The best home coffee machines and accessories that will upgrade your morning routine (2025)

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The options can feel endless, but there are two main categories:automatic and manual. Which one you choose should suit yourlifestyle. Alana Hollings, national brand manager – Electrical atHarvey Norman, suggests thinking about how much effort youwant to put into making a coffee.

“An automatic coffee machine with an integrated milk frotherwould be the best option for someone who wants a good coffeewith minimum fuss,” she says. These high-tech machines grindbeans, extract espresso and froth the milk at the touch ofa button. If you want to personalise your coffee a little more,semi-automatics will allow you to grind and tamper your coffeewhile the machine does the rest of the work. Capsules are alsoautomatic but do away with beans altogether, simply requiringa capsule of ground coffee to extract your espresso shot. Asclose to the convenience of instant coffee as you can possiblyget, these machines are easy to clean, low effort and pods comein a variety of flavours.

Manual machines have increased in popularity as peoplerealise anyone can make a great cup of coffee if they do theirresearch and have the right tools. Manual machines allow youto control every step of the process, from grinding to dosing,tamping and determining the strength of the cup you want.The speed at which hot water is forced through the coffee iscalled bar pressure; aim for at least nine bars.

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A quality cup of coffee begins with the beans. “For automaticor manual coffee machine users, storing whole beans or freshgrounds in a vacuum-sealed canister is important as the coffeestarts to lose its flavour as it comes into contact with air,”advises Alana. If you use a capsule machine, opt for a qualityproduct and store them appropriately.

Whole beans kept in a cool, dry cupboard (not a fridge) arethe best option as they retain their oils longer. Sam suggestsonly grinding as many beans as you’ll need for 4-5 days ata time. “The finer the grind, the higher the chances are yourcoffee will be bitter,” warns Sam. The best consistency isslightly finer than cracked pepper. To get a good crema (the finelayer of froth on top of your espresso) make sure you’ve groundthe beans to the right consistency for your machine, tampedevenly and used fresh coffee. Then simply sit back and enjoy!

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Best for: Stylish, simple hands-on operation

This award-winning machine was designed to balance automatic coffee production and a hands-on experience at home. The on-board burr grinder is adjustable for grind and auto-dosage and the extra large 2.5l water tank means fewer refills between fixes. If you’re a milk coffee drinker, this is a strong contender in the market for perfecting microfoam with a domestic machine

Colours: Porcelain – Gloss, Cast Iron Black – Crinkle, Juniper – Gloss, Stainless Steel – Metallic.

Key features:

• Metal clad construction
• Removable bean hopper
• On board burr grinder
• Makes up to 17 espresso shots
• 2.5l water tank
• Red Dot product design award 2024

Also available at:

• $849, Myer
• $848, The Good Guys

Best for: A pop of colour

Looking to add a pop of colour to your morning routine? The Vertuo Pop range from Nespresso will do just the trick. Available in a range offun and bright colourways, but our pick is this one in a bold red hue. This machine is the most compact and affordable machine in the brand’s Vertuo range.

Colours: Spicy Red, Aqua Mint, Coconut White, Liquorice Black, Pacific Blue and Mango Yellow.

Key features:

• Removable water tank (0.56L)
• Adjustable cup holder
• Automatic power off after two minutes

Also available at:

• $229, Nespresso

Best for: coffee enthusiasts

This premium espresso machine is designed for coffee enthusiasts. Featuring a dual heating system and advanced steam technology, it ensures optimal extraction and perfectly textured milk for café-quality beverages at home. The integrated grinder allows for fresh grounds on demand, while the precise temperature control guarantees consistent results. With user-friendly controls and a sleek design, this machine combines functionality and style, making it a stunning addition to any kitchen. Enjoy the art of coffee making and indulge in rich, aromatic espresso with every cup.

Colours: Metal.

Key features:

• 3-infusion tempuratures
• Cold brew in under 5 minutes
• Full accessory kit

Also available at:

• $658, Amazon

Best for: Beans or ground coffee

Use beans or coffee grounds in this Italian-made high-tech machine that offers 14 different beverage options to choose from. An espresso tray and built-in frother does away with a fiddly milk jug and promises a flawless espresso every time. Oh, and you can save four different user profiles to save your choices once you find your favourite brew.

Key features:

• Use beans or ground coffee
• Built-in espresso tray
• Integrated milk carafe

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Best for: Barista-style brews

With customisable drink options and automatic milk frothing technology, this smart machine brews barista-style drinks from the comfort of your home. The drip tray goes into the dishwasher for easy cleaning too. We recently tried and tested the Magnifica Evo next and found that the user friendly display and customisable drink options make it the perfect companion for people with busy routines, or who are short on time.

Key features:

• 13 customisable drink options
• User-friendly display
• Automatic milk foam
• Removable, dishwasher-safe components

Best for: Coffee for one

Coffee for one, coming right up! This compact espresso machine from Sunbeam is perfect for small kitchens. With a fast heat-up time and auto-shot volumetric control, you’ll be pouring your perfect cuppa, every morning.

Key features:

• Fast heat up time
• Auto-shot volumetric control
• Cafe style milk steam wand
• In-built temperature controller

Best for: Cold brew

If cold brew coffee is your thing, this elegant setup will serve up stylish aesthetics with your morning brew. Plus, its compact size means to takes up less space in your kitchen as well as your fridge.

Key features:

• Rainmaker evenly distributes water over coffee grounds
• Glass carafe
• Stainless steel mesh filter
• Brewer and carafe nest for convenient storage

Best for: Coffee fiends

There’s a reason La Marzocco is every barista’s go-to coffee machine. At-home baristas will love the new Linea Micra, a compact version of the Linea Mini and Classic, with café quality features such as a dual boiler for temperature control, a convertible portafilter and a cool touch wand for safe steaming. The Linea Micra is even IOT app compatible with remote control, so there’s no waiting around in the morning to start brewing.

Key features:

• Insulated steam wand:
• Drip tray
• Hot water spout
• Barista lights

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Best for: Stovetop lovers

Designed for the hands-on coffee enthusiast, the Bellman works like any stovetop machine to brew your espresso but also has an integrated steam wand to froth your milk. It may take a bit of tinkering to get it right, but when you do, it’ll brew up to nine espressos to perfection.

Key features:

• 3, 6, or 9 cup capacity
• Compatible with gas, electric, ceramic, campfire and induction

The best coffee machine accessories

Best for: A clean bench

More than just looking the part, this knock box will save your benchtop and collect all of the mess of coffee grinds for easy disposal.

Key features:

• Dishwasher safe grinds bin
• Silicon mat
• Precision milk thermometer

Best for: frothing milk or matcha

Who knew a handheld milk frother would come with a lifetime warranty? The Zulay milk frother has garnered 167,066 reviews on Amazon, with an average of 4.3 stars – so to say it’s a popular pick, is an understatement. With this handheld milk frother you can make rich and creamy microfoam in seconds, or you could use it to whisk your matcha for matcha lattes too. Plus, it’s easy to clean and store with its durable and convenient included metal stand.

Key features:

• Comes with a metal stand
• Lifetime warranty
• Suitable for matchas

Best for: The perfect grind

With pre-programming for dosing and grind profile, this streamlined unit has aconical burr grinder to get through your daily dose. If you’re after a full-bodied, aromatic and flavoursome brew, we’d recommend adding this grinder to your coffee-making set up – stat.

Key features:

• 60 grind settings
• LCD display
• Precision dosing

Also available at:

• $324 (usually $349), Appliances Online
• $349, Breville
• $329, The Good Guys

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