Subj : The chic Smeg ECF03 looks like it came straight out of the 1950s, To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Fri Oct 24 2025 16:15:07 The chic Smeg ECF03 looks like it came straight out of the 1950s, and brews consistently great hot and cold espresso Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2025 15:00:00 +0000 Description: The new ECF03 is the most stylish way to prepare your morning pick-me-up. FULL STORY ======================================================================Smeg ECF03: one-minute review The Smeg ECF03 is a stylish espresso machine thats a significant upgrade from its predecessor, the Smeg ECF02 . The key difference is a new cold-extraction feature, which takes around two minutes to produce smooth, sweet-tasting espresso that makes an ideal base for an iced americano, cappuccino, or cocktail. Another important upgrade is the addition of a pressure gauge that helps you see if your espresso shot is properly extracted before its finished pouring. Its surprising that this doesnt show the exact pressure in bars, but its nevertheless a useful guide. When you want to brew traditional hot espresso, the machine heats quickly, and its pump produces consistent pressure, so you get reliably well-extracted coffee once youve dialled in the grinder correctly. During my tests, the pump reached a maximum of 72dB, which isnt as quiet as the noise-shielded BCC13, but it isnt excessive. Like all Smegs coffee machines, the ECF03 is controlled via a small set of buttons labelled with icons, which illuminate in different colors to show the machines status. Solid white means the machine is ready to brew hot, solid blue means its ready for cold-brewing. Flashing or orange lights mean the machine is either still heating or requires maintenance. You'll need to keep the manual handy for reference when you first start using it, but you'll soon learn what the different combinations signify. (Image credit: Future) The Smeg ECF03 is easy to maintain, and unlike most home espresso machines, it comes with a blank disc for backwashing the grouphead and water circuit. This makes it easy to clear out coffee oils and residue that might affect the taste of your drinks. Overall, the ECF03 is an absolute pleasure to use, and during my testing, I found it difficult to fault. The only real drawback is the price, but it is justified by the quality and style. Theres a chance you can get a deal if you wait for the Black Friday sales, or if youre not likely to use the cold-brew function, you could opt for the ECF02 instead. Smeg ECF03: specifications Name Smeg ECF03 Type Manual espresso machine Dimensions (H x W x D) 14.3 x 8.1 x 11.6 inches / 36.4 x 20.5 x 29.5cm Weight 24lb 11oz / 11.2kg Water tank capacity 1.5qt / 1.4l Steam wand Yes, manual Max pressure 15 bar User profiles 1 Smeg ECF03: price and availability Only available in Europe at the time of writing (October 2025) Smeg ECF02, which lacks cold brew mode, costs considerably less At the time of writing, the Smeg ECF03 is only available in Europe. It launched in the UK in September 2025 at a list price of 499.96. That works out at about $670 / AU$1,000, but official release dates and prices for the US and Australia have yet to be announced. For comparison, the Smeg ECF02, which lacks a cold-brew function, has a list price of $600 / 399.95 / AU$699, but can sometimes be found at a significant discount. In the UK, for example, it's currently reduced to 299.95 in Smegs online store. Youll find todays best deals on both machines below, with prices updated daily. Value score: 4.5/5 Smeg ECF03: design Chic 1950s-inspired design Well-made, solid-feeling accessories Cleverly concealed storage compartment The ECF03 is part of Smegs line of 1950s-inspired appliances, with smooth curved lines, stainless steel accents, and a choice of glossy retro colors: pastel blue, cream (shown here), white, and black. Its a new sibling for the Smeg ECF02 , with the biggest difference being the ECF03's ability to brew cold-extracted espresso as well as hot. It also has a slightly different shape, with convex sides rather than concave, and a gauge on the front that helps you see if youve achieved the optimum pressure for extracting a shot (a feature I always appreciate). (Image credit: Future) Youll find a power switch on the left-hand side of the ECF03s case, and its functions are controlled with a set of four buttons on the stainless steel top (for single shot, double shot, steam, and switching between hot and cold brewing). The 58mm portafilter feels reassuringly solid in the hand, weighing about 240z / 676g with a basket fitted, and the tamper is a hefty 16z / 448g. This weight doesnt just make it satisfying to use, it also helps you apply even pressure to produce an evenly compressed puck without fissures, resulting in more consistently extracted coffee. (Image credit: Future) Like all other Smeg espresso machines Ive tested, the ECF03 comes with four filter baskets, including pressurized and single-walled options for single and double shots. Pressurized (double-walled) baskets are more forgiving if your technique isnt quite perfect, producing reliably thick crema, while the single-walled baskets give you finer control over extraction. The steam wand pivots out from the machine, with a good range of movement and an angle thats ideal for creating a whirlpool in your milk pitcher. It has a cool-touch silicone handle and is operated using a stainless steel knob on the machines right-hand side. Pull it towards you for steam, and push it away for hot water. (Image credit: Future) Pull out the drip tray and youll find a handy storage compartment, which holds the filter baskets you use less frequently, a stiff-bristled cleaning brush, a needle tool for clearing the steam wand if it becomes blocked, and a blank disc that you can place in the portafilter handle to backwash the machine using a cleaning tablet. That last item is a particularly nice addition thats used daily in a commercial setting, but rarely included with home espresso machines. The only item notable by its absence is a milk pitcher, which is a little surprising for an espresso machine in this price bracket. Design score: 5/5 Smeg ECF03: performance Brews consistently good hot and cold espresso Pressure gauge is useful, though the lack of numbers is surprising Easy to clean and care for I found the ECF03 a joy to use, whether brewing hot or cold, and Smegs usual attention to detail and build quality are evident right from the start. The machines water tank is robust, with a built-in handle that makes it easy and comfortable to carry. Youre given a water hardness testing strip so you can pick the correct water hardness setting to use (hard water is the default). Although no water filter is provided, compatible filters are available to buy from Smegs website, and they easily twist into place in the bottom of the tank. (Image credit: Future) The 58mm portafilter seems identical to the one supplied with the ECF02, which is fine with me; its excellent. The tamper, however, is a big upgrade. The base model ECF02 came with a plastic measuring scoop with a tamper on the end. It was fit for purpose, but its light weight meant it could be tricky to apply consistent pressure each time you used it. The ECF03s tamper is much weightier, which gives it a more premium feeling and makes it easier to create a consistently well-formed puck. As youd expect from a premium home espresso machine, the ECF03 is an excellent performer. Once youve got your grinder dialled in, you can be confident that your shots will be perfectly extracted time after time. (If youre in need of a grinder, the Smeg CGF03 matches the ECF03 in style and choice of colors.) (Image credit: Future) The ECF03s pressure gauge is a particularly useful feature, letting you see whether your espresso is likely to be extracted properly before its finished pouring. However, its not labelled with the exact pressure in bars; instead, you just aim for the needle to be positioned in the black section marked on the dial. Its a bit of a strange choice; there are markers around the edge of the dial, but no indication of what measurements they represent. During brewing, the ECF03s pump reached a maximum of 72dB, which is roughly equivalent to a vacuum cleaner. Its noticeably noisier than the fully automatic Smeg BCC13, which has sound shielding and is QuietMark certified, but isnt excessively loud and is about average for a manual espresso machine. (Image credit: Future) Most of the buttons on the machines top are labelled with icons, except for the one that switches between hot and cold brewing modes. When the machine is primed and ready to brew hot, the double-shot, single-shot, and steam buttons are all illuminated white. In cold-brewing mode, the first two are blue instead. Cold-brewing is quick, taking around two minutes to extract a shot. Part of this time is taken up with an extended pre-infusion, which gives the ground coffee extra time to bloom. After that, the ECF03 will send pulses of cold water through the puck (in groups of three) until the shot is ready. (Image credit: Future) The result is a mellow-tasting and well-rounded drink that you can enjoy by itself or as the base of an iced americano. If you prefer chilled lattes or cappuccinos, take a look at the Smeg Mini Milk Frother , which matches the style of the ECF03 and can produce thick or thin cold foam. Holding down one of the coffee-brewing buttons will let you customize its properties. If the buttons illuminate in orange or start to flash, its a sign that theres a fault, or (more likely) its time for some routine maintenance. (Image credit: Future) The ECF03 is a piece of cake to clean and care for. You can keep the case and exterior of the milk wand looking pristine by wiping with a damp cloth. Purge the wand with a blast of steam after each use, and youll be unlikely to need the needle-like cleaning tool. As I mentioned above, the inclusion of a blank disc is excellent when its time to give the machines grouphead and circuit a thorough clean to remove old coffee residue. To use it, insert the single-walled single-shot basket and place the disc in the bottom. Smeg doesnt sell its own cleaning tablets, but you can use any detergent tabs recommended for home coffee machines. Press and hold the single and double shot buttons to pulse water through the machine, then empty the drip tray and repeat the process. For descaling, the company recommends its own-brand Anti-Kalk liquid. (Image credit: Future) The drip trays cup holder seems to resist scratches well (unlike some, which are easily scuffed by ceramic mugs), and the tray is nice and deep, so youre unlikely to spill anything during emptying. Ive tested a lot of hot- and cold-brew espresso machines this year, but the Smeg ECF03 is easily one of the most refined. Its a pleasure to use, looks great, and is extremely consistent. If your budget will stretch to it, you wont be disappointed. Performance score: 5/5 Should you buy the Smeg ECF03 Smeg ECF03 score card Attribute Notes Score Value A premium espresso machine with a price tag to match, though it's justified by the design and build quality. 4.5/5 Design Smeg's signature '50s style looks as chic as ever, and there are some significant upgrades from the ECF02. 5/5 Performance Generates consistent pressure for reliably well-extracted hot and cold drinks, and is a piece of cake to clean and care for. 5/5 Buy it if You want a showpiece for your kitchen Smegs '50s-style appliances are real lookers, and the ECF03 is no exception. Its a guaranteed conversation-starter when you have guests. View Deal You have a generous budget Smegs signature style comes at a price. Hot- and cold-brew espresso machines are available for less if youre not particular about looks. View Deal Don't buy it if Youre not into cold brew The Smeg ECF02 is an equally good-looking machine that heats fast and delivers consistent pressure, but costs considerably less. View Deal Smeg ECF03: also consider Smeg ECF02 If you don't care for cold brew, the ECF02 is an equally chic and more affordable alternative. You don't get the handy pressure gauge, though, and the base model has a less sturdy tamper than the ECF03. Read our full Smeg ECF02 review View Deal Smeg BCC13 If you like the sound of the ECF03 but want an espresso machine that will handle all the hard work for you, the BCC13 is a beautifully designed super-automatic machine that would look perfect on your kitchen counter. Read our full Smeg BCC13 review View Deal How I tested the Smeg ECF03 I used the Smeg ECF03 for two weeks in place of my usual Gaggia Classic espresso machine. I used it on the hard water setting, with fresh single-origin Honduran Swiss water decaf beans from a local coffee roaster, ground using my Sage Precision burr grinder. I used the steam wand with full-fat dairy milk and barista oat milk, both of which were freshly bought and chilled. I followed the directions in the instruction manual to set up and maintain the machine, and brewed a mix of single and double shots using both filter baskets, and used both the hot- and cold-brew options. For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar . First reviewed October 2025 ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/home/coffee-machines/smeg-ecf03-review --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .