In our editorial judgement, an undecided beginner (someone with no grinding or milk-frothing experience) should start with a pod machine that also takes ground coffee, because there is no grinder to learn or clean. Choose an espresso machine with a steam or frother wand if you want milk drinks and will buy fine ground coffee, and a bean-to-cup machine if you want grinding done for you and have the worktop.
- Pod machine: No grinding, but capsules are usually designed for one brand or system, and some are hard to recycle.[1]
- Espresso machine: Can froth milk with a steam or frother wand,[2] but you supply fine ground coffee.[3]
- Bean-to-cup machine: Has a built-in grinder,[2] so there is one more part to keep clean.
Whatever the type, check the grinder, milk system, tank, descaling advice and size on the product page, and do not choose by bar number alone.
How Do Espresso, Bean-to-Cup and Pod Machines Differ?
Espresso is “a concentrated form of coffee produced by forcing hot water under high pressure through finely ground coffee beans”.[4] This guide covers three types, classed by their main input: capsules, ground coffee or whole beans. Wikipedia’s Espresso machine page does not use the term bean-to-cup or cover capsule machines, so these classes are ours.[2]
| Type | Main input | Milk | Main trade-off |
| Pod (capsule) machine | Capsules, and some models also take ground coffee | Depends on the model, so check the page | Capsules usually tied to one brand or system, and some are hard to recycle[1] |
| Espresso machine | Ground coffee | May have a steam wand[2] or frother wand for milk | A learning curve with grind and milk |
| Bean-to-cup machine | Whole beans, ground by a built-in grinder[2] | May have a steam wand or milk system | More to clean, and a larger size |
The trade-off column is our judgement. Machines also differ in how much they automate: Wikipedia describes a super-automatic machine as having “mechanisms for automating the entire process, such that a shot of espresso may be produced by a single touch from the user”.[2] Check the page for which steps you still do yourself, such as frothing milk.
Grinder, Milk, Tank and Cleaning: What Should You Check?
- Grinder: Espresso sits at the fine end of the grind range, and burr grinders give uniform particles and heat coffee less than blade grinders.[3] If there is a built-in grinder, check whether the page says burr or blade. If not, plan for fine ground coffee or a separate grinder.
- Milk: For lattes and cappuccinos, check that the page names a steam wand or milk system, because some products never mention frothing.
- Tank: Divide the tank volume by the shot size on the page. A 1.2L tank and a 70ml double shot, the figures listed for the espresso machine below, give about 17 double shots per fill (our calculation, ignoring steam and cleaning).
- Cleaning: Look for a removable tank and drip tray, and for descaling advice in the page or manual, because some pages have none.
How Do You Match a Type to Your Habits?
| If this describes you | Look at first | Why |
| You want a quick, low-effort drink and have little worktop | Pod machine | No grinding to learn |
| You drink mostly milky coffee and will learn a skill | Espresso machine with a steam or frother wand | You choose the grind you buy and control the shot and milk |
| You want fresh beans ground for you | Bean-to-cup machine | The grinder is built in, but so is the extra cleaning |
| You are unsure | Pod machine that also takes ground coffee | You can change how you buy coffee without changing the machine, though check the grind it needs |
To compare running costs, work out pod spend as price per pod x cups per day x 365. For beans, divide the bag price by the doses in it (one dose is the coffee for one drink) and multiply the same way. Then measure your free width, depth and cabinet height against the size on the page.
Is a Higher Bar Number Better Coffee?
Not by itself. The Italian Espresso National Institute’s technical parameters for a certified Italian espresso, as Wikipedia summarises them, list 9 ± 1 bar as entry water pressure, with exit water at 88 ± 2 °C and a percolation time of 25 ± 5 seconds.[4] The three machines in the Worked Example below list 15, 19 and 20 bar, and their pages do not say where in the machine that is measured, so in our reading it is a manufacturer rating, not a measure of how good the coffee will be.
Which Water, Safety and Consumer Checks Apply?
- Hard water: The Drinking Water Inspectorate says hard water “causes scaling in hot water systems, kettles, electric irons and domestic appliances”, and that scaling of heating elements “shortens their life and makes appliances less efficient”.[5] A coffee machine heats water, so in our reading it faces the same scaling. Your water company can tell you your local hardness.
- Safety and marking: Electrical equipment rated 50 to 1000 volts AC must be designed and made to the safety objectives of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 before it is placed on the market.[6] GOV.UK says the UK continues to recognise the CE marking in Great Britain, alongside or in place of the UKCA marking,[7] so look for one of them on the page or packaging.
- Your rights: Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods supplied to a consumer must be of satisfactory quality, taking account of the price where relevant, and durability counts in appropriate cases.[8]
Worked Example: Applying the Checks to One Machine of Each Type
Three machines from our HOMCOM coffee machine range show how several of the checks apply. They are examples, not recommendations. We compared them using only what each product page states and did not test them. Prices and specifications are correct at the time of writing, so check the product page before ordering.
| Check | Pod machine | Espresso machine | Bean-to-cup machine |
| Product | HOMCOM Pod Coffee Machine, 19 Bar, 0.6L[9] | HOMCOM Espresso Machine, 20-Bar, 1.2L[10] | HOMCOM 15 Bar Coffee Machine with Adjustable Grind[11] |
| Pressure listed | 19 bar | 20 bar | 15 bar |
| Grinding | None, takes capsules or ground coffee | Ground coffee (no capsule option listed) | Built in, 15 settings, 150g hopper |
| Milk | Frother not stated | Frother wand | Steam wand and milk pitcher |
| Size and weight (as listed) | 11.5 x 27.3 x 26.2cm, 2.6kg | 32 x 17 x 31cm (36.5cm high with the lid open), 3.9kg | 31.1 x 30.8 x 41.5cm, 7kg |
- What the pages do not say: None of the three pages states descaling instructions, and the bean-to-cup page does not say whether its grinder is burr or blade.
- Price and delivery: Priced at £60.99 (pod),[9] £63.99 (espresso)[10] and £189.99 (bean-to-cup)[11]at time of writing, each with free UK mainland delivery and a 30-day return window.
Five Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting the lid-open height. Some pages list a second, taller height.
- Buying a ground-coffee machine with no grind plan. You need fine ground coffee or a grinder.
- Assuming a built-in grinder is a burr grinder. The page may not say.
- Skipping descaling. Scale on heating elements can shorten their life.[5]
- Comparing only the machine price. Add pods or beans, and tank refills.
Checklist: Six Checks Before You Buy
- Count your milk drinks, and see whether the page names a steam wand or milk system.
- Find out who grinds the coffee, and whether the page says burr or blade.
- Work out how many drinks one tank fill gives you.
- Look for descaling advice in the page or manual, and find out whether your water is hard.
- Measure your worktop and cabinets against the size and weight.
- Read the returns terms and know your rights.
Making the Right Choice
For an undecided beginner, a pod machine that also takes ground coffee is the lowest-commitment start. Choose an espresso machine with a steam or frother wand for hands-on milk drinks, or a bean-to-cup machine if you want grinding done for you. Whichever you pick, check the grind it needs.
FAQs
1. Is a bean-to-cup coffee machine worth it for a beginner?
It can be, if you will use it most days and want the grinding done for you. In our editorial judgement a pod machine is the lower-commitment start, because a bean-to-cup machine (one with a built-in grinder[2]) has a grinder to keep clean as well.
2. Do espresso machines need a separate grinder?
3. What does 15 bar or 20 bar mean on a coffee machine?
It is the pressure the manufacturer lists, and the pages of the three machines we checked do not say where in the machine it is measured. The Italian Espresso National Institute’s technical parameters list 9 ± 1 bar as entry water pressure,[4] so in our reading a higher figure does not by itself mean better coffee.
4. How often should you descale a coffee machine
Descaling removes limescale from the machine. There is no single interval, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions, because it depends on the model and your water. The Drinking Water Inspectorate says hard water causes scaling in domestic appliances. If the page gives no descaling advice, check the manual or contact us before ordering.[5]
5. Are coffee pods cheaper than beans?
Neither is always cheaper, because it depends on the price you pay per pod and per dose of beans. Compare the cost per cup: pod spend is the price per pod x cups per day x 365, and for beans you divide the bag price by the number of doses in it.
References
[1] Wikipedia. Single-serve coffee container.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-serve_coffee_container
[2] Wikipedia. Espresso machine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espresso_machine
[3] Wikipedia. Burr mill.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burr_mill
[4] Wikipedia. Espresso.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espresso
[5] Drinking Water Inspectorate. Water Hardness / Hard Water.
https://www.dwi.gov.uk/consumers/learn-more-about-your-water/water-hardness-hard-water/
[6] legislation.gov.uk.The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, regulations 3 and 4.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/1101/contents
[7] GOV.UK. Using the UKCA Marking.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-ukca-marking
[8] 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
[9] HOMCOM Pod Coffee Machine, 19 Bar, 0.6L, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-pod-coffee-machine-for-nespresso-dolce-gusto-capsule-ground-coffee-small-semi-automatic-coffee-maker-19-bar-0-6l~23N5VHURPV801.html
[10] 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
[11] HOMCOM 15 Bar Coffee Machine, with Adjustable Grind, Steamer and Accessories, White, product page.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-bean-to-cup-coffee-machine-espresso-machine-with-integrated-bean-grinder-steam-wand-white~26IQRLGH1UO01.html