The Meraki Espresso Gen 2 is the 2026 update to Meraki’s original all-in-one home espresso machine. Gen 1 launched in 2024 with dual boilers, a rotary pump, a built-in grinder, dual scales, and a touchscreen workflow. Gen 2 opened for pre-order around March 20, 2026, and began reaching customers shortly after, usually priced near $1,799 in the U.S. The new model keeps that same core platform. It does not replace the heating, pumping, or weighing system that defined the first machine.
The first major change is the grinder. Gen 1 used a stepless adjustment with 30 reference points. That range was serviceable for espresso, but it ran out of room with very light or very dark roasts. Gen 2 expands the mechanism to 45 steps by adding 10 coarser settings and 5 finer ones. That extra range is the upgrade most reviewers notice when they switch beans often.
The brew group is the second hardware change. Gen 1 used a proprietary portafilter that limited owners to Meraki’s own handle and baskets. Gen 2 uses a split-rail group that accepts standard 58 mm E61-style portafilters. That opens up aftermarket baskets, bottomless handles, and common accessories. Meraki also redesigned the shower screen with a two-stage water-distribution system to wet the puck more evenly. These parts are not interchangeable. A Gen 1 portafilter will not lock into a Gen 2 machine.
Software is the quieter update. Gen 2 ships with a multilingual interface in nine languages, plus refinements such as better memory after a power loss and small PID tweaks. Many of those firmware changes have also been sent to Gen 1 over Wi-Fi. That is why Gen 2 is best understood as a compatibility and grind-range revision, not a brand-new machine. If you already own Gen 1, the original still has the same boilers, pump, and scales. If you are buying new, Gen 2 is the current model.
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The first major change is the grinder. Gen 1 used a stepless adjustment with 30 reference points. That range was serviceable for espresso, but it ran out of room with very light or very dark roasts. Gen 2 expands the mechanism to 45 steps by adding 10 coarser settings and 5 finer ones. That extra range is the upgrade most reviewers notice when they switch beans often.
The brew group is the second hardware change. Gen 1 used a proprietary portafilter that limited owners to Meraki’s own handle and baskets. Gen 2 uses a split-rail group that accepts standard 58 mm E61-style portafilters. That opens up aftermarket baskets, bottomless handles, and common accessories. Meraki also redesigned the shower screen with a two-stage water-distribution system to wet the puck more evenly. These parts are not interchangeable. A Gen 1 portafilter will not lock into a Gen 2 machine.
Software is the quieter update. Gen 2 ships with a multilingual interface in nine languages, plus refinements such as better memory after a power loss and small PID tweaks. Many of those firmware changes have also been sent to Gen 1 over Wi-Fi. That is why Gen 2 is best understood as a compatibility and grind-range revision, not a brand-new machine. If you already own Gen 1, the original still has the same boilers, pump, and scales. If you are buying new, Gen 2 is the current model.
Discuss below...