How to Choose the Best Coffee Machine

There's a lot of technological excellence behind this machine, which is able to precisely regulate the temperature of water and evenly distribute it across ground coffee beans in the filter basket. This ekes out more flavour than the cheaper alternatives.

Unlike semiautomatic machines, which require you to fill the portafilter manually and decide when to stop pulling, this fully automated machine does everything for you.

Filter coffee machines

A filter coffee machine makes filter coffee by passing hot filtrated water through coffee grounds. The grounds absorb the water and release flavor compounds, which are then infused into the cup of coffee. They come in a range of sizes, ranging from three to 13 cups, and come with a range of features.

A couple of models we tried have insulated jugs to help keep your brew warm without the need for an energy-hungry hotplate, and others come with a timer that can be programmed for 24 hours so you can set it up the night before and awake to a jug of coffee waiting to drink. Other helpful features include a permanent, reusable filter that reduces paper waste and the ability to see the water tank and allow you to easily gauge the amount of water left.

Some filter coffee makers are small enough to sit on the countertop of a small kitchen, while others are larger. Some also have a water tank that can be removed for easier refilling and cleaning and cleaning, while others have fixed tanks that could restrict where you can put yours.

If you want a filter coffee machine with added functions, pick one with a grinder integrated. This allows you to grind fresh coffee beans at your own pace and then disperse the ground beans directly into the basket. Certain models come with this feature as an alternative. There are also models that use pre-ground beans, too.

We recommend a model that can handle a greater capacity for those who wish to make several cups at a time. We've tested a range of filter coffee makers that come with this feature and discovered that the Melitta Look V Timer is one of the best at making great filter coffee at a reasonable price. It's extremely easy to set up and use, has an impressive number of user reviews, as well as many helpful tips and guides and is extremely robust and reliable.

Espresso machines

Taking a page from the manual coffee makers that are used in cafes espresso machines can be used to create a range of special drinks at the click of a button. They require a bit more effort to use than other types of machine as users grind their own beans and measure and tamp the grounds and steam milk on their own - however, our test subjects discovered that the results made the extra effort worth it.

Espresso machines use hot water and pressure of up to nine bar to create an even stronger, more concentrated drink. They can also have an integrated milk frother to make macchiatos and cappuccinos. They are often more expensive, but they offer a high-end experience.

These are a popular choice for those who want to recreate cafe-style coffee at home. The water is heated in an airtight container prior being released via an opening into the ground coffee. They can be quite slow to heat up, but once ready, are able to make a cup coffee in four to six minutes.

If you're looking for some more control, a semi-automatic espresso maker allows the user to add their own ground beans but automatically stops the flow of water halfway through the coffee making process. This is done to maintain the consistency of the espresso. It's not a great choice for those who are new and requires a bit of patience to master the process, but for those with a knack of tamping it, it's the ultimate coffee maker.

The super-automatic machine works like an industrial coffee maker and eliminates the guesswork from the process. The machine grinds and weighs the coffee, then it pumps hot water through it before being dispensed into your cup. These machines are great for those looking to make a particular drink rather than just a cup of coffee. They tend to be one of the most well-known available.

The capsule and Pod machines are simple to use, but they provide a less customisable experience compared to their bean-to cup counterparts. The Lavazza Jolie & Milk offers nine drink options that are preset that range from classics like white coffee and cappuccino to more creative concoctions including macchiatos and ristrettos. It can also serve steam and hot water at the press of the button.

Bean-to-cup machines

The best bean to cup machines crush whole roasted coffee beans at the touch of a button and then make the beans into a variety of drinks. This can be done at the touch of the button. Many also allow you to save your franke coffee machine preferences so that every time you turn on the machine, it can automatically produce the drink you desire. They can also be connected to apps or home tech networks for greater flexibility and automation.

In most cases, you can control the finer details of each drink, including the temperature and the pressure of extraction, meaning you have complete control over what each cup will taste like. They're typically designed to produce a higher quality of coffee than pod or capsule machines. This is because a high-quality bean-to-cup machine will grind the beans to a precise consistency, and then force hot water through them at the precise pressure and timing required to maximise flavour.

There are a variety of bean coffee machine-to-cup machines that can also make milk frothy. This is great for making the rich, creamy texture of the cappuccino and latte however there can be a bit of a learning curve to getting these right. But once you get it sussed, these machines can produce drinks that are easily at home in a specialty magimix coffee machine shop.

One of the most impressive examples of a modern bean-to cup machine is Sage's Oracle Touch. It's a bit higher priced than the top capsule or pod machines, but it's worth the extra expense. The machine has a large, colour touchscreen that guides the user through every process of making a certain coffee. It also comes with a professional steam wand to create the perfect texture of milk and lets you customize every drink to your preference. Oracle Touch can dispense both cold and hot drinks. It can also remember your preferred beverage for school runs and you won't need to buy a new one every time. If you're in the market for a high-end coffee maker that comes with a premium burr grinder and a host of unique features, take a look at our complete review of this machine.

Pod or capsule machines

The top pod machines remove the guesswork and deliver reliable results with no hassle. These models dispense capsules containing instant or ground coffee, tea and other drinks. These machines are a great choice for those who have no experience with espresso or bean-to-cup machines and are looking for an instant fix in the morning.

These machines are a good alternative for those who don't wish to purchase large quantities of beans and also because they're less expensive even if you don't use them as often. But, they're typically less versatile than other models and do not offer the same quality of brew that beans-to-cup machines or filters can offer.

This pod coffee maker is perfect for those who need an instant cup of coffee. You just lift the top flap (which automatically ejects the used capsule), chuck in a new one and press either the big cup or small cup button. The machine uses a unique two-stage extraction method to produce rich and rewarding coffee.

The milk frother included allows it to dispense hot drinks like herbal teas, hot chocolate and cappuccinos as well as lattes. It's worth noting that pod-related milk can not have the richly textured texture you can get with a more expensive, manual frother from Dualit or Lavazza.

This machine is quieter and more stylish than many other pod coffee makers. It won't annoy you while you're getting your caffeine fix. It's designed to look good in any kitchen, from traditional to modern and is a great pleasure to use. The lever is large and catapults the used capsule away into the receptacle, which can accommodate ten capsules.

The machine can provide a variety of beverages, from large travel mugs to short espressos. A barcode scanner will also inform you of the pods you're using. But it's not as flexible as a bean-to-cup machine for customizing the coffee you drink and there's no way to tweak the amount of extraction.