If you’re short on time and space
If you mainly make one cup at a time, a single-serve machine can mean fewer steps. If you’re considering a capsule machine, though, check which system it uses before making room for it on your worktop.
Which routine is right for you?
If you drink coffee every day and care about consumables
If you use your machine often, check which types of coffee it takes and where you can buy them regularly. Soft pods, capsules, ground coffee and whole beans all need to be sourced differently.
If you’re happy to spend time preparing your coffee
A portafilter lets you choose your ground coffee, provided you’re happy to measure it out and clean up afterwards. A grinder uses whole beans and automates more of the preparation, but you’ll still need to maintain it.
What should you prioritise?
To compare the four types described by Que Choisir, start with the steps you want to take every day, then look at coffee compatibility and the maintenance required for each model.
Capsules
Worth considering: if you mainly make one cup at a time and want to keep steps to a minimum.
Bear in mind: your choice of capsules depends on the specific system used by the machine.
Soft pods
Worth considering: if you want a single-serve brewing method and are looking for the soft-pod format described by Que Choisir.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to confirm which format the machine takes and follow the recommended care instructions.
Portafilter
Worth considering: if you want to choose your ground coffee and be involved in preparing it.
Bear in mind: measuring out the coffee, emptying the portafilter and cleaning it all involve extra steps.
Bean grinder
Worth considering: if you use whole beans and would rather automate much of the preparation.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to allow space for it and keep up with cleaning and descaling.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | What matters to consumers |
|---|---|---|
| Speed and steps | Compare the steps involved in making one cup and then several, and check the water tank capacity. | When I make a cup before heading out, I want to keep handling to a minimum, even if that limits my choice of coffee; around 33% of consumers would make this simplicity their priority. |
| Finding coffee | Identify the format the machine takes and check where you can regularly find compatible consumables. | If I make coffee every day, I want to be able to find what works with my machine easily. For around 25% of consumers, sourcing coffee would come before other considerations. |
| Coffee choice and settings | Confirm which types of coffee the model takes and what settings it actually offers. | I prefer to choose my beans or ground coffee and decide how to prepare my drink; around 25% of consumers would put this freedom at the top of their list. |
| Maintenance | Check the manual for routine cleaning, descaling instructions and approved products. | If cleaning takes up too much of my routine, I might use the machine less; around 17% of consumers would prioritise an easy cleaning process. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming all capsules are compatible
According to Que Choisir, most brands accept only one type of capsule. The name of the drink alone isn’t enough to confirm compatibility.
Identify the machine’s exact system, then check which capsules you want to use and whether they’re available in France.
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Choosing without considering repeat purchases
Capsule, pod, portafilter and bean-to-cup machines don’t all use the same consumables. Your choice determines what you’ll need to keep buying to make your usual coffee.
Before deciding, check which formats are compatible and which care products the manual recommends.
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Thinking a grinder needs no maintenance
Automating the preparation doesn’t remove the need for cleaning or descaling. De’Longhi says that how often you need to descale depends, among other things, on your water hardness.
Check the instructions for the model you’re considering, how easy it is to access the parts that need cleaning and what’s involved in making milk-based drinks, if those appeal to you.
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Using any descaling product
Philips advises against using white vinegar on the SENSEO models covered by its guidance, as it may damage the machine.
Check the manual for your model and only use a type of descaler it approves.
Brands to know when choosing
Nespresso
Worth considering if you’re looking for a capsule machine: the system it uses will determine which coffee you can choose.
- Nespresso presents Original and Vertuo as two distinct systems, with drink sizes to check across the range.
- Don’t assume a capsule designed for one system will work with the other; check compatibility with the model you choose.
SENSEO / Philips
Worth considering if you want to make coffee with soft pods.
- Que Choisir describes the soft pod as a standardised format; still, check which format each machine takes.
- For the SENSEO models covered by its guidance, Philips recommends a suitable citric-acid-based descaler and advises against white vinegar.
De’Longhi
Worth considering among bean grinder machine makers if you want to prepare drinks using whole beans.
- De’Longhi offers ranges that use freshly ground beans; milk-based drink options and customisation features vary by model.
- The brand says that how often you need to descale depends, among other things, on your water hardness, so check the instructions for the model you’re considering.
Machines for these uses on Joybuy
These models represent the four ways of making coffee covered here. First choose the routine and coffee format that suit you, then check the features and maintenance requirements of the model you’re considering.
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Philips SENSEO CSA260/91 Maestro, intense red
Worth considering if you want a soft-pod routine. Check which format this model takes, which pods you plan to use and what its manual says about descaling.
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Philips EP2230/10 Series 2200 LatteGo, black
Worth considering if you’d prefer a bean grinder machine to preparing coffee manually with a portafilter. If the LatteGo system is important to you, check which drinks this model offers and which parts need cleaning.
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Nespresso Vertuo ENV90.B Vertuo Pop, black, 0,6 L
Worth considering if you want a capsule routine using the Vertuo system. Compare its stated 0,6 L tank capacity with the number of drinks you make, and check which compatible capsules you’ll be able to buy.
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De’Longhi Dedica Style EC685.M, silver
Worth considering if you want to make coffee with a portafilter and don’t mind the steps involved after each use. Check which types of coffee it takes, how much space it needs and the maintenance instructions in the EC685.M manual.
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Nespresso EN80.CW Inissia, cream white
Worth considering if you prefer to make your everyday coffee with capsules. Before choosing the EN80.CW, confirm which capsule system it takes and check the manual for cleaning and descaling instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Are all capsules interchangeable?
No. Compatibility depends on the machine’s system. Que Choisir says that most brands accept only one type of capsule, so check the exact model and the capsules you want to buy.
Can you descale a SENSEO machine with white vinegar?
Not for the SENSEO models covered by Philips’ guidance. The brand advises against white vinegar, which may damage the machine, and recommends a suitable citric-acid-based descaler instead. Check the manual for your model.
When should you descale a machine with a grinder?
Follow the guidance for your model rather than using a schedule that applies to every machine. De’Longhi says that how often descaling is needed depends, among other things, on water hardness; check the alert and instructions in the manual.
What can you do if a machine bought from a retailer in France isn’t as described?
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 a consumer in France. If the machine doesn’t match its description, contact the business that sold it to you. This remedy for goods that don’t conform is separate from returning an item simply because you’ve changed your mind.