Brewing on the Sanremo Cube: Performance, Pre-Infusion, and Perfect Milk
After unboxing the stunning Sanremo Cube rotary pump machine, the biggest question remains: how does it perform where it matters most—the cup?
Today, we're diving into the machine to make two distinct coffees: a long black and a milk-based drink. We'll share our experience, tips, and what makes the Cube a serious contender in the home espresso market.
Setting the Temperature: The Boiler is Key
Temperature is critical, especially when brewing different roast profiles. On the Cube, you control this through the single boiler temperature which affects both your brew water and your steam power.
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Adjustment: Access the temperature simply by pressing and holding the dial until 'SET' appears.
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Optimal Range: The boiler runs between (lowest) and (highest).
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Steam Pressure Correlation: Lowering the temp to will give you about 0.8 bar of steam pressure. Cranking it up to pushes the pressure up to around 1.5 bar.
From our testing, a boiler temperature of is optimum for espresso extraction, hitting that sweet spot of to at the group head—similar to commercial standards.
The Long Black: Hot Water and the Brewing Lever
To start our long black, we utilize the hot water tap. The unique two-way valve knob allows for a quick purge (to the right) or full flow (to the left).
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Gentle Flow: The water comes out quite delicately thanks to a nice distributor, which prevents the typical blast of heat you get from some machines. We really enjoyed this gentle, controlled flow.
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Ergonomics Check: The only small note is the limited leverage; a large mug may need to be tilted off the drip tray to fit under the spout.
Next, it's time to brew. We recommend using the standard Sanremo double basket with your preferred dose (we used 22.5 grams of our standard recipe).
A Note on the Timer & Pre-Infusion: The E61 lever system on the Cube is reversed (it lifts up to activate). Crucially, the shot timer starts the moment you activate the brew lever. If you stop it to engage a manual pre-infusion (midway lever position), the timer restarts when you start brewing again. You'll need to adapt your shot-timing logic accordingly!
Our double ristretto pulled at 20.8 seconds yielded a rich, well-extracted shot with excellent sweetness and bold colours.
Milk Magic: Steaming and Latte Art
For our milk-based coffee, we decided to show off the pre-infusion. After activating the brew for two seconds, we paused at the midway lever position for a few seconds before fully engaging the pump.
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The Result: This simple pre-infusion resulted in a beautiful, thicker, dark chocolate-style espresso—a fantastic foundation for a creamy latte.
Milk Frothing on the Cube
Using the setting gives you plenty of steam power. The steamer arm has a three-hole tip, delivering a bucketload of steam.
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Steaming Hack: The slight restriction on the steamer arm movement naturally encourages you to hold the jug on an angle. If you're learning, this is a great little "hack" as it forces the liquid to spin anti-clockwise, aiding in the creation of perfect, glossy milk.
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The Outcome: We achieved beautiful, glossy milk that steamed to a perfect without separating. The result was a creamy, rich taste—proof that the Cube's heat exchanger boiler delivers quality steam when set correctly.
Final Verdict: An Amazing Experience
From the extraction to the quality of the frothed milk, making coffee on the Sanremo Cube is an amazing experience.
The looks of the machine are certainly a conversation starter—it is simply beautiful and will look fantastic in any kitchen. The ability to achieve a sweet shot (especially with a touch of pre-infusion) and produce professional-quality milk makes this machine a top performer.
The Sanremo Cube brings commercial-level technology and extraction quality into the domestic space. And don't forget the plumbable rotary pump at this price point—that's a huge selling point.
