Ready to upgrade your morning coffee? If you are then I've done the hard work for you, by putting the most popular coffee machines out there through their paces and weighing up their pros and cons to find the best coffee machine worth investing in.
The right coffee machine for you depends on a lot of factors, which can be confusing for anyone getting into making coffee at home for the first time. From what you'd prefer to use to get your cup filled (beans/ground/pods) to how much you want to spend, it feels like there's almost too much choice out there sometimes.
Early Black Friday coffee machine deals
It's peak gift buying season so if you're on the hunt for a deal on a tried and tested coffee machine this Black Friday, these are the worthwhile early ones we've spotted.
Quick list
Best overall
+ Phenomenal value for the quality and features
+ Automatic milk wand is a winner for latte fans
+ Interface is great and overall use is seamless
- It's wide and won't fit into all kitchen schemes
- The drip tray needs emptying too regularly
Best value coffee machine
+ In-built auto milk frother works so well
+ Perfect for latte lovers
+ Incredibly good price point
+ So simple for anyone to use
- Non-dairy milk isn't the best in it
- Limited to pod coffee
Best bean-to-cup
+ One touch café quality drinks (lattes and cappucinos especially good)
+ Huge menu of drinks, including iced ones
+ Sleek and available in a variety of colours (this green is the best IMO)
+ BeanAdapt program helps to fine tune your beans
- Seriously pricey (but seriously worth it)
- The milk carafe can be a little painful to clean
Best espresso
+ Makes amazing espresso
+ Steam wand is exceptionally quick to heat
+ Small, neat, unobtrusive profile for tidy worktops
- Pricey, but the quality is hard to beat
Best filter coffee machine
+ Can brew 10 cups of filter coffee in 6 minutes
+ The keep-warm setting lasts up to 40 minutes
+ Cool retro design, with a full palette of colours available
+ Crafted from sustainable and recyclable materials
- Large and expensive, but so worth it if you like filter coffee
Best pod overall
+ Automatic steam wand for lattes and cappucinos
+ Sleekest stainless steel exterior possible
+ As simple to operate as any other pod coffee machine
- Milk wand can be tricksy over time to clean
How we test the best coffee machines
As part of our commitment to you about how we test products at Ideal Home, every coffee machine on this list has either been tested by me, Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor, or one of our expert reviewers. That involves trying out each machine for several weeks (or months) to get the best possible understanding of how it works.
To get granular, the process begins when the machine arrives boxed up at our door. We judge the packaging on how sustainable it is and how easy the machine is to wrestle out of the box - including if that's a two-person job or not.
Setting up a coffee machine can be confusing, especially for a beginner, so our reviews also get into the detail of how straightforward set-up is and give a first impressions on the design of the machine once it's sitting on our worktop. Ease of use is also crucially important and applies to every type of machine: using beans, ground coffee or pods.
We will then try every possible drink out on each machine as well as test for how adjustable the settings are, as well as how easy each one is to clean.
Best coffee machine overall
Now that I've tested the Ninja Luxe Café Pro Series, I recommend it above any other coffee machine – including the more affordable version, which is £150 cheaper which you can read my review of here. Whether you're a beginner or an espresso machine lover, I know this machine is bound to impress.
After trying both machines for several months, it's clear the brand has taken its winning formula from the best Ninja air fryers and applied it to this great-looking coffee machine. It's got it all, from a user-friendly interface to high-quality touchpoints, all bundled up in two machines that have surprisingly affordable price points, all things considered.
One of my highlights is the 'Barista Assist Technology' which is an interface on the machine that recommends a grind size for you depending on the beans you've just emptied into the hopper. In the Pro version, you also get a built-in tamping mechanism like with the Sage Barista Express (which has a higher RRP).
My favourite element of this machine by far is the automatic milk frother which has such a brilliant array of foam settings and the capability to adjust the temperature for using plant-milk too. It's much improved from the OG version, with capability to froth milk for two drinks at once and a larger surface area that makes it easier to clean.
All in all, this is without a doubt the most impressive coffee machine I've tried for the price-tag and I come back to it time and time again. It is missing a pressure gauge for those who are used to a more old-school espresso machine and isn't as customisable as something like the De'Longhi Opera Specialista, but for most people it'll be at-home coffee perfection.
Read our Ninja Luxe Café Pro review for the full details.
Reviewed by Molly Cleary, Kitchen Appliances Editor.
Best value coffee machine
This pod machine is one of the most efficient we've ever tried for making lattes and cappuccinos at home. It has a solid, quality build and looks pretty sleek on a worktop but its biggest perk is the built-in automatic milk frother.
Simply slot the attached glass with frother lid into this machine and select the latte option and you'll have a milky coffee to go in a matter of minutes. OK so it might not be the most authentic method (baristas, look away now) but it gets the job done and the resulting coffee in our tests was very enjoyable.
Pod machines aren't for everyone but if you want to prioritise ease of use and long, milky coffees are your drink of choice then you can't go too far wrong with this machine. It has an RRP of £249 but you can find it on sale for most months of the year for nearly half that price. For that upfront cost, you'll be bagging yourself a machine that makes great tasting coffee and will put a stop to those visits to a coffee shop on your way to work or at the weekend.
The cons with this machine is that it's not as flexible as other options. You're tied into using the included glass and frother (so don't misplace any of the parts) and there's no adjustability to the milk settings (so plant milk drinkers may struggle with the set temperature). But if you can get past those niggles, you get a cracking machine for what you pay.
Read our Lavazza A Modo Mio Desea review for the full details.
Reviewed by Millie Fender, previously Kitchen Appliances Editor.
Best bean-to-cup coffee machine
While the Ninja at #1 is a semi-automatic machine (you have to grind and tamp beans yourself), the Rivelia is automatic. That means after you've made any necessary tweaks to your profile on the machine, you can extract a huge menu of drinks from it with one-touch.
After testing a huge variation of coffee machines for Ideal Home, the Rivelia was the one that our expert reviewer Helen McCue was most impressed by, though she usually swears by her manual espresso machine. Helen loved using the colour touch screen which walks you through every step of set-up and use as well as the two interchangeable bean hoppers, which allow you to chop and change the type of coffee you're drinking at will.
As with the Ninja Luxe Café, another one of the highlights of this machine is technology that helps you to find the right grind size for your beans without having to do all of the tweaking yourself. And once it's done, you can have the machine remember those settings on your profile so that your next coffee turns out perfectly with no further input.
The menu of drinks with the Rivelia is huge (with 16 options), though if you want even more choice then the fantastic Eletta Explore at #? is even more kitted out, especially for cold drinks.
The only downside to this machine is the price, and though Helen didn't have an issue with it, I always find plastic milk carafes to be a bit tricky to clean properly by hand.
Read our De'Longhi Rivelia review for the full details.
Reviewed by Helen McCue, Expert Reviewer & Home Economist.
Best espresso machine
Home baristas will love the Sage Bambino, which is Sage's most budget-friendly machine. It's not cheap (of course, it's Sage) but it is decent value-for-money, with pre-infusion which very effectively extracts creamy and smooth crema for a luscious layer on top of your espresso.
The preheat is only three seconds, which is very impressive, and the milk steaming wand also preheats very fast. It gives out 130-degree steam which was very effective during testing for creating steamed milk in a jiffy.
When extracting I did find that the Sage Bambino rattles slightly, so it's not the quietest coffee machine on the market. Cleaning is easy though, with a drip tray that simply pulls out for a rinse, and an easily flushed steam wand.
It also gives that classic Sage look, but in a machine that's narrow without losing any features. It comes with the same cup holder on top, the sturdy backlit buttons and a removable water tank that makes it easy to fill up despite the smaller size. It's a winner in our books.
Read our Sage Bambino coffee machine review for the full details.
Reviewed by Millie Fender, previously Kitchen Appliances Editor.
Best filter coffee machine
The Moccamaster coffee maker is perfect for those who rely on caffeine to see them through their WFH days. Ideal for a home office, its capable of making up to ten cups of coffee at one time and can also keep your brew warm on a hot plate for when you finish the first mug off. Divine!
The design is also a show-stopper, with a retro feel that will complete the look of any kitchen and bring instant style. There's a sustainable edge to the Moccamaster too; it's made from recyclable materials and you chuck the filter bags from your brew straight into the compost at the end of the day, rather than the faff you have to go through with pods.
Our expert reviewer Helen found the taste of the coffee she brewed with the Moccamaster to be unparalleled in the realm of drip machines, saying it was flawlessly smooth and well-rounded.
During testing, Helen also found that it is lovely and quiet when brewing. The ability to make four large mugs of coffee at one time was a winner for our too, and the fact that the brewing process and set up is so straightforward. There's almost nothing we don't like about this machine.
Read our Moccamaster KBG review for the full details.
Reviewed by Helen McCue, Expert Reviewer & Home Economist.
Best pod coffee machine
If you're in the market for a pod coffee machine and you're looking to splash some cash, this is my standout first choice.
It looks the part, makes excellent-tasting coffee and actually has more adjustability than you might think, especially thanks to the numerous milk frothing settings. If you like coffee but you're always in a rush, or you're just looking for something that's basically hands-free, you can't go wrong here.
The downside is that you're limited to Nespresso Vertuo pods, which might mean budgeting your coffee addiction is a little tricky, as you're tied into Nespresso prices.
This is also a big amount of money to spend, about the same that you could splurge on our first choice, the Sage Express Impress which allows you to enjoy freshly ground coffee every day. The choice all comes down to how convenient you want your coffee making process to be. If your heart is set on pods, this is the best looking way to achieve your at-home coffee dreams.
Read our Nespresso Vertuo Creatista Coffee Machine by Sage review for the full details.
Reviewed by Helen McCue, Expert Reviewer & Home Economist.
How to choose a coffee machine
Coffee machines are one of the trickiest appliances to buy, given just how many there are on the market and how many methods there are to make a brew. This is a guide on how to choose the right machine for you, if you're feeling a little lost in all the caffeinated options.
Should you buy a pod machine, a bean-to-cup machine, an espresso machine or a filter machine?
Pod coffee machines are by far the simplest type of coffee machine to operate. Most take the touch of one button in day-to-day life to operate, so if you're just getting started with coffee or want to avoid faff for life, a pod machine is the way to go.
Opting for a pod machine doesn't necessarily mean that you have to opt for a budget pick either - the Nespresso Creatista, which features on this list, is a high-end and low-stress option.
Bean-to-cup machines are typically the most expensive and advanced type of at-home coffee machine you can buy. That's because they deliver you the freshest coffee possible, straight from the bean thanks to a (usually) integrated grinder, which is also the element that makes these machines so pricey.
There are two main types: manual and automatic. A manual bean-to-cup machine, like the Sage Barista Express Impress, will involve you grinding and tamping your own beans to your liking, whilst an automatic machine does that work for you after you initially program it.
Coffee lovers will get along very well with a manual bean-to-cup machine, as most allow you to tweak the specifics of your brew down to a fine degree. Those who want the best taste without the fuss will likely prefer an automatic option.
Espresso machines require you to use pre-ground coffee. If you want the freshness of beans but need your purchase to be more affordable than a bean-to-cup machine, an espresso machine will work well for you when paired with a separate coffee grinder.
Alternatively, if you prefer using ground coffee altogether, an espresso machine will tick all your boxes. They look the part and generally produce espressos with a lovely crema.
Filter coffee machines don't tend to have much traction here in the UK, but they can yield excellent tasting results and are perfect for the many-cups-a-day drinker. These machines use ground coffee, which is then passed through a filter to get to your cup. Lots of filter machines can use a large amount of hot water to brew large quantities of coffee, which is then ready for the rest of your day. Our top-rated filter pick on this list, the Moccamaster, will then keep that coffee warm for 40 additional minutes.
FAQs
Is an expensive coffee machine worth it?
As with any home appliance, the truth is that you get what you pay for. Our top-rated choice, the Sage Barista Express Impress has a pretty eye-watering RRP but once it's in your home, you'll be able to make fresh coffee every day. It also has a built-in tamp and milk frother.
If you can afford to save or stretch to a pricier machine, and you're a real coffee enthusiast, we'd say it's worth it. But budget options are excellent for those who are less into their coffee, and are fine not being a connoisseur.
How much should you spend on a coffee machine?
The most affordable option on this list clocks in with an RRP of less than £100, whilst the most expensive is over £100. That gives you an idea of range when it comes to best coffee machines, with the central message being that how much you should spend depends on what you want out of your machine.
If you want a barista-style machine, then save up and splash out in order to get all of the features you need. Alternatively, if you just need a cup of coffee to function in the morning, then a pod machine for around £100 (or less if you wait for a good sale) will serve you well.
What pressure is good for a coffee machine?
When buying a coffee machine one term that will keep cropping up is the bar, or the pressure of the machine. Bar refers to the 'barometric pressure', basically how much pressure is being put on the coffee grounds or beans.
A rule of thumb, supported by George Warner, a barista at Jaunty Goat (who has 10 years worth of experience in specialty coffee) is that 9 bars of pressure are optimal.
'Having 9 bars of pressure is an industry standard. Most home machines are not automatically set to 9 bars but can easily be adjusted if they have an OPV Valve. This feature controls the amount of pressure being exerted through the machine for great flavour extraction, so it is highly recommended to look out for this.'
