If you make coffee at home regularly, start by thinking about the steps you’re happy to repeat: capsules or pods for a pre-measured serving, a portafilter for dosing ground coffee yourself, or a grinder to use whole beans with a largely automated preparation process. Then check which coffee formats the machine accepts, how much space you have and what maintenance it needs. None of these four types avoids those considerations.
If you make coffee every day but don’t want to measure out the dose, capsules and soft pods are options worth considering. They’re easy to use, but you’ll need to buy a format that’s compatible with your chosen machine.
If you make several coffees a day, think about how many capsules or pods you’ll use, or how much ground coffee or how many beans you actually measure out. Buying coffee and maintenance supplies will be part of your routine.
A portafilter lets you measure out your own ground coffee, while a grinder makes a drink from whole beans. These options suit you if you’re happy to clean and descale the machine as specified for the model you choose.
Que Choisir identifies four types of espresso machine: capsule, soft pod, portafilter and bean-to-cup with a grinder. To compare them, start with your daily routine, then consider the coffee you’ll need to buy and the maintenance involved.
Worth considering: if you want a pre-measured serving and minimal preparation by hand.
Bear in mind: the capsules you can use depend on the machine’s exact system.
Worth considering: if you prefer a pre-measured serving in a soft pod.
Bear in mind: formats designed for different drinks aren’t necessarily interchangeable.
Worth considering: if you want to choose and measure out your own ground coffee.
Bear in mind: filling and cleaning the portafilter are part of making every coffee.
Worth considering: if you want to use whole beans with a largely automated preparation process.
Bear in mind: the grinder and parts that come into contact with coffee need regular maintenance.
| What matters | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | How you measure the coffee and what you need to do before and after each cup. | If I’m making coffee between other tasks, I want to avoid measuring out a dose and having to do lots of steps. Around 33% of consumers put ease of use first. |
| Regular purchases | Number of servings used or grams per drink; maintenance supplies specific to the model. | If my household makes several coffees a day, I want to know how much coffee and how many supplies I’ll need to buy again. Around 27% of consumers consider this their top priority. |
| Coffee choice | Which coffee formats the machine accepts and what dose or volume settings it actually offers. | I like being able to switch coffees or adjust how they’re made, even if it means a few extra steps. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this freedom of choice. |
| Maintenance and space | Descaling process and machine dimensions, particularly the clearance beneath wall units. | If I have limited worktop space, I need to be able to fit the machine in and maintain its parts without too much difficulty. For around 20% of consumers, this is their main concern. |
Two households with the same type of machine may use different amounts of coffee. Capsules and pods are counted individually; with ground coffee or beans, the dose you choose affects how much you use.
Estimate how many drinks you usually make, note the dose or format you use, and check the machine’s maintenance supplies separately.
Depending on the machine, filters, descaler and replacement accessories may add to the cost of buying coffee.
An Original capsule and a Vertuo capsule aren’t designed for the same system. Pods for different types of drink may also require a particular format.
Check the manual for the exact name of the system the machine accepts, then compare it with the information on the coffee you plan to buy.
The portafilter, a milk frother if included, or the parts of a grinder all add to the maintenance involved. De’Longhi says that how often its traditional machines need descaling depends, among other things, on water hardness. Instructions may differ for other models.
Check the manual for the machine you’re considering to find out which parts need cleaning, when to descale it and which products are approved.
Remember to allow time for the maintenance cycles specified for your model.
How a capsule should be recycled depends on its material and what you do with it after use.
In France, ADEME says aluminium and plastic capsules should go in the paper and packaging recycling. Check your local authority’s guidance for the coffee supplies you use, too.
The Original range is a useful reference when comparing capsule machines and their compatible coffee supplies.
Senseo is associated with soft pod machines, making it an option for households that prefer a pre-measured serving.
De’Longhi’s guidance can help you understand how to maintain its traditional portafilter machines and bean-to-cup espresso machines with grinders.
These Joybuy machines showcase three ways to make coffee at home: soft pods, beans with a grinder, and capsules. For a portafilter, use the guidance above on dosing and maintenance, but don’t assume the models featured here belong to that category.
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Worth considering if you want to make coffee with Senseo soft pods. Check which pod format you’ll be using and what maintenance the manual recommends.
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A machine with a grinder to consider if you want to make coffee from beans and are also looking for the LatteGo setup. Check how much space you’ll need and how to clean the milk system and grinder.
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This bean-to-cup model is for households that prefer automated preparation to using a portafilter. Before making room for it, check its dimensions and the maintenance procedure in the manual.
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For a capsule-based routine, check that your chosen coffee supplies are clearly labelled as compatible with the Nespresso Original system. The product name gives the water tank capacity as 0.6 L and the power as 1 200 W; remember to factor in cleaning and descaling, too.
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This machine is designed for a Vertuo capsule routine, not the Original system. Its name gives the water tank capacity as 0.6 L. If cup sizes are important to you, check which formats this particular version offers.
Start with a drink you actually make: count the capsules or pods you need, or measure the amount of ground coffee or beans you use. Then do the same for your usual routine and check the maintenance supplies for each machine separately.
No. Check the exact system stated on the machine and the capsules you’re considering. Nespresso Original and Vertuo, for example, are different systems. With soft pods, too, check the accepted format before you buy, especially if you make several types of drink.
Follow the manual for your model and take your water hardness into account. De’Longhi says that how often its traditional machines need descaling can depend on water hardness and the number of coffees made. For its grinder machines, the brand says to follow the machine’s descaling alert.
Check the safety information and the manual for the specific model. The DGCCRF explains that, for products covered by the relevant European requirements, the CE marking indicates the manufacturer’s declaration that the product complies with them; it is not an independent certification.
According to ADEME, aluminium and plastic capsules should go in the paper and packaging recycling. Check your local authority’s guidance to make sure you recycle the capsules you use correctly.