Whether your morning ritual begins with a home-brewed cup of instant coffee or a mad rush out the door to grab a coffee from your local barista on your commute \u2014 there\u2019s a good chance you start your day with a coffee one way or another.<\/p>\n
With almost all Aussies working from home this year, it\u2019s easy to see why a great coffee machine might be on the cards. They\u2019re the only surefire way to compete with your barista and blow instant coffee out of the water.<\/p>\n
All that said, coffee brewed freshly at home should certainly be possible for everyone, and with a top tier espresso machine or coffee machine, you\u2019ll be just a few button presses away from a barista-level flat white.<\/p>\n
Below we\u2019ll take a look at all of the best coffee machines on offer for Aussies, and why you should definitely consider one this year. Our coffee machines are judged based on ease of use, ease of cleaning and of course, the output of fantastic coffee.<\/p>\n
Our TL:DR<\/p>\n
Off the top, the two best coffee machines for Australians include the Barista Express by Breville and the Mini Barista by Sunbeam. Both of these coffee machines feature automatic or semi-automatic modes to make brewing effortless and being relatively compact; you\u2019ll undoubtedly find a place for these machines in the kitchen.<\/p>\n
Sunbeam Mini Barista<\/strong><\/p>\n
Coming in at just under $300, the Mini Barista is one of the most straightforward espresso machines on the market. You\u2019ll find an easy-to-use dial and two shot sizes to choose from, as well as an excellent steam wand. That said, getting an invigorating, well-brewed coffee and great frothy milk top won\u2019t be too tricky at all.<\/p>\n
The Breville Barista Express<\/strong><\/p>\n
A little more costly than the Mini Barista, the Barista Express by Breville is your semi-automatic and manual option that comes with everything from a built-in coffee grinder, steam wand, custom coffee options and more. If you\u2019re looking to get creative, and want the best cafe-style cup of coffee each morning, the Barista Express is for you. At just under $1,000, the machine is a little more costly than most though.<\/p>\n
Special Mention<\/strong><\/p>\n
Bambino Plus<\/strong><\/p>\n
For our readers with smaller kitchens and less complex requirements, the Bambino Plus is here to deliver a fantastic coffee each morning, without taking up too much counter space. It\u2019s a small, reliable machine that allows you to change milk temperature, choose froth levels as well as features an automatic steam wand.<\/p>\n
If not you\u2019re already aware, Australians\u00a0love<\/em>\u00a0their coffee, and the review statistics are there to prove it. Thousands of coffee machine reviews land on consumers websites each year, and advocacy groups test hundreds of machines annually to make sure that Aussies have the chance to get the best home brews possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That said, we began our search for the best coffee machine on review websites and with professional testing in mind. With that in mind, we were able to find the machines that not only satisfied customers but also passed lab testing and won\u2019t be likely to fail any time soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once we\u2019d found a few of the best machines, Product Review helped us cut down the list further and give us some insight from customers who have actually invested in and used their machines for months or even years. It\u2019s good to note that not a whole bunch of machines had hundreds of reviews to look through, which helped us in narrowing down the best machines a little faster.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With all of the information above under our belt, and in our notebooks, we began selecting the machines that were designed to be easy to use, fast to clean and didn’t take up too much space in the kitchen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course, unique features and plenty of brewing types were a big must-have for us, so these were considered in or final selections too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
All of that said, we were able to narrow down Australia\u2019s most popular coffee machines to the seven best models that we\u2019re sure you will love.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Special Considerations<\/strong><\/p>\n
Landing at the top spot on our list for being so incredibly easy to use is the Sunbeam Mini Barista. There are an easy 2 pre-set shot sizes and just a single dial to control the whole system, taking out any guesswork or confusion. It comes with a steam wand too, so frothing up your milk for that authentic cafe-style coffee won\u2019t be too difficult either.<\/p>\n
And at just $299 it\u2019s easily one of the most affordable coffee machines out there.<\/p>\n
A Deeper Look<\/strong><\/p>\n
Without a doubt, the most straightforward and most user-friendly coffee machine on the market has to be the EM4300 Mini Barista Espresso Machine. Reviewers have touted that the machine essentially ‘just works,’ and without too many frills it\u2019s the perfect machine to get your coffee brewed in minutes before you have to duck out to work, or run your daily errands.<\/p>\n
With a single dial, arguably a trade-off for its low price, the entire system a tonne easier to use than most. There\u2019s auto-shot control here along with shot sizes, so if you\u2019re looking for a single or a double shot coffee, it\u2019s just a twist of the dial away.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re also able to quickly whip up two brews at once, always a plus.<\/p>\n
Being aptly named the \u2018Mini\u2019 you can expect the machine to fit just about anywhere in the kitchen snuggly.<\/p>\n
However, the group head is still an ideal 58mm which is what you\u2019ll find on even the larger coffee machines, so there\u2019s plenty of space for grinds and a proper extraction of flavour unlike machines with smaller heads.<\/p>\n
Keep in mind there\u2019s a great 2L tank capacity here too, along with the aforementioned steam wand and cup warming plate that helps you get the most genuine cafe-style experience from the comfort of the kitchen.<\/p>\n
Top Features<\/strong><\/p>\n
2L Tank Capacity<\/p>\n
At second place, primarily for the price, the Barista Express is the machine that will get you closest to a true cafe-style cup of coffee in the morning. There\u2019s a 1-touch operation and a manual or semi-automatic mode to choose from, and a built-in grinder makes it effortless to get the freshest cup of coffee in the morning.<\/p>\n
At a little under $1,000, it may be a bit too pricy for some.<\/p>\n
A Deeper Look<\/strong><\/p>\n
As expected, the Barista Express will always make a cafe-quality brew from the comfort of home, and it takes just a few moments to do so. There\u2019s also an under-60 second espresso option to get you on the road faster than ever.<\/p>\n
A big standout of the Barista Express is that you\u2019re able to choose how much time you spend brewing your coffee, you can either set and forget, or be a little more hands-on depending how busy you are in the morning.<\/p>\n
With the semi-automatic settings, you\u2019re able to quickly set up the machine to brew and do your own thing, or with the manual operation, you can control a lot more of what goes into making your coffee.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s plenty of great higher-end features here too, such as a burr grinder that gives you the control of your coffee\u2019s strength. There is a steam wand too along with a dial that gives you the chance to adjust the grind size.<\/p>\n
With all of the higher-end perks out of the way, the Barista Express also comes with a few of the bare essentials like a cup warming plate, a pre-warming function for cups as well as simple hot water functions.<\/p>\n
As expected, there\u2019s a single and double shot option, a 2L tank capacity and a great 250g bean capacity, so you won\u2019t be stuck running out of beans on a routine basis \u2014 unless you\u2019re a serious coffee drinker.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of reviews on Product Review have made it clear that the Barista Express should land on your coffee machine list this year, and with a simple interface tying all of these features together, you\u2019re in good hands with Breville\u2019s Barista Express.<\/p>\n
Top Features<\/strong><\/p>\n
The most compact of the bunch, the Bambino Plus by Breville is the compact espresso machine for those kitchens that are a little short on space. However, size can be deceiving, and the Bambino Plus still packs all the features of leading coffee machines, including multiple cup sizes, milk temperature control and a steam wand.<\/p>\n
A Deeper Look<\/strong><\/p>\n
With measurements of 19.5cm W x 32cm D x 31cm H, it\u2019s easy to see that the Bambino Plus is going to be a lifesaver when it comes to getting a quality at-home brew in a small space. It\u2019s able to output 1 or 2 cups of coffee at once, which is perfect for couples who need a fast brew and to get on their way as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a 1.9L water tank here which is just about the same size as all other models on our list, so you won\u2019t be stuck filling up the Bambino too often.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve noticed that the primary focal point of the Bambino is a cup of coffee that\u2019s fast, easy to make and doesnt create any mess. To brew a quick cup, all you’ll need to do is hit one of 3 options for milk temperature, and coffee and you\u2019re on your way.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a 3-second heat-up time and you\u2019ll almost immediately have the coffee brewing. The steam wand is also an automatic variant, so the foam is ready to go as soon as you are.<\/p>\n
The average reviewer raves about the Bambino\u2019s ease of use along with the size being a perk as you\u2019re able to store it in the corner of the kitchen easily.<\/p>\n
Top Features<\/strong><\/p>\n
These coffee machines didn\u2019t land in our top three, though they\u2019re still fantastic options for niche consumers looking for a rather specific set of requirements. Take a look.<\/p>\n
The Best of the Best \u2014 Breville the Oracle Touch Automatic<\/strong><\/p>\n
With a price tag of $3,799, the Oracle Touch isn\u2019t for everyone, though it is a feature-packed machine that rivals any cafe-style coffee, and depending on who you ask, might even beat it.<\/p>\n
The best part about the Oracle Touch is that the entire experience is completely automated and controlled by the large touch screen display. You\u2019re able to choose everything about your favourite coffee, make your selections and let the coffee machine take care of the process.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a 5-programme pre-set control here too, which gives you control over everything form coffee strength, the texture of the milk, the temperature and more.<\/p>\n
With onboard storage, you\u2019re also able to set up eight custom coffees that you\u2019re able to select on a routine basis \u2014 giving you plenty of control over how your morning brew tastes.<\/p>\n
To add, the steam wand is entirely automatic too. All you\u2019ll need to do is choose just how frothy you\u2019d like your milk, and you\u2019re all set.<\/p>\n
The burr grinder is automatic as well, so grinding up to 22g of coffee beans is a cinch, and the dual boiler deals with milk and coffee at once, so there\u2019s little to no way time between, keeping things running smoothly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Compact \u2014 Smeg ECF01<\/strong><\/p>\n
A second great compact and affordable machine is the ECF01 by Smeg. It\u2019s just $499 and comes in a retro design that suites shabby chic and older style kitchens.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a 1 or 2 cup selection here and steam button for the included steam wand \u2014 however, that\u2019s just about it. It\u2019s a no-frills, affordable and compact coffee machine that\u2019s ideal for those who\u2019d just like a good brew and not too much fuss.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s good to keep in mind that the 1L tank is a little small, so having to deal with refills on a routine basis is going to be a little bit of an issue.<\/p>\n
Ultra-affordable \u2014 <\/strong>Sunbeam Piccolo Espresso EM2800<\/strong><\/p>\n
When budget trumps all, the Piccolo Espresso EM2800 by Sunbeam is going to be the top choice for you. It\u2019s a manual machine, so things are a little more hands-on, though for just $139 it\u2019s a machine that\u2019s right for those with the lower end of the budget.<\/p>\n
The good news is that this budget comes with simplicity, and only a single dial is Sunbeam’s version of simple, so getting your brew isn\u2019t confusing. The Piccolo is able to brew one or two cups and is also including a warming plate, a nice touch for a machine this affordable.<\/p>\n
The tank is 1.3L which isn’t ideal, though it\u2019s not overly concerning unless you drink a lot of coffee every day.<\/p>\n
A Great All-rounder \u2014 \u200d<\/strong>Sunbeam Caf<\/strong>\u00e9 Series EM7000<\/strong><\/p>\n
Priced a little higher than our top choice machines, the Cafe Series EM7000 is an excellent option for those who\u2019d like to see just a bit more from their coffee machine.<\/p>\n
Designed without a dial, the one-touch system here is a little simpler to get the hang of, and there\u2019s a manual mode as well.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll find both 1 and 2 shot options here, along with a steam wand and also pressure gauges and milk temperature functions that give you a chance to fiddle and get your brew tasting exactly how you\u2019d like.<\/p>\n
One possible downside is the size, as the machine is a little bigger than most. However, the good news with this is you\u2019ll be getting your hands on a larger 3L tank which makes sure you\u2019re not filling up the machine too often.<\/p>\n
Like other machines on our list, the EM7000 garners fantastic reviews, and it\u2019s elegant, and professional design fits in perfectly to most modern Aussie kitchens.<\/p>\n
For Hands-on Brewers \u2014 The Little Guy Home Barista Kit<\/strong><\/p>\n
We\u2019ll get the first major issue out of the way first, this machine takes up to 10 minutes to brew a single espresso.<\/p>\n
The Little Guy Home Barista Kit is the machine for you if you\u2019re someone who likes to get hands-on and would also like to travel with their coffee machine. The device is a small portable option that is going to give you the chance to brew on the road, though it will take a little more time.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, there are no one-touch options here, and you\u2019ll have to go old school and do the grinding in your own, fill the boiler on your own and also set down the machine on an induction cooktop.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also important to keep in mind you\u2019ll need to invest in an induction cooktop from Little Guy, as the machine won\u2019t work too well with standard cooktops – which might be a deal-breaker for you.<\/p>\n
Overall, the taste of the brew is good enough; the machine is rather challenging to use; however, it does offer a niche experience.<\/p>\n
If you haven’t found your dream coffee machine in the list above, we have a few things listed below to help you find the machine that\u2019s best suited for you.<\/p>\n
These features below are bare essentials that will make your experience brewing a coffee a lot more enjoyable, so we certainly recommend looking for these.<\/p>\n
A Steam Wand<\/strong><\/p>\n
It\u2019s always good to choose a machine with a built-in steam wand that gives you the chance to add some frothy foam atop your coffee and to provide it with that cafe-style taste and look.<\/p>\n
Easy Controls<\/strong><\/p>\n
You\u2019ll want your machine to have the most uncomplicated controls possible, as fighting with your coffee machine in the early hours of the morning isn\u2019t ideal.<\/p>\n
Double Shot Options<\/strong><\/p>\n
A biggie is the choice of shot options. Sometimes you\u2019re not always looking for a standard or weak coffee, and extra shot options is an outstanding feature that you should be on the lookout for in your coffee machine.<\/p>\n
The Takeaway<\/p>\n
As we all know, getting a coffee from a cafe each day adds up in cost quite a bit. Spending upwards of $4 to $5 each morning will undoubtedly be costing a lot in the long run, and a coffee machine can help combat this.<\/p>\n
With a good machine, like the ones we\u2019ve listed above, you\u2019ll be getting a similar taste and the chance to brew a cafe-style coffee from the comfort of your own home, without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n
Be sure to consider a coffee machine that meets all of your own requirements and you\u2019ll be well on your way to starting your morning without rushing out the door to beat the line at your local cafe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Whether your morning ritual begins with a home-brewed cup of instant coffee or a mad rush out the door to grab a coffee from your local barista on your commute \u2014 there\u2019s a good chance you start your day with a coffee one way or another. With almost all Aussies working from home this year, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1155,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-appliances"],"yoast_head":"\n