Best bean-to-cup coffee machines for 2025: Sage, Krups, Smeg and more

Our independent lab tests prove that not all bean-to-cup coffee machines live up to their high prices. So read on for our Best Buy recommendations and expert buying advice.

Bean-to-cup coffee machines feature built-in grinders to grind coffee beans on-demand. They also heat the water and brew your coffee automatically for the freshest cup at the touch of a button. Some will even self-clean and froth milk for you.

Buying a poor machine is a waste of your money. So find the best bean-to-cup coffee machine for your budget by reading our reviews and choosing a Which? Best Buy.

See our coffee machine reviews for help choosing between pod, espresso and bean-to-cup machines.

Best bean-to-cup coffee machines for 2025

We've selected some of the best bean-to-cup machines from our rigorous coffee machine tests, which include a blind taste test by our coffee experts. 

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Bean-to-cup coffee machine reviews by type

• Bean-to-cup machines with automatic milk frother
• Bean-to-cup machines with manual milk frother
• Bean-to-cup machines without a milk frother

Bean-to-cup coffee machines by price

• Bean-to-cup machines under £250
• Bean-to-cup machines under £350
• Bean-to-cup machines over £350

Why you can trust our bean-to-cup coffee machine reviews

To keep our reviews unbiased and impartial, we don't accept free product samples or loans from PR companies. We buy all the machines we test from the same stores as regular shoppers do.

Our independent laboratory assesses each machine's coffee-making performance, and the coffees they make are assessed by our panel of experts in a blind taste test.

We award star ratings on a one-to-five scale, one being poor, three being average and five being excellent. Our tests are comparative, with the average based across all the machines we test.

It doesn't matter how inexpensive or expensive a coffee machine is - price has no bearing on a machine's test score or whether we make it a Best Buy.

Read more on how we test coffee machines.

Where to buy a bean-to-cup coffee machine

You'll find bean-to-cup coffee machines at most home goods retailers, and prices can vary from a few hundred to thousands of pounds.

Some popular retailers that sell bean-to-cup coffee machines include:

• Amazon sells hundreds of machines, from Philips and Beko to Breville and Lakeland. Keep an eye out for savings and deals around Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday.
  
• Argos stocks a wide range of bean-to-cup machines, from brands such as DeLonghi, Melitta and Siemens priced from around £360 up to £1,600. Home delivery starts at £2.95, or opt to Click and Collect for free from Argos stores.
• Currys supplies a large selection of coffee machines, including more than 90 bean-to-cup models. The most expensive cost around £2,000, while cheaper options are less than £300. Orders over £40 are delivered for free. Under £40, standard delivery is £4 and next-day is £5.
• John Lewis stocks an array of bean-to-cup coffee machines, including the Sage Barista Express Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine (£629). Cheaper models start around £330, while pricier ones reach well over £2,000. John Lewis offers free home delivery on orders over £50, free Click and Collect from John Lewis stores if you spend £30 or more, or Collect+ from a local shop for £3.50.
• Very lists brands, including Siemens, Sage and Krups, and most of the selection costs between £300 and £600. Delivery starts from £3.99, and Click and Collect from a Collect+ store or the Post Office is free over £30. Plus, you'll have a 28-day free returns period if you change your mind. 

To see which retailers are highly rated by Which? members, check our expert guide to the best and worst shops.

How to buy the best bean-to-cup coffee machine

There are a few key questions you should ask yourself before you buy a bean-to-cup coffee machine.

• What features do you need? From automatic cleaning to smart connectivity, bean-to-cup coffee machines come with an array of clever features, but it's not worth paying for flashy ones unless you're going to use them. Consider our list of bean-to-cup coffee machine features below before you make a decision.
• How much are you willing to spend? Bean-to-cup coffee machines are the most expensive type of coffee machine, costing anything from £250 to more than £1,500. They can be a more economical choice in the long run, though, as we'll explain later.
• Where will the coffee machine go? Bean-to-cup machines tend to be larger than other coffee machine types – make sure you have the counter space for your new gadget.

Not sure a bean-to-cup machine is for you? See our guide to the best pod coffee machines and the best espresso machines.

Best bean-to-cup machine features to consider

If you decide to spend money on a bean-to-cup coffee machine, here are useful features to look for.

Automatic milk frothing and cleaning

Most bean-to-cup machines have a steam pipe to froth milk so you can make milky coffees, such as a latté or cappuccino, as well as espresso.

Cheaper bean-to-cup machines tend to come with a steam wand for frothing milk. You’ll need to measure out and froth the milk manually, then add it to your coffee.

Pricier models will automate the milk measuring and frothing process for you, sucking the milk into the machine and dispensing froth directly into your drink.

Many also have an auto-clean feature, saving you the fiddly (and sometimes unpleasant) job of cleaning the milk pipes.

Dual bean hopper

A dual bean hopper will allow you to have two types of coffee beans on the go at once.

This is handy if you prefer caffeinated in the morning and decaf in the evening, for example, or even if you just like to have the choice of different types.

Otherwise, you’ll need to clean out the bean hopper if you want to switch coffees before one lot of beans runs out.

If you like the convenience of ground coffee every now and then, some bean-to-cup models have a separate compartment, so you can use ground coffee too.

Colour touchscreen

Many bean-to-cup coffee machines include digital displays and automatic settings to speed up the coffee-making process.

On some models, you can control your settings via a colour touchscreen. These make it quick and easy to select your chosen hot drink, usually from an extensive menu.

They can also be useful for diagnosing potential issues, as well as guiding you through how to clean and descale the machine correctly. This is an important step to ensure your machine continues to churn out tasty coffees and doesn’t become clogged with old coffee, milk or limescale.

Save preferences

Premium models will allow you to save multiple user profiles and customise your favourite coffee options, so you’ll never have to remind your machine that you like your morning espresso extra-strong.

This saves you the hassle of manually inputting custom orders every time you offer to make a round of drinks – particularly useful if you save the preferences of your friends and household.

Smart controls

Connecting your coffee machine to your smartphone allows you to receive troubleshooting tips and reminders to clean and descale your machine.

You can also use some apps to set up user profiles, which makes it easier to quickly call up your favourite drink without having to cycle through lots of menu options.

Use the filters on our coffee machine reviews to find a model with all the features you need.

Are bean-to-cup coffee machines worth the money?

The upfront cost of bean-to-cup coffee machines can range from a few hundred to several thousand pounds, but our tests show that paying more doesn’t necessarily guarantee better coffee.

Average upfront costs compared

There’s no denying that bean-to-cup coffee machines can be more expensive upfront than other types of machines. On average (based on the models we've tested), bean-to-cup machines cost around £751. That's almost four times as much as espresso/traditional ground coffee machines (average cost £190) and more than six times as much as the average pod machine (average cost £118).

But the initial upfront cost, doesn’t tell the whole story, as pod coffee machines tend to be more expensive per drink, in part due to the ongoing cost of the pods you have to buy. Even the very cheapest of our Best pod coffee machines could cost you more in the long run and won't have all the extra features of a bean-to-cup machine.

Average running costs compared over time

Based on drinking two espressos a day over the course of five years, plus the upfront cost of the cheapest relevant Best Buy coffee machine, we've calculated that espresso machines (ground coffee machines) work out cheapest (£802), followed by bean-to-cup machines (£972) and then pod machines (£1,118).

Over the course of five years, machines that use whole or ground coffee beans work out cheaper because buying beans is a cheaper way, per cup, to enjoy an espresso.

Looking for a reliable machine? See our guide to coffee machine brands that stay fault-free for longer.

What coffee can I use in my bean-to-cup machine?

There are two types of coffee beans widely available: Arabica and Robusta. Both offer different flavours depending on how you like your coffee.

The taste of Arabica beans can vary depending on where and how they're grown. Typically Arabica is grown at higher altitudes on hillsides across Central and South America, Indonesia, Africa and India. Its flavour is sweet and fruity, with higher acidity compared to Robusta. 

Robusta is a 'robust' bush grown at lower altitudes. It is more resistant to problems such as disease and pests. Its flavour is less influenced by where it's grown and is typically less acidic with more intense and woody notes. 

Many consider Arabica the superior bean because of its more complex flavours, which is reflected in its higher price. We recommend trying both to see which taste you prefer. 

For tips on getting your coffee just right, read How to make perfect espresso and cappuccino.

How to clean a bean-to-cup coffee machine

Regularly cleaning and descaling your coffee machine will help it work properly and prolong its life, particularly if you live in a hard-water area.

Choosing a machine with an automatic cleaning and descaling program will make maintaining your machine less of an issue.

For tips on cleaning a bean-to-cup coffee machine, see our guide on how to clean your coffee machine.