The annual CHOICE reliability survey asks thousands of members about the coffee machines they own, what they think of them and how they've held up over time.
More than 3600 coffee machine owners participated in our 2019 reliability survey. The information they provided gives us a really good indication of how various capsule, manual, semi-automatic and automatic brands stack up over time – something we can't test in our labs.
The top performers
- Most reliable brand: Aldi Expressi
- Highest owner satisfaction: Breville (auto/manual), DeLonghi (auto/manual), Sunbeam (auto/manual), Nespresso (Breville/DeLonghi) and Aldi Expressi.
What we found
- Of the people who bought an espresso machine in the last 8 years, 65% have never experienced an issue.
- Capsule (pod) coffee machines are more reliable than manual, semi-automatic or automatic machines.
- Some owners of Aldi machines express concern that the pods are not recyclable.
- Owners of Nespresso machines (made by DeLonghi and Breville) say they had a good service experience when things go wrong.
- The main problems people have with their coffee machines include water leakage, the capsule getting stuck or poor milk frothing.
Espresso machine brand performance
| Brand | Reliability (%)* | Satisfaction score (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Nescafe Dolce Gusto (67) | 87 | 78 |
| Breville Nespresso (308) | 85 | 84 |
| DeLonghi Nespresso (580) | 83 | 84 |
| Breville (auto/manual) (455) | 81 | 87 |
| Caffitaly (112) | 80 | 78 |
| DeLonghi (auto/manual) (288) | 78 | 85 |
| Sunbeam (auto/manual) (261) | 78 | 84 |
Number in brackets shows the sample size. * Differences of 5% or more are significant. Average reliability score = 82%, average satisfaction score = 84%.
How we get the data
We calculate a brand's reliability score and owner rating based on our survey of 3626 CHOICE members in 2019. For reliability and satisfaction we looked at a 8 year purchase period between 2011 and 2018.
About the scores
Reliability
Reliability figures are based on owner assessment, not test data. We use the data we collect from members to rate the most popular brands for reliability. We take into account the age of the products so we can compare fairly between brands.
Owner satisfaction
We asked owners to tell us what they thought of the products they own, rating them from excellent to terrible. We've used this information to give each brand an owner satisfaction rating so you can see what people who use the brand day in, day out think of them.
Ready to buy?
Get expert analysis and test data in our home espresso machine reviews.
We're on your side
In more than 60 years of making a difference for Australian consumers, we've never taken ads or sponsorship.
Instead we're funded by members who value expert reviews and independent product testing.
With no self-interest behind our advice, you don't just buy smarter, you get the answers that you need.
You know without hesitation what's safe for you and your family.
And you'll never be alone when something goes wrong or a business treats you unfairly.
Learn more about CHOICE membership today
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
