Buying a coffee machine: milk, grinder, cleaning
The best machine is the one you don't mind cleaning. Beans and grinder make the taste — the milk system and cleaning programs make the comfort.
Choose the milk system honestly
Cappuccino every day? Get a fully automatic milk system with a rinse program. Only occasionally? The steam wand is cheaper and more hygienic.
Ceramic grinders
Ceramic grinds quieter and heats the beans less. More important than the material: a finely adjustable grind setting.
Cleaning decides the lifespan
A removable brew group can be rinsed under the tap; a fixed one depends on cleaning tablets. Budget the running costs: filters, descaler and milk cleaner add up over the years to more than some purchase-price differences.
Quick checklist
- Removable brew group if you want to clean it yourself
- Dual hopper if someone drinks decaf
- Water tank from 1.8 l for households of 2+
- Price history: machines swing a lot — alerts pay off
