How to Choose the Best Home Coffee Machine

The best espresso machine for home use will fit the kitchen of your home and will complement your brewing preferences. The most important aspects are size, capacity, and design.

During lab testing, this prosumer-level espresso maker impressed us with its speed and precision. The Sage Bambino heats quickly and efficiently. It steams milk powerfully and produces excellent extractions at 19 bars.

Pod (or Capsule) Machines

If you are looking for speed and ease of making coffee using pre-ground pods, a pod maker is a great choice. They eliminate the mess of making coffee by eliminating the need for portafilters as well as complicated burr grinders that must be cleaned regularly to eliminate coffee oils. They require less maintenance. Regular cleaning and descaling water reservoirs is a good idea.

However these types of brewers have their limitations. They typically only work with a specific type of coffee pods, which are typically in the K-Cup, Nespresso capsule or ESE (easy-serve espresso) formats. This isn't a problem if you stick to one particular brand of coffee, but it can be a problem if you are looking to test a range.

Pod machines are also less durable and come with smaller tanks of water. They also take longer to make. This isn't an issue if you're trying to get ready in the morning, but it can be a problem if you are planning a long, tiring day at work.

Think about the size of your bar before buying a pod machine. Some are smaller and can be placed between other appliances. Consider how much you are willing to spend, and the kind of drinks you'd like to make. Our former ecommerce director Louise keeps her caffeine intake at a low cost by using the Nespresso Vertuo Next. It allows her to make either short or long espresso shots and comes with milk frother.

This elegantly streamlined pod-machine from Sage gives you the best of both worlds - high-spec and low-maintenance. Read More Here 's not expensive, but it's a stylish appliance for your kitchen and its slick stainless steel design is sure to be noticed on your worktop. It's capable of creating five different drinks with just pressing a button. Each capsule has a unique barcode on the side that the machine scans to decide on the beverage to serve. It's also a great option for sustainability enthusiasts as the capsules break down and decompose quickly. the reused mug is a great feature.

Manual Espresso Machines

For those who enjoy the craft of brewing espresso, manual machines can provide an enjoyable hands-on experience. They can be more time-consuming than automated espresso machines, however, if you have the patience and ability to master them, they can make high-quality drinks tailored to your preferences. They are also typically more durable than other kinds of coffee brewers. They have designs that can withstand the rigors of use.

Manual espresso machines, however, are not as easy-to-use as automatic espresso machines, and often have no precise temperature controls. It can be difficult to produce consistent, high-quality espresso shots. The best manual espresso machine has an incline of learning that is steep and can be costly to purchase and maintain.

If you're a coffee lover interested in exploring the world of manual espresso, try an older model that was designed to be as user-friendly as you can. Some models have an integrated milk steamer and grinder, making them easier to use by new coffee drinkers. Certain models come with a reservoir that is removable, making it easier to refill and clean. Some are programmable and allow you to set the timing for the brewing cycle to start prior to waking.

Some manual espresso makers can be quite large, which makes them a good choice for larger families or coffee carts. Others are smaller and require less counter space. When deciding on the size of your machine, you must also take into consideration how many people will be using it at the same time. Consider a larger model when you have more than one family member or roommate who enjoys brewing espresso.

Some of the most affordable espresso machines come with an adjustable frother that can automatically heat milk and then froth it to your desired consistency. This type of machine is perfect to make cappuccinos or lattes, and it's also suitable for those who have sensitive teeth. This kind of machine isn't suitable for those who like an espresso with a thicker consistency. It produces less foam.

Automatic Espresso Machines

This category contains fully automatic espresso machines, which handle the entire brewing procedure from grinding to extracting. These machines are simple to use and require only minimal maintenance, aside from cleaning and descaling. They are ideal for those who don't want to get their hands dirty or have limited counter space for a fully sized coffee and espresso machine.

The top models can be programmed and come with settings for various drinks that can be saved to "user profiles." They're also more likely to be Wi-Fi enabled which means you can control them using your smartphone. However, all that automation and programmability comes with the price of a premium: You'll need to spend more money on these machines than semi-automatic and manual options.

The Eveversys Cameo is one of our favorites automatic espresso makers. It's a sleek and elegant machine that occupies a small space on your counter. It also scored 5/5 in our rating for user-friendliness - second only to Miele. It's a high-output model that can accommodate three separate hoppers and grinders, and you can select which one you'd like to use by using a touchscreen display. In addition to being simple to use, it's also self-monitoring and automatically calibrates itself, meaning you can forget about fiddling with a knob or pressing buttons.

Cuisinart Spinn is another option in this category. This little pill-shaped machine uses centrifugal force to brew espresso, which is different from the traditional method of forcing water down through the grounds. It can produce a variety of drinks, including cappuccino and latte, with a little practice. The machine was tested at the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab of the Good Housekeeping Institute, and got a perfect score of 5 in our test for ease-of-use. It's also small by espresso maker standards, so it's not going to take up much room on your counter.

It's worth trying various types to find one that fits your style, budget, and available space. Consider aesthetics, too--you'll want one that blends seamlessly with your decor and coffee cart. Also, don't forget to take measurements of your countertop to make sure your chosen machine will fit.

Pour-Over Machines

If you want to brew a cup of coffee in complete control, a pour-over machine is an ideal option. Pour-over devices such as the Hario V60 or Chemex Funnex permit you to alter a variety of variables (coffee to water ratio filter, brewing time, etc.) and allow for a customized brew. They can produce more intense aromas and flavors than drip machines.

Pour-over brewers are designed to deliver high-quality results. They have a thermometer which reads water temperature to the nearest degree, and they have a precise pressure gauge that will inform you when the desired amount of water has been pour. They also have a big enough portafilter to hold a standard coffee mug and they offer sufficient space between the portafilter and the drip tray to allow you to pour directly into your coffee mug.


The coffee makers also come with a charcoal filter which can be removed to eliminate impurities from the water. This is crucial, as the coffee maker with a low-quality filter will result in a bitter taste to your cup. In addition, the best pour-over brewers are constructed of materials that are safe to wash in dishwashers and won't leak or retain coffee smells.

A good pour-over brewer will be easy to clean, and it should also be a joy to use. We found that all the models we tested were easy to hold in one hand, and they were the perfect size and shape for a kitchen counter. Some of the simplest models, like the Zojirushi Zutto, even has tiny footprints making it suitable for small spaces. Others, such as the Melitta Cafe Filter come with a handle that is removable, which makes it easier to lift and change the filter.

Philips 3200 Series is another model we like, as it features a user-friendly display and an integrated grinder. The Philips 3200 Series can make black coffee, Americanos and espresso with the press of a single button. It also comes with steam wands that can be used for lattes and cappuccinos. The model comes with a variety of customizable settings including various sizes and strengths for beverages. It is also able to start making coffee up to 24 hours in advance.