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Buying guide

Best bean-to-cup coffee machines under £400

Chosen from what the Amazon listings state, not tested by us. How we pick

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Top picks at a glance

Compare them all

  • Best overall

    Philips 3300 LatteGo: automatic milk on a budget

    LatteGo has 2 parts and no tubes, so daily milk cleaning is quick.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Best value

    Bosch Series 4 VeroCafe: 9 drinks, 1.9 L tank

    The ceramic grinder is described as quiet and consistent.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Most features

    De'Longhi Magnifica S: 13 settings, two cups at once

    The integrated grinder has 13 settings, and ground coffee can be used too.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

You do not need to spend a fortune to grind fresh beans at home. Entry-level automatics still grind, tamp and brew at the touch of a button, but they cut corners somewhere: fewer grinder steps, a manual wand instead of a self-cleaning jug, a shorter drinks menu or a smaller tank. The trick is choosing the compromise you will not notice. This guide compares seven machines on grinder type or steps, milk option, drinks menu and water tank, using only what each listing states. If you drink mostly milky coffee, an automatic jug or carafe is worth having even at this level. If you drink espresso or americano, a basic wand model leaves more of the budget for good beans.

All products compared

Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.

The products in detail

No. 1 · PHILIPS

Philips 3300 LatteGo: automatic milk on a budget

The cheapest way into Philips' LatteGo milk jug, with a 12-step ceramic grinder and six hot and iced drinks. It suits milk drinkers who want automatic froth without a high spend.

In its favour

  • LatteGo has 2 parts and no tubes, so daily milk cleaning is quick.
  • The 12-step ceramic grinder gives more adjustment than several rivals at this level.
  • My Coffee Choice adjusts strength, length and froth level, and SilentBrew keeps noise down.

Good to know

  • The six-drink menu is short, with no flat white or cortado listed.
  • No user profiles are mentioned in the listing.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: PHILIPS 3300 Series Bean to Cup Coffee Machine, LatteGo, 6 Hot/Iced Dr...

No. 2 · Bosch

Bosch Series 4 VeroCafe: 9 drinks, 1.9 L tank

An affordable Bosch with a ceramic grinder, Milk Magic Plus frother and adjustable strength, temperature and volume. A good starter machine for everyday coffee.

In its favour

  • The ceramic grinder is described as quiet and consistent.
  • Strength, temperature and volume can all be adjusted, so drinks can be tuned to taste.
  • A removable 1.9 L water tank keeps refills to a minimum for a small household.

Good to know

  • Only nine drinks are listed, a shorter menu than the Philips and Siemens models.
  • The listing does not state grinder steps, hopper size or how the milk frother is cleaned.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Bosch Series 4 VeroCafe Bean to Cup Coffee Machine, TPG40307, Piano Bl...

No. 3 · De'Longhi

De'Longhi Magnifica S: 13 settings, two cups at once

The classic Magnifica S with a silent 13-setting grinder, a manual frother and two cups at once. It suits buyers who want proven basics and the lowest outlay.

In its favour

  • The integrated grinder has 13 settings, and ground coffee can be used too.
  • Two cups can be brewed at the same time, and the tank holds 1.8 L.
  • The manual frother mixes steam, air and milk for cappuccinos and lattes.

Good to know

  • Milk drinks need manual frothing, so there is no one-touch cappuccino.
  • The control panel uses basic buttons with no colour display.
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Listing title: De'Longhi Magnifica S - Automatic Coffee Machine 2 Drinks Black

No. 4 · De'Longhi

De'Longhi Magnifica Start: LatteCrema Hot, 4 drinks

An entry De'Longhi with automatic LatteCrema Hot foam and four one-touch recipes. It suits people who want simple cappuccinos and latte macchiatos with automatic milk cleaning.

In its favour

  • LatteCrema Hot makes fine milk foam with automatic milk cleaning, according to De'Longhi.
  • The brewing unit is removable and several parts are dishwasher-safe.
  • Aroma and intensity can be adjusted to taste.

Good to know

  • Only four recipes are listed: espresso, coffee, latte macchiato and hot water.
  • The listing gives a height of 50.3 cm, which may clash with low wall cupboards.
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Listing title: De'Longhi Magnifica Start - Automatic Coffee Machine 4 Drinks Black

No. 5 · SIEMENS

Siemens EQ300: ceramDrive grinder, milkPerfect wand

A Siemens entry automatic that froths milk in your mug with a stainless wand and offers three strength levels. A tidy, simple pick for one or two people.

In its favour

  • The milkPerfect wand froths milk straight in the mug, and the frother is dishwasher-safe.
  • iAroma offers 3 strength levels, and the front door gives easy access to the brew unit.
  • One-touch buttons cover espresso, cappuccino, latte macchiato and filter-style coffee.

Good to know

  • The 1.4 L water tank is on the small side.
  • Grinder steps are not stated in the listing.
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Listing title: SIEMENS EQ300 Bean to Cup Coffee Machine, TF301G19, Piano Black

No. 6 · Beko

Beko CaffeExperto: 13-level grinder, 2 L tank

A Beko with a 2 L tank, a dual nozzle for two cups and a cup warmer for six cups. A budget office option where people are happy to froth milk themselves.

In its favour

  • The 2 L water tank and 250 g bean container suit regular use.
  • The dual nozzle brews two coffees at once and the cup warmer holds 6 cups.
  • Automatic cleaning and rinse programmes are built in.

Good to know

  • No user profiles are mentioned, so nobody can save a favourite drink.
  • Milk drinks rely on the manual steam wand, which slows things down at busy times.
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Listing title: Beko CaffeExperto Bean to Cup Coffee Espresso Machine CEG7302B | Black...

No. 7 · PHILIPS

Philips 2200: classic frother, adjustable grind

Philips' simplest automatic with a classic frother made of two dishwasher-safe parts. It suits espresso and americano drinkers who only sometimes want milk.

In its favour

  • The two-part classic milk frother is dishwasher-safe.
  • Grind size, strength, quantity and temperature can all be adjusted.
  • One-touch operation keeps daily coffee quick.

Good to know

  • The AquaClean filter is not included in the box.
  • The listing does not state the tank size and only two one-touch drinks are listed.
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Listing title: PHILIPS 2200 Series Bean to Cup Coffee Machine, 2 Drinks One Touch

Read before you buy

More buying guides: Bean-to-cup machines

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