Want to buy a coffee maker? We looked for the best coffee makers based on your specific needs. This is our Top 10.
By Frank
Coffee drinking started for me from the time I could walk. When I was 7 years old, I drank my first cups. My mother always made filter coffee from freshly ground coffee beans (nice and old school). Filter holder on the coffee pot, grind beans and cap them in the coffee filter. Slowly pour boiling water on top et voila. The coffee is ready.
The pure coffee taste was still too bitter for me so my mom made me a latte. Nowadays they call this a “latte machiato” of course. But I can say that I am an experienced coffee drinker by now. Many coffee drinkers swear by a black coffee, the other a sweetener with it or milk or both. With me, it depends on my courage.
Whether you are a fan of cappuccino, latte macchiato, delicious espresso, mocha, ristretto or simply a cup of coffee, only the best coffee machines will brew the coffee you want time after time. Choosing the right machine depends not only on your favorite type of coffee, but also on how much time, effort and money you are willing to spend to make coffee.
Not quite sure what you’re looking for? Then read on so you’re one step closer to your first home-brewed cups of coffee.
What is the best coffee maker for you?
Some like to be in control and prepare the perfect latte macchiato to their liking with a manual piston coffee maker. While the other is looking for convenience and having a cup of ground coffee at the simple touch of a button. We’ll show you how to pick your new coffee maker that suits you!
The best fully automatic coffee machine of all
Philips 5400 EP5447/90
The Philips 5400 EP5447/90 is our favorite in this category. Brew your favorite coffee in just seconds. Fresh coffee beans or ground coffee. It can do it all. Choose between 12 different coffee specialties via the display with convenient touch buttons. This fully automatic coffee machine is ideal for you if speed and convenience are important to you. A big plus is also that you can adjust the taste according to your needs. Need a strong cup of coffee before you leave for work? Or a smooth coffee after dinner? Through the 5 aroma strengths and 12 grind settings, you are completely in control of coffee preferences for every moment of the day. Create a user profile and save your own recipes. Tip: make sure you use the water filter and replace it on time. If you do not do this, you will have to descale your machine more often than usual (once every 1.5 years).
- 12 different coffee recipes
- Handy display
- Descale only once every 1.5 years
- Adjustable coffee strength
- Adjustable water temperature
- User profiles
- Small milk reservoir
The best piston machine
Sage Barista Express Impress Brushed Stainless Steel
If you want more control over the taste of your coffee, then a piston machine is for you. This is, so to speak, a home espresso machine. So get to work yourself and refine your coffee over and over again! A visit to that expensive coffee shop then immediately becomes unnecessary. Over the manual piston machines, the Sage Barista Express Impress Brushed Stainless Steel is our favorite. This fantastic machine makes everyone feel like a real barista. If you are looking for an all-in-one manual espresso machine, this coffee machine is the best one for you. While cheaper all-in-one machines can make a fine espresso, the Sage Barista Express can extract just that little bit more flavor from the finest coffee beans. The built-in coffee grinder ensures that you can also use fresh coffee beans. In turn, the automatic grinder ensures that you don’t have any mess during coffee brewing. It’s more consistent than cheaper machines – heating up in seconds; its integrated coffee grinder delivers the same amount of ground coffee time after time; and the volumetric sensor pushes the same amount of water through the coffee for a simply perfect cup of espresso. Take the time to choose the settings that perfect the taste of your unique latte macchiato.
- Automatische tamper
- Geïntegreerde bonenmaler
- Topklasse bouwkwaliteit
- Lange levensduur
- Veel (poets)werk
- Geen display
The best Nespresso machine
Nespresso Sage Creatista Plus Black Truffel
The Nespresso Sage Creatista Plus Black Truffle is a bit pricey, but you get value for money. Especially if you are a fan of a delicious latte macchiato. The advantage is mainly in the automatic steam nozzle. If you place a jug of milk under it, this steam pipe automatically froths the milk. Other specialties of this fully automatic coffee machine are: caffe latte, cappuccino; esspresso, lungo and ristrotto. Don’t need all that fuss of milk foam? You have complete control over the strength of your espresso and lungo. You have complete control over the temperature and thickness of your milk. This thanks to the 11 temperature settings and 8 thickness settings! Or let this fully automatic espresso machine do all the work for you. Set the dial yourself and simply follow the whole process closely. Are you in a large household? Good news. You can prepare up to 12 lungos in a row thanks to the spacious 1.5-liter water tank. With this coffee machine, by the way, you have something for everyone.
- 7 coffee specialties
- Warmed up in 3 seconds and ready to use
- Handy display
- Built-in milk frother
- Large water tank of 1.5 liters
- Fingerprints quickly visible on housing
- Capsules are more expensive than ground coffee
- For long life use only Nespresso cups
The best Nespresso machine Vertuo
Magimix Nespresso Vertuo Plus Deluxe Titan
The Magimix Nespresso Vertuo Plus Deluxe Titan turns your cup of coffee into a cup of coffee. This capsule coffee machine gives you a choice of 4 cup sizes. You can choose a regular espresso of 40 ml, double espresso of 80 ml, a gran lungo of 150 ml or a mug of 230 ml. The extra-large 1.8-liter water tank and large bean container certainly come in handy here. Ease of use and flexibility are key here. At the touch of a button, you can brew your favorite cup of coffee or espresso with a rich crema layer. The water tank swivels and the coffee capsules are automatically disposed of for you in the collection tray. This coffee machine does work only with the relatively expensive Vertuo capsules. Therefore, this is the only drawback. If you buy now, you will get a welcome package consisting of various types and sizes of Nespresso Vertuo capsules.
- Setting larger cups of coffee
- Elegant design
- Low maintenance
- Vertuo cups easily ordered online
- Sustainable: recycled cups
- No milk frother
- Works exclusively with Vertuo cups
The best filter coffee machine
Philips Grind Brew HD7769/00
Do you want to be able to make several cups of coffee at once? Then a filter coffee maker is for you. The Philips Grind Brew HD7769/00 is our favorite for filter coffee made from freshly ground beans. This coffee maker lets you brew up to 10 cups of coffee at a time. The built-in bean grinder lets you enjoy delicious fresh coffee. On top of that, the aroma twister provides coffee with an optimal and consistent aroma. Still prefer to use ground coffee beans? You can! Switch off the grind function and cap the pre-ground coffee in the filter. With this coffee maker, you also don’t have to worry about your coffee getting cold. The Phillips Grind and Brew has an adjustable warming time. So your cup of coffee is always drinkable hot (up to 2 hours).
- Integrated coffee grinder
- Fresh/ground coffee beans
- Adjustable coffee volume
- Built-in timer
- Aroma twister
- Drip stop
- Water tank is not removable
The best Senseo coffee machine
Philips Senseo Maestro CSA260/90
Senseo coffee makers are ideal if you have visitors. After all, you can make 2 cups of coffee at the same time. The convenient coffee pods are available everywhere and you can switch between different brands according to your preference. In our opinion, the Philips Senseo Maestro CSA260/90 is a good choice. It has a water tank of 1.2 liters (0.4 liters more than the original Senseo) and heats up in 45-75 seconds (1 or 2 cups at a time). This is often a cheaper alternative to fully automatic espresso machines. You have to ask yourself if you are a gourmet or not. If you are, then the Nespresso Sage Creatista Plus Black Truffle is for you! Brew your favorite delicious coffee the way you like it over and over again with the built-in memory function. You are one touch away from your favorite recipe every time. This Senseo machine brews 3 coffee beverages: Long Smooth/Classic, Intense and Espresso.
- Eco functions
- Memory function
- Easy to clean
- Available in 3 colors (Ro/Gr/Wi)
- No built-in milk frother
The best cheap fully automatic coffee machine
De’Longhi Magnifica S ECAM21.117.B
The De’Longhi Magnifica S ECAM21.117.B is the best cheap coffee machine, according to our team. It comes without too much fuss. it does what it’s supposed to do: brew a delicious cup of coffee quickly. Want to make a latte macchiato or cappuccino, too? Then froth the milk yourself with the steam nozzle. There is also thought for those who like a cup of coffee in the morning and evening without preventing sleep. With the handy rotary knob you can adjust the strength in no time. So you can enjoy a strong boost in the morning and end your day with a mild cup of coffee.
- Low priced
- Brew up to 2 cups at a time
- Determine the strength and quantity
- Water tank of 1.8 liters
- Separate compartment for ground coffee
- Manual milk frothing with steam nozzle
- No display
The best cheap piston machine
Sage the Bambino Stainless Steel
The Sage the Bambino Stainless Steel coffee maker is surprisingly inexpensive while offering barista-worthy quality. Ideal for when you don’t want to take up too much space in your kitchen. Something for everyone! You can get this piston machine in 4 different colors: silver, white, black and blue. Quality is provided by the 4-step formula and the portafilter. This allows you to brew delicious coffee with the fullest flavor time after time. In a first step, a pre-infusion is started with low pressure. Afterwards, the machine switches to a higher pressure to start the extraction process. The temperature controller guarantees a constant temperature so the coffee cannot burn. There is also a powerful steam nozzle built in for creating your favorite milk coffee.
- Compact coffee machine
- Built-in temperature controller
- Sturdy metal housing
- Ready to start in 3 seconds
- Cleaning indicator
- Using fresh coffee beans? Then buy a bean grinder separately
The best cheap capsule coffee machine
Krups Nespresso Pixie XN304T Titanium
Nespresso is known for its small compact capsules. Now they also have a compact little standout: the Krups Nespresso Pixie XN304T Titanium. This capsule coffee machine takes up very little space with its 11cm wide shoulders. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Because inside are innovative and advanced gadgets. You can program the cup volumes of your lungo or espresso so you can enjoy that perfectly composed cup of coffee every time. Do you think sustainability is important? Do you ever forget to turn off the lights at home? If any of these answers is “yes” then I have good news. After 9 minutes of inactivity, the coffee machine automatically turns off. So with this inexpensive Nespresso machine you save even more on your wallet.
- Very compact coffee machine
- A delicious cup of coffee within 25 seconds
- Quantities easily adjustable
- Low maintenance
- Automatic shutdown
- Spacious capsule collection tray
- Buy a milk frother for milk specialties separately
- Use only original Nespresso cups
The best retro coffee machine
Smeg ECF01RDEU – Pistonmachine
Do looks rank high with you? Then this retro classic from Smeg is for you. The Smeg ECF01RDEU – Piston Machine is available in 7 different colors. Whether you want to stand out with a bright red or opt for a pastel blue version. It’s up to you. This piston machine is not just about looks. This beautiful 1950s Smeg espresso machine is easy to use, has a cup warmer on top and comes with a handy coffee masher. In short, you have all the tools to make your delicious coffee. And in style, too.
- Cup warmer
- Water temperature setting possible
- Contains a cleaning indicator
- Suitable for ground coffee and espresso pads
- Bean grinder not included
The 10 best coffee makers of 2024 in a table
I’ve created an easy-to-read table so you can compare our top 10 best coffee makers at a glance. For the price
What do you pay attention to when buying your new coffee machine?
What is the best coffee machine for you is not necessarily so for someone else. The cliché “tastes differ” has never been truer. Some are perfectionists and like to splurge, while others just want a cup of fresh coffee without too much fuss.
For example, fully automatic coffee maker is for you if you put convenience and freshness first. All you have to do is refill the water and coffee beans. You don’t need to grind coffee beans, there is no mixture of coffee with water needed, you name it. Everything is done by the fully automatic espresso machine. If you want to brew as much coffee as possible at once, then filter coffee might be a better option for you.
First look at what type suits you using our top 10 best coffee machines. In the next step, I recommend you compare reviews and prices to find the highest value for your money.
Bottom line, everything depends on your personal preferences:
- Convenience and speed: fully automatic coffee machine, Senseo or Nespresso machines. Your favorite coffee at the touch of a button.
- Barista style: piston coffee machines. Take control and perfect your cup of coffee.
- As simple (and much) as possible: filter coffee machine. For when you just want a simple cup of coffee. Also ideal for when you want to make several cups at once.
- Nespresso machine for larger quantities: Vertuo Nespresso.
- Other things to look out for: size, design, amount of cleaning and ease of operation.
Conclusion: the best coffee machine for you
The “best coffee machine,” that’s a question worth pondering, but wait, because the question “what is the best coffee machine” really isn’t as simple as it seems. It’s actually one of the hardest questions you can ask me, and when I get emails like this from fellow coffee drinkers (coffee blog readers, so that’s you now), these are actually the emails that take me the longest to answer.
It’s obvious by now I think. There is a lot involved. Simply buying the first best coffee machine is not a good idea. Buying the best coffee machine linked to your specific needs is a good idea.
What do you look for when buying coffee beans?
Now that you have a better idea of which coffee machine is best for you, it’s time for the next step. Choosing coffee beans. Fortunately, experimentation is a lot cheaper at this step.
Espresso beans and coffee beans are the same thing
Don’t be fooled by beans referred to as espresso beans. There is no difference between beans used for coffee and espresso. Beans are chosen and roasted for certain flavors, but are not made specifically for espresso.
Espresso is a way of making coffee, not the beans themselves. An espresso drink is what you get from a preparation process, the taste of the selected coffee bean.
Use fresh coffee beans for your coffee machine with beans
If you want your espresso to be top quality, freshly roasted coffee beans are the best option. Espresso is best when the beans used have been roasted for 7-21 days.
This timeline is reflected in the cream layer. This is the top layer of coffee created when the hot water meets the freshly ground coffee. It provides an extra depth of flavor to the espresso itself.
As the beans are further away from their roasting date, they lose CO2 and this will cause the crema layer to diminish when the espresso is brewed and some of the full flavor potential is also lost.
Determine the amount of caffeine you want in your coffee
Not all coffee beans have the same amount of caffeine, so knowing how much caffeine you want is therefore important in determining which coffee is best to buy. There are 4 types of coffee beans.
Excelsa coffee beans have the lowest caffeine content of the four, with about 1 g of caffeine per 100 g of beans. Liberica is next, with 1.23 g of caffeine per 100 g of beans. Arabica coffee has 1.61 g/100 g, and Robusta is the most caffeinated variety, with 2.26 g/100 g.
Sweeter but still healthy
Arabica coffee beans are naturally sweeter than Robusta, Liberica or Excelsa coffee beans. This is another aspect in which they can be healthier. If you want to avoid added sugars in your diet, you may be satisfied with the sweetness of an Arabica coffee bean, while you are more likely to add sugar to the bitter Robusta coffee bean.
Maintaining your coffee machine: tips
Fully automatic coffee machine
The time you invest in making sure your fully automatic espresso machine is clean and well maintained will pay off tremendously. Don’t despair, it’s not as difficult as you may think. Know what weekly and monthly cleanings are necessary and you’ll be well on your way to enjoying delicious espresso and milk-based drinks for a long time.
At best, the fully automatic coffee machine guides you through the display or app with an automatic program. This tells you step by step what to do. That way, you don’t need a manual. Often it also comes with a tablet that you have to insert into the slot of the fully automatic espresso machine. Descaling is also explained step by step.
Piston coffee machine
You’ve finally decided to make the purchase you’ve longed for and now the coffee machine of your dreams is in your home. However, the question that arises is: how do you clean a piston coffee machine?
First of all, don’t worry too much. When you buy a new product, it is normal that you are not familiar with its functionality. Similarly, it is not so obvious to understand how to clean the machine thoroughly.
Often piston machines do not have a display like its fully automatic variants. If it does have one, obviously follow the steps that are depicted. We have listed the whole process in a few steps for you.
Step 1: remove the filter holder
Leave the machine switched on. Remove the filter holder by turning it slowly. You must be very careful when performing this step.
Then you should immediately wash the filter holder (with cold water only). Only after you have dried it thoroughly can you place it on the tray.
Step 2: clean the inside of the machine
- Take a container that fits on the bottom of the brewing unit and fill it with 2/3 tap water;
- Place the tray right under the machine and lift it so that the bottom of the spout is completely under water;
- Raise the lever 2/3 (the water comes out of the shower head);
- Lower the container and the lever;
- Repeat this process;
- Place the container a short distance from the brewing unit, lift the lever all the way up and let out about 25 ml of water;
- Turn off power, unplug and drain water;
- Dry the dropper with a paper towel, use a cotton ball to make sure you thoroughly dry the seal at the base of the dropper.
Nespresso machines
As with the fully automatic espresso machine, here you need to follow the steps on the display. It is recommended to rinse daily/weekly and descale every 6 months.
Rinsing in 4 steps
- Empty your Nespresso machine so there is no capsule left in it.
- Fill the water tank until there is at least enough water for a large cup of coffee.
- Press the button for a large cup of coffee and wait for the water to run through.
- If there is still water in the reservoir, empty it.
Descaling in 3 steps
- Preparing for descaling
- Start the descaling process with descaling solution.
- Rinse the coffee machine
Filter coffee machines
To maintain optimal coffee taste, it is important to maintain your filter coffee machine regularly. If you descale your coffee machine often, you will extend the life of your coffee maker. That’s because it’s how you remove limescale, keeping it from getting into your cup.
I recommend descaling your filter coffee maker after the 100th paper filter, when the box is empty. If you don’t use paper filters, descale your machine every 3 months. Also when you hear a bubbling sound and it takes a while to brew your coffee.
- Choose the right descaler.
- Go through the descaling process.
- Clean the loose parts by hand.
Frequently asked questions – best coffee machine
A: The “perfect” coffee machine is different for everyone. It depends on individual needs and preferences. Do you like to enjoy a delicious coffee occasionally or do you drink several cups of coffee a day? Or would you like to brew your perfect coffee at the touch of a button? All things are important when choosing your coffee maker. I encourage you to research different models and check out the pros and cons we’ve listed for you.
A fully automatic espresso machine have integrated bean grinders that grind the right amount of coffee for your chosen beverage. The ground coffee is then brewed automatically without the manual process of measuring, mashing and securing it in a portafilter.
An espresso machine uses high pressure to force water through the coffee within seconds. A filter coffee machine relies on pure gravity to gradually draw the water through the filters. This coffee maker is almost always the cheaper option because of its simple function and limited features.
A fully automatic espresso machine has integrated bean grinders that grind the right amount of coffee for your selected cup. The ground coffee is then brewed automatically without the manual process of measuring, tamping and securing it in a portafilter. Hence the name “fully automatic espresso machines.
First, you choose what flavor and type of coffee you want. Then you choose a suitable cup or glass and place it on the drip grid. Next, place the Nespresso capsule in the machine and choose the program. Often the machine then starts automatically, sometimes you still have to press a start button. The result is a delicious coffee, entirely according to your taste.
Technically, you can brew coffee without grinding the beans. But because the surface area of a whole bean is remarkably smaller than ground coffee of the same size, the brewing process takes longer.
Long: If you use freshly ground beans to brew your coffee on an automatic, semi-automatic or manual machine, you will get a coffee closer in taste and quality to one prepared by a barista from your favorite café.
Both are vacuum packed but the taste is different. For the gourmets among us, I recommend the cups. Those who care less about taste and want to be more economical should take the Senseo coffee pods.
A fully automatic espresso machine is more convenient because you don’t have to worry about it. But that also means you have less control. On the other hand, you have more control with a semi-automatic coffee machine because you can make adjustments to tailor each cup of coffee to individual preference
Some coffee machines listed above indicate this automatically via a light or the display. Some machines, unfortunately, do not have these features. According to Douwe Egberts, with daily use, it is recommended to descale your coffee machine every three months.
The multi-product system must be cleaned daily, otherwise there is a risk of changing the taste of the drinks. A fully automatic coffee machine looks sleeker and has an essential design. Compared to lever coffee machines, they are less characteristic, as the typical components of bar coffee machines are completely absent. The number of coffees that can be prepared per day is limited. Because a fully automatic espresso machine requires more frequent maintenance than other coffee machines. They must also be cleaned daily, milk must be changed, and the parts must keep working before they start working again.
Here’s a quick answer to the question: Any coffee can be used for a coffee machine, provided it has the right fine grind. Still, many people prefer dark roasted coffee because of its stronger taste. In fact, you can sometimes find coffee labeled “espresso” because of its darker roast.
As it turns out, there is no difference between espresso beans and regular coffee beans. If you are wondering why they are labeled differently, it is simply because of the brewing method for which they are best suited. Labeling beans as espresso is a brewer’s recommendation on how best to consume the coffee.
Yes, that is possible. It is a little trickier and more work. Pour the milk into a large pot with a lid. Ideally, you should fill no more than a third of the jar. Turn the lid on tightly and shake the jar vigorously until the milk is frothy and about doubled in volume. This takes 30 to 60 seconds.
If you take speed very seriously, instant coffee is for you. Indeed, the name says it all, you have instant your coffee ready. All you need is a cup and hot water.
You may already feel it coming. It depends. If you neglect your new bean coffee maker and don’t clean it regularly, it won’t last more than a few years. It also depends on how many cups of coffee you make a day and what quality your coffee machine is. On average, a decent bean coffee maker will last 3 to 6 years. Exceptional cases so a 6 to 8 years.
Do you prefer to grind the beans yourself or are you looking for a piston coffee machine with an integrated bean grinder? Froth the milk yourself or via a steam nozzle? Do you want a sturdy metal housing or would you prefer a lighter one made of plastic? These are questions you should ask yourself before buying a new piston coffee machine.
You can buy a coffee maker with beans in stores that offer household products. Think Blokker and Mediamarkt, for example. Would you like it delivered to your home? Have your new coffee maker delivered by online web shops such as Bol.com and Coolblue.
If “Vertuou” is mentioned on the packaging or product description, you know you’re in the right place. Yet there are coffee machines that work with Vertuo cups without the brand name on them. The KitchenAid Nespresso machine, for example.
Coffee cups are measured slightly differently than regular cups. While the normal volume for a cup of liquid is 250 ml, coffee cups are technically measured at 180 ml. So for 6 cups of coffee, you need to use one tablespoon of freshly ground coffee per cup. That’s a total of 6 tablespoons, or a little less than a third of a cup.
Yes, because a fully automatic coffee machine is often of better quality.
As most know, caffeine is in coffee unless otherwise stated. Low to moderate amounts of caffeine (50-300 mg so 2-3 cups of coffee) can lead to increased alertness, energy and ability to concentrate. Higher doses can have negative effects such as anxiety, restlessness, insomnia and increased heart rate.
I recommend drinking coffee in small amounts. This boosts your concentration and even athletic performance.