Coffee machine reviews: FAQs
Is it worth paying more than £120 for an espresso machine?
How much you spend on a coffee machine will depend on the type you want to buy. You can get an espresso machine for as little as £52 but we rarely see good ones for less than £120.
What you generally get for the extra money (apart from a major brand name) is better build quality and more features. You also get a better flavour drawn out of the coffee which you can taste this in the espresso.
That said, we have found a couple of Best Buys for as little as £65 that make fantastic espresso, so it's worth checking out our reviews if you don't mind not having a premium brand name, or aren’t bothered about sleek looks.
Bean-to-cup machine prices start from around £400, but you can pay anything up to £1,700. Average prices are around £795.
Capsule machines start at about £80, going up to £800, with average prices about £140. However, capsules work out at around 26p per espresso, compared with 8p for ground coffee.
What's the difference between ESE pods, coffee capsules and ground coffee?
Espresso coffee capsules contain ground coffee
All three are real ground coffee – just packaged differently.
An easy-serving espresso (ESE) pod is a flat disc of coffee in filter paper, and will usually be foil wrapped.
We used to test coffee machines using ESE pods, but recent research indicated that use of them is declining, so we’ve removed them from our testing programme.
Machines which only use coffee capsules, such as Nespresso, on the other hand, are gaining popularity.
Coffee capsules, such as Nespresso, are made from plastic or foil, and are about the size and shape of single-serving UHT milk holders.
Pods and capsules contain the exact amount of coffee compressed to the correct pressure, whereas ground coffee needs to be prepared before use.
What are the energy costs of running a coffee machine?
Despite what manufactures may lead you to believe, buying a coffee machine that displays an ‘A-class’ energy label or ‘eco’ mode won't make much difference to your energy bills.
Low-energy use in stand-by mode (or power-off mode) is not an innovation, it’s a requirement of European regulations.
Currently, there is no official energy labelling system for coffee machines, and no requirement for coffee machines to be A-rated.
We gather energy use data during our testing, and we've discovered that coffee machines use a tiny amount of energy, so you can enjoy your espresso guilt-free.
During our coffee machine tests, we've found there's a maximum difference of less than half a pence per use between the best and worst machines on test. Here are the average energy costs:
Traditional espresso machine – espresso
Cost to make 7 espressos: 0.8p (less than a penny)
Average energy use: 0.008kWh per espresso
Capsule espresso machine – espresso
Cost to make 7 espressos: 1p
Average energy use: 0.010kWh per espresso
Bean to cup espresso machine – espresso
Cost to make 7 espressos: 1.5p
Average energy use: 0.014kWh per espresso
All figures quoted are average prices, rounded up, based on average energy use and worked out using our standard unit of electricity cost (14.5p per kWh).
What's the cheapest type of coffee to use?
We've calculated the cost per shot of espresso for each coffee type and have found that ground coffee is the cheapest option.
Using ground coffee costs from around 9p per espresso, using coffee beans cost from 12p and while the cost of using coffee capsules can vary widely, this is typically the most expensive option.
When we checked, Dolce Gusto espresso capsules cost 24p per coffee, Nespresso capsules cost 29p (from the normal range), and Illy was the most expensive, working out at 36p per capsule.
All prices quoted are correct as of 27 April 2012, and assume standard espresso capsules/ranges. These prices don't include the cost of buying a coffee machine, or any capsule postage costs.
Is it better to buy coffee beans or ground coffee?
The fresher the coffee the better the flavour so, if taste is your priority, it's worth buying beans.
You still need to grind the beans to brew espresso. Some top-range bean to cup models have integrated bean grinders to do this for you, or you can buy a separate grinder.
If you grind beans yourself, you'll need to choose the extra-fine setting for espresso brewing and make sure you thoroughly clean and maintain your filters, to prevent them getting blocked.
Can you recycle coffee pods and coffee capsules?
ESE pods can be composted, as they’re just made from filter paper and ground coffee, but many coffee capsules cannot be recycled because they contain several types of material, such as a mixture of foil and plastic.
If you're keen, you can split your capsules open and separate the grounds for composting and the foil for recycling – but this is messy.
Nespresso recently launched a Nespresso coffee capsule recycling service, see the Nespresso Ecolaboration website for more information.
How often should I clean my coffee maker?
Coffee makers should be cleaned and maintained regularly, but exactly how often you need to do this will depend on how often you use your machine.
Old coffee grounds lurking in the machine above the filter holder will taint espressos, so empty it of both coffee grounds and water after every use and flush it though until the water runs clear.
Filters need to be cleaned thoroughly, as fine-ground coffee can block the holes and cause problems such as leaks or a build up of pressure in the portafilter when brewing.
Hard water can cause a build-up of limescale, which can lead to blocked steam pipes or filters and damage the performance of the espresso machine over time – so descale it regularly according to the machine's instructions.
The steam pipe, or milk frother, also needs attention, and most need cleaning after each use to stop blockages.
Need help cleaning your coffee machine? Discover exactly how easy it is to clean and maintain your coffee machine in our video guide to cleaning your coffee machine
Do I need to buy a particular type of ground coffee?
If you're buying ground coffee, it should be a finely ground blend to ensure you get the right strength of coffee for an espresso.
Avoid packets that say 'for all coffee makers' – look for those that state they're suitable for making espresso.
Our expert recommends you choose a blend of Arabica beans with a little Robusta, as the delicate flavours of pure Arabica and single estate coffees are too fragile for this somewhat brutal brewing method.
Some ground coffee can be too fine for coffee machines, and can cause blockages. Regular cleaning and maintenance will help avoid this.
Espressos form the base for milky coffee drinks like cappuccino
How do you make a perfect cappuccino using coffee grounds?
A perfect espresso is five easy steps away. Create espressos as good as any coffee shop with the help of our how to make the perfect espresso and cappuccino video guide.
Once you've mastered the art of espresso, a world of coffee options opens up. Cappuccinos are a third each of espresso, steamed milk and foam, while lattes use a shot of coffee, topped up with steamed milk (add foam to taste).
If you want to take your coffee machine experience a bit further, we shed light on all the essential extras in our coffee maker accessories guide. This has a wealth of information on milk frothers, coffee grinders and even coffee cups and spoons.
Why don't we test filter coffee makers?
We’re often asked why we concentrate our testing on espresso machines and don’t test filter coffee machines. It’s because there’s much more to making the perfect espresso than there is to brewing a jug of filter coffee. And espresso machines tend to be a more expensive purchase.
Steaming milk for cappuccino foam
But, if you're after a filter coffee maker, our guide on how to buy the best filter coffee maker is packed with information on choosing a filter coffee maker and what features to look out for.
How can I avoid an exploding coffee machine?
Don't be tempted to over-tamp ground coffee.
If you press too hard the ground coffee will compact so much that water won't be able to get through the brew head properly. Only a few drips of coffee will come through the brew head, or the portafilter can start leaking.
Pressure builds up in the portafilter which is released (with a loud noise) when you remove it, sending hot water and hot coffee grounds everywhere.
A well-maintained coffee machine will also help avoid this issue as filters and brew heads can become blocked due to limescale..
Rewind our coffee machines live event
Which? experts were joined by top coffee connoisseur, Whittard's Giles Hilton, and Bob Payman, who's been selling and servicing machines for 15 years, for a live chat. We were kept busy with your questions on the best coffee makers and how to perfect your espresso making.
Missed it? Log in to replay the Q&A in full at Which.co.uk/coffeelive.
- Find the best coffee machine for you with our coffee machine reviews
- Discover what makes a Best Buy and how we test coffee machines
- Tell us about the best and worst bits of your coffee machine, by leaving a customer review
