The best coffee machine depends entirely on how you drink coffee. If you want espresso and milk-based drinks with minimal fuss, the Nespresso Vertuo Next Premium (£132.30) is unbeatable at its price. If you’re brewing for a household and want simplicity, the Melitta Aroma Tocco Plus (£113.99) delivers excellent drip coffee. If you have the budget and want a fully automatic espresso machine that grinds, tamps, and froths milk automatically, the Jura C9 (£1,799–£2,199) is the standout. Below, we’ve ranked the best machines across every budget tier and brewing style.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall Value: Melitta Aroma Tocco Plus
£113.99 for 12-cup capacity
The Melitta Aroma Tocco Plus wins on pure value-for-money. You get a 12-cup drip coffee maker with glass carafe, touch-control display, and separate hot and iced coffee settings—all for under £115. It’s the machine to buy if you want reliable, no-fuss coffee for a household without paying premium prices. The touch controls feel modern, the brew quality is clean, and it honestly outperforms machines costing twice as much.
Best Capsule System: Nespresso Vertuo Next Premium
£132.30 (or £167.95 with milk frother)
The Nespresso Vertuo Next Premium produces both espresso and larger cup sizes from sealed capsules, eliminating grind guesswork. It’s compact, heats in 30 seconds, and makes proper espresso-based drinks—a genuine convenience if you value speed and consistency over sustainability. Add the Aeroccino milk frother for £167.95 total to make cappuccinos and lattes automatically. This is best for people who want café-quality results without skill or mess.
Best Espresso Machine Under £800: Ninja Luxe Café Pro
£749.95
The Ninja Luxe Café Pro Series (Midnight Mocha) is a semi-automatic espresso machine with separate grinder, steam wand, and dual-temperature control. At this price, it’s exceptional value for serious espresso enthusiasts who want to develop technique. It won’t match fully automatic machines in convenience, but it gives you the control café professionals use.
Best Fully Automatic Espresso: Jura C9
£1,799–£2,199
The Jura C9 is the reference point for automatic espresso machines. It grinds, tamps, and extracts espresso, froths milk, and cleans itself automatically—with 100+ customisable drink profiles. Both the original (£1,799) and the newer model (£2,199) are exceptional; the difference is incremental refinements. Buy this only if you drink espresso daily and want zero manual effort. It’s not just a machine; it’s a commitment to café quality at home.
Best Mid-Range Drip: Café Grind and Brew
£213.99 for 14-cup capacity
The Café Grind and Brew (Matte Black) combines a built-in burr grinder with a thermal carafe drip brewer. This is best if you want fresh-ground coffee without buying a separate grinder. The matte finish looks contemporary on the counter, and the integrated design saves space.
Best Premium All-in-One: Miele CM6360 with WiFi
£2,250
The Miele CM6360 (Obsidian Black) is for the coffee purist with a large budget. It has WiFi connectivity, a dedicated milk container with automatic frothing, and a touch display offering 50+ specialty coffees. It’s overkill for most people, but if you want Michelin-star–level automation and aesthetics, this delivers it.
Best Built-In Machine: Smeg CMSU4104S
£3,799 (24-inch integrated model)
The Smeg CMSU4104S is a fully automatic espresso machine designed to integrate into cabinetry. At nearly £4,000, it’s a luxury statement piece. Only consider this if you’re renovating a kitchen and want coffee built into the design. It includes touchscreen controls, descaling, and specialty drink functions.
Quick Comparison
| Machine | Price | Best For | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melitta Aroma Tocco Plus | £113.99 | Budget households, 12-cup brewing | Touch controls + hot/iced modes |
| Nespresso Vertuo Next | £132.30 | Espresso lovers, minimal setup | Capsule convenience, 30-sec heat-up |
| Café Grind and Brew | £213.99 | Fresh-ground coffee enthusiasts | Built-in grinder + thermal carafe |
| Ninja Luxe Café Pro | £749.95 | Hands-on espresso enthusiasts | Semi-automatic, learning-friendly |
| Jura C9 | £1,799–£2,199 | Daily espresso drinkers | 100+ drink profiles, fully automatic |
How We Chose
- Value-to-feature ratio: We prioritised machines offering the most functionality per pound spent. A £113 machine with 12-cup capacity and touch controls beats a £150 machine with basic buttons.
- Brew quality benchmarks: Drip machines were judged on water temperature consistency (195–205°C optimal range) and extraction time. Espresso machines were evaluated on crema quality, temperature stability, and milk-frothing capability.
- User experience: We weighted reliability, learning curve, and daily convenience. A machine requiring monthly deep cleaning scores lower than one with automatic descaling.
- Target use case clarity: Every recommendation matches a specific drinking pattern. We avoided “best for everyone” vagueness—each pick solves a real problem.
The Bottom Line
For most people, the Melitta Aroma Tocco Plus at £113.99 is the best coffee machine because it brews excellent drip coffee reliably without paying for unnecessary features. If you want espresso drinks with zero effort, the Nespresso Vertuo Next (£132.30) is the sensible choice. Only jump to the Jura C9 (£1,799+) if you drink espresso multiple times daily and want fully automatic operation; otherwise, you’re paying for convenience you won’t use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best coffee machines under £150?
The Melitta Aroma Tocco Plus (£113.99) and Nespresso Vertuo Next (£132.30) are the two standouts. The Melitta wins for volume and value if you brew for a household; the Nespresso wins if you want espresso-based drinks. The Hamilton Beach Espresso & Cappuccino Maker (£139.99) is also competitive if you want a budget espresso machine, though it lacks the speed and consistency of the Nespresso.
Should I buy a fully automatic or semi-automatic espresso machine?
Buy fully automatic (like the Jura C9) if you drink espresso daily and value speed and consistency over learning technique. Buy semi-automatic (like the Ninja Luxe Café Pro) if you enjoy the craft of espresso-making and want control over grind, tamp, and extraction. Fully automatic machines cost 3–4× more but eliminate 90% of the skill required.
What’s the difference between drip and espresso coffee machines?
Drip machines (like the Melitta Aroma Tocco Plus) brew larger volumes (8–14 cups) using gravity and paper filters—ideal for households. Espresso machines force hot water through finely ground coffee under pressure, producing a smaller, concentrated shot—ideal for café-style drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. Drip is cheaper and simpler; espresso requires more skill but offers more versatility.
Are capsule coffee machines (like Nespresso) wasteful?
Nespresso capsules are recyclable through the brand’s collection program, but they do generate more waste than whole beans. If environmental impact matters most, buy a grinder-equipped machine like the Café Grind and Brew and use compostable filters. If convenience and consistency matter more, the Nespresso Vertuo Next is a pragmatic choice—it’s not zero-waste, but neither is any other coffee method when you account for water, electricity, and packaging.
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