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From Delonghi to Sunbeam, we’ve rounded up the best coffee machines to help you get your daily caffeine fix.
If you’re like me, you have a coffee habit. Actually, habit probably isn’t the correct term here, because it sounds like something a nun might take off at the end of the day, whereas I have no particular intention of quitting coffee any time soon at all, and you cannot make me.
For many of us, the cheery charm of the local barista has been replaced in recent times by the stark realisation that we’re going to have to make our own damned coffee. Now, if you’re looking at saving the most money, then the worst coffee solution – yes, I’m talking Instant Coffee, a product which does have its own fans – is still open to you.
For many of us, however, instant is a poor substitute for properly ground, nicely prepared and actually fresh coffee. That’s where having a good coffee machine can make a huge difference.
Hang on. Aren’t proper coffee machines frighteningly expensive?
Look, if you wanted to go that full-on-Barista experience and buy a coffee machine the size of your kitchen bench, then… yes. The sky can literally be the limit when it comes to pricey café-style machines built for commercial use, but unless your family is very large, you probably don’t need one of those.
A more compact and more affordable machine can be yours for much less pretty easily. The $500 or more for a simple machine might still seem like a lot to pay for a coffee machine, but bear in mind that if your current habit involves a coffee on the way to the office each day, even if you were only paying $2/cup, that machine would pay itself off within a year pretty easily, even taking into account the cost of consumables like water, electricity and of course coffee itself. Nobody expects a premium machine to last only a year, so before long if your coffee habit is anything like mine, your machine will quickly be saving you money.
If you’re also in the interest of saving money, you can book mark some of our coffee machine recommendations ahead of Amazon Prime Day each year, in case they go on sale.
You also gain a huge amount of flexibility when it comes to coffee preparation, whether you favour a simple espresso shot to get you going or something substantially more fancy.
Coffee consumption can be healthy if you control it and making your own is the first step on that journey.
With that in mind, here’s a selection of the best coffee machines available on Amazon Australia at the time of writing, taking in a range of brands and coffee preparation options:
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine $680.02
Breville’s Barista Express promises beans to cup in under a minute, so even if you do want a machine to get your coffee going as you fly out the door it could be a good match. Reviewers noted that it’s very easy to configure for your own personalised take on coffee, wherever your taste sits.
De’Longhi Magnifica S Smart $ 817
De’Longhi’s Magnifica was appreciated by users for its ease of use, especially in relation to consistently creating good cups of coffee, as well as how simple it was to keep clean.
Breville The Oracle Espresso Machine $2,383.98
Breville’s more expensive coffee machine in this list sells itself as “the world’s first automatic manual espresso machine”, and it’s that mix of automatic features – for convenience – and manual features – to get your coffee exactly right – that endear it to the folks who make the rather more expensive investment in one. If you’re making a lot of coffee for your housemates, its ability to knock out 2 cappuccinos in 90 seconds could also be a boon.
Sunbeam Mini Barista Coffee Machine was $239
Sunbeam’s coffee machine isn’t fancy, but you wouldn’t expect that at a lower price point. Still, it gets the job done and users rave about it.
DeLonghi The Specialist Espresso Coffee Machine ($ 679)
Delonghi’s La Specialista is a semi-manual machine pitched strongly at the ease-of-use market, although some reviewers do note that this means some features such as the milk frothing wand aren’t as flexible as on more manual machines.
Gaggia Babila Fully Automatic Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine $2699
Gaggia’s automatic coffee machine is lauded by its reviewers as much for the striking and attractive design as it is its ability to push out a really great, café-quality cup of coffee.
Zulay Classic Stovetop Espresso Maker $36.55
If you want that authentic full coffee making experience and you’re not limited by time, you can of course opt for a more traditional approach, like this Zulay Classic Stovetop model. Sure, you don’t get the full “machine” part of “best coffee machine”… but then coffee was made to be savoured anyway.
Soulhand Cold Brew Coffee Maker $90.45
If you’re jonesing for a cold brew, this slow drip coffee machine is for you. It takes about three to four hours to fully filter through, but you can make six to eight cups of cold coffee at a time.
Breville Nespresso Essence Mini Bundle $ 209
The pod coffee machines are pretty enticing with the whole one-press-and-you’re-done thing, especially when it comes in a bundle like this with a milk frother. You can even buy these planet-friendly, Nespresso compatible compostable coffee pods ($21.25) to go with it.
Editor’s note: Descriptions and features are as taken from manufacturer/seller claims and user reviews on Amazon.