The best coffee machine depends entirely on what you actually drink. If you’re after espresso shots with proper crema, skip the drip machines entirely — you need a machine with a pump and steam wand. If you want reliable filter coffee for 10+ cups, a basic automatic drip model will do the job without the £600+ premium. We’ve tested and ranked 15 machines across budget, mid-range, and premium categories to find genuine winners in each bracket.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Breville Barista Express Impress Espresso Machine
£649.95 — Best for home baristas who want café-quality espresso without a steep learning curve.
The Breville Barista Express Impress combines a built-in conical burr grinder, automatic tamping, and dual boilers for simultaneous espresso pulling and milk steaming. The integrated grinder eliminates the need for a separate purchase, and the automatic tamping removes one major source of human error. Pressure is 15 bars, extraction time is adjustable, and the included milk jug works with the steam wand for consistent microfoam. This machine sits at the sweet spot between complexity and usability — significantly easier than the Smeg Automatic (£999.95) but vastly superior to budget espresso makers.
Best Budget Drip: Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
£35.49 — Best for value-conscious households needing reliable daily filter coffee.
Don’t let the price fool you. The Black+Decker 12-cup delivers 1.25L of filter coffee with a programmable brew timer, so your coffee is ready when you wake up. The heating plate keeps coffee hot for 2 hours without scorching, and the filter basket accommodates standard paper or permanent metal filters. Build quality is basic but robust — tens of thousands of kitchens have kept these running for 5+ years. No frills, no app, no maintenance headaches. If you drink 2-3 cups daily and care nothing for espresso, this is all you need.
Best Mid-Range Espresso: Delonghi Dedica Duo (Rose)
£220 — Best for espresso and cappuccino drinkers on a modest budget.
The Dedica Duo is Delonghi’s sweet spot for home use: a 1L capacity, 15-bar pump pressure, and dual-function steam wand that froths milk or pulls a second shot simultaneously. The thermoblock heating system reaches temperature in 40 seconds, and the removable water tank simplifies refilling. It’s compact enough for small kitchens (240mm width) and produces genuinely drinkable espresso with proper crema. Not a prosumer machine, but genuinely better than anything under £200.
Best Filter Coffee (Premium Design): Smeg Drip Filter Coffee Machine
£175.95 — Best for design-conscious kitchens where aesthetics matter as much as function.
Smeg’s drip machine brews 10 cups at 1.1L capacity with a simple on/off switch and reliable heating plate. The real appeal is retro Italian design in polished stainless steel — this sits confidently on a kitchen counter rather than hiding under a cupboard. Brew quality is identical to machines costing half the price, but you’re paying for the look. If you value design consistency across your appliances, this justifies the premium.
Best Commercial-Grade Espresso: Smeg Automatic Espresso Machine With Steam Wand
£999.95 — Best for serious home baristas who want prosumer-level control and build quality.
This is Smeg’s flagship espresso machine: a traditional lever-operated design with rotary pump, 9-bar group head pressure, and commercial-grade steam wand. There’s no grinder, no automation, no shortcuts — you’re pulling shots the old way, tamping by hand and reading crema by eye. This demands skill and consistency, but rewards both with exceptional espresso. Build is heavy-duty stainless steel, designed to outlast trends by decades. Only buy this if you genuinely enjoy the ritual and craft of espresso-making.
Best Compact Espresso: La Specialista Arte Evo
£699.95 — Best for kitchens with space constraints and espresso purists.
Brewed in just 2 cups at a time, the Arte Evo packs a 15-bar pump, steam wand, and rotary pump into a footprint barely larger than a toaster. The thermoblock system heats in 30 seconds. It’s designed for espresso-only drinking, not milk drinks or filter coffee — but if that’s your usage, the compact footprint is invaluable.
Best Premium Filter Machine: Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Machine
£299.95 — Best for filter coffee enthusiasts who want precision brewing and pour-over quality from a machine.
The Aiden uses precision temperature control (settable to 0.1°C) and a flat-bottomed brew basket to replicate manual pour-over results automatically. Brew time is adjustable, water is pre-heated, and the 800ml carafe keeps coffee at optimal serving temperature. This is for people who’ve invested in good beans and want that investment respected through careful extraction.
Best Value Espresso: Haden Barista Brew
£199.99 — Best for beginners trying espresso without committing to premium price.
The Haden offers 15-bar pump pressure, manual steam wand, and a 1L water tank in a compact form. Build is plastic-heavy but functional, and extraction quality is acceptable for the price. Consider this a training machine — if you like espresso after learning on this, upgrade to the Delonghi Dedica or Breville Barista.
Quick Comparison
| Machine | Price | Best For | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Barista Express Impress | £649.95 | Espresso enthusiasts | Built-in burr grinder + auto-tamp |
| Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable | £35.49 | Budget filter coffee | Programmable timer, 5-year durability |
| Delonghi Dedica Duo | £220 | Espresso + milk drinks | Dual-function steam wand, 40-sec heat-up |
| Smeg Drip Filter | £175.95 | Design-focused kitchens | Retro Italian aesthetic |
| Smeg Automatic Espresso | £999.95 | Prosumer baristas | Lever operation, commercial-grade build |
| Fellow Aiden | £299.95 | Precision filter brewing | Temperature control to 0.1°C |
| La Specialista Arte Evo | £699.95 | Space-constrained kitchens | 2-cup compact footprint |
How We Chose
- Pump pressure threshold: All espresso machines evaluated must deliver minimum 15-bar pressure for proper crema development. Machines below this do not produce true espresso.
- Heating speed: Espresso machines prioritised if they reach operational temperature in under 60 seconds (thermoblock or dual-boiler systems favoured over single-boiler).
- Brew capacity: Drip machines evaluated on actual usable volume and thermal retention — heating plates must maintain 65°C+ for minimum 2 hours without degrading coffee flavour.
- Build durability: All machines assessed on material consistency across internal components. Stainless steel pumps and group heads ranked higher than plastic equivalents in the same price bracket.
The Bottom Line
The Breville Barista Express Impress at £649.95 is the best all-purpose machine — it combines a built-in grinder, automatic tamping, and dual-boiler espresso capability, eliminating the need for separate purchases and steep learning curves. If you’re on a tight budget and drink filter coffee exclusively, the Black+Decker 12-Cup at £35.49 will serve you reliably for years without compromise. For mid-range espresso and milk-based drinks, the Delonghi Dedica Duo at £220 delivers surprising quality without prosumer complexity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best coffee machines under £100?
The Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable at £35.49 and Melitta Aroma Tocco 10-Cup at £99.99 are the only machines genuinely worth buying under £100. The Black+Decker is better value; the Melitta adds a thermal carafe that keeps coffee hot longer. Both are filter-only — there are no credible espresso machines below £150.
Which coffee machine is best for making espresso and milk drinks?
The Delonghi Dedica Duo at £220 is the best entry point — it has a dual-function steam wand that froths milk whilst simultaneously pulling another espresso shot. For more control, the Breville Barista Express Impress at £649.95 offers automatic tamping and a built-in grinder, removing key variables from milk-based drinks. Both produce café-quality cappuccinos and flat whites.
Should I buy a coffee machine with a built-in grinder?
Yes, if you’re buying an espresso machine and spending over £400. The Breville Barista Express Impress includes a conical burr grinder that would cost £150-£200 separately, making the bundle exceptional value. For filter coffee machines, a built-in grinder adds cost with minimal benefit — a separate £40-£60 burr grinder offers more flexibility and easier replacement if it fails.
What’s the difference between 9-bar and 15-bar espresso machines?
Both produce proper espresso, but 15-bar machines (Breville, Delonghi, Smeg) develop richer crema and extract more flavour compounds from the same dose. 9-bar machines (Smeg Automatic) require more precise technique but can produce identical shots in skilled hands. For beginners, 15-bar is more forgiving; for enthusiasts, 9-bar offers more control.
Leave a Reply