Last Updated On September 22, 2023
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My local indie bookstore recently unveiled a new permanent fixture - an automatic coffee machine – the Miele 5510.
Their vision was that you could nestle yourself in a chair with a hot coffee and get lost in your brand-new book. I became instantly obsessed.
Are you considering getting an automatic coffee and espresso machine? Check out my thoughts below in this Miele 5510 review.
Miele CM 5510 Silence Review – My Ratings & Top Features
Brew Quality
3.5
Build Quality
3.5
Ease Of Use
5.0
Overall Rating
4.0
Overall, I rate the Miele a 4.0 out of 5 stars. I love its sleek modern design and whisper-quiet grinder but do not love paying extra for essential equipment at this price point.[1]
Pros
Cons
Who Should Buy The Miele CM 5510 Silence?
The Miele CM 5510 is best for coffee drinkers who want great coffee and specialty drinks fast.
I would not recommend it for the barista or espresso nerd that wants control over every aspect of the preparation process.
Vegan and lactose-free milk drinkers may also have a trickier time replicating the froth with this milk frother.
Why I Decided To Review The Miele CM 5510 Coffee Machine
I discovered the Miele CM 5510 at a recent poetry event at my local indie bookstore.
They unveiled it both to host the event and as a permanent fixture intended for customers looking to get stuck in and cozy.
When I gave it a whirl for the first time, I knew I just had to put it through its paces in a review.
Testing Conditions | |
|---|---|
Days Tested | 30 |
Cups Brewed Per Day | 2 |
Level Of Experience Needed | Beginners |
Reviewer Background | Home brewing enthusiast who started with a simple cafetiere collection and is on a journey to up their game. |
Environment Tested | Bookstore and home |
Money Saved Per Year | $2700 |
Favorite Drink To Brew | Latte macchiato and espresso |
What’s It Like To Live With The Miele CM 5510 Espresso Maker
What’s In The Box?
My Miele espresso machine arrived in a very sturdy box surrounded by molded foam inserts.
It was wrapped in clear plastic to prevent any scratches or other small damages in transit and felt very secure. Overall, very secure and similar to other coffee machines I have reviewed in the past.
The machine is quite large and weighs about 20 pounds, so I recommend asking a friend to help you unpack it.
Once I unwrapped it like a Christmas present, I got to setting it up.
Most automatic coffee makers are pretty easy to set up, with clear manuals and easy-to-read on-screen instructions, and this one was no different.
The instructions were clear, and the manual even gave a short definition of each coffee type for any newbies who are unsure what the difference is between a ristretto and an espresso.[2]
It also has proper cleaning instructions and a recommended schedule to follow so you do not slack in the maintenance department.
I gave everything a quick hand wash, including rinsing the milk pipe, before filling the tank and hopper and turning everything on.
Once I had set the language and followed the necessary instructions to input water hardness, I brewed 2-3 cups of test coffee as suggested in the manual.
This helps season the coffee and free it from any test grounds from the factory. Each of the test espressos I did came out bitter or gritty, so it was worth the time to do.
The accessories that came with the Miele 5510 coffee machine are:
Certain things I would expect at this price point cost extra on the Miele site, such as:
Pulling My First Espresso Shot
Making your first espresso with an automatic coffee maker is usually a simple process.
Super-automatics like the Miele 5510 typically require you to fill the water tank and bean hopper before getting started with a button touch.
The 1.3-liter water tank is considered a relatively small water reservoir when compared with other similar coffee machines.
This means that you will be refilling it more often than with other machines on the market.
The hopper holds about 200g, or 0.4 pounds, of coffee, which is also on the small side - I managed to fit most of one of my smaller bags of coffee beans into it.
The sensor buttons at either side of the display are pleasant to use and very responsive, but I get why some people prefer committing to a full touch screen or going for tactile buttons.
The touchscreen display is outdated in terms of design, but I do not put any real weight on that observation.
The small text display is approachable and easy to navigate, but I wish you could increase the font size.
There is no Bluetooth or app connectivity, which works well for me but may be a turn-off for more tech-savvy coffee fans.
The stainless steel conical burr grinder was both durable and very quiet, with five levels of grind adjustment. You adjust the grind by opening the large door on the right of the machine.
In this space, you will also find the removable brew unit as well as the milk tube storage spot.
It is easy to customize various elements with the Miele 5510’s specialty drink options, but I went with the default settings for the inaugural brew.
What I got was a beautiful and chocolatey espresso with a thick crema and full-bodied aroma. After the first few test brews, this was a welcome relief.
First Time Frothing Milk
The milk frothing system can seem intimidating to set up compared with other coffee machines with internal ones.
I felt this same concern when testing out the Jura ENA 8's similar milk frothing system for the first time. However, it is not as complex as it first seems.
You simply attach one end of the milk frother tube to the dispensing spout and sit the other end in a milk carton - I just popped mine straight in the carton.
This is not the fanciest-looking way, but those worried about style can get a fancy milk container for extra on the Miele site.
Miele’s manual recommends using cold cow’s milk that contains at least 3 percent fat for best results, but when I started frothing oat milk held up strong.
However, if you make your own plant-based milk at home, I would suggest straining it first before using the tube. This will help to avoid blockages.
There is a fair amount of customization you can do with the hot milk, but the default settings produce tasty and frothy cappuccinos and lattes that are close to coffee shop quality.
I also loved the adjustable height system, which sits between 3.1-5.3 inches, giving me plenty of cup clearance for my favorite mugs and coffee cups.
Overall, I love how creamy the froth has been on each caffe latte and latte macchiato I've made so far.
You can even customize the milk foam! I have not quite been able to get that perfect glossy finish, but I persevere.
It is possible to make two long coffee drinks simultaneously, but it may be a tight squeeze on the drip tray. I managed to make it work; it just requires a bit of care while setting up.
How Much Control Do You Have Over The Machine?
It turns out there is quite a bit of customization to be had with the Miele 5510 to elevate your coffee experience, including:
Unfortunately, there is no way to adjust milk foam temperature or milk temperature, which I hope will be remedied in future versions.
How Does It Handle Different Roasts?
I tried a range of different coffee beans with these OneTouch presents, and the 5510 handled them all like a champ.
There is even a ground coffee bypass doser for those looking for variety without dumping out the hopper. Every cup I have prepared has had good results regardless of roast or blend.
Honestly, this coffee machine can handle most roasts great. I recommend staying away from flavored or particularly oily blends to prevent gunking up your grinder.
I recommend using blends like Lavazza’s Super Crema Whole Bean Blend or Filicori’s Forte Arabic and Robusta Blend. No matter your taste preferences, this device has you covered.
Look, Feel, and Size Of The Machine
The Miele 5510 certainly knows how to make a good first impression.
It retains the modern minimalist style that Miele is renowned for all in one pleasing boxy shape.
There is a classy vibe to all four of the color options that I like. You can choose Obsidian Black, Tayberry Red, AluSilver Metallic, or Rose Gold Pearl. I chose the Rose Gold Pearl for myself!
I love that there are hidden compartments to contain and store all the elements and maintain the machine’s clean lines.
With dimensions of 9.5 x 18.1 x 14.2, this is one of the larger compact machines I have reviewed so far.
As well as clearance on top to remove the tank, you also need to leave room on the right-hand side to access the grind settings and milk frothing tube.
Be wary of how much counter space this heavy machine needs before purchase.
The water reservoir, hopper, and drip tray are also surprisingly small for a coffee machine of this size.
This means that you will need to frequently refill the reservoir and top up your beans. Some reviewers have wished for larger options.
Overall, I love the style of this machine as well as its sturdy construction, but I wish certain elements were larger to match its sheer size.
What Drinks Can It Make?
The drinks that the Miele CM 5510 makes are:
How Easy Is It To Use?
An automatic coffee machine like this one is designed with convenience and ease of use in mind.
Anybody from the most technically-minded pro barista to the newest coffee fan can use the 5510 with ease.
Both the manual and on-screen operating instructions are easy to read and use. You can easily find and adjust the one-touch presets and customize the quality of your coffee.
The trickiest part is getting to grips with the milk frother, but that comes with practice.
Overall, a very user-friendly experience no matter what your technical ability is.
How Long Does It Take? (From Heat Up To First Sip)
The Miele 5510 goes from heating up to finishing off that delicious crema in only a few minutes.
Automatic machines are pretty fast operators - you will be surprised at how fast the Miele will prepare your cappuccino.
Does It Have A Water Filtration System?
There is no water filtration system available with the Miele CM 5510.
This means that the water hardness setting on opening and using filtered water are both crucial to avoiding limescale buildup.
If you do choose to use filtered water over tap water, make sure to dip your water hardness strip in that water rather than your tap water. This avoids miscalculated maintenance alerts.
How Hard Is It To Clean and Descale?
The Miele 5510 coffee machine is as easy to clean and descale as other automatics thanks to its programmed alerts and clear on-screen instructions.
It goes leaps and bounds ahead by providing a cleaning and maintenance schedule and uses removable parts that can be put in the dishwasher.
Each automatic cleaning and descaling program takes about 15 minutes. You can also easily empty the drip tray and waste bin simultaneously as they pull out together.
One slightly annoying aspect is that Miele recommends only using Miele-branded cleaning and descaling products to avoid damaging your machine, which means homemade or cheaper brands won’t cut it here.
Parts that can be put in the dishwasher include:
Parts that are handwash only include:
Recommended Maintenance Schedule
Daily tasks:
Weekly tasks:
Monthly tasks:
Some elements, like descaling the appliance and degreasing the brew unit, are monitored by the machine. You will get an alert when cleaning or other maintenance tasks need doing.
If you have any issues, I recommend consulting the manual or checking if the issue can be covered by your two-year warranty via the customer service team.[3]
My Favorite Parts About The Miele CM 5510
My Least Favorite Parts About The Miele CM 5510
Miele CM 5510 Silence Vs Similar Machines
Miele CM 5510 Vs 5310
The Miele 5510 and 5310 share the sleek minimalist modern look that Miele is known for - in fact, they look almost identical.
They even share many features, including the OneTouch system and drinks menu. However, the 5310 is cheaper due to its lack of user-profiles and non-programmable hot water system.
Miele CM 5510 Vs Jura E8
How does the CM 5510 stack against the Jura E8?
The E8 is a machine available for a similar price point but brings a lot of vital features that the 5510 is missing.
You get app connectivity, up to 17 drink options, a water filter system, an intelligent preheating system, and a measuring spoon and filter with your purchase.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
You need at least a few inches of overhead clearance with your Miele CM 5510 - enough to pull out the water tank comfortably.
You will know when to descale your Miele CM 5510 as it will show an alert on the front panel screen.
There is no iced coffee button on this Miele coffee machine. However, I made plenty of iced coffees by adding ice to a tall glass and selecting the long coffee option.
Conclusion - Is The Miele CM 5510 Silence Worth Your Money?
If you want coffee that tastes great and is convenient to make, the Miele CM 5510 could be an excellent choice.
This is a great option for cappuccino fans and anyone who loves a chocolatey espresso. Just watch out for the regular emptying you will do with the small hopper, tank, and drip tray.
Miele CM 5510 Silence
Brew Quality
3.5
Build Quality
3.5
Ease Of Use
5.0
Overall Rating
4.0
References:
- https://www.miele.co.uk/e/countertop-coffee-machine-cm-5510-silence-rose-gold-pf-11525150-p
- https://media.miele.com/downloads/8f/ad/02_96106EC61D0B1EEDBFDDDEF6C55E8FAD.pdf
- https://media.miele.com/downloads/01/86/10_96106EC61D0B1EEDB58A2864E9840186.pdf
