Some espresso machines come with a milk jug, which tends to hold just under 500ml of liquid. Stainless steel is the best material, as it heats up with the milk and gives you an indication of how hot the milk is getting. If you heat your milk to anything over 70C, you run the risk of burning it and ruining the flavour of your drink. Plus, your coffee will be far too hot to take a sip.

The final thing to consider is how involved you’d like to be in the coffee-making process. Some designs are smart-enabled so you can simply switch them on from your phone, however, others will require you to compact ground coffee and pull your own shot of espresso before frothing the milk yourself. Some even have self-cleaning systems which purge the steam wand to prevent milk residue drying in the pipes, while others have systems to flush out any build-up in the machine. We're also got a dedicated article on how to clean a Nespresso machine and how to clean a Keurig, for those that have single-serve coffee makers at home. What is the best coffee maker for home use If you enjoy a simple americano and don’t like milk-based drinks, then a drip filter coffee maker will be a great option. Plus, these machines can make as many as 12 cups of coffee in one go. If you just want small quantities of coffee, we’d recommend a single-serve coffee maker from Keurig or Nespresso.We were also impressed at its ability to froth milk until it’s just the right level of silkiness. And if patience isn't your virtue, you'll be pleased to know you only need to wait 40 seconds for the machine to heat up. If you're looking for an espresso machine that does everything for you with a single touch while you're still rubbing the sleep from your eyes, then we think that this isn't the machine for you. But if you care about the craft of coffee, if you want manual controls so you can get your coffee just-so, there's a lot to love –not least a price tag that comes in below many other high quality manual machines. Our reviewer found that while the learning curve is pretty steep – it'll take a day or so before you really get the hang of it – the coffee is pretty much perfect. Its primary function is delivering flavoursome espressos from coffee grounds. However, this versatile machine can also use NX pods (compatible with Dualit and Nespresso machines) and Easy Serving Espresso (ESE) pods to produce a delicious drink, as well as being able to make a cup of tea when called upon. Espresso machines offer a lot more control when it comes to making speciality coffees such as lattes and cappuccinos, too. Rather than frothing milk in an automatic frother, like you find on most bean-to-cup models, an espresso machine’s steam wand gives you total control over the temperature and texture of the steamed milk. And, though mastering your frothing technique will need plenty of practice, it is the best way to steam milk. We did find, when whipping up a cappuccino, that we had to wait a while for the pressure in the steamer to build up. Our expert also found the machine's espressos to be a little thin and felt the crema was poor. Despite this, the drinks were well-rounded in flavour, with initial raisin notes followed by brown sugar-esque sweetness.

By minimising the time spent transitioning from bean to cup, they ensure maximum freshness, and with that comes plenty of flavour. Most bean-to-cup machines will also allow you to personalise your drink, adjusting the size, coffee strength and sometimes even the strength of the aroma too, giving you room to perfect your tailored coffee recipe. You can find our top-rated bean-to-cup machines in our latest round-up. Espresso coffee machine accessories explained Portafilter To help you find the best espresso coffee machine, we’ve tested top models from all the major brands including De'Longhi, Smeg and Breville.

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If you’re still not sure, you can find a more detailed breakdown in our article covering which type of coffee maker to buy. Best coffee maker FAQs What is the best coffee maker? If you tend to want coffee in a hurry for the commute or for school, we’d recommend taking a look at the best Nespresso machines. Pod-based coffee is really good these days, and while it's not quite as spectacular as the coffee the more complex machines in this guide can make it's a lot faster if you're in a hurry. Meanwhile, if you appreciate the slow art of brewing to perfection, one of the best espresso machines may be a better choice for you. If you enjoy the process of making coffee, this machine will not disappoint. It has everything you need to enjoy specialty coffee at home. Coffee drinkers that like plenty of customization options will be best suited to a coffee maker that lets you adjust the strength of your brew and create different sizes of hot drinks. Many premium coffee makers will let you do both of these things, but you can also adjust the strength and the aroma of your coffee with a good drip filter model. The pod is inserted into a designated slot, the lid of the machine is shut to pierce it and then water is pushed through the grounds to extract the coffee.

If you're tight on space consider the Breville Bambino or Breville Bambino Plus (which are sold under the Sage brand in the UK), while for those with larger kitchens and a bigger budget, consider the De’Longhi La Specialista Arte EC9155MB or the Breville Oracle Touch - again known as the Sage Oracle Touch in the UK. For coffee makers with milk frothers, we test the milk texture to see if it’s silky and smooth and of course, we wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t drink plenty of coffee along the way to see how each cup measures up for the overall taste.

While espresso machines use ground coffee to get the flavour for your favourite cuppa, pod and bean-to-cup machines take a slightly different approach. As a result, each one has its own individual strengths and weaknesses, and it’s good to get your head around these before settling on the right type for you. Pod machines If you do like milk-based coffee, then there are quite a few options available. Some models are fully automated and have a built-in frother that will be able to create a variety of milk textures, while others have steam arms which you place into a jug of milk and froth the milk yourself. There’s a third option too - and this includes buying a separate milk frother which is a stand-alone machine. You’ll be able to use these to make everything from lattes to hot chocolates, and they make a great accompaniment to a pod coffee maker. If you're looking for a coffee maker to use at home, either because you're spending more time working remotely and want a cup of Joe that's the same quality as you'd get in the office, or you just want to cut down on your expenses by reducing your coffee shop visits, then you're probably wondering which is the best one to buy.