People who often drink espresso and like choosing their beans
A bean-to-cup machine lets you start with whole beans rather than capsules. It’s a good fit if you like to switch between coffees and can work machine care into your routine.
Who are these machines for?
How often you make coffee matters, but your choice also depends on the steps you want to take each day and the drinks you actually make.
Households that prefer pre-portioned coffee
Capsules and soft coffee pods save you from grinding and measuring beans. Check which system the machine accepts and what kind of coffee it can make.
Cappuccino and latte fans
Compare the drinks on offer and how the milk is prepared. A manual steam wand and an integrated milk system involve different steps and cleaning routines.
What should you look for before choosing?
Start with the drinks you make most often, then consider the steps each system involves every day. UFC-Que Choisir identifies capsule, soft-pod, portafilter and bean-to-cup machines as some of the options for making espresso.
| Factor | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Type of coffee | Check whether you mainly make espresso or several long coffees, and compare the drinks each machine is designed to make. Filter coffee serves a different purpose from espresso extraction. | I mainly make espresso, so I’ll compare bean-to-cup, capsule and portafilter machines. If I want several long coffees, a filter coffee machine is also worth considering. |
| Preparation steps | Compare automatic coffee preparation from whole beans, pre-portioned drinks in capsules or pods, and measuring and extracting coffee manually with a portafilter. | Some mornings, I’d rather pop in a capsule or pod. If I want to measure my coffee and pull the shot myself, a portafilter machine is a better fit. |
| Choice of coffee | Check which whole beans or ground coffee the machine accepts. For capsules and pods, identify the compatible system before choosing your coffee. | I like switching between beans without relying on a capsule format, so a bean-to-cup machine suits me. If I choose a pre-portioned system, I’ll check which one it uses first. |
| Maintenance | Check the manual for rinsing, emptying the trays, access to parts that need cleaning and descaling. According to De’Longhi, how often you need to descale depends in particular on your water hardness. | I can make time for these tasks regularly, or I’d rather keep handling to a minimum after each coffee. If I make milk-based drinks, I’ll also need to clean the equipment I use. |
| Noise | If you’re considering a grinder, look for a sound test of the exact model, carried out in comparable conditions. UFC-Que Choisir includes grinder noise in its testing criteria. | In a shared home, I want to know whether the grinder will be too noisy at the times I make coffee. |
| Milk-based drinks | Check the recipes available on the model, whether it has a steam wand or milk system, and the cleaning instructions in the manual. | I regularly make cappuccinos, so the milk system matters to me. If I mainly drink espresso without milk, it won’t be my top priority. |
| Recycling capsules | Check your local council’s guidance and the collection points you can access. ADEME says capsules put in household waste are sent for incineration or landfill. | If I choose capsules, I want to know which recycling route I can actually use at home. |
What mistakes should you avoid?
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Choosing a milk system without planning for the cleaning
Milk-based drinks mean extra steps after use. If you overlook this routine, the machine may be less convenient day to day.
Choose between a manual steam wand and an integrated milk system based on the drinks you’ll actually make, then check the cleaning instructions for the model.
-
Taking “quiet” at face value
Grinding noise can be disruptive in a shared home, even if the manufacturer highlights noise-reduction technology.
Compare sound tests of the specific models rather than assuming how noisy they are based on a marketing claim.
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Assuming household bins recycle capsules
According to ADEME, capsules put in household waste may be incinerated or sent to landfill.
Check local guidance and the collection schemes you can actually access before making this a deciding factor when choosing your machine.
What can different brands tell you?
A range can help you identify a type of coffee preparation, but always check the recipes and parts that need cleaning on the model you’re considering.
De’Longhi
The Magnifica range includes bean-to-cup machines for making coffee from whole beans, with features that vary by model.
- De’Longhi says that parts of the Magnifica Evo ECAM 29X.5X can be removed and washed in a dishwasher. Check whether this applies to any other model you’re considering.
- The brand notes that descaling is still necessary, and how often you need to do it depends on your water hardness.
Philips
Philips offers bean-to-cup machines with a range of recipes and milk system configurations.
- Philips lists six drinks and the LatteGo system for the 3300 Series EP3343/50; these features apply to this specific model.
- The presence of SilentBrew on some models doesn’t tell you how noisy another model will be. Compare tests of the model you’re considering.
Nespresso
Nespresso offers pre-portioned coffee in capsules, including its Original and Vertuo systems.
- Pre-portioned coffee saves you from grinding and measuring beans for each drink.
- Check that the machine and capsules are compatible. Choosing a capsule system means you can’t use whole beans directly in the machine.
Senseo
Senseo offers soft coffee pods for pre-portioned brewing, including longer coffees.
- The brand offers a range of soft coffee pod varieties.
- Check that the pods are compatible and suit the drink you want. Coffee made with a soft pod shouldn’t automatically be considered espresso.
Bean-to-cup machines available on Joybuy
These models are bean-to-cup options for making coffee regularly at home. If you’d prefer a capsule machine, pod machine, portafilter or filter coffee maker, compare the steps and drinks associated with those systems instead.
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Philips 2200 Series EP2230/10 LatteGo, gloss black
Worth considering if you also make milk-based drinks: this bean-to-cup machine features LatteGo. Check the manual for the drinks available and how to clean the milk system.
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De’Longhi Magnifica S Smart ECAM250.23.SB, silver
This automatic espresso machine with grinder is designed for making espresso from whole beans. If you also plan to froth milk, check the steps involved and how to clean this model.
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De’Longhi Magnifica Start ECAM220.21.WW, white
This bean-to-cup machine is for households that want to make espresso from whole beans. Check the manual for the drinks available and how to care for its components.
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De’Longhi Magnifica S ECAM22.140.B, black
This automatic machine with grinder is an option for making espresso regularly from whole beans. Check that this model has the settings you need and that the parts you’ll need to clean are easy to access.
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HiBREW H16, milk system and touchscreen
This automatic machine with grinder offers six varieties of coffee and a milk system. If you switch between espresso and milk-based drinks, check the exact recipes and cleaning routine in the manual.
Frequently asked questions
When is a bean-to-cup machine suitable for everyday use?
It’s a good fit if you make espresso often, want to choose your beans and are happy to maintain the machine regularly. UFC-Que Choisir describes this type of machine as particularly suited to coffee lovers and people who drink a lot of coffee. Your decision also depends on the drinks you actually make and the tasks you’re willing to take on.
What maintenance does a bean-to-cup machine need?
Rinse and empty the machine, clean the parts listed in the manual and descale it when prompted. De’Longhi says that how often you need to descale depends on your water hardness. A milk system also needs to be cleaned properly after use.
Are bean-to-cup machines noisy?
They can be, particularly in a shared home, but noise levels vary by model. UFC-Que Choisir includes grinder noise in its tests, so compare results for the models you’re interested in rather than relying only on a “quiet” claim.
Are coffee capsules automatically recycled in France?
No. According to ADEME, capsules put in household waste are sent for incineration or landfill. Check your local council’s guidance and the collection schemes available before choosing a capsule machine on this basis.