There is a huge choice of coffee machine systems and brands now. To help you decide, our best coffee machines round-up picks out some of the the best espresso machines, best pod coffee machines and best bean-to-cup coffee machines around.
Coffee machines fall into a few broad categories, though there's plenty of choice within these, in terms of features and design.
We regularly review machines of all types, so check back for regular updates to this feature as we review more. Leave a comment if you'd like a particular machine tested and we'll do our best to do so.
Updated: 10/12/14
Pod coffee machines
These use branded 'pods' to produce coffee and often numerous other hot drinks. There are several brands of pods, such as Nespresso, Dulce Gusto and Tassimo, with different companies supporting different systems. The main pros of pod coffee machines are ease of use, consistency and convenience; the con is the higher cost from having to buy the proprietary pods.
Our pick of the best pod coffee machines:
- £429 / $599 – Nespresso Lattissima Pro by DeLonghi
- £169 / $355 – Nespresso Lattissima EN520 by DeLonghi
- £89.99 – Krups Dolce Gusto Oblo
- £89 – Nespresso Inissia by Magimix – NEW ENTRY 10/12/14
Bean-to-cup machines
The clue is in the name – these machines grind fresh beans to produce coffee straight to your cup. They're the 'purest' type of coffee machine, but they're also the most expensive and often the largest. If you're very particular about your coffee, however, a bean-to-cup coffee machine is a good bet.
Our pick of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines:
- £369 / $799 – Philips Saeco Intelia Focus HD8751
- £799 – DeLonghi Eletta Cappuccino Top – NEW ENTRY 10/12/14
Traditional espresso machines
If you like using ground coffee, a traditional espresso machine is ideal. These are like the huge, old-school coffee machines you used to find in coffee shops, but much smaller. They're harder to use than pod coffee machines and bean-to-cup machines, but they're generally cheaper, give you lots of control and the good ones produce great-tasting coffee.
Our pick of the best espresso machines:
- £99 – Krups XP5210 Espresso Coffee Machine
- £99 – DeLonghi Distinta ICMI 211 – NEW ENTRY 10/12/14
- £199 – DeLonghi Dedica – NEW ENTRY 10/12/14
