A coffee machine is an investment and knowing your style of drink will help you make the right choice. Likewise, you will also want to consider the amount of time you would like to spend making your drink.
Some models have built-in milk frothers which can create a variety of milk textures, while others require you to use an external jug of milk.
1. Moccamaster KBGV Select coffee maker
The Moccamaster KBGV Select is the latest iteration of Technivorm’s classic KBG coffee maker. This Dutch brand’s workhorses are beloved by coffee snobs for their excellent build quality and exacting temperature consistency. They brew to golden cup standards and can last for years without needing repairs or replacement parts.
This model can reach industry standard temperatures (196degF – 205degF) in under a minute and evenly distribute that water over ground coffee inside a cone-shaped basket. Then it brews your perfect cup in four to six minutes.
Reviews of this filter coffee machine are excellent, with many users calling it a “cult favorite” and saying that it brews coffee to an exceptional level. Unlike pod machines, it’s easy to clean all the components that come into contact with water and grounds. However, the carafe needs to be washed by hand. It also requires descaling every 100 cycles or three months.
2. Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee maker
Sophie is the Home Editor at TechRadar’s sister site Top Ten Reviews. She loves everything kitchen-related and is particularly fond of a good cup of coffee.
The Nespresso Vertuo Next is one of the best pod and capsule machines on the market. It’s easy to use and offers a huge range of drink options thanks to the wide selection of Nespresso capsule blends and flavours. It also works well alongside the Aeroccino milk device to allow you to make latte macchiattos and cappuccinos.
It uses a patented extraction technology called Centrifusion to work, where the capsules spin up to 4,000 rotations per minute blending ground coffee and water to create a rich crema. The machine can read the barcode on each capsule and adjusts its settings to get the best result – no need for manual adjustments.
It’s a bit chunkier than some of the other pod and capsule machines but it makes a nice cup of coffee and saves you the hassle of grinding beans. It doesn’t offer as much control over the brew as a bean to cup machine but it’s still a great choice for busy people.
3. Breville The Barista Touch Impress
Breville’s newest machine is a dream for anyone who wants to make espresso at home. It corrals a whole bunch of different mechanisms into one insanely easy-to-use machine that will have you making coffee like a pro almost instantly.
Its barista guidance system explains each step of the process and lets you know what’s happening at every stage. The smart grinder has 30 settings and assisted tamping, while the thermocoil/thermojet heating system achieves optimum extraction temperature in just three seconds. Its milk system froths lush microfoam and it offers customised steam presets for soy, almond, and oat milks.
The Barista Touch Impress is expensive, but it’s a good value for someone who wants to cut back on their weekly trips to the coffee shop. If you want an even better espresso maker, consider the Oracle, Breville’s non-touchscreen top end automatic machine, which will give you premier coffee creation capabilities for a similar price.
4. Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello
Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello is an E61 espresso machine that is a great option for those looking to get a bit more involved with their coffee making. It has all manual controls and a heat exchange style boiler that allows you to brew and steam at the same time. This allows you to really hone your skills and learn how to tinker with your espresso to find what works best for you.
It is a little bit simpler than the Ascaso Steel Uno but it still provides an excellent, classic experience. It also has a convenient eco mode switch and a easily adjustable OPV valve, which make it easier to tinker with your machine.
The Diletta Bello and Eureka Mignon Silenzio Bundle is a great way to start your espresso making journey at home. It comes with a handcrafted Italian espresso machine and a quiet, compact stepless espresso grinder that will have you brewing and steaming in no time.
5. Sage the Barista Express Impress
This machine is one of the best looking and most functional bean to cup machines we have seen. It has a larger boiler than most Sage/Breville models, so it takes a little longer to heat up, but retains the heat very well for subsequent use.
This has a large portafilter with dual walls to hold the coffee beans, a grinder and a tamper, to help you bring out your inner barista. You can use the touchscreen to select your desired beverage, and then set the pump to extract the espresso at its optimum pressure for your preferred strength.
If you are a fan of the Breville Oracle Touch but want to save a few hundred dollars, then this could be a great choice. It also comes with a 2 year refund or replacement warranty, which is nice to have. This is a great machine for anyone who wants to make high quality coffee, but doesn’t necessarily want to spend a fortune.
6. De’Longhi Dinamica Plus ECAM370
The Dinamica Plus is De’Longhi’s high-end coffee machine that offers a fully automated experience. It comes with a nice colored touch display that walks you through the process of choosing and customizing your drink. It also has a built-in automatic milk frother with different intensity settings for a wide range of café drinks.
It has a large capacity for both whole beans and pre-ground, and can fit up to four profiles. It is a bit bulkier than the Cuisinart Veloce, but still compact enough not to take up your entire kitchen counter.
The Coffee Link app allows you to customize the machine on a per-drink basis, including profile names and coffee strength. You can also edit existing recipes and create new ones to save for later. The machine uses bluetooth instead of wifi, which makes it less likely to get hacked like other connected appliances.