Best bean-to-cup coffee machines to buy 2025, tried and tested by experts

The technology behind this type of offering means these machines are usually large and pricey. But don’t be intimidated. We’ve broken down the differences between bean-to-cup machines versus espresso machines. We walk you through what to look for and share our tried-and-tested top picks of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines below.

For more coffee reviews, check out our full guide to the best coffee machines featuring picks of the best espresso machines and the best coffee pod machines. For a little inspiration, discover the best coffee subscriptions and the best gifts for coffee lovers. Make your own homemade coffee syrup using our step-by-step recipe and discover more advice and buyer’s guides on everything from the top British gins and best English vineyard breaks to Gozney vs Ooni pizza ovens and best small air fryers in our reviews section.

Jump to:

• Best bean-to-cup coffee machines at a glance
• How to choose the best bean-to-cup coffee machine
• Best bean-to-cup coffee machines to buy in 2025
• What's the difference between bean-to-cup coffee machines and espresso machines?
• What to look for
• How we tested bean-to-cup coffee machines

Best bean-to-cup coffee machines at a glance

• Best Sage bean-to-cup coffee machine: Sage the Barista Touch Impress with cold extraction, £1,199.95
• Best semi-automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine: Ninja Luxe Café Pro Series, £699.99
• Best everyday bean-to-cup coffee machine: De'Longhi La Specialista Touch, £699.99
• Best bean-to-cup coffee machine for iced coffee: Sage the Oracle Jet, £1,699.95
• Best fully automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine: KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine KF8, £1,899
• Best bean-to-cup coffee machine for cold brew: De'Longhi Eletta Explore, £999
• Best bean-to-cup coffee machine for versatility: Jura Z10, £2,327.50
• Best mid-range bean-to-cup coffee machine: De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro, £1,000
• Best blowout bean-to-cup espresso machine: Sage the Oracle Touch, £2,099.95
• Best bean-to-cup coffee machine under £1,000: Smeg BCC13 bean to cup coffee machine,£799.95
• Best sleek bean-to-cup coffee machine: KitchenAid semi-automatic espresso machine with burr grinder, £699

Best bean-to-cup coffee machines to buy in 2025

Sage the Barista Touch Impress with cold extraction

• Available from Sage (£1,199.95), Amazon (£1,199.95)

Best Sage bean-to-cup coffee machine

Star rating: 5/5

Many bean-to-cup coffee machines choose between customisation and convenience, often opting for one over the other with manual or automated settings. This offering from Sage is the ultimate combination of both, with a host of automatic settings plus the option to do things more manually if you wish. This makes it a great coffee machine for a household with mixed coffee-brewing abilities, especially as you can save your favourites on different profiles.

The touchscreen helps you navigate dialling in the machine (the adjustments you make to get the best flavour from your coffee beans) by recommending different grind sizes. It also lets you choose from the drinks menu with ease, from an espresso to cold brew and even an espresso martini.

Available from:
Sage (£1,199.95)
Amazon (£1,199.95)

Ninja Luxe Café Pro Series

• Available from Amazon (£699), Ninja Kitchen (£699.99)

Best semi-automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine

Star rating: 5/5

If you're looking for a bean-to-cup coffee machine offering a wide range of drinks without a four-figure price tag, this model from Ninja could be a great option. It has a sleek design which makes it look good on the countertop, although it's got a pretty chunky footprint. What impressed us most about this machine was its ability to produce the whole coffee shop menu, from cappuccinos to cold brew and even filter coffee.

The automatic steaming wand paired with the whisk inside the jug means you're able to achieve the perfect milk texture every time, which makes creating foamy cappuccinos and silky flat whites a breeze. This is a brilliant machine if you have lots of people in your home with different coffee orders, or you like to change it up a lot but don't want to fiddle around with too many manual elements.

Available from:
Amazon (£699)
Ninja Kitchen (£699.99)

De'longhi La Specialista Touch

• Available from De'longhi (£699.99), Amazon (£699.99), Harrods (£699)

Best everyday bean-to-cup coffee machine

Star rating: 5/5

If you're looking for a premium coffee machine for under £750, this is one of the best options out there. On test we were blown away by this machine – it's sleek and elegant, user-friendly thanks to the touchscreen, has the most compact footprint of any of De'longhi's bean-to-cup models, and produces beautiful coffee.

Whether you're a beginner or you know your way around a coffee machine, you'll find the set-up straightforward. The machine comes with a host of accessories, including a dosing funnel that makes loading the coffee grounds a neat and easy operation. After just five minutes of dialling in our coffee beans we were pulling excellent espresso with a rich flavour and glossy crema.

Sage the Oracle Jet

Best bean-to-cup coffee machine for iced coffee

Star rating: 5/5

Sage's latest release, the Oracle Jet, is quite simply a joy to use. It's the brand's most high-spec coffee machine to date with endless impressive features and a swish design that would dazzle in any kitchen. The new features, based on consumer feedback and new technology, include lights that illuminate the drip tray, Wifi connectivity for software updates and cold-brewing technology for making iced drinks.

This model is more compact than others in Sage's Oracle range and has a lever that pops the wheels out of the base of the machine, making it easy to move around. The coffee itself is delicious, as we've come to expect from the brand, with automatic features that make brewing the perfect drink a little easier, like a grind size which adjusts automatically.

KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine KF8

Best fully automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine

Star rating: 5/5

There's no getting around that, with an RRP of just under £2,000, this coffee machine is an investment. But for your money you get a machine packed with technology which allows full automation — the experience is similar to ordering a coffee at your local coffee shop, but you don't have to change out of your pyjamas.

Out of the box the machine looks modern, if a little boxy, and you'll certainly need a large amount of counter space to accommodate it. But once unboxed, all you need to do is add water to the tank, add beans (or grounds) to the hopper, and select your chosen coffee from the 12 on offer. The machine does all the hard work, from choosing the grind size to grinding the beans, tamping and extracting.

This machine would be a good option if you've got a large budget and you care more about drinking a good coffee than making it. If you have a lot of coffee drinkers in your home, it would be perfect as each can set up a profile.

De'Longhi Eletta Explore

Best bean-to-cup coffee machine for cold brew

Star rating: 5/5

While many bean-to-cup machines have options for iced drinks, this De'Longhi machine stands out from the crowd with its cold brew technology. On test, our cold brew cappuccinos were creamy with a strong flavour, and perfectly refreshing on a hot day. The digital display is sleek and communicates each step, like reminding you to add ice cubes before brewing, which makes this machine a breeze to use.

The Eletta Explore isn't just for iced coffee, though — the accomplished machine also produced a rich, dark espresso with silky crema and just the right level of acidity. There are settings to adjust the temperature and grind depending on your preference, and if you live in a large household you can set name profiles for each regular user of the machine with their favourites.

With a large footprint this will be best suited to kitchens with abundant countertop space. We were slightly disappointed by the packaging, which was largely unrecyclable plastic, but the machine does come with advice on how to clean and prolong the life of the machine which improved its sustainability credentials. Read our full De'Longhi Eletta Explore bean-to-cup coffee machine review.

Jura Z10

Best bean-to-cup coffee machine for versatility

Star rating: 5/5

With 32 drink specialities the Jura Z10 is versatile enough to suit your every coffee mood, plus you can adjust the brew time and strength of your drink depending on your preference. The machine may have more options than your local coffee shop, but you don't need a barista's skill set to make the most of it. When making a cappuccino, for example, you simply need to fill the jug with your milk of choice, put in the steam wand and select how long you want to froth the milk for – then it does all the hard work for you.

Enjoy chilled coffee in the summer months? This machine has a cold brew element that sets it apart from many bean-to-cup coffee machines. It produced an iced cappuccino which was creamy and packed with flavour. It does the basics well too, making a classic espresso which was dark in colour with well-balanced acidity and a thick crema. Read the full Jura Z10 coffee machine review.

De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro

Best mid-range bean-to-cup coffee machine

Star rating: 5/5

This De’Longhi is incredibly suave, designed with elegance and countertop storage in mind. It packs 19-bars of pressure into its stainless steel outer.

The coffee grinding is all done automatically depending on the filter basket you load and it also offers 'smart tamping' to help you achieve even compression of the grounds. A real stand-out was its pre-infusion capabilities, which varies depending on the coffee function selected and density of its coffee dose. The result was a short and darkly moreish coffee shot adorned with flavourful crema. Read our full De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro review.

Sage the Oracle Touch

Best blowout bean-to-cup espresso machine

Star rating: 5/5

This Sage is a premium example of a manual bean-to-cup coffee machine which combines automated pre-sets with sophisticated personalisation features. There are 11 total pre-sets on offer, plus the option to save your own tailored coffee presets for ease. Depending on the filter basket you’ve loaded, this machine automatically grinds and doses the coffee.

The grind and dose of coffee are adjustable per drink, as is milk froth temperature and level. A stainless-steel jug is provided for this. While it is an investment price, this machine fulfils the fundamental requirements of producing a great cup every time, while giving you room to personalise the coffee. Read our full Sage Oracle Touch espresso machine review.

Smeg BCC13 bean to cup coffee machine

Best bean-to-cup coffee machine under £1,000

Star rating: 4.5/5

The modern style, pastel colours and brushed stainless steel finish make this coffee machine strikingly attractive. Once it was set up in our kitchen we were struck by how much smaller it is compared to many other models we have tested, with a compact footprint and height. Don't be fooled by its small stature, however – it still packs a punch.

It pulled a really high-quality espresso with a rich, well-balanced flavour. It offers automatic milk frothing rather than a steaming wand, which means a slightly thinner microfoam texture than we usually look for, plus no opportunity to practise your latte art.

If you're looking for a mid-range bean-to-cup machine with automated elements you'd be hard pressed to find a better option.

KitchenAid semi-automatic espresso machine with burr grinder

• Available from Harts of Stur (£629.95), KitchenAid (£699)

Best sleek bean-to-cup coffee machine

Star rating: 4/5

If you're looking for a combination of manual and automatic elements this bean-to-cup machine from KitchenAid could be a good option. There are some user-friendly elements to this machine which we really loved on test — the removable bean hopper makes it easy to switch out your coffee beans and try different roasts. There's also a storage compartment in the base of the machine to keep accessories like extra portafilter baskets. Plus, the portafilter doesn't have spouts on the bottom which gives you a flat surface for tamping.

While we felt that the interface and the buttons on the machine weren't as clear as they could have been, once we'd got our head around them we were able to produce a rich and dark espresso with beautifully frothed milk.

How to choose the best bean-to-cup espresso machine

Within the bean-to-cup world there are a couple of machine types, but all share the fundamental element of having a bean compartment and grinder.

Top tip: store your coffee beans in an airtight container and only top up the hopper with what you need. This will keep the beans' flavour fresher and give you better flexibility over switching up the beans.

• Bean-to-cup espresso machines: these focus on producing espresso; short shots of intense coffee brewed under pressure. This forms the fundamental element to many coffee house classics.
• Bean-to-cup coffee machines: in addition to making espresso, these could include filter systems for making drip coffee and can come with glass carafes, measuring coffee in cups rather than single and double espressos.
• Manual bean-to-cup: this type combines automation with a hands-on experience, leaving the fun bits for you to do. For example, loading and locking the portafilter and frothing the milk.
• Automatic bean-to-cup: quite simply, once you've selected the drink you want, the machine does the rest.

What’s the difference between bean-to-cup coffee machines and espresso machines?

Traditional semi-automatic espresso machines encourage the building of basic barista skills and require a more hands-on approach to loading portafilters and using pre-ground coffee.

In contrast, the best bean-to-cup coffee machines are fully automated, freshly grinding whole beans to bring you a cup of coffee at the touch of a button, with opportunities to personalise elements of the drink. The outlay cost with a bean-to-cup machine will be higher but balanced by the time and effort saved to achieve a reliable cup every time.

There are some bean-to-cup models which allow for high levels of versatility and customisation. Many will let you choose your grind size, temperature and more, and we've seen a trend in models which allow you to save your preferences, so you can have your coffee exactly as you like it but at the touch of a button.

What to look for from a bean-to-cup coffee machine

Adjustable grind level: the grind size of coffee affects the coffee’s flavour and intensity, so can be changed to best suit the type you like best. For example, espressos fare best with finely ground coffee, whereas filter coffee requires a medium-coarse grind.

Duo-drip trays: this not only means that cups and mugs of different sizes can be accommodated, but that traditional espresso cups are supported to catch the liquid without splashes; therefore protecting the important crema layer.

Milk frother: not all bean-to-cup coffee machines offer an integrated milk frother system, so if you like milky coffee classics best, look out for automatic frother systems or a milk steamer wand. If you want to get a separate one, we've tried and tested the best milk frothers here.

Ground coffee option: if you run out of whole beans but have a bag of ground coffee to hand, having ground-coffee adaptability comes in very handy.

Efficient grinders: whether ceramic or burr, bean grinders should be quick and efficient, so even when they're loud, the noise is short-lived. Looking for a separate grinder to get the best results for your beans? Try our tried and tested coffee grinders.

Intuitive interface: when there are so many elements of an espresso to adjust, simple functions and settings should be easy to navigate and keep experimenting fun.

Programmable drink options: once you’ve found the perfect combination of grind-size, brew temperature and aroma intensity for your taste, it’s great to be able to save presets so your favourite coffee can be returned to easily.

Dual bean compartments: some machines offer containers for different bean intensities to be kept. Usually it's for dark and light roast beans, but if you’ve a family member who only drinks decaf, one space can be utilised for those.

How we tested bean-to-cup coffee machines

All the bean-to-cup coffee machines featured in this review were the best performing appliances from a longlist. All were tested in controlled conditions using whole roasted Columbian coffee beans, and scored out of five against standardised criteria, including:

Performance: the flavour, aroma and temperature of the coffee needed to be enjoyable, so every coffee and espresso function was tested to assess this. Bitterness, acidity or weakness were scored down.

Value for money: performance and versatility play into this one. These appliances may be one of the largest investments you make for your kitchen, so the price must feel right.

Ease of use: all were scored from unboxing, so they had to be simple to unpack with easy-to-follow instructions. When the variety of settings is so broad, intuitive controls make the experience fun. Everything from milk-wand range of motion to adjustable drip trays and access for refilling the water tank and bean hoppers were considered.

Convenience: it's one of the biggest selling points for buying a bean-to-cup espresso machine, so excessive complication affected scoring.

Quantity of materials: flimsy build materials don’t warrant a high price tag and make things difficult to clean. They also affect the longevity of an appliance’s life.

Design and aesthetic for keeping on the countertop: bean-to-cup machines are generally very deep and broad, so a good design plays into this.

The average scores out of five decided each product’s overall star rating. The additional criteria played into our decision making.

• Variety of functions
• Kitchen footprint
• Ease of cleaning
• Advanced features
• Packaging

All costs-to-run calculations were done against the variable tariff at the time of testing (16.6p/kWh), which may have since changed – read more on the current energy price guarantee rates.

Want to learn more about becoming an expert at-home barista? Read our guides here:

• Celeste Wong's guide to becoming an overnight coffee expert
• Celeste Wong's guide on how to make iced coffee
• Celeste Wong's guide on sustainable coffee
• Celeste Wong's best moka pots
• Celeste Wong's best coffee grinders
• Celeste Wong's best gooseneck kettles to try
• Celeste Wong's best decaf coffee to try
• Celeste Wong's best reusable and compostable espresso pods
• Celeste Wong's best coffee beans to try
• Celeste Wong's best cafetières to buy
• Celeste Wong's best coffee bags
• Best Sage coffee machines
• Sage coffee machine deals
• Best coffee pod machines
• Best espresso machines
• Best filter coffee machines
• Best coffee scales
• How to store coffee
• How to order coffee
• How to use up coffee grounds
• How to read a coffee label
• How to taste coffee
• Home coffee bar ideas

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