Best coffee machine 2022: reviewed by coffee-lovers
Nothing can set you up for a great day like the best coffee machine. From snazzy space-saving pod machines to high-tech espresso makers that will rival your local coffee shop, the best coffee machines come in all shapes and sizes. The right one for you will depend on your budget, and your coffee preferences, not to mention, the looks of the machine (after all, it has to live on your kitchen counters, so choose wisely).
There are an array of coffee machines on the market, from top brands like De’Longhi, Sage, Nespresso, KitchenAid, and Breville, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed when finding the right one. That’s why we’ve reviewed a wide range of machines at every price point to make that decision as easy as possible. Every one of the top 10 best coffee machines in this guide has been reviewed here on the Ideal Home site, so if you like the look of one you can click through to find the complete review.
Many of the machines below scored four stars or more in our testing process. Why? Well, only the cream (or should we say, the crema) of the crop made it into this guide, meaning the top entries for our guides to the best bean-to-cup coffee machines, best pod coffee machines, and more. We have reviewed countless coffee machines over the years, and many of our reviewed products haven’t made the cut. Of course, there are countless coffee machines on the market, so our reviewing process is always ongoing. That keeps us fully caffeinated, and our buying guide as up to date as possible. Double win!
Best coffee machine 2022
1. De’Longhi Dinamica Plus ECAM370
Best high-end bean to cup coffee machine
Best for: making a coffee from scratch
Type of coffee: beans
Pressure: 19 bar
No. of cups: 2
RRP: £799
What we like:
• Super quick to heat up
• Easy to use
• Impressive milk frothing
What we don’t like:
• Needs regular self-cleaning
As you can probably tell, we are BIG fans of coffee so we’re easily impressed when we find a machine which can grind, brew and make a delicious drink in one go. This is a pretty expensive coffee machine – we give you that – but if you are a regular punter down at the local coffee house then you’ll soon earn your money back with one of these. You’ll also have coffee on tap, without the faff of having to grind and brew your own espresso. This doesn’t mean you can’t customise though, because the bean container has an adjustable grinding setting that works simply by turning a dial.
The burr grinder will work its magic on coffee beans of your choice which can be adjusted if needed. It’ll heat up in about three seconds so you won’t be waiting long for your next caffeine-fix. And no need to worry about hand-steaming your coffee, because the automatic milk steaming is perfectly adjusted for each and every drink.
You can also choose between different drink sizes and strengths, or save a custom preset of your favourite blend to make sure you have your perfect brew each and every morning.
Ideal Home rating 5 out of 5 stars
Read our full De’Longhi Dinamica Plus ECAM370 review
2. Sage Bambino
The best coffee machine for compact design
Image credit: Sage
Best for: espresso and milky coffee
Type of coffee: ground
Pressure: 9 bar
No. of cups: up to 2
RRP: £329
What we like:
• High quality extraction
• Great filter selection
• Preheats very fast
What we don’t like:
• Noisy brewing
Home baristas will love the Sage Bambino, which is Sage’s latest and most budget-friendly coffee machine. It’s not cheap (of course, it’s Sage) but it is decent value-for-money, with pre-infusion which very effectively extracts creamy and smooth crema for a luscious layer on top of your espresso. The preheat is only three seconds, which is very impressive, and the milk steaming wand also preheats very fast. It gives out 130-degree steam which was very effective at creating steamed milk in a jiffy.
When extracting we did find that the Sage Bambino rattles slightly, so it’s not the quietest coffee machine on the market. Cleaning is easy though, with a drip tray that simply pulls out for a rinse, and an easily flushed steam wand.
It also gives that classic Sage look, but in a machine that’s narrow without losing any features. It comes with the same cup holder on top, the sturdy backlit buttons and a removable water tank that makes it easy to fill up despite the smaller size. It’s a winner in our books.
Ideal Home rating 4.5 out of 5 stars
Read our full Sage Bambino review
3. Lavazza A Modo Mio Idola
Best pod coffee machine
Best for: space-saving
Type of coffee: pod
Pressure: 15 bar
No. of cups: 1
RRP: £99.99
What we like:
• Easy to use
• Stylish design
• Four brew sizes
What we don’t like:
• On the expensive side
Small kitchen? Short on space? This pod coffee machine from Lavazza will fit in nicely. Despite its small size, it will make a statement not only on how it looks but also because it’ll make a punchy coffee. The entire range of Lavazza A Modo Mio pods are compatible with the Lavazza A Modo Mio Idola which means that you can opt for a selection of espressos whenever you want them. The good thing here is that the pods are made with an innovative, compostable biopolymer, which means that they’re naturally biodegrade.
Keeping the machine clean is pretty straightforward. You’ll just need to run a cycle without a pod inserted to flush out the system. It would also be worth just wiping it down with a damp cloth to remove any finger marks or coffee spills.
It’s rare to find a pod coffee machine with this many options. You can adjust the temperature and the size of your drink with the selection of presets on the control panes, all without losing any style or simplicity.
Ideal Home rating 4.5 out of 5 stars
Read our full Lavazza A Modo Mio Idola review
4. Breville Bijou Espresso Machine
The best coffee machine for homemade espresso
Best for: espresso or long coffee
Type of coffee: ground
Pressure: 15 bar
No. of cups: up to 2
RRP: £160
What we like:
• Continuous extraction
• High quality steam wand
• Stylish brushed finish
What we don’t like:
• Low filter can get in the way
Make any type of coffee with the Breville Bijou Espresso Machine. It has a high-quality steam wand which is perfect for texturising milk, and there are two filters to choose from, which is great for having single or double shots of espresso. You need to wait for your coffee machine to heat up before twisting the dial to the left, which will continuously extract hot coffee until you switch it back. This will be good for some, and not so good for others. Some will prefer an exact espresso measurement, whereas others will just want a long coffee to fill up their favourite mug.
Using grounds, you can easily tamp and twist to secure your filter with the included scoop and tamper. There is no jug included, but it will be easy to buy one for cheap online. Just press the steam milk button and wait for it to stop flashing before twisting the dial to the right and clearing out the wand. Then, it’s easy to create that high-pressure whirlpool to achieve that perfectly hot milk with a creamy latte finish.
If we have a complaint, it’s that the filter hangs quite low and can get in the way of some taller mugs. We did have to fill up a smaller mug and then pour into a longer latte mug to make some drinks. For the money, this is a brilliant coffee machine.
Ideal Home rating 4 out of 5 stars
Read our full Breville Bijou Espresso Machine review
5. KitchenAid 5KCM1208
Best filter coffee machine
Best for: making a really good filter coffee
Type of coffee: ground
Pressure: n/a
No. of cups: 1.7 litres / up to 7
RRP: £139
What we like:
• Two custom presets
• LCD display
• Adjustable strength
What we don’t like:
• Has to be positioned a certain way
We fell in love with this filter coffee machine from KitchenAid the moment we saw it. It’s a very neat, simple design which is available in a suite of colours to match the best stand mixer. However, it’s surprisingly large and will take up space in the kitchen, so beware before you buy.
The LCD display allows you to choose different strength setting and it also can toggle between two different presets. Use it to switch from weekend to weekday, morning to afternoon, even between different user preferences. The carafe is a generous 1.7 litres, and the display also has a ‘dosage ladder’ that will help you to add the right amount of grounds for the amount of coffee you’re hoping to review. A keep warm plate will unsurprisingly keep the coffee warm for you, too, but not for much longer than a couple of hours.
When we tested six top filter coffee machines side by side for our guide to the best filter coffee machines, this one came out on top. Need we say more?
Ideal Home rating 5 out of 5 stars
6. Swan Retro One Touch Espresso Machine
Best coffee machine for quirky style
Best for: value and retro style
Type of coffee: grounds
Pressure: 13 bar
No. of cups: 2
RRP: £119
What we like:
• So many colours
• Milk dispenser
• Reasonable price
What we don’t like:
• Removable tray feels flimsy
The Swan Retro One Touch Espresso Machine is a retro-style coffee machine with all the modern touches you need to make your coffee shop favourites. The milk frother is very easy to use, and there are two sizes of beverage in three drink types.
You need to add and tamp your own grounds to use the Swan Retro One Touch Espresso Machine, and we found that it can get a little messy to work this way. The pressure gauge will help you to tell if your machine is ready to go, and it also makes sure you’re getting the most out of your beans.
The tamp drips slightly once your coffee is done pouring. We suggest putting a cup underneath it to prevent it from splashing into the plastic base. Many top espresso machines will set you back at least £300, so we think the RRP of this coffee machine really sets it apart. It’s cute, too.
Ideal Home rating 4 out of 5 stars
Read our full Swan Retro One Touch Espresso Machine review
7. Cuisinart Veloce
The best value fully functioning coffee machine
Best for: lovers of frothy coffee
Type of coffee: bean
Pressure: 15 bar
No. of cups: up to 2
RRP: £629
What we like:
• Can make milky and long coffees automatically
• Simple digital instructions
• Cleaning is easy
What we don’t like:
• You need to clean the milk frother after each use
The Cuisinart Veloce packs in a lot of value for the price, which, admittedly, is one of the highest in our guide. The digital display shows a menu of numerous coffee options, from espresso shots to cappuccinos. You can adjust the size of your drink in millilitres, the proportion of milk to coffee and the level of froth you would like if you do opt for a milky coffee. The milk dispenser is also removable, so you can keep it in the fridge between uses.
We enjoyed being able to save custom drink preferences, which made coffee rounds seriously straightforward. The machine runs a self-cleaning cycle after every drink, which only lasts a few seconds. After making a milky drink you need to add the tube to a glass of water, where it will clean itself out after each use. This is a bit of a faff if you drink a lot of latte, but we just kept a glass of water handy in preparation.
Cleaning is made easy by the on-screen instructions which guide you through the whole process. The digital display may be less charming than some of the other best bean-to-cup coffee machines on the market, but it really does make life a whole lot easier.
Ideal Home rating 4.5 out of 5 stars
Read our full Cuisinart Veloce coffee machine review
8. Hotel Chocolat The Podster
Best compact pod machine
Image credit: Hotel Chocolat / QVC
Best for: quality coffee
Type of coffee: pod
Pressure: 9 bar
No. of cups: 1
RRP: £154.99
What we like:
• Super compact design
• High-quality coffee
• Eco-conscious design
What we don’t like:
• The handle struggles under counters
Hotel Chocolat’s The Podster comes from some seriously good stock. It has the same textured metal handle that comes with the Velvetiser, and this pulls down securely to lock pods into place. Combine The Podster with Rabot Estate coffee pods and you can use the included Podcycler to eject the used coffee grounds from the aluminium coffee pods. Stack these together and they can go through the household recycling, which is a big step forward for pod coffee machines.
There are two coffee lengths to choose from, and before extracting coffee the machines gives a three-second auto-dose which allows the coffee flavour to bloom before it pours into your glass. The result? Seriously tasty coffee, with the espresso flavour we expect from high-pressure machines. Of course, you do lose the option of making lattes or flat whites when you’re working with such a compact machine, but what it does it does very well, and we also enjoyed using the Velvetiser to make lattes alongside our americano and lungos.
We wish there was more than one colour to choose from, and the handle did struggle when we used the machine underneath kitchen counters, but the machine is well-designed with an emphasis on quality as opposed to style. Compact kitchens will benefit from The Podster’s narrow dimensions. It’s only 15cm wide, which is seriously teeny.
Read our full Hotel Chocolat The Podster coffee machine review
Ideal Home rating 4 out of 5 stars
9. Lavazza Voicy
The best smart coffee machine
Image credit: Lavazza
Best for: smart design
Type of coffee: pod
Pressure: 19 bar
No. of cups: 1
What we like:
• The in-built Alexa speaker
• Compatible app to customise your brew
• Easy to clean
What we don’t like:
• You’re limited by only two buttons
It’s not cheap, but the Lavazza Voicy is the best smart coffee machine we’ve reviewed. It has an Alexa smart speaker front and centre, which will make you a fresh brew if you simply command it to make you a coffee. You can also ask for a hot coffee, which will boost the temperature, and a long coffee, which will deliver a lungo instead of a cappuccino.
The Lavazza app can be used to customise your coffee, with several profiles to adjust the number of ounces that go into your favourite beverage. That means you won’t be limited by the two buttons on top of the coffee machine, and if you don’t drink much espresso, you can change the preset for both buttons to something more your liking.
If you pair your Lavazza Voicy with your Amazon account you can use it in the place of a regular smart speaker. This is ideal for playing your favourite podcast while you do the washing up, or checking the time when you are in a rush.
Ideal Home rating 5 out of 5 stars
Read our full Lavazza Voicy review
10. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
Best pod coffee machine for strong espresso
Best for: strong coffee
Type of coffee: pod
Pressure: 15 bar
No. of cups: 1
What we like:
• Quality design
• Aromatic coffee
• Reasonable price
What we don’t like:
• No size presets
If you value a good quality espresso, the Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie is a top choice. It comes in a range of dashing shades and sits pretty on any kitchen counter. The pods are recyclable, albeit through Lavazza’s slightly complicated scheme, and the machine is very easy to use. You simply pull up the lever, insert your pod, and push it back down to start the brewing process.
You press to start brewing, and then press again to stop the process. This has pros and cons, because while it’s nice to see a coffee machine that offers a fully adjustable length of coffee, you do need to stand by while it brews.
Ideal Home rating 4.5 out of 5 stars
Read our full Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie review
How we selected the best coffee machines
The coffee machines featured in this guide have all been tested as you would use them at home. We’ve considered the type of coffee machine – pod coffee machine, bean-to-cup coffee machine, filter coffee machines and espresso coffee machines – to cater for the varying household demands. With this comes the job of deciphering usability, maintenance, the amount of space the machine takes up, upfront costs and running costs. It’s (not) been a hard job! We like coffee as much as you probably do, maybe even a shot more.
How we test the best coffee machines
The Lavazza Voicy making a coffee
It’s a tough job but someone has to do it, right? We like to get hands-on experience with as many products as we can before featuring in our buyer’s guide, and if we get to drink the rewards – even better! We understand that there’s A LOT of choice out there when finding the best coffee machine and, really, the only way to find out which one will be the most suitable for your lifestyle is to test one out for size. This is not always possible though, we get that, so luckily that’s where we can help…
The post Best coffee machine 2022: reviewed by coffee-lovers appeared first on Ideal Home.
