A bean-to-cup coffee machine is a good choice if you regularly make several coffees at home, want to choose your own beans and prefer to keep preparation straightforward. Before replacing a capsule or pod machine, make sure you have enough space for it and are happy with the noise from grinding, routine cleaning and descaling. If these considerations matter more to you than switching to beans, another brewing method may fit your routine better.
If you make several coffees at home and want to choose your own beans rather than stick with a particular capsule or pod format, an integrated grinder can help you do just that. You’ll also need to consider where to put the machine and how to maintain it.
One-touch controls can make serving coffee simpler. Consider filling, cleaning and descaling separately: easy preparation doesn’t necessarily mean every maintenance task is just as simple.
If you regularly make cappuccinos or lattes, the milk system matters just as much as having the right recipe. Check the rinsing and cleaning steps for the machine you’re considering.
If you make several coffees a day, start by deciding whether switching to beans matters more to you than the convenience of a capsule or pod machine. Then consider the controls, maintenance and the space you actually have available. If you’d rather measure and handle the coffee yourself, you could also look at a portafilter machine.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Switching to beans | Grind settings and drinks available on the model you’ve chosen; whether it can make two cups at once, if needed. | When moving on from capsules, I want to choose my own beans without making every coffee more complicated; around 31% of consumers say switching to beans is their top priority. |
| Ease of serving | Access to your usual drinks and how easy the machine is to fill for your household’s needs. | When several coffees are made each day, I prefer clear controls to settings that need adjusting for every cup; around 31% of consumers say ease of serving is their top priority. |
| Maintenance | How to clean the containers, the descaling process and how to maintain the milk system, if used. | Before switching to a grinder, I need to know which tasks I’ll have to do regularly; around 23% of consumers say manageable maintenance is their main concern. |
| Space and noise | Dimensions, access to the reservoirs and noise during grinding and rinsing, where comparable measurements are available. | With limited worktop space or in a shared home, I don’t want the machine to get in the way of other activities; around 15% of consumers prioritise space and quiet above all else. |
Que Choisir notes that a bean-to-cup machine takes up more space and makes more noise than a capsule system or filter coffee machine. So if you mainly drink filter coffee and aren’t looking for espresso, a filter coffee machine is also worth considering.
You’ll still need to deal with the containers, coffee grounds and descaling. Depending on the machine, the brewing unit may also need attention; milk-based drinks mean cleaning the milk circuit too.
Check the model’s instructions before buying so you know which tasks are needed after each use and which are done periodically.
Grinding, rinsing and vibrations are separate stages. Que Choisir assesses them separately, and a marketing term alone doesn’t tell you how noisy the entire preparation process will be.
If you make coffee early in the morning or in a shared room, look for tests that cover these different stages and choose where to put the machine accordingly.
A steam wand, carafe and tubes all involve different steps. Milk residue means you’ll need to follow the hygiene instructions for the model you use.
Before choosing a machine for its milk-based drinks, check the rinsing process, which parts need to be removed and whether they’re dishwasher-safe.
De’Longhi’s ranges include Magnifica, Dinamica and PrimaDonna, offering different choices of drinks and controls.
Philips offers bean-to-cup machines with touch controls, including models with a classic milk frother and others featuring the LatteGo system.
Bosch’s VeroCafe Series 2 features simplified controls and a removable brewing unit.
These models are designed for making coffee from beans at home. The Ninja Luxe Café Mini also combines espresso and filter coffee. For each machine, check that the controls and maintenance steps suit your routine.
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Worth a look if you want to make coffee from beans and milk-based drinks at home.
The model name indicates that it features the LatteGo system. Before buying, check the cleaning requirements for this model, as well as the noise from grinding and rinsing if that could be an issue in your household.
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Worth considering if you regularly make coffee from beans, especially if you want to serve two people.
The steam wand means you’ll need to prepare the milk and clean the wand after use. If noise matters to you, look for measurements for this exact model.
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Worth a look if you want to make a variety of coffees from beans.
It’s described as offering six varieties of coffee and a touchscreen. Check the instructions for rinsing, descaling and cleaning the milk system before adding it to your routine.
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Worth considering if you want an integrated grinder and the option to look at models that can prepare two cups at once.
The steam wand means you’ll need to prepare the milk manually and clean it after use. Check the dimensions and noise level if space or quiet is a priority.
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Worth a look if your household makes both espresso and filter coffee and wants to use beans.
This model is described as having an integrated grinder. Before choosing it for milk-based drinks, confirm the frother set-up on the ES301EU variant and the steps involved. Also check the dimensions if your worktop space is limited.
How often depends on the machine, how much you use it and the hardness of your water, according to De’Longhi France. Set the water hardness if the instructions ask you to, then follow the machine’s alert and descaling procedure.
Yes, the milk system needs to be cleaned appropriately after use. Follow the instructions for your chosen model, whether it has a steam wand, carafe or tubes. Don’t assume they all clean in the same way.
Grinding adds a noisy stage, and Que Choisir says bean-to-cup machines make more noise than capsule systems. To compare two specific models, look at tests that distinguish between grinding, rinsing and vibrations rather than relying on their marketing descriptions alone.
Electric coffee machines should be disposed of through waste electrical and electronic equipment collection. In France, take yours to an appropriate collection point or check whether a take-back service is available, rather than putting it in your household rubbish.