Our pick for a beginner who mostly drinks lattes and cappuccinos, and wants the grinding done for them, is the HOMCOM 15 Bar bean-to-cup machine. The 20-Bar espresso machines cost less but take ground coffee you supply. The pages list no automatic milk system, so expect to froth by hand. Prices are in the table below.
- Best Overall: HOMCOM 15 Bar Coffee Machine, Silver. Grinder, steam wand and milk pitcher in one machine, with 4.8 stars from 14 ratings.[1]
- Best Value: HOMCOM 20-Bar Espresso Machine, Black and Silver. The lowest price of all 11 machines in our coffee range at time of writing.[2]
- Best for Manual Shot Control: HOMCOM 20-Bar Espresso Machine, LED Touch. Single 36ml and double 70ml shots plus a manual option.[3]
- Best for Tight Worktops: HOMCOM 20-Bar Espresso Machine, 1.2L. The smallest footprint of the four, 32 x 17cm.[4]
How We Chose
We checked all machines in our UK coffee machines category and picked four, one for each need, using only what each product page states. HOMCOM is Aosom’s own brand, so all four are our products. Two 19 Bar pod machines are left out because this guide compares espresso and bean-to-cup, and where two machines serve the same need we picked the lower price. Best Overall goes to the machine that covers the whole job, grinding, brewing and steaming, at the lowest price among the bean-to-cup machines. We judged them on:
- Grinding: Built in, or ground coffee you supply.
- Milk: What the page says about steam.
- Shot control: Single, double or manual.
- Size: Footprint and height, lid open where listed.
- Price and ratings: The price and the number of ratings.
Comparison Table: Price, Size, Power and Ratings
| Best for | Product | Price | Outside Size, Weight | Power | Stated Capacity and Functions | Rating |
| Best overall | HOMCOM 15 Bar Coffee Machine, Silver[1] | £152.99 | 31.1 x 30.8 x 41.5cm, 7kg | 1600W | 2L tank, burr grinder (15 settings), programmable shot buttons, steam wand, milk pitcher | 4.8 stars, 14 ratings |
| Best value | HOMCOM 20-Bar Espresso Machine, Black and Silver[2] | £57.99 | 28 x 23.5 x 28cm (33cm lid open), 3.6kg | 850W | 1.6L tank, ground coffee, 70ml double, steam dial and frothing knob | NIL |
| Best for manual shot control | HOMCOM 20-Bar Espresso Machine, LED Touch[3] | £69.99 | 28 x 23.5 x 28cm (33cm lid open), 3.6kg | 850W | 1.6L tank, ground coffee, 36ml single, 70ml double, manual shot, “milk frothing steam” | NIL |
| Best for tight worktops | HOMCOM 20-Bar Espresso Machine, 1.2L[4] | £63.99 | 32 x 17 x 31cm (36.5cm lid open), 3.9kg | 1350W | 1.2L tank, ground coffee, 36ml single, 70ml double, frothing knob | 5.0 stars, 1 rating |
Note: Prices and specifications are correct at the time of writing, so check the product page before ordering.
Best Overall: HOMCOM 15 Bar Coffee Machine With Built-In Grinder, Silver[1]
Why we picked it: It grinds, brews and steams in one machine, so a beginner buys no separate grinder, and its steam wand gives “velvety microfoam”, the page says. It has the most ratings of the four picks.
- Brewing: 15 bar, 2L removable tank, 150g bean capacity, and programmable single and double shot buttons that stop automatically.
- Power and size: 1600W, 31.1 x 30.8 x 41.5cm, 7kg.
- Care and safety: Removable tank and drip tray, milk pitcher, brush and cleaning needle included, and automatic shut-off.
- Best suited to: Someone who wants the grinding done for them and has the worktop and cabinet height.
- Pros: The only pick with a built-in burr grinder.
- Limitations: About 2.6 times the lowest price, and the heaviest and tallest of the four. Milk appears to be frothed by hand.
- Who should choose another option: Tightest budget, the 20-Bar Black and Silver. Tightest worktop, the 20-Bar 1.2L. Want more ratings, the Black version of 15 Bar Coffee Machine has 23 at £199.99, £47 more (our calculation).[5]
- Price and delivery: Priced at £152.99 at time of writing, with free UK mainland delivery and a 30-day return window.
Best Value: HOMCOM 20-Bar Espresso Machine, Black and Silver[2]
Why we picked it: It is the lowest-priced of among all machines in our coffee range, £95 less than the bean-to-cup pick and £12 less than the LED Touch (our calculation), with a 1.6L removable tank and a steam dial for “velvet milk foam”, the page says.
- Brewing: 20 bar, ground coffee only, a 70ml double shot, and a top heated zone to preheat cups.
- Power and size: 850W, 28 x 23.5cm footprint, 33cm high with the lid open, 3.6kg.
- Care and safety: Removable tank and drip tray, not dishwasher safe, and a 20-minute auto-off.
- Best suited to: Someone ready to learn hand frothing who will buy ground coffee.
- Pros: The same 1.6L tank and 850W as the LED Touch, at about half the weight of the bean-to-cup pick.
- Limitations: The title lists a frother wand, but the page describes a steam dial and frothing knob, not a wand. No rating and no single-shot size.
- Who should choose another option: Want the grinder built in, the 15 Bar Silver. I want a stated single shot and a manual option, the 20-Bar LED Touch.
- Price and delivery: Priced at £57.99 at time of writing, with free UK mainland delivery and a 30-day return window.
Best for Manual Shot Control: HOMCOM 20-Bar Espresso Machine, LED Touch[3]
Why we picked it: For £12 more than the Best Value pick, it adds 36ml single and 70ml double shots, a manual custom extraction option and an LED display for working status.
- Brewing: 20 bar, 1.6L removable tank, ground coffee only, and cup warming.
- Power and size: 850W, 28 x 23.5cm footprint, 33cm high with the lid open, 3.6kg.
- Care and safety: Removable tank and drip tray, not dishwasher safe, and a 20-minute auto-off.
- Best suited to: Someone who wants to adjust shot length once comfortable with the basics, then froth by hand.
- Pros: The only pick that states a manual shot option.
- Limitations: The page describes “milk frothing steam”, not a wand, though the title lists a frother wand. No rating.
- Who should choose another option: Want the grinder built in, the 15 Bar Silver. I want the lowest price, the 20-Bar Black and Silver.
- Price and delivery: Priced at £69.99 at time of writing, with free UK mainland delivery and a 30-day return window.
Best for Tight Worktops: HOMCOM 20-Bar Espresso Machine, 1.2L[4]
Why we picked it: At 32 x 17cm it has the smallest footprint of the four, so it suits a tight worktop. The page states 36ml single and 70ml double shots.
- Brewing: 20 bar, 1.2L removable tank, ground coffee only, and cup warming.
- Power and size: 1350W, 32 x 17 x 31cm, 36.5cm high with the lid open, 3.9kg.
- Care and safety: Removable tank and drip tray, not dishwasher safe, and a 20-minute auto-off.
- Best suited to: A small kitchen where worktop space is the limit and ground coffee suits you.
- Pros: The smallest footprint of the four.
- Limitations: The smallest tank, the highest power of the three espresso machines and a taller lid-open height. Its page describes a knob, not a wand, and its 5.0 stars rest on 1 rating.
- Who should choose another option: Want a bigger tank, either 1.6L 20-Bar machine. I want the grinder built in, the 15 Bar Silver.
- Price and delivery: Priced at £63.99 at time of writing, with free UK mainland delivery and a 30-day return window.
Buying Guide: Espresso or Bean-to-Cup for Milk Drinks?
- Decide who grinds: Espresso needs a fine grind,[6] and an espresso machine without a grinder needs ground coffee that you buy or grind. A bean-to-cup machine, meaning one with a built-in grinder, grinds for you, as the Best Overall pick does.
- Plan to froth by hand: A latte is espresso with steamed milk,[7] and a steam wand steams and froths the milk.[8] None of the four pages lists an automatic milk system, so in our reading steaming milk takes practice.
- Check the steam wording and the gap: Compare your free width, depth and lid-open height with the table. The three espresso pages name a frother wand in the title but describe a steam dial, a knob or “milk frothing steam”. Only the bean-to-cup page describes a steam wand.
- Read the rating count, not just the stars: A high score based on only a few ratings is still an early signal, not a long-term average
Reviews and Evidence
Only two of the four pages show a rating, 4.8 from 14 and 5.0 from 1, and none shows written reviews, so we quote none. The Black version of the bean-to-cup machine shows 4.8 from 23 ratings.[5]
Safety, Delivery and Returns
- Steam: The NHS says scalds are caused by hot liquids or steam, and advises holding a scald under cool running water for 20 minutes.[9]
- Limescale: The Drinking Water Inspectorate says hard water causes scaling in domestic appliances and shortens the life of heating elements.[10] None of the four pages states descaling advice, so follow the instruction manual on arrival.
- Safety law: Electrical equipment rated 50 to 1000 volts AC must meet the safety objectives of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016.[11] None of the four pages states a certification, so check the markings on delivery.
- Your rights: Goods must be of satisfactory quality, which takes the price into account where relevant, and durability counts in appropriate cases.[12]
Our delivery and returns terms are the same for all four machines.[1][2][3][4]
- Delivery: Free UK mainland delivery, with a courier fee for Northern Ireland.
- Returns: 30 calendar days to return, exchange or refund.
- Faulty goods: A refund, replacement parts or a full replacement within 30 days. For electrical items, replacement parts or a full replacement if available up to 12 months.
FAQs
1. What is the best coffee machine for a beginner who drinks lattes?
Our pick is the HOMCOM 15 Bar Coffee Machine, Silver, because it grinds, brews and steams in one machine. Expect to froth by hand, because the pages list steam controls you operate yourself, not an automatic milk system.[1]
2. Which coffee machine suits a small kitchen best?
3. Is a bean-to-cup machine worth the extra cost for a beginner?
It is worth considering if grinding is your main hurdle. The HOMCOM 15 Bar Silver costs about 2.6 times the lowest-priced pick and stands 41.5cm tall, so choose it only if you have the worktop and cabinet height.[1]
References
[1] HOMCOM 15 Bar Coffee Machine with 15 Adjustable Grind Setting, Steamer and Complete Kit, Silver Colour, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-15-bar-coffee-machine-with-adjustable-grind-steamer-and-accessories-silver-colour~1R0EH9H99NG01.html
[2] HOMCOM Espresso Machine, 20-Bar Semi Automatic Cappuccino Coffee Maker with Frother Wand, 1.6 L Water Tank, Black and Silver, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-espresso-machine-20-bar-semi-automatic-cappuccino-coffee-maker-with-frother-wand-1-6-l-water-tank-black-and~27I3I6ONPO801.html
[3] HOMCOM Espresso Machine, 20-Bar Cappuccino Coffee Maker with Frother Wand, 1.6L Tank, Single/Double/Manual Shot, LED Touch, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-espresso-machine-20-bar-cappuccino-coffee-maker-with-frother-wand-1-6l-tank-single-double-manual-shot-led-touch~27J76349PU801.html
[4] HOMCOM Espresso Machine, 20-Bar Cappuccino Coffee Maker with Frother Wand, 1.2 L Water Tank, Black, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-espresso-machine-20-bar-cappuccino-coffee-maker-with-frother-wand-1-2-l-water-tank-black~27AAN91THVO00.html
[5] HOMCOM 15 Bar Coffee Machine with Adjustable Grind, Steamer and Accessories, Black, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-15-bar-coffee-machine-with-adjustable-grind-steamer-and-accessories~1N95TROL01G00.html
[6] Wikipedia. Burr mill.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burr_mill
[7] Wikipedia. Latte.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latte
[8] Wikipedia. Espresso machine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espresso_machine
[9] NHS. Burns and scalds.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/burns-and-scalds/
[10] Drinking Water Inspectorate. Water Hardness / Hard Water.
https://www.dwi.gov.uk/consumers/learn-more-about-your-water/water-hardness-hard-water/
[11] legislation.gov.uk. The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, regulations 3 and 4.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/1101/contents
[12] legislation.gov.uk. Consumer Rights Act 2015, Section 9, Goods to Be of Satisfactory Quality.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/9
[13] Wikipedia. Espresso.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espresso