GRAEF review

Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026

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Our verdict

GRAEF suits buyers who want a grinder and a pour-over brewer alongside a portafilter espresso machine, and who care more about a spare parts shop than a low price. Expect to pay for it: entry pricing ranks 64 of 65 and the flagship ranks 59 of 63.

Key facts

Best for
Home brewers who want espresso, a grinder and pour-over from a single maker.
Reference models
Estessa ES1500, Batessa, Dicianova ES1100 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Entry price
£1,350 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Flagship price
£1,850 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Pump pressure (bar)
16 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Built-in grinder
No (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Milk system
Steam wand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Boiler type
Thermoblock (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Pod system
None (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Capacity (l)
2.5 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Power (W)
1,471 to 1,750 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Warranty
2 years (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Spare parts shop
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Markets
GB, GG, IM, JE (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Legal entity
Gebr. Graef GmbH & Co. KG (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Headquarters
Germany (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Support channels
Email (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Machine types
Espresso, Grinder, Pour over
Official website
graefshop.co.uk

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Machine types span espresso, grinder and pour over, so espresso, grinding and filter brewing sit under a single maker
  • Reference models Estessa ES1500, Batessa, Dicianova ES1100 give a clear step from a compact unit to a larger portafilter machine
  • A spare parts shop is listed, so parts stay available well past the 2 years warranty
  • Milk is handled by a steam wand and heating runs on a thermoblock, leaving texture and temperature under manual control

Cons

  • Entry price £1,350 ranks 64 of 65, which is high for a starter machine
  • Flagship price £1,850 ranks 59 of 63, so the top of the range is not cheap either
  • Grinder built in comes back as no, so a separate grinder from the espresso, grinder and pour over range is needed
  • Support runs on email only, so email is the single listed route for a fault

Ready to try GRAEF?

Scored 8.5 / 10 by SmartHomeCue.

See alternatives

Who it suits

  • Brewers who want a single maker covering espresso, grinding and pour-over
  • Houses set up for a portafilter workflow, since the steam wand takes some practice
  • Owners who keep machines for years and value a spare parts shop

Who should look elsewhere

  • Readers counting cost alone, since entry pricing ranks 64 of 65 and Philips or GASTROBACK sit elsewhere on the same list
  • Buyers wanting a built-in grinder in a single body, since grinder built in is no and Philips covers bean to cup and espresso
  • Capsule drinkers, because the pod system is none

How it compares on our data

GRAEF sits high on both price measures, and that shapes where it lands. On entry price it ranks 64 of 65, putting it among the costlier ways into espresso. On flagship price the picture is similar, at 59 of 63. In plain terms, the data points to a specialist maker priced above the bulk of the field rather than a volume seller. The ranking shows relative position, not build quality, so readers weighing what a machine includes may find a broader package here even as price alone favours the field at large.

Core features

Start with the detail that separates this range from a bean-to-cup machine: the grinder is not built in, so grinding happens on a separate unit. The reference espresso machine holds 2.5 litres of water, which should carry a home session without constant refills. Warranty runs 2 years on that machine, a sensible term for a countertop appliance expected to work daily. After that term, a spare parts shop is listed, which matters for anyone keeping a machine for years rather than replacing it whole. Buyers who want burrs and brewing in a single housing will not find that here.

Plans and prices

The range has a price at the bottom and another at the top, and the gap between them is modest. The entry machine costs £1,350 and the flagship portafilter machine costs £1,850, so moving up adds a relatively small step rather than a leap. Both are purchase prices rather than plans, so nothing recurs after the buy and there is no renewal fee to budget for. The wider context matters: entry pricing ranks 64 of 65 and flagship pricing ranks 59 of 63, so both ends sit high on cost. Readers buying purely on price should weigh the wider field first.

The company behind it

GRAEF is a German maker rather than a white-label reseller. The legal entity behind the brand is Gebr. Graef GmbH & Co. KG, and the headquarters country is DE, which points to a company with its own product development and its own name on the box. That matters for a countertop appliance, since the realistic fate is repair rather than disposal. After-sales runs through email, so direct contact is by email only, and the listed spare parts shop gives owners a second route to keep machines running. The markets served are GB, GG and IM, so buyers elsewhere should check delivery and warranty cover first.

How GRAEF compares

Where GRAEF is available

Available
Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, United Kingdom

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What does the cheapest GRAEF machine cost?+

The entry machine opens the range at £1,350. The flagship portafilter machine costs £1,850, so the step to the top of the range is relatively small. Both are purchase prices rather than plans, and neither recurs after the buy, so there is no renewal fee to budget for.

Does GRAEF make a machine with a built-in grinder?+

The grinder built in answer is no, which is why the range also covers espresso, grinder and pour over and includes a separate grinder. Buyers who want grinding and brewing in a single housing should look at a bean-to-cup machine such as Philips offers, given its bean to cup and espresso.

What espresso machines should I compare?+

The reference models are Estessa ES1500, Batessa, Dicianova ES1100. The reference portafilter machine runs a 16 bar pump, holds 2.5 litres of water and heats with a thermoblock. That tank size means a home session can run without refills partway through, and the pump sits in the middle of the field.

How is milk handled on the reference machine?+

Milk is handled by a steam wand, so texturing is manual and takes a short learning curve. The pod system is none, so the range stays with ground coffee and loose refills rather than capsules. That suits drinkers who like setting their own dose and grind.

Who do I contact for support?+

Support runs on email, so email is the only listed route and there is no phone line or live chat for a fault that needs quick sorting. A spare parts shop is listed, so parts remain available long after the buy, which eases repairs that would otherwise stall.

What warranty comes with a GRAEF machine?+

Warranty runs 2 years on the reference espresso machine, which covers the early stretch of daily use on a countertop appliance. Past that term a spare parts shop is listed, so owners can keep an older machine running rather than replacing it whole, and the range covers espresso, grinder and pour over as a replacement path.

Does GRAEF sell outside the UK?+

The listed markets are GB, GG and IM, so the range reaches beyond the UK as well as within it. The company behind the brand is Gebr. Graef GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Germany, so it is a manufacturer rather than a UK-only seller. Buyers outside the listed markets should check delivery and warranty cover before ordering.

Do GRAEF machines use capsules?+

The pod system is none, so there is no capsule refill line to track and the machines stay with ground coffee. If capsule convenience suits your routine better, the alternatives cover different formats, with bean to cup and espresso and espresso, drip and grinder both reaching beyond portafilter brewing.

Sources

Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.

GRAEF

Home brewers who want espresso, a grinder and pour-over from a single maker.

8.5/10See alternatives

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