For a household that switches between short coffees, long coffees and milk-based drinks, start by considering which drinks you actually make and what each person is happy to do every day: capsules and pods make serving simple, a portafilter gives you more scope for hands-on preparation, while a bean-to-cup machine combines coffee beans with automatic preparation. Then compare the running costs, water tank capacity and cleaning requirements of the milk system on the model you’re considering. UFC-Que Choisir also looks at how consistently a machine serves several cups in a row.
If everyone makes a cup within a short space of time, easy-to-use controls, a suitably sized tank and minimal interruptions all matter in your daily routine. UFC-Que Choisir assesses, among other things, how consistent the volume is across consecutive cups.
An espresso, a long coffee and a cappuccino don’t all call for the same features. Check which recipes the specific model offers, then find out how to rinse and clean its milk frother or milk jug.
If you make several cups regularly, choosing between coffee portions, ground coffee and beans affects your recurring purchases. Remember to factor in any maintenance products specified in the instructions, too.
The four types described by UFC-Que Choisir are mainly distinguished by how they prepare coffee and the kinds of coffee they take. However, you should check that each specific model can make a milk-based drink or a long coffee rather than assuming it can based on its type alone.
Worth considering : if your household wants easy-to-prepare portions and you can find your preferred coffee formats in the system you choose.
Bear in mind : you’ll need to buy capsules regularly, and compatibility depends on the model.
Worth considering : if simple-to-prepare short or long coffees cover most of your household’s needs.
Bear in mind : milk-based drinks depend on the pods you use or separate preparation, rather than an integrated fresh-milk system.
Worth considering : if someone wants to choose their own ground coffee and take charge of preparing each cup.
Bear in mind : you’ll need to measure the coffee, handle the portafilter and clean it between uses.
Worth considering : if your household regularly uses whole beans but would like the machine to automate the preparation.
Bear in mind : the space it takes up and the need to clean the coffee grounds container, coffee circuit and, where applicable, milk system.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for ? |
|---|---|---|
| Serving coffees one after another | The tank capacity and controls for making the sizes you use; also compare how consistent consecutive cups are when this is measured in a test. | When several people make coffee almost at the same time, I want to avoid refilling and fiddling with the machine between cups. Around 29 % of consumers prioritise this ease of serving. |
| A variety of drinks, including milk-based options | The recipes actually available and the difference between a separate frother, a manual steam wand and an integrated milk system. | If we switch between espresso, long coffee and cappuccino, I want everyone to be able to make their usual drink. This variety is the main requirement for around 21 % of consumers. |
| Running costs and consumables | The cost of coffee for your usual consumption, portion compatibility and the recommended maintenance products. | When we make coffee every day, I consider what we’ll need to buy regularly, even if the machine involves more steps. Around 36 % of consumers put running costs first. |
| Coffee choice and adjustments | The types of coffee the machine takes and its length or strength settings; with a portafilter, also check which accessories you’ll need. | I’d rather choose my coffee and adjust how it’s made than prioritise the simplest controls. This level of control comes before other criteria for around 14 % of consumers. |
In a household making several coffees a day, coffee portions and maintenance costs add up over time, too. The per-cup cost figures published by UFC-Que Choisir in 2009 aren’t a substitute for working out costs based on the consumables you’d buy today.
Estimate how many drinks you make each week, then compare the types of coffee each machine takes and the maintenance products specified in its instructions.
A steam wand, jug or separate frother adds more parts that come into contact with milk. The number of recipes doesn’t tell you how many steps you’ll need to take after making them.
Check the model’s instructions to find out what needs rinsing, which parts can be removed and how they should be washed.
The Original and Vertuo systems cater for different capsule formats, and some of the brand’s machines also offer milk-based recipes.
The brand offers soft pod machines for a range of black coffees, with some models able to serve two cups.
De’Longhi’s grinder ranges include models with different controls and milk-based drink options.
Philips offers bean-to-cup espresso machines with either a classic frother or a LatteGo jug, depending on the version.
Krups offers bean-to-cup machines with different drink selections depending on the model.
These machines illustrate the four coffee-making methods covered here: bean-to-cup grinder, soft pods, capsules and portafilter. Compare the different versions based on the drinks your household enjoys, how you’ll prepare milk and the maintenance you’re happy to carry out.
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Worth considering if your household wants to use whole beans and is looking at a LatteGo version for milk-based drinks. Check the recipes, how it handles several cups and the cleaning instructions for this specific model.
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Worth looking into if several people want to select their drinks using a touchscreen. The product title advertises six varieties of coffee and a cappuccino system; check exactly which recipes are available and how to clean the parts that come into contact with milk.
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Worth considering if your household prefers soft pods and easy-to-make black coffees. Senseo says the Maestro range can serve two cups; if milk-based drinks are important, check what separate preparation would suit you.
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Worth considering if your household prefers Vertuo capsules and wants to make milk froth with the supplied Aeroccino. The frother is a separate appliance, so check its cleaning instructions and which capsule formats suit the coffees you drink.
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Worth considering if someone in your household is happy to froth milk manually for cappuccinos or lattes. The product title states a pressure of 20 bar; this figure alone doesn’t tell you how well it handles several cups. Also check how it makes long coffees and how much space it needs.
Choose based on the drinks your household wants and the preparation it’s happy to do: portions make things simpler, a portafilter gives you more hands-on control, and a grinder automates preparation from whole beans. To compare specific models, look at the tank, the recipes available and, if several people will be making coffee one after another, how consistently the machine serves consecutive cups, as assessed by UFC-Que Choisir.
Yes. You’ll need to clean any parts that come into contact with milk, following the model’s instructions. Check when to rinse the steam wand, jug or separate frother, and which parts can be removed.
Follow your machine’s instructions and alerts: how often it needs descaling depends in part on the water and how much you use it. UFC-Que Choisir recommends descaling every two to three months on average, but the instructions and products specified for your model should take precedence over this general guidance.
According to ADEME, aluminium or plastic capsules should go in the recycling bin, bag or container for paper and packaging. For capsules made from other materials, check the recycling guidance for the capsule you use.
The terms of a commercial guarantee may include maintenance requirements, so read those for the model you’ve chosen and keep its descaling instructions. This is separate from the statutory guarantee of conformity. In France, the Ministry of the Economy says you can claim this from the professional seller for two years for new or second-hand goods.