If you’re looking to buy your first ever coffee machine for home, or you’re simply looking to upgrade your existing machine, then you’ve come to the right place. There are a number of important factors you’ll need to consider before making your new purchase so we’ve put together this article to help you work out how to choose the best coffee machine for your needs. Today we’ve invited Balance Coffee founder James Bellis to talk all about the best coffee machines money can buy. James has spent over ten years working in the coffee industry, and six years working exclusively with espresso machines So he’s well placed to deliver this expert guide so you can be sure to pick the best coffee machine for your kitchen counter. James’ BackgroundJames worked for one of the worlds most iconic Italian coffee machine brands ‘Sanremo Coffee Machines’, so has tonnes of world class experience when it comes to choosing the right machine. What do you think makes the best home coffee machine? In this article we cover the four main types of coffee machines available. We also share some pre-purchase considerations you’ll need to think about. Such as, power, counter-space, manual vs automatic plus more. By the end, you’ll have all the info you need to create the perfect barista experience from the comfort of your own home!
What to consider when Buying a Coffee MakerThere are a few important things you’ll want to think about about before you start looking for the best coffee machine online. We’ve broken these down so that you choose the right machine first time around. Wholebean or Ground?This may seem like an obvious one, but deciding whether you want to buy coffee beans whole or ground coffee will impact the type of coffee machine you decide to buy. How? Well if you can’t be bothered to grind your coffee fresh (we recommend you do for flavour), then you won’t need to buy a bean to cup coffee machine or a machine that has a built-in coffee grinder. Price/BudgetIt’s good to determine your budget and the price you are willing to pay for your new home coffee machine up front. If you’re looking to make excellent cafe quality coffee at home then you’re going to need the best coffee machine on the market. If you’re a big coffee drinker and you currently spend money in cafes or at work, then you may actually save money by replacing your coffee shop habit with coffee at home. With a huge shift in the work from home culture, it could be the perfect time to consider investing in a home coffee machine. There’s one suggestion I have to help you figure out whether you should buy a machine or not.
Want to get straight to our recommendations and prices? Let us take you there. Location & Counter SpaceWhere will your new coffee machine be situated? On the kitchen counter, in a utility room, or perhaps an outdoor space? Once you’ve decided on the location, you’ll need to make sure you allow space enough depth, width and height to fit in your machine. Carefully measure the footprint you are working with and don’t forget to allow enough room for additional accessories such as a coffee grinder Plumbed or Tank OptionThere are generally two options to choose from when you’re buying the best coffee machine for home use. Let’s start with the plumbed option. For example, if you choose a high end espresso machine you’ll likely need to think more carefully about how you plumb the machine in to your mains water feed. This will likely add on(£100) and is something that will need replacing periodically. The good news? Not all espresso machines require plumbed option. For example, the Sage Coffee Machines have a built in water tank which you’ll manually re-fill each day to keep your water supply fresh. Power RequirementsLuckily, most coffee machine brands in 2021 and beyond have carefully thought about kitchen requirements so most of the best coffee machine you buy are plug and play via your usual kitchen plug socket. However, it’s best to double check as some larger machines may require a higher power solution. CleaningA clean machine equals delicious coffee. Choosing a machine with a simple cleaning process is another top tip. Let’s be honest, not many of us enjoy cleaning, so choosing a machine with a straightforward cleaning process will make all the difference and ensure longevity from your purchase. Reliability & Warranty SupportThis is really important consideration, because all machines run into technical trouble at some point, even the best coffee machine. Coffee machines are really jut sophisticated kitchen kettles. Over time, they build up with limescale and clog up with will need de-scaling, servicing or replacing. Choosing a reliable and trusted manufacturer who offer fantastic service support is one of the most important aspects to consider when purchasing your home coffee machine. Luckily, we’ve included trusted brands inside this article to help you buy the best coffee machine. Four Types of Coffee MachinesThere are a four main coffee machine types that you can choose from. Each type naturally has its pros and cons so it’s important to think about your coffee making style and preferences. But not to worry, we’ve covered everything for you below. Jump to section: 1. Espresso MachineThe biggest question you’ll need to ask yourself with an espresso machine is, “Do I love properly made coffees like espresso, flat whites, and cappuccinos enough to invest? If so, you’ll need an espresso machine to execute the drinks as you simply can’t make those menu drinks without it. Pros:First up is the famous espresso machine. In terms of the coffee quality, you just can’t get better. But why? Quality Coffee Drink Diversity Experimentation At Balance we have a discovery coffee subscription whereby each month you’ll receive an exciting new flavour which gets delivered to your door. These coffees are a mix of the most rare and exclusive coffees in season that month Latte Art Designed to make the perfect micro-foam texture, you’ll really enjoy sipping on your creamy morning latte with your hand poured shape. There are plenty of latte art superstars who have great tips and tutorials on youtube so you can learn from home. There are other milk foamers or frothers available however, you’ll never get the same texture because the machines are simply not powerful enough to create high quality steam pressure. Cons:Price / Cost Counter Space Ease Of Use The Best Espresso MachineIf you’re looking for the best espresso machine, we’ve put together a short list of most recommended machine to buy. *Price – High to Low 1. Eagle One Prima Coffee Machine by Victoria Arduino – RRP £5,040 2. The Cube by Sanremo Coffee Machines UK – RRP – £3,800 3. Dual Boiler Machine by Sage – RRP – £1,195 4. The Barista Pro by Sage – RRP – £699 5. The Bambino Plus by Sage – RRP – £399 2. Bean to Cup Coffee MachineIf you’re looking for an easy way to make great coffee at home, then a Bean to Cup machine might just be for you. In this section we discuss the pros and cons and share the best bean to cup machine options that money can buy. Pros:Convenience Automation One common mis-conception is that a bean to cup makes coffee faster than an espresso machine. It’s not necessarily the case. But don’t get us wrong. pushing a button to get your morning coffee certainly feels like a faster more convenient ‘hack’. Freshly Ground Coffee Cons: Price / Cost Prices for Bean to cup machines vary but they sit somewhere between £200 and £3,000. Again, you’ll likely find a solution within your price range and there are many payment solutions you can use, such as Buy Now, Pay Later with Klarna or Clearpay. Milk Quality
The Best Bean to Cup MachineIf an automatic solution is up your street, then you’ll be looking for the best bean to cup machines. Here’s a short list to help you explore the best option for you. *Price – High to Low 1. The Oracle Touch by Sage – RRP – £1999 2. TI353201GB by Siemens – RRP – £429 3. The Automatic Espresso Machine by Smeg – RRP – £399 4. Magnifica S by De’Longhi – RRP – £335 5. Solo Perfect Milk by Melitta RRP – £286 3. Pod / Capsule MachinePod coffee machines take up a huge part of the UK coffee at home market. They provide a great balance between affordability and ease of use. There’s no doubt you can make a quick coffee in the morning with a pod machine. Below we explore the best pod machines for you to explore before you make your purchase. The Best Pod MachineBelow we share the advantages and disadvantages of pod coffee – plus, our list of the top 5 capsule machines so you’ll get the most out of that morning hit. Pros:Price Convenience Perfect if you’re on the move or need to get out of the house early and take that morning shot of coffee. Speed Flavour Another big tip is to avoid buying pods from the supermarkets. They are typically left in storage for long periods of time before they hit the shelces, and that impacts quality. If you can, buy online to get the best flavour coffee pods at home. Cons: Price Quality Compatibility You won’t experience this problem with coffee beans or ground but just double check when you’re buying your coffee pods online that they are compatible with your pod machine. *Price – High to Low 1. Lavazza Pod Machine by Smeg – RRP – £199 2. Opal One Capsule Machine – RRP – £129 3. Next Coffee Machine by Vertuo – RRP – £149 4. Happy Real Black by Tassimo – RRP – £105 5. Multi Capsule Coffee Machine by Potts – RRP – £99 4. Filter Coffee MachineIf filter coffee is your thing, then finding the best filter coffee machine will be top of your radar. Filter coffee Is typically suited to ‘black coffee drinkers’ however, you can always add a dash of regular milk or oat milk for the perfect white americano. Your shiny new filter coffee machine needs to do the very simple job of delivering hot water over freshly ground coffee to create delicious brewed coffee. Design is a big factor, because you’ll want your machine to fit your kitchens aesthetic. Do you want something quick and simple? Thinking about ease of use and cleaning is another key consideration. If a filter coffee machine sounds like it’s right for you, then it’s likely you’ll want something simple to use, which produces a. great end result. Pros:Price Convenience Ease Of Use Taste Filter Coffees From Around the World Take the Balance Coffee Subscription for instance. You can taste rare and exclusive coffees from around the world, brewed in your new filter coffee machine. Cons: Price / Cost Prices for Bean to cup machines vary but they sit somewhere between £200 and £3,000. Again, you’ll likely find a solution within your price range and there are many payment solutions you can use, such as Buy Now, Pay Later with Klarna or Clearpay. Not Designed for Milky Drinks Filter coffee is brewed with gravity alone – the result is that it’s both lighter in body and mouthfeel which isn’t the best base for adding milk. This is why espresso works great. It’s brewed under high pressure (9 bars) and gives you the perfect base to add milk. The Best Filter Coffee Machine*Price – High to Low 1. The Automatic Espresso Machine by Smeg – RRP – £399 2. Classic Plus Coffee Maker by Wilfa Svart – RRP – £159 3. Wifi Smarter Machine – RRP – £199 4. Elegance Duluxe by Melitta Aroma – RRP – £94 5. CD Black Overflow Coffee Maker by Moccamaster – RRP – £272 If you’ve decided that filter coffee is your favourite style of coffee, or you’d prefer to find something lower cost. Then a manual coffee maker might be the best option for you. They are really affordable and easy to use and clean too. To see all of the manual filter coffee brewers available, head to our popular blog on coffee accessories which explains everything you need to know. We hope you enjoyed this expert guide to finding the best coffee machine online. If you have any questions drop us an email or leave a comment below.
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