Smeg Drip Coffee machine review: How this stylish gadget streamlined my mornings

It hit me somewhere between Montréal and Massachusetts in a roadside diner that smelled of syrup, bagels and scorched filter.

I was clutching a mug of drip coffee – deliciously burnt, black, slightly metallic – and realising, inexplicably, that I never wanted to drink anything else again. The coffee was average. The experience was not.

After two weeks zigzagging across Ontario and New England, I returned to London with a renewed affection for filter coffee and a resentment for my overcomplicated espresso setup. Though semi-automatic and relatively simple to use, I had grown tired of overly milky cappuccinos and long blacks that don’t hit quite right. Somewhere along the way, it had started to feel more like a housemate than an appliance; needy, noisy and forever covered in coffee dust.

So, I did the unthinkable. I boxed it up and replaced it with a Smeg drip coffee machine (RRP £199).

It’s beautiful in that retro aesthetic that Smeg does so well. But most importantly, it brews a whole pot of hot coffee in one go and actually keeps it warm. No steam wand. No burr grinder. No tamping mat cluttering up the chopping board. Just one appliance and a carafe full of calm.

There’s something strangely radical about ditching the ‘third wave’ accoutrements. For years, we’ve been force-fed the idea that good coffee must be exacting and inconvenient. We’ve learned to weigh our beans, calibrate our pours, master water temperature and milk texture. Somewhere in the pursuit of the great flat white, we lost sight of the humble joy of the batch brew. It may not sparkle on Instagram, but it smells incredible and doesn’t require a minor engineering degree to operate.

The Smeg drip machine appeals because it belongs to that world—low-maintenance, reliable, slightly nostalgic. Fill it, switch it on and go about your life. It doesn't beep or hiss or demand descaling. It simply makes coffee. Good coffee. Enough for a second mug, or to fill a thermos and feel slightly superior on the commute. It’s an appliance that encourages slower mornings and cuts out faff.

In a city where kitchen real estate is at a premium, ditching the espresso rig has also felt like an act of spatial rebellion. Suddenly, I have room for fruit. For flowers. For elbows. The frother no longer lives in the sink, perpetually waiting to be washed. The grinder no longer roars at 6:45am. Peace has returned.

Of course, this isn’t about declaring war on espresso. I still love a cortado at Monmouth or a flat white done well. But there’s something liberating about embracing ease, especially when the result is still delicious and hot and waiting in the pot when you come back for it.

The Smeg isn’t trying to be the best coffee machine in the world. It’s just trying to make your morning better.

Smeg's DCF02 is a nod to Mid-century aesthetics, blending retro charm with modern functionality. When one thinks of Smeg, one usually imagines curved lines and a glossy finish. I tried a stainless-steel option, which is subdued, yet feels far more Mid-century than a pastel alternatives. It reminds me of the 2005 film Robots.

The glass carafe, with its ergonomic handle and clear cup indicators, adds both form and function. However, be mindful of its height. At 36.1 cm, it may require extra clearance under overhead cabinets when accessing the top lid for refilling.

Setting up the DCF02 is about as straightforward as it gets. The side lever allows for easy programming of time, aroma intensity, and AutoStart functions. The LED display is intuitive, and the front buttons are clearly labelled. The permanent filter is a sustainable touch, though some users might prefer paper filters for ease of cleaning. One consideration is the water tank's design; filling it can be a bit awkward due to the lid's limited opening angle, especially if the machine is placed under cabinets.

The DCF02 excels in delivering consistent, aromatic filter coffee. The Aroma Intensity function caters to varying taste preferences, allowing users to select between a lighter or more robust brew.

I enjoyed the convenience of the AutoStart feature, which enables the machine to begin brewing at a pre-set time. However, if you’re looking for a layer of bubbling crema to form atop your brew, the Smeg doesn’t seem capable of producing it. Despite this, I found my classic Tim Hortons blend still tasted delicious.

The Keep Warm function maintains the coffee's temperature for up to 40 minutes post-brewing and is said to ensure a hot cup is always within reach.

In my experience, it’s more lukewarm – but still delicious. For smaller servings, the 1–4 cups mode adjusts the brewing process accordingly.

The machine also includes an adjustable water hardness setting and a descaling alarm for longevity and optimal performance.