Arkel Coast espresso machine

Arkel Coast – Dual Boiler Espresso Machine with Flow Control from Porto

Early in the morning you press the buttons at the bottom right of the Arkel, and both boilers start heating – separate and electronically controlled, one for brew water, one for steam. The display shows the heat-up progress. Within a few minutes, the brew boiler and steam boiler are at their target temperatures – 93°C at the puck by default, configurable on the touchscreen. You lock the portafilter into the electrically heated saturated group. You tap the tempered-glass display up front. The touch controls respond. The shot runs evenly through the bottomless spout. The crema settles, golden-brown, dense. In parallel, you froth milk on the steam wand – the 1-litre steam boiler has its own reserves, and pressure stability holds up even over several cycles.

The Arkel Coast is a dual boiler espresso machine designed in Porto, Portugal and built by hand. Over 95 percent of the components come from Europe – a deliberate choice by Arkel for local manufacturing and traceable supply chains. Every part that touches the water circuit (both boilers, lines, brew group) is stainless steel rather than copper or brass. That's less romance and more an engineering decision: stainless steel doesn't oxidise, doesn't add metallic notes, and is easier to maintain in the long run. Coffee Coaching Club is the partner of Arkel in Switzerland.

Dual boiler and electrically heated saturated group

Many home machines in this price segment use E61 group heads – heavy metal heads that hot water circulates through until the thermal mass stabilises. That works well, but it takes time (typically 20 to 30 minutes) and stays shaped by water travelling through long lines even afterward.

The Coast uses an electrically heated saturated group – the group is connected directly to the brew boiler and actively held at target temperature. No temperature loss through long lines, no "flushing empty" needed. Arkel officially states a heat-up time of under 12 minutes – which matches the independent lab test by Kaffeemacher, which found the Coast at full thermal stability after around 12 minutes. For home baristas that means: the machine can be switched on while you grind beans, and it's ready by the time you need it. In our roastery we observe that saturated groups deliver a more refined aroma profile than E61 – regardless of the heating system. Others see it differently, and that's fine. Our opinion is one of many.

Flow Control as standard

On the side of the Coast sits a control valve (Flow Control Paddle) that lets you manually regulate water flow during extraction. This is pressure profiling in its most direct form: if you want, you can start the extraction, turn the flow down for a gentle pre-infusion, then open it up to full pressure. If you don't want to, leave the paddle open – then the Coast behaves like a classic 9-bar machine.

On many comparable machines, Flow Control is an optional add-on kit. On the Coast, it's standard. That's interesting for anyone who wants to experiment without having to invest in accessories first – and for anyone who never uses the feature, it simply stays out of the way.

Two independent pumps, separate boiler control

The Coast uses two separate pumps – one for the brew circuit, one for the steam boiler. Both boilers are independently electronically controlled and can be switched on and off individually. If you only drink espresso without milk, you can deactivate the steam boiler and save energy. If you're hosting guests, switch both on and you have full steam reserves for several cappuccinos in a row. Pump pressure is adjustable via an OPV next to the water tank – factory set to 9 bar, adjustable up to a maximum of 15 bar if needed.

For continuous café use, a rotary pump would be the stronger choice – but in a home setup or office use with several drinks a day, the Coast's pump setup is entirely sufficient, and quieter than many expect.

Hot water wand, steam wand, integrated Brita filter

Alongside the steam wand, the Coast has a separate hot water outlet. The water comes straight from the brew boiler – so at coffee-water temperature – and works for Americano, tea, or pre-warming the cup. The programmable Americano dosing runs on time: set it once, and it's reproducible every time.

The 2.5-litre water tank is removable and has an integrated Brita filter that controls water hardness. The automatic descaling program uses the built-in drainage system, which fully drains both boilers – descaling without disassembly, a detail Kaffeemacher explicitly praised in its test.

At a glance

Who the Arkel Coast is for

The Coast suits home baristas who want a full-fledged dual boiler but can't get on board with the long heat-up times of classic E61 machines. If you don't have twenty minutes of lead time in the morning, the Coast gives you a serious dual boiler alternative. If you also value Flow Control as standard, and stainless steel in the water circuit instead of copper, you'll find the Coast a consistently built machine.

The Coast isn't for everyone. If you love classic Italian E61 aesthetics and feel, you'll find a richer selection at ECM, Profitec or Rocket Espresso. If you're after the iconic Linea look: La Marzocco Linea Mini R. If you want a more compact dual boiler alternative: La Marzocco Linea Micra. If you want the Arkel philosophy with a rotary pump and direct water connection: the Arkel Tide is the bigger sibling.

The Coast isn't the flagship – it's the machine that makes the Arkel idea accessible: stainless steel construction, European manufacturing, Flow Control from the factory. If you want it, you know why.

Order directly online

The Arkel Coast can be ordered directly from the webshop. Delivery throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein in 2 to 4 business days. For a machine of this size, we recommend Click and Collect in Bern, Gerberngasse 44 or Zurich, Hagenholzstrasse 50b. In the showroom, the Coast is in daily use – Flow Control, the touch controls and the saturated group are best experienced firsthand. An introductory course is included with purchase – around 60 minutes, during which we go through extraction philosophy together and build your personal espresso ritual, which afterwards takes around 5 minutes. Financing available via Heylight.

For questions about getting started with Flow-Control, comparing it to the Linea Micra or Mini R, or the difference between Coast and Tide: office@coffeecoachingclub.ch or by phone during business hours.

What goes with it

The Coast reaches its potential with a grinder that delivers precise, consistent grounds. Natural pairings: Varia VS3 Gen 2 or VS6 (importer) as the affordable choice, Weber Workshops EG-1 or Option-O Lagom P80 as flagship grinders. For hopper workflows with Grind-by-Weight: Mahlkönig E64 WS.

For consistent weight measurement at the spout and flow-rate analysis: Acaia Lunar. Affordable alternative: Normcore scale. For puck prep: Normcore WDT and tamper or Weber Workshops Moonraker and Really Nice Tamper. For precise coffee water – important with a stainless steel machine: Apax Labs mineral concentrates. For airtight bean storage: Airscape. Background on group head types and extraction in our Sensorik World and in our E61 vs. saturated groups tech check.

Frequently asked questions

How does the Coast differ from E61 machines?

E61 machines (ECM, Rocket, Profitec) use a heavy metal group head that hot water circulates through. That takes 15 to 20 minutes to heat up, but delivers a distinctive feel and look. The Coast uses an electrically heated saturated group – connected directly to the boiler, ready significantly faster, with constant temperature from the first shot on. Both approaches have their place – the Coast is the more pragmatic choice, E61 the more traditional one.

How does the Flow Control Paddle work?

A control valve on the side of the machine manually regulates water flow during extraction. Leave it open and you get classic 9-bar extraction. If you want to ease into the extraction (pre-infusion), turn the paddle slightly closed at the start and open it fully after a few seconds. This allows pressure profiling without extra hardware – especially useful for experimenting with different roast profiles.

Why stainless steel in the water circuit instead of copper?

Traditionally, boilers and lines are made from copper or brass – good conductors, easy to work with. Arkel chose stainless steel instead: it doesn't oxidise, doesn't release metallic components into the brew water, and is less demanding in long-term maintenance. Modern copper boilers are safe too, but this stainless steel approach is more consistent from a hygiene and sustainability standpoint.

Can I switch off the steam boiler?

Yes. Two switches on the side of the machine let you switch the brew and steam boilers on and off individually. If you only drink espresso, you save energy by switching off the steam boiler. If you're hosting guests, switch both on.

What's the Coast's actual heat-up time?

Arkel's official figure: under 12 minutes. Kaffeemacher's lab test also measured around 12 minutes to full thermal stability of both boilers. For comparison: classic E61 machines need 15 to 20 minutes. You notice the difference in the cup.

Is the Coast loud?

Switching it on in the morning without waking anyone is entirely possible. For absolutely silent operation, a rotary pump (like in the Arkel Tide or La Marzocco Linea Mini R) would be the more uncompromising choice.

How is the Coast descaled?

Arkel has built in a full drainage system: both boilers can be fully drained, and descaling runs without disassembly. That's not the case with most espresso machines – there, the boiler usually has to be opened, or descaling residue stays in the circuit. On the Coast, self-descaling is straightforward.

Can I see the Arkel Coast before buying?

Yes. The Coast is on display in the showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zurich Oerlikon (Hagenholzstrasse 50b). Flow Control, the touch controls and the saturated group can't be conveyed through photos. Bringing your own beans is welcome.

Can I connect the Coast to a direct water line?

The Coast works by default with the integrated 2.5-litre water tank. A direct water connection isn't provided for. For continuous use or café setups, the larger Arkel Tide would be the better choice.

How fast is the Coast delivered in Switzerland?

2 to 4 business days throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein. Click and Collect in Bern and Zurich recommended for a machine of this weight and price class. Free shipping from CHF 60. Financing available via Heylight.

Where can I buy the Arkel Coast in Switzerland?

At Coffee Coaching Club, partner of Arkel. Via coffeecoachingclub.ch, by phone during business hours, or in the showrooms in Bern and Zurich.