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7.60/10
1.
Premium pick:
Jura ENA Micro 5
-
9.00/10
2.
Editors choice:
De’Longhi Lattissima Plus Nespresso Coffee Machine
-
8.20/10
3.
Best value:
Mr. Coffee Dual-Shot Coffee Machine
-
9.20/10
4.
De’Longhi Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee Machine
-
9.40/10
5.
Keurig K-Cafe
-
9.20/10
6.
Breville Essenza Mini
-
8.80/10
7.
Keurig K-Mini Plus
Most of us enjoy a caffeinated start to our day. Coffee is central to the working day, and getting a good cup of java can make all the difference. But, preparing a well-brewed coffee can be time-consuming.
Espresso coffee machines give you the brew you crave, but with minimal effort. If you’re ready to dive into convenient, high-quality coffee, you’ll want one of the best espresso machines available today.
To get the freshest coffee, you’ll need a bean-to-cup coffee machine. One of the best is the Jura ENA Micro 5. The slim, compact design is minimalist and appears to lack the features of a traditional coffee machine. This Jura coffee machine is elegantly designed and would suit any surface in your home or office.
The ENA Micro 5 eschews features for simplicity. It is a complex machine on the inside, turning roasted coffee beans into a perfectly brewed cup. But on the outside, there is just a single dual-shot nozzle and three cup size buttons on the top. There are also two strength options too. Each time you make a coffee, the ENA Micro 5 will only grind the required amount of coffee, reducing waste and giving you freshest brew possible.
One of the significant criticisms leveled at Nespresso coffees is the waste they produce. Although the capsules are recyclable, in practice, many end up in landfills. Jura is a more environmentally-friendly espresso machine. You choose the beans and pour them into the four-ounce container. The machine takes care of the rest.
- Bean-to-cup coffee preparation
- Smart spout switches between single and dual-cup mode
- Pump produces 15 bars of pressure
- Brand: Jura
- Coffee Type: Beans
- Water Tank: 36.8 ounces
- Milk Frother: No
- Presets: Yes
- Customizable presets
- Powder chute for one-off cups of alternative or decaf coffee
- An expensive and large machine
- Doesn’t come with a milk frothing arm or heated jug
Jura ENA Micro 5
amazon
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If you don’t need the smarts of the VertuoLine coffee or are already invested in the classic OriginalLine coffee pods, the De’Longhi Lattissima Plus Nespresso Coffee Machine may be the best coffee machine available today. The device is capable of producing barista-grade coffees with nothing more than the tap of a button.
The Lattissima Plus uses the OriginalLine capsules and combines a traditional Nespresso coffee machine with an automatic hot milk system. The milk frother is essentially an integrated Aeroccino. Other than inserting the milk tray, you don’t have to do anything to get frothed, warm milk with your coffee; the machine takes care of it all.
The water tank is only 30oz, which is on the small side for a Nespresso coffee machine. This is because the machine was designed to include a coffee machine and milk system without taking up too much space on your countertop. It has four pre-determined cup sizes for you to choose from. To customize for your favorite cup, just hold down the button while brewing. The machine will remember the last used settings for each cup size.
- Compatible with Nespresso capsules
- Integrated milk frother
- Brand: De’Longhi
- Coffee Type: Nespresso
- Water Tank: 30 ounces
- Milk Frother: Yes
- Presets: Yes
- 30-ounce water tank
- Customizable cup sizes
- Automatically turns off after nine minutes of inactivity
- Single-use Nespresso capsules generate a lot of waste
- Milk frother cannot be used separately
De’Longhi Lattissima Plus Nespresso Coffee Machine
amazon
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Nespresso capsules aren’t to everyone’s tastes. You may rather have the freedom to choose your own coffee, but keep the convenience of an espresso machine. In which case, you’ll want the Mr. Coffee Dual-Shot Coffee Machine. It operates in a similar way to the Nespresso machines but uses ground coffee in place of pods.
There is a removable 40oz water tank on the back of the machine, while a thermal block quickly heats the water to the right temperature. The Mr. Coffee Dual-Shot Coffee Machine uses a 15-bar pump to push the heated water through and create your brewed coffee.
The dual-shot system means you can make two coffees at once—a clear advantage over the single capsule machines. While there isn’t an automatic milk frother, there is a frothing arm on the machine. Your coffees will come out black, but use the frothing arm, and you’ll be able to make a cappuccino or latte in no time.
- Dual-shot brewing
- Milk frothing steam arm
- Brand: Mr. Coffee
- Coffee Type: Ground
- Water Tank: 40 ounces
- Milk Frother: Yes, steam arm
- Presets: No
- 15-bar pump
- Large, 40 ounce water tank
- Tampering the ground coffee can be tricky to perfect
Mr. Coffee Dual-Shot Coffee Machine
amazon
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Nespresso is the most well-known and popular pod coffee brand. It doesn’t hurt that their ads are infamous for featuring George Clooney either. The De’Longhi Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee Machine is a Nespresso-compatible pod coffee machine and supports the newer, larger VertuoLine pods.
The VertuoPlus supports five cup sizes and will brew the coffee specifically for each portion size. This ensures you don’t get overly strong espressos or large watery coffees. This machine uses Nespresso’s Centrifusion technology which spins the pod at 7,000 rotations per minute while blending the coffee with water to get a smooth brew.
Each VertuoLine capsule has a barcode designating the coffee blend. The machine reads this and automatically adjusts the brewing parameters for every type of coffee. Once you’ve filled up the 40oz water tank, pressing a single button starts your coffee brewing. This edition of the VertuoPlus comes with an Aeroccino, Nespresso’s milk frother.
- Compatible with Nespresso VertuoLine pods
- Large, 60-ounce water tank
- Brand: De’Longhi
- Coffee Type: Nespresso
- Water Tank: 40 ounces
- Milk Frother: Yes
- Presets: Yes
- VertuoLine pods use barcodes for optimal brewing
- Rotating water tank for easy storage
- VertuoLine pods are more expensive than standard Nespresso capsules
De’Longhi Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee Machine
amazon
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If you’re in the market for pod-based coffee, Nespresso coffees are among the most popular options, but it isn’t your only choice. The Keurig K-Cafe offers the convenience of pod coffee together with a premium machine and familiar Keurig coffee. You may have encountered the brand’s single-use K-Cups before while out and about, and the same coffee is used to produce the K-Cup pods as well.
The K-Cafe is an all-in-one machine, combining a pod-based coffee machine and milk frothing jug. You can use the K-Cafe to make espressos, americanos, lattes, and cappuccinos. After you’ve inserted a K-Cup pod into the machine, the buttons on top of the machine allow you to adjust cup size. As with Nespresso machines, the K-Cafe only takes a few moments to produce a hot coffee. You can also use the buttons to select coffee strength and whether you’re having a black or milky coffee.
If you take milk in your brew, you can use the included milk frother to warm and foam your choice of milk and coffee type. The 60-ounce water tank stores enough liquid to make around six cups before it needs a refill. Depending on the situation, that should see you through a day or make everyone a coffee first thing in the morning or after dinner. If you need to make a coffee before heading out, the machine can accommodate travel mugs as well up to 7.2 inches tall.
- Compatible with K-Cup pods
- Integrated milk frother
- Brand: Keurig
- Coffee Type: K-Cup pods
- Water Tank: 60 ounces
- Milk Frother: Yes
- Presets: Yes
- Large, 60-ounce water tank
- Supports travel cups up to 7.2 inches tall
- Water tank handle is difficult to use and easy to break
Keurig K-Cafe
amazon
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One of the benefits of an espresso machine is that you can get high-quality coffee but at a fraction of the per cup cost of your local coffee shop. However, some of that benefit may not be realized if you opt for a top-of-the-range machine. If you’re after a more affordable Nespresso coffee machine, you’ll want to consider the Breville Essenza Mini.
This machine is one of the budget-friendly Nespresso coffee machines out there. That doesn’t mean the quality of your coffee is compromised, though. The Essenza Mini uses the same OriginalLine capsules and features the Nespresso-standard 19-bar pump. Additionally, it only takes 25 seconds to heat up, meaning that you can have a coffee ready to drink in around a minute.
To reach a low price point, there are a few compromises. The machine is tiny. On the plus side, it means the Essenza Mini is a great space-saving espresso machine. However, the water tank is only 20oz and will need regular refills. The capsule collection container has space for around five pods, which is roughly half most other machines. However, these are small complaints for such an affordable Nespresso machine.
- 19-bar pump
- One-minute brew time
- Brand: Breville
- Coffee Type: Nespresso
- Water Tank: 20 ounces
- Milk Frother: No
- Presets: Yes
- Two programmable cup sizes
- Eco mode enabled after three minutes, shut-off after nine minutes
- Small, 20-ounce water tank
- Capsule tray only holds five used pods
Breville Essenza Mini
amazon
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The Keurig K-Mini Plus is a compact, space-saving pod-based coffee machine for use with K-Cup pods. The slimline machine is noticeably smaller than the K-Cafe, making it ideal for preserving counter space in the kitchen. The machine even includes a pod storage container that fits neatly underneath the spout when not in use. This space-saving ability comes at a cost, though. The K-Mini Plus only stores enough water for a single cup, so you will have to refill the tank between brews.
That said, you can still customize the size of your cup from six ounces to 12 ounces. To save power, the machine will shut off 90 seconds after the last brew. Like the K-Cafe, the K-Mini also supports travel mugs up to seven inches in height for on-the-go coffee. A button on the top of the machine allows you to choose your coffee’s strength as well. The K-Mini Plus is designed to be portable, so you can quickly move it between rooms and even take it to the office as a personal coffee machine.
- K-Cup pod compatible
- Space-saving design
- Brand: Keurig
- Coffee Type: K-Cup pods
- Water Tank: 12 ounces
- Milk Frother: No
- Presets: No
- Integrated pod storage container
- Automatically shuts off after 90 seconds
- Water tank only holds enough liquid for one cup
Keurig K-Mini Plus
amazon
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FAQ
Q: What Kind of Coffee Do You Use in a Coffee Maker?
There are many types of coffee makers available to buy with a range of different coffee inputs. Some accept pod coffee for a convenient brew, with K-Cup pods and Nespresso capsules the two most common brands depending on the model. Other machines accept ground coffee, allowing you greater choice, while others, known as bean-to-cup machines, can take roasted beans and grind them internally for the freshest coffee possible.
Q: Are Expensive Coffee Makers Worth It?
Some coffee machines are costly, and there is extreme variability among coffee maker prices. Generally, cheaper models will brew at a lower pressure, making for a more watery coffee or coming without features. Expensive coffee machines typically come with the most extras, like milk frothers, customizable programs, and strength selectors. Similarly, the most costly devices aim for a fresher coffee, with premium models offering bean-to-cup brewing.
Q: Do Coffee Makers Wear Out?
Like all electronics, coffee makers will wear out over time. This is especially true as the machines are subject to rapid and frequent temperature changes. However, most appliances and coffee makers will happily last for many years, especially if you regularly maintain and clean them. Although tap water is clean, it also causes limescale, so it’s worth descaling your machine based on the manufacturer’s recommended instructions.