Espresso, Cold Brew and Bean to Cup: finding the best coffee machine for you

Choosing a new coffee maker is a personalised experience for coffee drinkers. What the best coffee machine for your needs looks like will depend on your preferred brewing style and favourite drink.

With choices ranging from drip coffee makers to bean to cup machines, exploring each option can guide you to the perfect machine for your home. 

In this guide, we’ll provide a deep dive into the most popular types of coffee makers on the market. From capsule coffee machines to cold brew, you can find the best choice for you. 

What types of coffee machines are there? 

Making coffee shop-style drinks in the comfort of your home is a huge draw for coffee lovers. Picking the best coffee machine for home use can transform your ability to make high-quality speciality drinks at home.

If you’re switching from a manual coffee maker, these machines bring the barista experience home, making it easy to brew like a pro. Here are some popular coffee machines to consider for your home:

• Espresso machine: An espresso machine uses pressure to extract an espresso shot from a pre-ground serving of coffee. These machines use pistons, steam or pumps to create the pressure needed to produce a rich, concentrated flavour for true espresso lovers.
• Bean to cup coffee machine: A bean to cup coffee machine simplifies making speciality coffee drinks from start to finish. With built-in grinders, these machines freshly grind the exact amount of coffee needed for each cup, ensuring maximum flavour and freshness. Perfect for coffee lovers who enjoy a variety of drinks without the hassle. 
• Capsule coffee machine: These machines make coffee from single-serve pods or capsules, offering consistent quality with every cup. By piercing the pod, these machines use high-pressure and hot water to quickly create fresh coffee. This makes them convenient for coffee lovers who value ease and efficiency. 
• Drip coffee machine: Drip coffee makers filter hot water through coffee grounds to automate the pour-over brewing style. This process slowly saturates the coffee, creating a mild, smooth brew that’s perfect for those who enjoy a balanced flavour. 
• Percolator coffee machine: These machines circulate almost-boiling water through coffee grounds to create a bold, strong flavour. Extraction works through gravity, with grounds placed in a metal basket through which the boiling water flows. 
• Cold brew coffee machine: Cold brew coffee machines are perfect for creating smooth, low-acid iced coffee drinks. They work by steeping pre-ground coffee in cool water, extracting the flavour without the bitterness or dilution often found in hot-brewed iced coffee. Some models even remove the usual 8-24 hour waiting period, so you can enjoy cold brew faster. 
• Semi-Automatic coffee machine: Semi-automatic coffee machines are perfect for creating café-quality espresso at home with more control. They let you grind, dose, and tamp the coffee, while the machine manages water pressure and extraction for a rich, balanced espresso. Many models include steam wands for easily making lattes and cappuccinos. These machines offer the ideal mix of hands-on brewing and convenience, appealing to coffee enthusiasts.

Ready to dive deeper? Let’s look at a few of these coffee makers in more detail.

What is an espresso machine?

Espresso machines push hot water through tightly packed coffee grounds, called ‘pucks’, to create a single shot of espresso. They use high heat and pressure to force water through the coffee grounds, creating a rich, concentrated shot.

The best ground coffee espresso machines achieve nine bars of pressure and have a consistent water temperature. Generally, this will sit below boiling at around 93 °C for a perfect extraction. While some only make coffee, others include a built-in steam wand for frothing milk to make barista-style lattes, cappuccinos, and more.

If you love drinking espresso, these machines are a great way to recreate a barista classic at home. Some models let you pull double shots or ristrettos for added variety.

What is a drip coffee maker? 

If you’re looking for the best small coffee machine, drip coffee makers are a compact, consistent choice for home use. Drip coffee makers heat cold water in a tube and then evenly drip it over ground coffee, allowing it to slowly brew into a cup of balanced, smooth coffee.

Unlike espresso, which uses high pressure, drip coffee relies on gravity to extract a gentler, milder flavour.

As the pressure is lower, a coarser grind size is necessary. This allows for manual coffee grinding, as opposed to the fine grounds needed for espresso.

Some drip coffee makers come with a heated drip tray to avoid the coffee cooling as it comes into contact with the glass or thermal jug.  

What is a cold brew coffee maker? 

Cold brew coffee makers are ideal for summer, creating smooth, low-temperature coffee perfect for iced recipes or drinking as-is. Unlike other machines, these don’t use pressure to brew coffee. Instead, you’ll leave the grounds in water for an extended period, allowing a slow, flavourful extraction.

Cold brew coffee makers are amongst the best home coffee machines for creating cold drinks. Using a fine to medium grind, they extract a strong, concentrated flavour due to the extended contact time with the coffee grounds.

Generally, specialised cold brew coffee makers do not come with milk wands or built-in grinders. They focus solely on cold brew extraction without the need for frothing or grinding.

Remember that an iced coffee and cold brew aren’t the same as a cold brew, which is naturally less acidic and more concentrated. But you can use cold brew as the base for a refreshing iced coffee.

What is a bean to cup coffee machine? 

Bean to cup coffee machines offer a fresh, efficient way to enjoy barista-style coffee at home. As the name suggests, these machines handle every step, from grinding fresh beans to brewing. Just load the beans, choose your coffee type, and, if desired, froth milk for lattes or cappuccinos. 
 
Bean to cup coffee machines are the best coffee machines with grinders, as they’re able to measure the correct grind size and volume per coffee. This reduces waste and maximises freshness in each brew. Also, since they use whole beans, you won’t need to buy pre-ground coffee. 
 
As a fully automated process, these machines ensure a consistent, high-quality cup every time. Our Philips 5500 LatteGo machine offers 20 barista-style speciality coffees, making it a smart choice for coffee lovers who like to switch things up from day to day.

How to pick the right coffee maker 

Brewing coffee is a journey to discovering your favourite drink and creating the ideal conditions for each cup. With the right coffee machine, you’ll enjoy delicious results every day.

To find your perfect coffee maker, consider these key factors:

• Coffee type: Think about your go-to coffee, whether it’s a long latte or a quick espresso shot 
• Features: Consider the features you’ll need, such as a milk wand for frothing or an easy-clean function 
• Counter space: Measure your counter space to ensure the coffee maker fits comfortably in your kitchen 
• Number of users: If it’s going to be used by multiple coffee drinkers, consider a machine with customisable drink profiles. 
• Noise levels: Consider noise levels and whether the machine needs to have a quieter operation mode 
• Ease of use: For a streamlined coffee experience, look for a machine that makes coffee at the touch of a button 
• Aesthetics: While function is important,  buying a coffee machine that fits your home’s style will ensure it enjoys pride of place on your counter 

Once you’ve made a list of your requirements, you’ll have a clearer idea of what matters most when choosing your ideal coffee machine. 
 
Now you’re familiar with the most popular coffee machines on the market, you can start mastering the art of making the perfect coffee at home. Our coffee guides are here to talk you through the process, from bean storage to choosing the right cup for your coffee. 
 
 
Curious how much you're really spending on takeaway coffee? Take the quick quiz on our Philips CoffeeHack website to find out. Based on your habits, you'll get a personalized coffee machine recommendation that fits your lifestyle. Enjoy café-quality drinks at home with more convenience, better taste—and yes, long-term savings with Philips.