We’re always excited to review the newest coffee makers on the market, and the Spinn Coffee Maker caught our attention. We’ve put this machine under the microscope and researched all the nitty-gritty details to bring you a balanced evaluation of this bean-to-cup Smart brewer.
If you like a quick and easy brew style but don’t want to sacrifice on flavor, the Spinn Coffee Maker Pro has a lot to offer. It currently has the corner on the market for machine’s high-tech, low-effort coffee machines. The Spinn Coffee Maker saves on capsule waste, brews automatically using centrifugal force, and cleans up after itself. You also get to enjoy the great-tasting result.
You can connect to the Spinn app to brew a regular cup of coffee, tasty espressos, “nitro” cold brews, and specialty drinks with the touch of a button. It is a worthwhile investment for coffee lovers who crave a fast and delicious cup of coffee to start the day.
This Smart machine costs more upfront than many single-serve machines. However, you can save money by brewing your favorite coffee shop drinks at home at a fraction of the price.
In our Spinn Coffee Maker review, we take a look at all the amenities this machine has to offer and then stack it next to the competition so you can see how it measures up.
Product summary: Reviewing the Pros and cons of the Spinn Coffee Maker
The Spinn Coffee Maker is an alternative to capsule coffee makers. It still makes a cup of coffee just as quickly, but it prevents unnecessary waste and has a high standard for flavor.
Even coffee snobs can appreciate the cold brews and espressos of this technologically savvy machine. However, if you prefer a hands-on approach or are a stickler for a traditional espresso, you may need to look elsewhere.
Here is a quick summary of the pros and cons of the Spinn Coffee Maker.
What we like
- Grinds coffee beans with a conical burr grinder
- Brews using centrifugal force for tastier espressos
- Creates a wide variety of specialty espresso drinks
- Wi-fi connectivity and remote start
- Self-rinsing cycle
- Plumbed water line capability (Spinn Pro only)
What we don’t like
- A limited amount of travel mugs fit under the drip.
- Not compatible with grounds, pods, or capsules
- Milk frother sold separately
Our Spinn Coffee Maker review: What does it do?
The Spinn Coffee Maker is rapidly becoming a popular machine among coffee lovers. We reviewed the Spin Original, Spin Plus, and Spin Pro Coffee Makers and found some top-of-the-line features they all share.
Integrated conical burr coffee bean grinder
The Spinn Coffee maker doesn’t settle for less when it comes to flavor. So, it won’t accept pre-ground coffee, capsules, or pods. Instead, the machine grinds your favorite coffee beans fresh with a top-of-the-line conical burr grinder.
You don’t have to keep track of the appropriate coarseness for each brew method with Spinn. Once you choose your drink type, the machine sets the grind size for your brew method accordingly. It uses burrs instead of blades so that the coffee grounds are uniform.
This smart grinder does its part to give you the best extraction every time.
Centrifugal brewing system
According to the Specialty Coffee Association, a machine must be capable of at least nine bars of pressure to create authentic espressos. While the Spinn doesn’t use traditional pressure, it does use centrifugal force to spin the coffee at 5,000 RPMs.
This high-speed extraction creates its own pressure, creating a full-bodied coffee with a crema layer on top of espressos. This unique brewing system makes exquisite cold brews as well. The extraction can deliver a smooth cold brew in minutes instead of hours. This type of high-speed extraction is also present in Nespresso machines.
Check out this Spinn video to see centrifugal brewing in action:
Wi-fi connectivity
The Spinn Coffee Maker takes a regular coffee-making routine next level. Like a Jetson-style robot, it brews a cup of coffee directly from an app. If you are not a morning person, you can start your coffee and hit the snooze button on your alarm until it’s ready.
Create a Spinn account to connect to your machine via an iPhone or Android. You can add several users so that each member of the household has access to the coffee machine.
The app keeps track of your coffee stock and sends reminders when the supply is running low. It also lets you search for coffee roasts and get recipe recommendations for your bean type.
Or, you can skip the app entirely and rely on the machine’s buttons to start your morning brew.
Brews regular coffee, espresso, ristretto, Americano, cold brew, and tea
One thing we love about the Spinn Coffee Maker is its versatility. You can brew regular coffee, espresso, “nitro” cold brew, or hot water. However, if you want to brew directly into your cup, be aware that many tall travel mugs won’t fit under the drip.
This brewer is designed to be compatible with a 4.5-inch carafe. To remedy the short distance between the base and the spigot, use a separate mug to brew shots and pour them into your favorite Yeti. Or, purchase a compatible Spinn Travel Mug (or a similar-sized cup).
Choose a bundle with the Spinn Milk Frother to create a wide range of specialty drinks.
Spinn Milk Frother (Sold separately)
The Spinn Coffee Maker includes a separate milk frother instead of an integrated milk wand. While we love when a coffee maker has everything you need on the machine, clean-up is easy with a separate frother. You can also store it when it’s not in use to regain more space on your kitchen counter.
This automatic milk frother can create hot milk foam for cappuccinos, steamed milk without the foam for lattes, and cold foam to top cold brews. Simply press a button for a deliciously creamy topping to your coffee drink. You can remove the milk container from the base for an easy pour.
Should I buy the Original Spinn Coffee Maker, the Spinn Plus, or the Spinn Pro?
The three coffee makers in the Spinn line are so similar it is hard to find differences at a glance. In our careful Spinn Coffee Maker review, we found that these three machines share many of the same traits with only a few subtle nuances.
The Spinn Original has the features listed in our review above. Besides bringing you all the premium features from the Original, the Spinn Plus also includes a carafe for brewing regular coffee drinks. However, the Spinn Pro tops both machines by including a coffee carafe and direct water line plumbing capabilities.
The 40-ounce water reservoir on the Original Spinn Coffee Maker is at the back of the machine and awkward to access. Since this machine self-rinses after each brew, it runs out of water quicker than other coffee makers.
The difference in price between the basic Original Spinn and the Spinn Pro is usually about $50. Depending on the deals you find on Amazon, you could even pay less to get more when you buy the Pro Spinn model.
Most customers find are willing to pay a few extra bucks for the convenience of a dedicated water line in the Spinn Pro. You never have to worry about running out of water in the middle of a brew cycle again.
How does the Spinn Coffee Maker compare to its competition?
Keurig and Nespresso have been in the at-home capsule coffee maker business for over twenty years. Close to half of the American population have a single-cup brewing system in their households.
The Spinn Coffee Maker is newer on the scene and has even more amenities to offer with a greater emphasis on taste. After reviewing the Spinn Coffee Maker, we compared it to two similar machines from competing brands: The Keurig K-Cafe and the Nespresso Vertuo.
The Spinn Coffee Maker vs the Keurig K-Cafe
Like the Spinn Coffee Maker, the Keurig K-Cafe Smart can make specialty drinks and coffee in record time. It is also a few hundred dollars cheaper. But how does it perform compared to the Spinn Coffee Maker? Let’s look briefly at their key features, and you can decide.
Brewing styles
The Keurig K-Cafe brews coffee and concentrated coffee “shots” so you can make lattes and cappuccinos using any K-cup. The 2-ounce and 4-ounce “shots” are brewed without bars of pressure or centrifugal technology. So, if you love to drink espressos with crema, this machine falls sadly short. However, the concentrated coffee base works fine for making lattes and cappuccinos.
The Keurig also includes a “brew over ice” setting. This setting brews the capsule using heat and then changes to cold water.
Grinder
Instead of fresh-ground coffee, the Keurig K-Cafe Smart uses pods for its brews.
Smart features
Like the Spinn Coffee Maker, the Keurig K-Cafe Smart is wi-fi compatible. Use the app to find drink recipe suggestions, order coffee, and brew remotely.
Milk Frother
You can create hot or cold frothy milk in the Keurig. However, Spinn goes one step further and allows you to steam milk without the froth.
Water reservoir
The Keurig K-Cafe Smart comes with a 60-ounce water tank.
Cleaning
The Spinn Coffee Maker rinses after each cycle. To clean a Keurig K-Cafe Smart, turn the machine off while you add a bottle of Keurig® Descaling Solution to the water tank. Then place a cup under the drip and run a large brew size. Make sure to rinse the water reservoir and add fresh water before you brew again.
Price
The Keurig K-Cafe has Smart features and a showerhead brewing system. Its price is a few hundred dollars cheaper on Amazon than the Spinn Coffee Maker. However, the flavor of the Spinn Coffee Maker’s espressos and coffee drinks is far superior.
The Spinn Coffee Maker VS. Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Machine Bundle
The Nespresso Vertuo Next has more similarities to the Spinn Coffee Maker than the Keurig. However, it also has its shortcomings. Which machine do you prefer?
Brewing styles
The Nespresso Vertuo Next is a compact machine that can brew espresso, double espresso, coffee, or an 18-ounce carafe. The coffee machine reads the capsules to brew the style of drink you want.
Like the Spinn Coffee Maker, this machine uses Centrifusion Technology to replicate the pressure of an espresso machine for a difference you can taste. But while the Spinn Coffee Maker can make a rich-tasting cold brew in minutes using a cold water cycle, the Nespresso Vertuo Next only brews hot.
Grinder
The Spinn Coffee Maker grinds coffee beans fresh and tailors the grind size to your brew method. In contrast, the Vertuo Next coffee maker is a capsule-based machine. To use your choice of coffee grounds in the Nespresso, you must purchase reusable capsules for the Vertuo. However, the flavor quality may suffer.
Smart features
The Nespresso Vertuo Next does not include Smart features.
Milk Frother
Neither the Spinn Coffee Maker nor the Vertuo Next includes an integrated milk frother unless you purchase a bundle. The Vertuo Next bundle includes an Aeroccino3 Milk Frother to create hot or cold milk froth. In addition to making hot or cold froth, the Spinn Milk Frother can make regular steamed milk when you remove the frothing coil.
Cleaning
The Spin Coffee Maker cleans itself automatically 15 minutes after your last brew. To clean a Vertuo Next, press the top button of your machine three times in succession and place a mug under the drip.
Water reservoir
The Spinn Coffee Maker comes with a 40-ounce water reservoir. If you buy the Spinn Pro edition, you can direct-plumb the water line, so you never have to refill your tank again. The Verturo Next comes with a 37-ounce tank.
Price
You can find a Vertuo Next bundle for significantly less than the Spinn Coffee Maker. According to BusinessInsider, the average cup of brewed coffee costs about 16 to 18 cents per cup, while Nespresso VertuoLine pods can range from 90 cents to $1.35 per serving. After one year, you may spend hundreds of dollars more on pods than if you use coffee beans. When you consider the long-term expenses, the cost difference may be negligible.
Is the Spinn Coffee Maker for you?
The Spinn Coffee Maker and Spinn Coffee Maker Pro are great options for making tasty coffee drinks as simply as possible. You can use your phone to automatically start your coffee while you start your day. Since it grinds whole beans fresh for each cup, this automatic brewer is preferable to many capsule coffee makers.
The steep price tag may be off-putting for some. However, you can save money in the long run by creating your favorite Starbucks drinks at home with the Spinn Coffee Maker.
Our verdict
If you enjoy delicious coffee and owning the latest gadgets in the industry, the Spinn Coffee Maker may be for you. This Smart brewer simplifies coffee-making so even laymen can become instant at-home baristas. Its sleek design attracts attention and can add a touch of class to your kitchen counter.
In our Spinn Coffee Maker review, we saw that this high-tech kitchen gadget can keep track of your coffee inventory, grind boutique brands of beans fresh, brew cups of coffee from anywhere, and leave the clean-up to the machine.
Once you try this high-performance machine, you could become a Spinn fan for life.
FAQs
If you want to brew a stronger-tasting cup of coffee or espresso in your Spinn Coffee Maker Pro, you can change the brewing parameters in the menu. To do this, go into the Spinn app, select your drink, and choose the “Customize” button. Then adjust the sliders to a stronger flavor option. With Spinn, you can have a cup of coffee your way.
A Spinn Coffee Maker automatically adjusts the brew temperature to match your drink choice. For most drinks, it brews at approximately 203 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature falls within the Specialty Coffee Association’s “Golden Cup Standard” for the perfect extraction.
