The Smeg drip coffee maker (model DCF02) is a good choice if you want a beautiful, retro-style machine that makes solid everyday filter coffee, and a poor choice if you want the best coffee for your money. It brews up to 10 small cups from a 1.4-liter tank, lets you program a start time, choose between two strength settings and brew a smaller 1 to 4 cup batch, and comes with a reusable filter. Its weak points are the price, usually around $260 to $300 in the US, the fiddly fixed water tank, a short keep-warm time, frequent descaling alerts, and a lack of temperature or bloom controls found on SCA-certified brewers like the Technivorm Moccamaster.
| Capacity | 1.4-liter water tank; up to 10 cups of about 4 to 5 oz each (roughly five 8-oz mugs) |
| Carafe | Glass, with a drip-stop so you can pour mid-brew |
| Size (H × W × D) | About 14¼ × 9⅝ × 10 in (361 × 245 × 256 mm) |
| Weight | About 7 to 7.5 lb (3.4 kg) |
| Power | 1,050 W |
| Keep warm | Up to 60 minutes on the US model; up to 40 minutes on European models |
| Settings | Two aroma (strength) levels, 1 to 4 cup mode, programmable auto-start, water-hardness setting, descaling alert, optional beep |
| Filter | Reusable permanent filter included; paper filters also work |
| Colors | Smeg’s 50s-style range, including black, white, cream, red, pink, pastel blue, pastel green and stainless steel (choice varies by country) |
| Typical US price | About $260 to $300 |
Specs from Smeg and US and UK retailer listings. Prices change often, so check the current price before you buy.
Design and Build
Design is the reason to buy a Smeg. The DCF02 matches the brand’s famous 1950s-style fridges, toasters and kettles, with rounded curves, a chrome-look base and a glossy painted finish in a wide range of colors. The body combines metal and plastic, and it feels sturdier than most budget drip machines. Some owners note that interior parts, such as the shower head and the carafe handle, are plastic and feel less premium than the outside.
It is also bigger than it looks in photos. At about 14¼ inches tall, plus the room the hinged lid needs to open, it may not fit under low wall cabinets, and you may need to slide it out to fill the tank. The rounded top means you cannot store anything on it.
Coffee Quality
Reviewers generally describe the coffee as smooth, hot and consistent, and it brews quickly: a couple of cups take only a few minutes. The “intense” aroma setting gives a stronger, fuller cup. Like any drip machine, the result depends mostly on your beans and grind: use fresh coffee, a medium grind, and about 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water; see our coffee-to-water ratio guide and grind size chart.
What it does not have is the precision of specialty-grade brewers. There is no way to set the water temperature or pre-wet (bloom) the coffee, which machines certified by the Specialty Coffee Association are tested for. For most people the coffee will be good; for coffee enthusiasts it will be ordinary.
Features and Everyday Use
- Auto-start timer: program the machine the night before and wake up to fresh coffee.
- Aroma setting: choose standard or intense strength.
- 1 to 4 cup mode: adjusts the brew for small batches, which helps because you otherwise have to brew a full pot or stop it by hand.
- Keep warm: the hot plate keeps coffee warm for up to 60 minutes on US models (40 minutes in Europe), then turns off. Coffee left that long on a hot plate tastes stewed anyway, so brew only what you will drink.
- Water hardness and descaling: you set your water hardness and the machine reminds you when to descale. Some owners find the alerts frequent, especially with hard water; filtered water helps. See the best water for coffee and how to clean a coffee maker.
- Beeps: the end-of-brew beep can be turned off in the settings.
- Setup: the clock and settings are adjusted with a small side lever, which some find fussy, and they may need resetting if you unplug the machine.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The reusable filter and filter holder can go in the dishwasher, but the glass carafe should be washed by hand. The water tank is not removable, and its opening is small, so pour slowly from a jug to avoid spills. Descale whenever the alert comes on; scale buildup slows brewing and makes the coffee taste flat. If you prefer a cleaner, brighter cup, you can use paper filters in the filter holder instead of the metal one; see coffee filter types.
Smeg Coffee Maker Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Striking retro design in many colors | Expensive for a basic drip machine |
| Solid, heavy build with metal body panels | “10 cups” is only about five 8-oz mugs |
| Programmable auto-start | Water tank is fixed and awkward to fill |
| Two strength settings and a 1 to 4 cup mode | Short keep-warm, especially on European models |
| Reusable filter included | Frequent descaling reminders with hard water |
| Beep can be turned off | No temperature or bloom control; carafe not dishwasher-safe |
Verdict: Is the Smeg Coffee Maker Worth It?
The Smeg Drip Coffee Maker (DCF02) is worth it if style matters as much to you as the coffee, especially if you already have other Smeg appliances or a retro kitchen. It is well made, easy to live with, and makes good, hot coffee. But you are paying a lot for the looks: a basic programmable machine such as the Cuisinart 14-Cup makes similar coffee for much less and holds more.
If coffee quality comes first, spend the money on an SCA-certified brewer that controls water temperature and contact time, such as the Technivorm Moccamaster or the Breville Precision Brewer. For another popular drip option, see our Ninja coffee maker review, and if you want to compare brewing styles, read French press vs drip coffee or our guide to the best pour-over coffee makers.
Former roastery owner and coffee tour operator. Steve spent five years roasting coffee for his own shop and wholesale customers. More about Steve