The 24 best coffee machine deals 2024 to perfect your home brew
Whether you want filter, pod, bean-to-cup or pump machines, we've found the very best for every budget
Regardless of whether you prefer a frothy cappuccino, a macchiato or a God shot of espresso to get you up and firing in the morning, there’s only one true way to enjoy the perfect brew away from the spenny coffee shops of your local town – and that’s with one of the best coffee machines placed on your kitchen countertop. Good quality coffee is an achievable dream for all who invest and equip their home with a decent brewing point, and the only problem is having figuring out which one is going to be best for your specific preferences.
Sure, we can all tip a kettle full of water into a mug of instant coffee, but not all of us have the dexterity and patience of a barista to rustle up delicious cups of coffee before work, so perhaps they need a fire-and-forget machine that requires a single press to deliver your morning Joe. Others prefer a more manual experience, carefully measuring out the grind, optimising the temperature and refraining from breathing through the whole process to avoid contamination. As you can see, there’s a broad range of specifications, so what you really need is someone to guide you around the confusing world of coffee machines to nudge you towards your dream robotic coffee maker.
Don’t worry though, as we’ve figured out all the best options and also got some helpful advice from Harrods’ in-house master barista, Bartosz Ciepaj, to make your decision a little easier.
What are the best coffee machines to buy 2024?
Honestly, a good coffee machine should look just as awesome as the coffee it produces, so we think this sleek stainless steel collab between Smeg and La Pavoni will fit rather nicely on your kitchen countertop. The hand-pumped brewer unlocks a whole new level of tinkering to your coffee, and it's definitely not something you'd ever want to pack away in a cupboard.
For the coffee lover who can't decide what they want, Breville's all-in-one machine steps in to help out. Delivering pretty much every type of warm drink right into your mug with just a few button presses, this one should be your first port of call for all your drinking needs.
Arguably one of the best feelings in the world is having a perfectly-brewed cup of coffee ready and waiting for you on the morning of a busy day, so why not invest in a machine that will get it all sorted through voice control? Lavazza's smart Voicy is a top-level automatic coffee machine that removes all the stress from your daily caffeine injection, and will even sing a song for you if you ask it nicely.
- GQ's favourite coffee machine: Illy X1 Anniversary, £521 at amazon.co.uk
- Best smart coffee machine: Lavazza A Modo Mio Voicy, £99 at amazon.co.uk
- Best bean-to-cup coffee machine: De'Longhi Rivelia, £749 at amazon.co.uk
- Most simple coffee machine: Sage Bambino Plus, £265 at amazon.co.uk
- Best capsule coffee machine: Lavazza, A Modo Mio Jolie, £48 at amazon.co.uk
- Best app-controlled coffee machine: Melitta Barista TS Smart, £730 at amazon.co.uk
Skip to: How do we test coffee machines? | Which is the best coffee maker to buy? | Which coffee machine is best for beginners? | What coffee machines does Starbucks use?
How do we test coffee machines?
If you're going to drop a few tonnes on a brand-new coffee machine, you want to know that it's worth your time and money, so we have picked out a selection of tested machines as well as the best-rated and most popular coffee makers around. For models we tested, we put them through the usual testing of making morning and day-time brews, assessing individual mechanics or systems for ease of use and quality of the drink. We tested any smart or app-controlled features for responsiveness and drank plenty of different coffee types –it's a tough job but someone's got to do it– to find out if they can actually deliver the goods.
For everything else, we researched the most sought-after products around, including the highest-reviewed and best-loved coffee machines. If everyone else loves it, you can be sure you probably will too.
Which is the best coffee maker to buy?
So what should you be looking for? “The best cup coffee machine is the one that serves your needs, so you have to ask yourself a few questions,” advises Ciepaj. “What do I personally want from the machine – a quick cup of coffee, or a God Shot of perfect espresso? If you’re looking for a quick and easy cup of coffee every time, get a bean to cup. For a perfect espresso-based coffee at home, go for a home lever machine that lets you control all the variables in home-brewing.”
There are four different types you need to be aware of:
For a more luxurious experience that caters to any and all styles of coffee, the best bean-to-cup machine is the one to go for. Removing a lot of the hands-on experience out of coffee-making, these machines simply require you to pop in the coffee beans, press a single button and then pick up a steaming mug ready to be consumed. Be prepared to make an investment (they can cost upwards of £1,000) but it is absolutely worth every penny if you’re keen on the ease-of-use factor.
Similarly convenient, the best coffee pod machines are for anyone who needs a quick shot in the morning without having to think too hard about water pressure, boiling times, and milk frothing. They are typically smaller and more affordable espresso makers than other brewers, but the process involves deciding which type of coffee you want to drink and throwing the pod of pre-ground coffee –which is available in a wide range of tasty flavours– into the machine to get it going. However, it’s hard to overlook how wasteful and damaging to the environment these pods can be. According to research by Halo, out of the 39,000 coffee pods that are produced every minute, 29,000 will be dumped at landfill sites.
It's a shocking statistic, but one that brands such as Nespresso have been working to improve. Most pod coffee machines are now recyclable and drop-off services may be available to help ensure as few as possible end up in the wrong place. When choosing which brand to purchase, keep this in mind and ensure you're on board with the amount of recycling you'll have to keep up with.
Want to get involved in coffee brewing? Pump machines are best for experimentation and will be the closest you can get to being a barista. They use pressure and boiled water, adjusted by a handle, to transform coffee grounds into blended drinks. Ciepaj advises you’ll need to write down your proportions and brew time to make the perfect coffee, just like you would when making a cake, so it definitely requires a bit more thought. You’ll also want to make sure you get (or at least find one that has one attached) a coffee grinder so you can get fresh coffee every time.
Filter coffee machines are a standard choice for anyone looking for a more affordable machine that just produces hot water for your mug. You might get one or two extra features like a milk frother or the option to brew different drinks, but it won’t quite be as good as your local coffee shop. The best espresso machines usually fall into this category, with great-tasting coffee delivered to you at the touch of a button, and they pretty much only make American-style coffee, but if that's your cup of tea (sorry, coffee), this is all you need.
Which coffee machine is best for beginners?
Any machine that helps you brew with a button will be your best bet, so look out for the one-touch Nespresso machines, Breville One-Touch or the Lavazza Voicy to help you get your caffeine fix instantly with minimal effort. These will have programmable options to get you your favourite drink of choice with one or two button presses, affording you the freedom to attempt to wake up while you wait. Espresso coffee machines are usually all that’s available at a lower price point, but that does mean you can be clever with your brewing and make cold brews or single-shot drinks in the machine before adding in more ingredients separately.
A step up in difficulty will be bean-to-cup machines which require a fair amount more thought in terms of keeping on top of the amount of beans left and allow you to customise your drinks with a bit more finesse. Adjust your dosing amount per drink will also be a potential headache before you settle on the right amount that suits you, but you might enjoy the process of being more involved in your drink-making.
Pump machines are more advanced if you’re still figuring out what you like from your drinks and how to get the right strength, though they can help you tinker with the pour to help you figure out what you like. Finding your own footing in this dizzy world of caffeine drinking will be a part of the fun, but if you’re just starting out and what a machine that will accompany your journey of discovery, we’d recommend a pump.
What coffee machines does Starbucks use?
The best way to learn a specific art is to watch the pros, but let’s face it, they will almost certainly have better equipment than anything you can get commercially. Starbucks, for instance, use hyper-specialised Mastrene machines with built-in grinders, steamers, frothers and multi-pour stations to get as many coffees out as quickly as possible. If you want to totally revolutionise your kitchen counter space into a cafe, then perhaps you could look into it, but for the vast majority of us, the machines you’ll find below will be enough for your caffeine fix.
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Shop GQ's edit of the best coffee machines to buy in 2024…
1/24Sage Barista Touch Impress
Pros: Precision operation | Stunning design | Color touchscreen
Cons: Expensive
- Best for: Recreating the authentic barista experience at home
- Coffee type: Bean-to-cup
- Water capacity: 2L
- Dimensions (HxWxD cm): 41.7 x 33.1 x 33 cm
- Pressure: 9 bar
- No of cups: Up to two cups
- Milk frother: Yes
The Barista Touch Impress is asking for a hefty chunk of money in exchange for its services, but if you're serious about coffee, then there'll be no buyer's remorse in sight. Looks aside (and boy, does it cut a fine figure), it's crammed with all sorts of clever features that justify its high entry fee.
A built-in touchscreen guides you through the process, carefully selecting the best grind size before applying precisely 22lbs of tamping pressure with a seven-degree twist, mimicking the best baristas in doing so. Even its milk frothing system is advanced, letting you select between dairy, oat, and soy milk. This is particularly useful, as the different variants can overheat at different temperatures, depending on their protein and fat content. Overall, it's a superb blend of form and function, that will serve up perfect brews for years to come.
£1,460£1,200. At amazon.co.uk and sageappliances.com
2/24Nespresso Vertuo Pop by Krups
Pros: Very affordable | Multiple cup size options | Simple to use
Cons: Very basic | No milk frother | Quite loud while pouring
- Best for: Simple fire-and-forget coffee at a low cost
- Coffee type: Pod espresso
- Water capacity: 0.56L
- Dimensions (HxWxD cm): 25 x 13.5 x 42.6 cm
- Pressure: N/A
- No of cups: One cup
- Milk frother: No
Sometimes, all you're capable of in the morning is a reluctant roll out of bed and down the stairs, and all you can really manage is to delicately press a button before your caffeine-starved mind simply cannot cope anymore. OK, so maybe that's a tad dramatic, but for those that simply can't function with our a morning brew and demand zero effort to get it, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop is your machine,
At a smidge under £100 it's literally the most basic of pod machines, with a single button used to release the coffee from your chosen pods. It does claim to have a feature that will scan the barcode of your chosen pod to adapt the brewing process to draw out more aroma or flavour, but we can't say we really noticed this during testing. The tiny footprint makes it a desirable option for tiny kitchens or those without the funds to blow out on the super-spenny machines found elsewhere on this list.
£99£59. At nespresso.com, johnlewis.com & amazon.co.uk
3/24De'Longhi Rivelia
Pros: Interchangeable bean hoppers | Attractive design | Color touchscreen
Cons: Bean/water tank capacity on the smaller side compared to some rivals
- Best for: Mixing up different beans with minimal hassle
- Coffee type: Bean-to-cup
- Water capacity: 1.4L
- Dimensions (HxWxD cm): 38.5 x 24.5 x 43 cm
- Pressure: 19 bar
- No of cups: Up to two cups
- Milk frother: Yes
The relatively compact Rivelia is available in a range of suave colours ranging from black and white, to grey and beige, ensuring that it'll fit right in with practically any kitchen decor. Its standout feature is its ability to swap out its bean hopper in an instant, letting you immediately switch between your favourite beans without faffing around with emptying and refilling. Two bean hoppers are included (with black and white lids to help you differentiate between them), making the switching process easy and intuitive.
With a full 3.5in touchscreen display for slick controls, milk frothing abilities, and plenty of pre-set modes and customisable options, the Rivelia is sure to make connoisseurs with a penchant for multiple different brews very happy indeed. £749. At amazon.co.uk and delonghi.co.uk
4/24Illy X1 Anniversary
Pros: Pod and ground coffee option | Beautiful design | Incredibly simple to use
Cons: Often out of stock on Amazon
- Best for: Roleplaying as a pro barista but actually just flicking a few levers for quality results
- Coffee type: Espresso pod and ground coffee machine
- Water capacity: 1L
- Dimensions (HxWxD cm): 26 x 25 x 33 cm
- Pressure: N/A
- No of cups: Up to two cups
- Milk frother: Yes
Easily our favourite coffee machine to arrive in 2023, the Illy X1 is a coffee-lover's dream. Most people fall into two categories of brewing: those that grind and brew themselves, and those who love to just press a button and let the machine do its thing. Thankfully, the X1 caters to both parties, with the option to brew pods or ground coffee beans and the incredibly simple interface that is as easy as flicking on a lever.
Resulting mugs are always delicious and quickly brewed, and you can adjust the volume of espresso poured or the temperature without fiddling too much with the settings. It's dummy-proof, always delivers lip-smacking mugs and looks simply stunning. £521. At amazon.co.uk and illy.com
Read GQ's Illy X1 Anniversary review
5/24Sage Oracle Touch
Pros: Coffee made simple | Dual boiler for simultaneous frothing and boiling | Touchscreen LCD display
Cons: Expensive | Still requires a bit of practice
- Best for: Pouring delicious, premium coffee with minimal effort
- Coffee type: Espresso machine
- Water capacity: 2.5L
- Dimensions (HxWxD cm): 39.2 x 37.3 x 45.4 cm
- Pressure: 15 bar
- No of cups: Up to two cups
- Milk frother: Yes
If just reading about coffee machines is giving you a stress-induced headache already, then the Oracle Touch provides a simpler experience without skimping on quality. You’ll need to be armed with barista-level skills and quick hands to wield the Dual Boiler, but with the more expensive model, any mug can make a great-tasting cuppa thanks to the bright full-colour touchscreen that lets you select your chosen drink, from cappuccino, latte, flat white to espresso with a few taps.
How does it deliver the goods? With the same dual boiler found in the model above but with a much better, user-friendly approach. Select your brew, wait for the machine to grind down your coffee beans – with the built-in burr grinder – and froth up your milk and then expertly pour it out yourself. And if you do fancy being a bit braver and tweaking things as you go, you can override the brewing process for a more personal approach, with the memory to store preset tinkerings for future drinking. £1,839. At sageappliances.co.uk, johnlewis.com & currys.co.uk
6/24Melitta F85 Barista TS Smart Coffee Machine
Pros: Smart controls | Two bean hoppers included | Easy to clean and maintain | 21 preset coffee modes
Cons: Can be a little complex to use | Smart features can be fiddly
- Best for: Premium bean-to-cup coffee
- Coffee type: Bean-to-cup
- Water capacity: 1.8L
- Dimensions (HxWxD cm): 37 x 46 x 35 cm
- Pressure: 15 bar
- No of cups: Up to two cups
- Milk frother: Yes
When it comes to top-tier brews with minimal headaches, it’s often best to go automatic. The best around? In our opinion, it’s Melitta’s Caffeo Barista TS. Once you prize your eyelids open in the morning, it’s a simple case of selecting which of the 21 preset coffee options you’d like to try, tapping the touchscreen and waiting. In fact, you don’t even need to go to those absurd lengths of being in the same room, as this one has the smarts to be controlled from an app, unlocking temp controls, brewing order and time started from your smartphone without the faffing around.
And while it’s not really much of a selling point when it comes to a good brew, this model is a particularly quiet machine, cutting down on the skull-rattling noise which can be a lot of effort for any sleep-deprived mind to deal with. £809. At amazon.co.uk & currys.co.uk
7/24Philips L'or Barista Sublime
Pros: Very affordable | 19 bar pressure unlocks higher quality brews | Comes with a tasting box of several coffee flavours
Cons: Low-ish water tank capacity | No milk frother
- Best for: Cost-efficient espresso machine with high-quality results
- Coffee type: Espresso
- Water capacity: 0.8L
- Dimensions (HxWxD cm): 15.7 x 40.2 x 27.6 cm
- Pressure: 19 bar
- No of cups: Up to two cups
- Milk frother: No
Espresso machines are typically the most cost-efficient way to level up your coffee drinking, and one of the cheapest machines around – that can still deliver decent brews – that we've tested is Philips' L'or Sublime.
Well under £100, it's not exactly stacked when it comes to features, but what it does offer is pod-poured mugs of delicious coffee thanks to the high bar pressure of 19. A greater pressure releases more aroma and flavour, and since you can adjust the volume of coffee poured per drink, you can stretch out the taste across two drinks that give you that much-needed shot of power in the morning.
A bonus is that the machine arrives with a tasting box featuring a variety of flavoured shot and double shot capsules so you can get a sense of which flavour will become your new obsession.
£109£80. At amazon.co.uk & philips.com
8/24De'Longhi Dedica
Pros: Removable drip tray | Make two cups simultaneously | Great customisation capability | Easy to descale and clean
Cons: Reasonably expensive for what it does
- Best for: Pump-brewed coffee from a beautifully-designed bit of kit
- Coffee type: Pump
- Water capacity: 1.1L
- Dimensions (HxWxD cm): 14.91 x 32.99 x 30.3 cm
- Pressure: 15 bar
- No of cups: Up to two cups
- Milk frother: Yes
£200 is roughly what you should expect to pay for a basic espresso machine, but if you're hunting for genuine quality at this price point, we'd suggest you consider De'Longhi's Dedica. The slimline design is a blessing for those working in small kitchens with limited countertop space, but the diminutive size belies a properly decent coffee machine that should please expert brewers and beginners alike.
It's quite happy to accept most types of ground coffee, from store-bought to self-ground options, thanks to the pressurised grind basket that doesn't struggle with a chunkier amount of coffee. £229
£179. At amazon.co.uk, delonghi.com & currys.co.uk
9/24Nespresso Essenza
Pros: Affordable | Very simple | Decent coffee results
Cons: A bit basic | Requires pods
- Best for: Simple pod-coffee
- Coffee type: Pod machine
- Water capacity: 0.6L
- Dimensions (HxWxD cm): 8.4 x 20.4 x 33 cm
- Pressure: 19 bar
- No of cups: One cup
- Milk frother: No
Small but mighty. That’s what Nespresso is aiming for with its affordable, slimline pod machine, and they succeed in all the right ways. We love Krups here at GQ, so this coffee maker is right up our alley, delivering no-frills, simple pod-brewed coffee with confidence. Your choices are reduced to espressos and lungo coffee, but square that away and you’ve got yourself a classy machine that’s quick to fire up, incredibly simple to use, and doesn't take up much real estate in your kitchen. There really isn’t too much to dislike here, aside from the need to purchase a separate milk frother if you’re making anything more than God shots. £170. At amazon.co.uk
10/24Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
Pros: Very quiet | Affordable | Fits Lavazza’s eco-pods
Cons: Quite basic | Have to stay close to the machine to stop coffee flow | Low water capacity
- Best for: Quick and easy pod-made coffee
- Coffee type: Pod machine
- Water capacity: 0.6L
- Dimensions (HxWxD cm): 12.99 x 8.27 x 4.88 cm
- Pressure: 15 bar
- No of cups: One cup
- Milk frother: No
When it comes to pod coffee machines, simplicity is the essential ingredient to a good cup of coffee, and none are more simple while still delivering the good than Lavazza’s Jolie. The incredibly small pod machine is as basic as you’d want it to be: pop in the pod, close the lid, press a button and enjoy. That’s literally it. It might sound reductive but there’s nothing more to it, and Lavazza does it as well as anyone else, with eco-friendly pods with a wide range of flavours to select.
There are some minor grumbles, including the relatively small water capacity (enough for maybe four cups at a time) and the fact that you have to manually stop the pour with a secondary button press, which can be frustrating if you’re rushing about in the morning.
£95£48. At amazon.co.uk & lavazza.co.uk
11/24Melitta Aromafresh
Pros: Really captures the flavour of the coffee | Grinds beans
Cons: Quite tall if you have cabinetry above your counters | Requires coffee filters
- Best for: Those wanting to explore different coffee flavours
- Coffee type: Bean to cup
- Water capacity: N/A
- Dimensions (HxWxD cm): 44.1 x 26.5 x 23.6 cm
- Pressure: N/A
- No of cups: 12 cups
- Milk frother: No
If there’s one thing we know about bean-to-cup machines, it’s that they tend to be quite expensive, clunky and generally just a bit of a nuisance. But taking all of that out of the equation, Melitta’s latest Aromafresh model is a streamlined machine that allows you to get the freshest brew around, without any of the hassle that normally comes with it.
While it does stand quite tall –something worth keeping in mind if you have limited counter space– the machine itself is slim and compact, acting like a filter machine, but adding in the bean grinder to make the overall taste better. And this grinding process is at the heart of what really makes this machine stand out, with 11 different grinding settings that allow you to adjust the coffee to your own tastes, and to what suits the bean you’re using, prioritising getting the right aroma from the coffee by balancing the contact time of the water and the coffee as well.
It’s significantly more affordable than some of the high-end espresso machines, and we’d say for true fans of the coffee taste itself (not your latte or cappuccino people), it’s worth a look. £190. At amazon.co.uk
12/24Breville One-Touch Coffee House
Pros: Can make many different types of coffee at once | The progress bar tells you how long you have to wait for your coffee fix | Takes ground and pod coffee
Cons: Heavy | No other smart features | Pricey
- Best for: A wide range of coffees with a simple press of a button
- Coffee type: Ground coffee / Pods
- Water capacity: 1.4L
- Dimensions (HxWxD cm): 32.4 x 22.1 x 37 cm
- Pressure: 19 bar
- No of cups: One
- Milk frother: Yes
If you can't decide what type of coffee machine you want and just fancy something that does everything, this is the one for you. Capable of making espresso, filter and capsule coffee with a 19-bar pump system, you'll be set for everything from espressos and cappuccinos to americanos and lattes. Like your coffee milky? The built-in milk frother gives you a creamy, smooth taste every time, and you can adjust the size of your morning fix and get it just right for you each morning.
Our favourite thing? It’s self-cleaning and self-de-scaling, giving you the perfect coffee every day without the headache of cleaning up after yourself. It’s a lot of money to pay upfront, but well worth it to calm your morning coffee stress. From
£220£185. At amazon.co.uk & argos.co.uk
13/24Lavazza A Modo Mio Voicy
Pros: Includes smart voice assistant
Cons: Only has one cup
- Best for: Smart features
- Coffee type: Pods
- Water capacity: 1.1L
- Dimensions: 44 x 21.5 x 35 cm
- Pressure: N/A
- No of cups: One
- Milk frother: No
Getting a smart voice assistant to do all the hard work for you is as fun and simple as it sounds, so why not make your at-home brew with a few barked orders? Lavazza's Voicy is Alexa-enabled and perfectly capable of pouring you some exceptional God shots, while reading out the weather or playing your favourite playlist. The slick device can hold a range of coffee pods (all made from compostable material to save the planet) and can let you know when you're running out and need a top-up. Just mind your Ps and Qs when you ask for one. £299. At amazon.co.uk & lavazza.co.uk
14/24Sage Barista Express
Pros: Barista-quality machine built for wannabe pro makers | Extreme precision and high-quality materials | Built-in grinder
Cons: Not for newbie brewers | Takes up a lot of space in the kitchen | Expensive
- Best for: Experienced coffee brewers
- Coffee type: Bean-to-cup
- Water capacity: 2L
- Dimensions (HxWxD cm): 33 x 31 x 40cm
- Pressure: 18 bar
- No of cups: Two at once
- Milk frother: No
The Barista Express is for coffee lovers who want high-end taste with minimum effort, and there are plenty of convenient features on offer here. These include an integrated precision grinder, optimal water pressure, and precise temperature control to help ensure that each extraction brings out the maximum potential of each and every bean, for the ultimate satisfaction of a perfect mouthful of coffee. Throw in the integrated steam wand for microfoam milk texturing and you've got a handsome, complete package.
It’s certainly on the expensive and large end of the kitchen appliance spectrum, but you’ll struggle to find a better-equipped coffee machine to practice your new favourite hobby. It’s tactile, precise, and built for the wannabe pro.
£630£599. At amazon.co.uk
15/24KitchenAid Espresso Machine
Pros: Looks effortlessly stylish on your kitchen counter | Available in four colours | Reaches the optimal temperature | Easy to store
Cons: Can only make one coffee at a time
- Best for: Making frothy cappucinos, stylish coffee makers
- Coffee type: Ground coffee
- Water capacity: 1.4L
- Dimensions (HxWxD cm): 28.6 x 16.2 x 33.4 cm
- Pressure: 15 bar
- No of cups: Two
- Milk frother: Yes
Coffee isn't just another step in your morning routine, for many, it's a key part of how you set your mood for the day. And what better to make the mood feel more positive and calming than a supremely aesthetic coffee maker? Unsurprisingly the purveyor of the most stylish coffee maker in our guide, KitchenAid is known for its iconic designs, really tapping into its longstanding heritage and history with a look that feels both retro and modern at the same time. You can choose between four colours, and rest assured it'll really look sophisticated on your kitchen counter.
Style aside, as far as the coffee part of the machine goes, we'd say it also comes out with flying colours. The 15 bar pump makes for a velvety espresso, with smart temperature controls that keep everything regulated, and a steam wand that's both easy to use and clean for the ultimate foamy drink. We're also very into the fact it comes with so many different accessories, including a milk pitcher and single and double wall baskets that'll get you making some of the best hot drinks right away. £449. At kitchenaid.co.uk
16/24Nespresso Vertuo Plus
Pros: Simple and svelt | High water capacity | Plenty of fun colour options
Cons: Not a particularly versatile coffee maker | Only makes one cup at a time | Isn’t self-cleaning
- Best for: Grabbing a quick pod coffee in style
- Coffee type: Pod machine
- Water capacity: 1.7L
- Dimensions(HxWxD cm): 32 x 23 x 35cm
- Pressure: 15 bar
- No of cups: One
- Milk frother: No
The Vertuo Plus is a dinky little machine that churns out freshly brewed coffee with a delectable natural crema. With a one-button operation, coffee machines don't get much simpler than this — especially as it's also got automatic capsule ejection and a movable water tank for added convenience. If you're not fussed about all the bells and whistles and just want a simple cup of pod-brewed coffee, this will serve you well.
There are plenty of colour options to add a splash of personality to your kitchen brewing experience, and there’s always the option to mix up your coffees with a range of pods to slurp through.
£199£140. At amazon.co.uk & currys.co.uk
17/24De'Longhi Scultura Traditional Barista Pump
Pros: Proper barista-quality coffee at home | Built-in cappuccino system | Manual milk frother to cater to your taste
Cons: Requires a careful, practised hand | Can be expensive to maintain
- Best for: Experienced coffee brewers
- Coffee type: Pump machine
- Water capacity: 1.4L
- Dimensions (HxWxD cm): 11.8 x 9 x 12cm
- Pressure: 15 bar
- No of cups: Two at once
- Milk frother: No
Like a hulking black and grey bee ready to inject you with caffeine, the Scultura is a pump machine with 15 bars of pressure at its disposal, promising to create the perfect espresso with a rich aroma and a nutty, indulgent coloured cream top. A top choice for pro tinkerers and coffee enthusiasts, you’ll find a manual milk frother for froth lovers, a simple navigation system for your favourite drinks and a simple clean-up afterwards. It can also take pods or ground coffee – the best of both worlds.
£245£175. At amazon.co.uk
18/24Melitta Barista TS Smart Coffee Machine
Pros: App controlled for ultimate precision | Simple to use
Cons: Requires internet connection | Difficult to manage if you’re not a tech head | Very expensive
- Best for: Smart-controlled perfection
- Coffee type: Bean-to-cup Espresso machine
- Water capacity: 1.8L
- Dimensions(HxWxD cm): 37 x 46 x 25cm
- Pressure: 17 bar
- No of cups: One
- Milk frother: No
One of the biggest challenges when buying a coffee machine is finding something that’s easy to use for anyone without barista training, but still makes a great brew. Thankfully, Melitta’s Barista TS Smart Coffee Machine manages to excel at both. Controlled by an app on your phone, the machine is incredibly simple to use, taking away all of the fuss from your mornings. If you’re a pod person or only buy ground coffee, do bear in mind that you can only use this with beans, but we’d argue this is always going to leave you with a better cup of coffee at the end of the process anyway. If you’ve got the space and budget for a larger machine, what are you waiting for? From
£1,260£730. At amazon.co.uk, ao.com & currys.co.uk
19/24Sage Bambino Plus
Pros: Incredibly small on your kitchen countertop | Great entry-level coffee machine
Cons: Experienced brewers might find they are missing some features | Can be difficult to clean
- Best for: Low-effort high-quality coffee
- Coffee type: Ground coffee machine
- Water capacity: 1.1L
- Dimensions(HxWxD cm): 10 x 10 x 10cm
- Pressure: 17 bar
- No of cups: Three
- Milk frother: Yes
For a machine that makes exceptional coffee without requiring too much effort, opt for the Sage Bambino Plus. Simply spoon a healthy amount of coffee ground beans into the filter, press them down, add your cup and automate milk frothing (if you fancy it). You also have the option to vary the filter baskets to help you get the right amount of flavour. Easy to use, but still delicious, this is a small, manageable machine made for the simple art of a morning coffee. From £265. At amazon.co.uk, sageappliances.co.uk, currys.co.uk & johnlewis.com
20/24Nespresso Vertuo Next
Pros: Super simple pod machine to run | Easy to store away and clean
Cons: Pods can be pricey and damaging to the environment | Won’t cater to heavy coffee drinkers
- Best for: A quick shot in the morning
- Coffee type: Pod machine
- Water capacity: 1.1L
- Dimensions(HxWxD cm): 31 x 14 x 42cm
- Pressure: 14 bar
- No of cups: One
- Milk frother: No
Nespresso's compact machine can produce caffeinated goodness to suit five different coffee cup sizes — from single espresso shots to 535ml pour-over style carafes. It can also cleverly detect the pod you're using and adjust itself accordingly to ensure each cup is brewed with your favourite specific coffee in mind.
It’s a simple machine purpose-built for anyone who’s a bit too tired in the morning to be messing about with milk temperatures and pumping, and just simply wants good, easy coffee when they wake up. Though, you do get perfectly brewed cups every time with the special ‘Centrifusion’ tech that blends the coffee and hot water together for perfect aromas and tastes. £150. At amazon.co.uk
21/24La Pavoni Expo 2015 Lever Coffee Machine
Pros: One of the best-looking coffee machines around | Perfect for practising at-home baristas
Cons: Very expensive
- Best for: An aesthetically pleasing god shot fit for a king
- Coffee type: Pump
- Water capacity: 0.8L
- Dimensions(HxWxD cm): 32 x 20 x 29cm
- Pressure: 0,7-0,8 bar
- No of cups: One
- Milk frother: No
One of the most extra, high-end coffee machines we’ve ever seen, Smeg’s partnership with Italian coffee masters, la Pavoni, has created an incredibly luxurious lever machine. The first thing you'll notice is the giant gold eagle adorning the top of the coffee gadget, but it actually makes excellent drinks to match its gorgeous design. It has a huge water tank that holds enough for eight cups of manual espresso goodness and is easy to clean up while ensuring a low-lift high-quality mug whenever the moment calls.
You’ll have to be a dab hand at pumping your own brews, and we’d recommend swatting up on temperatures, pour control and any sort of guides on how to make the best coffee to get the most out of this one. From £1,099. At shop.smeguk.com
22/24Krups Opio
Pros: Built-in steam nozzle to froth up milk | Enough capacity and space to make two coffees at once | Simple to use
Cons: Considered basic | No smart features or self-cleaning
- Best for: Simple coffee drinkers looking for a quick filter fix
- Coffee type: Pump filter coffee
- Water capacity: 1.5L
- Dimensions(HxWxD cm): 11.4 x 11.7 x 7.9cm
- Pressure: 15 bar
- No of cups: Two at once
- Milk frother: No
Simplicity is an oft-underappreciated aspect of coffee-making, and if you just want a quiet, non-stressful filter coffee each morning, then you’ll likely enjoy the Krups Opio, which is a stripped-back, minimalist machine capable of brewing two lush coffees at once.
An excellent budget find, it has all the tools for producing top-quality God shots and with a 15-bar pump, you'll get results that are pretty close to barista quality. It's suitable for ground beans only, but you'll be able to make all the classic espresso drinks quickly and easily. It might be a bit basic for some, but there’s nothing wrong with going simple. £90. At amazon.co.uk
23/24Jura E8
Pros: 17 drink options
Cons: Very expensive
- Best for: Range of coffee options
- Coffee type: Bean to cup
- Water capacity: 1.4L
- Dimensions(HxWxD cm): 34.6 x 28 x4 4.4 cm
- Pressure: 15 bar
- No of cups: Two
- Milk frother: Yes
Swiss brand Jura, the caffeinated kings of great coffee and countertop presence, has done it again with its relaunched E8 bean-to-cup machine. Offering the choice of 17 different preset drinks – two more than the last E8, from macchiato to cortado and everything in between – you’ll never darken the door of your local hipster cafe again.
Including flagship Jura features, such as its proprietary “Pulse Extraction Process” for optimal flavour extraction and smartphone app controls, the E8 also introduces “3-D brewing technology” that directs water evenly through the grounds. One-button barista-quality coffee and your kitchen’s new statement centrepiece? The price is high for a very good reason. From £1,295. At jura.com
24/24Smeg EC01
Pros: Excellent-looking coffee machine from the kitchen of your dreams | Built-in milk steamer
Cons: Pretty basic for the price
- Best for: An Alexa-made coffee controlled by your voice
- Coffee type: Pod machine
- Water capacity: 1.1L
- Dimensions(HxWxD cm): 38 x 15 x 30cm
- Pressure: 15 bar
- No of cups: One
- Milk frother: No
Crucially important when purchasing a coffee maker is how it looks. These are machines that will be sitting on your countertop permanently, so they need to be stylish enough to become part of the kitchen. With seven colours, each bringing a different tone, you'll want this one to be seen. Oh, and the coffee is pretty great as well. As with other pump machines, you load the coffee yourself, steaming milk as you go, and then simply make your drink selection, before basking in beautifully made coffee in no time. If you want more reason to give in to temptation and make your purchase, read our full Smeg EC01 review. From £299. At johnlewis.com
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