Choosing a coffee machine · 5 July 2023

Differences between superautomatic and automatic coffee machines

Automatic or superautomatic coffee machine: what is the difference, and which should your business choose?

Automatic cappuccino preparation in a Franke coffee machine

The choice of professional coffee machines is a pleasant surprise. Today you can find a model with stylish design and a large feature set that fully meets your business's needs without much difficulty. But when we talk about fully automated machines that need no professional barista to make the coffee, the choice comes down to fully automatic and super-automatic coffee machines. What separates them and which is better is what this article covers.

Fully automatic coffee machine vs super-automatic

Although both types of coffee equipment perform their functions automatically, there are still some differences between them. For the most part the difference lies in the level of automation itself and in the control you have over making the drinks.

To make it easier to get your bearings, here is a closer look at what separates these two kinds of machine:

Level of automation. A super-automatic Franke coffee machine has a higher level of automation in making coffee. As a rule it includes every function of the fully automatic models, but it also has extra capabilities as standard that make it possible to widen the drinks range without connecting separate units and smart systems.

Fully automatic machines can offer certain variations in the settings, letting the user change drink recipes as they see fit. Super-automatics, by contrast, provide more limited control and focus on reaching the optimal coffee taste through pre-set programmes and settings.

Choice of drinks. Since we have touched on this point already, let us look at it in more detail. A super-automatic coffee machine usually makes it possible to prepare more coffee drinks. Both the fully automatic and the super-automatic have built-in milk systems, which make it possible to create various coffee drinks with milk foam.
Output. Depending on the specific model, coffee equipment can have different levels of output and different water and bean container capacities. Fully automatic models are slightly lower in output and suit offices, hotels and coffee shops. For a larger business with a high flow of customers a super-automatic machine makes the best choice.
Technology and innovation. Franke super-automatics come with the latest technological developments and smart systems — the iQFlow™ system, for instance. It makes it possible to give considerable attention to the grinding itself and to the extraction of flavours and aromas from the beans. That is how a perfect drink is achieved. In the fully automatic models this function is absent from the base configuration.
Price. Super-automatic coffee machines usually cost more than fully automatic models. That comes down to their extended feature set and to the advanced technology used. On the other hand, any Franke coffee machine can be built up with add-on units that extend its capabilities. But if what you are looking for first and foremost is top-end coffee equipment with the maximum feature set, then your choice is a super-automatic model.

To sum up, the choice between a super-automatic and a fully automatic coffee machine depends on your preferences, the scale of your business and your need for extra functions. Because in truth both are worth your attention and are ready to make first-class coffee to professional barista standard.