Which coffee machine brand to buy in 2021

We've surveyed more than 4,200 Which? Connect panel members about their coffee machines to find out how happy they are with the brand they chose and how long their machine took to develop a fault.

Leaking, problems dispensing coffee and inconsistent performance are the most common coffee machine faults - and not the sort of thing you want to deal with when you're hoping to relax with a delicious cup of coffee.

We discovered big differences between the best and worst brands, which goes to show it's worth taking your time and choosing wisely when you're buying a new coffee machine.

Our survey data takes into account the reported fault rates of currently owned products that are aged seven years old or less, and when the problems occurred.

We’ve collected survey data on the biggest coffee machine brands, including Krups, DeLonghi, Melitta and Sage.

By combining this with our independent test results we can tell you which brands consistently make the best brews and which are likely to cause you problems sooner rather than later.

Just want to find the best model for a superior morning brew? Head straight to our round up of the best coffee machines.

Coffee machine brands rated

The table below summarises this year’s results. Brands are ranked by their customer satisfaction score, which relates to whether or not owners would recommend the brand to a friend.

Only logged-in Which? members can see which brands achieved the ratings and verdicts in the table below. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

• Table notes: The customer satisfaction and fault-free after five years percentages are based on a survey of 4,229 Which? Connect Panel members who own coffee machines, conducted in May 2021. Table last updated 5 July 2021.
• Customer satisfaction is based on whether owners would recommend the brand to a friend.
• Average test score is based on Which? tested models (not including similar models) online in June 2021. Where n/a is reported there is not enough data.
• Fault-free after five years shows which brands were least faulty over this period of time.

Best vs worst coffee machine brands

As the chart below shows, there is quite some difference between the brands with the highest and lowest customer satisfaction scores. 

The worst brand had an average customer satisfaction score of just 71%, compared to the 89% achieved by the best brand. 

How long will my coffee machine last?

The average coffee machine will last a little over nine years. This is based on the experiences of Which? Connect Panel members who told us how long their previous appliance lasted before it developed a fault and needed to be replaced.

As you can see in the chart below, the very best brands will last a little over 10 years, and some may tail off a bit earlier at 8.5 years, but looking after your coffee machine and cleaning it regularly will likely prolong its lifetime.

Verdict: coffee machines in depth

We’ve collected lots of data on average scores in our lab tests, customer happiness and estimated lifetime to supply an in-depth picture of well-known coffee machine brands.

Which? members can log in to view our unique lab test scores and customer satisfaction survey results. 

If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access to our verdicts on the following coffee machine brands, listed here in alphabetical order:

• Beko coffee machines verdict
• Bosch Tassimo coffee machines verdict
• DeLonghi coffee machines verdict
• DeLonghi Dolce Gusto coffee machines verdict
• DeLonghi Nespresso coffee machines verdict
• Dualit coffee machines verdict
• Jura coffee machines verdict
• Krups coffee machines verdict
• Krups Dolce Gusto coffee machines verdict
• Krups Nespresso coffee machines verdict
• Lakeland coffee machines verdict
• Lavazza coffee machines verdict
• Magimix Nespresso coffee machines verdict
• Melitta coffee machines verdict
• Morphy Richards coffee machines verdict
• Nespresso coffee machines verdict
• Russell Hobbs coffee machines verdict
• Sage coffee machines verdict

The three most common coffee machine faults

Here’s a list of the most common coffee machine faults experienced by Which? Connect panel members:

1. 18% leaking
2. 15% issues dispensing coffee
3. 12% inconsistent performance

Other common problems include issues caused by limescale and the milk frother not working properly, accounting for 12% and 9% respectively of all the coffee machine faults reported in our survey.

Tips for preventing coffee machine problems

It's a bore, but following the manufacturer's recommendations on how often you clean and descale your machine will help prolong its life, especially if you live in a hard-water area. Look for automatic cleaning and descaling programs to make maintaining it less of a hassle.

Our guide to cleaning your coffee machine will help you get started.

How we calculate the best and worst coffee machine brands

Which? has a wealth of information on Britain’s favourite coffee machine brands. 

We regularly contact Which? Connect Panel members and ask them to tell us about the kitchen appliances they own, including whether or not they would recommend a brand, as well as how long the products last when they get them home. 

This year, more than 13,000 Which? Connect Panel members told us about more than 40,000 appliances, including 4,229 coffee machines. Our survey, combined with our independent lab testing, means we can help you choose the best coffee machine brand.

Head to our coffee machine reviews

If you’ve already decided on the coffee machine brand you want to go for, use the links below to check out all our reviews on your chosen brand.

• Beko coffee machines verdict
• Bosch Tassimo coffee machines verdict
• DeLonghi coffee machines verdict
• Dualit coffee machines verdict
• Jura coffee machines verdict
• Krups coffee machines verdict
• Lakeland coffee machines verdict
• Lavazza coffee machines verdict
• Magimix coffee machines verdict
• Melitta coffee machines verdict
• Sage coffee machines verdict