Households short on space
You want to move on from pods without cluttering your worktop. A slim machine could catch your eye, provided you also have room to handle and rinse its parts after making a drink.
Who is this option for?
People who prefer a simple routine
You’d rather keep the number of settings to learn to a minimum. Compare the steps involved in making and cleaning your coffee, not just the number of controls: according to Philips France, the Baristina automates preparation, but you still need to remove and rinse its portafilter.
Households that make milk-based drinks
You’re weighing up a machine without a milk system, a steam wand or automatic milk preparation. How often you actually make cappuccinos or lattes will help you decide whether the extra parts and cleaning will fit into your routine.
What sets the machines apart?
To replace pods in a small kitchen, start with the space you have to work with and the steps you’re happy to take each day. Then choose the features that suit the drinks your household makes.
Compact or hybrid bean-to-cup machine
Worth considering: if width is your main constraint and you want a machine with few settings for your everyday coffee.
Bear in mind: you may still need to do something by hand after making your coffee. Les Numériques reports that the Krups Coffee Crush Experience’s portafilter must be emptied and cleaned after every coffee; Philips France says the Baristina’s needs to be removed and rinsed.
Automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine
Worth considering: if several people want different drinks or settings, and you have enough room to use the machine comfortably.
Bear in mind: automatic preparation doesn’t eliminate the need to access the trays and water tank or carry out regular maintenance. The exact tasks depend on the model you choose.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space and access | Measure the width, depth and height, then allow for the space needed to open lids and remove parts. | In a small kitchen, I want to leave the machine in place without blocking access to fill it or the space in front of it; around 33% of consumers would prioritise its actual footprint. |
| Daily steps | Check the tasks required after each cup and the regular cleaning instructions in the manual for your chosen model. | For my everyday coffee, I’d rather have a routine that’s easy to remember, even if I need to rinse a part after use; simplicity would be a priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Milk-based drinks | Compare the drinks you actually make with the cleaning required for a steam wand or milk system. | If I often make cappuccinos, I want to choose a milk-preparation method I’ll actually use; around 13% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Ongoing maintenance | Check the descaling and cleaning instructions, along with any filters or other consumables required for the model. | I want to know what I’ll need to do over the coming weeks before switching machines; maintenance would come first for around 27% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing based on width alone
A slim machine may still need more depth, or more clearance beneath a cupboard, when its portafilter is in place or its lids are open.
Before deciding where to put it, check its dimensions when in use and make sure you can remove the water tank, grounds container and other detachable parts.
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Assuming automatic preparation means no cleaning
Cleaning tasks vary from one machine to another. Les Numériques notes that the Krups Coffee Crush Experience’s portafilter needs emptying and cleaning after every coffee; Philips France says the Baristina’s portafilter needs rinsing.
Check the manual to see what needs doing after each cup, regularly and when descaling.
Also allow time to empty the coffee grounds and, depending on the model, maintain the brewing unit.
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Automatically choosing a milk system
A milk carafe or system means more parts to handle and clean, even if your household mostly drinks black coffee.
Count how many milk-based drinks you make in a typical week, then choose between no milk system, a manual steam wand and automatic preparation.
Brands to consider
Krups
The Coffee Crush Experience is worth a look if limited worktop width is narrowing your options.
- Les Numériques gives the tested Coffee Crush Experience a width of 15 cm.
- The same review notes that the portafilter needs emptying and cleaning after every coffee, and that it can’t make two cups at once. These findings don’t apply to every Krups machine.
Philips
The Baristina and Series 2200 show two different ways to switch to beans: a portafilter with automated preparation, or an automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine, depending on the model.
- Philips France describes the Baristina’s grinding, tamping and extraction as automated; the Series 2200 is available in a LatteGo version for cappuccinos.
- The Baristina’s portafilter needs rinsing. For a Series 2200, check the maintenance tasks and milk features for the exact variant.
De'Longhi
The Magnifica Start range lets you compare different ways of preparing milk, rather than treating this feature as a must-have.
- De'Longhi France lists Magnifica Start variants with a steam wand and others with automatic milk frothing.
- The number of drinks and cleaning steps vary by model. Check its dimensions and access to the parts before choosing, too.
Machines for switching to beans
These three automatic bean-to-cup espresso machines are designed for making coffee from whole beans using an integrated grinder. If you have a small kitchen, compare how much space they need when in use and the milk-drink routine you want before choosing a model.
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Philips Series 2200 EP2230/10 LatteGo
Worth considering if you want to switch to beans with a grinder machine and are looking for the LatteGo variant. Check that you have enough room to access its parts and that its maintenance steps suit your routine.
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De'Longhi Magnifica S Smart ECAM250.23.SB
This automatic machine with an integrated grinder suits anyone looking to make coffee from whole beans. If you also make milk-based drinks, check that the method provided for this model and the steps involved work for you. Be sure to measure the space it needs when in use, too.
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De'Longhi Magnifica Start ECAM220.21.WW, white
This bean-to-cup machine is another option for replacing pods with a grinder. Check that its drinks, the steps involved in preparing milk and access to removable parts suit the way you’ll use it and where you plan to put it.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a milk system to switch from pods?
No, switching to whole-bean coffee doesn’t require a milk system. If you regularly make cappuccinos, compare a steam wand with automatic milk preparation, taking the steps involved and cleaning into account. Otherwise, this feature can be a lower priority.
How can you check whether a bean-to-cup machine will fit in a small kitchen?
Measure the space needed to use it, not just the dimensions of its body. Check the clearance beneath wall cupboards, whether the lids can open, access to the water tank and whether there’s enough room in front to remove parts.
Does an automatic bean-to-cup machine mean you don’t have to clean it?
No. It automates some preparation steps, but maintenance tasks vary by model. Philips France says to rinse the Baristina’s portafilter after use; Les Numériques reports that the Krups Coffee Crush Experience’s portafilter needs emptying and cleaning after every coffee. Check the manual for the model you’re considering to see what regular tasks are required.
What should you do with your old pod machine in France?
An electric coffee machine that has reached the end of its life should go through the electrical and electronic equipment waste recycling scheme. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition says that a collection and recycling scheme operates in France. Contact your local authority, a collection point or the retailer to find out where you can drop it off.