How to Choose the Best Coffee Machine

There's a lot of technological excellence behind this machine, which is able to precisely control the temperature of the water and evenly disperse it over ground coffee in the filter basket. This produces more flavor than other less expensive machines.

In contrast to semiautomatic machines, which require you to fill the portafilter by hand and decide when to stop pulling, this fully automated machine will do everything for you.

Filter coffee machines

A filter coffee machine produces filter coffee by passing hot filtering water through coffee grounds. The grounds absorb the water and release flavour compounds, which are then infused into the cup of coffee. They come in a range of sizes, ranging from 3 to 13 cups, and are available with a variety of features.

A few of the models we tested have insulated containers that keep your coffee warm without the need for the energy-intensive heat plate. Others have a 24-hour timer, so 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 reusable and permanent filter that reduces waste paper and a water tank that allows you to see clearly the amount of water left.

Some filter coffee machines are compact enough to fit on a compact kitchen counter, whereas others have bigger footprints. Some also have a removable water tank to make refilling easier and cleaning easier and cleaning, while others have fixed tanks that may limit where you can place yours.

If you want a filter coffee maker with added features, select one with an integrated grinder. This lets you grind your fresh coffee beans at your own pace and then disperse the ground beans directly into the filter basket. Some models offer this feature as an alternative. There are also models that make use of pre-ground beans too.

If you're looking to to make multiple cups of filter barista-style coffee machines at a time, we'd recommend a model with a bigger capacity. 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 in delivering a great filter coffee at a fair cost. It's incredibly easy to setup and use, comes with an impressive number of user reviews and a lot of useful tips and guidelines, and is very robust and reliable.

Espresso machines

Drawing inspiration from manual coffee makers used in cafes Espresso machines are able to create a variety of special drinks at the push of a button. The machines require a bit more effort than other kinds as users grind their own coffee beans, weigh the ground coffee, and then steam the milk separately. However, our testers found the results worth the extra work.

Espresso machines make use of hot water and pressure of up to nine bar to create a stronger, concentrated drink. They may also have an inbuilt milk frother that can be used to make macchiatos and cappuccinos. They are often more expensive, but offer premium experience.

They are a favorite among those who wish to recreate the cafe coffee at home. The water is heated in an airtight container before being released via an nozzle into the ground coffee. The machines may take some time to heat up and when they are in place, they can create cups in 4 to 6 minutes.

Semi-automatic espresso machines are a great alternative for those who want some more control. They permit the user to add their own beans, however, they stop the flow of water during the brewing process. This is done to maintain consistency in the espresso. It's not the best choice for novices and requires a bit of patience to master the process, but for those with an ability to tamp it, it could be the ultimate coffee maker.

The more advanced super-automatic espresso machine removes the guesswork of the process and is more an industrial coffee maker. The machine is able to measure and pod coffee makers grind the coffee prior to pumping hot water through it. These machines are ideal for those looking to make a specific drink rather than just an espresso. They are among the most sought-after on the market.

Pod or capsule coffee machines are most simple to use, but are less customizable in terms of experience than their counterparts that are bean-to-cup. The Lavazza Jolie & Milk has nine pre-programmed drinks to choose from. They range from classics like white coffee and cappuccino to more innovative drinks like ristrettos and macchiatos. It can also serve steam and hot water at the press of a button.

Bean-to-cup machines

The most effective bean-to-cup machines crush whole roast coffee beans at the touch of a button and then prepare the beans to make many drinks. This is usually done with the click of a button. A lot of them allow you to save your preferences for coffee so that every time you turn on the machine, it can automatically produce the beverage you want. They can also be connected to applications or home tech networks for greater flexibility and automation.

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

There are many coffee makers that have milk that froths. This is great for creating the creamy, textural layers of the cappuccino and latte although there can be some learning curve to get the right recipe. Once you've mastered the machine it can make drinks that are at home in specialty coffee shops.

One of the best examples of a modern, bean-to-cup machine is Sage's Oracle Touch. It's a bit more expensive than the best capsule or pod machines, but it's worth the extra expense. It has a huge colour touchscreen, and helps the user through every step of making a certain coffee. It also has a pro steam wand that can create the perfect texture of milk, and allows you to customize every drink to your preference. Oracle Touch can dispense both hot and cold drinks. It will also remember your preferred beverage for the school run, so you won't have to buy a new one every time. Read our full review if you're looking to buy an excellent coffee maker equipped with a premium grinder as well as a lot of bespoke features.

The capsule or pod machines

The top pod machines remove the guesswork and give consistent results without fuss. These machines offer capsules of ground or instant coffee, tea and other beverages. These machines are a great option for those who have no experience with espresso machines or bean-to-cup machines and are looking for an easy fix in the morning.

They're an excellent choice for those looking to try out various blends without spending large quantities of beans and they can also be cheaper than other options if you don't use the machine as much. They are less versatile and don't yield the same quality of coffee as a filter machine or bean-to cup machine.

If you're after a no-fuss cup of coffee, this pod coffee maker from Illy is ideal. Simply lift the top cover (which automatically ejects capsules that have been used) and then insert a fresh capsule, and then press the button to select either the larger or the small cup. The machine employs a unique two-stage extraction method to make rich and satisfying coffee.

It can also dispense hot water for herbal teas and hot beverages, as well as a cappuccino or latte, because of the milk frother. It's worth noting that pod-related milk tends to lack the lushly textured texture you can get with a more costly, manual frothers from Dualit or Lavazza.

The machine is more elegant than the majority of pod coffee makers available and is also quieter - so it won't make a racket while you're getting your caffeine fix. It's designed to look good in any kitchen, from rustic to modern and is a great pleasure to use. The lever launches capsules into the receptacle that can hold up to ten capsules.

The machine comes with a variety of drink options including short black espressos to large travel mugs and the barcode reader can identify which pod you're using. But it's not as flexible as a coffee maker in terms of customizing the coffee you drink and there's no way to tweak the amount of extraction.