Best bean-to-cup coffee machines of 2024 in the UK — reviewed and ranked by the Ideal Home team

The best bean-to-cup coffee machines are here to make life immeasurably easier (and tastier, too)

Three of the best bean to cup coffee machines on Ideal Home style background
(Image credit: Future/Sage/Beko/Melitta)

It's no secret that the best bean-to-cup coffee machines unlock an elevated coffee experience at home. Whether you brew a fresh espresso or a tasty cappuccino, these machines ensure that your coffee straight from the bean is as freshly ground as possible. 

Often working at the touch of a button, a bean-to-cup machine will grind the perfect amount of coffee for a well-extracted shot and then create the ideal level of pressure to prevent too much acidity or bitterness in your final drink. Some even come with automatic milk dispensers to make fine and frothy foam without any hands-on steaming. 

Although they may be the most expensive options, bean-to-cups are easily some of the best coffee machines on the market for those who take their coffee really seriously. Their sleek and modern designs look at home in a variety of kitchens, and there are also some more barista-style machines that give you custom control of your brew or the ability to work on your art. If you want to recreate your coffee-shop favourite then there's no competition. 

Below you'll find the best bean-to-cup coffee machines we've tested from the likes of Sage, Beko, De'Longhi and more. Everything below has been tried by a member of the Ideal Home team, with a range of products to suit every budget too.

The best bean to cup coffee machines of 2024 in the UK

Looking for the most efficient way to shop for the best bean to cup coffee machine? Introducing our quick list, which lets you see the pros and cons of these products at a glance.

The best bean to cup coffee machine

Image of Sage coffee machineproduct badge

(Image credit: Sage )
The best bean to cup coffee machine overall

Specifications

Milk wand : Yes, manual
Water capacity : 2 litres
Pressure : 15 bar

Reasons to buy

+
Relatively compact footprint
+
Adjustable grind size and volume
+
Manual mode, or pre-dosed grinding
+
In-built tamping keeps things mess-free
+
Makes a mean espresso
+
Powerful milk steaming
+
Pressure gauge is ideal for budding baristas

Reasons to avoid

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It can take a few tamps to get the perfect finish
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You get what you pay for, but it's not a cheap option

Buy it if: you're looking for the very best machine, regardless of budget

We've already crowned this as our favourite coffee machine overall in our all-encompassing guide, but it would be remiss not to call it the best bean-to-cup coffee machine on the market too. 

Yes, it's expensive, with an RRP of £729.00, but if you're looking to invest in your coffee set-up, then the investment will prove worth it even if it takes a lot of saving up. Of course, that's a big if, especially right now when you might not be in the perfect place to make this kind of investment.

Our reviewer rated the coffee from this machine an easy 10/10. Though it took a little getting used to at first, once set up with the perfect grind size and pressure level, the espressos that were made were perfectly well-balanced and creamy.

You can tell when you hit the right point by looking at the pressure dial on the front of the machine. If you are new to steaming milk, this will be a great machine to get you started on making your own lattes and cappuccinos too, thanks to the wand. 

Our Sage Barista Express Impress review has the full details.

The best value bean to cup coffee machine

Beko CEG5311X Bean to Cup Coffee MachineBudget buy badge

(Image credit: Beko)
Best bean-to-cup coffee machine on a budget

Specifications

Milk wand: Yes
Water capacity: 1.6 litre
Pressure: 19 bar

Reasons to buy

+
It's a great alternative to much more expensive models
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Slimline
+
Light-up dispenser

Reasons to avoid

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We found the milk wand quite fiddly
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The coffee came out quite hot for our liking

Buy it if: you want a great value option.

If you don’t want to spend a fortune, or take up too much worktop space, you should buy this Beko machine. With a narrow footprint (at 24cm wide) and a 19-bar pressure pump to make deep, full-bodied coffee, it's a perfect machine to opt for if your budget is smaller. You use touch controls to operate it, with icons running along the exterior of this machine.

Out of the box, our tester found that the coffee was a little bit mild, but there is a handy dial to adjust the grinder. Once the grind was finer, coffee was tastier with a better crema. Meanwhile, the froth from the steam wand was very powerful (maybe too powerful) and quick to get going. 

You can adjust the grind and also the length of coffee shots with this machine. If you want a longer drink you can top it up with hot water from the wand or hold one of the brewing buttons down to make the shot longer or shorter. And its pre-brewing system wets the dose of coffee for a richer extraction, releasing oils to maximise aroma and depth.

We found the light-up touch controls on the top hard to see in bright sunlight from the skylight above. The steam wand also works at quite an awkward angle if you're really serious about your lattes. However, this coffee maker is hard to fault regarding bangs (beans?) for your buck.

Our Beko CEG5311X Bean to Cup Coffee Machine review has the full details.

The best automatic bean to cup coffee machine

Cuisinart Veloce Best coffee machineproduct badge

(Image credit: Cuisinart)
Best bean-to-cup coffee machine for automatic brewing

Specifications

Milk wand: No, milk is automatic
Water capacity: 1.25 litres
Pressure: 15 bar

Reasons to buy

+
A smart machine that offers a full menu of drink options
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Very good value
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Easy to top up water

Reasons to avoid

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You need to clean the milk wand after every latte or cappuccino

Buy it if: convenience is your priority.

The Cuisinart Veloce makes some of the more high-end bean-to-cup features relatively accessible. It's by no means cheap, but you do get all the perks of a digital display and complete coffee menu. We enjoyed saving our custom drink preferences onto the menu, which made for easy coffee rounds.

It's got a small water tank, but on the plus side it's front-facing and incredibly easy to remove and refill. The same can be said for emptying the coffee grounds, and the display comes up with instructions and prompts to stay on top of maintenance.

We found that the machine needed adjusting before we got that perfect espresso. It required grind adjustments, which can be done at the top of the machine where you keep your coffee beans. The milk wand can be inserted into the side container via a rubber tube, and this makes fully adjustable lattes or cappuccinos completely hands-free. You can even choose your froth level and the temperature of your drink.

The milk wand needs to be placed in a cup of water after each use, after which it will run a quick self-clean. If you plan on making long coffees and americanos though, the self-clean is fully automatic.

Our Cuisinart Veloce coffee machine review has the full details.

The best bean to cup machine for long drinks

De'Longhi Bean to Cup coffee machineproduct badge

(Image credit: De'Longhi)
Best bean-to-cup coffee machine for lattes (and other long drinks!)

Specifications

Milk wand: No, adjustable dispenser
Water capacity: 1.8 litres
Pressure: 19 bar

Reasons to buy

+
Can be controlled remotely
+
Quality milk frother
+
Sensitive bean grinder
+
Adjust to your own preferences

Reasons to avoid

-
The milk container needs to be cleaned regularly

Buy it if: you want to cut down on visits to your local coffee shop.

With modes for cappuccino, flat white, and even latte macchiato, the De’Longhi Dinamica Plus ECAM370 is a premium coffee machine that delivers on automatic systems with hands-free brewing. The menu allows you to adjust the drinks to different sizes and aromas, and you can completely customize the coffee-to-milk ratio by making a preset just for you.

The water tank sits at the front of the machine, and so does the grounds container. Both are very easy to access, and the bean dispenser sits at the top back which makes pouring easy. You'll need to clean the milk dispenser after every use, but all this requires is switching the dial to the self-clean mode.

If quality espresso is your top priority, you'll love the automatic grinding, which is sensitive for different types of beans. You can also pour grounds into a different dispenser for making decaff without emptying out the bean container. It's an expensive machine, but you'll often find it on sale, and it ticked every box in our testing.

Our De’Longhi Dinamica Plus ECAM370 review has the full details.

The best quiet bean-to-cup coffee machine

Melitta Latticia OTproduct badge

(Image credit: Melitta)
The best quiet bean to cup coffee machine

Specifications

Milk wand: Yes, a milk steaming tube
Water capacity : 1.5 litres
Pressure: 15 bar

Reasons to buy

+
Low-noise grinding
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High quality espresso
+
Fully adjustable drink size
+
Five pre-set drinks
+
Removable water tank

Reasons to avoid

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You will need to buy an additional milk container
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Plastic-y design doesn't feel too high quality

Buy it if: you need a machine that keeps the volume to a minimum.

The Melitta Latticia OT gets a solid four-star rating from us after our review process. It's priced well, and makes an impressive brew. It lacks some of the refinement you'll get with a pricier machine though, and we were disappointed it didn't come with a milk dispenser.

On the plus side, it's one of the quietest coffee machines we've ever tested, and if you're willing to do some fiddly button-pushing it's very adjustable for your specific coffee preferences. Our tester also really enjoyed being able to simply turn a dial to choose the size of the drink, which is a lot simpler than having to navigate a touch-screen design. 

Our Melitta Latticia OT Coffee Machine review has the full details.

Best bean to cup coffee machine for £500

Breville bean-to-cup coffee machineproduct badge

(Image credit: Currys)
The best bean to cup machine for £500

Specifications

Milk wand : Yes
Water capacity : 2.9 litres
Pressure : 15 bar

Reasons to buy

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Looks great
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Packed with clever controls
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Sensitive brewing
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Excellent milk steaming
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Huge water capacity

Reasons to avoid

-
Very hands-on
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Can get messy

Buy it if: you have £500 or less to spend.

It seems insane to put the Breville Barista Max Espresso Machine into the category of a 'budget buy' considering that it has an RRP of £479.00, but in the world of bean-to-cup coffee machines, it is on the more affordable side. 

It's also a very capable coffee machine, with heaps of customisable controls that will allow budding baristas to really take control of their brewing process. When reviewing the Breville Barista Max+ our tester was struck by just how stylish this machine was, with a design that would fit nicely into most kitchens. Our tester also found the set up of this machine very straightforward, making it perfect for beginners. 

After having it at home for a while, our tester did think the machine would benefit from an auto-dosing grounds feature. While it is not a cheap coffee machine by any means, we do think it is one of the more reasonably priced barista-style coffee machines on the market.

Our Breville Barista Max+ review has the full details.

The best looking bean-to-cup coffee machine

Smeg coffee machineproduct badge

(Image credit: Smeg)
The best looking bean-to-cup coffee machine

Specifications

Milk wand: Yes
Water capacity : 2.4 litres
Pressure : 15 bar

Reasons to buy

+
Built in bean grinder
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15 stage grind size adjustment
+
Well built and weighty accessories
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Large removable water tank
+
Steam wand has two froth levels
+
Dispenses hot water

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive and bulky

Buy it if: you're collecting Smeg appliances for your kitchen.

We think one of the main reasons to buy this coffee machine is the appearance, but it's most definitely not the only reason. Aside from the beautiful bold colours available and the style points it'll bring to your kitchen, it's also a stellar bean-to-cup coffee machine. 

Our tester thinks that once you get the settings perfected on this machine that it can produce top-quality rich espressos. Plus the integrated bean grinder is great. 

However, there is no getting away from the price - it is expensive and bulky too. But as long as you’re okay with the fact that you are paying a premium for the trendy retro style, then go for it. 

Our Smeg EGF03 Espresso Machine review has the full details.

The best luxury bean-to-cup coffee machine

Picture of Sage Coffee Machineproduct badge

(Image credit: Amazon)
The best luxury bean-to-cup machine on the market

Specifications

Milk wand: Yes (a very fancy one!)
Water capacity : 2 litres
Pressure: 15 bar

Reasons to buy

+
Outstanding milk texturing
+
Recommends adjustments for different settings
+
Easy to keep clean
+
Lets you go manual, if you'd prefer
+
Hands-free foaming
+
Extensive grind settings

Reasons to avoid

-
Sometimes it doesn't detect a tamp
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Switching beans can be a faff

Buy it if: you want a top of range machine. 

During our testers months of use, she was consistently impressed by how well this machine steamed milk in particular, with a steam wand that is unbelievably clever and compatible with plant milks too. It also turned out some seriously tasty espresso. 

If you're someone who wants the best of the best, and doesn't mind a more mindful process, you'll love how finely the Sage Barista Touch Impress adjusts depending on your specific bean and brew type. It's kitted out with a touch screen too, which recommends adjustments for different settings.

Of course, the price is astronomical. Anything over than a grand will always require a huge amount of consideration, but what you get in return is a real top-of-the-range machine. It combines everything people love about home brewing with the convenience of a smart machine that will take the guesswork out of every espresso you pull. 

Our Sage Barista Touch Impress review has the full details.

How we test the best bean-to-cup coffee machines

In line with Ideal Home's testing protocol, we've extensively tested every single machine in this lineup for at least two weeks and in most cases a few months. From getting to grips with the controls and finding the perfect grind settings, we know exactly what it's like to use these machines day in, and day out. And we're big fans of the 8 ones we've chosen above.

After thoroughly testing these models, we had just one concern: some are just too good. That sounds like a nice problem to have, but the ease with which you can make latte after latte means there is a risk of descending deeper into caffeine addiction. Proceed with caution. Or sometimes detox with decaffeinated beans.

Who tested these bean-to-cup coffee machines?

Molly Cleary
Molly Cleary

Molly is the Ecommerce Editor covering appliances at Ideal Home, including all things coffee machine-related. She's a certified Consumer Expert when it comes to coffee machines, which means she's qualified to test coffee machines both at home and at Future's dedicated testing facility, which is a very fun job indeed. Her favourite machine ever, and the one she has at home is the Sage Barista Impress Express – at this point, she couldn't live without it.

Is there a bean-to-cup machine you'd like Ideal Home to test before you buy? Email molly.cleary@futurenet.com with your suggestions.

FAQs

Is it worth getting a bean-to-cup coffee machine on Black Friday?

Bean-to-cup machines can be seriously pricey, which is why the biggest sales event of the year (Black Friday) is a great time to invest in one if you've been planning on it. 

Our Black Friday deals page has all of the deals we really rate, and we'll be updating this guide with the models we've tried and tested that are on sale too. If you're looking to make your purchase of a Sage or De'Longhi machine a little more affordable, then you can't go wrong with a Black Friday bean-to-cup coffee machine deal. 

How much should I spend on a bean-to-cup coffee machine?

The bean-to-cup coffee machines tested here start from a compelling £250 and you can certainly get great machines for under £600. Above that, sense-check whether the machine actually does more or makes things easier. Sometimes you’re paying for the design or the brand.

It’s a lot of money, but to look at it another way, it’s £1-2 a day for a year. Not bad if you’re weighing it up against buying a fancy coffee on the way to work every morning.

How do I clean my bean-to-cup coffee machine?

There’s no such thing as a free lunch and there’s no such thing as a coffee machine that doesn’t need cleaning. But there are machines that need cleaning less. All machines here except the Sage automatically dose themselves with ground coffee and then deposit the used grounds in a bin, so you’ll need to empty the bin regularly. 

You’ll also need to empty the drip tray – the water from self-cleaning ends up in it. Beyond that, you’ll want to give the machine a proper clean once a week to ensure it’s hygienic and tastes great.

Are there any downsides to bean-to-cup machines?

Aside from having to clean the things, other caveats are worktop space (they tend to use much of the depth of a worktop, but the width varies) and cost. And finally, note the above concern about some being too good: so easy to use that you can drink frothy but highly caffeinated drinks all day long. Of course, one of the best milk frothers will do a (very) similar job. Note that the milk frothers are great for making soothing hot chocolates, too...

What coffee should I use in a bean to cup machine?

It's all down to personal prefence which sort of beans will suit you and your machine best. In our tests trying out the best bean to cup coffee machines, we've tried Ueshima (available at Ocado), Grind (available from the brand's website), as well as Pact coffee, which is a subscription service. We'd recommend all of them!

Molly Cleary
Ecommerce Editor

After writing for all of Future's Homes titles, Molly is now an Ecommerce Editor at Ideal Home, working across a range of shopping content to find the best buys for your space. Previously, she was the Staff Writer at TopTenReviews, another Future site, where she covered home content, which to a US audience is anything from turkey fryers to ride-on lawn mowers. Now, she spends her time writing reviews of appliances she’s tested at home and at our testing facility (we're talking air fryers, vacuums, dehumidifiers and more!), as well as curating buying guides. She's a certified Consumer Expert for several product categories after passing a five-step program including hands-on experience, consumer interviews and extensive research into her specialist areas including kitchen appliances and vacuums.