Melitta · Super-autoBarista TS Smart
A dual-hopper bean-to-cup super-automatic with 21 one-touch drink presets, Bluetooth app control, and a Double Cup function that pulls two milk drinks simultaneously — designed for households that want consistent café-style results with no workflow demand.
The short version
The Barista TS Smart is a capable, thoughtfully-engineered super-automatic that maps two bean types to recipes, cleans its own milk path, and serves eight user profiles without asking anyone to touch a portafilter.
The one thing a buyer must accept is that the internal brew group and grinder set a hard ceiling on espresso texture that no setting adjustment will overcome.
Why people buy it
- Dual hopper with Automatic Bean Select lets you run two distinct beans and have the machine choose per drink without manual switching
- Double Cup function dispenses two milk drinks simultaneously — genuinely useful for households serving multiple people at once
Why they don’t
- Large physical footprint (259 × 467 mm base) claims significant counter space; the externally-attached milk carafe adds further bulk to the side
The full tally
- Dual hopper with Automatic Bean Select lets you run two distinct beans and have the machine choose per drink without manual switching
- Double Cup function dispenses two milk drinks simultaneously — genuinely useful for households serving multiple people at once
- Easy Steam Cleaning purges the milk path automatically after service, keeping hygiene low-effort
- Eight saveable user profiles via on-machine menu or Melitta Connect Bluetooth app cover a full household without re-entering preferences
- Large physical footprint (259 × 467 mm base) claims significant counter space; the externally-attached milk carafe adds further bulk to the side
- Espresso quality ceiling is limited by the integrated grinder and brew group — serious espresso drinkers will hit it quickly
- App connectivity relies on Bluetooth only, which means no remote scheduling or wake-timer from outside Bluetooth range; some users report app reliability issues
What the community knows
Years of owner threads, distilled — a niche favourite.
Strong at convenience and milk drinks, but sensor failures and reliability concerns undercut durability; the cost-to-longevity ratio is poor for the price point — most owners wish the money went to the grinder or a semi-automatic with fewer failure modes.
Convenience
speed and simplicity, day to day
Beginner fit
kind to first-timers
Value
price-to-performance the community respects
All 9 community measures
price-to-performance the community respects
shows up every morning, year after year
parts and repairs — you are never stranded
mods, guides, and community know-how around it
kind to first-timers
years before you outgrow or replace it
how far the cup can go, per dollar
speed and simplicity, day to day
Worth knowing before you buy — Most community sentiment reframes this as a stepping-stone: excellent at making milk drinks quickly, but buy it knowing sensor repairs will be expensive and out-of-warranty — not a keep-forever machine despite the smartphone control.
Known weak points — Sensor failures documented in owner reports; drip-tray spillage and maintenance burden noted as recurring user friction.
“It's a bit noisy and clunky, but the Melitta Barista TS Smart is the perfect coffee machine for intermediate baristas.”
“The only thing I found a little annoying is the drip tray which doesn't have much depth so requires regular emptying and does often spill out if you're not careful.”
“If you want flexibility and excellent coffee, the Melitta Caffeo Barista TS Smart is a top bean-to-cup machine. The AromaIntense and smartphone control add much to the original Caffeo Barista TS, making a great machine even better.”
The measurements
Scored 0–5 on the same rubric as everything on file — the words matter more than the numbers.
The measurements
0–5, one rubric- Shot ceiling
- capable2.5
- Steam power
- workable3
- Built to last
- fair2.5
- Easy daily
- effortless4.5
Position in the market
Every dot is a rival, measured the same way. The gold one is this.
- Lower half for shot ceiling
- a higher ceiling than 14 of the 237 machines we’ve measured
- A value pick at this level
- 61% of machines this capable cost more
- Lower half for build
- sturdier than 16% of the field, by the community’s own record
Every dot is a machine measured on the same rubric. See the whole market
Living with it
The part spec sheets skip: counter space, upkeep, and what owners learn later.
The honest note — Owners who start caring about grind consistency, extraction pressure, or espresso texture will outgrow the super-auto format entirely — the natural step is a proper semi-automatic + standalone grinder (e.g. entry-level heat exchanger or dual boiler), not another bean-to-cup machine. Those who stay in the super-auto lane may consider the Melitta Barista TS Smart Plus for any firmware/feature increments Melitta adds to later SKUs.
The full spec sheet
- Type
- Super-automatic (bean-to-cup)
- Heat-up time
- 45 seconds
- Steam power
- 3/5
- Brew + steam at once
- No
- Guest recovery
- 3.5/5
- Shot quality ceiling
- 2.5/5
- PID temperature control
- No
- Milk system
- Auto frother
- One-touch drinks
- 21
- Removable brew group
- Yes
- Hot-water tap
- Yes
- Cup clearance
- 14 cm
- Workflow demand
- 0.5/5
- Maintenance
- 2.5/5
- Noise
- 3/5
- Build longevity
- 2.5/5
- Dimensions
- 25.9 × 46.7 × 37.2 cm
Before it arrives
What completes this machine — the faded pieces can wait.
Descaler & backflush kit — Electric boilers scale up and grouts gunk up — a descaler plus backflush routine is what keeps the machine alive for a decade.
- Descaler & backflush kit — Electric boilers scale up and grouts gunk up — a descaler plus backflush routine is what keeps the machine alive for a decade.
- Espresso cups & glassware — Proper demitasse and latte glasses keep the drink hot and look the part.
Feed it right
Week one is dial-in — and stale beans will lose it.
Coffee more than a few weeks past roast won’t extract predictably, and a new machine gets blamed for it. Super-autos reward consistency: a stable medium roast keeps the hopper predictable and the milk drinks sweet.
Pick your coffee — any of these dials in beautifully here:
Wild Ember - Ethiopian Buno Dambi UddoSCA 92Medium roast · Odo Shakiso, Guji Zone, Oromia · NaturalBlueberry · MarmaladeSteady and repeatable — right for this setup’s lane.CA$26.83 · roasted to order
Etherea - Ethiopian YirgacheffeSCA 88Medium roast · NaturalJasmine · BergamotSteady and repeatable — right for this setup’s lane.CA$24.16 · roasted to order
Sergio - Brazillian Fazenda Joia Rara Aerobic FermentedSCA 88Medium-light · Cerrado Mineiro · Aerobic FermentedHoney · OrangeSteady and repeatable — right for this setup’s lane.CA$29.18 · roasted to orderNo proper grinder yet? Sort that first — it decides more of the cup than the machine does. We ship whole bean, roast-dated, timed so it lands fresh the week your burrs do.
Roasted to order, daily, in Ajax, Ontario · ships Canada-wide. We’re the roastery behind this database — measuring the machines is how we make sure the coffee gets a fair shot.
On film
How it runs on camera, from around the community.
Common questions
Can the Melitta Barista TS Smart use pre-ground coffee?
Yes. There is a dedicated bypass chute on the top-right of the machine where you can spoon in pre-ground coffee without using either bean hopper, useful for occasional decaf or single-origin shots without fully loading the grinder.
Is the milk carafe dishwasher-safe and fridge-storable?
Yes. The external milk container can be cleaned in the dishwasher and stored directly in the refrigerator between uses, which reduces milk spoilage risk.
Does the Barista TS Smart connect via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?
Bluetooth only, via the Melitta Connect app (iOS and Android). There is no Wi-Fi or remote-start capability beyond Bluetooth range.
How many user profiles does it support?
Up to eight individual profiles, each storing drink strength, volume, temperature, and recipe preferences. Profiles can be created and edited on-machine or through the Melitta Connect app.
Can it make two drinks at the same time?
Yes. The Double Cup function prepares two cups of numerous coffee specialities simultaneously, including milk-based drinks like cappuccino — a feature not universally available on competing super-automatics.
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