Automatic coffee machines
Ditch the barista and brew the perfect cup at home
Words: Zak Storey
Photography: Neil Godwin
Making coffee has become increasingly complex over the years. From grind size to extraction times; from ratios to temperatures; pressure and tasting notes… it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the variables you have to control. For the many that like to tinker and dial in every single facet of their local roasteries’ most recent batch, those intricacies are all part of the fun. It’s a therapeutic, almost ceremonial process.
But what if you just want a coffee? What if you want a barista-style drink right in the comfort of your own home, without having to stand in line for 20 minutes? That’s where these beauties come in.
The humble bean-to-cup (B2C) coffee machine has come a long way in the last ten years. We’ve got machines that can do cold brew, ones that can handle oat milk, or filter and purify your water supply before it even touches the sides of a cup. There’s a whole host to choose from, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
WHAT’S ON TEST…
1 Gaggia Accademia
A true showpiece, built by arguably one of the most influential coffee companies in the business, the Accademia takes the very best modern tech and incorporates it into a sleek, LED-illuminated unit backed up with a host of unique features (including a dedicated steam wand and grind control), allowing it to create 19 drinks at the push of a button. £1,794 accademia.gaggia.com
SPECS
Tank size: 1.6L Hopper capacity: 350g
Pre-ground support: Yes
Dimensions: 28.2 x 38.5 x 42.8cm
Warranty: Parts, five years
Jura J10
Swiss precision baked into a fully automatic bean-to-cup machine, complete with an outstanding level of beverage selection and modern hardware. That’s how you’d sum up the J10. It may not be quite as elegant as some of the other offerings on show here, but what it lacks in panache it makes up for with 42 separate drinks at its disposal, including cold brew and sweetened syrup steamed milk. £1,795. jura.com
SPECS
Tank size: 1.9L Hopper capacity: 280g
Pre-ground support: Yes
Dimensions: 31.8 x 34.8 x 44.6cm
Warranty: Parts and labour, 25 months