Verdict
The Smeg Espresso & Cold Brew Coffee Machine (ECF03) is a beautiful appliance that’ll be your caffeine fix year-round. It takes several attempts to navigate the features, and it’s noisy when using the steam wand, but the end result is worth it: great-tasting, silky hot or cold brew coffee. If you don’t have much space on the kitchen worktop, love coffee and are a fan of the Smeg brand, then this is the espresso machine for you.
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Beautiful, compact design with storage -
Makes a really nice hot coffee, and perfectly warm milk (plant & dairy) -
Cold Brew function
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Instructions hard to follow -
No grinder -
Expensive
Key Features
Introduction
There is an abundance of espresso coffee machines but few are quite like the Smeg Espresso & Cold Brew Coffee Machine (ECF03).
Unlike most other espresso coffee machines, the ECF03 uses a cold extraction process to deliver a smoother, less acidic and sweeter cold brew coffee. A cold brew coffee is a versatile option if you prefer to drink coffee-over-ice in the summer months, or create cocktails. I reckon that it could also be an option to use Cold Brew in baking too because it won’t split the cake batter like a hot espresso does when flavouring a cold cake mix with coffee.
The ECF03 can, of course, also brew hot espressos. The heating system keeps the water at an optimal temperature for brewing coffee, and the 15 bar pump power ensures consistent espresso extraction.
Design and features
- Hot or cold brew
- Single or double espresso shots
- 360-degree steam wand
At H364 x W205 x D295mm, the Smeg Espresso & Cold Brew Coffee Machine (ECF03) is a compact coffee machine which doesn’t take up a lot of space on the counter space. However, you do need to have a separate bean grinder, such as the Smeg Standard Coffee Grinder [CGF11PBUK], near-by so you will need to allow for this when setting up your coffee station.
While there is a Quick Guide and User Manual to follow you will need to set aside some time and headspace to get the machine ready for use. I didn’t find the Quick Guide “quick” in the slightest: while the drawings are impressive, the sequence of events that need to happen in order for me to get a coffee are really unclear. It’s also not mentioned in the Quick Guide to clean the removable components before using the machine for the first time, which is mentioned in the User Manual, so some alignment is needed there.
Following the Manual now, I filled the 1.8-litre water tank found to the rear of the appliance up to the “MAX” line, switched it on with the ON/OFF key found on the left-handside of the machine and rinsed the internal circuits five times. I then turned the steam lever clockwise and dispensed 100ml of water; it takes about 20 seconds.
You also have the option to test the water hardness so that descaling is prompted at the right interval for where you live. The test strip provided (which was missing in my sample) can indicate your water hardness. By default the machine is pre-set to “Hard Water Level” but if you need to change this it can be done by accessing the programme menu and following the instructions in the Manual.
I was then ready to make a hot or cold brew, single or double espresso; pressurised or non-pressurised.
On the top of the ECF03 are four buttons: single espresso (cold or hot), double espresso (cold or hot), dispensing steam and program key change. By pressing the program key change you can opt for either a hot or cold brew; you’ll know which one you’ll be brewing because the single and double espresso buttons will either be illuminated white for hot or blue for cold. There’s a neat storage space on top of the machine next to these buttons too, where I rested the hefty 58mm tamper when not in use.
On the right-hand-side of the machine is a stainless steel steam wand which is a nice addition. On paper it claims to be able to turn 360-degrees but I found that it did not achieve this: it was more like 270-degrees, despite my best effort. Above the steam wand is a steam/water lever that can be turned to operate it; clockwise to dispense water, anti-closewise to steam.
Underneath the dispensing unit is a cup grille where you sit your favourite mug. And through this is where any waste coffee or water will drip into the drip tray for easy disposal. This can be slid out (when empty) to reveal a handy storage space for all four filters and the cleaning brush.
Overall the Smeg Espresso & Cold Brew Coffee Machine (ECF03) is a beautifully-designed machine which looks wonderful in my kitchen and, might I add, next to our Smeg toaster. I tested it in White, but it also comes in Black, Pastel Blue or Cream to suit your kitchen decor.
Performance
- Takes 30 seconds to make a hot coffee, and two minutes for a cold brew
- Really loud steam wand
- Easy maintenance
The Smeg Espresso & Cold Brew Coffee Machine (ECF03) has four coffee functions, and a steam wand that can be used for hot chocolates, so it’s a really versatile machine.
Opting for one of the pressurised filters is a good option if you’re new to the coffee-making-game and / or not feeling too confident with the machine just yet. The filter is good for facilitating and regulating the pressure with imperfect grinding, or when using pre-ground coffee. The pressure gauge displays how much pressure was used each time I made a hot brew with this filter.
I enjoyed making single and double espressos to make a variety of coffee types. It takes 10 seconds for the machine to gear up (you know this when the buttons are flashing) and then you can select the buttons for a single or double espresso drink. The button will be illuminated white.
The result? A lovely, silky coffee with a rich crema every time. It extracts hot but with just 50ml espresso (single or double) in the mug it does cool quickly.
When dispensing Cold brew functions, Smeg recommends using the non-pressurised filter. The non-pressurised filters allow for various degrees of grinding, dosing and tampering to be tried so that you can create your perfectly balanced espresso. The pressure gauge doesn’t flinch using the non-pressurised filters.
When making a cold brew the buttons on the top of the machine will be illuminated blue. During extraction the machine pulsates, gradually releasing coffee goodness down through the dispensing unit into the glass (with ice) beneath.
The result? It takes two minutes to create a smooth, delicious cold brew. It makes just over 100ml of single-serve Cold Brew and 200ml of double Cold Brew. More cold brew could be made by decanting your glass or cup into a larger vessel and continuing the process so that you have enough to share around when guests pop over.
When in use either on espresso or cold brew I recorded a noise level of 64db, equivalent to a quiet street.
I used the steam wand to turn my espresso shots into a latte (my favourite). Once the espresso is dispensed, press the steam button on the display then wait until it’s stopped flashing before pulling down the lever at the side. It works well with cows milk and oat milk but you’ll get more froth using dairy milk because of the higher fat content, if that’s something you want to achieve . In contrast to the machine, the steam wand is notably loud; I recorded 98dB on my decibel metre reader which is equivalent to a subway and, therefore, really not suitable for use past the kids’ bedtime.
While I was testing the machine I noticed that it goes to sleep when inactive for a couple of minutes to preserve electricity. To awaken, just press any button.
To keep the external surfaces of the machine in a good condition, Smeg advises that you clean it regularly after use with a soft, damp cloth, when they have cooled down. It’s also recommended that you clean the filter holder, filter, drip tray and water tank daily too. And the steam wand will need to be cleaned immediately after use.
The ECF03 comes equipped with a cleaning brush for the dispensing unit and filter holder, and needles for cleaning the steam wand and filter holes. Other accessories included are a tamper, four filters and a water hardness strip.
For a walk through on how to set up, amend settings, descale, and maintain the machine, scan the My Smeg Assistant QR code in the Quick Start Guide.
Should you buy it?
You should buy if you want to make hot and cold coffees
With a couple of button presses you can make four types of coffee from one machine
You want an all-in-one machine
It’s a high price to pay for a coffee machine without a built-in grinder
Final Thoughts
Although it takes some set-up time and the steam wand is noisy, the Smeg Espresso & Cold Brew Coffee Machine (ECF03) is a good-looking appliance that’ll serve you refreshing coffee throughout the year.
Aside from not having a bean grinder, it comes with everything you need to make a perfectly balanced single or double espresso that can be transformed by the steam wand into a cappuccino, latte or flat white. While I do feel this coffee machine is a bit style-over-function, the Cold Brew function is a game-changer, letting you enjoy silky, perfectly brewed coffee-over-ice or in cocktails within minutes. With this in mind, if you are a coffee connoisseur, or wannabe barista, then this coffee maker is the only one you’ll need. For machines with grinders or other alternatives, check out the guide to the best coffee machines.
How we test
We test every coffee machine we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use industry-standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
- Used as our main coffee machine for the review period
- Tested for at least a week
- We roast our own beans for regular coffee machines, so we can fairly compare each machine; pod machines are tested with a variety of compatible capsules
- Depending on capabilities, we test each machine’s ability to make espresso and cappuccino
FAQs
No, this coffee machine does not, so you’ll need to use pre-ground coffee or, preferably, an external grinder.
Test Data
| Smeg Espresso & Cold Brew Coffee Machine (ECF03) Review |
|---|
Full Specs
| Smeg Espresso & Cold Brew Coffee Machine (ECF03) Review | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Smeg |
| Size (Dimensions) | 205 x 295 x 364 MM |
| Release Date | 2025 |
| First Reviewed Date | 02/12/2025 |
| Model Number | Smeg Espresso & Cold Brew Coffee Machine (ECF03) |
| Coffee Machine Type | Manual |
| Cup warmer | Yes |
| Pump pressure | 15 bar |
| Number of boilers | 1 |
| Milk frothing | Yes (steamer wand) |
| Water capacity | 1.4 litres |
