How to Choose the Best Coffee Machine

There's a lot of technical power behind this machine, which manages to precisely maintain water temperature and evenly distribute it across ground coffee in the filter basket. This produces more flavor than cheaper rivals.

Contrary to semiautomatic machines that require you to load the portafilter manually and decide when to stop pulling, this fully automated machine does everything for you.

Filter coffee machines

A filter coffee machine produces filter coffee by passing hot, filtrated water through grounds of coffee. The grounds absorb the water and release flavor compounds which are then extracted into the cup of coffee. They are available in a variety of sizes, ranging from 3 to 13 cups.

Some of the models we tested come with insulated containers that keep your coffee warm without the need for an energy-hungry heat plate. Others have a 24-hour timer, which means you can set it to run the night before and awake to an ice-filled jug waiting for you. Other features that are useful include a permanent, reusable filter to reduce waste paper and a water tank that allows you to easily see the level of water in it.

Some filter coffee machines are small enough to fit on a tiny kitchen worktop, while others have larger footprints. Some also have a removable water tank to make refilling easier and cleaning easier some have fixed tanks that may restrict where you can put yours.

If you want a filter coffee machine with added functionality, choose one with a grinder integrated. This allows you to grind your freshly brewed coffee beans as you please and then pour the ground beans directly into the basket. Some models offer this feature as an alternative. There are also models that use pre-ground beans, too.

We recommend a product with a bigger capacity for those who want to make multiple cups at once. We've tested several filter coffee makers with this capability and discovered the Melitta Look V Timer to be among the best for delivering a great cup of filter coffee at reasonable prices. It's extremely easy to setup and use, has an impressive amount of user reviews and numerous useful tips and guides, and is very robust and reliable.

Espresso machines

Drawing inspiration from manual coffee makers that are used in cafes, espresso machines are able to create a variety of specialty drinks with just the click of one button. They require a bit more effort to use than other types of machine - users must grind their own beans and measure and tamp the grounds, and then steam the milk on their own - however, our test participants noticed that the results made the extra effort worth it.

Looking to achieve the same level of quality as a barista espresso machine, espresso machines use hot water and up to nine bars of pressure to make a stronger, more concentrated drink. They can also have an inbuilt milk frother to make macchiatos and cappuccinos. They're generally more expensive than other coffee machines, but they provide a premium, high-end experience.

They are a popular option for those wanting to recreate the cafe-style coffee at home. The water is heated in an airtight container prior being released via a nozzle into the ground coffee. The machines may take a while to heat up however once they're ready, they can produce the cup in between 4 and 6 minutes.

For those who want some more control, a semi-automatic espresso machine allows the user to add their own ground beans, but automatically stops the flow of water halfway through the programmable coffee machines making process. This is to ensure consistency in the espresso. This is not a good choice for beginners and requires some patience to master. For those who are adept to tamp, this can be the perfect espresso maker.

The more advanced super-automatic espresso machine removes the guesswork of the process and is more a commercial coffee maker. The machine grinds and measures the coffee before pumping hot water through it. They're great for those who are interested in creating a particular beverage, rather than just an ordinary cup of coffee. They tend to be the most popular coffee machine on the market.

The capsule and pod machines are simple to use, but they offer less customization compared to their bean-to cup counterparts. The Lavazza Jolie & Milk has nine pre-programmed drink options. These range from classics like white coffee and cappuccino to more innovative drinks like ristrettos or macchiatos. It also can serve steam and hot water at the press of a button.

Bean-to-cup machines

The most effective bean-to-cup machines crush whole roasted coffee beans on demand and then brew the beans to create various drinks. This can be done with the click of a button. Some also let you save your coffee preferences to ensure that every time you turn on the machine, it will automatically make the drink you desire. They can also be connected to apps or home tech networks for greater flexibility and automation.

You can often control the finer aspects like the temperature and the pressure of the extraction. This gives you total control over the flavor of every cup. They are typically made to create a higher quality of coffee than capsule or pod machines. A good bean-to-cup machine will grind the coffee beans to a precise consistency and then push hot, filtered water through the beans at the exact pressure and time needed to maximize flavor.

There are a lot of bean-to-cup machines that have milk foaming capabilities. This is a great way to create the rich and textural layers in a cappuccino, or latte. However, it can be difficult to master these. Once you have it figured out they can create drinks that would easily be at home coffee machines in a specialized coffee shop.

One of the best examples of a modern bean-to-cup machine is Sage's Oracle Touch. It's a touch more expensive than the top pod or capsule machines, but it's well worth the extra expense. The machine features a large screen that is color-coded, and helps the user through every stage of making a specific coffee. It has a pro-steam wand to create the perfect texture of your milk and allows you to personalize the drink to your tastes. Oracle Touch can dispense both hot and cold drinks. It can also remember your drink preference for the school run, so you won't have to buy another one each time. If you're in the market for a premium coffee maker that comes with a premium burr grinder and a host of unique features, check out our complete review of this machine.

Machines for capsules or pods

The top pod coffee machines take the guesswork out of brewing and deliver consistently good results with little or no effort. These machines offer capsules of instant or ground tea, coffee, and other drinks. They are a good option for those who are less experienced with espresso or bean-to-cup machines, and Home Coffee Machines are simply looking for an easy fix for a workday morning.

They're an excellent choice for those who wish to experiment with different blends without having to purchase large quantities of beans and they're also cheaper than other alternatives if you don't use the machine as often. However, they're generally less flexible than other models and will not give the same quality of brew that a filter or bean-to-cup machine can provide.

If you're after a no-fuss cuppa, this pod coffee maker from Illy is the perfect choice. Simply lift the top cover (which automatically ejects capsules that have been used), insert a new capsule, then press the button for either the larger or the small cup. The machine utilizes a unique two-stage extraction process to produce rich and rewarding coffee.

The included milk frother allows it to serve hot drinks such as herbal teas, hot chocolate, and cappuccinos or lattes. It is important to remember that the milk derived from pods tends not to have the same rich texture as milk made with manual frothers, such as Dualit or Lavazza.

This machine is more stylish than most of the pod coffee makers on the market and is also quieter, so it won't cause a ruckus while you're getting your caffeine fix. It's designed to look nice in any kitchen, from traditional to modern and is a great pleasure to use. The lever launches capsules into the receptacle that can accommodate up to ten capsules.

The machine has a wide selection of drinks including short black espressos to tall travel mugs, and the barcode reader can identify which pod you're using. However, it's not as adaptable as a bean-to-cup device for customizing the coffee you drink, and there's no way to alter the amount of extraction.