Is it worth the hours we spent trying to perfect it?

The Calphalon Temp iQ Espresso Machine with Grinder is one of several espresso machines with built-in grinders that the BestReviews Testing Lab analyzed. Compared to the others we tested, the Calphalon performed poorly in almost every aspect. For example, we spent nearly two hours pulling shots of espresso and only managed to get one semi-decent shot out of it. We also couldn’t repeat the result despite using the same settings.

A true espresso expert could likely master this machine with enough time and fiddling. But almost every other machine we tested, including several that cost the same or less, delivered superior espresso with a fraction of the effort. Unless you love a challenge, we suggest you buy something else.

What is the Calphalon Temp iQ Espresso Machine with Grinder?

The bottom tray slides out for easy cleaning and accessory storage.

The Calphalon Temp iQ Espresso Machine with Grinder is positioned as a high-end machine made for espresso experts. With it, you can adjust key settings such as water temperature or shot volume to pull the finest espresso possible. While we may not have the highest level of coffee expertise, we certainly have plenty of experience with coffee and espresso machines and were surprised by how much we struggled to pull any shot worth drinking — an issue we didn’t encounter with most other machines we tested.

It has a milk-frothing steam wand so you can make essentially any espresso-related drink without extra appliances. However, the wand is difficult to move and can only be positioned in so many angles, all of which were awkward or uncomfortable to use in conjunction with the milk jug. Worse, we found it could never froth or texturize our milk to where it needed to be. Instead, every drink was too milky, no matter how little milk we used to avoid that result.

The built-in grinder was a bright spot for this otherwise troubled machine. We found it easy to adjust between its superb 30 grind size settings and found each setting to be perfectly consistent with every grind. However, it didn’t take long for it to start grinding out clumps of beans instead of a nice, fine powder. A quick clean fixed this, but you can expect to clean it more frequently than other built-in grinders we tested. 

Additionally, the grinding basket is fragile; you have to push down on it with the portafilter to trigger the grinder, with the beans falling directly into the portafilter. Too much pressure, though, and the portafilter flys out. We had this happen twice and became nervous every time we used it.

Pros

• The built-in grinder is easy to adjust and grinds well.
• The control scheme is simple to understand and easy to use.
• You can customize settings such as shot volumes and extraction temperatures.
• The removable reservoir makes it easy to fill and clean. 

Cons

• It is extremely finicky; only highly experienced espresso pullers should attempt to use it.
• The steam wand performs poorly, leading to consistently milky drinks without much foam or texture.
• Beans start grinding in clumps quickly; you need to clean it frequently to avoid this.

Features

As a high-end espresso machine, the Calphalon Temp iQ with Grinder has several enviable features.

Thermoblock heating system

Coffee machines, espresso or otherwise, normally need a few minutes to warm up once you turn them on. Thanks to the Calphalon’s thermoblock heating system, it’s ready to go in a minute or less.

Proportional Integral Derivative temperature control

PID temperature control assists the thermoblock heating system by adjusting it if it gets outside of the proper temperature range. This ensures that every shot of espresso you extract uses the same temperature, maintaining the espresso’s quality.

Reservoir 

The Calphalon has a huge reservoir of nearly 95 ounces. Most of the espresso machines we tested in the Calphalon’s price range had reservoirs in the 60-ounce range. Better, the reservoir can be lifted off the back of the machine. This makes it easy to refill it in the sink or to give it a good cleaning. It also has a hinged lid.

Easy cup heating

Making espresso is a multistep, deeply engaging process. At least, it is if you want the best possible result. One of these steps that may seem superfluous is to heat your cup before you extract espresso into it. This does two things: It prevents the espresso from cooling too quickly, and it’s believed to make the crema a little bit better.

The Calphalon gives you two ways to make this happen. First, the top of the machine features a warming tray that you place your cup upside down on to heat up while you’re preparing the rest of your espresso. Secondly, you can use the steam wand to jet some hot water into your cup. You can also use this jet of water to make Americanos or other drinks that add hot water to espresso.

Cleaning reminders

Cleaning and maintaining an espresso machine is all part of owning one. Normally, you’d have to set a cleaning schedule or carefully examine the machine after every use to see if it’s time for a good scrub. The Calphalon makes this easier by including two cleaning reminders.

The first reminder is a light on the control panel. This illuminates when the interior needs cleaning, such as if hard water has started to cause scaling. The second reminder is a little plastic piece in the bottom of the machine. When too much wastewater collects in the bottom, it floats up to tell you it’s time to empty it.

Accessories

The Calphalon comes with the following accessories you need to make your favorite drinks and keep everything clean. 

• Stainless steel milk pitcher
• Tamper
• Cleaning disc, pin and brush
• Single- and double-shot single-wall filters
• Single- and double-shot double-wall filters

How we tested

Be gentle when pushing the portafilter into the grinder cup to avoid damage.

We focused on three aspects during testing.
 

• Espresso quality: This was a simple test of how good of a shot of espresso the machine could make. We attempted to make dozens of shots for nearly two hours, but most of them turned out either over- or underextracted with some of them not extracting at all. We were only able to extract a single, mediocre shot. Our next attempt after this shot used the same settings but the result was once again poorly extracted, and we did not manage to pull another complete shot.
• Steam wand performance: Testing the steam wand involved making multiple cups of frothed milk. We thought the steam wand was resistant to being moved and didn’t come out especially far, forcing us to hold the milk pitcher at an uncomfortable angle. Additionally, we found we could never get the milk to be sufficiently frothy. Cutting down on the amount of milk and increasing the frothing time still resulted in more milky cups rather than nice frothy ones.
• Grinder performance: We used the built-in grinder for every shot of espresso we tested. We found it easy to adjust the grind size, though it does take a little force to spin it, and the results were always excellent. The only downside was that it didn’t take long for the beans to start coming out in clumps instead of a fine powder. Quickly cleaning the grinder resolved this issue.

We also compared its cleaning and maintenance requirements, plus its general ease of use, against other espresso machines we tested or have personally used.

Price and where to buy

The Calphalon Temp iQ Espresso Machine with Grinder retails for $799.99. You can find it on Amazon.

How to use the Calphalon Temp iQ Espresso Machine with Grinder

The top is warm to heat up cups, so don’t put anything else up there.

Using the Calphalon to make espresso follows all the same steps as any machine with a built-in grinder.

1. Make sure the water reservoir and bean hopper are full, or at least have enough for your upcoming shot, and press the power button to start the heating process. That takes about a minute.
2. Prepare your cup by placing it upside down on the warming tray, or fill it with hot water from the steam wand and let it sit for 30 seconds. 
3. Prepare the portafilter by inserting the appropriate filter, running hot water over it to warm it, then dry it.
4. Prepare the beans by grinding them directly into the portafilter with the grinding cradle. Tamp them, wipe off any extra grounds and insert the portafilter into the group head.
5. Place your cup under the group head and press the one- or two-shot espresso buttons to start extracting. Wait for it to finish and enjoy.

How does it compare to other espresso machines we tested?

Putting aside, for now, all the frustrations we had with it, the Calphalon Temp iQ with Grinder is pretty similar to the other espresso machines with built-in grinders we tested. It has the same general design, includes most of the same accessories and follows the usual steps for making espresso.

But then we come back to all its issues. These were the same issues we had with cheaper espresso machines, not with similarly priced models. To put it another way, we would have been happy to use most of the machines we tested in our own lives. This one we were happy to put back in the box.

Should you get one?

Overall, the testing team found the Calphalon Temp iQ with Grinder too challenging to use.

No. We struggled with almost every piece of this espresso machine at every step of the espresso-making journey — more so than almost every other espresso machine we tested. Worse, we tested machines that cost the same or less that were easier to use and delivered superior espresso shots and frothed milk. We can think of no situation where we would recommend this product.