Buying guides
Buying guides, one product type at a time
Each buying guide covers exactly one type of product and compares a handful of listings on the facts they state.
Bean-to-cup machines
- Best bean-to-cup coffee machines for UK homesSeven bean-to-cup machines from Philips, De'Longhi, Siemens, Melitta, Jura and Bosch compared by grinder, milk system, drinks menu and tank.
- Best bean-to-cup machines for a small officeSeven bean-to-cup machines for teams of five to twenty compared by water tank, user profiles, two-cup brewing, bean storage and milk system.
- Best bean-to-cup coffee machines under £400Seven entry-level bean-to-cup machines compared by grinder, milk option, drinks menu and water tank, with the corners each one cuts.
- Best bean-to-cup machines with a steam wandSix bean-to-cup machines with manual milk frothers compared by wand type, grinder, drinks, water tank and whether they brew two cups at once.
- Best bean-to-cup machines with two bean hoppersSix dual-chamber and swappable-hopper bean-to-cup machines compared by bean storage, grinder, milk system, drinks menu and display.
- Best small bean-to-cup coffee machines for compact kitchensSeven compact bean-to-cup machines ranked by width, height and depth in cm, with water tank size and milk options taken from each listing.
- De'Longhi bean-to-cup models compared: Magnifica, Dinamica, Eletta and RiveliaEight De'Longhi bean-to-cup machines compared step by step: milk system, drinks menu, grinder, display and user profiles from Magnifica S to Eletta.
Espresso machines
- Best espresso machines for beginnersSeven forgiving espresso machines compared by tamping help, automatic milk, heat-up, filter baskets and whether a grinder is built in.
- Best espresso machines with a built-in grinderEight portafilter machines with integrated burr grinders compared by grind settings, dosing and tamping help, heating system, milk wand and tank.
- Best espresso machines without a grinderSeven espresso machines for use with a separate grinder, compared by portafilter, heating system, temperature control, milk and tank.
- Gaggia coffee machines compared: Espresso Evolution, Deluxe, Brera and AnimaFour Gaggia machines compared: the manual Espresso Evolution and Deluxe against the Brera and Anima bean-to-cup models, by heating, milk and tank.
- Sage espresso machines compared: Bambino Plus to OracleEight Sage espresso machines compared step by step: grinder, tamping, heating, milk wand and controls, from Bambino Plus to Oracle Touch.
Coffee grinders
- Best coffee grinders for espressoSeven espresso grinders compared by burr type and size, stepless or stepped adjustment, dosing method, hopper size and motor power.
- Best coffee grinders for filter, pour-over and French pressSeven grinders for medium and coarse grounds compared by flat or conical burrs, adjustment, hopper size, dosing and motor power.
Milk and frothers
- Best bean-to-cup machines with automatic milk for lattes and cappuccinosSeven one-touch milk machines compared by milk system (carafe, LatteGo jug or nozzle), how milk parts are cleaned, drinks menu and tank size.
- Best espresso machines with automatic milk texturingEight portafilter machines with automatic steam wands compared by milk texturing, temperature and foam settings, grinder and heating.