Automatic Coffee Machines - Buying Guide

+ How do I choose an automatic coffee machine?

I am here to help you to choose the best automatic coffee machine for your home and in most cases you will find that this will be one of my recommended machines. When making recommendations I draw upon 15 years of experience to answer a simple queston: "which automatic coffee machine would I choose for my own home given a budget of x?"

+ What drinks can I make with an automatic machine?

Automatic coffee machines can make a number of drinks including many of the favorites below:

• Espresso - the drink of the coffee connoisseur
• Long black / Americano – hot water with an espresso shot
• Latte / Cappuccino - an espresso shot with steamed milk
• Iced long black - iced water with an espresso shot
• Iced coffee - iced milk with an espresso shot

+ Are pod coffee machines a good choice?

Pods coffee machines are convenient, but that's where the good times end. Pods machines are not a great choice when it comes to the quality of coffee in-the-cup.

• Pre-ground coffee in pods is coarse so every espresso is thin due to fast extractions
• Pods contain 7g of coffee and extract 30ml so every espresso is over-extracted and weak
• Pre-ground coffee in pods cannot compete with freshly ground beans when it comes to flavour and aroma

These reasons above explain why most pods taste pretty much the same. They may have long descriptions and fancy packaging, but at the end of the day they all taste similar - weak, thin and bitter.

There's a reason that your favorite café grinds fresh beans. Fresh is best. For amazing coffee at home you can feed your own bean-to-cup coffee machine with beans from your local café. To learn about the absolute magic of coffee beans, and to read about my own quest for Ethiopian coffee Click Here

Bean-to-cup automatic coffee machines are the best way to conveniently enjoy high quality, freshly ground coffee at home.

+ Can automatic coffee machines make great coffee?

Bean-to-cup automatic coffee machines do it all. They grind the beans, feed them into the machine, and then run the water through the grounds.

There's no doubt that premium fully automatic coffee machines can make great coffee. Most people are very happy with the coffee from these machines.

However, there is no automatic coffee machine available that can make true café quality coffee. For café quality coffee at home, take a look at my guide to Manual Coffee Machines

+ Can an automatic coffee machine make a hot latté?

The request for an extra hot latté is the fear of all baristas as there is no way to get this without overheating the milk. Overheating damages proteins and sugars in the milk, and results in changes to milk taste and sweetness. The secret to a hot latté is to pre-warm your cups with hot water. Warming cups is important.

+ Are fully automatic coffee machines easy to use?

Fully automatic coffee machines are very simple to use. This is why so many choose them. They give you great coffee with a push of a button. For ease of use all of my recommended automatic coffee machines have intuitive interfaces to help you to get your beverage of choice. Intuitive interfaces are really important.

+ Do automatic coffee machines heat up quickly?

Fully automatic coffee machines heat up very quickly. Typical heat up time is only 2-3 minutes.

+ Can automatic coffee machines keep up?

Premium automatic coffee machines have no problem at all with back-to-back coffees. All coffee machines that I sell can make coffee all day long so they are well suited to busy homes as well as to small offices.

+ Is an adjustable grinder important?

Just as with manual coffee machines, an adjustable grinder is important. I highly recommend choosing an automatic coffee machine with adjustable grinder settings.

+ Are automatic coffee machines easy to maintain?

All of my automatic coffee machines have intuitive interfaces and intelligent systems to guide you through cleaning and maintenance tasks. This makes cleaning and maintenance nice and simple.

+ Are automatic coffee machines easy to service?

Every week I hear horror stories about cheap automatic coffee machines that they cannot be repaired. Sometimes these are only a few year old and spare parts are simply no longer available. Beware of cheap machines that will cost you in the long run. Buy once, and buy well.

I offer only premium automatic coffee machines, with exceptional local support. All of my machines are directly supported by importers in Melbourne, as well as a network of service agents Australia-wide.

For advice on recommended technicians in your local area please get in Contact

+ Are the best automatic coffee machines made in Italy?

Italians make great manual coffee machines but when it comes to Automatic coffee machines they don't lead the way. Made in Italy is a stretch for these machines as well as "made in Italy" often means assembled in Italy from components sourced from China. The best quality machines are now made by Dr Coffee in China. The quality of these machines is exceptional and the value is sensational.

+ How much should I spend on an a coffee machine?

Premium automatic coffee machines start near $2k. The payback period is surprisingly fast. By replacing 4 coffees per day at Melbourne café prices a $2k automatic coffee machine will pay itself back in 5 months. At 10 years the savings reach a staggering $50k.

Although the decision to buy a premium coffee machines is rarely driven by finances alone, the business case is a strong one. It can certainly be useful to have the business case at hand to convince a hesitant partner.