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 distribute it across ground coffee in the filter basket. This produces more flavor than cheaper rivals.

This fully automatic machine will take care of everything. Unlike semiautomatic machines that require you to fill your portafilter manually and then decide when you want to stop pulling the portafilter the fully automated machine takes care of everything for you.

Filter coffee machines

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

A couple of models we tested have insulation to keep your coffee warm without the need for a consuming hotplate, while others have a 24-hour programmable timer so you can set it up at night and wake up to a jug of coffee waiting to drink. Other useful features include a permanent, reusable filter to cut down on paper waste and a water tank that allows you to easily gauge the amount of water left.

Some filter coffee makers are small enough to be able to fit on the countertop of a small kitchen while others are larger. Some have a removable tank for easy refilling and cleaning. Some have fixed tanks that could restrict the space you make use of.

If you want a filter coffee machine 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 basket. Some models include this accessory as an alternative. There are models which use coffee beans that have been ground.

If you're looking to to make several cups of filter coffee in one go we suggest a model with a larger 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 top in providing excellent filter coffee at a fair price. It's super simple to set up and use, has an impressive number of user reviews, as well as numerous useful tips and guides and is extremely durable and reliable.

Espresso machines

Espresso machines can produce various specialty drinks by simply pressing a button. They are similar to the manual coffee makers you can find in cafes. The machines require more effort than other models - users have to grind their own coffee beans, weigh the ground coffee, and then steam the milk separately. However, our test subjects have found the results to be worth the effort.

Espresso machines use hot water and pressure of up to nine bar to create an intense, more concentrated drink. They can also have a built-in milk frother for creating cappuccinos and macchiatos. They're generally more expensive than other coffee machines, but offer a high-end, premium experience.

They are a popular option for those looking to recreate cafe-style coffee at home. They have an airtight tank in which the water is heated to a boiling point before being released through a nozzle and into ground coffee. They can take a long time to heat up, but once they are ready, they are able to produce a cup of coffee in between four and six minutes.

If you're looking for a bit more control, a semi-automatic espresso maker allows users to add their own ground beans, but automatically stops the flow of water halfway through the making process. This is to ensure the consistency of the espresso. It is not for beginners, and it takes some time to master. For those who have a knack for tamping, this could be the ultimate espresso maker.

The super-automatic machine is more than a traditional coffee maker and takes the guesswork out of the process. The machine grinds and weighs the coffee, then pumps hot water through it prior to being dispensed into your cup. They're perfect for those who are more attracted to making a particular beverage instead of just the usual cup of coffee and are often the most popular coffee machine on the market.

The capsule and Pod machines are easy to use, but they offer a less customisable experience in comparison to their bean-to-cup counterparts. The Lavazza Jolie & Milk offers nine preset drink options that range from classics like cappuccino and white coffee, to more imaginative concoctions like macchiatos and ristrettos. It also can dispense hot water and steam at the push of one button.

Bean-to-cup machines

The top bean-to-cup machines crush whole roasted beans at the touch of a button and brew them to create several drinks - typically at the press of a button. A lot of machines let you save your preferences for coffee, so that the machine will produce the drink of your choice every time it is turned on. They can also be linked to apps or home tech networks to provide greater flexibility and automation.

Often, you can control the finer details of each drink, including the temperature and the pressure of the extraction, which means you're in total control over what each cup tastes like. They are typically designed to produce a better quality coffee than pod or capsule machines. A good bean-to-cup machine will grind the coffee beans to a specific consistency and then force hot filtrated water through the beans at the precise pressure and duration needed to maximize flavour.

There are a lot of coffee makers that have milk foaming capabilities. This is a great way to create the rich, creamy texture of a cappuccino or latte - although there can be some learning curve to get these right. Once you've got the machine mastered it can make drinks that are perfect in specialty coffee shops.

One of the most excellent 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 the added cost is well worth it. The machine features a large, colour touchscreen that guides the user through each step of making a particular coffee. It also has a pro steam wand to create the perfect texture of milk, and lets you customize each drink to your tastes. It is also able to serve cold drinks as well as hot drinks, and the Oracle Touch will even keep your preferred drink in mind for school runs and will not require you to make a fresh order every time. Take a look at our complete review if you're in the market for a high-quality coffee machine with a premium grinder and many customized features.

The capsule or pod machines

The top pod machines remove the guesswork and give consistent results without fuss. These machines can be used to make capsules of ground or instant coffee, tea and other beverages. They are a good option for those not as familiar with espresso machines or bean-to cup machines and are seeking an easy solution to the morning commute.

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

If you're looking for a simple cup of coffee, this pod maker from Illy is ideal. You just lift the flap on top (which automatically releases the old capsule), chuck in a new one and press either the big or small cup button. The machine employs a unique two-stage extraction method to produce rich and rewarding coffee.

It also allows you to pour hot water for herbal teas and other hot beverages and can also make a cappuccino or latte, because of the milk frother. It's important to note that the milk from pods isn't likely to have the same texture and richness as milk made with manual frothers like Dualit or coffeee.Uk Lavazza.

The machine is more elegant than a lot of pod coffee makers out there and is also quieter, so it won't create a noise when you're enjoying your caffeine fix. It's designed to look nice in any kitchen, from traditional to modern, and is a real pleasure to use. The lever is large and launches the capsule away into the receptacle, which can hold ten large capsules.

The machine offers a variety of beverages, from tall travel mugs to short espressos. A barcode reader will also inform you of the pods you're using. It's not as customizable as machines that grind beans into cups, and you can't adjust the amount of coffee makers machines that is extracted.