We’ve tested more than 100 popular models of pod, manual, semi-automatic and automatic coffee machines
Our experts give each machine a score based on factors such as the taste of the coffee they produce, how easy they are to use and how well they froth milk
Consider joining CHOICE to see our full coffee machine reviews. Plus, access detailed reviews for over 200 product and service categories
Whether cafe coffee is off the menu due to the current cost of living, or you’re working from home and want an easy way to caffeinate, a coffee machine can be a very smart buy.
Investing in a coffee machine for your home can be cheaper than buying takeaway coffees in the long run – but buying a bad machine that you don’t use because it makes dishwater coffee, means you probably won’t end up saving any money after all.
Buying a bad coffee machine can leave a hole in your pocket and a bad taste in your mouth
Given that some coffee machines cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, it’s a mistake that can leave a hole in your pocket and a bad taste in your mouth.
Our expert taste testers: Brothers Matthew and David Gee of training academy Barista Basics, and Denis Simione of Samson Coffee House.
The CHOICE appliance experts have reviewed more than 100 pod, manual, semi-automatic and automatic coffee machines to help save you from bad brews.
They assess each model’s ease of use, milk frothing and temperature consistency in our in-house labs, as well as enlisting an expert panel of veteran baristas who also blind taste espresso from each machine and rate them based on crema, aroma, flavour, mouthfeel and aftertaste.
We don’t want you to end up with a dud, so here are the products that scored lowest in our lab tests.
Consider becoming a CHOICE member to see the best performers.
It looks futuristic but it’s serving up the same old watery coffee of the most basic pod machines.
Yes, it’s compact, sleek, affordable and, according to CHOICE experts, very easy to use, but that’s where the benefits end for this capsule machine which is available to buy via large online marketplaces such as Woolworths and Big W.
Along with one other capsule coffee machine, it received the lowest taste test score (35%) in our entire review of over 60 coffee machines with experts noting the coffee had a “pale, very light” crema with “very low to no aroma” and some “sour flavours”.
There’s also bad news if you want to use this machine to make multiple cups of coffee – our experts found the temperatures between consecutive cups was quite inconsistent.
The OTT aesthetic seems to be overcompensating for lacklustre coffee.
Another cute and compact capsule machine; another disappointing coffee.
The showy gold trim and elegant cream exterior can’t hide the fact that the coffee this model makes is underwhelming – our expert testers gave it a score of just 35% in the blind taste test, with one expert damning his cuppa saying it had a “really awful flavour” and another saying the coffee was “burnt and over extracted”.
One expert damned his cuppa saying it had a ‘really awful flavour’
Compatible with Nespresso-style pods, the machine was credited by our testers for being very easy to use with very good controls, and it can accommodate taller cups easily. Perhaps it’s therefore better suited to hotel rooms and shared office spaces where people care less about the quality and taste of the brew, and more about the convenience.
Not really that sublime, nor that compact: The L’Or Sublime Compact
This cheap coffee machine was rated “very good” for how easy it is to use, but our experts found little else to recommend about it.
Features include dual-capsule recognition technology and the ability to brew two cups at once or one double-shot, and three brewing strengths, but it doesn’t come with a milk frother and although still compact, is slightly larger than other standard slimline capsule machines.
Most disappointingly, it received a score of just 55% in our taste test.
1. Sunbeam Prima Latte (EMP5100BK) semi-automatic espresso machine
CHOICE Expert Rating: 54%
Taste test score: 55%
Price: $299
Coffee that’s only OK and a flimsy plastic tamper? Pass.
This coffee machine spruiks a few appealing features, such as automatic milk frothing, a design that can accommodate larger cups and Thermoblock technology (which is a plus for speed, convenience and low maintenance).
But when we tested the milk frother, it gave poor results, creating froth with large bubbles that was hard to pour. And the coffee? It was rated only “OK” by our taste testers, with a score of 55%.
Plus, the machine comes with a plastic tamper which is a big no-no from our in-house coffee experts who say plastic tampers are too lightweight and flimsy to apply consistent pressure to perfectly tamp your coffee. You ideally want one with a flat, metal base attached to a wooden or metal handle to give you greater control over your tamping pressure.
This DeLonghi is not a good representation of what the brand can offer.
In a prime example of why you should never buy an appliance based on brand alone, we present this offering from DeLonghi.
DeLonghi happens to be our 2025 Best Brand for coffee machines, due to the fact that so many of its machines score well in our testing. We also look at customer satisfaction and overall product reliability.
Unfortunately this entry-level model doesn’t live up to expectations. It scored poorly in our taste test and rated only “OK” on the consistency of the temperature of coffee when we made four cups in a row. Our experts also noted the unit is light, it doesn’t come with a milk jug, and the tamper is plastic and awkward to use.
3. Anko Compact Espresso
(Sold at Kmart and Target)
CHOICE Expert Rating: 57%
Taste score: 55%
Price: $79
This budget machine feels as cheap as it is.
The Anko brand has delivered some reasonable coffee machines in its time – including an $89 model that outscores some extremely expensive coffee machines in our taste testing.
Unfortunately this isn’t one of the budget brand’s best efforts.
It’s the cheapest machine in our review, but while it’s wallet-friendly, it’s less kind to your palate: our coffee experts weren’t impressed with the espresso it produced, and the steam wand creates milk with large bubbles.
It’s the cheapest machine in our review but, while it’s wallet-friendly, it’s less kind to your palate
To price a coffee machine so cheaply, the manufacturer seems to have skimped on the build quality. The supplied tamper is plastic and the machine is quite light, so you’ll probably need to hold onto it when locking/unlocking the group handle to keep it from sliding all over the bench.
If you’re considering this machine, you might be dreaming of all the dollars you’ll save on buying cafe coffees – but before you hit “add to cart”, wake up and smell the coffee: an average espresso topped with overly-bubbly milk does not a good coffee make.
It might have doctor in its name, but this machine definitely doesn’t have a PhD in coffee.
It has the lowest taste test score of all 36 products in our automatic coffee machine review, being outscored by even the cheapest machines we tested.
The Dr Coffee H1 does come with a nifty feature – programmable brewing times – so you can set it to start making your coffee at specific times. Waking up to a freshly-made coffee sounds wonderful, but if it tastes terrible it won’t be a great start to your day.
If you’re after a therapeutic dose of caffeine, you won’t get the cure from this quack
If you’re after a therapeutic dose of caffeine, you won’t get the cure from this quack.
For $1599, it’s reasonable to expect that this machine will produce a delicious coffee at the right temperature. Sadly, the Gaggia doesn’t deliver on either front.
It scored a poor 40% on the taste test, and when we made four coffees in a row, it couldn’t maintain a consistent temperature.
It scored a poor 40% on the taste test and couldn’t maintain a consistent temperature
So despite the price, you’ll never quite know what you’re going to get: a hot coffee that doesn’t taste great, or a lukewarm coffee that doesn’t taste great. Neither option is particularly appealing!
This machine delivered far more consistent temperatures than the Gaggia, but still produced poor tasting coffee.
It’s somewhat redeemed by its froth-making abilities, which our experts rated as “Good”, and it’s easy to use, offering an extensive range of settings (though its digital display menus do take a bit of getting used to).
If you’ve got $2000 burning a hole in your pocket, you can do better than this Saeco machine
But if you’ve got $2000 burning a hole in your pocket, you can do better than this Saeco machine – a number of automatic machines recommended by our experts cost around the same or even less.
Normally we’d say that you shouldn’t write off an entire brand just because of one or two below-par products, but in the case of Gaggia’s automatic espresso machines, you might want to cross them off your wishlist.
A not-so-prestigious machine.
The best automatic Gaggia in our review only managed to hit a ho-hum 64% CHOICE Expert Rating and a disappointing taste test score of 60%. (For context, the top machines in our test score 75% and higher for the taste test, with half scoring 80% and higher.)
As for the Cadorna Prestige, well, it’s not exactly prestigious. It’s the most expensive Gaggia we tested but has the second-lowest taste test score. It’s not intuitive to use and it couldn’t turn out multiple coffees at consistent temperatures.
If you’re looking for a prestige machine, this isn’t it. There are plenty of other machines costing about the same or less that’ll deliver better coffee.
If you’re tossing up between a pod/capsule coffee machine and a manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic espresso machine, there are a few factors to consider.
Pod or capsule machines are generally cheaper, easy to use and require very little cleaning. You should factor in the high cost per pod (as compared to ground coffee or beans) and the environmental impact of coffee pods before you buy.
Manual espresso machines take more work in terms of learning how to use them, but they generally deliver coffee with better depth of flavour and allow for more customisation, meaning you have more freedom to make coffee the way you like it.
Automatic machines require the least amount of effort: you simply press a button and they’ll deliver a coffee based on preferences you select. But keep in mind they don’t always let you change things like grind, tamp and dose. Plus, they can be extremely expensive and very difficult to clean.
Semi-automatic machines sit in between manual and automatic machines: some functions are automated, but you’ll still need to do some things manually, which means that you can still control some aspects of the coffee making.
Remember, a poor-quality espresso machine can deliver mediocre flavour, and a badly designed pod or capsule machine can still be tricky to use. So always make sure you do your research before committing.
Alice Richard is a Content creator and marketer. Alice writes on a range of topics, from health insurance to heaters and BBQs to bargain-hunting, always with the aim to help consumers find the best products to buy, and which to avoid.
Alice can take vast amounts of data from CHOICE product tests and turn it into content that is easily digestible and fun for readers.
Alice has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland.
Alice Richard is a Content creator and marketer. Alice writes on a range of topics, from health insurance to heaters and BBQs to bargain-hunting, always with the aim to help consumers find the best products to buy, and which to avoid.
Alice can take vast amounts of data from CHOICE product tests and turn it into content that is easily digestible and fun for readers.
Alice has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland.
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