For consistently good coffee at home, start by choosing the routine that suits you: capsules or soft pods for a pre-portioned drink, a portafilter if you want to handle the ground coffee yourself, or a grinder if you want to choose your own beans. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between these four types. Before choosing a machine, consider its consumables, the space it takes up and the maintenance it needs in light of how often you’ll use it. Check the noise and speed of the specific model you’re considering.
You mainly make an espresso or lungo between other activities, and want to keep handling to a minimum on a limited worktop. Capsules are a simple option. Nespresso lists the Essenza Mini as measuring 8,4 × 33 × 20,4 cm, although this measurement applies to this model only.
You’re happy to empty the containers and maintain a grinder so you can choose your own coffee beans. In its comparison, UFC-Que Choisir found that the cost per cup of espresso made with a grinder was two to three times lower than for pod espresso. This figure alone doesn’t tell you what your total costs will be.
You prefer to measure out ground coffee and use a portafilter, perhaps with a steam wand for milk. De’Longhi describes its manual machines as being for people who want to be involved in making their coffee. Bear in mind that this approach also involves cleaning up afterwards.
Worth considering: if you want to make an espresso or lungo with minimal effort in a small space.
Bear in mind: your choice of capsules depends on the machine’s system, and the cost of consumables adds to the cost of use.
Worth considering: if you want a ready-to-use portion without measuring or tamping the coffee.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to use the right pod format and continue to descale and rinse the machine according to its instructions.
Worth considering: if you want to control how much ground coffee you use and how you prepare it.
Bear in mind: handling the portafilter and cleaning the machine after use will add more steps to your routine.
Worth considering: if you make coffee regularly and want to choose your own beans.
Bear in mind: grinding adds a noisy step, while the containers and coffee system need regular maintenance.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Speed and size | Measure the available space, including room to access the water tank, then check the warm-up time of the model you’re considering. | I want a coffee between activities without adding lots of steps or taking up the whole worktop. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this combination. |
| Ongoing costs and choice of beans | Compare the coffee you plan to use, and check how easy it is to reach the parts that need cleaning, as well as how noisy the grinder is. | If I make several coffees regularly, I want to choose my beans while keeping the cost of each cup under control. Around 27% of consumers are said to share this priority. |
| Hands-on preparation | Check which filters are included, how much space you’ll need for the portafilter and whether there’s a steam wand if you make milk-based drinks. | I prefer to measure out my own ground coffee and don’t mind cleaning the accessories after use. Around 20% of consumers would put manual control above other considerations. |
| Soft pods and maintenance | Check which pod format the machine uses, then read about its descaling and rinsing steps. | I want to use soft pods to avoid measuring out coffee, without overlooking the maintenance cycles. Around 20% of consumers are said to prioritise this balance. |
If you use your machine regularly, the coffee and maintenance also affect the cost and time involved in making each cup. In its comparison, UFC-Que Choisir found that the cost per cup was lower with a grinder than with pod espresso. However, you still need to consider the machine and its maintenance.
Compare the consumables you’ll actually use and the maintenance tasks you’re willing to carry out.
UFC-Que Choisir says that most brands accept only one type of capsule. Nespresso Original and Vertuo are two separate systems.
Check the machine’s exact system and confirm which capsule or pod formats it accepts before choosing your consumables.
Choosing the wrong format could mean having to replace the consumables you’ve bought.
Philips provides guidance on descaling and rinsing SENSEO machines. De’Longhi explains that how often its traditional machines need descaling depends, among other things, on water hardness and use.
Check the instructions for the model you’re considering, including rinsing, removable parts and cleaning the milk wand, if there is one.
Maintenance cycles use water and descaling product, and take up time when you can’t use the machine.
The brand has two capsule systems: Original, geared in particular towards espresso, and Vertuo, which also caters for other cup sizes.
This Philips range uses soft pods for pre-portioned coffee.
The range includes manual portafilter machines and automatic machines with grinders.
Philips offers bean-to-cup espresso machines, as well as SENSEO soft-pod machines.
These machines cover capsule and soft-pod coffee, portafilter preparation and bean-to-cup coffee. First choose the type that suits your daily routine, then check the specifications of the model you’re interested in.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a capsule machine that makes coffee with minimal effort. The name of this version indicates a 0,6 L water tank and 1 200 W of power. Check which capsule format it accepts and how much it costs to use.
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For people who want to take part in making their coffee with a portafilter machine. Check the water tank capacity before buying, as the information given for this model doesn’t match. Remember to allow time for cleaning after use, too.
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Worth a look if you want pre-portioned coffee with soft pods. Check which pods are suitable for this model, and factor descaling into your routine.
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Worth considering for regular use with coffee beans and automatic preparation. This version is called LatteGo. Check the maintenance required for the accessories you use, and how noisy the grinder is if you want to keep your coffee break quiet.
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For people who want to choose their own beans and are also interested in milk-based drinks from an automatic machine. Factor in cleaning the milk system and the descaling cycles, and check how noisy the grinder is for the place where you’ll use the machine.
No. The capsules a machine accepts depend on its system. UFC-Que Choisir says that most brands accept only one type of capsule; Nespresso Original and Vertuo are separate systems. Check compatibility carefully before choosing your capsules.
Yes. Follow the instructions for your model and take your water hardness into account. Philips recommends regularly descaling SENSEO machines and rinsing them afterwards. De’Longhi says that how often its traditional espresso machines need descaling depends on the water and how the machines are used.
Look for a noise assessment of the specific model, particularly while it’s grinding. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing of bean-to-cup espresso machines also looks at noise and vibration during rinsing and dispensing. The number of grinder settings alone won’t tell you how noisy it is to use.
Check what collection options are available near you before relying on a collection point. Nespresso lists more than 2 000 collection points in France for used capsules; local recycling options depend on your area.
No. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a consumer. A commercial warranty is separate: check what it covers and its terms without confusing it with your statutory protection.