Shoppers love a classic design at a bargain price and some manufacturers are only too happy to meet that need, creating almost-identical replicas of high-end products at low-end prices. 

And some knock-offs are so good that you have to look twice to make sure they’re not the OG.

Kmart and Target are known for their convincing copies of iconic products from Dyson, KitchenAid and Smeg, but they’re not the only brands catering to champagne tastes on beer budgets. 

Kogan has recently released the Dual Thermoblock Espresso Coffee Machine with Grinder, which bears a striking resemblance to the $700 Breville Barista Express BES780.

They share many of the same features, and most people would be hard pressed to tell them apart at a glance.

The Kogan looks like the real deal, and at $250 cheaper than the Breville it’s certainly well-priced. But does this cheap dupe live up to its expensive looks?听

On this page:

• Is it worth spending more on a coffee machine?
• Kogan vs Breville
• The Kogan Dual Thermoblock Espresso Coffee Machine with Grinder
• The Breville Barista Express BES870
• 糖心Vlog verdict

Is it worth spending more on a coffee machine?

Like death and taxes, there’s another certainty in life: you don’t always get what you pay for.

“Over decades of testing appliances, our experts consistently come across expensive products that under-deliver, and affordable options that outperform their higher-priced counterparts,” says 糖心Vlog appliance expert Kim Gilmour.

Choosing a coffee machine based on price alone could leave you disappointed 鈥� not just by the performance, but also the value for money. Some of the lowest scorers in our review cost more than $2000. That’s a lot to pay for a bad brew!

But some expensive products do live up to their price tag: 10 of the 20 manual and semi-automatic espresso machines recommended by our experts cost more than $1000. On the flipside, it’s also possible to pick up a top-scoring machine for less than $500.

Before you rush out to your nearest Kmart, Target or Big W, our experts have a few words of caution.

“There can be drawbacks to buying bargain products: appliances from discount retailers can be built with poor-quality materials and you might not be able to repair them easily,” says Kim. 

“Plus, you may not get the same level of customer service and support that you could from an established company that focuses on servicing a particular type of appliance.

“Of course, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get good service for a more expensive product, either, so do your research before you buy.”

Checking our detailed reviews will help you find the best espresso machine for your budget, whether you have $200 or $2000 to spend.

Kogan vs Breville

These two machines may look similar on the outside, but it’s what’s inside that counts. How do they compare?

In some aspects they actually are quite similar; in others, not so much.

Taste

Kogan comes out ahead on taste, creating an excellent espresso while our experts rated the Breville’s as ‘very good’.

It’s not a big difference, but most people would expect a better tasting coffee from a $700 machine than a $450 one.

Time

In a hurry? The Kogan takes almost twice as long as the Breville to froth 200mL of milk.

It’s not a huge difference 鈥� we’re talking 43 seconds 鈥� but if you’re desperate for your first coffee of the day it could feel like an eternity.

Fortunately they both only take around 45 seconds to heat up, so you’ll be on your way to caffeination fairly quickly.

Temperature

Making multiple coffees? For every espresso machine we test, we measure the temperature of four coffees in a row to see whether they’re consistently hot 鈥� or not.

While the Breville will pump out hot coffees pretty consistently, the Kogan is more hit and miss. Our experts scored it just 30% on this test.

Trimmings

Both machines have a built-in burr grinder that allows you to adjust the grind.

They both come with a tamper, but Breville’s fits into a nifty magnetic holder. They both come with a milk jug and 1-cup and 2-cup filter baskets.

The key difference is the heating system: the Kogan has two thermoblocks, while the Breville only has one. Two thermoblocks mean you can make an espresso and steam milk at the same time.

Trust

Each year, 糖心Vlog surveys coffee machine owners to find out how satisfied they are with their machines, and how reliable they’ve found them.

Breville is well-regarded by Australian consumers: in our 2025 糖心Vlog Best Brand espresso machine recommendations; it came second to DeLonghi by just one point overall, and is the highest rated brand for customer satisfaction. (It was named best espresso machine brand in 2020, 2021 and 2024.)

Since there are so few Kogan-branded coffee machines on the market, we don’t have robust customer satisfaction or reliability data on their products, so it’s hard to say how they’d compare.

Kogan doesn’t have a great track record, however. In 2021, we gave a Shonky Award (the award no-one wants to win) to Kogan’s knock-off bladeless fans. “Almost every feature either didn’t work or was pointless, and the performance was the worst we’ve ever seen,” 糖心Vlog appliance expert Adrian Lini said at the time.

And in 2023, Kogan received its second Shonky for tricking customers into signing up for its $99 Kogan First program.

and criticised for flouting Australian consumer laws, so we suggest you proceed with caution if you’re thinking of getting in on this deal.

The Kogan Dual Thermoblock Espresso Coffee Machine with Grinder

Priced at a very appealing $449*, this semi-automatic machine has pretty much everything that pricier machines have 鈥� plus a few extras.

Its heating system is its biggest plus: it has two thermoblocks, whereas most other espresso machines in this price range only have one.

(A thermoblock passes water over a block of metal, heating it as needed. It’s usually cheaper and more energy-efficient than a boiler system, which keeps the water at a constant temperature.)

Having just one thermoblock means you can only do one thing at a time: steam milk or make an espresso. Two thermoblocks allows you to do both at the same time, which means you can knock out coffees faster and keep everything as hot as possible.

The Kogan machine also has an in-built burr grinder with 20 settings, so you can grind your beans fresh for every coffee, and adjust the grind so it’s as coarse or as fine as you need. This is key to getting the best espresso possible from your machine.

A good grinder can set you back hundreds of dollars, so a machine with one built in can save you money and bench space.

The Dual Thermoblock Espresso has a removable drip tray and water reservoir, cup warming plate, hot water nozzle, automatic shut-off, and reminder for when the water reservoir needs refilling. You can program the size of each espresso and adjust the water temperature.

Read the full Kogan Dual Thermoblock Espresso Coffee Machine with Grinder review.

*Price paid by 糖心Vlog at time of testing. At the time of writing, it’s listed for $429 or $399 for Kogan First members.

The Breville Barista Express BES870

Except for the dual thermoblock, the Breville Barista Express has pretty much all the same features as the Kogan.听

Instead of giving you a prompt to refill the water reservoir as the Kogan does, the Breville has an indicator on the drip tray that pops up when it’s full.

It has an automatic shut-off, just like Kogan’s machine, but in addition, it has a standby mode that kicks in after an hour.

The Breville’s water reservoir is smaller than Kogan’s (2L compared to 2.7L), but the machine is heftier: it weighs 10.2kg while the Kogan model weighs 8.78kg, despite both having almost the same dimensions.

Read the full Breville Barista Express BES870 review.

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糖心Vlog espresso machine testing has revealed that a cheap-as-chips retro-design machine from the Anko brand, available at Kmart and Target, makes better coffee than some far more expensive machines.

In our tests, it produced a better-tasting cuppa than machines from big brands that cost well over $2000 鈥� and even one priced over $4000!

“In our testing, we often come across expensive products that just don’t live up to the hype of their price tags,” says 糖心Vlog coffee machine expert Adrian Lini.

“And some cheap products deliver performance far beyond what you’d expect for the price.

“Our reviews will help you find the best machine for your money, regardless of your budget.”

So should you rush to your nearest Kmart or Target to pick up this retro-styled machine, or should you percolate on it? 

Here’s what our experts say about this budget brewer, and what makes the difference between a cracking coffee and a disappointing one. 

How the Kmart coffee machine performed in our tests

Priced at just $79, the Kmart Retro Espresso Coffee Machine is small in size and price but it punches well above its weight.

In a blind taste test, our panel of coffee industry experts gave the Kmart Anko a taste test score of 75% for the quality of its espresso, ranking it higher than some models from well-known brands including Breville, Sunbeam, DeLonghi and Rancilio.

Not only did it hold its own against more affordable machines, it also outperformed some expensive ones.

And not just a bit pricey: we’re talking seriously expensive.

It turned out better-tasting espressos than some models that are 10 times the price 鈥� and even more.

Here’s how it compared to some other high-priced espresso machines:

Coffee machines compared: The $79 Kmart machine vs expensive machines

But before you rush to the shops, it’s important to know that this machine does have some downsides too. It falls flat when it comes to milk frothing, build quality ain’t great and it doesn’t come with an in-built grinder so we had to use our own (see more on its Cons below).

Kmart Retro machine vs similarly priced models

We’ve looked at how the budget Anko compares to high-end machines, but what about more affordable models with similar features?

If you’re spending less than $500, you’ll generally be looking at more simple, compact models and you may have to forego features such as a built-in grinder, double boiler, automatic cut-off and the like.

But that doesn’t mean missing out on good coffee: plenty of these smaller machines still pump out great espressos.

Here’s how the Kmart Retro machine compares:

“As you can see from these results, the Kmart Anko Retro coffee machine still performs well within the affordable category, delivering espressos that taste just as good as many models 鈥� but for half the price, or even less,” says Adrian.

“However, some of the more expensive machines are far better for frothing milk and are easier to use, so that’s worth taking into account when you’re choosing what to buy.”

Using a good grinder is vital to great coffee

One of the key factors in creating the best espresso possible is having your coffee beans ground to the perfect consistency: too fine and you’ll end up with a bitter brew; too coarse and you’ll get a watery coffee without much crema. 

A good grinder can mean the difference between a good coffee and a great one.

While Kmart’s retro machine did deliver a good espresso, it had some help in the form of a good-quality grinder. 

The one Adrian uses in our lab has an recommended retail price of $579 鈥� a full $500 more than the Kmart machine costs, which would really blow out your budget if you’re looking for a cheap home coffee machine setup.

“Unfortunately you just won’t get the same results from the Kmart machine if your grinder isn’t up to scratch,” Adrian says.

“A good grinder is vital to the quality of your coffee, so it’s worth investing in the best that your budget allows.”

Many expensive espresso machines like the $4000 Breville have a built-in grinder, but if you were to buy a machine without one you’ll need to factor the grinder into the overall cost.

The Kmart Retro coffee machine: Pros and cons

It may have impressed our experts in the blind taste test, but it fell down in other areas. Here’s what we thought were its strengths and weaknesses.

Pro: Barista-quality espresso on an instant coffee budget

Alongside a Big W Contempo espresso machine and another Anko machine, the retro-styled Anko is the cheapest manual coffee machine in our current review, but it delivers the same (or better) espresso than far more expensive machines.

Pro: You can go large

Unlike some machines that can only fit a standard-sized coffee cup under the portafilter, the Anko machine fits taller cups 鈥� so you can supersize your morning cuppa to kickstart your day.

Pro: It’s got the look鈥� kind of

As its name suggests, the Kmart Anko machine has cute retro styling that’s very similar to a $549 Smeg 50s style espresso machine. Fans of pastel vintage vibes will likely fall for its mid-century aesthetic.

And it’s a pretty decent copy: sleek baby-blue curves, shiny chrome accents, three silver buttons on top, a clear water reservoir at the back, a manual steam lever on your right鈥�

Just don’t look too closely. It may catch your eye from a distance, but on closer inspection it’s definitely not in the same class as its European cousin. 

“In the flesh, the Anko machine is quite plasticky and some parts are flimsy,” Adrian says.

“You can really feel that it’s been made with cheaper materials than some more expensive machines.”

Looks aren’t everything, of course, and even a coffee machine that’s an ugly duckling can create swan-level espresso. But there are some drawbacks to the Anko’s design, which we’ll cover below.

Con: It’s lousy at milk frothing

If you take your coffee black, the Kmart Anko machine will give you a big taste on a tiny budget. But if you’re a flat white or latte drinker, it could leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

It scored very poorly (just 20%) for milk frothing, creating very large bubbles rather than the smooth, silky, easy-to-pour foam that you’d get from a quality cafe brew or high-scoring machine from our tests.

And speaking of milk, it doesn’t actually come with a milk jug so you’ll need to buy one before you can begin brewing. Kmart and Target sell one for $8.

Con: It’s a lightweight

While it might be a heavy hitter in terms of taste, it’s clearly been made on a budget. At 3.2kg when empty it鈥檚 relatively light, so you’ll need to hold it steady when you’re slotting the portafilter into the group head 鈥� otherwise it’ll slide across the bench.

The accessories are pretty ordinary, too. The tamper’s diameter is smaller than the portafilter so it’s hard to press the ground coffee down evenly. (Getting the perfect tamp is one of the key factors in making a good coffee.)

And the filter can fall out when you’re emptying the coffee grounds, leaving you with a mess to clean up before you’ve even had your first coffee of the day. 

There is a plastic clamp on the handle that you need to hold down to keep the filter in place, but it’s awkward to use (and chances are you’ll forget to do it if you’re not yet caffeinated!).

Con: It could end up in landfill

Cheap coffee machines are often built with lower-quality materials and fewer replaceable parts. They don鈥檛 tend to be as constructed as well as pricier machines, so they could wear out or break more easily than something that’s built to last. 

When they develop issues or die completely, you’ll need to buy a new one sooner than you’d like 鈥� so you could end up paying more than you’d bargained for because you have to replace it faster than you would with a quality machine.

With a better-quality machine, you鈥檒l most likely be able to repair and maintain it by running cleaning cycles, which will keep it going for longer.

It can also be more difficult to get customer support if things go wrong with a cheap machine than one from a more specialised coffee machine manufacturer, so you could be left high and dry (and without coffee, which is possibly even worse).

Of course, even major brands can be terrible on the customer service front, so once again it’s important not to assume that more money equals more peace of mind.

How to get the best brew from a cheap machine

Buying a good machine won’t guarantee good coffee 鈥� it’s just one element of the coffee-making process.

Here are Adrian’s tips for getting the most from your espresso machine, regardless of how much you’ve spent on it.

Buy the freshest beans possible

Stale beans won’t give you the same flavour as fresh ones, so check the date they were roasted before you buy. (Although there’s some debate about best-brew dates as it depends on the coffee used and roast type, you don’t want it sitting around for longer than four weeks as it will become stale. The sweet spot is generally around 1-3 weeks after roasting, when it’s had time to develop its flavours.)

Grind fresh every time

As soon as coffee is ground, it starts to deteriorate. If you grind your beans immediately before you use them, you’ll get the best flavour from them.

Don’t have a good grinder?

The next best thing is to buy beans ground freshly from your local cafe. It’s better to buy a small pack to minimise the time between grinding and brewing 鈥� coffee that was ground two weeks ago won’t be anywhere near as good as coffee that your barista ground a few days ago.

Get the tamp right

Once you’ve got your grind right, you’ll need to make sure the coffee is packed evenly into the portafilter properly. If you squash it down too hard, the water will flow through the beans slowly and you’ll end up with burnt coffee. If it’s packed too loosely, the water will flow through quickly and won’t pick up as much flavour.

Time is everything

The length of time the water is flowing through the coffee will also make a difference to whether you get good crema or a burnt brew.

Here are Adrian’s pro tips to help you elevate your at-home coffee game.

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Ninja is fast becoming a household name for kitchen appliances, offering a range of blenders, food processors, air fryers and multi-cookers. We’ve taken a look at many of their products, including the Ninja Slushi and Swirl by Creami, to see if they live up to the hype.

The brand has now entered the world of coffee making with their Luxe Cafe Premier Espresso Machine. So, how does it compare to long-standing rival options from Breville, DeLonghi, Sunbeam and more? Our experts take a look.

What is the Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier Espresso Machine?

The Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier is a semi-automatic espresso machine, designed for home barista enthusiasts who crave cafe-quality coffees at home with minimal fuss. It can deliver espresso, cold brew and drip coffee all from the one machine.

Our espresso machines expert Adrian Lini put the machine to the test in the 糖心Vlog labs, assessing its ease of use, milk frothing ability and coffee temperature consistency as well as submitting coffee shots from the machine to our expert tasting panel. To see how it compares against other brands like Breville, Sunbeam, DeLonghi and more, take a look at our home espresso machine reviews.

What are the features of the Ninja espresso machine?

The Luxe Cafe Premier Espresso Machine comes with a range of accessories, including a portafilter, milk jug with an integrated whisk, single and double baskets, a luxe basket, tamper, funnel, cleaning and descaling accessories, as well as water filters and testing kits.

It’s available in five colours, so you can choose which best suits your kitchen aesthetic 鈥� stainless steel, midnight black, oat milk, gunmetal or cyberspace.

You’ll also get some other interesting features with this machine including:

• thermoblock heating system
• dual froth system combining steaming and whisking
• built-in accessory storage
• built-in scale that detects which basket is being used before measuring the amount of grounds
• integrated grinder
• assisted tamper
• drip tray full indicator.

Does it brew a good coffee?

A coffee machine should be able to produce a great shot of coffee and to highlight the importance of taste, our expert taste test accounts for 60% of our 糖心Vlog Expert Rating (our overall score). The Ninja espresso machine produced coffee that impressed both our expert coffee taste testers and our in-house experts.

Expert espresso shot ratings

When our panel of three expert taste testers assessed a blind shot of coffee from the Ninja, they were impressed with what they received. One said it produced a 鈥渧ery aromatic shot with excellent flavour鈥� while another said, 鈥渋t was a high flavour, quality coffee that was enjoyable鈥�.

All three experts made a comment about the fact that the shot it produced was smaller than expected, noting that it looked more like a ristretto than an espresso (an espresso is typically a 30鈥�60mL shot while a ristretto is a shorter 15鈥�25mL shot). One expert said, 鈥渢his looked like a ristretto. Short shot but good quality鈥�. 

Our in-house expert Adrian was also impressed with the machine. He says, 鈥渨hen making a coffee, it fills cups evenly and switches off automatically.

“There鈥檚 also no vibration of the cups and it can accommodate taller cups up to 20cm easily with an adjustable cup platform. 

鈥淲hen using the inbuilt grinder, the machine can even detect what filter size is being used and make adjustments automatically, taking the guesswork out of coffee-making.鈥�

糖心Vlog kitchen experts ratings: Flat white, cappuccino, long black and cold press

糖心Vlog kitchen experts, Fiona Mair and Chantelle Dart also had a play with the machine, making a range of coffees.

Fiona made a flat white, cappuccino, long black and cold press coffee and rated these as 鈥済ood鈥� to 鈥渧ery good鈥�.

鈥淭he machine doesn鈥檛 have options for specific types of coffees like cappuccino or flat white like you see in other machines,鈥� says Fiona. 

鈥淗owever, you can use the espresso, quad (two double shots of coffee) and long black options with the various froth types to get your favourite type of coffee. This might take some getting used to.鈥�

She also used the hot water function to make tea, but the temperature only reached 70掳C, which isn鈥檛 ideal as black tea requires a heat of around 90掳C.

To see how it compares against other manual and semi-automatic machines we鈥檝e tested, check out our espresso machine reviews.

Is the Ninja Luxe Premier Espresso Machine easy to use?

Adrian rated the Ninja as “good” for ease of use, saying it鈥檚 user-friendly, with features that support simple and straightforward operation.

The range of filter baskets (single, double and luxe) are easy to insert and remove, and the funnel helps to prevent spills and mess when grinding coffee into the portafilter.

The funnel also stays attached during tamping but needs to be handled carefully when you鈥檙e removing it from the portafilter to avoid loosening the basket. Orange dots on the portafilter and group head also help to indicate the correct positioning to lock the portafilter into place.

The assisted, spring-loaded tamper works effectively to provide even pressure time after time, ensuring coffee grounds are compact and evenly distributed to provide consistent coffee extraction.

The integrated grinder adjusts the recommended grind settings based on the beans that are being used and may take 2鈥�3 brews before the optimal grind setting is achieved. This might take some getting used to, as factors like new beans, adding beans or ageing beans can impact the grind.

Removing and refilling the water tank and drip trays is simple, with clear water-level markings, an 鈥渁dd water鈥� indicator and a float to show when the drip tray needs emptying. The bean hopper is easy to fill and remove, and grinder settings are clearly displayed with an adjustable grind dial.

The controls are generally well-labelled and programming functions are intuitive, although the instructions provided in the box only include a quick guide with basic diagrams 鈥� you’ll need to access the full manual online.

Adrian noted that it doesn鈥檛 have a 鈥渇avourites鈥� setting, a feature which is useful in households with multiple users. 鈥淭he option to save your preferred setting without having to reset each time is a convenience that this machine is lacking,鈥� he says.

There is also no ready/temperature indicator, so you should wait a few minutes to ensure the machine is ready and heated optimally before using.

Is it easy to froth milk?

The Ninja Luxe Premier Espresso Machine uses what Ninja calls a 鈥淒ual Froth System鈥� using both steaming (via the steam wand) and whisking (via the inbuilt whisk that sits on the base of the jug) together to create the ideal texture of milk froth. 

There are four milk froth settings to choose from to create different kinds of drinks, with settings for steamed milk, microfoam, thick froth and cold foam. You can even choose between manually frothing the milk or using an automatic hands-free mode whereby the milk jug sits in a designated mound with a built-in temperature sensor.

Adrian tested both the automatic and manual milk frothing modes and rated their ability as only OK. He says, 鈥渋n automatic mode, the froth is quite hot and a little hard to pour, and in manual mode it struggles to make a lot of foam鈥�.

The stainless steel jug is large, and clearly marked inside and out with volume guides and drink types (cortado, cappuccino, latte), along with min/max fill levels. The whisk attachment is also easy to insert and remove.

Hot milk cannot be frothed at the same time as the coffee shot is being poured, but a queueing feature allows the jug to be placed and the machine to start frothing automatically once extraction is complete. If you鈥檙e opting for cold foam, this can be made at the same time as the coffee shot is being extracted.

Is it easy to clean?

The machine鈥檚 exterior is mostly plastic, making it easy to wipe clean, although some stainless steel sections require extra attention and some cracks and crevices around the controls can trap dirt and grime.

Adrian says light cleaning after each use is ideal. 鈥淲ipe down the milk wand, wash out the group head and rinse out the drip tray. These parts are easy to remove and rinse under a tap, however, the drip tray is made up of four pieces.鈥�

The funnel, whisk, cleaning disc, water reservoir, bean hopper and drip tray can all be cleaned in the dishwasher.

The machine also has a clean cycle which takes around six minutes and uses a cleaning disc and tablet. A light on the machine will illuminate to indicate when cleaning is required. It will also prompt you when it鈥檚 time for descaling which simply involves flushing the machine with the Ninja descale powder that鈥檚 provided.

The unit is quite large and takes up a fair bit of bench space, but Adrian says 鈥渢he clever use of integrated storage for additional accessories helps to alleviate clutter and provides quick and convenient access to these items when needed鈥�.

Is the Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier Espresso Machine worth buying?

The Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier Espresso Machine is a high-performing coffee machine that鈥檚 easy to use once you familiarise yourself with its settings. 

Adrian says, 鈥渢he automated features add a layer of convenience while also allowing for manual adjustments like changing the brew temperature, froth temperature and grind size鈥�.

鈥淢ost importantly, it brews a great shot of coffee,鈥� he adds.

Fiona and Chantelle were also pleased with the coffee produced by the machine and enjoyed experimenting with different drink options and milk frothing styles, saying 鈥渨ith a range of coffee options, it鈥檚 flexible enough to please any coffee connoisseur鈥�.

However, Fiona was somewhat disappointed by the build quality. 鈥淭he mostly plastic build and lightweight parts make it feel less premium, and at $800, you鈥檇 expect something that feels more durable,鈥� she says.

If you鈥檙e in the market for a new coffee machine, the Ninja is worth taking a look at. It鈥檚 well-designed and convenient to use with lots of helpful prompts, plenty of coffee options and most importantly, it can produce a great shot of coffee.

If you’re a 糖心Vlog member, check out our comprehensive test review of the Ninja Luxe model and see how it compares to other machines.

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Whether cafe coffee is off the menu due to the current cost of living, or you’re working from home and want an easy way to caffeinate, a coffee machine can be a very smart buy.

Investing in a coffee machine for your home can be cheaper than buying takeaway coffees in the long run 鈥� but buying a bad machine that you don’t use because it makes dishwater coffee, means you probably won’t end up saving any money after all.

Given that some coffee machines cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, it’s a mistake that can leave a hole in your pocket and a bad taste in your mouth.

The 糖心Vlog appliance experts have reviewed more than 100 pod, manual, semi-automatic and automatic coffee machines to help save you from bad brews.

They assess each model’s ease of use, milk frothing and temperature consistency in our in-house labs, as well as enlisting an expert panel of veteran baristas who also blind taste espresso from each machine and rate them based on crema, aroma, flavour, mouthfeel and aftertaste. 

We don’t want you to end up with a dud, so here are the products that scored lowest in our lab tests.

Consider becoming a 糖心Vlog member to see the best performers.

On this page:

• Lowest rated pod machines
• Lowest rated manual and semi-automatic machines
• Lowest rated automatic machines

Lowest rated pod machines

1. Espressotoria System Piccolo capsule machine

• 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 39%
• Taste test score: 35%
• Price: $125

Yes, it鈥檚 compact, sleek, affordable and, according to 糖心Vlog experts, very easy to use, but that鈥檚 where the benefits end for this capsule machine which is available to buy via large online marketplaces such as Woolworths and Big W.

Along with one other capsule coffee machine, it received the lowest taste test score (35%) in our entire review of over 60 coffee machines with experts noting the coffee had a “pale, very light” crema with “very low to no aroma” and some “sour flavours”.听

There鈥檚 also bad news if you want to use this machine to make multiple cups of coffee 鈥� our experts found the temperatures between consecutive cups was quite inconsistent.听

Read the full Espressotoria System Piccolo review.

2. MZBG Etika Capsule Machine

• Expert Rating: 42%
• Taste test score: 35%
• Price: $129

Another cute and compact capsule machine; another disappointing coffee.

The showy gold trim and elegant cream exterior can鈥檛 hide the fact that the coffee this model makes is underwhelming 鈥� our expert testers gave it a score of just 35% in the blind taste test, with one expert damning his cuppa saying it had a “really awful flavour” and another saying the coffee was “burnt and over extracted”.

Compatible with Nespresso-style pods, the machine was credited by our testers for being very easy to use with very good controls, and it can accommodate taller cups easily. Perhaps it鈥檚 therefore better suited to hotel rooms and shared office spaces where people care less about the quality and taste of the brew, and more about the convenience.

Read the full MZBG Etika Capsule Machine review.

3. L’Or Sublime Compact (LM9012/60)

• 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 52%
• Taste test score: 55%
• Price: $89

This cheap coffee machine was rated “very good” for how easy it is to use, but our experts found little else to recommend about it.听

Features include dual-capsule recognition technology and the ability to brew two cups at once or one double-shot, and three brewing strengths, but it doesn鈥檛 come with a milk frother and although still compact, is slightly larger than other standard slimline capsule machines.

Most disappointingly, it received a score of just 55% in our taste test.听

Read the L鈥橭r Sublime Compact (LM9012/60) review to see why our experts don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 a good buy, then pop over to our coffee machine reviews to find a better deal.

Lowest rated manual and semi-automatic machines

1. Sunbeam Prima Latte (EMP5100BK) semi-automatic espresso machine

• 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 54%
• Taste test score: 55%
• Price: $299

This coffee machine spruiks a few appealing features, such as automatic milk frothing, a design that can accommodate larger cups and Thermoblock technology (which is a plus for speed, convenience and low maintenance).

But when we tested the milk frother, it gave poor results, creating froth with large bubbles that was hard to pour. And the coffee? It was rated only “OK” by our taste testers, with a score of 55%.听

Plus, the machine comes with a plastic tamper which is a big no-no from our in-house coffee experts who say plastic tampers are too lightweight and flimsy to apply consistent pressure to perfectly tamp your coffee. You ideally want one with a flat, metal base attached to a wooden or metal handle to give you greater control over your tamping pressure.

Read the full Sunbeam Prima Latte review.

2. DeLonghi Classic Manual Coffee Machine (EM450.M) espresso machine

• 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 55%
• Taste test score: 45%
• Price: $189

In a prime example of why you should never buy an appliance based on brand alone, we present this offering from DeLonghi.

DeLonghi happens to be our 2025 Best Brand for coffee machines, due to the fact that so many of its machines score well in our testing.  We also look at customer satisfaction and overall product reliability. 

Unfortunately this entry-level model doesn’t live up to expectations. It scored poorly in our taste test and rated only “OK” on the consistency of the temperature of coffee when we made four cups in a row. Our experts also noted the unit is light, it doesn鈥檛 come with a milk jug, and the tamper is plastic and awkward to use.

3. Anko Compact Espresso

(Sold at Kmart and Target)

• 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 57%
• Taste score: 55%
• Price: $79

The Anko brand has delivered some reasonable coffee machines in its time 鈥� including an $89 model that outscores some extremely expensive coffee machines in our taste testing.

Unfortunately this isn’t one of the budget brand’s best efforts.

It’s the cheapest machine in our review, but while it’s wallet-friendly, it’s less kind to your palate: our coffee experts weren’t impressed with the espresso it produced, and the steam wand creates milk with large bubbles.

To price a coffee machine so cheaply, the manufacturer seems to have skimped on the build quality. The supplied tamper is plastic and the machine is quite light, so you’ll probably need to hold onto it when locking/unlocking the group handle to keep it from sliding all over the bench.

If you’re considering this machine, you might be dreaming of all the dollars you’ll save on buying cafe coffees 鈥� but before you hit “add to cart”, wake up and smell the coffee: an average espresso topped with overly-bubbly milk does not a good coffee make.

Read the full Anko Compact Espresso review.

Lowest rated automatic machines

1. Dr Coffee H1 Automatic Coffee Machine

• 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 46%
• Taste test score: 30%
• Price: $1315

It might have doctor in its name, but this machine definitely doesn’t have a PhD in coffee.

It has the lowest taste test score of all 36 products in our automatic coffee machine review, being outscored by even the cheapest machines we tested.

The Dr Coffee H1 does come with a nifty feature 鈥� programmable brewing times 鈥� so you can set it to start making your coffee at specific times. Waking up to a freshly-made coffee sounds wonderful, but if it tastes terrible it won’t be a great start to your day.

If you’re after a therapeutic dose of caffeine, you won’t get the cure from this quack.

Read the full Dr Coffee H1 Automatic Coffee Machine review.

2. Gaggia Anima Prestige

• 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 51%
• Taste test score: 40%
• Price: $1599

For $1599, it’s reasonable to expect that this machine will produce a delicious coffee at the right temperature. Sadly, the Gaggia doesn’t deliver on either front. 

It scored a poor 40% on the taste test, and when we made four coffees in a row, it couldn’t maintain a consistent temperature. 

So despite the price, you’ll never quite know what you’re going to get: a hot coffee that doesn’t taste great, or a lukewarm coffee that doesn’t taste great. Neither option is particularly appealing!

Read the full Gaggia Anima Prestige review.

3. Saeco Royal OTC SUP060

• 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 55%
• Taste test score: 40%
• Price: $1999

This machine delivered far more consistent temperatures than the Gaggia, but still produced poor tasting coffee. 

It’s somewhat redeemed by its froth-making abilities, which our experts rated as “Good”, and it’s easy to use, offering an extensive range of settings (though its digital display menus do take a bit of getting used to). 

But if you’ve got $2000 burning a hole in your pocket, you can do better than this Saeco machine 鈥� a number of automatic machines recommended by our experts cost around the same or even less. 

Read the full Saeco Royal OTC SUP060 review. 

4. Gaggia Cadorna Prestige

• 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 55%
• Taste test score: 45%
• Price: $1899

Normally we’d say that you shouldn’t write off an entire brand just because of one or two below-par products, but in the case of Gaggia’s automatic espresso machines, you might want to cross them off your wishlist.

The best automatic Gaggia in our review only managed to hit a ho-hum 64% 糖心Vlog Expert Rating and a disappointing taste test score of 60%. (For context, the top machines in our test score 75% and higher for the taste test, with half scoring 80% and higher.)

As for the Cadorna Prestige, well, it’s not exactly prestigious. It’s the most expensive Gaggia we tested but has the second-lowest taste test score. It’s not intuitive to use and it couldn’t turn out multiple coffees at consistent temperatures.

If you’re looking for a prestige machine, this isn’t it. There are plenty of other machines costing about the same or less that’ll deliver better coffee.

Read the full Gaggia Cadorna Prestige review.

Top tips for buying a coffee machine

If you’re tossing up between a pod/capsule coffee machine and a manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic espresso machine, there are a few factors to consider. 

• Pod or capsule machines are generally cheaper, easy to use and require very little cleaning. You should factor in the high cost per pod (as compared to ground coffee or beans) and the environmental impact of coffee pods before you buy. 
• Manual espresso machines take more work in terms of learning how to use them, but they generally deliver coffee with better depth of flavour and allow for more customisation, meaning you have more freedom to make coffee the way you like it. 
• Automatic machines require the least amount of effort: you simply press a button and they’ll deliver a coffee based on preferences you select. But keep in mind they don’t always let you change things like grind, tamp and dose. Plus, they can be extremely expensive and very difficult to clean.  
• Semi-automatic machines sit in between manual and automatic machines: some functions are automated, but you’ll still need to do some things manually, which means that you can still control some aspects of the coffee making. 

Remember, a poor-quality espresso machine can deliver mediocre flavour, and a badly designed pod or capsule machine can still be tricky to use. So always make sure you do your research before committing. 

Still undecided about which type to buy? Here’s how to find which coffee machine is right for you. 

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If you live for your daily coffee injection and you’ve decided to invest in a manual coffee espresso machine, choosing the right machine is vital 鈥� especially if you’re looking to spend hundreds, or perhaps even thousands, of dollars. 

The right coffee machine can mean the difference between converting you to an at-home coffee drinker, versus sending you back into the arms of your local barista and your $50 a week coffee habit.

Breville and DeLonghi are two of the most prominent mainstream brands making manual and semi-automatic espresso machines.

Both have plenty of models available with various specifications and different price points, so they’re likely to crop up frequently when you’re researching coffee machines to buy.

Manual vs semi-automatic: What’s the difference?

Manual and semi-automatic coffee machines are for people who want the hands-on experience of making their coffee exactly the way they like it, from tweaking the settings of the grind, to frothing the milk themselves for that perfect silky pour. 

Semi-automatic machines will automatically cut off the flow of coffee once a pre-set amount has been poured into the cup, while a manual machine gives you total control, requiring you to stop the flow of coffee yourself.

Breville vs DeLonghi: Which brand is best?

The best coffee machine for you depends on many things, such as your skill level, budget, and preferences for certain features. 

But you should also consider factors about the brand such as:

• how reliable their machines tend to be overall
• their track record in customer service and customer satisfaction
• typical extras their machines generally include, such as cleaning kits and stainless-steel milk jugs.

糖心Vlog Best Brand espresso machine

Each year, we use our test results, along with feedback from our members about satisfaction and reliability, to determine the best espresso machine brand.

The Best Brand espresso machine for 2025 is DeLonghi, but Breville is hot on its heels, and has been named Best Brand multiple times in previous years.

DeLonghi has the highest proportion of models recommended by our experts compared to the number of models tested, by a fair margin.

The two brands are neck and neck across a number of metrics: Breville is ahead on average test scores and customer satisfaction, while DeLonghi takes the lead (just) in terms of reliability.

Overall brand vs individual model

It’s important to bear in mind that in 糖心Vlog testing, performance of specific models may vary quite significantly. So don’t assume that just because one product from a brand is good that all their products are.

Ideally check the results of individual models in our espresso machine review before you buy.

Range and price

Generally speaking, Breville has a wider range of manual and semi-automatic espresso machines to choose from.

With a range that’s always evolving, the brand currently has around 15 machines, from cheaper options such as the Breville Bambino ($399) and Breville Duo-Temp Pro ($429), up to the $3499 Breville Oracle Touch and the Breville Oracle Dual Boiler at $4349 (for serious home baristas!).

DeLonghi’s La Specialista range includes six main machines (the Arte, the Arte Evo, the Arte Evo with Cold Brew, the Touch, the Maestro with Cold Brew and the Opera), ranging in price from around $500 to around $1300. 

DeLonghi also sells more compact semi-automatic coffee machines (the Maestro Plus, the Dedica Duo Dedica Maestro, Dedica Arte and the Stilosa), ranging from around $150 to around $350. 

Features: What to consider

When comparing machines and brands, consider the features that are most important to you. 

For instance, would you like pre-programmed coffee recipes you can select at the touch of a button, with automatic milk frothing? 

Or would you like complete control of the process, including frothing your own milk, just like the barista at your local cafe?

Would you like to tamp your coffee with a hand tamper or a built-in tamper? Do you fancy making cold-brew coffee? 

Read more about the features to look out for in our coffee machine buying guide.

But 糖心Vlog tester expert Adrian Lini says you shouldn’t base your decision solely on features.

“With coffee machines, the fancy gimmicks and features really can’t make up for a machine that doesn’t function well.

“To get a good espresso, you need accurate and consistent pressure and water temperature. If you don’t have those then you won’t get a good coffee, no matter what.”

Adrian has put dozens of manual and espresso machines through their paces in the 糖心Vlog labs.

“My experience is that the Breville machines are often easier to use 鈥� their controls are more intuitive and it takes less time to make a good espresso.

“I certainly know you can get a good coffee with a DeLonghi machine, but it may take a little more time to learn how to get the best out of the machine.”

Espresso machines $1000鈥�$1500

• Breville The Barista Touch ($1499)
• Breville The Barista Pro ($999)
• DeLonghi La Specialista Maestro with Cold Brew ($1299)

If you have a budget from around $1000 up to $1500, you may be considering one of these three machines. 

The Breville The Barista Pro ($999) and Breville The Barista Touch ($1499) are similar, semi-automatic machines 鈥� the main difference is that the Barista Touch has more automatic functions, including a touch-screen display with pre-programmed coffee menu and automatic milk frothing.听

The DeLonghi La Specialista Maestro with Cold Brew ($1299) is another semi-automatic machine that also gives you the option of eight pre-programmed coffee recipes, including cold brew, as well as preset temperatures to suit different coffee varieties.

It has 15 grind settings (The Barista Pro and The Barista Touch have 30 grind settings), and a manual steam wand. Here’s how the three models compare.

Espresso machines under $800

• DeLonghi La Specialista Arte ($519)
• Breville The Barista Express ($719)

If you’re looking to spend less than $800 but you still want to flex your barista muscles with a customised coffee experience, these two semi-automatic machines are probably on your radar.听

Both have been tested by 糖心Vlog experts, who say they rank similarly when it comes to how easy they are to use, but Breville’s The Barista Express comes out on top in other respects (read detailed product reviews).

There are a few differences between the machines. The La Specialista comes with one 51mm pressurised filter basket, whereas The Barista Express comes with both one-cup and two-cup (single-wall) filter baskets. You can compare other features below. 

We’ve also tested Breville’s The Barista Express Impress, which costs slightly more ($869) but has an auto-dose and built-in tamper that our experts say is very easy to use and lets you make coffees quickly. 

Here’s how the two cheaper models compare.

Is Breville’s The Oracle Dual Boiler coffee machine worth it?

The Breville The Oracle Dual Boiler is Breville’s most expensive coffee machine, retailing at $4349. 

One of the reasons it’s significantly more expensive than other Breville machines such as The Barista Express Impress ($869) is that it has a dual boiler heating system. This means you can extract coffee and steam milk at the same time 鈥� one boiler heats the espresso while the other heats the milk for steaming. (See below for more info about thermoblocks vs boilers.) 

Breville’s The Oracle Dual Boiler also has 45 grind settings (15 more than The Barista Express Impress), a hands-free auto grind, dose and tamp feature, and a commercial-grade 58mm filter basket. 

But for all its bells and whistles, The Oracle Dual Boiler doesn’t deliver: it scored just 50% in a blind taste test conducted by a panel of industry experts. It was even outranked in the taste test by a cheap Kmart machine.

Both the expert tasters and 糖心Vlog employees noted that the espresso had a strange leathery taste.

Our experts say it potentially could be due to some leftover flavours from the factory, but the taste persisted even after running through the machine’s rinse program and pouring more than 10 double espresso shots before the test was done.

It was also inconsistent with the amount of espresso it dispensed and and the time is took to dispense a shot. For $4000, you’d expect a perfect coffee every time, but unfortunately The Oracle Dual Boiler didn’t live up to its price tag.

Head to our expert coffee machine reviews to find out more. 

Other important factors to consider

Bench space

Before rushing out to buy a new home espresso machine, it’s a good idea to look at the dimensions of the machine you’re interested in and measure the space you have available on your benchtop to make sure it’ll fit comfortably.听

Remember, if your machine doesn’t have an inbuilt grinder, you will have to make space for that, too. Plus, it’s good to have a little bit of extra space near the milk frothing wand so you’ve got some elbow room while you’re frothing your milk.

Double boilers or dual boilers vs Thermoblock

As mentioned, one of the features that makes some of the top tier Breville machines more expensive is their double or dual boilers (the Oracle, Oracle Touch, Dual Boiler and Dynamic Duo machines all have this feature).听

Double boiler espresso machines have two separate heating units: one for steam and one for coffee, so you can make coffee and froth milk at the same time. This is handy if you’re churning out multiple coffees at once 鈥� or if you’re just impatient and want your coffee fix quicker! 

They also give more consistent temperature, because the water is held at the correct temperature inside the machine rather than always having to pass through a heating element (such as in a Thermoblock system).

Many Breville and DeLonghi coffee machines have a Thermoblock heating system, which rapidly heats water as it passes through a solid metal block. You can brew coffee quickly with a Thermoblock, but you can’t extract and steam at the same time.

“While you can get good results from a machine with a Thermoblock, a machine with a dual boiler will generally give you more consistent, precise results that are similar to what you’ll get from a commercial coffee machine,” says Adrian.

Parts, cleaning, and accessories

When deciding between brands, you should look at the ongoing costs and availability of brand-specific accessories, such as cleaning tablets and descaling liquid, as well as the cost and availability of replacement parts.

Fancy a cold brew?

More high-end machines are now including settings to make cold brew coffee. 

The DeLonghi La Specialista Maestro with Cold Brew ($1299) and the La Specialista Arte Evo Cold Brew ($699) include cold extraction technology that allows you to enjoy cold-brew coffee within five minutes.

Breville’s The Oracle Jet ($3349) and The Barista Touch Impress ($1999) also have pre-programmed settings to extract cold brew and cold espresso within three minutes. 

Although we don’t taste-test cold brew coffee as part of our review, Adrian notes that these machines make cold brew differently to a traditional cafe cold brew.

Traditionally, cold brew is made by either steeping coffee grounds or dripping water into coffee grounds for a period of time (usually 24鈥�48 hours) and letting it filter via gravity. 

These coffee machines make cold brew by pushing water through the coffee grinds in the group head at a lower pressure than espresso, but they still use much higher pressure and faster speeds than a traditional 24鈥�48-hour cold brew. Because of this, it won’t taste the same as the cold brew you’re getting from your barista.

Here’s what you need to know about buying a coffee machine with a cold brew setting.

How we test coffee machines

When testing manual and semi-automatic coffee machines, we give scores for each machine based on the taste of the coffee, how easy they are to use, how well they froth milk and the consistency of the coffee temperature. 

Our expert taste-test panel gives each espresso shot a score in a blind tasting (meaning they don’t know which machine made it), assessing:

• colour and thickness of the crema (the tan-coloured foam on the top of an espresso shot)
• aroma
• flavour
• mouthfeel (for example, creaminess or wateriness)
• aftertaste.

Below, we’ve compared similar machines from both Breville and DeLonghi at two different price points to help you choose. 

For full detailed scores and findings from our experts, read our espresso coffee machines review. You can also compare all our test results and more models side-by-side, using our compare all products table.

At the time of writing, the 糖心Vlog espresso machine review includes 16 Breville and eight DeLonghi manual and semi-automatic espresso machines, as well as models from other brands including Profitec, Kmart Anko (also available at Target), Aldi, Sunbeam, Rocket, Smeg, Gaggia and San Remo. 糖心Vlog members have exclusive access to our results.

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If you’re struggling to get the same quality of coffee your barista used to deliver, 糖心Vlog coffee expert Adrian Lini is here to help. 

Adrian spends hours in the 糖心Vlog labs putting dozens of coffee machines through their paces, tweaking settings and extracting shot after shot in order to get the best cuppa possible out of the tested models. We share some of his tips for things you can do to improve your coffee game. 

“Provided you have a good manual espresso or semi-automatic machine, there’s no reason why you can’t turn out cafe-quality espresso shots at home and save yourself quite a few bucks in the process,” says Adrian.

“If you’re not getting coffee you’re happy with, there are a few things that could be going wrong and some things you can tweak to get better results.”

1. Ensure your beans are as fresh as possible

The first place to start is the coffee 鈥� and fresh is definitely best.

“You’ll never get a great cup of coffee from old, stale beans,” says Adrian.

He recommends you find beans you love the flavour of 鈥� asking a cafe you like which beans they use is a good start. Check the date they were roasted (it will hopefully be stamped on the packet) to ensure it’s not too long ago and buy beans in small batches to ensure they’re as fresh as possible.

Storing coffee beans correctly is vital too: “Keep them in an airtight container, away from the sun and from moisture. A darkened pantry is a great place to store coffee beans,” he says. 

2. Use a quality grinder to get a good, consistent grind

“I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to get a good, consistent grind when making coffee at home,” says Adrian.

“So if you’re not getting the flavour you love from your coffee, looking at how you’re grinding your coffee and at what size it’s being ground to is a good place to start making some tweaks.”

The ideal grind size is dependent on how you are making your coffee. If you are using a French press, you’ll need a coarser grind, whereas if you’re using an espresso machine, you’ll need a much finer grind. 

“The ground size corresponds directly to the extraction time,” says Adrian.

“If the grinds are too coarse, it will under-extract, pouring the shot too quickly, and the coffee will lack flavour and come out thin and watery.

“If the grinds are too fine, it will over extract and the coffee will taste burnt and bitter.听Generally, a good espresso extraction takes about 25鈥�30 seconds on a manual machine. Semi-automatic and other machines aim for a similar extraction time, although it can vary slightly depending on how the machine heats water.”

“Freshly ground coffee will always give you the best results. Some semi-automatic coffee machines have inbuilt grinders so, if you’re not satisfied with the flavour of your coffee, tweaking the settings will make an immediate difference,” he says.

Conical or flat burr grinders vs blade grinders

If you have a separate grinder, Adrian says you want to opt for a burr grinder as opposed to a blade grinder. 

“Blade grinders are not consistent enough to make good grinds for anything other than French press coffee,” he says.

“They work by spinning a blade very quickly and chopping up and breaking apart the coffee beans. Lots are chopped very fine and some are left chunky. This makes it almost impossible to get a consistent extraction time.”

Conical or flat burr grinders work by essentially crushing the coffee grinds and not letting the grinds escape until they fit the specific size you’ve set. It makes the grinds extremely consistent and ready for different coffee type preparations, such as espresso.

3. Invest in some scales and weigh your coffee

Once you’ve sorted out the perfect grind, you need to ensure you’re getting the right amount of coffee in your portafilter 鈥� too much or too little will change the extraction time (the time taken for the water to run through the grind and create your espresso shot) which affects the taste of the coffee.

Generally, you should aim for 7鈥�9g of coffee for a single shot and 14鈥�18g for a double shot, depending on your preference. 

4. Practice your tamping

Another vital part of the process that impacts the flavour you get in your cup is tamping 鈥� this is the action of compacting your coffee into the portafilter.

You want to apply the perfect amount of pressure with a coffee tamp to evenly compact the coffee so the water can “channel” through the grounds evenly.听

“The recommended weight to apply to the coffee grinds when tamping is about 18鈥�20kg,” says Adrian. “Too much tamping pressure can result in a bitter cup and too little pressure can result in a watery shot, because the water will flow too quickly through the grounds.”

Tips for tamping your coffee

• Ensure your grounds are evenly distributed in the portafilter. You can level it with your finger (some machines comes with a levelling tool to help you do this).
• You should tamp straight down, not at an angle. Hold the tamper like a doorknob and push down with consistent pressure, using your body weight. Once the tamper stops moving downward, the coffee is fully compressed.
• Press down only once. Once you have tamped, do not “re-tamp” as this will ruin your extraction.
• Brush away any stray coffee grounds before inserting the portafilter into your machine.

5. Perfect your milk frothing

Frothing your milk perfectly takes practice, and results can also be affected by the quality of the milk frother on the machine you’re using, which is why we give every machine in our lab tests a milk-frothing score.

Adrian shares some of his top tips for success. 

• Always use cold milk or milk substitute. You want to heat the milk to a temperature of 60掳C to 65掳C. Heating milk past 70掳C will scald it, resulting in a burnt taste. Some premium milk jugs come with built-in temperature gauges.
• Keep the steam wand tip just below the surface so it can get air into the milk and froth it. It should make a bubbling sound rather than a whistling sound. Don’t let the milk get too hot or else it’ll burn and change the taste. 
• Try to keep the milk jug at an angle to create a whirlpool that will help make the foam consistent and as you froth slowly raise the tip of the wand so it stays at the edge of the liquid’s surface.
• Tap the milk jug on a flat surface before pouring 鈥� this helps release any bubbles.
• Pour the milk into the centre of your cup/espresso shot 鈥� start higher and bring the jug down closer to the cup as you smoothly pour. 

6. Clean your machine and equipment (grinder) regularly

A clean, well-maintained coffee machine will turn out better-tasting coffees for longer.

“It’s really important to keep your coffee machine clean,” says Adrian.

“It’ll keep it running well and make sure your coffee keeps tasting its best.”

Built-up oils and other deposits in the machine can taint the flavour of your brew and cause issues with the functionality of your machine.

While you should be cleaning your porta-filter and steam wand after every use, ensure you’re also scheduling a more intense clean once or twice a month.

Follow our tips for how to make your coffee machine last longer and how to clean your coffee machine.

7. Change your machine

If your machine’s getting on and/or none of our tips or suggestions above seem to be working, it may be time to go shopping and try a new style of machine.

Just be wary that certain styles have their limitations. For instance, Adrian says it’s unrealistic to expect cafe-quality coffee from a pod machine.

“Pod machines can be really convenient and easy to use, but our blind taste tests consistently show that pod machines produce an inferior-tasting cup of coffee to semi-automatic and manual espresso machines,” says Adrian.

You can find lots of information here at 糖心Vlog about the benefits of manual espresso machines and semi-automatic coffee machines and how they compare to pod or capsule coffee machines and automatic machines. Start your research at our coffee machine topic page. 

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But making the switch from a cafe coffee to an at-home brew can make coffee lovers nervous.

Will it ever be as good? What if you buy an expensive machine but it makes terrible coffee? Will it end up gathering dust on the bench while you run back to the cafe?

While we can’t tell you how your homemade coffee will stack up against one made by a barista, we can help you find a machine that’ll give you the best chance of making the best brew, so you’ll hopefully stick to your new at-home habit.

Plus, exclusively for 糖心Vlog members, we’ll tell you which manual and pod machines rated best for taste in our tests.

If you just want to get straight to the best products, jump to the results now.

Pod or manual: The pros and cons

If you’re a regular cafe caffeinator, two of the main reasons why you like to start your day with a barista brew are probably convenience or quality: you either want a cuppa without having to lift a finger, or you want the best-tasting brew you can get 鈥� or both!

The type of machine that’s best for you will depend to some extent on what needs it meets.

Pod machines are the ultimate in convenience: pop in the capsule, press a button, and voila 鈥� your espresso is ready.

They’ll most likely appeal to you if you just want a coffee in your hand in the most straightforward way possible, with minimal cleanup required. They also tend to be cheaper.

Manual machines (including semi-automatic varieties) give you more control over your coffee, so you can make it just the way you like it.

This means they’re great for coffee geeks and people who don’t mind getting hands-on in pursuit of the perfect pour.

But there are downsides to each machine type, too. With pod machines, there’s generally no option to change the way the coffee is made, so if the espresso it produces isn’t your cup of tea, there’s not much you can do to improve it aside from trying different pods.

Making coffee on a manual machine is a far more involved process and if you bungle just one of the steps you could end up with a terrible-tasting coffee, whereas a pod machine will deliver the same taste each time.

Manual machines also tend to be more expensive upfront.

So which is best for you? It depends on your priorities, your budget and how much effort you want to put into making coffee at home. Here’s how to decide: Which coffee machine is right for you?

Aside from money, time and effort, taste is a key factor in deciding which coffee machine to buy: there’s no point committing to a machine that’ll deliver disappointing brews. So which one is best to buy?

Manual vs pod machines: Which makes the best tasting coffee?

Coffee is highly subjective 鈥� one person’s nectar of the gods is another’s muddy water. 

To assess coffee machines on an even playing field, we enlist the help of experts to blind taste test coffee from our test machines, judging the espresso for crema, aroma, flavour, mouthfeel and aftertaste. 

We compared the taste scores from manual machines and pod machines to see which delivers on flavour. Here’s how the numbers stack up:

Pod machines

• Highest taste score: 75%
• Average taste score for recommended models: 71%.

Manual machines

• Highest taste score: 90%
• Average taste score for recommended models: 86%.

Which machine delivers the best taste for the lowest price?

There’s no straightforward answer to which type of machine is most cost-effective, but it’s important not to look at just the price tag of the machine itself.

Manual and semi-automatic machines usually cost more upfront: the ones we’ve tested start at $79 and go all the way up to $4990. But once you’ve bought it, you’ll just be up for coffee beans and a grinder (if you want to buy whole beans and grind them yourself).

Generally, pod machines are cheaper to buy than manual machines. The ones we’ve tested range from $79 up to $1399. But with coffee pods costing up to $100 per kilo, the overall cost can quickly add up. 

When you take into account the price of the coffee pods plus the machine, you could end up paying the same or more than if you bought a manual machine, for coffee that just doesn’t taste as good. 

So if you’re serious about coffee, should you be prepared to spend many hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a manual machine? Not necessarily.

Our testers have found plenty of affordable manual machines that score better on taste than some expensive ones, so if you shop smart you can get great-tasting coffee at a great price.

You can filter our detailed espresso machine reviews by type, price, brand, and more to find the best for your buck. 

What’s the best coffee machine brand?

There’s a lot to consider when buying a coffee machine, including your budget, skill level, the features you want, and more. But there are other factors to take into account, such as the brand’s reliability, track record for customer service and customer satisfaction.

To help you decide, we’ve identified the best coffee machine brand in Australia based on our test results and feedback from our members.

Best espresso machine brand for 2025: Delonghi

DeLonghi received the highest average 糖心Vlog Expert Ratings overall and is considered a reliable brand with highly satisfied customers.

Breville and Sunbeam weren’t far behind, with both brands receiving good 糖心Vlog Expert Ratings on average and very good scores for brand satisfaction and reliability.

Most reliable manual espresso machine brand: Delonghi

In 2025, our Consumer Insights team surveyed several thousand 糖心Vlog members who own a manual espresso machine about whether they’ve had any problems with their espresso machine in the past 12 months.

Once again, DeLonghi came out in front, with Breville and Sunbeam just two percentage points behind.

Most reliable pod espresso machine brand: Aldi Expressi

Despite its cheap purchase price, Aldi was named as the most reliable brand for pod and capsule machines. With a reliability score of 96%, Aldi was rated far higher than more expensive brands such as DeLonghi Nespresso, Breville Nespresso and Nespresso, which all scored in the 80s.

Want to know more about 糖心Vlog Best Brand recommendations? Here’s what you need to know about how we determine Australia’s best espresso machine brand.

Overall brand vs individual models

Don’t assume that all products from a reputable brand will be great performers: sometimes even the best brands produce mediocre machines, and lesser-known brands can deliver dazzlers.

To make sure you’re buying the right machine for you, regardless of brand, check our reviews to find the best coffee machine for your needs.

The espresso machines that topped our test for taste

Our in-house experts put hundreds of kitchen appliances through their paces in our labs each year. They know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product for your situation.

Only 糖心Vlog members can access our detailed testing data.

If you’re not yet a member, join 糖心Vlog to get instant access to all our expert, independent reviews, from coffee machines and grinders, kettles and cots, toasters and TVs, and more.

Or if you’re already a 糖心Vlog member, you can see the coffee machines that deliver the best taste and performance in one easy-to-read rundown below.

The post Pod vs manual machines: Which make the best tasting coffee? appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

On this page:

• What is a cold brew coffee?
• Cold brew vs iced coffee: What's the difference?
• How to make cold brew coffee at home, without a machine
• Espresso machines with cold brew functionality
• How we taste test coffee in our coffee machine test
• 糖心Vlog verdict: Are espresso machines with cold brew settings worth it?

As demand for this brew grows, it’s no surprise that coffee machine manufacturers are jumping on the bandwagon. We’re now seeing home espresso machines spruiking cold brew settings, with claims they can bring cafe-quality cold brew into the comfort of your own home at the touch of a button.听

But can a domestic appliance deliver a cafe-quality cold brew?

We don’t assess the cold brew settings in our espresso machine testing, but here we’ll take a look at which brands offer this innovation, and ask our experts if they can live up to the hype.

What is a cold brew coffee?

Cold brew coffee isn’t just a regular coffee shot that’s been cooled down, like in an iced coffee. It’s created using a totally distinct method of coffee extraction.

To achieve a cold brew, coffee beans need to be coarsely ground. They are then steeped in cold (or room temperature) water for an extended period of time, typically 12鈥�24 hours.听

The grounds are then filtered out using a paper filter, fine mesh sieve or other filtration method. This process produces a brew that tastes smoother, with less bitterness and acidity than a regular hot espresso.听

“A cold brew requires more coffee grounds than what is typically used to make hot espresso. This is so you don’t end up with a cold brew that’s weak and watery,” says听糖心Vlog coffee machine expert Adrian Lini.

This also explains why you tend to pay more for this type of coffee at your local cafe.

Cold brew vs iced coffee: What’s the difference?

But isn’t a cold brew just like drinking an iced coffee?

Actually, while they are both served cold, the two are quite different drinks in terms of the way they’re brewed and the flavour they produce. So if you’re expecting a cold brew to taste like an espresso over ice, you might be surprised by the difference.

Iced coffee is made using a hot shot of espresso, but with ice and cold milk added to it to make it refreshingly cool. It still has the bitter and acidic flavour of a hot espresso but without the heat, and some of those flavours are masked by the addition of milk (and in some cases, sugar).

Because of cold brew’s comparatively milder flavour, drinkers are less likely to add as much sugar and milk to cut through the bitterness, meaning it may be a lower calorie option for some.

It also has an extended shelf life and can keep for up to two weeks in the fridge. In comparison, regular coffee starts to go stale soon after it’s made thanks to an aromatic compound that degrades as it cools.

Is cold drip the same as cold brew coffee?

Not quite, although they’re similar in that they only use cold water and they both take up to 24 hours to make.

Where making cold brew involves putting all the coffee and water into a vessel at once, cold drip works by slowly releasing the water through the ground coffee, one drip at a time 鈥� as the name suggests.听

And where espresso machines use pressure from the build-up of steam to force hot water through the ground coffee, cold drip systems rely solely on gravity to move the water.

Cold drip systems tend to be quite elaborate set-ups involving glass piping, and they can be quite expensive, running into the hundreds of dollars.听

For the same price, you could consider a good-quality espresso machine with a cold brew setting.

How to make cold brew coffee at home, without a machine

There are dedicated cold brew coffee makers on the market,听and now espresso machines that feature a cold brew function. But if you’re keen to give it a go at home without forking out for an appliance, all you need are two lidded jars or jugs and a coffee filter.

1. Grind the beans

First up, you’ll need your coffee beans ground more coarsely than you’d use for espresso. If you have a grinder at home, grind your beans on the coarse setting. If you’re buying from a roaster or cafe, ask them to grind it specifically for cold brew 鈥� they’ll know what to do.

Coffee that’s ground too finely can leave sediment in your coffee, which will create a muddy, bitter drink. Lack of sediment is one of the defining characteristics of cold brew and is what gives it that lovely light mouthfeel. Sediment is also food for bacteria, meaning it will reduce the lifespan of your cold brew.

If you only have access to pre-ground beans, don’t despair: it’ll still work, but you may need to play around with timing and brew it for less time. It’s not impossible, but you’ll need to experiment to get it right.

The smaller the grind, the less time it’ll take to steep 鈥� if you leave it too long you could end up with bitter coffee.

2. Mix the coffee grounds with water and leave to steep

Once you’ve got the ground beans, add them to a jar and mix with room temperature water. The coffee-to-water ratio can range from 1:4 or 1:8 (something you can have a play around with to achieve your desired level of strength and flavour once you’ve got a handle on the process).听

Stir the water and coffee until it’s well combined and leave to steep for 12 to 24 hours.

3. Strain the coffee, cool, and enjoy

Strain the coffee into an empty jar using a coffee paper filter or a fine cloth.

You can also use a French press (aka coffee plunger), and in this case you won’t need to use a filter to strain the grounds out. Some baristas and home cold brewers like to filter their cold brew multiple times to remove any residual sediment and give it a ‘cleaner’ flavour.

Pop it in the fridge to cool, then dilute it with water or milk when you’re ready to drink it. Word on the street is you shouldn’t drink the straight concentrate 鈥� unless you want to be buzzy and jittery all day and into the night!

4. Storing your cold brew

Store any leftovers in a container and seal it well. By doing this, it can last in your fridge for up to two weeks.

Espresso machines with cold brew functionality

If you’re a fan of both hot- and cold-brewed coffee, an espresso machine with cold brew functionality could provide the best of both worlds.听

As coffee culture has expanded to make cold brew more mainstream, manufacturers have started to add this functionality to their coffee machines, claiming they’ve created a way to make a cafe-quality cold brew within minutes.

We’ve noticed these features making their way into more and more machines, and while our expert Adrian doesn’t test these setting in our lab test, he says home baristas should not expect cafe-quality cold brews out of a home machine.

“These machines offer a quick alternative, making cold brew using a different method from your local barista, so you shouldn’t expect the same depth and complexity of flavour,” he explains.

“Coffee machines make cold brew by pushing room temperature water through the coffee grinds in the group head at a lower pressure than espresso, but still much higher and faster than what traditional cold brew takes.”

If you’re a casual cold brew drinker, what a home espresso machine turns out may be enough for you. But if you’re a diehard enthusiast, you might find it subpar.

Adrian describes a cold brew from a home espresso machine as tasting “more like a weak room temperature espresso rather than a cold brew”.听

Here are some of the machines we’ve tested with cold brew settings.

DeLonghi La Specialista Touch (EC9455)

• Price: $1099
• Taste test score: 85%
• Type: Semi-automatic

This semi-automatic machine comes with a large touchscreen display that takes you step-by-step through the coffee-making process. It also features an inbuilt grinder with 15 grind settings and an integrated tamper.

It also uses what DeLonghi calls “cold extraction technology” to deliver a cold brew in under five minutes.

This machine was overall an impressive performer, but the stand out was its very good taste test result. The automatic milk frother produced inconsistent temperature and large bubbles, but manually frothing the milk achieved a good result. It also took only seven seconds to heat up, meaning you can deliver a cup of coffee quickly.

For the full test results, see the DeLonghi La Specialista Touch (EC9455) review.

DeLonghi La Specialista Maestro Cold Brew (EC9885)

• Price: $1399
• Taste test score: 80%
• Type: Semi-automatic

For over $1000, this semi automatic machine comes with all the bells and whistles. Its inbuilt grinder has 15 grind settings, so there are plenty of options to get the right grind. It also comes with a “smart tamping station”, so you also don’t have to worry about getting the right tamp.

One of its eight pre-set functions is cold brew, promising to deliver a refreshing brew in under five minutes, using what DeLonghi calls “Cold Extraction Technology”.

While its many buttons can make the machine a bit overwhelming to use, it had a “very good” taste test result and provides lots of options for a variety of coffee beverages.

For the full test results, see the DeLonghi La Specialista Maestro Cold Brew (EC9885) review.

DeLonghi La Specialista Arte Evo EC9255

• Price: $699
• Taste test score: 75%
• Type: Semi-automatic

This semi-automatic coffee machine has an in-built grinder so you can use freshly ground beans for every cup. It has a pre-set function for cold brew, as well as settings for espresso, long black and hot water, where you can tweak the grind, dose, water temperature and extraction time to give you more control over the end result.

The DeLonghi takes around five minutes to deliver a cold brew, still a far cry from the 12 to 24 hours that cold brew usually steeps for. The instructions recommend using a grinder setting between 4 and 6.

In our coffee machine tests, it scored 75% for taste, although again this is for espresso rather than cold brew.

For the full test results, see the DeLonghi La Specialista Arte Evo EC9255 review.

DeLonghi La Specialista Opera (EC9555)

• Price: $799
• Taste test score: 70%
• Type: Semi-automatic

This machine from DeLonghi has an integrated grinder with 15 grind settings as well as an integrated tamper. It also features five pre-set drink functions so you can choose between espresso, Americano, coffee, cold brew or ‘espresso cool’.

It was rated good for taste but only OK for coffee temperature consistency across our test of four consecutive cups of coffee.

We also found the machine to be quite light, which means you might need to keep one hand on the machine to stop it from moving on the bench when locking and unlocking the group handle.

For the full test results, see the DeLonghi La Specialista Opera (EC9555) review.

Breville Nespresso Vertuo Pop + Aeroccino 3 Bundle BNV150

• Price: $319
• Taste test score: 50%
• Type: Capsule

Even manufacturers of capsule machines are jumping on the cold brew bandwagon. Wondering how manufacturers fit cold brew technology in a capsule machine?

Nespresso says it’s inspired by the “hot bloom” method, a process whereby hot water is used in the first seconds of the brewing process, before switching to cool water to achieve the distinct cold brew sweetness. The Vertuo uses “Centrifusion Technology” to deliver a cold brew in minutes. The capsules will cost you $1.73 per capsule (or $12.11 for a pack of 7).听

Bear in mind that when we tested this machine’s espresso, it only scored 50% in our taste test.听

For the full test results see the Breville Nespresso Vertuo Pop + Aeroccino 3 Bundle BNV150 review.

Breville The Oracle Jet (BES985)

• Price: $3399
• Taste test score: 70%
• Type: Semi-automatic

The Oracle Jet comes with an integrated burr grinder that has 45 grind settings. It also automatically grinds, doses and tamps the coffee ready for extraction. It recommends the grind setting depending on extraction time, making it easy to learn how to make a good espresso.

Breville claims the cold brew function on this machine extracts the brew in under three minutes.听

This machine is extremely user-friendly, with a large touch screen that provides a very clear and detailed visual guide. But at over $3000, this easy-to-use functionality comes at a price.

For the full test results see the Breville The Oracle Jet (BES985) review.

Breville The Barista Touch Impress (BES881)

• Price: $1999
• Taste test score: 80%
• Type: Semi-automatic

Like the Oracle Jet, this machine automatically grinds, doses and tamps. It also has a digital display that is user friendly, helping you to make better coffee by giving live tips as the coffee is being made.

During testing, we ran into issues with the default volume, which was inaccurate and needed some adjustments. However, our taste test produced a very good result.

Breville claims its cold brew is extracted in under three minutes, using lower temperatures to reduce acidic notes while producing a light and smooth flavour profile that’s typical of a cold brew.

For the full test results, see the Breville The Barista Touch Impress (BES881) review.

DeLonghi Eletta Explore Titanium ECAM450.86.T

• Price: $1799
• Taste test score: 75%
• Type: Automatic

This fully automatic machine also features DeLonghi’s Cold Extraction Technology. All you need to do is select the cold brew setting and the machine will deliver a cold brew in under five minutes.

The machine has an intuitive digital display, allowing users to easily change most settings and it even offers multiple user profiles where you can save your personalised settings. It also has a “Bean Adapt” feature that provides interactive tips and instructions to help guide users to a better espresso.

For the full test results, see the DeLonghi Eletta Explore Titanium ECAM450.86.T review.

How we taste test coffee in our coffee machine test

When we test manual, semi-automatic, capsule and automatic coffee machines, Adrian puts every product through our in-house taste test.

We recruit the help of three coffee experts to judge a shot of hot espresso from each machine, checking the colour and thickness of the crema, aroma, flavour, mouthfeel (for example, creaminess or wateriness) and aftertaste.

Since cold brew settings are a relatively new addition to coffee machines, a shot of cold brew isn’t subjected to our expert panel for tasting.

In-house cold brew taste test

In 2023 we asked 10 糖心Vlog coffee drinkers to taste three types of cold brew 鈥� from a cafe, a pod machine and a semi-automatic machine 鈥� and tell us which they preferred.

The general consensus was that the coffee from home machines was more akin to a watered-down espresso than a proper cold brew coffee.听

However, our taste testers said the semi-automatic machine was slightly better for taste than the cold brew offered by the capsule machine.

糖心Vlog verdict: Are espresso machines with cold brew settings worth it?

“While the introduction of cold brew settings on home coffee machines sounds like an inviting innovation, it seems to be more of a marketing gimmick rather than a meaningful feature,” says our coffee machine tester Adrian Lini.

“Cold brew settings aren’t aimed at avid enthusiasts, but rather casual cold brew drinkers, allowing you to expand your horizons and experiment with different coffee styles.”听

For lovers of cold brew, the cold brew setting on a home coffee machine may very well miss the mark and you might be better off looking at a dedicated cold brew coffeemaker. Even simple DIY methods can give more depth of flavour, and they require very little in terms of equipment.听

“A true cold brew takes time, something that machines taking mere minutes cannot authentically achieve,” Adrian says.

We’ve tested over 60 manual, semi-automatic and capsule machines in our labs. To see how they perform and what features they come with, take a look at our home espresso coffee machine reviews.听

Alternatively, you may be interested in one of the 25 fully automatic coffee machines we’ve tested.

The post Should you buy a coffee machine with a cold brew setting? appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

On this page:

• Features of the KitchenAid espresso machine
• How does it perform?
• Does the in-built grinder work?
• Is the KitchenAid Semi Automatic espresso machine easy to use?
• How does it compare to other espresso machines we've tested?
• Should you buy the KitchenAid coffee machine?

Kitchenaid also make small kitchen appliances like food processors and blenders, hand mixers, kettles and toasters. We often put these to the test in our labs and find that, while they always deliver in terms of aesthetics, they can be hit and miss for performance.

With the rise of at-home coffee culture, KitchenAid has entered the competitive market of espresso machines, aiming to bring cafe-quality espressos to the budding home barista. Currently, they have three offerings 鈥� one semi-automatic and two fully automatic espresso machines. Of course we had to get one in front of 糖心Vlog expert tester Adrian Lini. He recently put the KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder to the test to see if it lives up to the hype.

At first glance, the machine definitely has the looks, but for $999, does it deliver what’s most important 鈥� a great shot of coffee?

Time and again, our testing teaches us that price doesn’t always equal performance. So how does this KitchenAid coffee machine compare to other espresso machines we’ve tested in our labs? Adrian takes a look.

Features of the KitchenAid espresso machine

It’s common for KitchenAid appliances to have a sleek and stylish design and come in a range of colours. The Semi Automatic Espresso Machine is available in five colours 鈥� juniper (green), porcelain, stainless steel, candy apple (red) and cast iron black.

The machine has a metal-clad construction and comes with:

• a removable bean hopper with lid that can hold 225g of beans
• a 2.5L water tank
• in-built grinder
• tamper
• portafilter
• priming pump
• 355mL milk jug
• stainless steel single- and double-wall filters
• multi-angle steam wand for frothing milk
• cleaning brush.

Most of the espresso machines we’ve tested come with a one- to two-year warranty, but you’ll get a three-year warranty with this KitchenAid.

It also claims to have “smart dosing technology” but Adrian couldn’t see where the smart tech came into the equation.

“While it has a dial for the dose amount, this is common to all machines with a built-in grinder,” he says. “The KitchenAid doesn’t have the ‘self-tamping’ feature we’ve seen in other machines and doesn’t recognise if there’s too much or not enough grinds in the basket.”

With the KitchenAid you’ll need to choose the grind setting and dose amount, press the grind button and then tamp it yourself to determine if it’s under- or over-filled.

How does it perform?

Before you can use the KitchenAid espresso machine for the first time, you need to use the priming pump to manually put water through the system.

Priming a coffee machine is an essential step to prepare a machine for use so it functions properly. It involves running water through the machine to clear out any air bubbles, fill internal components and flush out any impurities or residue that may have built-up during manufacture (or if it hasn’t been used for an extended period of time). It helps to maintain consistent water flow and pressure, which are crucial to optimal performance and coffee extraction. Skipping this step can result in weak coffee or can potentially damage the machine.

In his years of testing espresso machines, Adrian says this ‘priming’ step usually happens automatically.

“For every other machine I’ve tested, all you need to do is fill the tank with water, turn it on and it’ll prime itself,” says Adrian.

“Using the pump is a short extra step in the set-up process, but going into our performance testing it didn’t give me confidence that I would get a consistently good shot of espresso out of this machine.”

“In terms of performance, the machine is mediocre at best,” says Adrian. “Considering the price tag of almost $1000 for this KitchenAid coffee machine, we’ve seen models come through the labs at a fraction of the cost that deliver better results and an espresso you can brag about.”

It took a few attempts to get a decent espresso out of the machine to deliver to our expert panel of judges for the taste test component of the test. Our experts scored the KitchenAid 65% for the taste test, that’s only OK in our books. And if you were serving multiple cups at once you’d find the coffee temperature isn’t consistent over consecutive cups.

On a positive note, it works very well for milk frothing.

For the full test results see the KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine with Burr Grinder review.

Does the in-built grinder work?

Having an in-built grinder in a semi-automatic or manual coffee machine can be a great addition, and can save you from purchasing a separate grinder. However, if it doesn’t perform well, the flow-on effect to the quality of your espresso can be detrimental.

In our testing, Adrian commonly uses single-wall filters when preparing the grind. Single-wall filters are used in the types of commercial espresso machines you’ll find at cafes and leave nowhere to hide when making an espresso. Double wall filters use a second wall to generate more pressure during the pour and can help fix a shot of coffee that doesn’t have the right amount of ground coffee, grind level or tamp.

When testing the KitchenAid, the in-built grinder was unable to grind our test beans fine enough to use the single filters. Only the double wall filters would work.

“It’s not a good sign that the product comes with important coffee making accessories that can’t even be used on their own machine.”

“The lack of grind range and the inability to produce a grind that’s fine enough is a red flag towards the quality and performance of the grinder and machine.”

Is the KitchenAid Semi Automatic espresso machine easy to use?

At first glance, the control panel may look confusing. With no written labelling and only symbols, you might need to refer to the instruction manual initially to understand how to use it.

Once you understand the controls, they are easy to use and the machine as a whole is easy to operate.

“Keep in mind that the unit is comparatively lightweight, and when locking and unlocking the group handle you’ll need to have one hand on the machine to stop it from moving on the bench.”

How does it compare to other espresso machines we’ve tested?

The KitchenAid is a mid-performing coffee machine. While it’s definitely not as bad as our coffee machines to avoid, it’s a far cry from our recommended products.

It falls short in terms of espresso quality, coffee temperature consistency and grinder performance.

“Expectations are high if you’re spending $1000, and this machine simply doesn’t stack up to its competitors at the same or even lower price points,” says Adrian.

While some of the manual and semi-automatic espresso machines in our review come with price tags that soar past the KitchenAid and fall into the thousands, you don’t always have to spend a fortune to get a decent machine. We’ve tested similar semi-automatic machines from Breville and Sunbeam that feature an in-built grinder and provide better performance, all while costing less than the KitchenAid.

Should you buy the KitchenAid coffee machine?

If you already own a KitchenAid stand mixer that displays on your benchtop or have a KitchenAid toaster or kettle standing proudly too, it would be appealing to keep the theme going with their coffee machine. However, in the case of KitchenAid’s Semi Automatic Machine, style doesn’t equal substance.

“The shortcomings of its in-built grinder and its inability to deliver a decent shot of espresso leave me wondering if more could have been done in the design and execution of this machine,” says Adrian.

We’ve tested over 60 manual and semi-automatic coffee machines in our labs. To see how the KitchenAid stacks up against the rest, and to find out which machines deliver great bang for your buck, check out our coffee machine reviews.

The post Should you buy a KitchenAid coffee machine? appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

On this page:

• Does Kmart make good coffee machines?听
• Is the $79 Kmart coffee machine any good?
• How have previous Kmart coffee machines performed?
• Potential issues with cheap appliances

Coffee is serious business and if you’ve decided to buy a coffee machine for your own home, you may be swayed by a cheap option from the Kmart Anko range, which is now also available at Target.

The bargain retailers currently sell two coffee machines:

• The manual Kmart Anko Compact Espresso machine ($79)
• The manual Kmart Anko Retro Espresso Coffee Machine ($99)听

We put the $79 machine to the test in our labs.听While it had some positive attributes, our experts also had plenty of criticisms.听

Does Kmart make good coffee machines?听

We’ve tested a number of Anko machines over the years, but our experts have found them quite disappointing overall.

“Coffee machines, particularly manual espresso machines, can be a serious investment, so it’s natural to be tempted by Kmart’s cheap coffee machines,” says 糖心Vlog kitchen expert Kim Gilmour.

“But they have their pros and cons, and historically Kmart machines haven’t stacked up too well compared with many other rival models.”

“If you’re on a limited budget, you may be considering buying from Kmart, but before you do, do your research by reading our coffee machine reviews to find the best option for you.”

Our expert coffee machine testers assess a wide variety of espresso machines in our labs, ranging from cheap Aldi pod machines all the way through to $4000+ fully automatic machines with digital displays.

Read on for an in-depth analysis of how Anko coffee machines perform.

Is the $79 Kmart coffee machine any good?

Anko Compact Espresso machine

(Available at Kmart and Target)

• Type: Manual
• Price: $79

The cheapest coffee machine we tested, this Kmart model costs even less than a basic pod machine, so it definitely ticks the budget box.听

But sadly, you get what you pay for.听It doesn’t deliver great tasting coffee 鈥� industry experts rated it at just 55% for taste 鈥� and it’s even worse at frothing milk, scoring just 40% on this test.听

Overall, it received a disappointing 糖心Vlog Expert Rating of 57%.

It’s not the worst coffee machine in our review, but it’s the lowest scoring of the manual machines we tested. (Though admittedly, it does score higher than a $299 Sunbeam semi-automatic machine and a $379 Breville Nespresso capsule machine, but that’s not saying much: neither of them did well in our tests and are the two lowest scorers overall.)

What our experts disliked about it

Its low scores show that it doesn’t make great coffee, but why did our experts mark it down?

First up is the temperature: it’s too hot to make a decent espresso (which can burn the coffee, leaving you with a bitter brew), but there’s no way to tweak the temp to improve the situation.

And when frothing the milk, it creates very large bubbles rather than fine foam that makes for a good cuppa.

Our experts found that it’s quite light so you need to hold it down when you’re moving the group handle to stop it moving around on the bench.

It’s also light on accessories: it doesn’t come with a milk jug, so you’ll need to buy one before you start brewing. (They aren’t expensive, but you’d be disappointed to unpack your shiny new machine and find that you can’t use it straight away!)

It does come with a plastic tamper, but that’s not exactly a pro: it’s flimsy and doesn’t fit snugly into the basket.

This means you can’t tamp (press) the coffee down well, which affects the way the hot water flows through the ground coffee and can leave you with an espresso that’s depresso.

What our experts liked about it

There’s not a great deal to say here, unfortunately.

The machine did receive a very good score for coffee temperature consistency 鈥� so you’ll get pretty ordinary coffees from it, but at least they’ll be the same temperature each time.

The Anko Compact Espresso is a manual machine, which means that you’re in charge of operating everything. This can be a good or a bad thing, depending on what you’re looking for.

Semi-automatic machines take care of some functions for you, such as the amount of water that flows through the coffee. They will cut the flow of coffee for you once a pre-set amount has been poured into your cup.

With a manual machine, you’ll have to cut the flow yourself, so you’ll need to keep an eye on it (and maybe even use a timer for more precision).

Manual machines can be more complicated and require more practice to make a good espresso, but they can also allow for more customisation and control.

Unfortunately, one of the Anko machine’s biggest issues is the water temperature, which you can’t adjust, so there aren’t many other things you can tweak to improve your brew.

Find out how this Kmart coffee machine compares with other brands in our coffee machine reviews.

All the details are available to our members 鈥� consider becoming a 糖心Vlog member to access our expert reviews and avoid buying a dud machine.

How have previous Kmart coffee machines performed?

In the past, we’ve tested several other Kmart coffee machines, including a pod machine and three semi-automatic machines.听

None of them were exceptional performers, but a few have been worth considering compared with far costlier models.

A 2023 semi-automatic model outperformed some other machines in certain aspects of our testing 鈥� including ones that were far more expensive.听

A $649 DeLonghi, for instance, scored just 60% in the taste test, while the Kmart scored 75%. That’s a big win for a little machine that cost a fraction of the DeLonghi model!

And it had an overall 糖心Vlog Expert Rating of 73%, which is impressive for its price.听

Unfortunately it’s since been discontinued, so you can’t pick up this budget beauty any more.

And two other Kmart Anko machines 鈥� one manual, one semi-automatic 鈥� hit 70% on the taste test, beating machines worth many times more, but they still didn’t rate especially well overall.听

Those are pretty much the only high points for Kmart machines, sadly. The brand’s low points have included a capsule machine that scored just 35% for taste and 54% overall, and a $95 machine that could only manage scores of 60% for taste and milk frothing.听

Only three of its machines have rated higher than 65%, well below the cut-off to be recommended by our experts.

In short, Kmart’s machines can be hit and miss, so make sure you check our detailed coffee machine reviews before you hit the store to make sure you’re picking up the best possible machine for your needs and budget.

Potential issues with cheap appliances

If you’re looking at buying a budget coffee machine from retailers like Kmart and Target,听it’s important to consider its lifespan.听

Cheap appliances may be made with cheaper parts and have shorter warranties than more expensive products.

It can also be harder to find replacement parts (if they’re available at all), and the design can make them difficult to repair, so they could end up in landfill sooner.

If things go wrong, you might have better luck with customer service from an established brand rather than a discount retailer.

A cheap coffee machine might save you money at the checkout, but听it could cost you more in the long run听if you have to replace it sooner because it breaks.

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