Best coffee machines 2024: top machines reviewed by experts

Find the right type of coffee machine for you with our Best Buy recommendations and expert buying advice.

Our rigorous, independent lab tests have found the worst coffee machines take ages to dispense bitter and unpleasant espressos. Read on to find out which coffee machines impressed us in our tests, along with all the advice you need to help you decide which one is right for your kitchen.

Compare all the coffee machines we've tested with our coffee machine reviews.

Best coffee machines for 2024

The following machines are the very best coffee machines of all the appliances we've tested – to see more high-scoring machines of each type, just follow the links.

Every year we rigorously test coffee machines - from the quality of espresso to energy efficiency - to find the best machine for you. Only logged-in members can see our full list of the best coffee machines in our table below. Join Which? to get instant access to our Best Buys and expert reviews. 

Latest reviewed coffee machines:

Coffee machine reviews by type

• Bean-to-cup coffee machine reviews
• Pod coffee machine reviews
• Espresso coffee machine reviews

Coffee machines by price

• Under £50: see coffee machine reviews
• Under £150: see coffee machine reviews
• Under £350: see coffee machine reviews
• Under £1000: see coffee machine reviews

Why you should trust our coffee machine reviews

We go out and buy each coffee machine we test - so no sneaky 'freebies' from PR companies.

We test around 40 coffee machines every year. Each model undergoes rigorous independent lab testing and all models are tested in the same way, regardless of manufacturer's claims.

Our panel of experienced taste tasters assess the espressos and cappuccinos from each machine, while lab experts measure temperatures, dispensing time, energy efficiency, noise levels and more.

Read more about how we test coffee machines.

Coffee machine types explained

The type of coffee machine you choose will depend on the type of coffee you like to drink, your budget and how hands-on you want to get when making your drinks.

Pod coffee machines

Pod or capsule machines are the most popular type. They're likely to suit you if you're looking for a quick and easy way to make coffee at home.

Pros:

• Usually quite compact, so won't take up too much space in your kitchen.
• Cheap to buy – some cost as little as £40.
• Quick, simple and consistent results, with little clean-up required.
• Some also make drinks such as hot chocolate and tea.
• Good for occasional coffee drinkers, as the sealed pods keep coffee fresh.
• Can have a range of coffee flavours and styles on the go at once.

Cons:

• More expensive per drink than ground coffee or beans.
• Coffee pods create waste, as many pods are plastic – although some are greener than others.
• You're usually tied into using a specific capsule type (eg Nespresso pods), limiting your choice of drink and where you can buy the pods. Some are only available online.

For more buying advice, see best pod coffee machines. 

Traditional espresso machines

A traditional espresso machine will suit you if you want to have more control over your coffee and don’t mind getting hands-on with your drinks prep. They also offer a good compromise between upfront costs and the ongoing cost of coffee.

Pros:

• Can use any ground coffee provided it's the right grind level (fine espresso coffee).
• Some can also use ESE pods (like coffee tea bags), a mess-free option.
• Cheaper per cup than pods.
• More control over the strength and size of your drink.
• Can make two drinks at once.

Cons:

• Might take a bit of time to get the hang of making your coffee, and there's more room for error.
• More manual preparation and clean-up than with other types.

For more buying advice, see best espresso machines.  

Bean-to-cup coffee machines

A bean-to-cup coffee machine will suit you if you want to make the freshest coffee possible and have more to spend.

Pros:

• Grind beans on demand for a fresh brew.
• Most automate the coffee-making process, but there are some manual models around too.
• Can use a variety of coffee beans, and in some cases ground coffee too.
• Some have extensive customisable settings, so you can tailor drinks and save preferences.
• Some can make two drinks at once.

Cons: 

• Tend to be much more expensive.
• Some models are very large and bulky.
• Can be difficult to clean and prone to clogging.
• Can be noisy when grinding.

For more buying advice, see our guide to the best bean-to-cup coffee machines.

Don't enjoy espresso? See our guide to the best filter coffee machines.

Best coffee machine features to consider

Whatever style of coffee machine you choose, these are some of the important machine features to consider:

Descaling program

Regularly cleaning and descaling your machine will help to keep it working well for longer. Look for automatic cleaning programs to make it less of a hassle. If it needs to be cleaned manually, check to see if the parts can be removed easily for cleaning and whether they're dishwasher safe.

Large water tank

If you tend to make a lot of coffee at once, look for a model with a larger water tank of around 1.5 litres, otherwise you’ll find yourself having to constantly refill it. Some pod machines have very small tanks.

Milk frother

If you’re a fan of milky drinks, such as cappuccinos and lattes, choose a coffee machine with a milk-frothing function. 

There are several options: you'll need to decide whether you want your drink made for you, or if you're happy to froth the milk and add it to your coffee.

• Steam wand – the traditional option, mostly found on ground coffee and some bean-to-cup machines. You froth milk in a separate jug using a burst of steam, and you can then add it to your drink. Some premium versions are partly automated, so you just need to stick the wand in a jug to create your froth.
• Standalone frother – a separate gadget that whisks and heats milk for you to add to your coffee. Often sold with Nespresso and Lavazza pod machines.
• Automatic built-in frother – found on bean-to-cup and some ground coffee/pod machines. Just add milk to a dedicated container and a built-in frother sucks it up and dispenses foamed milk directly into your cup.
• Milk pods – pre-prepared UHT or powdered milk pods dispense froth directly into your cup. Used in Tassimo and Dolce Gusto pod coffee machines.

Personalisation/memory function

Some coffee machines let you adjust pre-set drinks settings to suit your preferences. This means the machine will automatically dispense just the right amount of coffee, at the perfect strength, every time.

Smart controls

Some coffee machines can be connected to your smartphone via an app. You can control the machine from the app, as well as accessing troubleshooting advice and maintenance alerts.

At the moment only a small number of brands make smart coffee machines. When we asked brands how long they'd support their coffee machines with important security updates after launch, only Miele was willing to tell us that it would support its Smart Home app with security updates for up to 10 years.

While you may not be at immediate risk if you're using a device that's unsupported, it's obviously desirable to buy and use a device that you know will receive update support for a good period of time.

For more information, read our guide to smart devices and security.

What type of machine offers the best value for money?

Based on drinking two espressos a day over five years, and factoring in the upfront cost of the cheapest relevant Best Buy machine, we've calculated how the costs of each machine type add up over time.

The result? At £773, the traditional espresso machine is the cheapest over five years, followed by the bean-to-cup machine at £1,033, and coffee pods at £1,153.

The most expensive option is buying a takeaway coffee twice a day – it comes in at a staggering £7,118!

Longevity is also important. To see which brands make machines that remain trouble-free for longer, see our guide to which coffee machine brands are the most reliable. 

Where to buy a coffee machine

Popular online retailers that sell coffee machines.

• Argos stocks pod, bean-to-cup and espresso models from brands including Nespresso, De'Longhi and Tassimo. Opt for Click and Collect and Argos will hold the item for seven days.
• John Lewis lists Sage, Tassimo and Nespresso among its most popular brands. Its list of products includes the Krups Nespresso Pixie.
• Currys sells a large range of machines. Standard delivery is free for orders over £40 and next-day delivery starts at £5.99.
• Amazon has hundreds of coffee machines for you to pick from and regularly offers models at a discount.

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