There are quite a few budget coffee machines available on the market but these small and basic models often fall short when it comes to rigid use or when you want to create a cup of coffee for perfectionists or coffee connoisseurs.
For most coffee lovers, spending a little bit extra on their coffee machines is a worthy investment. Not only do these high-end devices last longer, but they also offer a more pleasurable coffee-making experience and allow you to indulge in as many luxe coffees as you like without wasting time travelling to coffee shops.
Our coffee experts did a lot of research on all of the best coffee machines in the $1000 – $2000 price range and we shortlisted these 7 elite machines that we believe offer the best value for money and the most luxurious coffees. Let’s take a look.
1. De’Longhi PrimaDonna Soul Coffee Machine – A Complete Technology Revelation
Imagine owning a remotely controlled coffee machine that will have your favourite drink hot and ready for consumption the moment you slide out of bed or step out of your office into the kitchen.
This concept isn’t a dream anymore but has finally become a reality and it is all thanks to De’Longhi’s Primadonna Soul coffee machine.
This coffee maker is a true revelation and it is probably the most advanced coffee-making machine currently in existence. The PrimaDonna is a fully automated bean-to-mug late creamer system. Everything about this device, accept topping up the hopper and water or milk tank, is fully automated meaning it will whip up your entire coffee from scratch with just a click of a button.
One of the most captivating features of this smart device is its remote function. The coffee machine has a coffee link app that can be installed on any smartphone. This app allows you to remotely turn on the coffee maker, select any coffee recipe you like, adjust the coffee to your liking and set it to start brewing without setting foot into the kitchen.
You can comfortably lay in bed and have your coffee ready for tasting the moment you get up or get your coffee started from your office so it will be ready for pickup by the time you reach the kitchen.
This remote function truly takes convenience to a whole next level.
The colour touch LCD also offers great convenience. This interface allows you to easily scan through 21 different pre-set coffees. The touch screen is extremely sensitive and you can easily select a coffee that is to your liking, adjust the strength level, temperature, and cup size and set it to brew.
The pre-set coffees include all of your favourite speciality coffees and also offer other functions like hot water and hot milk so you can whip up other beverages. The tea function the machine offers might, however, come as a surprise. Yes, the coffee maker can also brew tea and this program allows you to select different tea types and modify the temperature and cup size to suit your needs.
While it is mostly designed for individual coffee cup brewing, you can also brew a large pot of black coffee since it comes with a coffee pot and the programming also includes a coffee pot selection. This is a perfect option for creating budget coffees for the masses.
It is quite exhilarating to use the touch screen and, after making the selections, you can stand by and keep track of the coffee-making process. The display gives a constant progress report and will tell you whether it is busy grinding, brewing, or warming up the milk.
There is much to love about the smart features of this coffee maker. One of the most-loved features of a shared office coffee maker is that you can create different profiles. The programming allows you to create up to 8 individual profiles and allows you to set strength and temperature preferences on each profile for each coffee type. This saves serious coffee lovers a lot of time since a coffee that matches their taste preference will start brewing instantly without having to modify the temperature or strength every time.
On top of the machine, you will notice a squared lid that forms an air-tight seal. This lid conceals the bean hopper and is specially designed to keep the beans as fresh as possible. While the coffee machine is mostly used as a bean-to-mug device, you can also use pre-ground coffee in it. The device comes with an additional chute where grounds can be inserted. When you open the chute department, you will even notice a small plastic scoop cleverly positioned next to the chute opening.
The coffee brewer is designed to automatically grind, tamp, and brew the coffee with the click of a button. This advanced piece of machinery is extremely consistent and will create a perfectly flavourful coffee every single time.
This coffee machine is a full late creamer system because it has a side-fitted milk tank that will automatically froth and warm milk. This frother has various thickness settings and it is removable so you can easily deep clean the tank.
The water tank is fitted on the side of the machine and can easily slide out towards the front for a refill. This smart coffee machine will even send out a warning when the tank needs a refill.
Cleaning the coffee machine is very simple since it comes with a drip tray and coffee tray that can easily slide out. The coffee maker also has various auto-clean functions and is designed to automatically descale when deep cleaning is required.
Discussing the PrimaDonna is quite a mouthful but with so many advanced features, it is easy to see why this is probably one of the finest auto coffee makers you can possibly own.
Single boiler
Specifications
Brand – DeLonghi
Model No – ECAM61075MB
Machine type – Fully automatic bean coffee machine
Dimensions – 39 x 48.5 x 26.2 Centimeters
Colour – Black/Silver
Weight – 13 Kilograms
Power – 1450
Interface input – LCD touch colour display
Water Tank Capacity – 2.2 Liters
Milk Reservoir – 500 Millileter jug
Milk frothier – Built-in automatic
Pump – 19 Bar
Grinder – Built-in automatic
Pre-programmed settings – 21 Pre-set coffee recipes
Heatup Time – 45 Seconds
Pros
- The coffee machine automatically makes coffee from beans
- The large LCD touch display allows you to easily select and customise coffees
- Programming allows different individuals to create profiles with preferred coffee strengths
- Compatible with smartphone so you can turn the machine on and brew coffee without getting up out of bed
- Produced delicious luxe coffees
- User-friendly and convenient usage
- Easy to clean and simple to maintain
- Stylish design
- Compact enough to suit most coffee bars
Cons
- Requires 50-minute monthly descaling
- Some would prefer warmer coffee setting options
- Single boiler froths milk after brewing and not simultaneously
2. Breville The Oracle Espresso Machine – An Advanced Semi-Automatic Bean-to-Mug Coffee Maker
The Breville Oracle Espresso machine is a good option if you like the function of manual barista machines but want a slightly more streamlined coffee-making process.
The Oracle is a semi-automatic bean-to-mug coffee brewer meaning some of the processes (grinding and tamping) are automatic while it does still require some hands-on steps to whip up tasty coffees.
Some of the most outstanding features of the machine are its incredible look and its dual boiler system. Because of the dual boiler system, you can froth milk while the coffee maker is brewing and extracting golden liquid coffee from the beans.
Fresh coffee beans are stored in the 250-gram top-fitted bean hopper. The machine will automatically measure out, grind, and tamp coffee beans after selecting one of the pre-set recipes (single and double espresso, or Americano).
It is noteworthy that the grind settings, tamp pressure level and coffee strength selections are fully customised so you can produce a coffee that suits your taste preferences.
After automatically tamping the coffee grinds, you will need to manually shift the filter basket into the brewing compartment. While it is brewing, you can get to work on whipping up frothed milk.
The machine has a built-in frother wand with adjustable temperature and foam consistency settings. Pour cold milk into a stainless steel jug (included with the machine) and place it under the frother wand. You then have the option to manually or automatically froth the milk according to your preference. Those who prefer warmer milk coffees adore this coffee maker because the milk temperature can be set to a very high range.
Keeping this coffee machine stocked is pretty easy because even though the water tank is fitted on the back, it has a top-mounted lid that lifts so you can easily fill it up from the front of the machine.
This coffee machine is more advanced than most barista machines because it comes with a built-in clock and timer. You can set it to turn on or off at a specific time so the machine can start warming up well before getting up in the morning.
The Breville Oracle is very easy to keep clean since it has auto-clean settings and the drop tray is easy to slide out of place for a thorough clean. Behind the drip tray, you will also notice a little hidden compartment where spare parts can be stored.
We love the overall convenience of this coffee maker and buyers just cannot get enough of the delicious coffee that can be produced from this one machine.
Specifications
Brand – Breville
Model No – BES 980BKS
Machine type – Semi-automatic barista coffee machine
Dimensions – 45.3 x 37.3 x 40.9 Centimeters
Colour – Black/silver or Brushed steel
Power – 1800 Watt
Interface input – LCD with touch and turnknob buttons
Water Tank Capacity – 2.5 Liters
Milk Reservoir – Comes with 480ml steel jug
Milk frothier – Steam wand
Pump – 15 Bar
Grinder – Conical burr grinder (45 grind settings)
Pre-programmed settings – 4 pre-settings (single shot, double shot, hot water and long black)
Heatup Time – 10 Minutes is preferable
Pros
- Extremely powerful motor for quick heating and powerful grinding
- Comes with a water filter
- The retro appearance looks fantastic in coffee bars
- Ideal for brewing a variety of black or milky coffees
- Produces fine-tasting coffees
- Very easy to use
- Easy and simple to clean
- Ideal for those who want to become barista experts
- Can brew and froth milk simultaneously because it has a dual boiler
- The large 2.5-litre water tank is ideal for offices
Cons
- Can be challenging to figure a suitable grind setting, temperature, and coffee strength out for a satisfactory coffee
- Only a few pre-set functions
3. Melitta Barista TS Smart Bean to Cup Coffee Machine – A Good Office Companion
The Melitta Barista TS is a true office companion. This fully automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine takes the fuss out of making coffee and allows you to whip up all sorts of delicious drinks with ease.
The coffee maker is quite advanced with a large front-fitted panel where you can select and fine-tune your coffee. This panel includes seven commonly enjoyed coffees on easy-select followed by an adjustment area where you can control the strength of the coffee and cup size. The panel also has an LCD for easy selection view. This area includes even more coffee recipes and allows you to modify the strength and temperature of these speciality coffees as you desire.
The Melitta Barista has a pretty advanced bean hopper. Unlike most bean hoppers, this one has a split design with two bays so you can add two types of coffee. Next to the hopper, you will also find a panel that lifts into a chute where pre-ground coffee can be inserted.
The milk frother also has a pretty unique design. The frother canister is detachable so you can store it in the fridge. When you want to whip up milky beverages, the frother can be connected to the coffee maker through a frother tube.
The overall functionality of the machine is quite user friendly and it is pretty easy to keep clean. The machine has auto-cleaning functions that will give it a quick clean after brewing coffee and the drip tray and spent puck compartment easily slides out so you can empty it when full.
It is noteworthy that the coffee maker is a bit bulky and takes up quite a bit of countertop space. Despite its large design, it still provides the best functionality since it is so easy to use and can whip up a wide range of tasty caffeinated drinks.
Specifications
Brand – Melitta
Model No – F85/0-101
Machine type – Fully automatic bean-to-mug coffee maker
Dimensions – 25.9 x 46.7 x 37.2 Centimeters
Colour – Black, black/steel, and black/brushed steel
Weight – 10.4 Kilograms
Power – 1450 Watts
Interface input – Touch display and touch buttons
Water Tank Capacity – 1.89 Liters
Milk Reservoir – 1 Liter
Milk frothier – Built-in automatic
Pump – 15 Bar
Grinder – Built-in grinder (also features coffee grind chute)
Pre-programmed settings – 21 Pre-set coffee recipes with some pre-programmed settings
Heatup Time – 10 – 15 Minutes is preferable
Pros
- Beverages are consistently made and taste great
- Good variety of pre-set coffees
- Can be pre-programmed with drink preferences of up to 8 people
- Easy to clean with simple cleaning cycles every 1 – 3 months
- Fully automated since you only need to refill the tanks or hopper
- Quieter compared to most coffee machines
- Can use coffee beans and grinds thanks to a built-in grind chute
- Easy to use and drinks are easily customised
Cons
- Default drink sizes could be bigger
- Some feel that the milk frother can be warmer
- Does take up quite a bit of countertop space
4. De’Longhi Autentica Cuppacccino Fully Automated Coffee Machine – A Superb Pick for Compact Coffee Bars
If you are looking for a fully automated coffee machine that won’t take up too much counter space then we highly recommend the De’Longhi Authentica.
This little coffee maker offers surprising functionality for such a small and sleek little appliance. It is also a great investment if you prefer to use tap water since the 1.4-litre water tank comes with an optional water filter.
The machine will automatically grind and tampen coffee machine and it is equipped with a top-fitted bean hopper with 13 ground settings. This hopper is also accompanied by a funnel where pre-ground beans can be poured should you prefer to whip something up from a pack of speciality ground beans.
Next to the hopper, the coffee machine has a little heat pad where you can place your coffee mugs to keep them nice and warm.
To start brewing your coffee, you can simply use the soft-touch panel and select one of the pre-set coffee recipes. Six pre-set functions can be further customised in terms of cup size, temperature and aroma (bean strength) and a menu option that gives access to even more coffee recipes or customisation options.
After selecting your coffee, freshly brewed aromatic coffee will start pouring from the exit chute within a minute. This exit chute is adjustable in height to suit different coffee cup sizes so the machine won’t cause any unnecessary spills.
While the coffee maker creates great-tasting espresso, americanos, or long-black coffees it can also be used to make any type of milk coffee recipe. It comes with a detachable milk container. The container detaches so you can store it in the fridge to preserve the milk. Once attached, this frother can whip up warm-frothed milk and will automatically pour it into your cup along with the freshly extracted coffee.
Thanks to its auto-clean function, you can give the coffee maker a quick clean after every use.
This small De’Longi offers good functionality and great-tasting coffee with every brew and certainly is a worthy investment if you are looking for something compact yet stylish to add to your kitchen.
Specifications
Brand – DeLonghi
Model No – ETAM29.660.SB
Machine type – Fully automated bean-to-cup machine
Dimensions – 47.7 x 19.5 x 34 Centimeters
Colour – Black and silver
Weight – 9.1 Kiilograms
Power – 1450 Watts
Interface input – LCD and touch buttons
Water Tank Capacity – 1.4 Liters
Milk Reservoir – Detachable
Milk frothier – Built-in automatic frother
Pump – 15 Bar
Grinder – Built-in automatic grinder and 200g hopper
Pre-programmed settings – 3 Coffees and customisation buttons
Heatup Time – 45 Seconds
Pros
- Fully automatic bean-to-mug machine
- Easy to use
- Simple cleanup and easy deep-clean cycles
- The coffee grinder has 13 adjustable settings
- Can be used to pour long-black coffee
- Produces a wide variety of delicious coffees
- Can brew and froth milk simultaneously to save time
- Extremely small footprint so it won’t take up much space
- Sleek and stylish overall appearance
Cons
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- Might be too small for offices
- The milk frother container should be removed to pour hot water
5. Breville The Dual Boiler – The Most Economical Barista System
The Breville Dual Boiler is beloved by baristas and those who have always dreamt of learning the art of coffee making. It is a manual-styled barista machine with easy functionality so anyone can learn to make speciality coffees.
It is noteworthy that the Breville dual boiler can be sold as an individual coffee creamer barista machine or you can buy a combo kit that includes a grinder since the dual boiler does not have a hopper or grinder built into it.
Many believe that the dual boiler is the most economical barista machine you can own because of its simplicity, durability, and ability to produce fine-tasting coffees more affordably.
To use this coffee maker, you will first need to fill up the 2.5-litre water tank and slide it into the back of the machine. This water tank comes with a water filter that prevents buildup inside the machine. The filter is optional but recommended if you have hard water.
After filling up the water tank, you will need to warm up the machine. Barista experts recommend giving any machine at least 10 minutes to properly heat but the machine can be ready sooner.
Next, you will need to place a filter basket into the portafilter. The machine comes with four baskets; 2 single shots and two double shots. One of the sets is designed to be used for pre-ground coffee while the other is suitable for freshly ground coffees so be careful to choose a basket that suits your coffee bean grinds.
You don’t have to worry about over-filling the baskets with coffee grinds because the machine comes with a little eraser that allows you to easily scrape off excess coffee grinds before locking it into place.
On the front panel, you will notice a manometer, LCD and a couple of touch buttons. The manometer gives you a clear view of the tamp pressure of the coffee machine while it brews. This allows you to see whether your coffee grinds are ground and taped at a good level. You can quickly brew a single or double espresso by selecting the single or double shot button. The manual button will allow you to choose other types of coffee or adjust the temperature or cup size.
A turn knob is fitted on each side of the coffee maker. One turn knob is designed to pour hot water and the other activates the frother.
The frother is quite advanced since the steam wand has a ball-joint design so you can easily move it in any direction. This steam wand is quite powerful and can quickly heat and froth milk you pour into the stainless steel mug.
Because the dual boiler has a “doil boiler”, it can simultaneously steam and brew coffee, saving you time.
Tea drinkers love the hot water function of this coffee machine. The water temperature is easily modified by turning the knob and you can pour as much hot water as you like into a cup.
The coffee machine is pretty easy to keep clean. Not only are the drip tray and water tank removable for easy cleaning, but this heavy machine is fitted with wheels that can lock down. When unlocked, you can slide the machine over the counter to move it so you can clean it underneath the device.
Even though the coffee maker doesnt have a built-in grinder it is one of the finest and most straightforward appliances to get if you love experimenting with coffee recipes or different coffee grind brands.
Specifications
Brand – Breville
Model No – BES920BSS
Machine type – Manual barista machine
Dimensions – 37.5 x 37.5 x 41 Centimeters
Colour – Stainless
Weight – 13.6 Kilograms
Power – 2200 Watts
Interface input – LCD, buttons and turn dials
Water Tank Capacity – 2.5 Liters
Milk Reservoir – Comes with frothing jug
Milk frothier – Steam wand
Pump – 15 Bar
Grinder – None
Pre-programmed settings – Single, double shot and manual coffee select
Heatup Time – 2 – 3 minutes (6-10 minutes is recommended heat-up time)
Pros
- Dual boiler design speeds up coffee brewing
- Very sleek and stylish appearance
- Froth milk and brew coffee simultaneously
- Extremely consistent with temperature and coffee extraction
- Easy to control temperature and froth consistency
- Convenient to keep clean and offers auto-cleanup functions
- Easily view the extraction pressure so you know how to make grinds or which to buy
- Powerful enough to produce lots of steam for frothier and more decorative coffees
Cans
- Does not come with a grinder
- Can be a bit noisy at times
6. De’Longhi Eletta Cappuccino Fully Automatic Coffee Machine – A Device that Combines Simplicity with Great Taste
De’Longhi’s Eletta machine comes in various models and while the ECAM4576W model is a bit old-school in terms of display and button selection, it offers good simplicity. This bean-to-mug machine offers everything you could hope for from a compact design, and simple functionality, to great automatic processing.
The coffee machine is a good budget investment for offices. It comes with oversized reservoirs like a 2-litre water tank and a 400-gram bean hopper. This provides a lot of convenience for medium-sized office spaces since you won’t constantly need to top up the coffee machine. The fact that this coffee machine also brews coffee from pre-ground beans is a bonus to those who might be fussy about a particular brand or taste. You can easily pour your preferred pre-grounds into the machine via its top-fitted chute.
Using the Eletta is very straightforward and even complete newcomers should be successful with brewing a great cup of coffee without any instruction.
This coffee maker can also be functional for whipping up teas since it comes with a dedicated hot water spout that allows you to easily pour 250 millilitres of hot water with the click of a button. This dedicated water spout is removable so you can exchange it with a milk frother. The frother tank is detachable so you can keep the milk in the fridge to prevent spoilage.
To start brewing a tasty coffee, you will first need to connect the milk frother – if you want a milky coffee. Next, you will notice an old-school panel with plenty of easy-push buttons and a small LCD in the middle. The pre-set functions of this panel include hot water, long black coffee, cappuccino, and single and double espresso. The settings also include a milk menu option where a wide variety of milk coffee recipes can be accessed. The my-coffee button also has various coffee types to pick and choose from and these can be customized to your preference.
Once you select your preferred coffee, you can fine-tune it a little bit by altering the temperature and cup size. The coffee machine will proceed and will automatically grind coffee beans, tamp the beans into a puck, pressure the coffee puck to 9 bars while extracting coffee, froth milk, and pour everything into your cup.
With a shared coffee machine, cleaning can be a concern. Luckily, this device is easy to keep clean since the removable water tank and milk container are easy to wash and the drip tray and spent coffee puck container easily slide out so you can empty and clean these compartments. The machine also comes with auto-clean functions so every cup of coffee will be perfectly fresh.
Specifications
Brand – DeLonghi
Model No – ECAM4576W
Machine type – Fully automated bean-to-mug coffee machine
Dimensions – 26 x 45 x 38 Centimetres
Colour – White / Silver
Weight – 11 Kilograms
Power – 1450 Watts
Interface input – LCD with touch buttons
Water Tank Capacity – 2 Liters
Milk Reservoir – Included
Milk frothier – Automatic froth and warm
Pump – 15 Bar
Grinder – Built-in with 400-gram bean hopper
Pre-programmed settings – 5 Pre-set functions including hot water and steam
Heatup Time – 45 Seconds
Pros
- A dual thermal heating system allows you to simultaneously brew and froth milk
- Has a cup warmer in the front
- Uses coffee beans and grinds thanks to its additional grind chute
- The coffee exit spout is height adjustable to suit different cup sizes
- Removable drip tray and ground container are easy to clean
- The large water tank is a huge plus
- User-friendly interface
- Quick and easy-to-break coffees
- Various temperature settings for coffee
- Fully automatic machine that grinds, brews, froths, and mixes all with the click of a button
Cons
- Grinding is a bit loud
7. Breville The Barista Touch – A Great Budget Manual Barista System
The Breville Barista Touch is a favourite among coffee connoisseurs because, with a little bit of experimentation, you can whip up incredible-tasting coffees. It is also a lot of fun to perk up your barista skills and this machine is the perfect option for those who want to learn how to make specialty coffees from scratch.
The Barista Touch is a manual bean-to-mug coffee maker meaning every brewing session does require a little bit of effort.
One of the most outstanding features of this little barista machine is its colour touch display. This large panel makes it very easy to view all of the different coffee flavours programmed into the brewer. There are 5 pre-set drinks to choose from and they can be customized in terms of aroma strength, temperature, and drink size. The panel also allows you to pre-set some of your own drinks so you won’t have to struggle with fine-tuning every time.
This can be a good coffee maker for offices since it has a large 2-litre water tank with charcoal filters. On top, you will notice a 250-gram bean hopper with various grind settings. Baristas love experimenting with these grind settings because the size of their coffee grinds can have a huge impact on the taste and cremer of the coffee extracts.
After grinding the coffee beans, you will need to tamp them into the filter basket. Figuring out the perfect tamp pressure might also require some experimentation. The filter basket locks into the brewing compartment and the machine will quickly pressure the beans and start extracting delicious coffee from the freshly ground beans.
This compact barista machine does have a double boiler which means it can froth and extract simultaneously. While it is brewing coffee, you can fill the stainless steel milk jug with milk and start frothing the milk. With various coffee types and the milk frother, you can whip up a wide range of milk coffee recipes.
The Barista is easy to clean since the bean hopper, drip tray, and water tank are removable but you will need to manually flush out the filter basket and frother after each use.
Specifications
Brand – Breville
Model No – BES880BSS
Machine type – Manua bean-to-mug barista machine
Dimensions – 41 x 32 x 32 Centimeters
Colour – Brushed steel
Weight –
Power – 1680 Watts
Interface input – Touch colour LCD
Water Tank Capacity – 2 Liters
Milk Reservoir – Coes with steel jug
Milk frothier – Frother wand
Pump – 15 Bar
Grinder – Built-in with 250-gram hopper
Pre-programmed settings – 5 Preset drinks
Heatup Time – 3 Seconds
Pros
- Stylish overall look
- Smart LCD for easy drink viewing and adjusting
- Includes dual boiler so it can froth and brew simultaneously
- A large water tank makes it ideal for offices
- Extremely quick to heat up
- Makes delicious restaurant-quality coffee
- Enjoy more affordable luxe coffees
- The machine is easy to use
- Brews magnificent coffees every time
Cons
- Making the perfect coffee is a learning process
A Cup of Coffee a Day Keeps The Moods at Bay
Investing a little bit more in a high-quality coffee machine certainly does have its merrits. These high-end coffee machines come with a lot more features, a more durable design, and aesthetics that are bound to perk up any coffee bar.
All of the coffee machines we included on our list are perfect for household use or small to medium offices. Your personal preference may affect your final buying decision.
If you want an elite device that is going to streamline coffee making to a point where you can order your favourite drink from the bed then we recommend the De’Longhi PrimaDonna. This certainly is the most technologically advanced coffee maker.
Coffee lovers who are not too fond of all the work required for barista-style coffee brewing should consider a fully automated machine. With just a few button pushes, these types will do all of the hard work for you and they are even designed with auto-self cleaning functions. You can simply stand by while your coffee machine does all the work.