Need to know
- We've tested more than 80 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 access our full coffee machine reviews and find out the best performers. Plus, access detailed reviews for over 200 product and service categories
Whether cafe coffee is off the menu due to the current high cost of living, or you're working from home more and want an easy way to caffeinate, a coffee machine can be a very smart buy.
We've shown that 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 end up using, or one that makes dishwater coffee you can't stand, probably won't end up saving you money at 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.
Expert taste testers David (L) and Matthew Gee (R) from Barista Basics, and Anee Sampath (C) of Samson Coffee House.
CHOICE's appliance experts have reviewed more than 80 pod, manual, semi-automatic and automatic coffee machines to help save you from bad brews.
As well as blind tasting dozens of cups of coffee, they assess ease of use, milk frothing and temperature consistency in our in-house labs.
The expert panel of veteran baristas (pictured) also scores each machine's espressos for taste. The rating is based on crema, aroma, flavour, mouthfeel and aftertaste.
We don't want you to end up with a dud buy, so here are the products that scored lowest in our lab tests. Consider becoming a CHOICE member to see the best performers.
On this page:
- Lowest rated pod machines
- Lowest rated manual and semi-automatic machines
- Lowest rated automatic machines
Lowest rated pod machines
Nescafé Dolce Gusto Piccolo XS 9781.
1. Nescafé Dolce Gusto Piccolo XS 9781
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 41%
- Taste test score: 30%
- Price: $99
Keen for quality coffee? Keep looking.
This little machine came last in our test with an unforgivable CHOICE Expert Rating of just 41%.
This little machine came last in our test with an unforgivable CHOICE Expert Rating of just 41%
Not only did it rate terribly for taste and milk frothing, it makes you work hard for your terrible brew – you'll need to stop the flow of coffee yourself, and then ditch the pod immediately as there's no storage for empties. Cancel that coffee order.
Read the full Nescafe Dolce Gusto Piccolo review.
Breville Nescafé Dolce Gusto Genio S Plus.
2. Breville Nescafé Dolce Gusto Genio S Plus
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 46%
- Taste test score: 30%
- Price: $149
If you're counting on this machine for your morning cuppa, you might want to hit snooze instead.
In our tests, it delivered poor-tasting coffee with a bitter flavour, watery mouthfeel and thin crema.
Plus, it rated just average for milk frothing, and the coffee temperature consistency was OK at best.
In our tests, it delivered poor-tasting coffee with a bitter flavour, watery mouthfeel and thin crema
Our experts did find positives – it boasts customisable drink settings and is easy to clean and use. But these qualities can't atone for the bigger sin of bad coffee making.
Read the full Breville Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio review.
Lowest rated manual and semi-automatic machines
Sunbeam Café Barista EM5000.
1. Sunbeam Café Barista EM5000
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 47%
- Taste test score: 30%
- Price: $299
When you spend hundreds of dollars on an espresso machine, you'd expect to get great coffee in return.
Sunbeam makes some impressive machines – but this isn't one of them.
Sunbeam makes some impressive machines – but this isn't one of them
This semi-automatic model is great at serving up espresso at very consistent temperatures. But it scored a deal-breaking 30% in our blind taste test and rated only OK for milk frothing.
That's a big cost for bad coffee.
Read the full Sunbeam Café Barista EM5000 review.
Anko Compact Espresso.
2. Anko Compact Espresso
(Sold at Kmart and Target)
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 57%
- Taste score: 55%
- Price: $79
The Anko brand has delivered some reasonable coffee machines in its time – including a $120 machine that scored as highly on the taste of the coffee it produced as machines worth over $1000. (It's since been discontinued, sadly.)
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.
Read the full Anko Compact Espresso review.
Breville Duo-Temp Pro BES810BSS.
3. Breville Duo-Temp Pro BES810BSS
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 59%
- Taste test score: 45%
- Price: $419
This model rates better than than some, but still lags well behind the top scorers in our tests.
It does score very well for milk frothing and consistent coffee temperature, and also packs handy features such as a drip tray with full indicator, cup-warming plate and onboard tamper.
Unfortunately, it earned a woeful taste score – our barista experts awarded it just 45%
Unfortunately, it earned a woeful taste score – our barista experts awarded it just 45%. No amount of well-frothed milk can make up for that.
See the full Breville Duo-Temp Pro review.
Lowest rated automatic machines
Gaggia Anima Prestige.
1. Gaggia Anima Prestige
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 51%
- Taste test score: 40%
- Price: $1399
For $1399 it's reasonable to expect that this machine can 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!
Read the full Gaggia Anima Prestige review.
Saeco Royal OTC SUP060.
2. Saeco Royal OTC SUP060
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 55%
- Taste test score: 40%
- Price: $1999
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.
Read the full Saeco Royal OTC SUP060 review.
Top tips for buying a coffee machine
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.
Still undecided about which type to buy? Here's how to find which coffee machine is right for you.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
