Best coffee machines in the UK for espresso, filter coffee, coffee pods, and more

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PEXELS

What coffee machine is right for you?

The right coffee machine depends on your priorities, budget, and coffee consumption habits. If you value convenience and speed, pod machines like Nespresso or Keurig are ideal for quick single servings.

For coffee enthusiasts who want control over every aspect of brewing, manual espresso machines or pour-over setups offer maximum customisation. Bean-to-cup machines provide a middle ground with freshly ground coffee and programmable settings.

Consider your daily consumption (single cups vs. multiple servings), available counter space, maintenance tolerance, and whether you prefer espresso-based drinks or regular coffee.

Are bean-to-cup machines better than pods?

Bean-to-cup machines generally offer superior coffee quality since they grind fresh beans immediately before brewing, preserving maximum flavour and aroma. They’re also more cost-effective per cup and environmentally friendly, avoiding single-use pods.

However, pod machines can excel in convenience, speed, and consistency with minimal cleanup. Bean-to-cup machines require more maintenance, including regular cleaning of the grinder and internal components.

The “better” choice may depend on whether you prioritise coffee quality and long-term value (bean-to-cup) or convenience and simplicity (pods).

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PEXELS

What’s the difference between espresso and coffee?

Espresso and regular coffee differ primarily in brewing method, concentration, and serving size. Espresso is made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee under high pressure, creating a concentrated 1-2 ounce shot. This process extracts flavours quickly, resulting in an intense, rich taste.

Regular coffee (drip, pour-over, French press) uses coarser grounds and longer extraction times with gravity or steeping, producing larger servings (6-12 ounces) with a different flavour profile. Espresso serves as the base for drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos, while regular coffee is typically consumed as-is.

How often should you descale your coffee machine?

Most coffee machine manufacturers recommend descaling every 1-3 months, but frequency depends on your water hardness and usage patterns. Hard water areas require more frequent descaling (monthly), while soft water areas can extend to every 2-3 months.

High-usage machines may need more frequent maintenance. Many modern machines have built-in descaling indicators that alert you when it’s time.

Signs you need to descale include slower brewing times, unusual noises, reduced water flow, or changes in coffee taste. Regular descaling removes mineral buildup that can damage internal components and affect coffee quality, so it’s essential for maintaining machine performance and longevity.

How often should you clean the milk frother?

You should clean your milk frother after every use to prevent milk residue buildup, which can cause clogs, affect froth quality, and harbour bacteria.

All you have to do is rinse and wipe the frothing wand or jug immediately after each use, and perform a deeper clean with warm, soapy water at least once a week to ensure it maintains high performance.

If you’ve never shopped De’Longhi before, it’s an Italian home-appliances company founded in 1902, based in Treviso, Italy. It makes a wide range of small appliances — everything from coffee machines, kitchen gadgets and air conditioners to heaters and cleaning devices, and it’s most well-known for combining stylish Italian design with strong engineering.

In recent years, De’Longhi has pushed even more into the coffee world, acquiring other premium brands like La Marzocco and Eversys.

What sets this machine apart from the rest is not only the ease of use with a touch of a button, but you can also customise every aspect of your brew down to the exact milk frothing temperature. In fact, the brand uses the technology called Bean Adapt, which fine-tunes grind size, dose, and extraction temperature based on your beans. You also get 15 grind settings, three infusion temperatures, an easy-dose tamper, and automatic milk texturing with multiple foam and temperature options.

Warranty

2-year guarantee

The Vertuo Plus is designed with a large water tank and the ability to fit four different cup sizes for brewing. So if you have a long commute to work, this machine can easily brew into a travel-size mug.

It also features smart one-touch technology to read the barcode on each coffee pod and deliver the correct size each time.

The Vertuo Plus heats in just 40 seconds and features automatic opening and closing, a movable water tank to suit your kitchen space, and automatic pod ejection for mess-free use.

It’s important to note that this machine is only compatible with VertuoPlus pods, meaning smaller pods built for Nespresso’s other machines won’t work. This is because the brand utilises Centrifusion™ technology, which reads the barcode on each Nespresso Vertuo pod to adjust brewing parameters such as temperature, cup size, and extraction time, ensuring optimal results for each blend.

Warranty

Two-year guarantee

The Nespresso CitiZ is a compact coffee pod machine designed for simplicity and style. Its 1-litre removable water tank lets you brew multiple espresso or lungo servings before needing a refill, making it perfect for everyday use at home or in small offices.

The machine heats up quickly, delivering café-quality coffee in just 25–30 seconds, and uses Nespresso’s original coffee capsules for a wide variety of flavours. Its minimalist design fits easily on any countertop, while the removable drip tray accommodates larger cups or travel mugs.

If you’ve never shopped for Nespresso machines before, it’s a brand owned by the Swiss company Nestlé. The brand is known for selling coffee pod-compatible machines, cutting down the time it takes to make a traditional cup of coffee.

Warranty

Two-year guarantee

The De’Longhi filter coffee machine may be a great option if you’re looking to brew your coffee in batches for family members or other larger groups. It features a 1.25-litre removable water tank, allowing you to brew up to 10 cups of coffee in one go.

The machine also boasts an anti-drip system, ensuring no spills when removing the carafe mid-brew, and an auto shut-off function for safety and energy efficiency. Its unique aroma function enhances the coffee’s flavour, while the non-drip jug and water level display add to the convenience.

One thing to note is that you will need to purchase coffee paper filters separately with this machine.

Warranty

Two-year guarantee

The Breville barista signature espresso VCF160 is a premium selection with an integrated bean grinder with a whopping 30 different settings, so you have full control over your perfect brew. Like Breville’s barista max coffee machine, you can whip up espresso, lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites.

Like its name, you can select the type of coffee you prefer to make at the push of a button with its easy interface. The machine is compatible with ground coffee or coffee beans, so you can also tailor your cups with your favourite beans.

It features a steam wand too, so you can make velvety microfoam milk with each brew.

The De’Longhi Magnifica Evo is a fully automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine designed to bring café-quality espresso into your home with ease. It features a 1.8-litre removable water tank, allowing you to brew multiple cups before needing a refill. The machine is also designed with a 250g bean hopper capacity, ensuring you have enough beans for several servings without frequent refills.

Equipped with a 15-bar pump pressure, this ensures the delivery of rich and aromatic espresso. The integrated conical burr grinder offers seven adjustable coffee preferences. The manual milk frother also enables you to create creamy cappuccinos and lattes, adding a touch of barista flair to your coffee routine.

With its compact dimensions of 9.4D x 17.3W x 14.2H cm, the machine is also designed to fit into most kitchen spaces.

Warranty

Two-year guarantee

The Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie Evo is an espresso machine built with a 0.6 L transparent water tank and a removable, adjustable cup rest. You can effortlessly prepare a classic espresso or a smooth caffè lungo.

The intuitive Stop & Go backlit button lets you choose the exact amount of coffee you want, and the machine automatically ejects used capsules into a drawer that holds up to five pods.

It’s also worth noting that the machine is compatible exclusively with Lavazza A Modo Mio capsules.

Warranty

Two-year guarantee

If you’re travelling, the YETI French press may be a great portable option to throw in your bag. This device acts as a French Press and a portable insulated container.

Made with double-wall vacuum insulation, it keeps your coffee hot for hours long after it’s brewed. It’s also designed with kitchen-grade stainless steel for durability, and it’s dishwasher safe.

The twist-to-lock lid provides a secure seal to prevent spills and maintain heat.

If you’ve never shopped YETI before, the brand was founded in Austin, Texas, in 2006 and designs, markets, and distributes innovative products built for the outdoors, including coolers, drinkware, gear, and accessories

Warranty

Five-year guarantee