Looking to buy a coffee machine? 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 flavour was still too bitter for me so my mother made me a latte. Nowadays they call this a ‘latte machiato’ of course. But I can say I’m an experienced coffee drinker by now. Many coffee drinkers swear by a black coffee, others add a sweetener or milk or both. With me, it depends on my courage.
Whether you’re a fan of cappuccino, latte macchiato, delicious espresso, mocha, ristretto or simply a cup of coffee, only the best coffee machines make the coffee you want time after time. Choosing the right machine depends not only on your favourite 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 are looking for? Then read on so you are one step closer to your first home-brewed cups of coffee.
What is the best coffee machine 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 a cup of ground coffee at the press of a button. We show you how to pick your new coffee machine that suits you!
The best fully automatic coffee machine of all
Philips 5400 EP5447/90
The Philips 5400 EP5447/90 is our favourite in this category. Brew your favourite coffee in just seconds. Fresh coffee beans or ground coffee. It can do it all. Choose between 12 different coffee specialities via the display with handy 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 flavour according to your needs. Need a strong cup of coffee before you leave for work? Or a smooth coffee after dinner? Via 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 don’t 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 container
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 all the time! A visit to that expensive coffee shop then becomes instantly unnecessary. Over the manual piston machines, the Sage Barista Express Impress Brushed Stainless Steel is our favourite. 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 flavour from the finest coffee beans. The built-in coffee grinder ensures you can also use fresh coffee beans. In turn, the automatic pestle ensures that you don’t have any mess while brewing coffee. It’s more consistent than cheaper machines – heated up within 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.
- Automatic tamper
- Integrated bean grinder
- Top-class build quality
- Long service life
- A lot of (polishing) work
- No display
The best Nespresso machine
Nespresso Sage Creatista Plus Black Truffel
The Nespresso Sage Creatista Plus Black Truffle is a bit pricey, but you do get value for money. Especially if you are a fan of a delicious latte macchiato. The trump card is mainly in the automatic steam nozzle. When you place a jug of milk underneath, this steam pipe automatically froths the milk. Other specialities 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 full control over the strength of your espresso and lungo. You have full control over the temperature as well as the 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 a 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-litre water tank. With this coffee machine, by the way, you have something for everyone.
- 7 coffee specialities
- Warmed up in 3 seconds and ready to use
- Handy display
- Built-in milk frother
- Large 1.5-litre water tank
- 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 40ml regular espresso, 80ml double espresso, a 150ml gran lungo or a 230ml mug. The extra-large 1.8-litre water tank and large bean container certainly come in handy here. Ease of use and flexibility are key here. At the press of a button, you can brew your favourite cup of coffee or espresso with a rich crema layer. The water tank is rotatable and the coffee capsules are automatically disposed for you in the collection tray. This coffee machine does work only with the relatively expensive Vertuo capsules. As such, this is the only drawback. If you buy now, you will receive a welcome package consisting of various types and sizes of Nespresso Vertuo capsules.
- Setting larger coffee cups
- Elegant design
- Low maintenance
- Vertuo cups easy to order online
- Sustainable: recycled cups
- No milk frother
- Works exclusively with Vertuo cups
The best filter coffee machine
Philips Grind & Brew HD7769/00
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 favourite for filter coffee from freshly ground beans. This coffee machine lets you make 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. Would you rather use ground coffee beans? You can! Switch off the grind function and cap the pre-ground coffee in the filter. With this coffee machine, you don’t have to worry about your coffee getting cold either. The Phillips Grind and Brew has an adjustable warming time. So your cup of coffee is always nice and hot to drink (for 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 machines are ideal if you have visitors. After all, you can make 2 cups of coffee at the same time. The handy coffee pods are available everywhere and you can switch between different brands according to your preference. The Philips Senseo Maestro CSA260/90 is a good choice as far as we are concerned. It has a 1.2-litre water tank (0.4 litres 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! Make your favourite delicious coffee the way you like it time after time with the built-in memory function. You are one touch away from your favourite recipe every time. This Senseo machine makes 3 coffee drinks: Long Smooth/Classic, Intense and Espresso.
- Eco functions
- Memory function
- Easy to clean
- Available in 3 colours (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. Those who like to have a cup of coffee in the morning and evening without preventing sleep have also been thought of. With the handy rotary knob, you set 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 simultaneously
- Determine the strength and quantity yourself
- Water tank of 1.8 litres
- 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 machine is surprisingly cheap 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 colours: 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 flavour 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 for creating your favourite 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 programme 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 one of these answers is ‘yes’ then I have good news. After 9 minutes of inactivity, the coffee machine automatically switches 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 switch-off
- Spacious capsule container
- Buy a milk frother for milk specialities 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 colours. 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 you need 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 a clear table so you can compare our top 10 best coffee machines 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 others. 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 instance, fully automatic coffee machine 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 need to mix coffee with water, 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 money.
Bottom line, everything depends on your personal preferences:
- Convenience and speed: fully automatic coffee machine, Senseo or Nespresso machines. Your favourite 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 if 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’ is a question worth pondering, but wait a minute, because the question ‘what is the best coffee machine’ is really not 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 ones that take me the longest to answer.
It’s clear 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 suits you best, 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 flavours, 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 flavour 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 tastiest when the beans used have been roasted for 7-21 days.
This timeline is reflected in the crema layer. This is the top layer of coffee created when the hot water meets the freshly ground coffee. It provides an extra deep flavour to the espresso itself.
If 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 flavour 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 to determine 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 1g of caffeine per 100g of beans. Liberica is next, with 1.23 g of caffeine per 100 g of beans. Arabica coffee has 1.61g/100g, and Robusta is the most caffeinated variety, with 2.26g/100g.
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 might 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 immensely. Do not despair, it is not as difficult as you may think. Know which weekly and monthly cleanings are needed and you will go a long way towards 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 programme. 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 need to insert into the slot of the fully automatic espresso machine. Descaling is also explained step by step.
Piston coffee machine
You have finally decided to make the purchase you have 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 to be unfamiliar with its functionality. Similarly, understanding how to clean the machine thoroughly is not so obvious.
Often, piston machines do not have a display like its fully automatic variants. If this is there, obviously follow the steps 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 need to 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 submerged;
- 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 about 25 ml of water flow out;
- Turn off the power, unplug and drain the 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, you need to follow the steps on the display here. 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.
- 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 descaling with descaling liquid.
- Rinse the coffee machine
Filter coffee machines
To maintain an optimal coffee taste, it is important to regularly maintain your filter coffee machine. If you descale your coffee machine often, you will prolong the life of your coffee maker. That’s because by doing so, you remove limescale, preventing 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 once in a while or do you drink several cups of coffee a day? Or would you like to brew your perfect coffee at the press of a single button? All things that are important when choosing your coffee maker. I encourage you to research different models and check out the pros and cons we have 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 which flavour 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 select the programme. Often the machine then starts automatically, sometimes you still have to press a start button. The result is a delicious coffee, 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 to a barista-prepared coffee from your favourite café in terms of flavour and quality.
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 adapt 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 also need to be cleaned daily, milk must be changed and 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 flavour. In fact, you can sometimes find coffee labelled ‘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 labelled differently, it is simply because of the brewing method for which they are best suited. Labelling beans as espresso is a brewer’s recommendation on how best to consume the coffee.
Yes, that is possible. It is a bit 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 firmly and shake the jar vigorously until the milk is frothy and has roughly 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 machine 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 last 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 shops offering household products. Think Blokker and Mediamarkt, for example. Would you like it delivered to your home? Have your new coffee machine delivered by online webshops 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 from 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 just under 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 sports performance.