If you love fresh coffee but don't have the time or inclination to use a manual espresso machine, you need a bean-to-cup coffee machine. These smart appliances automate some or all of the coffee-making process, so you don't have to get bogged down in the technicalities of grind sizes and brew times.
The best bean-to-cup coffee machines have a good quality grinder that offers lots of settings (ideally with flat, ceramic burrs for grinding espresso nice and fine) and a boiler that keeps the water temperature stable (and ideally lets you control it too). It should also generate an optimal nine bars of pressure, and have a quality automatic steam wand with temperature control. It's a lot to ask.
Best overall
De'Longhi La Specialista Touch
It's hard to overstate just how impressed I was by this little bean-to-cup machine, which took the prize for Best Coffee Machine in this year's TechRadar Choice Awards.
It looks like a miniature version of high-end machines from the likes of Breville, but doesn't skimp on features and guides you through the process of brewing a beautifully extracted coffee so you learn along the way.
In my opinion, it's perfect if you're shopping for your first coffee machine because, like the Barista Express above, it can handle as much or as little of the process for you as you like.
If you've never pulled a shot before, it will choose the optimum brewing options for you (just select the type of beans you're using, and choose the roast according to their color) then let the machine handle the subtleties.
The steam wand has both manual and automatic settings, and unlike many bean-to-cup machines, the La Specialista Touch partners it with a temperature probe so your milk will be heated just enough to release its sweetness without being scalded (which makes it taste custardy).
It's a good-looking piece of kit, too, and drew a lot of admiring glances in the test kitchen TechRadar shares with Tom's Guide and T3. Our reviews editor was very impressed by the quality of the espresso made using it (he commented that he couldn't get results that good with his manual machine at home). Praise indeed.
Read our full De'Longhi La Specialista Touch review
Compact
Philips LatteGo 5500 Series
So you like the idea of a bean-to-cup coffee maker, but you don't have masses of space free on your kitchen counter? The Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is the machine for you. It's one of the smallest fully-automatic coffee makers I've ever tested, measuring 9.7 x 14.6 x 17in / 24.6 x 37.1 x 43.3cm (H x W x D), but is packed with all the features you could ask for, including both hot and cold brewing.
One of the things I particularly like about the LatteGo 5500 Series is that it's perfectly sized for just one or two coffee-drinkers, and is designed to help avoid mess and waste. Its water tank and bean hopper are relatively small so you won't have lots of water and coffee hanging around going stale, and its milk carafe holds just enough for a latte or two.
You pour your milk into the carafe while it's attached to the machine, which feels a bit strange, and as soon as you're done, you can remove it, take it apart, and toss it in the dishwasher. The whole thing is made from hard plastic and there are no hard-to-clean tubes, which makes a refreshing (and hygienic) change.
Coffee is consistently well-extracted (Philips has a guided brewing mode to help you choose the optimal settings) and milk is steamed to perfection. A great little all-rounder.
Read our full Philips LatteGo 5500 Series review
Luxe
Siemens EQ900 Plus
I love a good latte macchiato, and the Siemens EQ900 Plus makes the best one I've ever had from a home bean-to-cup coffee machine. Unlike the other two here, this machine is fully automatic, meaning all you have to do is take your pick from its extensive menu of beverages, and tap your preferred option to begin brewing.
That doesn't mean you don't have choices, though. One of my favorite features is the hopper, which is split into two sections so you can alternate between two beans whenever you like (don't worry, the grinder will purge between drinks to avoid mixing them). Some coffee makers I've tested have a scoop so you can add a dose of pre-ground coffee and bypass the main hopper if you want to use something different, but this is a much better setup if, like me, you want to switch to decaf after lunch.
When it comes to brewing your drink, the machine gives you a choice of two modes: Barista and Comfort. As the names suggest, Barista gives you full control over factors like pre-infusion time and water temperature, while Comfort handles it all for you, only asking you to select the aroma (mild, balanced, or distinctive), strength (light, normal, strong, or extra strong), and cup size.
Milk is steamed beautifully, with whole dairy milk turning into rich, stable foam that's a perfect foundation for lattes. If your wallet can take the hit, it's an excellent pick.
Read our full Siemens EQ900 Plus review
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