How to Choose the Best Coffee Machine

This machine is a technical marvel. It maintains the temperature of water precisely and evenly across the coffee grounds in a filter basket. This ekes out more flavour than other less expensive machines.

Unlike semiautomatic machines, which require you to pack the portafilter by hand and decide when to stop pulling, this fully automatic machine does everything for you.

Filter coffee machines

A filter coffee machine brews the pot of filter coffee by passing hot water through coffee beans that sit in a filter. The grounds absorb the water, releasing flavor compounds that are later extracted into your cup of coffee. They are available in a variety of sizes, ranging from 3 to 13 cups.

A couple of models we tested have an insulated jug that helps keep your brew warm without the need for a consuming hotplate. Other models have a timer that can be programmed for 24 hours so you can set the timer for the night prior to and wake up to a jug of coffee waiting for you to enjoy. Other features that are useful include a long-lasting, reusable filter that reduces paper waste and a easily-observable water tank that is easily visible.

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

For a filter coffee maker that is more functional, look for one that has an integrated grinder so that you can choose to grind fresh coffee beans at any time and dispense directly into the filter basket (though some offer this as an additional feature). There are models that make use of pre-ground coffee beans.

We recommend a model that has a larger capacity for those looking to make several cups at a time. We've tested several filter coffee makers with this feature and found that the Melitta Look V Timer is one of the best at making great filter coffee at a fair price. It's incredibly easy to setup and use, has an impressive amount of user reviews with numerous helpful tips and guides, and is very robust and reliable.

Espresso machines

Espresso machines can produce a variety of specialty drinks by simply pressing a button. They're similar to the manual coffee makers you can find in cafes. They require a little more effort than other types as users grind their own coffee beans, measure the grounds, and magimix Coffee machine then steam the milk separately. However, our testers found the results worth the extra work.

Looking to achieve the same quality as baristas espresso machine, espresso machines use hot water and up to nine bars of pressure to make an even stronger and more concentrated drink. They can be equipped with built-in milk frothers to create cappuccinos or macchiatos. They tend to be more expensive, but they offer a superior experience.

They are a popular option for those who want to recreate cafe-style coffee at home. The water is heated in an airtight container prior it is released through an opening into the ground coffee. The machines may take some time to warm up however once they are ready, they can produce a cup in 4 to 6 minutes.

For those who prefer greater control, a semi-automatic espresso maker allows users to add their own ground beans but automatically stops the flow of water midway through the brewing process. This is to ensure consistency in the final espresso. It's not ideal for beginners and requires a bit of patience to master, but for those with the ability to tamp it, it could be the ultimate coffee maker.

The more advanced super-automatic espresso machine eliminates the guesswork and is more like an industrial coffee maker. The machine grinds and measures the magimix coffee machine prior to pumping hot water through it. They're ideal for those who are more attracted to making a particular beverage, rather than just a regular cup of coffee. They are often the most popular coffee machine available.

Pod or capsule coffee machines are easiest to use but offer less of a customisable experience than their bean-to-cup counterparts. The Lavazza Jolie & Milk has nine pre-programmed drinks to choose from. These range from classics like cappuccino and white coffee to more innovative drinks like ristrettos or macchiatos. It can also dispense steam and hot water at the push of a button.

Bean-to-cup machines

The best bean to cup machines crush whole roast coffee beans on demand and then brew the beans to create a variety of drinks. This is usually done at the touch of a button. Some also let you save your coffee machine for home preferences so that each time you turn on the machine, it can automatically produce the beverage you want. They can also be linked to applications or home tech networks for greater flexibility and automation.

You can usually control the finer details, such as the temperature and the pressure of the extraction. This gives you total control over the taste of every cup. They're also often designed to produce a higher quality of coffee than pod or capsule machines. A good bean-to-cup machine will grind the coffee beans to a specific consistency and then push hot filtrated water through the beans at precisely the pressure and duration needed to enhance the flavor.

There are many bean-to-cup machines that can also make milk frothy. This is great for making the rich, textural layers of the cappuccino and latte although there can be some learning curve to getting these right. However, once you get it figured out they can create drinks that would easily be at home in a specialty coffee shop.

Sage's Oracle Touch is one of the best examples for modern bean to cup machine. It's a bit more expensive than some of the top capsule or pod machines, but the extra cost is worth it. The machine features a large screen that is color-coded, and guides the user through each step of making a particular coffee. It also comes with a professional steam wand magimix coffee machine that can create the perfect texture of milk and lets you customize the drinks to suit your preferences. Oracle Touch can serve both cold and hot drinks. It also keeps track of your preferred drink for school runs, so you won't have to purchase a new one every time. If you're in the market for a premium coffee maker that comes with a premium burr grinder, as well as a variety of unique features, read our full review of this machine.

Pod or capsule machines

The top pod machines remove the guesswork and provide consistent results without fuss. These machines can be used to make capsules of instant or ground coffee, tea and other beverages. They are a good alternative for those less experienced with espresso or bean-to cup machines and are simply looking for a quick fix on a workday morning.

These machines are a great alternative for those who don't want to buy a lot of beans. They also work because they're less expensive if you're not using them frequently. They are less versatile and don't provide the same quality of coffee as filters or a bean-to- cup machine.

If you're looking for a simple cup of coffee, this pod coffee maker from Illy is the perfect choice. Simply lift the top cover (which automatically releases used capsules), insert a new capsule and push the button for the larger or the small cup. The machine utilizes an exclusive two-stage extraction system to create rich, rewarding coffee.

It can also dispense hot water for herbal teas and hot beverages in addition to coffee or latte, because of the milk frother. It's important to note that the milk from pods doesn't have the same texture and richness as milk made with manual frothers like Dualit or Lavazza.

The machine is more elegant than a lot of pod coffee makers out there, and it's also quieter - so it won't cause a ruckus while you're getting your caffeine fix. It's made to fit into any kitchen from contemporary to traditional and is enjoyable to use. The lever catapults used capsules into the container that can hold up to ten capsules.

The machine offers a wide variety of drink options that range from black espressos with a short brew to large travel mugs and the barcode reader can identify which pod you're using. However, it's not as flexible as a bean-to-cup machine in terms of customising the coffee you drink and there's no option to alter the amount of extraction.