1:00PM BST 19 Jul 2014
We've rounded up 10 of the best coffee machines on the market, whether you're an espresso enthusiast or cappuccino connoisseur.
This post is on Healthwise
There's nothing like a good cup of coffee - but what machines can you rely on to get the best result when at home? Photo: Alamy
Nespresso Krups Pixie
£139.00
The smallest of the Nespresso range, the Pixie is compact enough to squeeze into even a tiny kitchen and provides a good-quality single or double espresso from a capsule in as little as 25 seconds. It doesn't, however, have the capacity to froth milk - so if you're a cappuccino guzzler, you might want to upgrade to a bigger model, or buy a stand-alone milk frother.
£499.95
Coffee connoisseurs swear by bean-to-cup makers - machines which grind coffee beans on the spot for an intenser, richer coffee. Such appliances can cost an eye-watering amount of money, but De Longhi's Magnifica range is one of the better-value high street options. This model lets you adjust everything from the strength of the coffee to the temperature and also lets you use ready-ground coffee - ideal for those caffeine emergencies.
£199.99
There are few coffee machines as good-looking as this vintage-style number from Francis Francis. Another capsule chomper, it's best at espressos but does have a steam wand so you can froth milk for cappuccinos and lattes. Available in red, white or black.
£49.99
If the idea of messing around with capsules or coffee beans is too much to cope with in the morning, you can't go wrong with a filter coffee machine. Morphy Richards's Accents coffee maker is simple to use, makes up to 12 cups and keeps the pot warm for several hours. It also has a timer function, so you can set it to greet you with a cup the instant you step out of bed.
£19.99
This cheap-and-cheerful gadget has a cult following among those in the know. Simple place a spoon of whatever coffee you like in the tube, add hot water, then press down with the plunger. Within 30 seconds, you'll have a smooth cup of coffee (though admittedly without a coffee-shop style crema). Cleaning up is easy, and they even come with 350 disposable microfilters, so are low-cost to run.
£99.99
This sleek black machine makes over 35 varieties of drink, from lattes and macchiatos to hot chocolates and tea. Other than the quality of the coffee, its stand-out feature is that it's very low-maintenance - the product has an automatic cleaning and descaling program, while the 1.5L water tank means you don't have to fill it too often. You're limited to the maker's capsules (or "T-discs", as Bosch like to call them), but there is a good range available, including some made by the coffee chain Costa.
£350.00
One of Which's 'Best Buys', the Gaggia Baby Class is a classic stainless steel machine that delivers top-notch espressos in just 16 seconds. It has a steamer attachment so you can make frothy coffees, and works with both ground coffee and ESE (easy serve espresso) pods. Very simple to operate, too.
£549.99
If you fancy yourself a true barista (and have pockets as deep as Starbucks), this Heston Blumenthal-branded monster will tick all your coffee boxes. The stainless steel machine is solid and stylish and will grind beans on any of 18 settings from coarse to fine, depending on how you crave your cuppa. The machine helpfully has "clean me" and "empty me" lights which remind you when it needs a bit of TLC.
£199.99
If Nespresso's Pixie is a little too modest (or you're a latte fiend), upgrade to this equally sleek design, which has a separate milk-frothing container. It's quick, fuss-free and allows you to add only as much milk as you want to your drink. Like most Nespresso machines, it has a useful automatic power shut-off feature to help you save energy if it's not being used.
£89.99
This little penguin-lookalike is a popular and quirky choice. Small and easy to clean, its vibrant shade will brighten up your kitchen counter (though it's also available in more sober colours) and it has a pressure pump so you can get a crema on your espresso. The appliance works through capsules but bear in mind there isn't a steamer: making a milky coffee requires both a coffee capsule and a milk capsule, which will bump up the running costs a little.
Go to Healthwise for more articles
