Combination coffee and espresso machine: The 8 Best Coffee and Espresso Machine Combos of 2023

9 Best Coffee and Espresso Makers 2023, Tested by Experts

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1

Best Overall Coffee and Espresso Maker

De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine

1

Best Overall Coffee and Espresso Maker

De’Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine

$300 at Amazon

Credit: De’Longhi

Pros

• Can make coffee, espresso and froth milk
• Does not take up too much room
• Produces tasty coffee and espresso

Cons

• Espresso machine side needs to be primed before using

De’Longhi’s all-in-one coffee and espresso maker has everything you need to make drip coffee, espresso shots, lattes and more. It has a dual heating system to start a pot of coffee and pull a shot of espresso at the same time. There’s no need to buy a separate milk frother since one is built-in to make your favorite coffee house drinks.

This machine packs a lot into one device, and according to one of our testers the footprint is only a little larger than most drip-only machines and about the same size as some espresso makers, so it doesn’t take up too much room on the counter, and you get the function of both machines.

The drip coffee side has a permanent filter that we found easy to change and the coffee brews quickly in about five minutes. The keep warm setting can be set up to 11 hours and 59 minutes, but the default is two hours. We found not only did it keep the coffee warm for 2 hours, it actually made it hotter.

The espresso side is convenient with a removable water reservoir and the portafilter can use pre-ground beans or ESE coffee pods. Our pros liked the tasty coffee and found the espresso side produces a nice, even crema. The only drawback is it’s recommended to run a cycle of hot water through the espresso side before pulling a shot, but if you place your mug underneath the portafilter while you do so, the warm water will preheat your mug.

2

Best Value Coffee and Espresso Machine

Keurig K-Cafe Single-Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker

2

Best Value Coffee and Espresso Machine

Keurig K-Cafe Single-Serve K-Cup Coffee Maker

$189 at Amazon$161 at Walmart$280 at Overstock

Pros

• Easy and simple to use
• Consistent brewing
• Milk frother works well

Cons

• Not enough crema with the Espresso Roast K-cup
• Pod needs to be manually removed

Like most Keurig machines, the K-Cafe Single-Serve is convenient and makes whipping up lattes and cappuccinos very easy. Use any K-cup in the machine and choose the “shot” button option for a fresh espresso-like shot to drink on its own or use as the base of a latte or cappuccino. Even though the espresso didn’t have enough crema for our liking, the preheat time, brew time, coffee temperature and volume were very consistent in our tests.

The built-in milk frother worked well and quickly frothed milk. We found that it works with whole, skim, almond or soy milk. If you prefer iced drinks, there’s also a cold froth option. Leftover milk can be stored in the fridge with the lid that comes with the frother. The frother is also dishwasher safe, so it’s easy to clean.

3

Easiest to Use Coffee and Espresso Maker

PHILIPS 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

3

Easiest to Use Coffee and Espresso Maker

PHILIPS 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

Now 20% Off

$800 at Amazon$1,010 at Walmart$800 at Sur la Table

Credit: Philips

Pros

• Simple to use with five drink options
• Makes flavorful drinks
• Frothing chamber is dishwasher safe for easy cleanup

Cons

• Does not make strong coffee

This Philips machine keeps things simple and easy, offering a choice of five popular drinks at the push of a button. Choose from espresso, coffee, cappuccino, latte macchiato or Americano and the machine automatically adds the correct amount of milk or water for your drink. The touchscreen is straightforward, allowing you to choose your drink directly without having to scroll through a ton of complicated options.

It makes coffee from whole beans, ensuring that each grind is fresh. Our testers found the drinks flavorful but light-bodied so this is best for someone that doesn’t like extremely strong coffee drinks. Rather than using a frothing wand, the LatteGo has a frothing chamber that mixes air and milk at high speed and adds it directly into the drink. The frothing container can be removed to store leftover milk in the fridge and it can be put in the dishwasher, making clean up easy.

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4

Best Capsule Espresso and Coffee Maker

Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee and Espresso Maker

4

Best Capsule Espresso and Coffee Maker

Nespresso Vertuo Plus Coffee and Espresso Maker

$199 at Amazon$200 at Sur la Table$180 at Wayfair

Credit: Nespresso

Pros

• Barcode system detects capsule type and makes coffee specifically to that capsule
• Well-round espresso with excellent crema
• Water tank is removable and adjustable

Cons

• Can’t use your own coffee beans or grounds

The Nespresso Vertuo has a unique barcode system that detects the exact capsule type and automatically adjusts for the correct size, temperature, pressure and brew time. Unlike other machines, you don’t need two pods to make a double espresso or to add water to make an Americano. Brew options espresso, double espresso, gran lungo, mug and alto.

Every cup of coffee and espresso we made came out hot and well-rounded with excellent crema. The water tank is removable and adjustable in three different positions to maximize counter space with a relatively small footprint. And, if you’re worried about the capsule waste, Nespresso will recycle the pods if you send them back to the company.

5

Best Smart Coffee and Espresso Maker

SPINN Coffee Maker

5

Best Smart Coffee and Espresso Maker

SPINN Coffee Maker

$799 at Amazon

Credit: Spinn

Pros

• Wide variety of drink options
• Makes flavorful coffee
• Easy to use
• App walks you through how to make coffee drinks

Cons

• Does not come with a milk frother

Not only will this sleek-looking machine display nicely on your countertop, but it can make just about any coffee you want including drip coffee, espresso, cold brew and even nitro-like cold brew, all from the same beans. This machine uses centrifugal force that spins at varying speeds to make each type of coffee unique.

Our experts were impressed with the creamy texture of the nitro-style coffee, saying it mimicked nitro coffee well. Our taste testers were impressed with the flavor of all the coffee options, with one saying it was the best coffee they’ve ever had. In fact, we loved this machine so much that we gave it a spot in our 2022 Kitchen Gear and Coffee Awards.

The Spinn app walks you through how to make various coffeehouse drinks like Americanos, lungos and doppios. It also shows you how to make coffee drinks with milk such as lattes, cappuccinos and more. Just keep in mind it doesn’t froth milk, so you’ll need a separate milk frother.

On top of all of these great features, our pros found it easy to use. It has a large easy-to-fill hopper for whole beans and a detachable reservoir to make refilling water a breeze. It’s convenient to use with a few button pushes or using the Spinn app, and it easily makes drinks in minutes.

6

Best Fully Automatic Coffee and Espresso Machine

De’Longhi Dinamica Plus Fully Automatic Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine

6

Best Fully Automatic Coffee and Espresso Machine

De’Longhi Dinamica Plus Fully Automatic Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine

$1,500 at Williams Sonoma

Credit: De’Longhi

Pros

• Machine can brew and froth milk in one step
• Easy to use and responsive touch screen
• Makes great coffee, lattes and cappuccinos

Cons

• Drip tray must be emptied frequently

If you’re looking for convenience but don’t want to sacrifice quality, look no further than the De’Longhi Dinamica. This machine does all the brewing and frothing for you, so there’s no need to pull a shot of espresso, then froth the milk and add it to the drink. All you need to do is push a button to select your drink; it doesn’t get much easier.

In our testing, we liked the highly responsive touch screen that offers 16 one-touch or customized coffee drinks like espresso, cappuccino, latte, flat white, iced coffee, regular coffee and more. The machine also has a smart feature that recognizes your preferences and lists your most frequently used drinks first on the display. We found it takes some setup work, but once it’s up and running, it’s intuitive to use. Non-coffee drinkers will appreciate the hot milk and hot water options for hot chocolate, tea and more. It can also brew over ice for iced coffee or other iced drinks.

When we taste-tested the drinks, we found the coffee was smooth, round and nicely hot. When it comes to espresso, the crema was thin but creamy. We also liked the cappuccinos and lattes which were silky and delicious. The built-in milk frother is also removable allowing leftover milk to be stored in the fridge and used again later. Clean-up is easy, just note that the machine will rinse itself when it shuts off which means the drip tray will need to be emptied more frequently.

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7

Best Slim Automatic Coffee and Espresso Machine

Jura ENA 4 Automatic Coffee Machine

7

Best Slim Automatic Coffee and Espresso Machine

Jura ENA 4 Automatic Coffee Machine

$999 at Amazon$999 at Sur la Table$999 at Nordstrom

Credit: Jura

Pros

• Has a separate chute for ground coffee
• Sleek design
• Makes flavorful coffee

Cons

• Doesn’t come with milk frother

You won’t want to hide the Jura ENA 4 with its sleek design. It’s available in black or white and the control panel is simple with just four buttons and four preprogrammed coffee specialties: espresso, espresso doppio, coffee and coffee doppio. We didn’t find the control panel to be intuitive at first, but once we got the hang of it, we found it was simple to use. It has become one of the go-to machines in our Kitchen Lab for tasty morning brews.

We love that it’s one of the few machines that has a separate chute for ground coffee, so you can make a cup of decaf or opt for a different roast without removing the beans in the hopper. It has a compact design for an automatic machine and its slim profile can fit into a smaller space. It doesn’t come with a built-in milk frother, however. If you would rather have the machine froth milk for you, upgrade to Jura E6, which can be hooked up to the Jura E6 Cool Control that holds the milk for frothing. This innovative container keeps the milk at the correct temperature on your countertop so there’s no hassle of putting the leftover milk back into the fridge.

8

Best Compact Coffee and Espresso Maker

Bialetti Express Moka Pot

8

Best Compact Coffee and Espresso Maker

Bialetti Express Moka Pot

$38 at Amazon$71 at Walmart$47 at Wayfair

Credit: Bialetti

Pros

• Compact size
• Makes strong, tasty coffee
• Simple to use

Cons

• Not dishwasher safe

Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this Bialetti Moka Pot. It still makes some of the most flavorful — and strong — coffee. It’s no-frills with quick results, all on your stovetop.

One of our staff members raves about her Bialetti Moka Pot, saying it makes the tastiest coffee and saves her $3,500 a year on coffee shop runs. We found it easy to use. Fill the base with water, insert the funnel and scoop in ground coffee. On the stovetop, as the water and steam heat up, the pressure pushes water to the top and over the coffee, and in minutes your coffee is ready. Just be sure to watch it carefully, otherwise, you could end up with burnt coffee. The results produce a strong coffee similar to espresso, so if you like a more traditional coffee you can make it Americano-style by adding hot water.

The Moka Pot is available in several sizes from 1-cup to 12-cup capacities. Every size is relatively compact, making it great for those that don’t have a lot of countertop or storage space. Unfortunately, it’s hand-wash only, without any soap, but since it’s small, it only takes a few minutes to rinse out and only needs a deeper clean every so often.

9

Best coffee and espresso maker for large households

Miele CM7750 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

9

Best coffee and espresso maker for large households

Miele CM7750 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

$1,700 at Williams Sonoma

Credit: Miele

Pros

• Three bean hoppers
• Makes flavorful espresso, latte and cappuccino
• Up to 10 programmable user profiles

Cons

• Drip tray needs frequent emptying

Our experts found this Miele espresso and coffee machine easy to set up and use. It has three bean hoppers, unlike most that only have one, so it can hold a dark roast, a light roast and a decaf, for example — great if you have a large household with varying coffee tastes. It has 22 preset drink settings, from simple coffee to flat whites and more. We tested the espresso, cappuccino and latte settings. The espresso crema was on the thicker side but tasty, the latte had a nice balance of milk to espresso and our tasters said the cappuccino had great flavor.

It also has various brew times for different teas, such as white, green, herbal tea and more. It’s able to create two drinks at once, and you can program up to 10 user profiles to customize individual preferences.

We like that the machine automatically cleans itself with a rinse cycle and has a large drip tray to catch the water. However, that does mean more frequent trips to empty the drip tray. We found that if we waited too long to empty the tray, the excess water spilled easily. You won’t have to refill the water often since this device boasts a 74-ounce water tank capacity, one of the largest we’ve tested.

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How we test the best coffee and espresso makers

When we test coffee and espresso machines, we start by researching the best machines sold in stores and online, looking at best-sellers, popular brands and new models.

For drip coffee makers, we use equipment that constantly measures the water temperature throughout the entire cycle. We also take the temperature of the first cup of freshly brewed coffee and record the initial temperature. We also record the temperature at various times throughout a two-hour period to test any keep-warm settings. Ease of use is also assessed for each coffee maker, including how easy it is to program, access the brew basket, read the control panel, fill the water tank and clean. We note if it has a keep warm option and automatic shut-off capabilities. We also look at the clarity and comprehensiveness of the instruction manual.

When it comes to espresso makers, we evaluate them for ease of use, how long it takes to pull a shot, consistency, temperature and noise level. The quality of the crema is also noted. If the machine has a milk frother, we test it with skim, whole and oat milk.

Finally, for both coffee and espresso makers, we have a group of taste testers try a fresh cup of coffee or espresso shot and score it on taste.

What to look for when shopping for the best coffee and espresso makers

✔️ Coffee type: When choosing a combination coffee and espresso machine, select the type that best suits your preferences for pre-ground coffee, whole beans or pods. Pre-ground coffee allows you to skip the step of grinding beans but is not as fresh as grinding whole beans right before you brew. Some machines have a grinder built-in, so you can load whole beans to be freshly ground by the cup.

✔️ Manual or automatic: The biggest difference between manual and automatic machines is how much work you’ll have to do to produce coffee or espresso. Manual machines require the most work, and you’ll be doing many of the steps to make coffee or espresso yourself. On the other end, fully-automatic machines will create a coffeehouse-style drink with a push of a button. There are also in-between machines that automate part of the process. Maybe they grind the beans but don’t froth the milk, for example.

✔️ Space: Check that you have enough counter space and clearance underneath cupboards to fit the machine.

✔️ Water tank capacity: Look for a larger water reservoir if you have many household members using the machine or if you want to cut down on refilling. Smaller water tanks take up less space and allow you to change the water more frequently to ensure it’s fresh.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Nicole Papantoniou is the Director of the Kitchen Appliances lab where she oversees all testing relating to cooking and drinking equipment, including drip coffee makers. Over the years she’s tested numerous coffee makers and continues to road-test different coffee makers daily.

Jamie Kim’s first job at Good Housekeeping Institute was testing a variety of consumer products, and one of her first tests was drip coffee makers. Since then she has tested and written about many kitchen-related and cooking tools, especially drip coffee and espresso makers as well as coffee accessories. She has a passion for coffee and has completed rigorous coffee courses from the SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) in coffee brewing, barista skills and sensory tasting.

Jamie Kim

Contributing Writer and Analyst

Jamie Kim is a consumer products expert with over 17 years of experience in areas of product development and manufacturing. She has held leading roles at both mid-size consumer goods companies and one of the most notable and largest apparel brands in the world. Jamie has contributed to several of the GH Institute Labs, including Kitchen Appliances, Media and Tech, Textiles and Home Appliances. In her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling, and working out.

Nicole Papantoniou

Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab Director

Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.

Best Coffee And Espresso Machines 2023

Delish editors handpick every product we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.

Best Overall

De’Longhi All-in-One Coffee & Espresso Maker

Best Overall

De’Longhi All-in-One Coffee & Espresso Maker

Now 28% Off

$300 at Amazon

Credit: De’Longhi

Pros

• Can make multiple kinds of coffee, including drip, pod, and espresso
• Two water tanks

Cons

• Hand-wash only
• Produced a less hot cup compared to our other recommendations

Do you tend to change your coffee order with your mood? Regardless of your coffee preferences, you’re bound to satisfy your caffeine cravings with the De’Longhi All-in-One Coffee & Espresso Maker, which offers a drip coffee function, espresso pod compatibility, and built-in milk frother for cappuccinos or lattes.

The Good Housekeeping Institute calls this machine “as sleek as it can get,” but they’re not just talking about the classic design—it features two water reservoirs to seamlessly brew drip coffee and espresso (though it didn’t brew as hot a cup as other options during testing). Furthermore, the De’Longhi All-in-One comes fully equipped with one- and two-cup espresso filters, so you can make up to two cups of espresso at a time. This maker isn’t dishwasher-safe, but it’s still relatively easy to hand-wash thanks to its detachable flip-top lid and wide opening.

Best Versatile

Mr. Coffee All-in-One Occasions Specialty Pods Coffee Maker

Best Versatile

Mr. Coffee All-in-One Occasions Specialty Pods Coffee Maker

$200 at Amazon$200 at Walmart

Credit: Mr. Coffee

Pros

• Easy to clean and refill
• Tons of user-friendly features, including a sound indicator

Cons

• K-cup option is slow and doesn’t produce a steady stream of coffee

On the hunt for a coffee and espresso maker that can do it all? Consider your search over, because the Mr. Coffee All-in-One is here to brew all kinds of coffee with four size settings. Use the 15-bar pressure system to produce a single or double shot of espresso (which the Good Housekeeping Institute’s panel described as “smoothish”), brew drip coffee in the 10-cup thermal carafe, or make lattes and cappuccinos with the built-in milk frother. You can also pop your favorite K-cup into the single-serve attachment, but just know that the test panel said it “takes a little under two minutes to brew because it doesn’t produce a steady stream of coffee.”

There’s more to the Mr. Coffee All-in-One than just multiple brewing options, though—it’s also a breeze to clean and refill (thanks to the 55-ounce detachable water tank) and the sound indicator lets you know when it’s done brewing. This machine even has the capacity to stow away the included tamper, espresso maker, and single serve attachments in its storage tray.

Best For Ease Of Use

Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with LatteGo

Best For Ease Of Use

Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with LatteGo

Now 20% Off

$800 at Amazon$1,071 at Walmart$800 at Sur la Table

Credit: Philips

Pros

• Milk frother is designed without a straw for easier clean-up
• Multiple customization settings

Cons

• Produces weaker, less flavorful coffee compared to our other recommendations

You don’t have to be a skilled barista to make a scrumptious cup of coffee. If the thought of using a coffee machine makes you a little uneasy, consider a user-friendly model like the Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine. With just the touch of a few buttons, you have full control over every beverage you brew, from strength and size to even amount of milk added to your drink.

This feature-packed maker is also a breeze to store and clean thanks to its removable water reservoir and milk frother attachment, which forgoes a straw. No matter which of the five drink options you choose, you’re sure to be just as impressed as the Good Housekeeping Institute’s kitchen tech experts, who praised the Philips 3200 Series for producing a “flavorful but light-bodied” brew.

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Best Budget

Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee & Espresso Machine by De’Longhi

Best Budget

Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee & Espresso Machine by De’Longhi

$190 at Amazon$199 at Saks Fifth Avenue$199 at Bloomingdale’s

Credit: Nespresso

Pros

• Affordable
• Eco-friendly

Cons

• Only compatible with large Nespresso pods
• A little noisy

Just because you may be brewing on a budget doesn’t mean you aren’t entitled to strong, silky-smooth coffee. That’s why you should consider the intuitive and functional Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe, which can produce a frothy crema and up to 14 ounces of everything from single or double espresso to lungo with just the touch of a button. (In fact, one of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s testers “didn’t even need to add milk, although that’s how she normally drinks her coffee.”)

Though it may be a tad loud, it makes up for any shortcomings with its consistent temperature and volume, 19-bar pressure system, and a sleek, modern design (which is made from 54 percent recycled plastic and includes a removable 60-ounce tank). The VertuoPlus Deluxe only takes Nespresso’s VertuoLine premium pods, but with nearly 30 flavor options to choose from, you’re sure to find something you like. And when you’re done enjoying your drink, you can mail any used pods back to Nespresso to be recycled.

Best Splurge

De’Longhi Dinamica Plus Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

Best Splurge

De’Longhi Dinamica Plus Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

$1,700 at Amazon$1,700 at Saks Fifth Avenue

Credit: De’Longhi

Pros

• Easy to use
• Produces delicious coffee

Cons

• Pricey

They should’ve named the De’Longhi Dinamica Plus “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Starbucks,” because you’ll be shocked at the coffee quality this super-automatic machine produces. You’ll have to put in a little bit of effort to get it up and running, but it’s all smooth sailing from there: From grinding beans to tamping and brewing, this maker does it all, and the Good Housekeeping Institute found it produced a “smoother… rounder” and “nicely hot” cup compared to other models (though they thought the crema was a little thin).

In addition to offering 19 bars of pressure and an intuitive touchscreen control panel, you can choose from 16 drink options and three frothing settings with enough time to choose your preference before the magical brewing experience begins. Plus, maintenance is a breeze: The Dinamica Plus rinses when turned off, the detachable milk hopper is simple to clean and fill, and this machine even reminds you to clean the thermal milk jug (and offers a pre-programmed cleaning setting to do so).

Best With Drip Coffee Maker

Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker With Glass Carafe

Best With Drip Coffee Maker

Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker With Glass Carafe

$170 at Best Buy$199 at Walmart$170 at Home Depot

Pros

• Speedy
• Versatile

Cons

• Weaker brew
• Hand-wash only carafe can be tough for to clean for those with large hands

Boasting plenty of brewing options—including classic, rich, and even iced coffee—and a wide array of size settings, the possibilities are truly endless with the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker With Glass Carafe. Perfect for those who prefer an espresso-based drink (as opposed to straight-up espresso), this machine even offers a specialty brew function to make concentrates for lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos.

The Ninja Specialty may not make the most robust coffee compared to our other recommendations, but we still like its speed and thoughtful details, including a fold-away milk frother, a two-hour keep-warm feature, an intuitive control panel, and a “drip stop” feature so you can pour yourself a cup mid-brew.

It also includes a removable water tank with side handles for an easier grip and a measuring spoon that attaches to the side of the machine so you don’t have to worry about losing it. Bear in mind, however, that the glass carafe is not dishwasher-safe and has a small opening, which the Good Housekeeping Institute noted “may be hard for larger hands to get in and clean.”

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Best Portable

AeroPress Original Coffee and Espresso Maker

Best Portable

AeroPress Original Coffee and Espresso Maker

$40 at Amazon

Credit: Aeropress

Pros

• Easy to pack and store

Cons

• Requires brand-specific filters

Most coffee and espresso makers don’t travel well, but that’s not an issue for the AeroPress, which espresso enthusiasts and coffee connoisseurs alike applaud for being easy to pack, clean, and store, with all pieces easily fitting into a single gallon-size plastic bag.

Simply place this brewer filter-side down over your mug, fill it with hot water (and your favorite ground coffee beans, of course), and then push the removable plunger down through the plastic tube to fill your cup with up to eight ounces of fresh java.

Though the AeroPress does require brand-specific paper filters, they give you 350 when you buy it to get started, and you’ll save more money in the long run by not having to purchase pricier single-use pods.

Best With Pods

Keurig K-Café Coffee, Latte, and Cappuccino Maker

Best With Pods

Keurig K-Café Coffee, Latte, and Cappuccino Maker

Now 23% Off

$170 at Walmart$210 at Wayfair$198 at farmandfleet.com

Credit: Keurig

Pros

• Multiple brewing sizes and drink options
• User-friendly

Cons

• Produces less flavorful and weaker coffee than our other recommendations

Everyone loves the convenience of a pod coffee maker, but when you throw in the ability to make hot or iced espresso-based drinks in four different sizes, don’t be surprised if all your neighbors suddenly start “popping by” for random visits. The Good Housekeeping Institute’s testers found the Keurig K-Café was simple to use and consistent in brew time, preheat time, temperature, and volume.

However, despite brewing scrumptious lattes and cappuccinos and boasting convenient features like a “strong” brewing function and a built-in milk frother, the panel found the espresso was “bland,” weak, and “burnt in one test” (though it “seemed to get hotter as more cycles were brewed”). Sure, the K-Café leaves a bit of splatter on the counter and doesn’t automatically deposit used K-cups into a collection container—so you’ll have to dispose of them yourself—but we think these clean-up issues are minor when you consider its overall user-friendliness.

Is an espresso maker worth it?

Espresso requires a different brewing process than other types of coffee beverages, so espresso makers typically can only make espresso. Though the level of effort you’ll need to exert depends on whether the machine is automatic, semi-automatic, or super-automatic (and don’t even get us started on manual), the gist is that these models use some serious pressure—usually about 15 bars—to force hot water through your coffee grounds…which requires a bit more finesse than your average drip or single-serve options.

If that has you questioning if an espresso maker is worth it, since they can get pretty pricey, or if you prefer to keep your options open, a combination coffee and espresso maker is a good compromise. Furthermore, if you prefer espresso-based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos while other members of your household just want a simple cup of joe, these multifaceted machines can make a bunch of your favorite brews right in the comfort of your own home.

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What should I look for in a coffee and espresso machine?

If you’re wondering which coffee maker is best for home use, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some factors to keep in mind when shopping for the perfect coffee and espresso maker to fit your home and lifestyle:

Brewing Options: Variety is the spice of life, so if you like to change up your coffee order depending on your mood (or depending on how much sleep you got last night), you could benefit from a coffee machine that can offer you plenty of flavorful brews. Many combination makers offer everything from classic espresso and drip coffee to even more modern features like iced coffee and pod compatibility. Though the price of these models tend to increase with the more you add on, many offer precise customizations that can elevate your experience, including adjustable strength, temperature, and cup size options.

Quantity: Speaking of cup sizes, not only do different machines have the capacity to make just the right amount of coffee for a tiny espresso cup or your favorite travel mug, but some have even more to offer. Many combination coffee and espresso makers have the capacity to make multiple cups of coffee at a time, with some options even being able to fill an entire carafe. However, this may be too much if you live in a smaller household or don’t have a lot of space in your kitchen. Luckily, there are also more compact options available that can make a few cups at a time instead. You can even opt for a single-serve model if you just want to drink one cup at a time and aren’t as concerned about authenticity and depth of flavor. .. or the monetary and environmental cost of constantly having to replenish your supply of coffee pods. Overall, be sure to take your lifestyle into account when making your decision, as well as how long you’re willing to wait before you get that morning cup of joe—after all, it takes a lot less time to produce one cup of coffee than it does 10 or more!

Features: For starters, you’ll want to decide exactly how much energy and cash you’re willing to spend. For beginners or busy bees who don’t want to do much more than grind and tamp your beans before pushing the brew button, an automatic maker is a solid choice. However, if you truly don’t want to lift a finger and money is no object, a super-automatic machine has all the functionality of an automatic maker and then some—including a wider range of programmable settings and the ability to measure, grind, and tamp your beans. Finally, semi-automatic options require a bit more of a learning curve, but they’re generally a good happy medium in terms of effort and price. (Plus, they offer the most consistency out of the three.) If you want to make espresso-based drinks efficiently, you might want to opt for a model that comes with a built-in milk frother or steam wand, but you can save both time and money if you pick up a separate tool and steam and froth your milk yourself.

Similarly, some machines come equipped with self-insulating thermal carafes that can conveniently keep your brew warmer and fresher for longer. However, if you live in a larger household where a refillable carafe would be ideal, but aren’t as concerned about temperature retention, you can find a happy medium with a model that has a glass carafe. At the end of the day, it all comes down to how much convenience you’re looking for, and then seeing which coffee and espresso maker offers the most for your budget.

Kaitlin Mahar

Contributing Writer

Kaitlin Mahar is a California-based freelance writer covering the shopping and lifestyle beats. When she’s not sharing her passion for the Oxford comma with anyone who will listen, she is a proud cat parent, avid yogi, tea enthusiast, and co-host and co-producer of the podcast “Crime Culture”.  

6 types of coffee machines | newsvo.ru