The best bean-to-cup coffee machines require little prep and just a press of a button or two to get that gold old morning cup of joe. No need to go to a café. These kitchen appliances are dialed in to create perfect coffee every time you use them and they do all the work from grinding the beans and using the right amount of water to brewing at the proper strength. Plus, some models will even steam milk for a one-press latté.
These models are so good, you’ll find many also on our best coffee makers guide. Of course, if you’re not sure if these are the right type of coffee maker for you, we suggest learning how a bean-to-cup coffee machine works. We’re personally fans, but they’re on the whole fairly pricey.
Don’t worry, though. You can still get fantastic coffee in other ways. The best espresso machines, for instance, have a bit more of a learning curve but can be cheaper. If you’re not sure which way is the right way for you, take a look at our guide to espresso machines vs bean-to-cup coffee machines.
Since these are premium machines, you’ll see brand names like De’Longhi, Gaggia, Sage (Brevill in the US and Australia), and Smeg populate our guide. Don’t worry though, we’ve made sure that these are worthy of the price as we’ve used our expertise and caffeine addictions (let’s call it experience) to thoroughly test all the models here, looking at the end results, ease-of-use, design, and feature set to make sure they’re worth the cost. We even look at how easy they are to clean and how loud they are during use. That is to say, we’re confident that these are the best bean-to-cup coffee machines available right now.
The best bean-to-cup coffee machine 2024
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
The best bean-to-cup coffee machine you can buy
Specifications
Water tank capacity:: 0.65 gallon / 2.5 liter
Bean hopper capacity: 8 oz / 280g
Milk texturizing: Automatic
Drink options: Americano, Cappuccino, Cold Brew Coffee, Espresso, Espresso Macchiato, Flat White, Hot Chocolate, Hot Foam, Hot Milk, Latte, Ristretto
Dimensions: 17.8 x 14.7 x 14.7 inches / 45.4 x 39.2 x 37.3cm (h x w x d)
Reasons to buy
+Great coffee
+Easy to use
+Customizable drinks
Reasons to avoid
-Very tall
-Most expensive model we’ve tested
-Not completely hands off
The best fully-automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine
Specifications
Water tank capacity:: 0.47 gallon / 1.8 liter
Bean hopper capacity: 10.6 oz/300g
Milk texturizing: automatic milk dispenser
Drink options: Espresso, double espresso, coffee, long coffee, doppio+, coffee pot, cappuccino, cappuccino+, cappuccino mix, latte macchiato, caffè latte, flat white, espresso, macchiato, hot milk
Dimensions: 3.7 x 9.3 x 16.9 inches / 34.8 x 23.6 x 42.9cm (h x w x d)
Reasons to buy
+All drink recipes can be personalized
+Automatic milk frothing
+Simple interface with an app for additional control
Reasons to avoid
-Expensive compared to the rest of the market
-Large appliance
-Requires experimentation to create your perfect coffee recipe
The best bean-to-cup coffee machine for budding baristas
Specifications
Water tank capacity:: 0.47 gallon / 1.8-liter
Bean hopper capacity: 8.8oz/ 250g
Milk texturizing: Manual
Drink options: Americano, espresso, espresso lungo, coffee
Dimensions: 14 x 8.8 x 17.1 inches/ 35.7 x 22.4 x 43.5cm (h x w x d)
Reasons to buy
+Produces smooth coffee with a thick crema
+Simple to use
+Drinks can be customized
Reasons to avoid
-Have to texturize milk yourself
-Takes up a lot of space on countertop
-Noisy in use
Crazy name, amazing coffee
Specifications
Best for: Coffee connoisseurs
Skill level: Expert
Type: Bean to cup machine
Milk frother: Built-in
Reasons to buy
+Integrated burr grinder with 35 grind settings
+Fun to make barista-style coffee at home
+Beautifully designed
Reasons to avoid
-Large on the worktop
-No option for ground coffee or pods
-Water tank isn’t as large as we’d like
If you're looking for a fast, no-fuss caffeine jolt then keep scrolling; this one's definitely for coffee connoisseurs, promising to use the perfect quantity of ground beans, the perfect temperature, the perfect water pressure and the perfect micro-foam to make the perfect coffee. Although Sage products are branded Breville for the US market, this coffee machine is currently unavailable in the US.
The Barista Express Impress uses 18 to 22g of freshly ground beans to create its rich and creamy espressos, which also make the perfect base for intense flat whites and creamy cappuccinos. It's similar to a commercial espresso machine, so it's a bit more complicated than a standard bean-to-cup model, but that's a huge part of the appeal. Creating decent-tasting coffee in the way a professional barista would takes time – but we found that the ceremonial approach to using this machine, whereby you need to tamp and dose correctly, made the process of making coffee almost as enjoyable as drinking it.
If you enjoy the process of making coffee, this machine will not disappoint. It has everything you need to enjoy specialty coffee at home.
Read our full Sage: The Barista Express Impress review
The best bean-to-cup coffee machine for drink choice
Specifications
Water tank capacity:: 0.48 gallon / 2.2 -liter
Bean hopper capacity: 18oz/ 500g
Milk texturizing: Automatic milk dispenser
Drink options: Cappuccino, cappuccino+, cappuccino mix, coffee, coffee pot, cortado, doppio+, espresso, espresso macchiato, flat white, hot milk, latte macchiato, long, long black, tea, americano, caffe latte
Dimensions: 19 x 10.2 x 15.3 inches/ 48.5 x 26 x 39cm (h x w x d)
Reasons to buy
+Impressive range of drinks
+Reliable performance
+Produces excellent crema
Reasons to avoid
-Expensive compared to the rest of the market
-Takes up a lot of counter space
-Tricky to configure app
The best bean-to-cup coffee machine with a sleek minimal design
Specifications
Water tank capacity:: 0.37 gallon / 1.4 litre
Bean hopper capacity: 5.3 oz / 150g
Milk texturizing: Manual
Drink options: Espresso, americano, ristretto
Dimensions: 17 x 7.01 x 13.22 inch / 43.3 x 18 x 33.6cm (h x w x d)
Reasons to buy
+Sleek design
+Produces smooth coffee with a thick crema
+Built-in steam wand for texturizing milk
Reasons to avoid
-Takes up a lot of countertop space
-Lacks lots of customization options
-Doesn’t have a screen
How we test bean-to-cup coffee machines
When we test coffee machines, there’s more to it than drinking too much coffee and spending the day high on a caffeine buzz. It starts with the setup. We evaluate how easy it is to configure all the settings and get the coffee machine up and running.
Next, we assess its ability to make espresso. This includes noting how quickly it pours the drink and the temperature and amount of liquid dispensed. We’re also looking at the quality of the crema, its thickness, color, and how well it reforms when cut with a spoon. Then, of course, we taste it. Again, we’re looking for a balanced, rich flavor, not excessively bitter, burnt, or weak.
Cappuccino is one of the most popular frothy, milk-based coffees, so this is the drink we make when trying out milk texturizing. For machines with manual steam wands, we steam the milk and evaluate how easily the steam wand creates fine microfoam and whether it’s noisy. If the milk texturizing is fully automatic, we dispense a cappuccino and check the quality of foam as well as the temperature of the milk, giving it a go with both dairy and non-dairy milk.
While using the coffee machine, we’re continually assessing general ease of use and checking what settings are customizable. We also try out different cup sizes to see what can fit under the dispenser, and if it can take two cups, we check to see if it fills both evenly. Finally, we clean it after use, hoping for easy-to-clean parts that aren’t too tricky to disassemble.
How to choose the best bean-to-cup coffee machine for you
What to consider when buying a bean-to-cup coffee machine
Bean-to-cup coffee machines are some of the most expensive home coffee machines you can buy, so if you’re considering investing in one of these pricey appliances, it’s worth getting it right.
First up, work out how hands-on you want to be. For example, if you need milky coffee delivered at the touch of a button while you butter your toast, then you should look for a fully automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine with texturized milk in your cup. But if you fancy playing barista and learning to steam milk and perfect the art of creating a smooth microfoam, then a machine with a manual steam wand is the way to go.
Consider how many different drinks you want to be able to create. All fully automatic bean-to-cup machines can deliver a basic espresso, cappuccino, and latte. Still, if you’re looking for more niche coffee shop favorites like a cortado or macchiato, you’ll need to check what drink options come on the standard menu.
If you’re very particular about things like coffee temperature and size of drink dispensed, it’s worth checking out what customizable settings are available. For example, some machines allow you to fine-tune things like grind size, aroma, strength, and temperature. These settings will enable you to personalize the machine to produce bespoke drinks.
Another critical factor is the size. Due to the additional grinding function, these machines can be bigger than other coffee makers, such as espresso machines. So work out what space you have available on your counter and carefully check the dimensions of each coffee machine. Likewise, they all come equipped with different size water tanks, bean hoppers, and milk carafes, so if you need a big water tank, for example, check the specifications before buying.
What coffee machine does Brad Pitt advertise?
If you've seen a clip on TV of Brad Pitt driving a motorcycle along a stunning-looking coastline, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's a trailer for his latest movie. Instead, however, it's an advert for a coffee machine.
Pitt is now a brand ambassador for Delonghi and, in the advert, can be seen enjoying a cup of coffee brewed using the Delonghi Dinamica Plus bean-to-cup coffee machine, which currently tops this list.
