Buying guide: What are the criteria for buying a coffee machine in 2024?

Today's coffee machines are becoming increasingly high-performance, with more and more features: automatic shut-off, keep-warm, aroma selection and integrated water filtration systems. 

But how do you find the right coffee machine for you? What are the criteria for finding a good coffee machine? We explain it all:

 

The different types of coffee machine: Advantages and disadvantages 


Yes, it would be a bit too simple if you only had one type of coffee machine... the choice would be much simpler, but don't worry, we're here to help. 

Your desires and expectations of your future coffee machine are paramount: bean-to-cup machines, capsule machines, pod coffee makers... it's all in the choice!

Machine à grain or espresso grinder, is a coffee maker with a built-in grinder. It produces coffee automatically from beans that have not yet been ground. This coffee is produced at a pressure of 15 bar.

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Benefits Disadvantages

✅ Machine considered an ecological option: No waste is discarded after coffee preparation, unlike Nespresso or Krups machines, which generate capsule waste*..

✅ Fast preparation: Drinking your coffee with an automatic machine is a considerable time-saver. Just press a button, wait 10 seconds and your coffee is ready. (Don't drink it straight away, you might burn yourself 😅)


✅ Easy to use and maintain: In fact, the machine tells you everything you need to do: run out of water, run out of coffee, clean, empty the grounds tray,... 


✅ Advanced features: Always at the touch of a few buttons, you have the option of setting intensity, length, heat, grind, etc. 


✅ Freshly ground coffee: This is ideal for releasing the aromas stored in the coffee bean.

❌ Purchase price: its purchase price is a drag for many people. With a price range between 200€ and 1000€ for the top of the range, the purchase price is generally higher than a manual coffee maker or capsule machine.


❌ Regular maintenance: This machine still requires regular cleaning despite all the features it contains. This step is essential and directly influences its lifespan. 


❌ Noise: You can imagine that when the coffee machine grinds your coffee beans the sound repercussion is not minimal.


❌ Complicated coffee variation: Once the coffee beans have been poured into the reservoir, you'll need to empty the reservoir first in order to test a new coffee.

    *Unless, of course, you use our CAPS KIT for easy refilling of your reusable capsules. To find out more

    Discover the TOP 7 best bean-to-cup coffee machines, right here.

     

    Capsule machines: Modern and stylish,Nespresso or Dolce Gustocapsule machines are setting the standard for coffee machines. They offer many advantages, but also some disadvantages. 

    Nespresso machine, Nespresso capsule, Nespresso capsules, reusable capsules, coffee capsule, coffee capsule, coffee capsule, coffee capsules
     Benefits  Disadvantages

    ✅ Simplicity: One press of a button and a few seconds later, your coffee is ready to enjoy.


    ✅ Choice of coffee: Using capsules makes it easy to change the type / taste of coffee you want.


    ✅ Maintenance: Capsules prevent coffee from seeping into the machine, making it easier to clean.


    ✅ Compatible with CAPS ME: If the machine you have purchased is after 2010, we guarantee that it is compatible with our kit.

    ❌ Price: Some machines are not excessively expensive, however the price of capsules going up to 40 cents per capsule, Nespresso is positioned among the most expensive coffees on the market. 


    ❌ Waste: Each capsule after use is thrown directly into the trash, I'll let you imagine the amount of aluminum and plastic waste.


    ❌ Respect for producers: It's hard to know where coffee and capsules come from, or even whether producers are treated humanely or not. 

    Despite these drawbacks, you can still opt to buy a capsule coffee maker, because our CAPS KIT offers a solution to all these drawbacks. To find out more, just click here.

    Discover the top 10 best capsule coffee makers, right here.

     

    Pod machines: known as Senseo or Tassimo, these machines areless expensive than Nespresso capsule machines . With one pod, you can make a double or two single coffees.

    senseo machine, pod machine, coffee pod, tassimo machine, tassimo pod, senseo pod

     Benefits   Disadvantages

    ✅ Price: the cost of purchasing the machine is quite low (less expensive than capsule machines) 


    ✅ Maintenance: Less maintenance than an espresso machine with ground coffee or Italian-style coffee makers. You don't get coffee grounds all over the place, just take the pod, pour yourself a coffee and throw it away. 


    ✅ Aesthetics: Worked design, which go very well in your kitchen or in a meeting room. 


    ✅ Variety of tastes: Possibility to vary the pleasures, chocolates, cappuccino and lots of other flavors that you can find in supermarkets near you. 

      ❌Higher cost: Compared with coffee packets, the cost of pods can be a drag. 


      ❌Speed: Making several coffees, for different reasons: guests, colleagues or whatever can take longer than a traditional coffee maker.


      ❌Ecology: A lot of packaging for little material, pods are not an ecological solution.

        Discover the ranking of the best pod machines in 2024, right here. 


        Important features of your coffee machine

        Power: The ideal performance is 1400 watts or more. Power refers to the electrical performance of the coffee machine. Your machine's heating time and speed will vary according to its wattage. However, the more powerful the machine, the more electricity it consumes, which can have an impact on your electricity bill.  

        In short, power guarantees high performance and rapid preparation. 

         

         

        Pressure in bar for a coffee machine: Espresso machines have a pump pressure limit, ideally between 7 and 15 bar.
        For a rich, tasty and balanced beverage, the ideal pressure is around 9. The ideal range is between 7 and 9. Below this range, you won't get all the flavours, the oil and aromas won't be sufficiently extracted, and the water won't penetrate the coffee grounds sufficiently. If the pressure is too low, the result is under-extraction and a coffee that lacks flavor.

         

         

        Capacity: It's always more pleasant when we have guests, or even if we have to make several cups of coffee,not to have torefill our water tank several times.
        Opt for one liter! Ideal for preparing several cups without having to refill after 10 minutes.

         

         

        Features: What could be more convenient than a coffee machine with several features? Certain functions will make your life easier, so know them and prioritize them:

        • Coffee grounds collector or capsule collector. It's always a pleasure to make a cup of coffee and not have to worry about emptying the capsule or your coffee grounds. 
        • Alerts and notifications, this feature gives you an overview of your machine's needs. Do I need to clean my coffee machine? Don't worry, your machine will alert you.
        • Automatic cleaning program, perhaps one of the best features. No need to clean your machine every week, it cleans itself after each use. 

        Summary

        You now have all you need to choose the coffee machine that's right for you. Determine your needs and expectations of your coffee machine, and find out about its power, capacity and features.
        Now all you have to do is decide whether you want a bean-to-cup machine, a Nespresso capsule machine, or a Senseo pod machine. 

        Should you opt for a capsule machine, don't hesitate to ask about our CAPS KIT, which makes it easy to reuse your reusable capsules. CAPS ME is tomorrow's solution: earn money while protecting the planet.

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        Discover the CAPS KIT just  here.