If you drink espresso regularly
You regularly make black coffee at home and want to choose your beans, the strength or the size of your drink. An automatic machine with a grinder can meet these needs if you’re happy to maintain it regularly.
Which option is right for you?
If you make milk-based drinks
You switch between black coffee, cappuccinos and lattes. Check which drinks the specific model can make, as well as how to dismantle and clean its milk system. The number of recipes doesn’t tell you how much cleaning is needed after each use.
If you’re short on space or time
If you have limited worktop space or want to keep daily preparation to a minimum, compare the space a grinder takes up and its maintenance needs with those of a capsule machine. Que Choisir notes that grinders generally take up more space and make more noise than capsule systems or filter coffee makers.
What sets the machines apart?
Start with the drink you make most often, then check how much space you have and what level of daily maintenance you’re happy with.
Bean-to-cup
Consider it: if you often make espresso and want to choose your beans and adjust the settings to suit your tastes.
Bear in mind: the grinder is generally larger and noisier, and the machine needs rinsing and descaling as specified for that model.
Portafilter
Consider it: if you want espresso without relying on a particular capsule format.
Bear in mind: check the preparation and cleaning steps required for the machine you’re considering.
Capsules
Consider it: if simple preparation and a compact machine matter more to you than choosing your beans.
Bear in mind: the drinks you can make depend on which capsules are compatible with the machine.
Filter coffee maker
Consider it: if you mainly make filter coffee from ground coffee, especially in larger quantities.
Bear in mind: it won’t make the same kind of drink as an espresso machine.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso and choice of beans | Check which grind, strength and drink-size settings are actually available on the model. | If espresso is my everyday drink, I want to choose my beans and tailor each cup to my taste; around 37% of consumers say this freedom is their top priority. |
| Long-term cost | Consider the cost of the machine, coffee or compatible capsules, and maintenance products, based on how often you use it. | If I make several coffees each week, regular running costs matter just as much as the initial purchase; around 27% of consumers say this is their main concern. |
| Space, noise and maintenance | Check the dimensions, including the space needed to fill the containers, how noisy the grinder is and what the instruction manual says about maintenance. | In a small kitchen, I need to be able to fit the machine in and live with its noise and cleaning routine; this is the top priority for around 18% of consumers. |
| Milk-based drinks | Check the type of milk system, which parts need dismantling and how to rinse it after use. | If I often make cappuccinos, I want to be able to clean the milk system without complicating my routine; around 18% of consumers prioritise this. |
What to check before you buy
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Comparing only the price of the machine
The cost of capsules, beans and maintenance products all add up over time. Que Choisir says that an espresso made with a grinder can cost less per cup than one made with a coffee pod, but there’s no single tipping point that applies to every household.
Compare costs based on how much coffee you actually drink, and the coffee and maintenance products you plan to use.
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Overlooking the grinder’s size and noise
According to Que Choisir, a machine with a grinder is generally bulkier and noisier than a capsule system or filter coffee maker. You’ll also need to be able to reach the containers to fill or empty them.
Measure the space you have, including any clearance needed, and check the manual and an acoustic test of the model if noise is a deciding factor.
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Choosing milk drinks based on the number of recipes
A steam wand or milk carafe means extra cleaning after making milk-based drinks. A feature you rarely use could end up making your routine more complicated.
If you often make cappuccinos, check which parts need dismantling and how to rinse the specific model. Otherwise, a simpler set-up for black coffee may be all you need.
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Confusing a manufacturer’s commercial guarantee with your statutory rights
Que Choisir has reported that some commercial guarantees for grinder machines include a limit on the number of coffees made. In France, the statutory legal guarantee of conformity that applies to sales from a business to a consumer is separate, as explained by the Ministry of the Economy.
Read the terms of the commercial guarantee, including any usage limits, and keep your proof of purchase.
Brands to know
De’Longhi
The French range of bean-to-cup espresso machines includes the Magnifica, Dinamica, Eletta Explore and PrimaDonna lines.
- According to De’Longhi, Magnifica focuses on straightforward espresso, while other lines offer a wider choice of drinks and milk functions.
- Check the milk system, maintenance programmes and dimensions for each individual model.
Philips
The range includes automatic machines for black coffee, as well as models with the LatteGo milk system.
- Philips describes LatteGo as a two-piece system with no tubes. This applies to models that include it.
- Drinks, settings and cleaning requirements vary by model, so don’t assume they’re the same across the range.
JURA
The brand sells automatic machines and dedicated maintenance products on its French website.
- JURA sells filters, cleaning tablets and products for the milk system, among other items.
- Check which consumables are suitable for the model you’re considering and follow the maintenance instructions in its manual.
Bean-to-cup machines available on Joybuy
These models are options if you’re looking for an automatic bean-to-cup machine to make espresso at home. For milk-based drinks, check whether the model has a LatteGo system or a steam wand, and find out what maintenance it requires.
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Philips Series 2200 EP2230/10 with LatteGo, glossy black
Worth considering if you want to make espresso from beans and also use a LatteGo milk system.
Check how to clean the LatteGo parts on this model, as well as how much space you’ll need to fit the machine.
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De’Longhi Dinamica ECAM350.35.SB, silver and black
This automatic machine is worth considering if you regularly make espresso and would also like to prepare milk-based drinks.
Milk is frothed using a manual steam wand, so you’ll need to clean it after use.
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De’Longhi Magnifica Start ECAM220.21.WW, white
Worth considering if you want to make espresso from beans and occasionally froth milk.
The steam wand requires you to froth the milk manually and clean it after making milk-based drinks.
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De’Longhi Magnifica S Smart ECAM250.23.SB, silver
This automatic grinder machine is designed for people who mainly make coffee from beans, with the option of making milk-based drinks now and then.
The steam wand requires you to froth milk manually and clean it after use.
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HiBREW H16 with grinder and milk system
Worth considering if you want an automatic bean-to-cup machine that can also make milk-based drinks.
The product is described as offering six types of coffee and a touchscreen. If you use milk often, check exactly what type of system it has and how to clean it before choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How many coffees do you need to make before a bean-to-cup machine becomes worthwhile compared with capsules?
There’s no number of cups that works for every household. Que Choisir found that espresso from a grinder machine costs less per cup than espresso made with pods, but your decision should take into account how often you drink coffee, the machine itself, and the coffee and maintenance products you’ll use.
What maintenance does an espresso machine with a grinder need?
Empty and rinse the containers as instructed in the manual, then descale the machine when prompted. For milk-based drinks, clean the steam wand or follow the milk system’s cleaning instructions after use. The exact steps depend on the model.
Is a milk carafe a good choice if I mainly make cappuccinos?
It could be, provided the machine makes the drinks you want and cleaning it fits into your routine. Philips describes its LatteGo system as having two parts and no tubes. Check the parts and cleaning instructions for the specific model you’re considering.
Does a limit on the number of coffees in a commercial guarantee cancel your statutory rights?
No. Que Choisir has reported commercial guarantees for grinder machines that include a limit on the number of coffees made, but these are separate from the statutory legal guarantee of conformity. In France, according to the Ministry of the Economy, this statutory guarantee applies in particular to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a consumer.