disconnect the milk tube to get it out. This is not a lot of work and difficult.
I also miss a little bit of a WiFi function on this device, when I consider the price; this could provide nice benefits, for example reading the status of the coffee machine, in connection with cleaning, replenishment, expectation of cups of coffee, etc. Not necessarily necessary, but useful. Also ideal when, for example, you can link your mobile alarm clock function to the device; when you wake up, you have the opportunity to get up with a delicious fresh cup of coffee. There are even more advantages to be found with a WiFi function.
Conclusion I think everyone would be happy if the Philips Saeco Xelsis SM7685/00 were in their home. It is a very user-friendly and maintenance-friendly device, which not only looks beautiful, chic and elegant, but also makes fantastic, versatile coffee! With this device you can go for years and make the best coffee for yourself and your guests in no time. You can also easily save your personal preferences with the profiles function. topper.
Huib Jonker
17 November 2017
Automatically translated from Dutch
On the asphalt of Formula 1, the Italian Ferrari often falls just short of the German Mercedes. But in the kitchen, Saeco's Azuri easily outdoes Siemens' technicians. Their top-of-the-line consumer model does almost everything right. A comparative test after a week of intensive test run on our domestic test circuit of 5 major coffee lovers.
The Siemens EQ9 has been in the office since last year, a top model but disappointing in terms of coffee taste. This is mainly due to the coffee grinder that does not grind fine enough, but also due to the low temperature of both the coffee and the milk foam. That is, almost literally, disappointing for such an expensive device. The Siemens EQ7 at home was much better, but after six years the defects piled up, wear on the outside made the device no longer beautiful, and replacing the brew group only made the coffee more watery. So looking for a replacement, and at least it wouldn't become German...
stainless steel
Because an Espresso machine in our family of 5 is the most used and valued piece of technology after the screens, we opted for a durable finish: stainless steel. This Xelsis SM768x can also be found cheaper with only a stainless steel front, and you save an extra 100 euros for the plastic version. You don't compromise on coffee quality, but the eye also wants something. There is not much choice for the stainless steel enthusiast at the fully automatic machines. Siemens has already been mentioned, but for other brands you sometimes have to double the price for a metal finish. For that reason, the Melitta Barista TS Smart fell off for us. This one comes out a bit better in the Consumer Test and has a double bean container, ideal if you regularly drink decaf. But unfortunately it is completely made of plastic; a visit to a well-known large electronics store immediately revealed what happens when it is used intensively for a while for demonstration: many scratches and really just a cheap appearance.
Taste
While appearance is still a matter of personal taste, there are more objective criteria for the taste of coffee. It simply has to be top notch, especially with a purchase price of this machine. So not hot but hot. Not a little crema, or puffed up Senseo foam, but a thick, firm, nicely scented layer. And the cup of coffee produced must get the perfect balance of taste from the coffee bean. With us, this is not an expensive bag from the coffee specialist, who is often surrounded by a lot of snobbery and vague praise, but can just as well be disappointing. A tenner per kilo is expensive enough for us, and then the machine has to do the rest of the magic.
This Xelsis succeeds perfectly. And if you don't believe our words, look in the container of the used coffee: the 'cookies' are dry, contain hardly any water, so they can be broken immediately with your fingers, and have almost no smell. In other words, all the coffee aromas are dissolved in the water. Compare that with the waste bin of other machines and you can quickly feel and smell the difference.
Cappuccino
Anyone who has ever made a cappuccino with a fully automatic machine knows that this is and remains a hassle. Even if the manufacturers go to great lengths to believe that their device will silence a barista in a sigh and a wink. Let's be honest; You will never get it really perfect from the fully automatic machine, just as you will not conjure up a delicious sourdough from a bread maker like you find at the hipster baker. So it's a compromise box. You can give the device a helping hand by bringing the milk at least to room temperature. If you have done that with this Xelsis, the milk foam will be both firm and warm enough. The cappuccino is then fine in terms of temperature. Then the cleaning. With the old EQ7, that was a hassle. Unfortunately, the regular cleaning program was often forgotten and the milk caked on everything. The EQ9 has a separate reservoir on the side. That seems handy, but you also have to clean that again. And the cleaning program is long and inconvenient. Saeco does that better. Just a snake in the milk carton. If that comes out of the fridge, as usual, the cappuccino is not optimal, but fine if you force it directly on it.
Ease of use
The device is also user-friendly for the rest of the operation. That's a good thing, because the supplied manual is wafer-thin. With the touchscreen you get where you want to be very quickly, even with coffee recipes that you would never have thought of yourself. The profiles of the family members are also easy to set up. There is no WiFi or Bluetooth connection to a smartphone app. We regard such an app as a sign of weakness because apparently the machine itself cannot easily offer the options you need. Saeco has solved that better here. Finally, the water filter is included as standard and is easy to replace. It would improve the taste and avoid the need for regular descaling. We will have to test both aspects again in the future, because one thing is certain: the water filters (10-15 euros each) are the new ink cartridges: part of the manufacturers' revenue model.
Less convenience
Less convenient is the relatively small water bowl. That means more often walking to the tap than with the Siemens. And a relatively large amount of water is also used for rinsing, so that the water container under the device is full after about 6-8 cups. That seems better with the EQ9, but there we notice that the brew group has to be manually rinsed faster. An annoying and not very clean job, so prefer to walk to the sink more often. Also striking is the lack of a cup warmer. That would be perfect under the beautiful stainless steel, but it just doesn't seem to sit on it and that is special for a top model. Admittedly, in a household the usefulness is limited because you prefer not to leave the device on all day, but when visiting, this can be useful because it often takes a while before the coffee reaches the guests and then cools down. We now solve this by first making a cup of hot water, emptying it again, and then the coffee itself.
Conclusion
We can't help but be "molto soddisfatto" with this pleasure machine from Italian soil, which offers a high price-quality ratio, is very beautifully finished in stainless steel for that money, and therefore distinguishes itself positively from the other brands. The user-friendliness is top notch, both in preparing the coffee and milk, and in maintenance. The most important thing, however, is the coffee. That is particularly good in all variants, and thus remains a street length ahead of the German competition.
jullus
31 August 2019
Automatically translated from Dutch
it is a very good purchase, I have already had other saecos, but Xelsis is worth it, everything is ready in the blink of an eye and the regulation of the coffee maker is very easy and extensive, highly recommended
Charles Lion
30 December 2017
Automatically translated from Dutch
Product number | 788933 | |
|---|---|---|
Manufacturer code | SM7685/00 | |
Brand | Saeco | |
Warranty | 2 years | |
Processing of your defect | Pickup and return warranty |
Type of coffee machine | Fully automatic espresso machine | |
|---|---|---|
Type of coffee/filling | Coffee beans, Ground coffee | |
Bean hopper capacity | 450 g | |
Double bean container | ||
Water tank capacity | 1,7 l | |
Way of detaching water reservoir | Extend | |
Hot water function | ||
Standby mode |
Preprogrammed coffee varieties | Americano, Caffe latte, Cappuccino, Cortado, Doppio, Espresso, Espresso macchiato, Flat white, Lungo, Ristretto | |
|---|---|---|
Espresso extraction process | Uniform pressure | |
Number of cups per brew | 2 | |
Adjustable coffee strength | ||
Adjustable coffee volume | ||
Adjustable water temperature |
Suitable for frothing milk | ||
|---|---|---|
Milk specialty preparation method | Automatically at the touch of a button | |
Milk frothing method | Milk tube | |
Adjustable milk volume | ||
2 milk specialties at once | ||
Milk reservoir capacity | 600 ml |
Cup warmer | ||
|---|---|---|
Adjustable user profiles | ||
Number of adjustable user profiles | 8 |
Rinse machine after use | Automatic | |
|---|---|---|
Type of descaling program | Notification and support | |
How often to descale it with water filter | Once per 6 months | |
Rinse milk pipes after use | Automatic | |
Brew group maintenance | Greasing, Manual rinsing, Start cleaning program | |
Dishwasher-safe parts | Drip tray, Milk reservoir, Milk tube |
Sturdiness | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
Casing material | Stainless steel | |
Color | Silver | |
Height | 39,3 cm | |
Width | 28,3 cm | |
Depth | 48,9 cm | |
Weight | 12,18 kg |
Material water pipe | Silicon | |
|---|---|---|
Grinding discs' material | Ceramic | |
Coffee heating system | Thermoblock | |
Pump pressure | 15 bar | |
Power | 1850 W |
Best tested |
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