Choosing an automatic coffee machine for home use is becoming increasingly complex. The range on the market is huge, the technical parameters are often confusing and the differences between brands seem minimal at first glance. In this guide you will find everything you need to know to choose the coffee machine that exactly matches your habits, space, budget and above all the type of coffee beansyou prefer.

1. The most important question: What kind of coffee do you drink?

Before you start comparing technical parameters, answer honestly what realistically ends up in your cup 90% of the time. You should choose an automatic coffee machine based on your exact preferences, because a one-size-fits-all machine is often just a set of compromises.

• Are you a purist? If you drink espresso or lungo exclusively and like to discover the flavour profile of different beans, look for a machine with a quality grinder and precise extraction (like the aforementioned Jura), not a machine with a huge milk container.
• Do you love milk? If a morning without a cappuccino is unimaginable for you, invest in a model with a top-notch frothing system and easy cleaning (e.g. Philips LatteGo or higher De’Longhi ranges), where milk foam is a priority.

Choose a machine that excels at what you love, not one that just does everything “mediocre”.

Do you mainly drink espresso or americano?

If your priority is the pure and uncompromising taste of black coffee – and especially if you like to buy specialty coffee – you need to ignore the “glitz” of dozens of recipes and focus on the technical heart of the machine. The quality of the extraction unit, the precision of the grinder and the uncompromising temperature stability are decisive.

Key features to look for:

• Quality grinding stones: consistent grinding is essential. Look for coffee machines with durable steel or ceramic grinders that “chop” the beans evenly and don’t overheat them through friction.
• Adjustable water temperature: different degrees of roasting require different temperatures. The ability to fine-tune is essential if you want to bring out the coffee’s specific flavour profile and not burn the subtle fruity notes of lighter beans.
• Pre-steam function (pre-infusion): this process moistens the ground coffee before the actual brewing. The coffee “blooms”, CO2 is released and the subsequent extraction is more even and full-bodied.

Ideal models:

• Jura E6 / E8
  These Swiss models excel thanks to the innovative pulse extraction process (P.E.P.®), which optimises the leaching time and guarantees full aroma even with short coffees. They are the ideal choice for discerning coffee drinkers who want to enjoy the full potential of their specialty coffee at home, with a result comparable to a professional café.
• De’Longhi Dinamica / Dinamica Plus
  This range represents the “golden mean”, combining high reliability with precise consistency in every cup prepared. Intuitive controls and a wide range of adjustable beverage options make them a great all-round solution for households where family members’ tastes often differ.
• Philips 5400 LatteGo
  If your priority is maximum convenience and minimum maintenance, this model with the revolutionary LatteGo system is sure to appeal to you. It offers very decent espresso and milk specialities without unnecessary complications, while cleaning the milk system is a matter of seconds under running water.

Do you drink cappuccino, latte or flat white?

If a morning without a cappuccino is unimaginable for you, invest in a model with a top-quality frothing system and easy cleaning. Nothing ruins the taste of your morning coffee like worrying about tediously cleaning up dried milk.

Key features to look for:

• Automatic milk system: Whether carafe or tubing, the goal is dense microfoam.
• Easy maintenance: The coffee maker should be able to clean the milk passages by itself with hot steam or water immediately after preparing the drink.

Ideal models:

• De’Longhi Primadonna
  This model is the king of home cappuccinos thanks to the LatteCrema system, which produces a thick and durable foam at the ideal temperature. A great advantage is the thermal carafe, which you simply detach after preparation and put the whole thing in the fridge, which greatly simplifies storage. It is the ideal choice for families looking for maximum hygiene and “carefree” preparation of dairy specialties.
• Jura S8
  The Swiss-made Jura S8 combines precision espresso with a professional fine micro-foam nozzle to make the perfect café-style Flat White. Control via the large touchscreen is intuitive and visually appealing. We recommend this machine to discerning coffee drinkers who want to get the most taste out of their specialty coffee, even in milky drinks.
• Siemens EQ700
  If you’re looking for a quiet machine for the open kitchen, the Siemens EQ700 is a clear winner thanks to its soundproof grinder. Through the large smartphone-like display, you can easily select not only classics but also international recipes via the CoffeeWorld function. Of course, the milk passages are automatically steam cleaned after every drink, saving you a lot of time in maintenance.

For large families and home offices: when the coffee machine won’t stop

If you have a coffee machine at home that “hums” from morning to night, or if you share it with colleagues in a small home office, you’ll quickly tire of small design pieces. With a high brewing frequency, there’s nothing more annoying than having to top up the water or empty the waste tray before every second coffee. This is where the efficiency and “stamina” of the machine make all the difference.

Key features for high loads:

Generous reservoirs: look for a water reservoir with a capacity of at least 1.8 litres and a bean reservoir that can hold at least 250g-300g of coffee (for example, a whole small packet of specialty coffee at a time). This will save you constantly running to the tap.

Quick heating (Thermoblock): if you have several people in the kitchen in the morning, no one wants to wait minutes for the machine to heat up. Modern thermoblocks are ready for action almost instantly.

Acoustic comfort: if you’re the first one up, you certainly don’t want to wake up the whole house with the sound of grinding coffee beans. Look for models with a soundproof grinder (often referred to as “silent” or “super silent”).

Recommended model:

• De’Longhi Primadonna Soul
  This coffee machine is a real “workhorse” that is built for a heavier workload. Its biggest advantage is the superior bean hopper (up to 500 g), so you don’t have to refill your coffee every morning. It has Bean Adapt technology , which automatically adjusts the grind thickness and water temperature according to the specific type of specialty coffee of your choice, ensuring a consistent taste even when brewing dozens of cups a day.

2. Key parameters.

Many manufacturers quote parameters that are often just marketing ploys with no real impact on the resulting taste. Here is an explanation of what really matters when making a choice.

Grinder: the heart of the coffee machine

The quality of the grind directly affects the taste of your coffee. Experts in the world of specialty coffee, such as James Hoffmann, have long pointed out that the grinder is more important than the coffee machine itself. If the grind is of poor quality, even the best machine won’t make good espresso.

• Steel conical grinder: the most common choice in high quality machines. It is durable, accurate and offers the best price/performance ratio.
• Ceramic grinder: its advantage is quieter operation and the fact that it overheats less when grinding for long periods (common with brands like Philips/Saeco).
• Disc grinder: you’ll find it more in the cheaper models. Often it does not achieve the necessary grind consistency for quality espresso, so we do not recommend it.

Pressure and extraction

In advertisements, you will often come across glowing figures such as “15 bars” or even “19 bars”. But the reality is that for making real espresso, the ideal pressure is around 9 bar. The higher pump pressures in automatic machines only serve to compensate for resistance in the system, not for better extraction.

Instead of chasing bars, focus on extraction technologies:

• Jura P.E.P: Pulse extraction to ensure a fuller taste even with short coffees.
• Siemens iAroma: Intelligent heating and pressure system for a balanced taste.
• De’Longhi LatteCrema: A system optimised for the perfect texture of milky beverages.

Milk system

If you like cappuccino, this point is key. There are three main approaches:

1. Automatic carafe: the most convenient choice. You press a button and the machine does everything for you. Many have an automatic self-cleaning function.
2. LatteGo (Philips): an innovative system without tubing. It consists of only two parts that you rinse under running water in seconds. In terms of hygiene, it’s a clear winner.
3. Steaming nozzle: Requires manual skill to whisk milk in a jug, but is easier to maintain and coffee machines with it are usually cheaper.

Maintenance and cleaning

Neglected maintenance is the most common reason why even quality specialty coffee Taste has a bad taste over time. So keep an eye on these three things when making your choice:

• Removable brewing unit: it is important to be able to remove it and manually rinse it of coffee residue to prevent mould from forming.
• Descaling: How easy is it to start the cleaning cycle?
• Water filters: is the machine compatible with filters (e.g. Brita / AquaClean)? Using filtered water not only improves the taste, but significantly extends the life of the machine.

3. Selection according to kitchen and household size

There’s nothing worse than having your coffee machine take up your entire worktop, or having to refill the water every third coffee. The size of the coffee machine should reflect not only the physical space in your kitchen, but also how many coffees you realistically make each day.

Small kitchens and “single” households

If you struggle for every inch or only drink coffee occasionally, you don’t need a huge machine. Look for models that are narrow (slim designs) and don’t take up line depth.

• Ideal models: Philips 2200/3200, De’Longhi Magnifica S, Nivona 520.
• Verdict: These models are compact, but they can still make a quality drink. The price for the small size is smaller water and waste tanks, but this is not a problem at all for 1-2 coffees a day.

Medium households (2 – 4 persons)

Here we are looking for a “happy medium” – a machine that doesn’t get in the way, but has enough capacity so that you don’t spend all your time at Sunday breakfast operating the machine and refilling the water.

• Ideal models: the Philips 5400 LatteGo, Siemens EQ500, De’Longhi Dinamica Plus, Jura E6.
• Verdict: They offer the best ratio between size and comfort. The water and grain tanks are sized to handle a typical family’s all-day routine without constant refilling.

Demanding households and small offices

If your coffee machine “runs” from morning to night, you need a “heavyweight”. This category is all about efficiency – large tanks mean less downtime.

• Ideal models: Jura S8, De’Longhi Primadonna Soul, Siemens EQ700 Integral.
• Verdict: Machines built for higher loads and top quality. They have large water reservoirs (often over 2 litres) and coffee reservoirs (they can handle larger packs), fast heat-up and a more robust design that can withstand years of heavy use.

4. The most common mistakes when buying and using

Avoid these mistakes, which can cost you unnecessary money and spoil the taste experience, even if you have good quality coffee at home.

Buying a suspiciously cheap model

It doesn’t pay to save in the wrong place. ‘Supermarket stock’ coffee machines often have unstable water temperatures and poor quality grinders that grind rather than crush the beans. The result is coffee that is either under-extracted (unpleasantly acidic) or over-baked (bitter and astringent), no matter what beans you use.

Selection of unsuitable roasting (Light Roast)

This is the most common mistake when switching to specialty coffee. An automatic coffee machine does not include a Light Roast, which is designed for filter coffee. The automatic has a short extraction time, during which it will not have time to extract the sweetness from the light beans, and the result will be extremely acidic.

• Solution: always look for Medium Roast or Full City Roastfor an automatic machine , where the acidity is suppressed and the sweetness and body of the coffee comes through.

Ignoring service costs

An automatic coffee machine is a complex piece of equipment with moving parts that wear out over time. Before you buy, check the availability of authorised service and the price of spare parts for the brand. Cheap ‘no-name’ brands often end up in the bin after the first breakdown because they can’t be repaired, whereas brands such as Jura, De’Longhi or Nivona have years of service support.

Underestimation of noise

If you have a kitchen connected to the living room (open space), a noisy grinder can be very disturbing for other family members in the morning. Ceramic grinders or premium soundproof steel grinders (e.g. in the higher-end Siemens or Jura ranges) are significantly quieter. Do not underestimate the decibel rating in the technical description.

5. Recommended marks for 2025/2026

The coffee machine market is constantly evolving, but some models have held their position for a long time thanks to their reliability and the quality of their output. Based on our long-term tests and feedback from hundreds of customers, we’ve selected the current winners in key categories:

Best value for money: the Philips 5400 LatteGo & De’Longhi Dinamica

In this category we are looking for machines that offer the most music for reasonable money.

• Philips 5400 LatteGo: It wins thanks to its incredibly simple operation and a rich menu of 12 beverages. It’s the perfect choice for a family where everyone drinks something different.
• De’Longhi Dinamica: It offers a more robust design and slightly higher temperature stability for espresso extraction, which you’ll appreciate when roasting darker coffees.

Best espresso: Jura E6 / E8 & Siemens EQ700

If the pure taste of black coffee is your priority and you want to get the most out of your specialty coffee.

• Jura E6 / E8: Thanks to the P.E.P.® (pulse extraction) process, these machines can prepare espresso with body and crema that most closely resembles lever espresso machines.
• Siemens EQ700: It excels thanks to the ceramic grinder and the iAroma system, which maintains a constant temperature and pressure throughout the extraction period, thus enhancing the flavour profile of the beans.

The best cappuccino: De’Longhi Primadonna & Jura S8

For those looking for the perfect texture of milk.

• De’Longhi Primadonna: The LatteCrema system produces a thick, rich foam that holds its shape. Ideal for classic cappuccino and latte macchiato.
• Jura S8: This model is a master at preparing the delicate “microfoam” that is essential for modern beverages like the Flat White. The milk is velvety and blends perfectly with the coffee.

The easiest cleaning: the Philips LatteGo

• Unbeatable winner: If you hate cleaning tubing and disassembling complicated systems, the LatteGo system is second to none. The carafe consists of just two plastic parts without any hidden tubing. Just rinse them under running water – done in 15 seconds.

6. Bonus: What coffee to use in an automatic coffee machine?

Even the most expensive coffee machine won’t make a good espresso from the wrong ingredients. At Goriffee we have several profiles that are perfect for machines. The coffees with lower acidity and full body are the most popular with our customers for their machines.

For slot machine owners we recommend in particular:

• Brazil Caramelo Natural
  • Roasting: Medium Roast
  • Profile: Chocolate, nuts, low acidity. It’s our “must have” for anyone who wants a sweet and balanced espresso.
• Highlander Espresso Blend
  • Roasting: Full City Roast
  • Profile: pronounced body, bittersweet taste, thick crema. Ideal for those who like a stronger coffee.

If you want to make sure you never run out of coffee, check out our convenient coffee bundles espresso packages we’ve put together especially for regular coffee drinkers. Don’t forget regular maintenance and cleaning productsto keep your machine in tip-top shape.