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If you often feel baffled by the price of coffee machines, you’re not alone.
Walk into any shop or scroll big brands online and you will see coffee machines for under one hundred quid sitting next to models that cost well over a thousand.
But the big question for most is simple – how much do you actually need to spend to get a decent cup of coffee at home? And can you really get the same quality cup from the best cafetieres and pod machines vs a fully integrated bean-to-cup coffee machine.
With the cost of living still at the front of many people’s minds and the price of a takeaway coffee creeping up seemingly every few months – a latte is now £3.90 at Starbucks – you might wonder if a coffee machine is a sensible investment.
With the cost of takeaway coffee creeping up – is it time to invest in a proper coffee machine?
The truth is, making coffee at home in your favourite mug or travel cup can save you a surprising amount of money, especially if you buy it every day. However, you need to choose the right type of coffee machine based on a few things like your budget, taste preferences and how often you drink coffee.
Here, I break down what your money gets you at a selection of price points and where spending more (or less) can make sense.
£100 to £200: Quick fixes, pod machines and entry level machines
Best for: people who want speed, simplicity and a low upfront cost.
This is where most first time buyers start and this price range is dominated by pod machines. Brands like Nespresso, Lavazza, L’OR and Tassimo are popular pod brands, because they remove almost all effort from the process. You press a button and get a consistent, drinkable coffee in under a minute.
For busy mornings or occasional coffee drinkers, the convenience of pods is hard to beat. What’s more, the machines are compact, easy to clean and relatively cheap to buy.
Pod machines are easy to use and generally very compact
For busy mornings or occasional coffee drinkers and commuters who want to take their coffee on the go , the convenience of pods is hard to beat. What’s more, the machines are compact, easy to clean and relatively cheap to buy.
The trade off comes later. Pods are expensive per cup, often costing 30 to 50 pence each – you can read more about this in our lifetime cost of a Nespresso guide – and the quality isn’t as good as using whole beans.
You’re also often tied to one system, especially with the Nespresso Vertuo machines, unless you buy something like the L’OR Barista, which lets you use a wider range of pods.
Pod machines have higher ongoing costs than models that use whole beans
Pod machines also don’t have as long a shelf life as more expensive machines, most people get a few years of use out of them before they start to encounter problems.
If you drink several coffees a day, the ongoing cost quickly adds up. Milk-based drinks also tend to rely on extra pods or basic frothers, which rarely match your barista’s quality.
You will also see cheap manual espresso machines in this price bracket, but many struggle with weak pressure and poor temperature control. The result can be thin, bitter coffee that feels like more effort than it is worth.
If I had to pick one pod machine to buy, it would be this. It’s compatible with lots of different Nespresso-style classic pods and can also make double espresso.
The original machine doesn’t come with a milk frother but you can buy a version with this included or a separate frother.
I can confirm that Lavazza’s pod coffee is very good. While you are tied into buying the brand’s specific pods, they have a good range and aren’t super expensive.
This model comes with a milk frother tacked onto the side, giving you everything you need for espresso and milk drinks for under £200.
£200 to £400: Manual machines and premium pods
Best for: Regular coffee drinkers on a budget who want better flavour without too much complexity.
Spend a little more on the right product and the improvements can easily be seen. Higher-end pod machines at this level heat faster, make more consistent drinks and generally feel studier.
You might start to see things like automatic one-touch drinks and integrated milk frothers on machines in this price range.
This is also the price bracket where you will find more capable manual espresso machines and solid filter coffee makers. While still simple, they offer better consistency and control, especially when used with freshly ground coffee beans.
Spending this much is a move away from coffee that is convenient and towards a cup that’s truly enjoyable.
However, you’ll likely still see issues with consistency here and build quality still might not feel particularly premium, especially on semi or fully automatic machines with a lot of features.
This is a really good manual espresso for under £300. It’s simple but stylish and it comes with everything you need to make espresso and milk-based drinks.
If you’re not familiar with how to use manual machines, it might take some getting used to but with a bit of time and patience, you’ll get a decent cup from this.
Many of you might not want to spend this much on a pod machine but if you want a fully integrated pod model, this is a good price.
While you can’t improve the coffee quality all that much (that’s set mostly by the pods), this model does give you access to a milk steaming carafe and superior build quality.
£400 to £700: Semi and fully automatic bean-to-cups
Best for: replacing daily coffee shop visits or households that drink several coffees a day.
For many, this price range is the sweet spot. It seems like a lot of money at first glance, but is where good entry level bean-to-cup machines appear, along with semi-automatic espresso machines that can rival coffee shop quality.
Here, you’ll get better coffee quality that doesn’t require you to have any experience, more intuitive design, milk steamers, guided touch screens and more. If you can afford to spend a little more, this is the price range I’d personally aim for.
Danielle testing the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo – one of our favourite bean to cups
Bean-to-cups grind fresh beans for every drink and often handle milk automatically. While the upfront cost is higher, the price per cup drops significantly, often to around 15 to 20 pence depending on the beans you buy.
Semi-automatic machines in this range appeal to those who would like the option to customise their espresso a bit further. They reward you with better tasting coffee, provided you are willing to learn the basics.
Machines in this price bracket are also more likely to stand the test of time. While some may skimp on build quality here and there, in general they are sturdy machines that can do a lot more.
This is one of my favourite mid price bean-to-cup machines as it offers a lot of bang for your buck. It does everything you you at the touch of a button, from grinding your beams to frothing your milk.
The build quality isn’t as good as some of the pricier machines but it makes a good cup quickly. Read my full De’Longhi Magnifica review for more details.
While the Barista Express doesn’t have a glossy touchscreen, it will give you a seriously good cup of espresso with fairly little effort.
The integrated grinder means you can buy fresh, whole beans and you won’t also need to shell out on an expensive grinder.
You also get a very competent milk steamer. For this price, I don’t think there is a better machine that does as much as this.
£800 and above: Premium coffee at home
Best for: serious coffee drinkers who want true barista quality at home
Once you pass the £700 mark, you are generally in the ‘prosumer’ price bracket, which might not suit most people.
You’ll be paying for consistency, durability and espresso refinement. Premium bean-to-cup machines and advanced espresso setups offer quieter operation, more precise temperature control, lots more automated features and professional milk steaming.
Premium machines get you full integration, smart features, touchscreens and more
Many higher-end fully automatics can be found here, with some, like Delonghi, offering more automation for the price, while others focus on dialling in the perfect espresso.
These machines are designed to last. Parts are often repairable, replaceable and upgradable and warranties tend to be longer.
For regular coffee drinkers, especially those who value quality espresso above all else, the cost can still make financial sense over time.
If money was no concern for me, this is the machine I would buy. In my tests this was so incredibly easy to use and produced the very best coffee I’ve had outside of my local coffee shop.
Everything is tied together with a gorgeous touchscreen and barista guidance, which talks you through make the perfect espresso. Read my full Sage Oracle Jet review for more details.
If you’re set on a bean-to-cup and have no strict budget, this is a good one to consider. It’s very much a does tiall machine. Making good espresso, cold brew, flat whites, cappuccinos and more.
It’s also easy to clean, easy to maintain and allows you to do as much or as little as you like with drink customisation
Why buying cheap can end up costing you more.
Choosing the cheapest machine can be a false economy. Poor build quality and inconsistent brewing often leads to disappointing coffee. When drinks do not taste good, people fall back into buying takeaway coffee and the machine ends up unused in a corner, gathering dust.
Cheaper machines are also more likely to come into problems earlier in their life and don’t have replaceable parts, meaning you could need a whole new machine much sooner than you would with a pricier model.
You need to factor in what you can realistically afford vs your personal preferences.
Happy with your cafetiere? There’s no need to make the switch to a pod machine
For example, if you’re happy using a cafetiere or Aeropress right now, I wouldn’t recommend buying a pod machine, as the payoff will not be much better and the coffee quality might be worse, especially if you’re paying out for premium beans now.
However, if you’re spending money on coffee shop drinks everyday, enjoy premium quality coffee but don’t want to deal with the mess of a cafetiere, spending a few hundred pounds of a good semi-automatic is likely to benefit you in the long run.
Do coffee machines really save you money compared to the likes of Starbucks or Pret?
A single coffee costing just £3.50, bought five times a week, adds up to more than £900 a year – and that’s assuming you’re buying a cheap coffee – some drinks can cost up to £7 a cup.
This means even a £500 machine using fresh beans can pay for itself surprisingly quickly if it replaces regular cafe visits.
Pod machines reduce savings but still cost less than buying coffee out, while filters and semi automatics offer the biggest long term savings.
The key is being realistic. If you only buy coffee occasionally, spending hundreds may not make sense. If coffee is a daily habit, investing more upfront often saves money and improves quality in the long run.
