Semi-automatic and prosumer machines

What Are You Getting With a GE Profile or Café Bellissimo Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine?

Published · By the Espresso Shortlist editors · Prices and specs as of that date, from the pages under Sources

Summary

Both are semi-automatic machines that grind their own beans, run a 15-bar pump, froth milk with steam, and connect to Wi-Fi through the SmartHQ app. The Café Bellissimo is now marked "no longer being manufactured" and what's left sells as clearance at $579.00, while GE's product page for the GE Profile P7CESAS6RBB lists it at $599. The app adjusts settings and sends alerts, but grinding into the portafilter, tamping, and steaming milk stay with you.

What Café and GE say about these machines

Café's buying guide gives the Bellissimo an Italian-made 15-bar pump and 15 grind settings, with what it calls a copper-based boiler system and a quick heating system. Across its espresso line, Café says every model has an adjustable conical burr grinder and a removable water reservoir. It sells three kinds: the Affetto automatic with a frother, the Affetto without one, and the Bellissimo semi-automatic, in Matte White, Matte Black, and Steel Silver.

GE describes its semi-automatic machine with the same 15-bar pump, a steam wand that rotates 180 degrees, and SmartHQ settings you change from your phone once the machine is on Wi-Fi.

What the app changes

Café's listing promises real-time feedback, alerts, and "optimized performance" over Wi-Fi, and shows it working with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Nest. GE's SmartHQ help article for its smart espresso machines is more specific. It lists default drink settings you can change by volume and strength, software updates, and alerts such as Add Water and Descale, with a note that some settings exist only on certain models. None of that moves the portafilter from the grinder to the group for you.

Buying one on clearance

Café shows the Matte Black Bellissimo (C7CESAS3RD3) as temporarily out of stock online and possibly available at a local retailer, while the Steel Silver version (C7CESAS2RS3) was still offered at the same $579.00. The listing adds that quantities are limited on clearance items.

Shopping for one? Shop semi-automatic machines →

Sources

  1. Café Appliances — Café Bellissimo Semi Automatic Espresso Machine + Frother (C7CESAS3RD3)
  2. Café Appliances — Café Bellissimo Semi Automatic Espresso Machine + Frother (C7CESAS2RS3)
  3. Café Appliances — Coffee & Espresso Machine Buying Guide
  4. Café Appliances — Espresso Machines
  5. GE Appliances — GE Profile Semi Automatic Espresso Machine + Frother (P7CESAS6RBB)
  6. GE Appliances — Espresso Machines
  7. GE Appliances — Smart Espresso Machine, Benefits of Using the SmartHQ App

We have not tested these products. Specs, prices, stock and terms are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.

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