An automatic coffee machine with a grinder is a good fit for a household that regularly makes coffee from beans and wants to choose a drink without managing every step of the brewing process. A portafilter machine gives you more hands-on control, while capsules prioritise convenience and usually take up less space. With a grinder, you’ll need to keep up with regular cleaning and descaling.
You make coffee regularly and want the machine to grind the beans before brewing, without having to go through all the steps involved with a portafilter. You’ll need to factor cleaning and descaling into your routine.
You switch between espresso, long coffee and milk-based drinks, or several people want to save their preferred settings. Check the recipes, milk system and profiles for the specific model, as these features vary between models.
You’re thinking of swapping capsules for coffee beans. Compare the coffee formats that suit your habits, and remember to check whether your chosen machine needs cleaning products or filters.
Choose this if: you regularly use beans and would rather select a drink than manage grinding and extraction separately.
Bear in mind: according to Que Choisir, these machines generally take up more space and make more noise than capsule systems. They also need regular maintenance.
Consider this if: you prefer to be hands-on with preparation and, if you’re starting with beans, choose your grinder separately.
Bear in mind: making coffee involves more steps than with an automatic machine.
Consider this if: you prefer pre-portioned coffee, straightforward preparation and an appliance that generally takes up less space.
Bear in mind: this option doesn’t make coffee from beans added to an integrated grinder.
| Criterion | What to check before buying | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term use and consumables | Check the manual to see which products and filters are required. For your chosen model, also check whether parts and servicing are available. | If I plan to use the machine often, I want to be able to maintain it and find the parts I need over time. Around 37% of consumers would prioritise this continuity of use. |
| Beans and settings | Compare the grinding, strength and volume settings available on the exact model. | I want to start with beans and adjust my coffee to suit my taste, even if I need to get to grips with the machine’s settings. This would be the main priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Drinks and everyday maintenance | Identify the recipes your household will use, along with the rinsing and cleaning steps for the milk system, if there is one. | When people at home have different tastes, I look for drinks that are easy to select, without underestimating the cleaning needed after use. Around 27% of consumers would put this balance first. |
A grinder means you’ll need to clean and descale the machine. Depending on the model, filters or specific cleaning products may also be part of your routine.
Check the manual for the model you’re considering to find out which consumables you’ll need and what maintenance is required.
You’ll also need to allow time for rinsing and cleaning, as well as replacing any filters.
A long list of recipes is only useful if it matches the coffee drinks your household actually makes. Milk-system parts may mean extra cleaning steps.
Make a list of the drinks you really prepare, then compare the recipes, profiles and milk-system cleaning process for the exact model.
Descaling is part of maintaining a machine with a grinder. According to De’Longhi support, how often it’s needed depends in part on water hardness.
Before choosing, check how the machine alerts you when it needs descaling and which manual steps are described in the manual. Then follow the instructions for your specific model.
In France, the legal guarantee of conformity that applies to purchases from professional sellers is separate from an optional commercial warranty, as explained by the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control.
Keep your proof of purchase and read what the commercial warranty covers, including its terms and exclusions. It does not replace the rights you can exercise with the seller.
Worth considering if access to maintenance instructions is important when choosing a bean-to-cup machine.
Worth considering if several people want to choose their drinks and use a milk system.
Worth a look if recipes, profiles and cleaning instructions are important to your decision.
Worth considering if access to spare parts and repair services in France is an important factor in your decision.
Worth considering if you want to search for genuine parts using the product number.
These models are suited to anyone looking for an automatic machine to make coffee from beans regularly. Their milk systems and controls differ, so compare them with the drinks your household makes and the maintenance you’re prepared to do.
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For households that want to make coffee from beans and use the LatteGo milk system. Check the cleaning steps for this system and which accessories you’ll need.
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For households looking for automatic preparation with the LatteCrema milk system. Check which drinks are available on the model being sold and how to maintain the carafe.
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For making coffee from beans with an automatic machine, while being happy to froth milk manually using the steam wand. Bear this in mind if you often make milk-based drinks.
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For households that want to choose from the six advertised drinks using a touchscreen. The model has a grinder and a milk system; check the manual for the cleaning steps required for the latter.
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For households looking for an automatic machine with a grinder and happy to use a steam wand for milk-based drinks. Check the manual for this model to plan cleaning and descaling.
How often you need to descale depends in part on water hardness and how much you use the machine. Que Choisir generally recommends maintenance every two to three months, depending on usage. De’Longhi advises following the alert and procedure for your model. Check the manual for your specific machine, particularly if you use a water filter.
Check which drinks are available on the exact model and how its milk system is rinsed and taken apart. A carafe and a steam wand involve different steps, so consider how these fit with how often you make these drinks.
No. According to the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual, and claims are made with the seller. Any commercial warranty is separate. Read its terms and cover to understand what extra protection it offers.
Check which parts are available for the exact model, how repairs are arranged and what maintenance is recommended. Krups offers a parts shop and a network of repairers in France; JURA lets you search for parts by product number. You’ll still need to confirm that the part you need is available for your machine.