To make espresso or longer coffees with minimal effort for each cup, start by comparing compact automatic machines. Check their depth and how easy it is to access the parts you need to fill or clean, not just their width. A manual machine with a separate grinder is a good option if you’re happy to measure and tamp the coffee. A hand grinder and pour-over dripper are better suited to filter coffee and kit you can put away between uses.
If you often make coffee from beans and leave your machine out, allow enough space to fill it and access the parts that need maintenance. Melitta gives the Solo a width of 20 cm, but that figure alone doesn’t tell you how much space you’ll need around the machine.
If you’re looking for an easy routine, check the cleaning tasks involved and how accessible the components are. Melitta says the Solo has a removable brewing unit, while Philips’ EP2220 support pages detail several maintenance tasks for that specific model.
If you’re choosing between espresso, filter coffee and milky drinks, check whether milk is prepared automatically as part of a recipe or frothed manually with a steam wand. The Philips EP2224/10, Sage Bambino duo and Hario V60 offer different ways to make these drinks.
For making coffee from beans regularly in a small kitchen, your choice will mainly depend on how much space the machine needs in use, how easy it is to maintain, how noisy it is, which drinks you want and how much hands-on preparation you’re happy to do.
| What matters | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Space needed in use | Melitta gives the Solo a width of 20 cm; also measure the depth and height, and allow for the clearance it needs. For the Sage Bambino duo, factor in both the machine and grinder, as Sage publishes their dimensions separately. | I want to leave my equipment out without blocking access to the water tanks or parts that need cleaning. Space is the top priority for around 29% of people in this situation. |
| Maintenance and access to parts | Melitta says the Solo’s brewing unit is removable; Philips’ EP2220 support pages cover descaling and maintenance of the brew group, among other tasks. Check the manual for the exact model. | If I make coffee every day, I want to know what cleaning tasks I’ll need to do in addition to making it. Maintenance is the top priority for around 23% of people. |
| Noise while making coffee | Melitta describes the Purista’s grinder as ‘ultra-quiet’, but this isn’t a comparable measurement. Look for a test that specifies the model and the stage of operation measured. | I sometimes make coffee in a home where grinder noise could be disruptive. Keeping noise under control is the top priority for around 18% of people. |
| Drinks you can actually make | Philips describes the EP2224/10 as having a classic milk frother. A 2020 archived review by Les Numériques notes that the Purista model it tested has no steam wand; check the exact model and how it prepares milk. | I want to know whether milky drinks are made automatically or if I’ll need to froth the milk myself. Having a choice of drinks is the top priority for around 18% of people. |
| Preparation steps and equipment | Sage presents the Bambino Dose Control Pro Duo as a machine and separate grinder. Hario says the V60 01 is suitable for 1 to 2 cups; you’ll also need a grinder if you’re starting with beans. | I’d rather choose between hands-on preparation and equipment I can put away, instead of leaving a machine on the worktop. Balancing preparation steps and equipment is the top priority for around 12% of people. |
A machine might fit into an alcove on paper, but leave too little space to fill the tanks or remove a part for cleaning. The Melitta Solo has a removable brewing unit, while a machine-and-grinder duo needs space for both appliances.
Measure the equipment where you plan to use it, then check the manual for the exact model to see what access is needed for filling and maintenance.
If access is blocked, you may have to move the machine whenever you fill it or clean it.
The Philips EP2224/10 and De’Longhi ECAM222.20.B product details describe equipment that requires manual input. So, having a steam wand doesn’t mean the drink is made entirely by the machine.
For each model, check which drinks you can make at the touch of a button and which require you to froth the milk yourself.
Frothing milk with a manual steam wand and cleaning it afterwards take time.
Manufacturers specify cleaning and descaling tasks, including for automatic machines. The instructions and components involved can vary by model.
Check the manual for the model you’re considering and make sure you know which maintenance products and replacement parts it needs.
Depending on the model, your routine may involve maintenance products, suitable replacement parts or time spent cleaning.
The Solo and Purista are worth considering for black coffee, particularly if you’re looking for a slim automatic machine.
The Series 2200 includes different configurations; the EP2224/10 is presented with two coffee options and a classic milk frother.
The Magnifica Start ECAM222.20.B is a bean-to-cup machine with a traditional steam wand for frothing milk manually.
The Bambino Dose Control Pro duo offers a portafilter espresso setup with a separate grinder.
The V60 and Mini-Slim Plus hand grinder suit filter coffee if you prefer to put your equipment away between uses.
The products below are automatic coffee machines with built-in grinders, so you can compare different ways of making coffee from beans.
No image available
Worth considering if you want to switch between espresso and filter coffee using beans.
The product title mentions a built-in grinder and manual milk frother, so making milky drinks requires hands-on preparation.
No image available
Worth considering if you’re comparing a Series 2200 bean-to-cup machine with a LatteGo configuration.
Check the maintenance instructions for the exact model and the steps involved in making your favourite drinks.
No image available
Worth considering if you’re looking for an automatic machine with a grinder to make coffee from beans.
According to the information supplied for this model, milky drinks are made using the steam wand.
No image available
Worth considering if you’re comparing an automatic machine with a grinder and manual milk preparation.
The product selection details say that milky drinks require the steam wand.
No image available
Worth considering if you want to compare an automatic machine with a grinder and several coffee-making options.
According to the information supplied for this model, making milky drinks involves using the steam wand and cleaning it afterwards.
No. The 20 cm figure refers to the width of the Melitta Solo, not the space needed to fill it, clean its brewing unit or handle the machine. Measure the space and check the clearance specified in the manual for the model you’re considering.
No. Melitta lists cleaning and descaling tasks for the Solo, while Philips’ EP2220 support pages also mention maintenance of the brew group. Follow the instructions for your model and don’t assume the schedule is the same as for another model.
No. Philips describes the EP2224/10 as having a classic milk frother, while De’Longhi says that making milky drinks with the ECAM222.20.B’s steam wand is a manual process. Check whether your chosen drink is made automatically or requires you to froth the milk yourself.
Note down the exact model number and look for parts that are compatible with it. For example, Melitta lists a brewing unit compatible with the Solo and Purista. In its practical guide dated 16 October 2025, the DGCCRF explains that the requirement to make spare parts available applies only to certain categories of goods, so don’t assume that every coffee machine has the same availability period.
The DGCCRF states that claims under the statutory guarantee of conformity must be brought within two years of the goods being delivered, whether new or second-hand. Any commercial guarantee is in addition to, and does not replace, your statutory rights.