Coffee machines, grinders and milk
Café coffee at home: bean-to-cup, espresso and grinders compared.
Which machine suits the way you drink coffee, what bar, boilers and burrs really mean, and how to keep it brewing in a hard water area. Compared on the makers' own specifications.
Our top picks
All buying guides- BEAN-TO-CUPBest bean-to-cup coffee machines for UK homes
Philips 5500 LatteGo: 20 hot and iced drinks
Not stated · LatteGo, 2 parts, no tubes · 20 hot and iced
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - BEAN-TO-CUPBest bean-to-cup machines for a small office
Siemens EQ900 iAroma: 10 profiles, 2.3 L tank
Not stated · 2.3 L · Up to 10
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - BEAN-TO-CUPBest bean-to-cup coffee machines under £400
Philips 3300 LatteGo: automatic milk on a budget
Ceramic, 12 steps · LatteGo jug · 6 hot and iced
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - MILKBest bean-to-cup machines with automatic milk for lattes and cappuccinos
De'Longhi Magnifica Plus: LatteCrema Hot, 18 drinks
LatteCrema Hot · Not stated · 18 one-touch
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link
Water-hardness converter
- mg/l CaCO3 (ppm)
- 285.0
- °Clark
- 20.0
- °dH
- 16.0
- °fH
- 28.5
UK band: Hard. Most machines set hardness in °dH bands from a test strip, so check your manual for its band table.
Common problems
Weak shots, sour coffee, flat milk and scale: causes and fixes.
- Shots, pressure, grinder or light faultsCommon Sage Barista Express problems, from sour or bitter shots and low pressure to grinder faults and flashing lights, with the fix for each symptom.
- No water from group head or wandNo water or steam from your Sage Barista Express? Check the tank, clear air locks by priming, descale, clean the shower screen and spot solenoid faults.
- Pressure gauge stays lowWhy the Sage Barista Express pressure gauge stays low, and how to fix it: grind size, dose, tamping, the right basket and a worn group gasket.
- Grinder silent, humming or no coffeeSage Barista Express grinder not grinding? Check the hopper lock, clear jammed or oily burrs, set the grind amount dial and follow the clean out routine.
- Pump runs, little or no waterGaggia Classic not pumping water? Prime the pump through the steam wand, check the tank and intake tubes, clear a blocked solenoid and descale the boiler.
- Water around or under the machineFind where your espresso machine leak comes from: a worn group head gasket, an overfull drip tray, a cracked tank or a loose steam wand, and how to stop it.
- Warning lights, weak coffee, brew unit or grinder faultsFixes for common De'Longhi bean-to-cup faults on Magnifica, Dinamica and Eletta: warning lights, watery coffee, brew unit errors and a grinder not working.
- Will not start, hums, or grinds badlyWhy your coffee grinder will not start or grind: hopper and lid interlocks, jammed burrs, static and clumping, and signs of a burnt out motor.
Topics
From choosing a machine to keeping it descaled, every topic at a glance.
- Water path
- Coffee path
- Used puck to the bin
- Choosing a machineBean-to-cup, manual espresso or pods: how the main types differ and which suits your kitchen and habits.5 guides · 0 buying guides
- Bean-to-cup machinesFully automatic machines that grind, tamp and brew at a touch, from compact models to two-hopper flagships.3 guides · 7 buying guides
- Espresso machinesManual and semi-automatic machines with portafilters, built-in grinders, steam wands and boilers explained.17 guides · 5 buying guides
- Coffee grindersBurr grinders for espresso, filter and pour-over, with burr types, sizes and grind steps compared.5 guides · 2 buying guides
- Milk and frothersSteam wands, automatic milk systems and carafes, and how to get silky milk for lattes and flat whites.3 guides · 2 buying guides
- Descaling and filtersCleaning cycles, descaling routines, water filters and UK hard water, so your machine keeps brewing well.7 guides · 0 buying guides
Calculators
Water hardness in every unit and what a cup really costs you at home.
Comparisons
- Sage Barista Touch vs Barista ExpressSage Barista Touch vs Barista Express compared on touchscreen presets, hands-free milk, heat-up, grinder and learning curve, so you can choose the right one.
- Sage Barista Express vs Ninja Luxe CafeSage Barista Express vs Ninja Luxe Café Premier: manual espresso against built-in scales, auto milk and filter coffee, compared for people torn between them.
- Sage Barista Express vs Barista Express ImpressBarista Express vs Express Impress: what assisted tamping, intelligent dosing, PID and 25 grind settings change, and who is better off with the original.
- Sage Barista Express vs Barista ProSage Barista Express vs Barista Pro compared on heat-up, grinder steps, display, steam and size, to help you decide whether the Pro is worth the step up.
- Automatic milk system vs steam wandAutomatic milk systems vs steam wands: carafes, LatteGo jugs and frothers against a wand, compared on microfoam, latte art, speed and daily cleaning.
- Gaggia Classic Evo Pro vs Sage Bambino PlusGaggia Classic Evo Pro vs Sage Bambino Plus: 58 mm boiler machine against fast 54 mm ThermoJet with auto milk, compared on shots, steam, upgrades and space.
Buying guides
Focused guides to one type of machine or grinder each, compared on what the listings state.
- Best bean-to-cup coffee machines for UK homes
- Best bean-to-cup machines for a small office
- Best bean-to-cup coffee machines under £400
- Best bean-to-cup machines with automatic milk for lattes and cappuccinos
- Best bean-to-cup machines with a steam wand
- Best bean-to-cup machines with two bean hoppers
- Best coffee grinders for espresso
- Best coffee grinders for filter, pour-over and French press
- Best espresso machines for beginners
- Best espresso machines with automatic milk texturing
- Best espresso machines with a built-in grinder
- Best espresso machines without a grinder
- Best small bean-to-cup coffee machines for compact kitchens
- De'Longhi bean-to-cup models compared: Magnifica, Dinamica, Eletta and Rivelia
- Gaggia coffee machines compared: Espresso Evolution, Deluxe, Brera and Anima
- Sage espresso machines compared: Bambino Plus to Oracle
Guides & advice
- Which coffee machine should I buyA short decision path for choosing a home coffee machine by the drinks you make, your time each morning, worktop space and how much you enjoy tinkering.
- What is a bean-to-cup coffee machine and is it worth itHow a bean-to-cup coffee machine grinds, brews and froths milk on its own, the daily upkeep it needs, and who gets the most value from owning one.
- Sage Barista Express water filter: fitting and changing itSage Barista Express water filter guide: where the filter sits, how to soak and date it, and when to change it based on your water hardness.
- Sage Barista Express grind settings and dial-inSage Barista Express grind settings: where to start on the dial, how the inner burr adjustment works and a dose and ratio routine to dial in fresh beans.
- Portafilter sizes by machine: 51, 54 and 58 mmWhich portafilter and basket size your espresso machine uses, from Sage 54 mm to Gaggia Classic 58 mm, and how to measure so you buy the right tamper.
- How to use the Sage Barista ExpressHow to use the Sage Barista Express from first shot to daily routine: dose, grind size dial, tamp, reading the pressure gauge and steaming milk, in order.