Best bean-to-cup machine

[sp3ctre]

Interesting thoughts guys... totally surprised they all seem to use a water tank, I would have thought that would be only on the cheaper options. I don't like the idea of having to fill a tank every time and I don't like the idea of water standing around for days.... might have to rethink this.

I currently have one of these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bialetti-Moka-Express-Espresso-Maker/dp/B00004RFRU

... which is great for espresso, but not great for a quick cup of coffee, so only gets used rarely.... and we will soon be going convection in the kitchen, which means it won't work (guess there may be adapters though).

The Gaggia idea is kind of similar to what I do at the moment, in that it had a process to go through. That can be nice on a slow Sunday morning but not so great if you just want a quick cup of coffee.

 

[Wyldie85]

I had a Gaggia machine and it was a nightmare to clean and for all the effort produced two small cups of coffee. it just wasn't worth it.

For every day use, the old fashioned Braun coffee filter machine gets used. paper filter in the top and use http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/sainsburys-fairtrade-sundried-quinchia--taste-the-difference-227g everytime. Lovely.

For the weekends the Nespresso machine comes out. A real variety and easy to use. Just be sure to warm the cups first with hot water as they do go cold quickly.

 

[mmm-five]

I'm not a coffee snob, and drink coffee at home so irregularly (i.e. nothing for 3 months, then 2 weeks of nothing but coffee) that a Nespresso machine is fine for me. It seems to produce espresso as good as the ones we get from the barristas in the office coffee bars (we have 3 - Kix/Costa/Aspretto) - but is considerably more consistent than those in the office



Had it about 6 years now and only bought it as it was on offer in a (genuine) closing down sale. Paid about £150 for a £300 machine.

I don't tend to use any pod strength lower than a 7 as anything lower seems watery.

Of course it's not plumbed in (think some of the commercial ones can be), and isn't bean-to-cup, but it has a milk reservoir that automatically froths/heats milk for your cappuccino/latte if you push the right button.

I also keep thinking of getting one of these gadgets for when I'm on the road (you can use bags or ground coffee), but then I remind myself that it would probably sit, unused for months at a time.

 

[stuartC]

Yeah, way too much coffee snobbery about these days for my liking. Twenty quid filter coffee machine from Tesco + Ethiopian coffee from Aldi = bliss.

And I can vouch for Mr Wilks capuccino-in-a-sachet.

 

[Marlon]

Bargin basement for me - I use a Philips Senseo coffee pod machine. Problem is not many places sell the pods I like (dark roast). I've been considering a Tassimo with costa pods since they came out but keep putting it off.

 

[DNK]

I think it all depends on your wants and your talent.
Can you use a grinder correctly and can you spend the 6+ bills it takes to get a good one . Then you have to understand pressures and temperature to use a good espresso machine.
If you want one that actually grinds and tamps with a little bit of input from the at home barrista the Breville machine at 2K is a decent machine,...but you have to add water in the machine by hand.
I think this is a good intermediate step from a barrista style machine.
The Gaggia , if you live in the states, is hard to get parts for.
Only one good parts dist. inthe US and he is in NE

 

[Nictrix]

Kettle?

 

[David-H]

Jura Impressa J9 for me with built in water tank that has a Claris blue water filter in it.
Jura J9

 

[mr wilks]

Id be interested to hear from those who endorse their chosen machines in the home as to which high street coffee chains (if any) they think make acceptable coffee :?
I did discover on holiday last year ( the coffee machine was self service ) through trial & error that my perfect cup of coffee was a cappuccino with 2 double espressos to add some whooomph !! certainly felt alive after that + a morning swim

 

[Baza]

Without doubt the best bean to cup machine is a Jura there are several models in the range offering various degrees of sophistication to many to list here.They are Swiss made and work like the proverbial Swiss watch.. I have had my machine for 9 years and it still makes the best coffee day in day out. depending how quick and how many cups you want to produce you should look at a machine with two heating elements one for the water and the other for the milk . But they are not cheap so be prepared to dig deep and spend between £800.00 to £1400.00 but hey if you want the best machine that makes the best coffee. Jura's the way to go.

 

[mmm-five]

Id be interested to hear from those who endorse their chosen machines in the home as to which high street coffee chains (if any) they think make acceptable coffee :?

I don't like Starbucks or Pret-A-Manger coffee - and stick to Caffe Nero or Costa.

Although I do find a bit of variation from store to store.

 

[Marlon]

Costa for me - small Americano with hot milk (or a regular Mocha cooler), Nero's as a fall back, I agree with mmm-five: don't like Starbucks or Pret-A-Manger

 

[wegras]

Gaggia Brera ,true Bean to cup my second Gaggia Bean to cup
I have a Costa Tassimo as back up but Brera used every day ,not plumbed in but as already pointed out you need to refill the beans and I just top up the water using Brita filtered
Produces an double expresso with a crema 5-6 mm deep and an Americano with a little less

 

[Finisterre]

I went through coffee, beans, fancy grinders, what have you...

It taught me something, gold blend is okay.

 

[Marlon]

I have bosch tassimo and buy the Costa pods. Has the smell and proper nice taste. It's container feed. But since I've had it don't bother with any other coffee. Some machines are very high price and messing about with grinding, Cleaning etc takes away the enjoyment of drinking it IMO the tassimo is so simple put pod in push button and throw away pod when done. The nozzle comes apart and goes in dishwasher and when machine needs clean just run descaler through when light appears. And of course the main thing for me was initial cost of purchase got machine for under £80
Ray

After months of umming and ahhing I took the plunge. The day after I read this thread and your recommendation they were selling Bosch Tassimos at half price in Sainsbury's, and had an offer on the Americano pods too (£3 for 16). Bought a machine and 4 packets of pods, Wonderful - the smell the taste, perfect

 

[TitanTim]

I have bosch tassimo and buy the Costa pods. Has the smell and proper nice taste. It's container feed. But since I've had it don't bother with any other coffee. Some machines are very high price and messing about with grinding, Cleaning etc takes away the enjoyment of drinking it IMO the tassimo is so simple put pod in push button and throw away pod when done. The nozzle comes apart and goes in dishwasher and when machine needs clean just run descaler through when light appears. And of course the main thing for me was initial cost of purchase got machine for under £80
Ray

After months of umming and ahhing I took the plunge. The day after I read this thread and your recommendation they were selling Bosch Tassimos at half price in Sainsbury's, and had an offer on the Americano pods too (£3 for 16). Bought a machine and 4 packets of pods, Wonderful - the smell the taste, perfect

Is it this one Marlon?

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/bosch-tassimo-suny-coffee-machine-tas3202gb#BVRRWidgetID

http://www.tesco.com/direct/bosch-tassimo-tas3202gb-suny-pod-machine-black/565-8553.prd

Been thinking of one for a while but want something thats easy to use and not too much of a faff as I'm lazy if it takes an age to get it going and cleaning etc, otherwise I'll just stick to jar coffee :roll:

Tim.

 

[Marlon]

Yep, thats the one Tim - can't go wrong, simple to use - great costa coffee taste, go for it

 

[TitanTim]

Yep, thats the one Tim - can't go wrong, simple to use - great costa coffee taste, go for it

Cheers Marlon, Looks like Sainsbury's are doing them cheapest although Tesco and Currys are doing them a little more expensive, at a push you can get them for 40 quid ex display on ebay lol, think its a trip to Sainsburys this week

Thanks for the heads up,

Tim.

 

[GreyZed]

Bean to cup is more cost effective per cup in the long run. Plus you decide what beans make your coffee not the pod manufacturer.

 

[David-H]

I don't think that the OP was interested in pod machines, he wanted bean-to-cup that would also make a latte for his wife. The best one-touch, bean-to-cup machines are made by Jura, although their machines with plumbed in water are several thousand pounds and only really intended for "Professional" use. For home use their one-touch machines can make a great variety of drinks very simply and, overall, the cost per cup over a year or two is very reasonable. His only compromise would be 30 second job of filling the 2 litre water tank every day or two.
check this out