Coffee Machine Buying Guide

There are so many varieties of coffee machines you really are spoilt for choice. But before you pick one, you’ll need to consider the kind of coffee that you like to drink. You’ll also need to think about how much you want to make at once, and whether you’ll use it regularly.

Filter Coffee

These are perfect for making a lot of coffee at once. The water simply flows slowly through the coffee and then through a filter. As the water goes through the ground coffee it takes in the taste and smell of the coffee. The filter stops the coffee granules from going through to the drink, and you then simply serve. They are so simple, and come in a range of sizes. The machine heats the water as it goes so you just need to add the water cold. There is normally a hot plate underneath the pot which keeps the coffee nice and hot. These are the lowest cost on the market.

Espresso/Cappuccino Machine

These machines are a very well-liked way of making espresso. These pump machines have a separate heater container that heats the water. The water then goes through the coffee filter holder at the best pressure level and produces a really great espresso. With an additional milk frother it ispossible to create lovely cappuccinos. If you like to grind your own coffee, these machines are perfect. 

Pod Machines

Pod machines have throwaway pods with the coffee potted inside them. The coffee is prepared and then sealed inside the pods which are fresh for almost a year. When you place the pod in the machine, the water is heated and then pushed through the pod, which collects the flavour and aroma as it goes through. This is a really easy way to make wonderful coffee. It’s super quick and there is no cleaning to do. The only down side is that they only make one cup.

Bean Machines

For real coffee lovers bean-to-cup coffee machines are the perfect match. They use real coffee beans rather than the ground coffee used in other machines. As soon as you switch it on, the machine grinds the coffee. It is then packed down and the machine forces hot water through the coffee at the correct pressure. The coffee then pours out into your drinking vessel, and the ground beans are then sent into a tray for easy disposal.  Again you can use a milk frother to make great cappuccino.

My favourite coffee machine is the pictured Smeg espresso machine. It makes two cups at once, and is a really sleek and stylish design so looks great in the kitchen or office.