Australians just love coffee, and we’ve become passionate about our brews: the right beans, the perfect crema, and even the ideal temperature for the milk. And while it’s great to have barista-made coffee, if you make and drink it at home, you want it to be just as good — so choosing the best coffee machine for you can make a major difference.
Today’s coffee machines have better functionality and more brewing options than ever and can be surprisingly affordable. After all, this is the era of café-worthy domestic coffee machines!
Reassuringly, there are coffee machines for all tastes, lifestyles, and budgets, from easy-to-use, low-cost pod machines to the full bells-and-whistles automatic espresso experience, plus beautifully stylish built-in options for anyone considering a kitchen renovation.
What method makes the best tasting coffee?
The style of coffee machine best suited to you really depends upon your taste in the brew itself. For example, French Press produces a dark, rich cup, whereas pour-over methods (like Aeropress), give a lighter flavour.
Today’s makers have better functionality and more brewing options than ever, so there are coffee machines for all tastes, lifestyles, and budgets. For example, although they used to be looked down upon as inferior, capsule and pod machines have also come a long way, and many can produce a great cup of coffee that requires a fraction of the time and effort. However, for true coffee enthusiasts, manual coffee machines, while the most technical, give you complete control over the flavour, the pour, the taste, to deliver a café-worthy cuppa.
Here’s our guide to the different machines and methods.
Capsule and pod machines
Capsule machines are ideal for everyday coffee drinkers who want their caffeine hit quickly and conveniently. The low price point and user-friendliness of pod machines have helped people migrate from instant coffee to espresso.
“We have seen a rise in capsule coffee machine sales — simply because people were looking to become an at-home barista,” says John Kozsik, National Training Manager (Australia) at Lavazza. “Good quality capsule coffee machines are super convenient, simple to use, and easy to clean — great for someone seeking café-grade coffee from their kitchen!”
There has been concern about the environmental impact of disposable pods, but now there’s a huge variety of biodegradable pods available, along with recycling programs. The best way to recycle your empty pods is through drop-off and post-back collection schemes like those run by Terracycle. Nespresso runs a recycling program allowing you to return your used aluminium capsules to a Nespresso boutique or post your used capsules back to Nespresso using a special Australia Post satchel.
Manual coffee machines
These super functional, high-tech options can look great on the benchtop and deliver a café-worthy cuppa if you know what you’re doing. Manual machines give you complete control over the flavour, the pour, the taste, and so on.
While they might seem trickier to use, getting the technique right usually only takes a few practice sessions. Most retailers of manual machines also offer training to ensure you are comfortable with the equipment before you start.
One thing to consider when you’re buying a manual machine: it may come with or without a steaming function. If you want the option of frothing milk and making your lattes, cappuccinos, or hot chocolates, make sure it’s included.
Coffee machines can vary drastically in price depending on type and quality. (Photography: James Henry / bauersyndication.com.au)
Automatic coffee machines
The next level up from manual machines, these products usually give you the ability to customise your coffee — from the grind to the final brew. If you have a preferred grind or style, some machines even allow you to set the preferences in such a way that all you have to do is press a button labelled ‘Clare’s coffee’ and your favourite half-strength long black is delivered.
John Kaye, head roaster at Sample Coffee, says the automatic machines are perfect for people who are particular about their coffee, but don’t have the skills or experience to operate a manual machine. “They are great for good — almost barista-quality — coffee, with minimal education required.
“And they’re not expensive, relatively speaking,” John adds. Breville does a very competitive price for the quality of their machinery. “I have one of their grinders at home and I’m pretty satisfied with its useability. Quite often, it’s not just brewing the coffee [that people find tricky]; steaming milk is very much a learned art as well. So if you have a machine that does it automatically, that’s a big bonus.”
Automatic machines are great for the untrained coffee aficionado. You load your beans in, set how fine you want the grind to be, and it will do everything else for you. So, all you have to do is press the grind button, put the beans in, and hit the brew button.
The stainless steel coffee machine in this kitchen is the perfect finishing touch. (Photography: Anna Robinson / bauersyndication.com.au)
Built-in coffee machines
Many of the larger kitchen appliance companies also make built-in coffee machines, which can help to keep the kitchen free of coffee-related clutter.
Built-in coffee machines can save on bench space and are a popular choice for those who prefer all their appliances to be integrated. Some use beans, some use capsules and some use the Nespresso system, but built-in machines come at a cost and require more maintenance than standard benchtop machines.
Brands such as Miele, Smeg, NEFF, Fisher & Paykel, Electrolux, and AEG all offer a built-in option to complement their cooking products. And let’s face it, if you’re going to install a Miele kitchen, why wouldn’t you put in a matching Miele coffee machine?
Many built-in machines, such as the Bosch Series 8 machine can produce two cups simultaneously, which is great for entertaining. At the top end of the market, the Gaggenau machine can save up to eight personalised coffee configurations.
Learn to use your coffee machine
When you purchase your coffee machine, ask about training to help you make the most of it. Some brands also have YouTube videos, which demonstrate all the functions.
Most big department stores have trained baristas you can talk to about coffee and how to find the right machine for you. If you’re in the market for a coffee machine, it’s a good idea to compare the flavour of capsule coffee versus beans, and work out whether you want to personalise your coffee by using a manual machine, or if you like the convenience of an automatic machine or a capsule one.
Sample Coffee’s John Kaye says barista courses can be helpful, too. “Steaming milk and brewing coffee can take a little bit of playing around so guidance is always quite handy. That kind of time investment always pays off.”
Our round-up of the best pod coffee machines in Australia
01
Breville Nespresso ‘The Creatista Pro’ stainless steel capsule coffee machine
$1119.20 (usually $1399), Myer
Breville’s Nespresso Creatista Pro takes capsule coffee to a whole new level, pairing their extensive experience in designing heavy-duty coffee machines with the simplicity of coffee-in-a-pod. Housed in a sleek brushed steel design, the Creatista Pro can pour two cappuccinos in just 65 seconds, and features an easy-to-use touch screen interface to help you take coffee customisation above and beyond.
Key features:
- Dual ThermoJet Heating System to simultaneously extract espresso and automatically texture milk
- Intuitive touch screen operation
- Fully-automatic steam wand
02
Lavazza Voicy Black A Modo Mio capsule coffee machine
$99, Big W
Lavazza has teamed up with Amazon to create the world’s first voice-activated coffee pod machine: you say, ‘Alexa make me a coffee’ and an aromatic espresso appears. It’s like living with a barista (though, maybe not as cute as your local one). Alexa/Voicy can also do anything Alexa can do, such as tell you the news or play music. Don’t like talking (i.e. before your morning coffee)? You can also operate the Voicy remotely using an app. Not into tech? You can operate the Voicy the old-fashioned way – using your hands. The Lavazza app can also store personalised coffee orders and let you know when you’re running short on coffee pods (flavours of that include ‘Chocolate and Dried Fruit’ and ‘Cocoa and Spices’, yum).
Key features:
- Connects to your smart devices to control them with your voice
- Built-in Alexa
- One-touch barista
03
Vertuo Next with Aeroccino3 milk frother
$188, The Good Guys
Available in a variety of sleek colourways, Nespresso’s VertuoPlus coffee machine is a stylish addition to your kitchen benchtop. With a special design that rotates each coffee capsule up to 7000 times a minute, the VertuoPlus helps you extract the ideal brew from your coffee pods each and every time. Plus, the Aeroccino3 milk frother makes pouring a cappuccino or latte a breeze.
Key features:
- Five adaptable brewing parameters
- Simple 1-button operation, automatic capsule ejection
- Paired with the Aeroccino3 Milk Frother which creates hot or cold milk froth for your milk coffees.
04
Nespresso Lattissima one capsule coffee machine
$449, The Good Guys
DeLonghi’s Latissima One Nespresso System is designed to take your capsule coffee further, courtesy of an innovative in-built fresh milk system which is specifically designed to texture and pour milk automatically. The clever system even highlights how much milk you’ll actually need per cup, ensuring there’s minimal waste involved. If you’re a latte or cappuccino fan, the Latissima is a great option to invest in.
Key features:
- 25 second heat-up time
- Compact size fits perfectly on your kitchen benchtop
- Built-in automatic milk frother allows you to create lattes and cappuccinos at the touch of a button
05
Smeg Lavazza A Modo Mio capsule coffee machine in Cream
$250, Appliances Online
ICYMI, Smeg does its own version of a capsule machine in partnership with Lavazza in an iconic retro design. Small but mighty, it features straightforward but versatile brewing options, allowing you to create the perfect espresso or lungo cup with the flick of a switch. Also available in White, Black, and Red.
Key features:
- Hot and cold drink capability
- Over 40 beverage varieties
- Easy to clean
Is coffee from capsules worth it?
Pod machines are suitable for those looking for their caffeine quickly and conveniently. They have a lower price point and are more user-friendly than manual and automatic machines, and at the end of the day, offer a fairly similar end product.
Are pod coffee machines any good?
Good quality capsule and pod coffee machines are super convenient, simple to use, and easy to clean. If you are looking for ease and simplicity with your morning coffee, the pod machine could be be your best bet.
Our round-up of the best manual coffee machines in Australia
01
Breville The Barista espresso manual coffee machine
$699, The Good Guys
The best-selling manual machine, as the name suggests, Breville’s Barista Express is designed to deliver café-quality brews in as little as a minute. The integrated conical burr grinder delivers the right amount of freshly ground coffee for every cup, precise temperature control ensures optimal espresso extraction and the steam wand allows you to hand-texture microfoam milk however you like.
Key features:
- Perfect coffee every time with the four keys formula (precision puck, extraction pressure, extraction temperature and microfoam bubbles)
- Auto grind & dose with an integrated conical burr grinder with 16 grind settings
- 54 mm stainless steel portafilter delivers full flavour with dual and single wall filters
- Low pressure pre-infusion followed by 9 bar extraction
02
Smeg 50’s Retro Style coffee machine
$556, Appliances Online
When it comes to making a major style statement in the kitchen, you can’t look any further than Smeg’s iconic retro kitchen appliances. Smeg’s 50s retro-style coffee machine comes in seven different colourways and features a Good Design Award-winning compact design. As a manual espresso machine, the Smeg coffee machine allows you full control over your perfect brew from beginning to end.
Key features:
- Five vibrant diverse colour finishes
- Three-button control
- Compact profile
03
Sunbeam Mini Barista manual coffee machine
$279.65, Myer
With a sleek and compact design, Sunbeam’s Mini Barista espresso machine is a manual coffee machine that allows you to tailor your cup of coffee however you like. With a 15mm Italian pump and a 58mm commercial-size group head, the Mini Barista is designed to extract the best flavours and coffee from your coffee beans. It also features an Auto Shot Control setting that ensures the machine pours just the right amount for each cup of coffee.
Key features:
- Auto Shot Volumetric Control, lets you pre-set single and double-shot measures
- Inspired by cafe machines, the Mini Barista uses a 58mm commercial size group head
- Powerful, full-size steam wand
04
DeLonghi LaSpecialista Arte coffee machine
$498, Amazon
Fill your home with the aroma of freshly ground coffee every morning with Delonghi’s best-selling La Specialista Arte manual coffee machine. Featuring an eight-setting conical burr grinder for a single or double espresso, an Active Temperature Control setting that maintains a consistent water temperature during the coffee brewing process, and a MyLatte Art Steam Wand which helps create the silkiest lattes art ever.
Key features:
- 8 Grind settings, specifically developed to fit all varieties of coffee beans
- 3 Infusion temperature levels
- MyLatte Art steam wand
05
Sunbeam Barista Max coffee machine
$499, Amazon
The Sunbeam Barista Max Coffee Machine will have you serving up coffee like a pro. With some intelligent features like an integrated “tap & go” one-touch grinder, plus a temp IQ shot control to regulate water and temperature, the perfect brew begins at home.
Key features:
- Integrated tap & go one-touch grinder
- Temp IQ shot control
- Auto shot volumetric control
Are manual or automatic coffee machines better?
While manual machines allow complete control over the output, automatic machines are perfect for people who don’t have the skills or experience to operate a manual machine but still want the café-worthy flavour. All you have to do is press the grind button, put the beans in, and hit the brew button. As always, it will come down to personal preference and dedication to mastering the brew.
Our round-up of the best automatic and built-in coffee machines in Australia
01
Breville The Oracle Jet
$3149 (usually $3899), David Jones
Specialty coffee in the comfort of your own home — what more could you ask for? The newest addition to Breville’s coffee machine lineup is The Oracle Jet. You can select from specialty recipes — including the newly added Cold Brew and Cold Espresso recipes — to ensure your morning brew is perfect every time. Also, if you love your oat lattes or soy cappuccinos, the Auto MilQ offers silky smooth microfoam with settings optimised for not only dairy milk, but also soy, almond, and oat (finally).
This machine is a big investment, so we saved you the risk and tried it out ourselves (and loved it). You can read all of our thoughts in our Oracle Jet review.
Key features:
- Auto MilQ optimised for dairy, soy, almond, and oat milk
- Cold Brew and Cold Espresso recipes
- ThermoJet heating system
- Barista Guidance for a more balanced pour
02
DeLonghi Primadonna Soul automatic coffee maker
$1999, The Good Guys
For those who want barista-quality coffee without needing to deal with fiddly settings, DeLonghi’s PrimaDonna Soul automatic coffee machine takes care of all the fuss for you. The bulk of the heavy lifting comes from DeLonghi’s Bean Adapt Technology which has the PrimaDonna Soul automatically adapt its settings to create a perfect cuppa depending on your bean variety and roasting types. And the best part? The machine is Wi-Fi compatible so that you can brew your coffee straight from bed.
Key features:
- Bean Adapt Technology to personalise the machine settings according to your beans
- Automatic LatteCrema System
- Self-cleaning function
- 4.3” full touch TFT colour display and Wi-fi connectivity
02
Gaggenau 200 Series built-in automatic espresso machine
$6999 (usually $7499), Winnings
Gaggenau’s fully automatic built-in espresso machine looks good from every angle, no matter where you put it in the kitchen. Designed to fit seamlessly alongside other major kitchen appliances and cabinetry, this sleek machine delivers on both style and function. Fully automatic, choose from a range of 12 coffee styles and then customise each brew to your own preferences for a seamless experience.
Key features:
- Maintenance-free grinding unit with ceramic discs
- Separate drawer for second ground coffee type.
- Save up to 8 individualised beverages
- Two cup brewing simultaneously
03
Miele VitroLine built-in coffee machine
$6699, Bing Lee
Miele’s stylish VitroLine Obsidian built-in coffee machine perfectly blends form with function. With a sleek design that is bound to suit any style of kitchen, the VitroLine’s Aromatic SystemFresh feature ensures freshly ground coffee for every cup.
Key features:
- Full touch DirectSensor controls
- 24+ beverage varieties
- OneTouch for Two
- WiFiConnect
04
Bosch ‘Series 8’ fully automatic built-in coffee machine
$4124 (usually $4499), Winnings
Bosch’s state-of-the-art built-in coffee machine is designed to take your kitchen to the next level in an instant. With a streamlined look, the automatic machine helps you create a truly personalised brew in an instant. Bosch’s OneTouch DoubleCup feature allows you to pour two cups of coffee at a moment’s notice, and the clever sensoFlow system ensures water is heated to optimal temperatures.
Key features:
- Intelligent strength adjustment
- 6.8” colour display with touch and slide functionality
- AutoMilk Clean feature for combined descaling and cleaning program for less effort.
- High-quality grinder made of wear-resistant ceramic
What are the disadvantages of automatic coffee machines?
Automatic coffee machines are great for almost barista-quality coffee, where all you need to do is put your beans in, set how fine you want the grind to be, and hit brew. However, for the next step up in terms of flavour profile and control, an automatic coffee machine can’t compare to a manual machine. Little variances in bean freshness, humidity, and the amount of foam can’t be accounted for with an automatic machine, and require a human touch.
Do built-in coffee machines need plumbing in?
Built-in coffee machines come in many different styles, and whether you need them plumbed in comes purely down to the machine. Some do require plumbing in, whereas others will have a built-in water tank. However, if you value your convenience highly and want a fully automatic, fuss-free machine, you may want to consider plumbing in both the water and the drain. Speak to your product specialist to find out what suits you best.
