Topic
Choosing a machine
Bean-to-cup, manual espresso or pods: the main types differ in how much you do yourself, how much space they take and what they ask of you each week. Start with how you drink coffee, then pick the type.
- Pump pressure on listings
- 15 to 20 bar
- Pressure at the puck
- about 9 bar
A bean-to-cup machine grinds, doses, tamps and brews at a touch, and many add an automatic milk system. A manual espresso machine leaves the grinding, dosing and tamping to you, which takes practice but gives more control. Pod machines are the simplest of all but tie you to one capsule system.
The pressure on the box (15, 19 or 20 bar) is the pump's maximum, not the pressure in the cup. Espresso is usually brewed at around 9 bar, so a higher number on its own is not a sign of better coffee.
Measure the space under your wall cupboards before you shortlist: height with the lid or bean hopper open matters as much as the footprint. Our water-hardness converter helps you set any machine up for your area.
Common mistakes
- Choosing on the bar figure alone.
- Forgetting the height needed to refill the bean hopper or water tank under a cupboard.
Guides on this topic
- 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.Guide
- 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.Guide
- How long do coffee machines lastHow long bean-to-cup, espresso, pod and filter coffee machines usually last, which parts wear out first, and the simple habits that keep a machine going for years.Guide
- How does an espresso machine work: boilers, thermoblocks and pumpsHow espresso machines work: pump pressure in bar, and what single boiler, heat exchanger, dual boiler and thermoblock heating mean for your coffee.Guide
- Bean-to-cup vs espresso machine: which suits youBean-to-cup vs espresso machine: convenience against control, compared on time per drink, cup quality, cleaning and the learning curve of each type.Comparison