For coffee with minimal effort, consider capsule or pod machines. If you’d like more involvement in the brewing process, look at portafilter machines, while a bean-to-cup machine automates the process using whole beans. The number of cups you need to make, the milk-based drinks you enjoy and the time you’re willing to spend on cleaning matter just as much as the system you choose. Check these details for the specific model you’re considering.
If you want a coffee machine for everyday use with minimal settings to adjust, start by looking at capsule and pod machines. Do check which consumables are compatible and how to descale the machine you choose.
If you make coffee often, compare the capsules, pods, ground coffee and beans you’ll actually use. A portafilter or bean-to-cup machine may also be worth considering if you’re happy with the brewing and maintenance involved.
If you regularly make cappuccinos or lattes, check the milk system on each specific model: a steam wand, milk frother or automatic recipes. Remember to factor in cleaning it after use, too.
First, decide how involved you want to be in making your coffee. Then check that the machine can make the drinks and serve the number of cups your household needs.
Worth considering: if you want to make coffee with minimal effort; cup sizes depend on the system you choose.
Bear in mind: your choice of drinks depends on which capsules are compatible with the machine.
Worth considering: if you want simple controls for your everyday coffee, particularly a longer cup.
Bear in mind: cup sizes and compatible pods vary by model; a pod machine won’t necessarily make all the drinks you’re after.
Worth considering: if you’d like to be involved in making your espresso and are happy to do the steps involved.
Bear in mind: dosing the coffee and cleaning the portafilter take time each time you use it.
Worth considering: if you regularly make coffee from whole beans and would rather automate this step.
Bear in mind: cleaning and descaling are still necessary, and milk functions vary between models.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday use | How many steps it takes to make each coffee, and whether you can serve several cups in a row. | When coffees are being made one after another at home, I want to make them without having to repeat lots of steps. Around 33% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Consumables | Which capsules, pods, ground coffee or beans you can use, and how easy they are to buy. | If I make coffee often, I want to be able to get the right consumables for my machine easily. This would be the top concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Choice of drinks | Available cup sizes and whether the specific model has a steam wand, frother or milk-based recipes. | At home, we switch between espresso, a longer coffee and milk-based drinks, so I want to check what the machine can actually make. Around 25% of consumers would put this variety first. |
| Care and maintenance | Cleaning the parts you use, the descaling process and the availability of parts for the model. | I want to know what I’ll need to do after making coffee and when it’s time to descale, without choosing a machine that’s difficult to maintain. For around 17% of consumers, this would be their main concern. |
A straightforward brewing process doesn’t mean there’s no maintenance. Philips’ SENSEO descaling instructions include two descaling cycles followed by rinsing.
Before choosing a model, check its manual to find out what’s involved in descaling and which parts need cleaning.
These cycles take water, descaling solution and time.
Bean-to-cup machines don’t all offer the same recipes or the same way of preparing milk. A manual steam wand works differently from an automated system.
If you often enjoy milk-based drinks, check which recipes are available and which parts need cleaning afterwards.
These are things to assess for the specific model you’re considering. UFC-Que Choisir’s espresso machine testing, for example, includes cleaning and descaling.
Look for test results for the model you’re considering, check its manual and find out what support and replacement parts are available.
Nespresso France’s Vertuo range includes several cup sizes, from espresso to mug, as well as models or accessories designed for milk-based drinks.
Philips’ SENSEO machines use soft pods for straightforward coffee making. The SENSEO Original described in its documentation makes one or two cups at the touch of a button.
De’Longhi France’s range includes manual machines and grinders, with brewing features and milk systems that vary by model.
These Joybuy machines show three ways to make coffee at home: soft pods, a portafilter and a bean-to-cup grinder. Compare how much is involved in making your coffee and the maintenance needed for the drinks you usually enjoy.
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Worth a look if you want to make coffee from whole beans and have a LatteGo system for milk-based drinks.
Check how to clean the milk system and the descaling process before choosing this model.
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A soft-pod option if you want a fuss-free machine for your everyday coffee.
Choose pods that are compatible with this model rather than assuming it takes other capsules, and check the manual for descaling instructions.
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Consider this for automated coffee making from whole beans if you’re happy to prepare milk yourself using the steam wand.
Remember to clean the wand after use, and check the descaling instructions for this model.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for an automatic grinder machine that can also make milk-based drinks.
The model name lists six types of coffee and a touchscreen. Check the manual to find out what’s involved in cleaning the milk system.
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A portafilter machine to consider if you’re happy to make the coffee yourself and clean the parts you’ve used after each round.
For milk-based drinks, you’ll also need to use and clean the steam wand. Check the water tank capacity for the specific model on offer before choosing.
Yes. Making coffee may involve fewer steps, but the machine still needs looking after. Philips’ SENSEO instructions, for example, describe two descaling cycles followed by rinsing. Check your model’s manual for the steps that apply to it.
Read the manual for the model you’re considering to find out how to clean and descale it. De’Longhi says that how often its grinders need descaling depends on water hardness. Bear this in mind rather than assuming every machine needs the same routine.
Search for parts and accessories using the machine’s full model number before relying on being able to replace them. Philips, for example, offers support searches by product number. Finding a part for one SENSEO model doesn’t guarantee it will fit another.