8 BEST TOUCH SCREEN COFFEE / ESPRESSO MACHINES (2023)

Most people love smartphones and tablets. 

Their touchscreens are effortless to operate, and with a few swipes and taps, you can access a wealth of information or contact just about anyone. Wouldn’t it be amazing if more commercial appliances, like espresso machines, had the same level of technology?

Surprisingly, the ease of touchscreens is beginning to set roots in the espresso machine market. If you’re looking to add this modern function to your business, we’ll show you the best touchscreen espresso and coffee machines.

We’ll dive into the following topics:

• Common espresso machine terms and what they mean
• How to choose the best touchscreen espresso machine for your business
• Our personal selections for the best touchscreen commercial espresso machines

QUICK SUMMARY

If you don't have time to read the full guide, that's no problem. Here are our top picks for the best touchscreen espresso and coffee machines, as well as why we picked them...

• Top Touchscreen Espresso/Coffee Machine for Office Use: Franke A1000 FM CM - It's amazingly easy to use, includes most popular drinks, and each drink is effortless to customize. 
• Top Touchscreen Espresso/Coffee Machine for Commercial Use: Nuova Simonelli Aurelia Wave T3 - Sleek look, plenty of group heads to support a high level of output, and the ability to customize its color. 
• Top Touchscreen Espresso/Coffee Machine for Home Use: Kalerm Premium - It's budget-friendly, looks appealing, and will make a small range of coffee shop drinks at the touch of a button. 

COMMON TOUCHSCREEN ESPRESSO MACHINE TERMS (AND WHAT THEY MEAN)

AUTOMATIC OR SUPERAUTOMATIC

If you’ve done any research on espresso machines already, you’ve likely come across the words automatic (or volumetric), semiautomatic, and superautomatic.

You may be asking yourself: what do these things mean? 

In short, the answer is that these terms describe how much control you have over the drink-making process.

Semiautomatic machines grant the greatest amount of control, because the barista decides when the extraction both begins and ends. 

Of course, this makes it simple for baristas to tailor each drink to any taste. But the downside is that this type of machine requires skill, and consequently takes time to learn.

Automatic machines reduce the amount of control baristas have by stopping the brew cycle on their own once it’s complete. Although this means these machines are bit less flexible than semiautomatic models, it also makes each drink as good as the last by reducing the opportunity for human error.

Superautomatic machines are the top of the food chain when it comes to automation. Whereas you’d still need to steam milk and grind espresso on an automatic machine, superautomatic machines will do all of that for you.

Basically, you choose the drink you want, and the superautomatic machine will grind, tamp, extract, and steam for the barista. That translates to learning how to use them in literal minutes, but their advanced features can contribute to a steeper cost.

BOILER TYPES

The boiler generates the heat necessary for steaming and brewing, and you’ll see a couple common designs in commercial environments: heat exchange (HX) or dual boilers.

In a dual boiler system, you’ll find two boilers, with one for steaming and one for brewing. Many superautomatic machines have a similar system, where they will incorporate multiple boilers for different drink-making functions.

This type of design tends to lead to a great amount of steam power. The drawback is that it can take a little more time to warm up once you turn the machine on, because it needs to bring multiple boilers up to temperature.

Heat exchange systems, on the flipside, have a single boiler for both steaming and brewing. A tube running from the boiler to the group circulates brewing water to group head while steaming water is kept outside the tube.

They can be a little more economical when it comes to price, but you will need to run the group head briefly before pulling a shot to guarantee the water within is at the ideal temperature.

PRE-INFUSION

A lot of high-end commercial espresso machines use this unseen feature, and espresso enthusiasts can taste the difference.

There are many things that can negatively impact your espresso even before the shot has been pulled, such as improper tamping technique. If the grounds are not evenly packed in the portafilter, the water might go through them too fast without hitting all the particles.

Pre-infusion erases this possibility by releasing a pressure-less stream of water before the full pressure of extraction is applied. The end result is similar to what a wave does to a line in the sand: the grounds are evened and smoothed out.

This helps promise that your espresso will be delectable every time, no matter how it was tamped before.

TOUCHSCREEN FEATURES

If all you wanted was an espresso/coffee machine with a touchscreen, there are still a lot of considerations that go into every touchscreen. Let's look at some of the touchscreen features you can consider that may differentiate one machine from another.

The first is the size of the touchscreen. On this list alone, you'll see a variety of touchscreen sizes. Generally, they tend to range anywhere from a few inches to several. 

Why is this important? The size of the touchscreen can make it easier to read and navigate. If you have vision problems or you simply want more room to navigate the menu, a larger size will be more appropriate for your needs.

Another thing to think about is whether the touchscreen is in color. Some touchscreens are monochromatic, which can be fine for the average person.

But if you want something that's even easier to work with, a full-color touchscreen can simplify the process. For example, a super automatic espresso/coffee machine with a full-color touchscreen will be able to give you detailed pictures of each drink on the menu so you know exactly what you're getting.

Finally, there's interface customization to consider. Some espresso/coffee machine touchscreens can be customized so that they appear different. You may, for instance, be able to move the drink menu around so you can access your favorite drinks right away. You may even able to add background images or colors to tweak the appearance of the interface. 

Others have touchscreen menus that are fixed in place. Whether this is important or not is up to you. 

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST TOUCHSCREEN ESPRESSO MACHINE FOR YOUR BUSINESS

If you’re a coffee shop or other business that sells a lot of espresso drinks, the machine you pick is going to be of the utmost importance. You need to make sure you purchase one that will really be an asset to your company.

The issue is, there’s no single espresso machine that would be the absolute best for everyone. In fact, the espresso machine that’s best for you is likely to be different from what would be the best espresso machine for another business nearby yours.

The key to finding the greatest match for you will be to examine your situation. You can start by asking yourself these questions:

• Does your business have a high demand for espresso drinks?
• Are you or your  employees proficient in operating espresso machines?
• Does your business have a particular aesthetic?
• What kinds of drinks do you or your employees like? 

DOES YOUR BUSINESS HAVE A HIGH DEMAND FOR ESPRESSO DRINKS?

Businesses with a high amount of orders for espresso drinks on average require machines that can handle the demand.

If that sounds like you, then an automatic or superautomatic machine is a good fit. Since employees don’t need to carefully time shots, they can focus on your customers.

With superautomatic machines, the ability to multitask is increased. Baristas will choose an option from the screen, and then are free to work on whatever else needs to be done.

One thing to note with superautomatic machines is that they usually can make only one espresso-based beverage at a time. They do this fairly quickly, so you’ll still be able to push out drinks fast, but an automatic machine with multiple group heads to make drinks may be slightly faster in some situations.

See Also: Best Commercial Espresso Machines

ARE YOU OR YOUR EMPLOYEES PROFICIENT IN OPERATING ESPRESSO MACHINES?

In the event that your employees won’t be using the espresso machine often enough to become experts, or that you frequently have to train new employees, the user-friendliness of your machine is vital.

Semiautomatic machines are the least user-friendly in general because the barista has total control over each drink being made. While this might seem intimidating, it’s often preferred by experts because it gives them the ability to tweak drinks off the cuff.

Automatic and superautomatic machines are both amazingly easy to learn. 

Comparing the lengths of time it takes to learn them side-by-side, though, you’ll find that beginners grasp the use of superautomatic machines faster than automatic ones. 

DOES YOUR BUSINESS HAVE A PARTICULAR AESTHETIC?

The look of a particular business is a big part of its brand, so of course you’ll want appliances that promote your look.

The great thing about espresso machines with touch screens is that you can expect them to have a sleek, high-tech look to them quite often.

Franke superautomatic models, for example, have a refined and futuristic appearance, resembling slim tablet computers. This look will bolster cafes, restaurants, or hotels with an overall chic atmosphere.

WHAT KINDS OF DRINKS DO YOU OR YOUR EMPLOYEES LIKE?

Not all touch screen espresso machines are exactly alike. While an automatic espresso machine with a touchscreen will likely be able to make just about any coffee shop drink you could possibly want, things are a little different when it comes to a super automatic machine.

Super automatic espresso machines have menus built into their touchscreens. Given that they might offer different types of menu items, it's worth checking out which drinks they have specifically to be sure you have access to what you or your employees prefer most. 

BEST TOUCHSCREEN COMMERCIAL ESPRESSO MACHINES

NUOVA SIMONELLI AURELIA WAVE T3 

 

Just like its name, the curling accent on the Nuova Simonelli Aurelia Wave T3’s side panels gives it the graceful air of a rolling ocean wave. Also like its name, this machine is ready to make waves in your business. 

It’s full of cutting-edge features, like pulse jet technology that lets you stop the flow of coffee at any time or T3 technology that makes it a snap to tweak the temperatures in each group head. 

• Majesty Coffee Price: $18,500 (2-group) or $20,500 (3-group)
• Machine Type: Automatic + manual dosing 
• Boiler: Multiple boilers
• Pre-Infusion: Yes
• T3 Technology: Enhances thermal stability by allowing you to adjust the temperature in each group individually. 
• Pulse Jet Technology: Start or stop the coffee flow whenever you want, allowing you to highlight all kinds of flavors from each coffee bean type.
• Auto-Purge System: When your baristas remove the portafilter, the Aurelia Wave T3 will purge the group head by itself, cleaning any dried coffee grounds left behind.
• Surface LEDs: Even in darker settings, baristas will be able to safely work at the machine, which illuminates the workspace.
• Touchscreen Display: Like the others on this list, the Aurelia Wave T3 can be controlled with an intuitive touchscreen display.

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FRANKE A600 FM CM

The Franke A600 FM CM is the very definition of user-friendliness.

Using its touchscreen panel, baristas choose from a variety of pictures for the drink they need, then wait – it really is that simple. The A600 will do everything for you, from grinding to foaming the milk, pouring it all into the cup at the end.

• Majesty Coffee Price: $14,032
• Machine Type: Super automatic 
• Boiler: Multiple boilers
• Pre-Infusion: Yes
• Large Touchscreen: Measuring at 8 inches, the touchscreen on the front of the A600 is big enough that anyone will be able to comfortably read it.
• 2 Bean Hoppers with Grinders: The fresher your espresso is, the better it will taste. The A600 comes with 2 built-in hoppers and grinders, so you can deliver two types of freshly ground coffees at a time.
• FoamMaster System:  Even as a superautomatic machine, customization is still possible on the A600 using its brilliant FoamMaster tech. This lets users choose different milk consistencies or thicknesses to make each cappuccino or latte perfect for the customer.
• CleanMaster System: Built-in cleaning cartridges make it possible for the A600 to clean itself for you.
• 2 Powder Containers: Do your customers order a lot of sweet drinks? With 2 built-in powder containers, you can store cocoa to add a rich sweet taste to your drinks, or store dried milk with a long shelf life.
• Optional Flavor Station: Further personalize drinks for your customers with an optional flavor station that can offer up to three different flavor syrups.

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FRANKE A400 FM CM

The Franke A400 FM CM is similar to the A600, offering you the easiness of a superautomatic machine attached to a smaller price tag.

There are a few differences, such as 1 less powder container and no optional flavor station. However, your employees will still be able to learn to use the A400 in a matter of minutes, and it will still craft the drinks itself from grinding beans to pouring the final product in the cup.

• Majesty Coffee Price: $8,789.60
• Machine Type: Super automatic
• Boiler: Multiple boilers
• Pre-Infusion: Yes
• Adjustable Beverage Spout: Are your customers able to order drinks of various sizes in your shop? The A400 can easily accommodate this with a spout that you can reposition to fit large or small cups beneath.
• 1 Powder Container: Store either long-lived dried milk or cocoa powder in the built-in powder container.
• FoamMaster System: Tailor the creamy milk foam on top of each drink to your customer’s specifications, including adding foam to cold drinks if they choose.
• 8-Inch Touchscreen: Your baristas won’t need to squint or struggle to operate this screen, which is big enough to use comfortably.

NUOVA SIMONELLI PRONTOBAR TOUCH

If you're concerned about user-friendliness first and foremost, the Nuova Simonelli Prontobar Touch could be another great pick for you. Like the Franke machines in this list, it has a full-color touchscreen menu that makes it clear which drinks are available. 

It's also an incredibly sturdy machine. With quality components like a rotary pump, you can be sure the Prontobar Touch will last you for years to come.

• Majesty Coffee Price: $12,600
• Machine Type: Super Automatic
• Boiler: Multiple 
• Pre-Infusion: Yes 
• Rotary Pump: In addition to being tough, the rotary pump is quiet, so it won't disrupt the atmosphere.
• Automatic Washing Program: Saves you time that you would otherwise have to spend cleaning it at the end of the day. 
• Automatic On/Off Function: You can program when the machine turns on or off, so no one can forget to turn it on or leave it running. 
• Customizable Options: Users can program the dose time, temperatures, and even the tamping force of the machine. 

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We're confident in the quality of all the Franke machines we've included on this list. However, we must say that the Franke A1000 is truly something on another level. 

Aside from its extremely large 10.4-inch touchscreen, it also has an impressive triple grinder design. With three hoppers and grinders built right in, you can store up to three different blends of coffee right inside the machine. 

• Majesty Coffee Price: $18,899
• Machine Type: Super Automatic
• Boiler: Multiple
• Pre-Infusion: Yes
• Three Hoppers and Grinders: Since it has a total of three hoppers and grinders, you can have up to three different types of coffee on hand in the machine.
• FoamMaster System: Gives you or your employees the ability to customize the texture and thickness of the foam in milk-based drinks. 
• Dual Powder Containers: Allows you to keep hot chocolate powder or even powdered milk inside the machine. 
• Large Touchscreen: At 10.4 inches, the touchscreen is large and easy to read. 

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ROCKET ESPRESSO R NINE ONE

 

Many baristas around the world consider Rocket to be one of the top manufacturers you can go with if you're looking for a high-end home espresso machine or a machine for a smaller coffee shop. With machines like the R Nine One, we're inclined to agree.

This machine takes all of the classic Rocket features, like the long-lasting stainless steel case and stylish design, and upgrades them with the use of a touchscreen display. You can program up to five different pressure profiles for various recipes into the full-color touchscreen. 

• Majesty Coffee Price: $6,850
• Machine Type: Automatic + Manual Dosing
• Boiler: Dual 
• Pre-Infusion: Yes
• PID Temperature Controls: Gives you total control over the internal temperature of the espresso machine so you can tweak flavor profiles to your specifications. 
• Auto-On Timer: The machine can be programmed to turn on and warm up at a specific time, so it's ready to go when you are.
• Stainless Steel Case: Its all-stainless steel case is both beautiful and durable. 
• Optional Manual Controls: Have more experience with espresso machines? Use the manual dosing to pull shots as long or short as you need and experiment with pressure profiles. 

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UNIC STELLA EPIC

 

With its combination of a 50's-inspired design and touchscreens, the Unic Stella Epic truly is an espresso machine that lives up to its name. Plus, since you can get it with two or three group heads, it can have the output larger businesses need.

It can also be as challenging or as beginner-friendly as you want it to be. Beginners can stick to pre-programmed volumetric brewing functions and adventurous baristas can use the manual expert mode.

• Majesty Coffee Price: $15,105-19,665
• Machine Type: Automatic + Manual Dosing
• Boiler: Multiple
• Pre-Infusion: Yes
• Expert Mode: More experienced baristas can use expert mode to pull shots as long or short as they like. 
• PID Temperature Controls: With a PID temperature controller, you can ensure that the temperatures inside the machine are consistent. 
• 50's Design: A design inspired by the 50's gives the Epic a look it can call all its own. 
• NSF Certification: Because it is certified by the National Sanitation Foundation, you have peace of mind when you choose the Unic Stella Epic.

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KALERM PREMIUM

 

We've spent a lot of time focusing on commercial-level espresso machines throughout this guide, but what about espresso/coffee machines for homes? If what you want is something with a touchscreen that's easy for beginners at home to use, we'd recommend something like the Kalerm Premium.

This is a super automatic espresso machine specifically designed for use at home. As such, it is compact, budget-friendly, and effortless to use. Simply tap on one of the drinks on its touchscreen display to have a drink custom-made for you from start to finish.

• Majesty Coffee Price: $1,299
• Machine Type: Super Automatic
• Boiler: Unspecified
• Pre-Infusion: Unspecified
• Programmable Auto Shut-Off: Because you can program when the machine will turn off, you'll never need to worry about accidentally leaving it on.
• User Alerts: The large screen on the front gives you plenty of helpful notices, including when the machine needs more water or its grounds bin must be emptied. 
• Compact Size: This compact model is designed to fit in on home counters without taking up too much room. 
• Optional Ground Coffee Chute: In the mood for decaf instead? You won't need to swap out the beans - you can just use the ground coffee chute to add ground decaf coffee. 

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