Best Coffee Machine? Consider these Differences

Getting your coffee fix from the comfort of your own home or office can make a huge difference to your morning and day. With so many different coffee makers out there, choosing the right machine for your household can feel overwhelming. Lots of people are looking for a hassle-free solution that will produce a consistently great cup of coffee, but when faced with a plethora of different options, it can start to feel confusing.

You want to invest in the right type of machine and coffee for your lifestyle, environment, and daily caffeine needs. This means taking into consideration the amount of convenience and automation you are looking for on a day-to-day basis, as well as the quality and taste of the coffee it’s producing.  If you’re in the market for a new coffee machine but don’t quite know where to start, you’re in the right place. Below is a comprehensive comparison between manual, automatic and capsule coffee machines to help you make the decision that's right for you

Manual Espresso Machines 

What is a manual espresso machine?

Right off the bat, one of the most important things to consider when shopping for a coffee machine is how much automation you’re looking for. A manual coffee machine requires the user to control the entire brewing process, from grinding the beans to extraction. Using these machines takes a lot of practice and precision - they’re what you’ll usually see at coffee shops. 

What are the benefits of a manual espresso machine?

• Coffee properly extracted using a manual espresso machine will be of excellent quality and taste
• Baristas have complete control over the brewing process 
• The machine allows for continuous coffee brewing and doesn’t require pauses or interruptions - this is ideal for a restaurant or cafe setting.

What are the drawbacks of a manual espresso machine?

• There are multiple parts to the process and it requires a lot of practice to get right 
• Requires additional accessories such as a grinder 
• Maintenance of the machine can be difficult without proper training and experience 

Automatic Coffee Machines

What is a fully automatic coffee machine?

The main focus of automatic coffee machines is their simplicity and ease of use. Automatic coffee machines produce consistently great cups of coffee at the click of a button. With pre-set options and settings, the user can select the beverage of choice. The machine will automatically grind the coffee beans, extract the espresso and froth the milk. Making a cup of coffee is incredibly simple, you simply choose what type of drink you’d like, and press start. 

What are the benefits of an automatic espresso machine?

• Delicious cup of coffee brewed with almost no effort required 
• Extremely user-friendly, efficient and produce consistent results 
• The user does not need to grind beans or froth milk
• Self-cleaning
• Waste free process 

What are the drawbacks of automatic espresso machine?

• Automated systems limit customization to a certain degree
• Good machines can be pricey, but a great deal if leased under a machine and coffee subscription plan 

Capsule Coffee Machines

What is a capsule coffee machine?

A capsule coffee machine produces a single-portion of coffee using a pod or capsule. The process is incredibly simple: you fill the water tank, select your pod, and press the start button. 

What are the benefits of a capsule coffee machine?

• Extremely user-friendly, efficient and produce consistent results 
• Less effort required of the user than a manual coffee machine 
• The user does not need to grind beans or froth milk
• Self-cleaning

What are the drawbacks of a capsule coffee machine?

• Buying capsules can get costly - they’re much more expensive than fresh coffee beans 
• Many coffee capsule machines only support their brands’ coffee pods - limiting variety 
• The use of pre-ground beans means that coffee will not taste as fresh and have less aroma 
• Additional waste associated with pod disposal 
• Limited range of coffee - you aren’t able to try different types of beans 

If you’re looking for consistency, variety and efficiency - opt for an automatic coffee machine 

If you’re a coffee lover and looking to enjoy a consistent, delicious and convenient cup of coffee at home - an automatic coffee machine is the best option for you. Automatic coffee machines are simple to use and don’t require practice or time on the user-side. At the same time, they can produce the full range of specialty coffee drinks at the click of a button. 

An automatic coffee machine will allow you just the right amount of flexibility to perfect your cup of coffee in a way that suits your taste-buds, but not too much that you’ll need to spend time learning how to operate the machine. 

Check our selection of automatic coffee machines