Certified barista names three beginner-friendly coffee makers, from drip to capsule

The guide states that sophisticated bean-to-cup machines can brew complex drinks at the push of a button, but require a lot of cleaning and are usually very expensive. The three machines it selects are described as simple to maintain and accessibly priced, and each covers a different brewing style: a drip machine for a large pot of coffee, a bean-to-cup espresso maker, and a capsule system that removes the need to handle beans or grounds.

The Breville Luxe Brewer Thermal is the drip option. In the author's tests, its default settings worked well, but users can adjust bloom time, bloom temperature, brew time and brew temperature to fine-tune extraction if a particular bean does not taste right. The machine can also make cold brew: grounds are loaded using a supplied measuring guide, water is filled to the line on the tank, the carafe lid is removed so the machine does not start dripping, and a button starts a 24-hour cold steep, with a beep when the coffee is ready.

The Philips Baristina is described as the smallest and cheapest bean-to-cup machine the author has tested, and as an option for people moving away from capsules. Beans go in the top and the water tank is filled; an empty portafilter handle is pushed in and slid to the right, at which point the machine grinds a dose into the basket and tamps it. Sliding the handle to the left pulls the shot. The guide says it is easier to clean than a typical automatic espresso machine because no moisture or debris builds up inside an enclosed case. Its limitation is that it cannot steam milk unless bought in a bundle with a standalone frother, although Philips has launched the Baristina Latte, an updated version that addresses this. The author said she is looking forward to testing it.

The Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly is the capsule pick. Unlike most pod machines, according to the guide, it can create rich foam using pods of long-life milk for lattes and cappuccinos, with plain milk pods or flavored milk capsules designed to pair with a specific coffee capsule, such as a cinnamon roll latte. The author writes that she is not usually a fan of flavored coffee capsules but finds Tassimo pods genuinely tasty and not overwhelmingly sweet. The machine is cheap and often discounted to £49.99, about $70 or AU$90. The guide notes that capsules can be quite expensive, particularly for drinks that require two pods, one for coffee and one for milk, though it still works out cheaper than a regular takeout habit. It also states that the machine is not currently available outside Europe unless imported.

TechRadar's wider guide to coffee makers names the Breville Barista Touch Impress as its best espresso machine, the Breville Luxe Brewer Thermal as its best drip model, the Ninja Luxe Café as its best all-in-one, and the Krups Nespresso Pixie as its best Nespresso machine.