For your daily espresso, start by thinking about the steps you’re happy to repeat. Capsules and pods save you from measuring out coffee, a portafilter gives you more hands-on control, while an automatic grinder lets you choose your own beans. Then check which coffee formats the machine accepts, how much maintenance it needs and which drinks your household actually makes. If you mostly drink several long coffees, a filter coffee machine meets a different need from an espresso machine.
If you mainly make short coffees and don’t want to measure or tamp the coffee for every cup, consider capsules and pods. Check which format the machine accepts and how you’ll handle recycling as part of your routine.
An automatic grinder lets you use your choice of whole beans without having to fill a portafilter for every cup. Make room for the machine and set aside time to empty and rinse its components, as UFC-Que Choisir recommends.
If filling and tamping the portafilter is part of the pleasure of making coffee, a manual machine is worth considering. For cappuccinos or lattes, compare the steam wand or milk system and check how much cleaning each requires.
Start with the drink you make most often, then consider how each system fits the preparation and cleaning steps your household is happy to take every day.
| Priority | What to check | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday simplicity | Which capsule or pod formats the machine accepts; drinks you can make without extra steps. | If I make a short coffee before heading out, I want to avoid measuring and tamping for every cup; around 31% of consumers put this simplicity first. |
| Coffee choice and consumables | Whether it takes whole beans or ground coffee; the portions and cleaning products required for the model. | When coffee is part of my daily routine at home, I want to choose my own beans or ground coffee rather than rely on a specific portion; around 31% of consumers prioritise this flexibility. |
| Hands-on preparation and milk | Steps involved in using the portafilter; whether there’s a steam wand or milk system and how to clean it. | If I want to tamp the coffee myself or regularly make milky drinks, these steps and features guide my choice; around 23% of consumers make this their main requirement. |
| Making several long coffees | Type of drink prepared; filter coffee machine capacity if you’re serving several cups at once. | When several people in my household mainly drink long coffee, I want to make multiple cups rather than a short espresso; around 15% of consumers prioritise this. |
Capsules, pods, beans and ground coffee all involve different repeat purchases. Some machines also require descaling products or water-filter cartridges.
Make a list of the drinks your household makes and the consumables compatible with each machine you’re considering.
UFC-Que Choisir says that most capsule machine brands accept only one type of capsule. Soft pods also come in a format you’ll need to check.
Before choosing a machine, find out exactly which format it accepts and which coffees you want to use.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, the coffee grounds and drip trays on a machine with a grinder need regular rinsing, as does the brewing unit, though less often.
Check the model’s instructions for descaling, access to parts that need rinsing and how to maintain the milk system.
Emptying the trays and rinsing them also take time as part of your daily routine.
A filter coffee machine can be a good choice if you want to serve several long coffees, but it won’t make the same drink as an espresso machine.
Work out whether your household mainly drinks short espressos, milky drinks or several cups of filter coffee.
Worth considering if you prefer a capsule machine and can make recycling the used capsules part of your routine.
A range of machines for soft pods, worth considering if you want to make coffee without filling a portafilter.
The brand offers manual portafilter machines and automatic machines with grinders in France.
Worth considering when you’re also deciding what kind of coffee to make: bean-to-cup espresso or filter coffee.
These models are for making espresso at home. The first four are aimed at households considering an automatic machine, while the last is for portafilter brewing.
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Worth considering if you want to make coffee from whole beans and would also like to explore milky drinks. The model name indicates a grinder and the LatteGo system; check which recipes are available and how to clean the system before choosing.
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An option for households looking for an automatic way to make coffee every day. Check which drinks this model offers and what cleaning they involve, especially if you make drinks with milk.
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Consider this if you make a range of coffee drinks at home. The product title lists four options selected at the touch of a button; check that they suit your habits and consult the instructions for cleaning and maintenance.
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For households looking to use whole beans in an automatic espresso machine. The product title specifies a grinder; check how much worktop space you’ll need and which accessories are included before ordering.
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Worth considering if you’d rather be involved in making your coffee with a portafilter than choose an automatic machine. Check which filters and accessories are included, as well as the water tank capacity: the information available for this model is inconsistent on that point.
ADEME says aluminium or plastic capsules can go in the recycling collection for paper and packaging. Nespresso France also lists collection points for its capsules. Check which option is available near you and whether it accepts your type of capsule.
It depends on the water you use, how often you use the machine and the model. Follow the machine’s alerts and instructions. UFC-Que Choisir suggests descaling every two to three months as a general guide, not a schedule that applies to every machine.
You’ll generally need to empty the coffee grounds and drip trays and rinse the parts specified in the instructions. UFC-Que Choisir recommends rinsing these trays regularly and the brewing unit less often. If you use the milk system, check how that needs to be cleaned too.
Not if your main requirement is short espresso: a filter coffee machine makes a different type of drink. It’s a better option to consider if your household mainly serves several long coffees, including when you want to use whole beans.
In France, it does when a professional sells the machine to a consumer. The Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) explains that this mandatory guarantee applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods. Keep a copy of the product description and your proof of purchase in case the machine you receive doesn’t match what was advertised.