REVIEW: The Rancilio Classe 11 – in a class of its own

Excitement rippled through Cafeology HQ this week when our brand new Rancilio Classe 11 machine revved into the training room like a slick new Lamborghini.

The Classe 11 looks the business even before you switch it on – the stylish user interface with touchscreen command makes it aesthetically pleasing to the eye and enticing to the fingertips.

The touchscreen element has proved a hit with our baristas and trainers already. Navigation is quick and simple, allowing the user to become rapidly familiar with the system – much like using a Smartphone.

One of the most impressive features is the inbuilt Xcelsius system’s ability to control temperature profiling during coffee extraction. We’ve tried a variety of our coffees through the machine and this feature definitely helps to bring out the definitive characteristics of single origin and blended coffee.

The timing display on the machine is a fantastic assistant when it comes to achieving the optimum 25 seconds of brew time for each beverage. The Xcelsius system again comes into its own here as it enables the temperature of the brew water to be set dynamically, with an increase or decrease of up to 5 degrees celsius for each individual drink delivery. The difference in taste is definitely discernible, even with such minor temperature adjustments.

Additional features come in a list as long as your arm, from an insulated heat wand to eliminate the risk of scalding, to different temperature settings for teas and infusions, advanced diagnostics and a self-cleaning system. And that’s not even the half of it.

Our verdict? The Classe 11 is more than worth its money – it’s a fantastic long-term investment and is up there with the best machines on the market. Swing by if you’re ever in the area and we’ll show you what we mean.