Miele’s Generation 7000 appliance collection includes a sophisticated line of coffee makers and programming to get the brew just right.

By Dianne M. Pogoda

Miele’s Generation 7000 line offers a broad array of sophisticated features and products, including convection, speed and Combi-Steam ovens. Another subset of the collection includes innovative built-in coffee systems, compatible with a mobile app that allows precise programming to customize the perfect beverage as well as control all smart products across the spectrum of Miele appliances.

Jared Costa, director of national sales and product training, said Miele was the first company to introduce a built-in coffee maker. He and John Hynek, senior manager for culinary product development, detailed the innovations of Miele’s Generation 7000 coffee makers that significantly improve the performance of the Generation 6000 models.

Some of its notable highlights include quieter operation than previous models, more drinks available, and a hot-water function for tea and “long black” and Americano coffees — a feature not previously available. The system features a pre-set steeping timer and precise water temperature for tea, which can also be adjusted to individual preferences.

Generation 7000 is easy to clean, with an auto-descaling and auto-cleaning program that eliminate the need for individual descaling tabs and cleaning tabs that were required for prior models. Once pre-loaded into the machine, the cleaning and descaling programs run automatically overnight.

Hynek described another feature, Miele’s Coffee Select, which has containers for three bean types.

“You can have regular beans in one container, espresso beans in another and decaf in the third,” he said. “This way, you can program directly from the machine to choose which beans you want to use in which drinks.”

Design-wise, the ContourLine — one of Miele’s four style families — includes a 30-inch coffee maker to complement other Miele stainless steel wall appliances, ranges, hoods and convection ovens. Employing “fleet design” means handles look the same across all product lines, Hynek noted. These can form cubes or stretch in a panorama configuration, where three appliances are lined up next to each other for a sleek look.

The executives touted Miele’s “learn one, learn them all” philosophy: Once consumers learn the M Touch control panel on one appliance, they know how to operate the others, because the interface and feature highlights are consistent across all products.

Smart technology is indeed a significant element in the Generation 7000 product line. Tricia Koslowski, manager of national sales and product training, talked about the Miele app and integrating all the categories, from Miele’s cooking appliances and coffee systems to refrigeration and wine storage, to dishwasher and laundry appliances. Using the app, the user can turn appliances on and off remotely, or activate the FoodView camera inside an oven to check on the doneness of food or how it’s browning, and adjust temperature or turn the oven off.

Miele’s Mix & Match feature also is remotely operable. This allows the user to select different food types to go into the oven together, and with precise cooking methods and timing, everything comes out at the same time as a finished meal.

Consumers can program their Coffee System to start at a certain time so coffee is ready in the morning; the app’s Barista Assistant lets the user make different coffee selections and give the app feedback, so it programs the appliance to satisfy personal preferences such as blend, flavor, intensity and temperature. The Barista Assistant also alerts the homeowner if the bean and water containers are filled, or if any part of the machine needs cleaning or supplies need replenishing.

The app will continue to be developed over time and will be updated as needed.

For more on Miele, check out K&B Month on nkba.org and visit Miele USA for information on the full Generation 7000 product line.