An automatic bean-to-cup machine is a good fit for households that make espresso regularly, want to choose their own beans and adjust their drinks, and are happy to clean the machine routinely. If space or ease of use is your priority, capsules or pods are also worth considering. A portafilter machine is better suited to those who want to be more hands-on with preparation. Before choosing, check how much space you have, how noisy the machine is and what maintenance the specific model requires.
If you make several coffees at home on a regular basis, choosing your beans and preparing a drink at the touch of a button can make a difference to your daily routine. You’ll also need a permanent spot for the machine and space to carry out maintenance.
You want to adjust the strength or volume without making every espresso entirely by hand. If you enjoy milk-based drinks, check which functions the specific model offers and how to clean them.
You’re happy to look after your machine, but want to know which trays need emptying, which parts need cleaning and which cycles are required. Checking the model’s manual will help you decide whether these tasks fit into your daily routine.
If you’ll be using the machine regularly, start with the drinks you actually make, then consider the maintenance involved and how much space you can give the machine.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| How often you’ll use it | Count how many coffees you make each week and consider whether you’ll use the grinder and bean hopper regularly. | If I make several espressos every day, I want to know whether that routine justifies a dedicated machine; around 33% of consumers put frequency of use first. |
| Drinks and settings | Check which drinks are available on the exact model, along with the strength, volume and grind settings you’ll need. | If I switch between espresso, long coffee and milk-based drinks, I want the functions I’ll actually use; for around 27% of consumers, customisation comes before other factors. |
| Maintenance | Check the manual for instructions on the trays, brew group, descaling and, if applicable, the milk system. | I want to make coffee without finding out afterwards that there’s a cleaning routine I can’t keep up with; around 20% of consumers prioritise maintenance. |
| Space and everyday considerations | Measure the space available, including the clearance needed to fill and empty the machine, and compare the noise levels of the models you’re considering. | In a small kitchen, or if you make coffee early in the morning, size and noise can be deciding factors; around 20% of consumers put these considerations first. |
UFC-Que Choisir says an automatic bean-to-cup machine generally takes up more space and makes more noise than a capsule system. Check the dimensions, access to the water and bean hoppers, and noise level for each model. If individual packaging is also a factor in your decision, ADEME says that in France, aluminium or plastic capsules go in the recycling bin for paper and packaging.
A machine intended for regular coffee-making also needs a place in your kitchen and regular maintenance, even during weeks when you use it less.
Count the drinks you usually make and compare that routine with the simplicity of a capsule or pod system before deciding.
An integrated milk function means extra steps after making milk-based drinks. For example, the JURA Z6 manual calls for the system to be cleaned daily on days when milk has been prepared; this instruction applies to that model.
If you don’t use much milk, compare the carafe with a manual milk frother and read the cleaning instructions for each model you’re considering.
Cleaning the milk system can take time and require dedicated products.
Built-in cycles don’t necessarily replace emptying the trays, cleaning accessible parts or descaling the machine as instructed in the manual.
Read the manual before you buy and check which parts you’ll need to access, as well as what needs to be done after making a milk-based drink.
The space the machine takes up on your worktop doesn’t tell the whole story: you’ll also need room to fill it with water and beans, empty the used grounds and open any accessible compartments.
Measure the space available, then check the dimensions and access points of the model you’ve chosen. If noise matters in your home, look for measurements for that specific model.
Milk functions vary across the Magnifica range: some models have a manual frother, while others come with a LatteCrema Hot carafe.
The Philips bean-to-cup range includes models with different settings and drink preparation systems.
Melitta offers automatic bean-to-cup machines, manual machines and products to help maintain them.
Some JURA machines have rinse and cleaning programmes for the milk system.
These automatic bean-to-cup models are for households that regularly make coffee from whole beans. To compare milk functions, check how each model prepares drinks and what cleaning it requires.
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Worth considering if you make coffee from whole beans and also want to use a milk system. Before choosing, check which drinks the EP2230/10 offers and what’s involved in cleaning LatteGo.
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This automatic bean-to-cup machine is designed for regular use with whole beans. If you’d also like to make milk-based drinks, check what handling and cleaning this model requires.
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If your household wants to make coffee from whole beans regularly, this automatic machine is worth comparing with the drinks you actually want to make. Check the ECAM220.21.WW manual for maintenance instructions and to see whether its milk preparation options suit you.
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The LatteCrema system is worth considering if milk-based drinks are part of your routine. Before choosing this model, check which drinks the ECAM290.61.B can make and what cleaning the milk system requires.
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This automatic touchscreen model offers six drink options. If you plan to use its milk system, check the manual to see how drinks are prepared and what cleaning is needed afterwards.
Not necessarily. If you rarely make milk-based drinks, compare it with a manual milk frother. Most importantly, read the instructions for the model you choose. For example, the JURA Z6 manual calls for the milk system to be cleaned daily on days when it has been used.
According to ADEME, aluminium or plastic capsules go in the recycling bin, bag or container for paper and packaging. Paper capsules can be composted at home or taken to a composting facility near you; check what your capsules are made from.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual in France. Check who the seller is and keep your proof of purchase. If a commercial guarantee is offered, check its terms separately, as it doesn’t replace the legal guarantee.