The best coffee machines to upgrade your home coffee experience

Best for real espresso without the hassle

While sleek and happy to be placed front and centre on one’s countertop, this espresso machine is not just a gorgeous sight. This coffee machine is designed for simplicity and no-fuss mornings. Simply pour in your favourite beans, swipe the handle and the machine will automatically grind beans for a super fresh aroma. The drip tray and lid are also dishwasher safe for an easy clean.

Key features:

• 16-bar pressure pump
• Accurate dosing (grind size not adjustable)
• Compact size
• Two-year warranty

Best for the maximum strength, minimal guesswork espresso enthusiast

The Ninja Luxe Café Espresso Machine is an intelligent espresso and coffee system with unmatched 3-in-1 versatility (no guesswork espresso, rapid cold brew and well balanced drip coffee), that helps you elevate your coffee routine and create café-quality drinks at home.

We’ve tested this one ourselves, with GT‘s Shopping Writer, Rachel Weisz, summing it up as “a surprisingly pleasant addition to my caffeine-fuelled home.

“I love how fast it is to prepare my morning coffee, with limited clean up needed afterwards. This is a necessary element in a home that’s often rushed in the morning.

Whether you’re a beginner or an espresso pro, I absolutely recommend this automatic machine.”

Rachel Weisz, GT Shopping Writer

Key features:

• 3-in-1 functionality
• Technology with grind size recommendations and automated brew adjustments
• Dual froth system
• 24-month warranty

Also available at:

• $719 at Woolworths
• $749 at Myer
• $999.99 $749.95 at Kitchen Warehouse

Best for: the espresso purist

Containing higher levels of caffeine than, say, filter coffee, the espresso is the quintessential drink of Italy. With an included precision grinder, as well as a dual boiler heating system – for the espresso shot and instant steam for your milk – Breville’s The Dual Boiler means bean business and experimentation. Add in digital temperature control, a portafilter, and customisable pre-infusion, and you’re equipped to explore the finer details of coffee-making.

Key features:

• Digital temperature control technology for consistent espresso quality
• Steam wand creates micro-foam texture
• Integrated and removable 58mm tamper
• 360 Swivel action steam wand
• 24-month warranty

Also available at:

• $2599 $1294 at David Jones
• $1277 at The Good Guys

Best for a compact classic

Ideal for kitchens with limited bench space, the Bambino Plus may be small in size but not in pizazz. Ready to rumble in three seconds, this machine features low pressure pre-infusion followed by 9-bar extraction delivered by its 15 bar Italian pump. Plus, if you’re a fan of a latte, the automatic steam wand handles all the milk frothing, giving you creamy froth at the right texture every time.

Key features:

• Uses the four key formulas
• Hands-free automatic steam wand
• ThermoJet heating system
• Low pressure pre-infusion followed by nine-bar extraction
• Compact design for countertops

Also available:

• $549 $497 at Amazon
• $499 at The Good Guys
• $549 at Breville

Best for the early riser

Coffee with the touch of a button? Yes please. Choose from one of 20 delicious recipes, from lattes to iced coffees with the Philips Series 5500 fully automatic espresso machine. Plus, its SilentBrew technology means it is perfect for those early morning before the rest of the world has risen.

Key features:

• 20 pre-programmed drinks
• Built-in grinder
• Milk frothing available
• Create profiles for four + guest
• Intuitive display
• Two-year warranty

Also available at:

• $1399 $1199 at David Jones

Best for the multi-person home

Breville’s most advanced espresso machine to date, the Oracle Dual Boiler it allows users to seamlessly switch between manual and automatic modes, offering full control when they want it, and automation when they don’t. So whether you live with an espresso purist or a rookie dad who simply needs their caffeine fix, this machine ensures that it will be ready to brew when you are. The new Breville+ coffee app also means that you can remotely power on and preheat the machine from the comfort of your bed. The urgency of snoozing feels far less urgent.

With a built-in grinder offering 45 precision settings courtesy of Baratza, a steam wand for silky milk frothing, and intuitive touchscreen controls, this machine brings barista-level performance into the kitchen.

Key features:

• 5.7-inch high-definition touchscreen
• 15 preset beverages
• Dedicated settings for iced lattes, shakeratos, and espresso martini’s
• Auto Dial-In system will monitor each extraction and make grind size adjustments automatically
• 45 grind settings with Baratza European precision
• Auto MilQ steam wand
• 2.3L water tank
• New Breville+ coffee app can be used to power on and preheat the machine

Also available at:

• $4299 at The Good Guys

Best for the hands-off coffee fiend

Featuring an intuitive design with 13 one-touch coffee recipes to save you from the disappointment of burnt coffee, four levels on intensity and LatteCema Hot technology for milk-based drinks, De’Longhi’s Magnifica Evo Next is the ultimate addition to smart kitchens of coffee fiends. With a built-in grinder, adjustable settings, and easy cleaning, it’s ideal for everyday brewing.

“The De’Lognhi Magnifica Evo Next coffee machine was the first automatic coffee machine I ever tested, and quickly became a fan favourite in my home,” says Rachel Weisz.

“What stands out about this machine is its quick and easy navigation. I simply switch it on, press the cappuccino button, and like magic, my coffee is ready while I tackle the rest of my morning.“

After a few months with this machine, and others, Rachel has also gained some more insights into how this machine performs. “When the machine finishes brewing, the leftover coffee grind is left in the machine, which you’ll need to clean out regularly to avoid mould (the machine will remind you to empty it, but you’ll need to do it more often I noticed),” she says.

But there are some other handy features that stood out in the testing: “You can also set up your own brew profile if you have multiple coffee lovers in your home, and store the milk frother in the fridge with leftover milk to avoid waste.”

Key features:

• 13 adjustable grind settings
• Up to 13 one-touch coffee recipes
• Automated milk frother
• Four levels of intensity and five drink sizes

Also available at:

• $899 at Woolworths

Best for retro style, automatic indulgence

Bring the café to the home with an automatic coffee machine that does everything for you at the touch of a humble button. With a signature 50s style design, this Smeg model boasts an effortless bean-to-cup process that is fully customisable from espresso to ristretto, latte to cappuccino. Its automatic frother, thermoblock system and sleek design make it a functional statement piece.

Key features:

• 19-bar pump pressure concentrates beans for a rich taste
• Automatically milk steaming at the push of a button
• Eight drink options
• 30-second cleaning cycle
• Available in three colours

Also available at:

• $1199 $929.95 at Kitchen Warehouse
• $1199 $792 at Appliances Online

Best for the communal coffee drinker

With a generous capacity to brew up to 1.8 litres of coffee at a time and a reusable cone filter, this drip coffee maker is ideal for lovers of American-style coffee, as well as cold brews or serving for a crowd. The programmable timer is also handy if you want coffee at a certain time (say, when you first wake up), and the 1-4 cup button can double as a ‘bold’ setting for extra strong brews.

Key features:

• Large 1.8L capacity carafe
• Pause and serve functionality automatically stops the flow of coffee if carafe is removed
• Programmable timer
• When making a full pot of coffee, the 1-4 cup button doubles as a “bold” setting
• Charcoal water filter and reusable gold-tone filter basket for ground coffee

Also available at:

• $99 at The Good Guys
• $99.95 at Breville
• $109 at Myer

Best capsule coffee machines

Best for the caffeinated go-getter

Seizing the day takes a good chunk of time, so a fuss-free coffee is an ideal fixture in the go-getter’s morning. The Vertuo Pop by Nespresso utilises Centrifusion technology which reads the barcode on each capsule for precise brewing. Heating up in 30 seconds, it also features Expert Mode – which at two pushes of the button, goes beyond the machine’s standard coffee preparation. Available in six sleek shades, this model combines engineered design with style.

Key features:

• Automatic power off after two minutes
• 30-second heat up time
• Expert mode delivers coffee optimised for milk beverages
• Includes Aeroccino 3 milk frother

Also available at:

• $319 $255 at Amazon

Best for intuitive and personalised touch

If you’re an espresso head but you’re more about convenience than process, this coffee machine uses Nespresso capsule pods to deliver perfectly portioned java. With a fully automatic steam wand set to your preferred temperature, frothy milk for your cap or latte is all but a button push away. It’s ideal for those who want barista-style drinks without the work.

Size: 40.9 x 17 x 30.9 cm

Key features:

• Fully automatic steam wand
• Advanced microfoam milk technology
• Intuitive digital display
• Autoclean function
• Two-year warranty

Also available:

• $949 $759 at Amazon