Best Coffee Makers for Ease Of Use (2024)

1

Breville Barista Express Impress

Score: 8/10

Breville Barista Express Impress

User-friendly with automatic and manual dosing options, though it requires some know-how for optimal operation, especially for milk frothing.

Ease Of Use

8/10

L

Lifestyle Lab

For the most part, it's incredibly easy to use.

L

Lifestyle Lab

It is really easy to wipe down.

L

Lifestyle Lab

It's a beautiful machine, very handsome on the countertop.

Brewing Performance

8/10

The machine delivers consistent espresso shots with its adaptive dosing system and built-in tamper, though it may require some trial and error for perfecting the coffee puck.

Quotes from Reviewers

L

Lifestyle Lab

What really impresses me about this machine so far is its adaptive dosing.

L

Lifestyle Lab

It's a really cool mechanical operation that shows how the tamper flips downwards and tamps the puck.

L

Lifestyle Lab

It's quite delightful when I get a little bit of bittersweet chocolate.

Capacity

7/10

The machine has a reasonable 2L water tank and a 250g bean hopper, but its large footprint and awkward water tank design may be inconvenient for some users.

Quotes from Reviewers

L

Lifestyle Lab

The machine also comes with a cleaning kit.

L

Lifestyle Lab

The first shot from this brew group also gets hot over time.

L

Lifestyle Lab

The second thing is a little bit unfortunate.

Build Quality

7/10

Durable construction with a premium stainless steel look, though some plastic components may not be as durable.

Quotes from Reviewers

L

Lifestyle Lab

It's built like a tank, and its longevity is evident now.

L

Lifestyle Lab

The components are not plasticky, but they are made of plastic.

L

Lifestyle Lab

It has the same heating element as the older machine.

Noise Level

6/10

Quiet during grinding and brewing, but can be noisy during milk frothing, reaching up to 88dB.

Quotes from Reviewers

L

Lifestyle Lab

It's quiet when grinding.

L

Lifestyle Lab

It's really quite sputtery.

L

Lifestyle Lab

If I want to top up a drink, I'm going to make a mess for you guys.

2

Breville Bambino Plus

Score: 8/10

Breville Bambino Plus

Simple interface and automatic milk texturing, but requires additional purchases for best performance.

Ease Of Use

8/10

L

Lifestyle Lab

It has a pretty small footprint, as you can see here. It features thermojet technology, which is just incredible.

L

Lifestyle Lab

Not including a dedicated hot water outlet was a mistake.

Brewing Performance

8/10

Fast heating and impressive steaming with good espresso quality, but lacks shot temperature adjustment.

Quotes from Reviewers

L

Lifestyle Lab

The Bambino uses a four-hole steam wand that can be pre-programmed to reach three independently adjustable levels of temperature and texture.

L

Lifestyle Lab

Although the Bambino steams very quickly, it still cannot brew and steam at the same time.

L

Lifestyle Lab

The espresso from the Bambino is consistent with the rest of the Breville machines in terms of quality.

Capacity

7/10

Compact design with a large water reservoir, but small drip tray needs frequent emptying.

Quotes from Reviewers

L

Lifestyle Lab

There is a large removable water reservoir on the back.

L

Lifestyle Lab

The drip tray is absolutely tiny. I would highly recommend emptying it after every use just to be safe.

Build Quality

7/10

Good build quality with metal components, but some parts feel less premium.

Quotes from Reviewers

L

Lifestyle Lab

Despite its relatively toyish appearance, the build quality is good, incorporating real metal and tight tolerances.

L

Lifestyle Lab

One thing that felt notably cheaper was the portafilter.

Noise Level

7/10

Quiet operation during brewing, but steam wand can be noisy.

Quotes from Reviewers

L

Lifestyle Lab

Press the steam button, and we'll see how quickly it works. Look at how much power it has—it's incredible. It also has the automatic purge feature.

L

Lifestyle Lab

Listen, listen, listen. Pump kicks on full force, okay? It's at full force.

3

Espro P7

Score: 8/10

Espro P7

Easy to clean and operate, though cleaning the baskets may require extra effort.

Ease Of Use

8/10

E

ESPRO Coffee

It is super easy to insert. It does have that pour spout that you want to have in the right place, and it goes down so smoothly.

E

ESPRO Coffee

It's so easy and quick to clean. Just snap it together, and it's good to go.

Brewing Performance

9/10

Produces clean and smooth coffee with minimal grounds, thanks to its micro-filter system.

Quotes from Reviewers

E

ESPRO Coffee

The pour is so clean, with no dripping, and super smooth. The best part is the coffee itself.

E

ESPRO Coffee

Thanks to the micro filters on this French press, nothing gets through, and you get very smooth and delicious coffee.

Capacity

8/10

Offers flexibility with 18- and 32-ounce sizes, allowing for more coffee to be brewed.

Build Quality

9/10

Elegant and durable stainless steel construction expected to last for years.

Quotes from Reviewers

E

ESPRO Coffee

When you open it up, you see just how beautiful and high-quality it is.

E

ESPRO Coffee

I am confident this will be our French press for the next 10 years.

Noise Level

9/10

Operates quietly with a smooth plunger action.

Quotes from Reviewers

E

ESPRO Coffee

It silently pushes down instead of scraping.

E

ESPRO Coffee

My favorite part is how easy and quiet it is to push down.

4

Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima

Score: 8/10

Nespresso Vertuo Lattissima

User-friendly with one-touch operation and easy maintenance, but requires specific pods and regular cleaning.

Ease Of Use

8/10

T

The French Glow

This is the easiest way to brew it because it does all the work for you.

T

The French Glow

Make sure you point this nozzle directly inside your cup because it will do everything for you.

Brewing Performance

8/10

Brews a variety of coffee sizes with rich flavor and automatic milk frothing, though it requires specific pods.

Quotes from Reviewers

T

The French Glow

Nespresso has a new virtual Latisa, and the virtual Latisa is special.

T

The French Glow

The machine knows exactly what to do with the Longo, and it is brewing it extra creamy.

T

The French Glow

This is the best cup of coffee I have ever made using a machine.

Capacity

7/10

Holds a decent number of capsules and has a secure water tank, but frequent refilling is needed.

Quotes from Reviewers

T

The French Glow

This storage container can hold 10 small capsules and six large capsules.

T

The French Glow

The water tank holds about 33 to 34 ounces of water, so it's not a huge tank.

Build Quality

7/10

Robust with a sleek design, but some components may feel less premium.

Quotes from Reviewers

T

The French Glow

The TSA tray is made out of metal, which is much heavier than the plastic tray.

T

The French Glow

The location of everything here is identical, even the hole where you're going to insert the disposable pod.

Noise Level

6/10

Efficient but can be noisier than expected during operation.

Quotes from Reviewers

T

The French Glow

Everything comes out very fast on the latisa, and you're looking at extremely fast performance.

T

The French Glow

The light blinks while the machine is heating up.

5

Philips 3200 Series LatteGo

Score: 8/10

Philips 3200 Series LatteGo

Simple operation with intuitive controls, though initial setup may be complex for some users.

Ease Of Use

8/10

C

Clockwork 9

It's simple: you plug it in, pour in your water, and it comes with a nice little hard water filter.

C

Clockwork 9

The only thing you really have to spend any effort on is cleaning it. With the way they designed the Latte Go, most of these types of machines have a tube.

Brewing Performance

7/10

Offers consistent coffee quality with a variety of options, though serving sizes are smaller and coffee may not be as hot as desired.

Quotes from Reviewers

C

Clockwork 9

It's consistent every time you make a coffee; it's the same no matter what you do.

C

Clockwork 9

It makes espresso, coffee, americano, cappuccinos, lattes—pretty much anything you can imagine.

C

Clockwork 9

It's not super hot, so I would say that it's maybe not as hot as it would be from a coffee shop.

Capacity

6/10

Suitable for heavy coffee drinkers with a 10oz bean hopper, but serving sizes are smaller than traditional makers.

Quotes from Reviewers

C

Clockwork 9

We depend on a source, and up until now, it's been our reliable crisp drip coffee machine.

C

Clockwork 9

It's not the quietest coffee machine in the world, so it can also be used as an alarm clock for the rest of the house.

Build Quality

7/10

Durable with a robust build, though regular maintenance is required.

Quotes from Reviewers

C

Clockwork 9

The grinder is a nice ceramic grinder. It grinds according to the setting you choose.

C

Clockwork 9

The brew unit, which comes out very easily, is given a nice little rinse with some warm water about once a week.

Noise Level

5/10

Noticeable noise during operation, can serve as an alarm clock.

Quotes from Reviewers

C

Clockwork 9

It's not the quietest coffee machine in the world, so it can also be used as an alarm clock for the rest of the house.

C

Clockwork 9

It's not the quietest coffee machine in the world, so it can also be used as an alarm clock for the rest of the house.

6

Gaggia Magenta Prestige

Score: 8/10

Gaggia Magenta Prestige

User-friendly interface with simple programming and milk preparation.

Ease Of Use

8/10

W

Whole Latte Love

The Magento Prestige features a simple yet powerful color touchscreen interface.

W

Whole Latte Love

Using a detachable auto-frothing carafe, milk drinks are made easy.

Brewing Performance

8/10

Produces high-quality coffee with a variety of drink options and customization features.

Quotes from Reviewers

W

Whole Latte Love

It makes a range of cafe-quality favorites from whole beans, ground fresh for every cup.

W

Whole Latte Love

The Magenta does it correctly by using two grind cycles.

W

Whole Latte Love

Machines from most other manufacturers are just going to push more water through the same amount of ground coffee.

Capacity

7/10

Compact design with decent water and bean capacity, but limited used coffee storage.

Quotes from Reviewers

W

Whole Latte Love

If you’re tight on counter space, the Magenta, at just eight point eight inches wide, is one of the narrowest machines available.

W

Whole Latte Love

You’ll need about seventeen and a quarter inches of clearance to open the access doors to the sixty-ounce water reservoir and the bean hopper.

Build Quality

7/10

Durable construction with a sleek design, but excessive plastic use.

Quotes from Reviewers

W

Whole Latte Love

When you select your drink, those beans are freshly ground by a high-quality ceramic burr grinder.

W

Whole Latte Love

The machine comes with a two-year warranty, and users regularly report in excess of fifteen thousand brew cycles with regular maintenance.

Noise Level

6/10

Quieter operation than many machines, but not completely silent.

Quotes from Reviewers

W

Whole Latte Love

This machine is a lot quieter than some of the other ones with the grinder as well.

W

Whole Latte Love

It's going to grind those beans fresh.

7

Nespresso VertuoPlus

Score: 8/10

Nespresso VertuoPlus

Features simple one-button operation and easy setup, but requires specific pods that may limit flexibility.

Ease Of Use

8/10

R

Reviews Before You Buy

It's mostly foolproof; you could use this machine in a dark kitchen at four in the morning while operating on very little sleep, thanks to its incredibly straightforward one-button setup.

R

Reviews Before You Buy

The Nespresso machine is really easy to use, and it's also extremely simple to set up.

R

Reviews Before You Buy

Once in a while, you do have to empty this out. This is where all the old pods go, so it's very simple to operate.

Brewing Performance

8/10

Produces high-quality coffee with rich crema using a centrifuge brewing system, but is limited to Nespresso capsules.

Quotes from Reviewers

R

Reviews Before You Buy

The centrifuge brewing is undoubtedly one of the features that set this Nespresso VertuoPlus apart from its rivals.

R

Reviews Before You Buy

The VertuoPlus not only achieves a balance in the dispersion of its water but also creates a rich crema.

R

Reviews Before You Buy

The brewer produces incredibly high-quality coffee with a silky-smooth flourish.

Capacity

7/10

Offers multiple coffee sizes with a flexible water reservoir, but may require frequent refilling for heavy use.

Quotes from Reviewers

R

Reviews Before You Buy

The Nespresso VertuoPlus's small footprint and adaptable placement of the water reservoir are especially appealing if you are short on counter space.

R

Reviews Before You Buy

This coffee maker can brew four different sizes: a single shot espresso, a double shot espresso, a 5 oz coffee, or an 8 oz coffee.

R

Reviews Before You Buy

At the back, this water tank can move to the other side or to the back, which is a really nice feature.

Build Quality

7/10

Sleek and compact design with durable components, but lacks a built-in milk frother.

Quotes from Reviewers

R

Reviews Before You Buy

The Nespresso VertuoPlus's sleek appearance and practical operation are both evident in its design.

R

Reviews Before You Buy

It's very simple to operate. There's a lever here, and you're just going to press that lever up. This is motorized.

R

Reviews Before You Buy

The Nespresso machine is a great and fast way to make specialty and luxurious coffees.

Noise Level

8/10

Operates quietly with minimal disturbance, though spinning pods can produce some noise.

Quotes from Reviewers

R

Reviews Before You Buy

The sides inject hot water and spin the pod, causing the coffee to come out around the outside. We can hear that the pod is spinning right now.

R

Reviews Before You Buy

It just stops when there are no beeps or anything.

R

Reviews Before You Buy

The milk frother shuts off without any beeps or notifications.

8

AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker

Score: 8/10

AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker

Simple and forgiving process, but XL version may be cumbersome for shorter users.

Ease Of Use

8/10

J

James Hoffmann

Brewing with the AO press is as simple as it gets.

J

James Hoffmann

The AeroPress Clear does not come with the hilarious funnel that I'm going to use to put my coffee in, even though I don't need to.

Brewing Performance

8/10

Produces smooth, complex coffee with versatile brewing options, though requires experimentation.

Quotes from Reviewers

J

James Hoffmann

It makes great coffee.

J

James Hoffmann

An average Aeropress brew will last approximately 2 minutes, which is faster than most methods, and it's enough to give you a full-bodied cup with beautiful complexity.

J

James Hoffmann

If you're not getting a pleasant cup on your first try, you're most likely doing it wrong.

Capacity

7/10

The XL version offers increased capacity, but may be cumbersome for some users.

Quotes from Reviewers

J

James Hoffmann

The word is that it's twice the volume of the existing AeroPress.

J

James Hoffmann

It has been a limitation of the brewer.

Build Quality

7/10

Durable and travel-friendly, but not premium in feel.

Quotes from Reviewers

J

James Hoffmann

This new material is superior to the one they used in the original.

J

James Hoffmann

It doesn't necessarily feel more premium than the previous AeroPress model.

Noise Level

10/10

Operates silently with no noise during brewing.
9

Ninja Luxe Café

Score: 8/10

Ninja Luxe Café

User-friendly with intuitive controls, though initial setup can be overwhelming.

Ease Of Use

8/10

T

Tom's Coffee Corner

I would say that the machine is extremely easy to use.

T

Tom's Coffee Corner

Ninja has a variety of videos to showcase, step by step, how to use this thing.

T

Tom's Coffee Corner

It can be a little intimidating, but I have to say that as you work with it, it's actually not that complicated.

Brewing Performance

8/10

Offers excellent flavor extraction with pre-infusion and automatic grind size adjustment, though some features may seem unnecessary.

Quotes from Reviewers

T

Tom's Coffee Corner

This machine includes pre-infusion.

T

Tom's Coffee Corner

Every time you make a cup of coffee, it adjusts and changes the grind size if it determines that a change is needed.

T

Tom's Coffee Corner

What’s a little unfortunate is that if you ever start making a drink and then decide you want to do something else—like if you just grind but then decide you want to make a different type of drink instead—there’s no way to just abort.

T

Tom's Coffee Corner

The frothing process does take a little time.

Capacity

9/10

Large water reservoir and bean hopper reduce refills, but the reservoir's location is inconvenient.

Build Quality

8/10

Sturdy and stylish design, but its size may be a concern for some.

Quotes from Reviewers

T

Tom's Coffee Corner

It is definitely a really cool-looking piece with a truly eye-catching, rich feel.

T

Tom's Coffee Corner

It is actually very conveniently sized.

T

Tom's Coffee Corner

It really looks great in any kitchen, as you can tell it has all the bells and whistles.

Noise Level

9/10

Quiet operation suitable for early mornings, with a quick grinding process.
10

Breville Bambino

Score: 8/10

Breville Bambino

User-friendly interface with programmable shot lengths, but lacks a dedicated power button.

Ease Of Use

8/10

M

Morgan Eckroth

The user interface on the Bambino is as simple as they come, featuring only four buttons for simplicity.

M

Morgan Eckroth

You can program it yourself by holding down either button for three seconds to start the shot, and then pressing it again to end the shot.

Brewing Performance

8/10

Heats up quickly and produces high-quality espresso, but lacks temperature adjustment and requires preheating.

Quotes from Reviewers

M

Morgan Eckroth

This machine also came with a small plastic tamper, which is very nice and fits perfectly into the portafilter.

M

Morgan Eckroth

The espresso quality is good. It has a nice little layer of crema, the texture is nice with a rich body, and the mouthfeel is smooth.

Capacity

7/10

Compact with a 1.4-liter water tank, but the drip tray is small and requires frequent emptying.

Quotes from Reviewers

M

Morgan Eckroth

You also have a full water tank attached to the back that can hold 1.4 fluid liters, which is pretty impressive for something of this size.

M

Morgan Eckroth

The water reservoir here has a 47-ounce capacity, but the drip tray is quite tiny, so you will very likely need to empty it frequently.

Build Quality

7/10

Sturdy all-metal shell but includes some plastic components that feel less durable.

Quotes from Reviewers

M

Morgan Eckroth

Thankfully, the entry-level Bambino retains the all-metal shell found throughout the rest of the Breville lineup.

M

Morgan Eckroth

The stock portafilter that comes with this machine is probably my least favorite part of the build. It's incredibly lightweight, and it just feels like cheap aluminum.

Noise Level

8/10

Operates with minimal noise, thanks to the thermojet system.

Quotes from Reviewers

M

Morgan Eckroth

Many people complain that the machine moves when locking in the portafilter, but the reality is that this is common in most consumer-level machines.

M

Morgan Eckroth

The machine being so lightweight means that you will need to hold it down whenever you are logging in or unlocking your portafilter; otherwise, it will cause the machine to shift.