Coffee machine reviews: How to buy
Decide if you want to keep your coffee maker on the counter
Size and weight of coffee machines
Before buying, consider where you'll keep the machine. Size matters, whether you want to display it on your kitchen counter or keep it dust-free in a cupboard.
If you plan to stow your machine, check it’s light enough to lift easily.
And if you choose a particularly heavy model, look for a store offering home delivery.
Drip trays
The drip trays should be easy to lift and remove. Stainless steel trays require polishing as well as cleaning.
Stiffness of porta filter on a coffee machine
When you're in the shop, see whether you can easily fit and remove the porta filter.
If you find this tricky, or it requires too much force, a capsule machine may be better for you.
Water tank capacity is important if you make lots of espressos
Automatic coffee machines
Fully automatic coffee machines sense how much water has gone through the coffee grounds, and stop at between 25ml and 30ml.
Semi-automatic machines use an the electric pump, rather than manual or steam to force hot water through the coffee grounds. Semis are much cheaper than fully automatic machines.
Coffee machines capacity
If you only occasionally make coffee for yourself, capsules or pods are handy – they make one shot at a time and stay fresh for months.
Note that machines with a single spout make only one cup of coffee at a time.
We found that some double delivery spouts don't distribute the coffee evenly between cups – some can be out by 10ml, or a third of an espresso cup.