A Guide to Buying a Coffee Maker

What You Need to Know

Filter coffee makers are cheaper, but if you want to make cappuccinos and lattes you’re much better off with an espresso machine.
Filter coffee makers are a good choice if you want to make large quantities of coffee as you produce up to 12 cups worth at once.
A machine the uses disposable paper filters will save you a lot of hassle cleaning, but is far less economical in the long term.
’Pressure’ espresso machines often lack the necessary bar pressure to make a really great espresso, though they are good value.
’Pod’ machines are cheaper, easier to use and easier to maintain than most espresso makers, however they are twice as expensive to make coffee with, per cup.
If you are willing to spend upwards of £300, ‘bean to cup’ machines offer the ultimate home made coffee experience.
If you have the patience, you can make passable espresso using a stove top espresso maker, which can cost as little as £20.

There are a huge range of coffee makers on the market, meaning that whatever your needs, whatever your budget, you’ll find something suitable. Whilst having so much choice is great, it does mean things can get a little confusing. Luckily, our comprehensive guide spells out everything you need to know to make an informed decision.

Types of Machine

Though there are a number of different kinds of machines, all coffee makers fall in to one of two camps; those that produce shots of espresso (which is the basis of popular drinks, such as cappuccino and latte) and those that make that make filter coffee.

Filter Coffee Makers

These machines work by dripping boiling water through a filter containing ground coffee. Once properly brewed, the infused liquid is dispensed into a jug.

Machines come with either a permanent filter or paper filters, which are disposed of after every use. You will save money in the long term by choosing one with a permanent filter that never needs replacing, although these can be a little tricky to clean, especially when compared to the convenience of paper filters. If you are looking at a machine with a permanent filter, check that it is easy to remove and clean before buying.

Filter coffee makers are flexible in their capacity. You can usually make up to 8 or 12 cups at once, perfect for a big family breakfast. Alternatively, by adjusting how much you fill the water chamber and how much coffee you place in the filter you can just brew a single cup. Most models even have a hot plate to keep the coffee pot warm, so, if you usually enjoy a few caffeine fixes in the morning, you need only brew up once.

Filter coffee makers are available in a variety of sizes and are relatively easy to use. They are also the cheapest type of coffee machine you are likely to come across, with some available for as little as £20.

You can buy ground coffee to use in your machine, or for a fresher coffee you can buy your own beans use a coffee grinder to prepare them when you fancy a cup. Whilst you can make a great cup of coffee with a filter maker, if you want to make quality cappuccinos or lattes you’ll need to use an espresso machine.

Espresso Machines

Espresso is a much richer, more concentrated form of coffee. It can be enjoyed as a shot or used to make specialties such as mochas and macchiato drinks.

There are two main types of traditional espresso maker; pump machines and pressure machines. Pressure models use the power of steam to force hot water through the coffee. They are cheaper than pump machines, however they often make water which is to hot for the purpose and don’t have enough pressure to make good espresso.

With pump machines, water is boiled and forced through the coffee. Pump machines tend to be more expensive, but could be a good investment if you are a coffee aficionado and plan to use your machine intensively. These machines feature thermostatically controlled boilers, which ensure that water is heated to the optimum temperature for coffee.

Though most machines only take 15-20 seconds to produce an espresso, at most they can only produce two shots at a time.

Using the machines can be a bit tricky, as you need to load the ground coffee into the ‘baskets’ and ‘tamp’ it by pressing it down to make it compact and firm, but not to thick. Getting this perfect takes a little practice.

Good machines can cost around £300. You want to ensure that it generates 10-19 bars of pressure, has a decent water capacity and a steamer to allow you to froth milk in a steel milk flask. Bear in mind that if it is hard to clean it might drive you crazy further down the line.

Pod and Capsule Coffee Machines

If you find the idea of using a traditional coffee maker a little intimidating a ‘pod’ machine can be the perfect solution. Pods consist of one shot's worth of fine ground coffee wrapped in filter paper, to make the espresso equivalent of a tea bag. Rather than having to deal with ground coffee you seemly pop a ‘pod’ into your machine and you’ll get a perfect shot of espresso.

Cleaning your machine is also very easy. Rather than having to tap away the sodden coffee grounds from your machine, you simply toss the used pod away.

Whilst these machines can be found for less than £200, they may end up costing you more in the long run. Coffee made from a pod or capsule will cost you over 20p per cup, twice as much as with ground coffee or a pack of beans.

Which ever type of machine you choose you can find a great range of coffee makers at John Lewis.

Versatility

The very best espresso makers will allow you to make a range of espresso based drinks, using any blend of coffee you like. Many even allow you to use ‘pods’ instead of lose granules so that you have the freedom to choose. However, specialist pod machines will not allow you to use lose coffee, limiting the variety of blends you can enjoy.

If you get a capsule machine you are even more limited and may only be able to use the type of espresso coffee capsules that are the same brand as your machine. One advantage of capsules is that they stay fresh for 9 months, where as loose coffee keeps for a month at the most.

Bean to Cup Models

If you are a real coffee purest for whom freshness is paramount, you can get ‘bean to cup’ machines that have their own built in coffee grinders. Simply poor in the fresh coffee beans and the machine will grind them, tamp them and produce the perfect cup of coffee at the touch of a button.

However, these machines are very noisy and don’t come cheap, costing at least £300. You will also need to buy coffee more often as beans don’t keep as long as pods (a range of great blends can be picked up from Whittard’s and other specialists.)

Cheaper Alternatives

You can pick up a cafetiere for as little as ten pounds. You’ll need to boil the kettle, wait for it to brew and clean it after, but you’ll save money and still get a great cup of filter coffee. They also take up much less space and are generally a more attractive item to have in the kitchen.

If you’re after a cheap espresso maker or moka pot, a stove top espresso maker can be obtained for about £20. These are like work like primitive espresso machines that are filled with water and heated on the stove, rather than using their own power.