For everything else, we’ve researched the most sought-after products, including the best-rated and most-loved coffee machines. If everyone else loves them, you can be sure you will too.
Amazon Prime Day 2024
Amazon Prime Day 2024 kicks off July 16-17, and we’re rounding up the best deals on our Best Prime Day Deals 2024 page. We’re only mentioning this because there are sure to be a few coffee machines taking part in the sale, so if you’re looking for a modern caffeine fix, keep an eye out for some tasty deals below and/or on our main page.
Which is the best coffee machine to buy?
So what should you look for? “The best coffee maker is the one that meets your needs, so you need to ask yourself a few questions,” Ciepaj advises. “What do I personally want from a coffee maker—a quick cup of coffee or a divine shot of perfect espresso? If you’re looking for a quick and effortless cup of coffee every time, buy bean-to-cup coffee. For the perfect espresso at home, choose a home lever coffee maker that lets you control all the variables in your home brewing.”
There are four different types to know about:
Is it worth buying a coffee bean machine?
If you’re looking for a more luxurious experience that caters to all styles of coffee, a bean-to-cup machine is the way to go. These machines, which strip away much of the hands-on experience of making coffee, simply require you to pour in your coffee beans, press a button and then lift up a steaming mug ready to drink. Be prepared to invest (they can cost over £1,000), but they’re worth every penny if ease of exploit is your thing.
Is it worth buying a capsule coffee machine?
Similarly convenient, the best pod coffee machines are for anyone who needs a quick morning joe without having to think too much about water pressure, boiling time, and frothing milk. They’re usually smaller and more affordable than other coffee machines, but the process involves deciding what kind of coffee you want to drink and dropping a capsule of ground coffee—available in a range of tasty flavours—into the machine to get it going. But it’s demanding to overlook how wasteful and environmentally damaging these capsules can be. According to research by Halo, of the 39,000 coffee capsules produced every minute, 29,000 will end up in landfill.
It’s a shocking statistic, but brands like Nespresso are working to improve it. Most capsule coffee machines are now recyclable, and collection services may be available to lend a hand ensure as few as possible end up in the wrong place. When choosing the brand you want to buy, keep this in mind and make sure you’re on board with the amount of recycling you’ll need to keep up with.
Is it worth buying a pump coffee maker?
Want to get into coffee making? Pump machines are the best for experimentation and will be the closest thing to what you can get as a barista. They exploit pressure and boiled water, adjusted via a handle, to turn ground coffee into blended drinks. Ciepaj advises that you write down your proportions and brewing times for the perfect cup of coffee, just like you would when baking a cake, so this definitely requires a little more thought. You’ll also want to make sure you have (or at least find one that comes with) a coffee grinder so you can get fresh coffee every time.
Is it worth buying a drip coffee maker?
Drip coffee machines are the standard choice for anyone looking for a more affordable machine that simply produces sizzling water in a cup. You might get one or two extra features, such as a milk frother or the ability to make different drinks, but it won’t be as good as your local coffee shop. The best coffee machines tend to fall into this category, with delicious coffee delivered to you at the touch of a button, and they basically only make American-style coffee, but if that’s your cup of tea (sorry, coffee), then this is all you need.
Which coffee maker is best for beginners?
Any machine that helps you brew coffee with the push of a button will be your best bet, so look for Nespresso One-Touch, Breville One-Touch or Lavazza Voicy machines that will lend a hand you get your caffeine fix instantly with minimal fuss. These will have programmable options to get your favourite drink with just one or two presses of a button, giving you the freedom to try and wake up while you wait. Espresso machines are usually the only thing available at a lower price, but this means you can get crafty with your brewing and make icy brew or single-shot drinks in the machine before adding more ingredients separately.
