Guides/Gear guide
Gear guideThe Meraki Espresso Machine: Is an All-in-One Right for You?
By The Killer Coffee team
The story
Meraki is a young brand with a clear idea: put everything you need for great espresso in one machine, and let the machine handle the fiddly parts. It launched on Kickstarter in August 2024 and passed US$1 million in its first three days, which tells you how many people wanted exactly that.
The Gen 2 machine builds on that first version. It has a standard 58mm group head, the same size cafes use, and a redesigned shower screen. Its grinder, co-developed with the grinder maker Timemore, has a wider range of 45 settings.
Why we rate it
- It weighs everything for you. Two built-in scales grind your dose by weight and stop the shot by weight. Those are the two biggest sources of inconsistent espresso at home, handled. Independent testing found both scales accurate to within a fraction of a gram.
- Brews and steams at once. Dual boilers mean no waiting between the shot and the milk. The steam wand is genuinely powerful, and it textures milk fast and fine.
- Café gear, home-friendly. A 58mm group head, a 9-bar rotary pump with pre-infusion, and a guided touchscreen. It's quiet too.
Is it right for you?
Great if you…
- want café-quality flat whites and lattes every morning, the same every time
- are new to espresso and want the machine to guide you
- have limited bench space and don't want a separate grinder and scales
- make milk drinks for more than one person
Think twice if…
- you love tinkering, swapping grinders and chasing every last variable. A separate machine and grinder gives you more room to experiment.
- you only ever drink black filter coffee. An AeroPress or Toddy will do that for a fraction of the price.
How to use it
- Warm up. Turn it on. It's ready in a few minutes, and for the most stable shots give it around 10.
- Grind. Pick your recipe on the touchscreen. It grinds straight into the portafilter and weighs the dose as it goes.
- Tamp and brew. Tamp level, lock in and start. It stops the shot at your target weight.
- Steam. Texture your milk while the next shot brews.
Dialling in tips: How to Make Espresso at Home.
Which Killer coffee
Use whole beans: the Meraki grinds them fresh for every shot.
Get the gear
FAQ
Does the Meraki have a built-in grinder?
Yes. It's co-developed with Timemore, with 45 grind settings, and grinds straight into the portafilter.
Is the Meraki grinder stepless?
No. It has 45 set steps, a wider range than the first version.
Can it brew and steam at the same time?
Yes. It has separate boilers for brewing and steaming.
What size is the portafilter?
58mm, the standard size used in cafes, so baskets and accessories are easy to find.
How long does it take to heat up?
A few minutes to be ready to brew. Give it around 10 for the most stable shots.
Can I use pre-ground coffee?
You can, but you'd lose the main advantage: fresh grinding by weight. We'd use whole beans.
