Planning the cabinet before the machine arrives
Built-in coffee machines are designed for a tall cabinet, often stacked with other built-ins in the same column, and a good built-in coffee system installation begins on the drawing. Every maker publishes a cutout drawing, and the cabinetmaker should work from the drawing for the exact model ordered, not from a similar one or from the old machine's opening.
The shelf the machine stands on carries more than the machine's weight; the machine is pulled forward on it whenever the tank or the beans are filled. Thermador lists its plumbed 24-inch model at 43 pounds without its transformer, which a thin, unsupported shelf can sag under over time.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Cutout height | 17 3/4 inches, plus up to 1/8 inch |
| Cutout width | 22 inches, plus up to 5/16 inch |
| Minimum depth, with transformer | 23 1/2 inches |
| Recommended installation height | 37 1/2 to 57 inches |
| Circuit | 120 V, 15 A |
Stacked above another built-in
Miele requires a full-width, closed shelf between its coffee system and any appliance built in below it. The shelf keeps heat rising from below away from the machine and keeps any water from the coffee system away from the appliance underneath.
A height everyone can reach
The cup platform, the tank and the bean hopper are used every day, so the machine belongs where the shortest regular user can see the display and lift the tank out without reaching overhead. Thermador's recommended window of 37 1/2 to 57 inches is a useful starting point for any make.
Source: Miele — CVA 6405 built-in coffee system, operating and installation instructions — Designed for a tall unit; full-width closed shelf above another appliance; air in at the plinth and out at the top rear, at least 31 sq in (200 cm²) and a 1 5/8 in gap behind; door open while in use; 6 ft cord, 120 V 15 A grounded plug, no extension cord, power bar, energy-saving plug or inverter; power off during installation; feet, side screws, sealing strips and hinge adjustment; 50 to 100°F; Thermador — TCM24PS 24-inch built-in coffee machine, plumbed: specification sheet — 43 lb without transformer; cutout 17 3/4 in (+1/8) by 22 in (+5/16); minimum depth 23 1/2 in with transformer; recommended installation height 37 1/2 to 57 in; 120 V, 15 A breaker, 39 in cord
Airflow: why a sealed cabinet ruins a coffee system
Heating water produces steam, and some of it condenses inside the machine and its door. Miele's installation chapter asks for air to enter through the plinth at the bottom and leave at the top at the rear of the cabinet, with at least 31 square inches of free opening at each point and a gap of at least 1 5/8 inches behind the machine.
The top opening can be a grille directly above the machine, a gap between the cabinet and the ceiling, or a route through a suspended ceiling. What does not work is a column closed tight to the ceiling with a solid back, which traps warm, damp air around the machine every morning.
- An opening in the plinth or toe kick for air to enter.
- A clear gap behind the machine for air to rise.
- An outlet at the top of the column: grille, ceiling gap or suspended ceiling.
- Openings kept clear of stored trays, towels and dust.
A cabinet door in front of the machine
Some kitchens hide the coffee system behind pocket or lift-up doors. Miele allows it only if the door stays open whenever the machine is in use and is closed only after the machine has cooled completely; otherwise heat and humidity can damage the machine and the cabinet.
Source: Miele — CVA 6405 built-in coffee system, operating and installation instructions — Designed for a tall unit; full-width closed shelf above another appliance; air in at the plinth and out at the top rear, at least 31 sq in (200 cm²) and a 1 5/8 in gap behind; door open while in use; 6 ft cord, 120 V 15 A grounded plug, no extension cord, power bar, energy-saving plug or inverter; power off during installation; feet, side screws, sealing strips and hinge adjustment; 50 to 100°F
Power: a grounded outlet the machine can reach
Miele's coffee system comes with a 6-foot cord and a standard grounded plug for a 120-volt, 15-amp supply, and forbids connection through an extension cord or a power bar. Thermador lists a 15-amp breaker and a 39-inch cord for its plumbed model, which is short enough that the outlet position has to be planned into the cabinet.
Bosch adds that its built-in must not run from a time switch or remote-control socket. Miele also rules out energy-saving plugs, inverters and direct solar or wind supplies, which it says can make the machine run hot or trip breakers. The outlet itself, and any new circuit, is an electrician's job.
Where the outlet should go
The best spot is one that can be reached from an adjacent cabinet or from below, so the machine can be unplugged without being taken out of its niche. An outlet directly behind the machine works electrically but turns every future disconnection into a job for the installer.
Source: Miele — CVA 6405 built-in coffee system, operating and installation instructions — Designed for a tall unit; full-width closed shelf above another appliance; air in at the plinth and out at the top rear, at least 31 sq in (200 cm²) and a 1 5/8 in gap behind; door open while in use; 6 ft cord, 120 V 15 A grounded plug, no extension cord, power bar, energy-saving plug or inverter; power off during installation; feet, side screws, sealing strips and hinge adjustment; 50 to 100°F; Thermador — TCM24PS 24-inch built-in coffee machine, plumbed: specification sheet — 43 lb without transformer; cutout 17 3/4 in (+1/8) by 22 in (+5/16); minimum depth 23 1/2 in with transformer; recommended installation height 37 1/2 to 57 in; 120 V, 15 A breaker, 39 in cord; Bosch — BCM8450UC built-in coffee machine, use and care manual — No time switch, remote-control socket or extension cord; protect against freezing; do not use above 6,560 ft
What the installer does on the day
The machine goes in with its power off, both during installation and whenever it is removed. On a Miele, the installer backs the four feet out slightly, connects the water line on plumbed models and then the power, and slides the machine in while making sure neither the cord nor the hose is crushed. The feet level it, and screws through the sides fix it to the cabinet.
For the front to sit flush, Miele calls for a seal around the niche or its sealing strips applied to the machine. Once the machine is fixed, the installer adjusts the door hinges so the front opens and closes smoothly and lines up with the cabinetry.
- Check the machine for visible damage before it goes in.
- Confirm the voltage and circuit on the data plate match the house supply.
- Route the cord and hose so they cannot be pinched.
- Level, center and fix the machine, then align the door.
Source: Miele — CVA 6405 built-in coffee system, operating and installation instructions — Designed for a tall unit; full-width closed shelf above another appliance; air in at the plinth and out at the top rear, at least 31 sq in (200 cm²) and a 1 5/8 in gap behind; door open while in use; 6 ft cord, 120 V 15 A grounded plug, no extension cord, power bar, energy-saving plug or inverter; power off during installation; feet, side screws, sealing strips and hinge adjustment; 50 to 100°F
The room around the coffee system
Miele sets an operating range of 50 to 100°F for the room. Bosch warns that its machine must be protected against freezing, which matters in a vacation home that is left unheated in winter, and it limits use to altitudes below 6,560 feet.
Direct sun on the front panel, a heat source beside the column or an unconditioned porch can all push the machine outside those limits. The kitchen itself, heated and cooled with the house, is where these machines are meant to live.
Source: Miele — CVA 6405 built-in coffee system, operating and installation instructions — Designed for a tall unit; full-width closed shelf above another appliance; air in at the plinth and out at the top rear, at least 31 sq in (200 cm²) and a 1 5/8 in gap behind; door open while in use; 6 ft cord, 120 V 15 A grounded plug, no extension cord, power bar, energy-saving plug or inverter; power off during installation; feet, side screws, sealing strips and hinge adjustment; 50 to 100°F; Bosch — BCM8450UC built-in coffee machine, use and care manual — No time switch, remote-control socket or extension cord; protect against freezing; do not use above 6,560 ft
