Your ultimate guide to choosing the best automatic coffee machine

Let's skip the fluff. Your usual $5 latte is an expensive habit. If you're like me, that's a habit you want to cut out and save on.

While $2000 coffee machines might sound like a luxury purchase, there's a shift happening in Australia that's valuing the return on investment that these appliances give.

If portafilters, burr grinders, grind settings and microfoam all sound like confusing terminology to you, but you're still interested in buying a coffee machine, you'll likely want a bean-to-cup machine.

That's why we're rounding up the best automatic coffee machines we've found for every budget and need.

The best budget choices

Nepresso Vertuo Pop

$89 | Myer

The Vertuo Pop from Nespresso is the most straightforward option on this list. This compact machine removes all guesswork with a single-button operation that reads unique barcodes on the Nepresso pods to automatically brew five different sizes, ranging from a standard espresso to a large cold brew. If you enjoy long blacks, it's a cheap, easy option. If you enjoy your milk-based drinks, you'll likely want to pair the Vertuo Pop with a milk frother.

Who it's for: Budget-conscious, black coffee enjoyers with limited bench space.

READ MORE: The Nespresso machine that has saved me hundreds on my daily coffee

De'Longhi Nespresso Lattissima

Was $519, now $388

Looking for a pod machine that does milk-based drinks, too? The De'Longhi Nespresso Lattissima brews with 19 bar pressure and a choice between three beverages: espresso, lungo, and a milk-based recipe to enjoy a cappuccino or latte macchiato. The machine includes an automatic frother that you can top up to your desired amount of milk.

Who it's for: Budget-conscious milk-based drinkers who are still after a pod-based machine.

De'Longhi Magnifica S

$469 | Big W

Still looking in the budget range, but not interested in a pod machine? Buying your beans fresh is the best way to make great coffee, and you can pair that with De'Longhi's Magnifica S series. The machine will grind your beans and brew your espresso with the touch of a button. Plus, you can personalise your coffee's aroma and quantity to your preference. It also comes with a milk steamer, which you'll have to use yourself to make your foam, so it's more of an automatic espresso machine than a fully automatic coffee machine.

Who it's for: Budget-conscious coffee enjoyers who won't mind steaming their own milk.

Best mid-range choices

Philips Series 2300

$699 | Bing Lee

After a classic coffee at the touch of a button? The Phillips Series 2300 Fully Automatic Espresso Machine promises coffee with perfect crema, aroma and temperature using its durable ceramic grinder and standout LatteGo system, which creates silky froth for either dairy or plant-based milk. It's made easy to clean with only a few parts, and offers customisation with a modern touchscreen.

Who it's for: Households who want one-touch milky coffee without the hassle of cleaning complex milk tubes.

De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Fully Automatic

$944 | Amazon

An evolution from the Magnifica S, the Magnifica Evo ups your espresso game with a coloured control panel to customise your coffee or choose between seven recipes. The machine will also grind your beans automatically and deliver creamy milk with its automatic milk frother.

Who it's for: Coffee enthusiasts looking for a truly mid-tier fully-automatic machine.

Gaggia Cadorna Prestige

Was $1899, now $1434

Gaggia has been a brand that's caught our eye recently, and they represent a market of coffee enthusiasts who enjoy Italian heritage machines. It offers 14 distinct beverages using a widescreen interface, and a quick heat boiler for rapid brewing, even allowing up to four different user profiles for individual family members. There's also an integrated milk foamer and the machine even accomodates for either beans or coffee grounds.

Who it's for: Houses with specific coffee preferences that want a machine at a mid-tier offering.

If you're looking to splurge

KitchenAid KF8

$2599 | KitchenAid

With 40+ recipes and six user profiles, KitchenAid's KF8 is a great fully automatic coffee machine that also finally solves the problem of frothing plant-based milks by using a dedicated mode to adjust steam temperature for oat and almond varieties. It features a removable bean hopper that allows you to swap between different bean blends, like decaf, without the hassle of needing to vacuum them out. It's easy to control with a touchscreen interface and looks good on the counter with four different colour options.

Who it's for: Families with a variety of coffee preferences and needs, and anyone who is after a modern machine.

READ MORE: This fully automatic coffee machine has thought of everything

Jura J10

Was $3990, now $3499

With innovation consumer awards under its belt, the J10 offers the most complete technical package for buyers. It offers a touch-screen display with customisable profiles, and many pre-set recipes alongside cold-brew options and automatic milk-frothing. With an aroma-preserving adjustable grinder, automatic cleaning functions and even a sweet foam option that allowed flavoured drinks (like a caramel latte), the Jura J10 marks the end-game automatic coffee machine set-up.

Who it's for: Coffee enjoyers who appreciate technology, drink both hot and cold coffee, and prioritise full automation.

Breville The Oracle Touch

$3699 | Breville

Okay, the Breville Oracle Touch is not a fully-automatic espresso machine, but it might as well be. If you're after a cafe quality coffee machine that features a 58mm portafilter with an automatic grinder, doser and tamper, plus automatic milk frothing, this is it. You'll still have to go through the manual labour of moving the parts around, but the brewing and steaming process can be entirely automated through the touch screen controls.

Who it's for: Coffee enjoyers who still want a tactile brewing experience but lack the time for a fully manual workflow.

READ MORE: Ninja's 3-in-1 coffee machine is a beginner's dream for making great espresso