From Nespresso pods to drip filters, there’s no shortage of ways to make a great cup of coffee at home, but if you want the freshest brew possible then bean-to-cup is easily the best one to go with. Making use of the full flavour of coffee beans by grinding them right there and then, bean-to-cup machines are a dream come true for coffee afficianados.
It’s worth mentioning right off the bat that compared to other types of coffee machines, bean-to-cup tends to fall on the pricier side for the privelege of drinkng freshly ground coffee. If you’re happy to fork out the extra bit of cash however (and once you’ve tasted that coffee – who can blame you?) then we’re here to help match you with the machine that’s right for you. There’s a near overwhelming amount of choice out there, but we’ve picked our top buys across several different categories so that you can spend less time shopping and more time enjoying a well-earned brew.
Best overall: Melitta Barista TS Smart Coffee Machine
Best value: Melitta Avanza Series 600
Best for large groups: Melitta AromaFresh Grind and Brew
Best for espresso: Beko Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine
Best design: Smeg Retro Bean-to-Cup
Melitta Barista TS Smart Coffee Machine
Best overall:
Buy now
Forget being a great bean-to-cup machine, the Melitta Barista TS Smart is close to being our favourite coffee machine to date. This thing can brew almost anything from espresso to lattes and even cappucinos, plus with the ability to set up 10 user profiles, the machine can remember exactly how you like your coffee and make it to that specification instantly. Throw in the fact that it has two different compartments for grinding beans, so you can jump between the variety that suits a particular drink best, and it’s hard to imagine ever going back to a cafe.
Pros
Up to 10 user profiles for storing recipes
Makes a lot more than just espressos
Two compartments for storing different beans
Cons
One of the priciest coffee machines out there
Melitta Avanza Series 600
Best value
Buy now
If you’re after a decent bean-to-cup machine that isn’t too high on price but still manages to nab you a built-in milk frother for your money, then trust us when we say that you won’t find a better option than the Melitta Avanza Series 600 (we’ve looked). It might not have all the features of more expensive machines, but when it comes to making delicious coffee at home, the Avanza Series 600 hits it out of the park.
Pros
Excellent value
Can pour two espressos at a time
Built-in milk frother
Cons
No settings to tweak the milk frother
Melitta AromaFresh Grind and Brew
Best for large groups
Buy now
As great as bean-to-cup espresso machines can be, they aren’t exactly practical if you have several coffee drinkers to cater to, but luckily Melitta has developed a bean-to-cup drip filter machine that lets you serve multiple cups of coffee at a time without breaking a sweat. There’s even a timer function so that the machine can have your coffee ready for you as soon as you get out of bed in the morning.
Pros
Makes up to 10 cups at a time
Easy clean up with filters
Built-in timer for automatic brewing
Cons
No milk frother for tall coffees
Beko Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine
Best for espresso
Buy now
Having a boatload of extra features can be fun, but if all you need is a powerful shot of espresso to keep you going then it doesn’t make a lot of sense to splash out for anything more than that. With just a single nozzle and no milk frother in sight, the Beko Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine is obsessed with just making espressos, with 19 bar pressure to extract as much flavour as possible from your chosen coffee beans.
Pros
Very easy to use
Pours powerful espressos
Sleek design
Cons
It’s really just for espresso fans
Smeg Retro Bean-to-Cup
Best design
Buy now
Smeg knows how to make an eye-pleasing appliance, and the company’s Retro Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine is no different. Colourfully blending stainless steel with a bright red exterior, Smeg’s coffee machine commands your attention like no other appliance, but it also makes a fine coffee too. There’s even a built-in milk frother for creating barista-style coffees.
Pros
Impressive retro style
Built-in milk frother
Great for espressos
Cons
Very expensive
Which bean-to-cup machine is your favourite? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter @Recombu
