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If, like me, you prefer to prioritise sleep over a long morning routine, a good bean-to-cup machine could be a great addition to your kitchen or office. The best automatic coffee machines make cafe quality coffees at the touch of a button.

While they tend to be pricier than manual espresso machines and coffee pod machines, I think they're very much worth it. This is because they are easy to navigate, meaning you will actually use them, rather than splashing out on a expensive worktop hog.

They do all the hard work for you and don’t require you to learn a new skill. 

They’re also the ideal match if you’re someone who likes to mix and match what coffees they have from day to day. Rather than only making espresso or one type of milk drink, bean-to-cups typically have tons of preset drink options - flat whites, lungos, lattes - allowing you to experiment without the fuss.

We found the bean-to-cups that make the best espresso

What exactly is a bean-to-cup coffee machine?

If we are being pedantic, a true bean-to-cup coffee machine is one with an integrated bean hopper and internal brewing unit. This means some of my favourite machines, such as the Ninja Cafe Luxe Premier and the Sage Oracle Jet, don’t technically qualify.

Danielle testing the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo - one of our favourite value machines

However, there are so many machines that are now blurring the lines between a true fully automatic bean-to-cup and a semi-automatic with assisted brewing. Because of this, I’ve included a couple of these options in our roundup. They’re almost as easy to use as a true bean-to-cup, so I’m happy to recommend them.

If you're a true coffee lover that values convenience, quality and time-saving, these are the tried and tested bean-to-cup picks that I recommend to everyone. 

Best bean-to-cup coffee machine: Quick list 

• Best value bean-to-cup: De’Longhi Magnifica
• Best for quality espresso: Gaggia Accademia
• Best does it all automatic: De’Longhi Eletta Explore
• Best in-between machine: Sage Oracle Jet
• Best Ninja machine: Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier 
• Prestige pick: KitchenAid KF8

How we test 

When we review kitchen appliances, we live with them for at least a week, using them as you would in your home. For coffee machines, that means making multiple cups of coffee every day and putting every feature through its paces. 

We measure espresso shots for consistency, check how well the milk froths and generally make sure each machine earns its place on this list.

Alongside judging how well a coffee machine handles the essentials, we also look at its design, how straightforward it is to use and whether it offers good value for money. 

We test every machine to ensure espresso shots are consistent and also measure noise levels

This includes how easy it is to clean, whether the controls are simple and how much you can customise your machine. That way, our reviews give you a complete picture before you buy.

The best bean-to-cup coffee machines you can buy right now 

1. Best value bean-to-cup: De’Longhi Magnifica

 Read our full De'Longhi Magnifica Evo review for more details

2. Best for quality espresso: Gaggia Accademia

3. Best does it all automatic: De’Longhi Eletta Explore

4. Best in-between machine: Sage Oracle Jet

 Read our full Sage Oracle Jet review for more details

6. Prestige pick: KitchenAid KF8

Verdict

If you're trying to keep costs down, my pick is the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo. It's well priced for a fully automatic bean-to-cup and has a small number of drink and customisation options. It's the ideal machine if you're not particularly fussed about experimenting with different drinks and just want a decent cup quickly.

The Delonghi Magnifica Evo made our top picks

For those happy to spend a bit more, I'd suggest the Sage Oracle Jet. While it's not technically a true  bean-to-cup, it's so heavily assisted that is may as well be. It's incredibly quick to make drinks and everything you need is just a few taps away. Add to the this the barista assist and you've got a seriously professional machine that even beginners can use.

Which machines didn't make the cut

I review a lot of great coffee machines but there are always a few that don't make our final roundup for one reason or another. This doesn't mean they're not a good for for you but rather they have one or two things that mean they're not well suited to most people.

The Lavazza Assoluta is one machine that didn't make the list. While I really enjoyed the coffee from it and think it had a great design and milk frothing, I didn't like that the tech worked best with Lavazza brand beans, as this feels quite limiting. However, it might be suited to a Lavazza fan looking for an easy cup.

Why trust us

Our team of expert writers and editors have decades of experience between them testing the latest in home, fashion, beauty, tech, travel and more. 

Danielle is an experienced reviewer with seven years in the industry, she reviews dozens of home products every year. All of her reviews are in-depth and honest. She takes pride in testing products well and for as long as possible to give you a complete picture.

We take coffee testing seriously

FAQs

Why are bean-to-cup machines so expensive?

You're paying a premium for bean-to-cup coffee machines mainly because of how complex and feature-packed they are. The convenience of having everything done for you, from bean grinding, measuring and tamping to milk frothing, costs money.

There are a lot of moving parts, especially on the machines I've picked here, which all deliver really good espresso without you needing any experience. Of course, you can find cheaper automatic machines under £500 but the build quality and coffee quality simply won't be as good. What's more, often an automatic machine might end up being cheaper in the long run, especially when compared to the lifetime cost of a pod machines like Nespresso.

Is a home coffee machine worth it? 

It depends on your needs. If you enjoy coffee at home a lot, then investing in a really nice bean-to-cup is likely worth it, as you'll get a lot of use from it. 

 However, fi you're mostly just looking for a coffee to take to work in the mornings and you're not at home much, you might find a different type of coffee machine is more suitable. Be sure to check out our roundup of the best coffee machines and best pod machines for more information on that.