Meraki Gen 2: What Changed in the Espresso Machine
Meraki Gen 2 keeps the proven foundation of dual boilers, a rotary pump, and integrated scales, then refines the system with four specific changes: a wider 45-step grind range, E61-style 58 mm portafilter compatibility, a redesigned shower screen, and a multi-language interface. The message is consistency first, refinement second. This page is the Gen 2 changelog, what each change does, and what stayed the same.
The Gen 2 Philosophy
Gen 2 deliberately preserves the thermal architecture that made the original machine consistent: compact footprint, superior thermal isolation, and independent PID control for both boilers. The changes are refinements around that foundation, expanding flexibility without sacrificing stability. If the original was about proving the integrated concept, Gen 2 is about making it more adaptable.
That philosophy explains what changed and what did not. The boilers, pump, and scales are the same proven core; the grinder range, portafilter compatibility, shower screen, and interface are the refinements.
Change One: The 45-Step Grind Range
The grind range expanded to 45 discrete settings, with ten additional coarse steps and five finer steps. The wider range makes it easier to adjust for different roast styles, from high-density light roasts to classic dark roasts, without the settings feeling coarse.
The practical effect is dialing-in headroom. A light roast that needed a finer setting than the original offered now has room, and a very dark roast that sat at the coarse edge has space too. One step changes the shot by a small amount, which is what precise dialing in requires.
| Grind range change | What it enables |
|---|---|
| 45 settings total | Fine adjustment across roasts |
| +10 coarse steps | Dark roasts and wider range |
| +5 fine steps | High-density light roasts |
Change Two: E61-Style Portafilter Compatibility
The brew group now supports standard 58 mm E61-style portafilters through a split-rail structure, opening the door to third-party baskets and tools. The 58 mm E61 standard is the common prosumer format, so familiar baskets, tampers, and accessories can be used.
The included portafilter and 18 g basket cover daily use out of the box, but the compatibility matters for flexibility: users who own E61-style tools or want to experiment with different baskets can do so. The split-rail structure is the engineering that makes the standard fit the compact group.
Change Three: The Redesigned Shower Screen
The redesigned two-stage shower screen distributes flow more evenly across the coffee bed. The shower screen is the last surface water passes before the coffee, and even distribution means a more uniform extraction, with less channeling and better clarity.
The two-stage design improves the flow pattern without changing the thermal architecture. For the user, the effect is subtle but consistent: shots that extract evenly and taste cleaner, especially with lighter roasts that are sensitive to distribution.
Change Four: The Multi-Language Interface
The operating system gained a broader localized interface, making precision settings accessible in the user's language. The interface supports 11 languages, which matters for households where English is not the default and for regions where the machine serves multiple users.
The multi-language interface is part of Gen 2's refinement of accessibility: the measurement and guidance are only useful if the user can read them. Localizing the settings makes the precision workflow available to more people.
What Stayed the Same
The thermal core is unchanged: a 350 ml brew boiler and a 550 ml steam boiler with independent PID control, a rotary pump at 9 bar, a heated group, and the dual scales with 0.2 g accuracy. The 370 x 370 x 415 mm footprint and 14.5 kg weight are the same, and the milk temperature feedback remains part of the workflow.
Keeping the core stable is the point of Gen 2. The refinements expand what the machine can do, while the thermal architecture protects what made it consistent. That is the definition of a second generation done right.
Should Gen 2 Matter to You?
Gen 2's changes matter most to users who drink a wide range of roasts, own E61-style tools, or want the interface in their language. For a household that drinks one bean daily with the included accessories, the original and Gen 2 perform the same in daily use. The refinements are flexibility, not a new machine.
The Gen 2 Spec Sheet
The Gen 2 spec sheet is the same as the original with the refinements noted: 370 x 370 x 415 mm, 14.5 kg, 1600 W, a rotary pump at 9 bar, a 2000 ml tank, a 650 ml drip tray, 350 ml and 550 ml boilers, 1 kg scales with 0.2 g accuracy, and 11 interface languages. The differences are the 45-step grind, the E61-style portafilter, the shower screen, and the localized interface.
The spec sheet matters because it shows what Gen 2 is: the same proven system with a more flexible edge. Buyers comparing generations should weigh the four refinements against the unchanged core, not expect a different machine.
Buying the Right Generation
If you are buying new, Gen 2 is the current version and includes the refinements at the same $1,799 price, with the 30-day trial and 2-year warranty. The question of generation matters most for owners of the original deciding whether to upgrade, and the answer is usually no: the core is unchanged, and the refinements are flexibility, not capability.
For a new buyer, Gen 2's E61-style compatibility and wider grind range are simply part of the package, and they make the machine more adaptable to different roasts and tools. The trial covers the same terms regardless of generation.
Gen 2 and Different Roasts
The expanded grind range is the Gen 2 change most users will notice. High-density light roasts, which need a fine grind and precise adjustment, now have headroom at the fine edge, and very dark roasts have room at the coarse edge. The 45 steps make one-step adjustments small enough for dialing in either direction.
The redesigned shower screen compounds the benefit: even water distribution helps the lighter roasts that the finer grind enables. For a household that rotates roasts, Gen 2 is a more forgiving dialing-in experience than the original.
Gen 2 and the Accessory Ecosystem
The E61-style portafilter compatibility connects Gen 2 to the broader prosumer accessory ecosystem. Standard 58 mm baskets, tampers, and distribution tools can be used, which matters for users who already own E61-style equipment or want to experiment with different basket geometries. The included portafilter and 18 g basket cover daily use, and the ecosystem is the flexibility layer.
The compatibility is also a practical signal: the machine is built to the standard that serious home espresso uses, not a proprietary format. For buyers, that reduces the risk of being locked into a single vendor's accessories.
The Gen 2 Upgrade Question
For owners of the original, the upgrade question is whether the four refinements justify a new machine. The honest answer for most is no: the thermal core is unchanged, and the refinements add flexibility rather than capability. The 45-step range and E61 compatibility matter most to users who rotate roasts or own standard tools, and those users can weigh the upgrade against the value.
For new buyers, the question does not arise: Gen 2 is the current version at the same price, with the refinements included. The decision is between the integrated Meraki system and a modular setup, not between generations.
The Trial and Warranty
Gen 2 ships with the same protections as the original: a 30-day home trial, a 2-year warranty with local authorized service, and covered repair shipping. The trial is the honest test of the refinements in your routine, and the warranty covers the proven core.
The protections matter for a premium purchase, and they apply to the whole system, including the grinder, scales, and boilers. For a first serious machine, the trial and warranty are part of the value.
The Bottom Line
Meraki Gen 2 refines the integrated system with a 45-step grind range, E61-style 58 mm portafilter compatibility, a redesigned shower screen, and an 11-language interface, while preserving the thermal architecture that made the original consistent. The changes expand flexibility without sacrificing stability. If you drink varied roasts, use standard portafilter tools, or need the interface in your language, Gen 2's refinements matter; the core system is unchanged and proven.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is new in Gen 2?
Four refinements: a 45-step grind range, E61-style 58 mm portafilter compatibility, a redesigned two-stage shower screen, and an 11-language interface. The thermal core is unchanged.
Does Gen 2 change the espresso quality?
The core hardware is the same, so the stability is unchanged. The refinements add flexibility: more grind range, standard tool compatibility, and more even water distribution.
Can I use third-party baskets with Gen 2?
Yes. The split-rail group supports standard 58 mm E61-style portafilters, so familiar baskets and tools can be used.
How many grind settings does Gen 2 have?
45 settings, with ten additional coarse steps and five finer steps compared with the original, extending the range in both directions.
Is Gen 2 the same size as the original?
Yes. The footprint is 370 x 370 x 415 mm and the weight is 14.5 kg, with the same compact thermal architecture.