A decent coffee machine

[Monkeytennis92]

Can anyone recommend me a decent coffee machine? I don't mind paying more for one that's worth it! I don't drink coffee so I have no idea where to start! It's for a present. Thanks!

Do you know what kind of coffee the person likes to drink, is it mainly expresso type or long/filter coffee they prefer? The very best machines IMO for expresso are bean to cup machines, these are pretty pricey new but you can pick a very decent one up second hand for £250-£300. The pod based machines (Nespresso, Tassimo) are very popular and cheaper than the bean to cup machine but have some issues IMO, (1) the pods are much more expensive than simply buying beans or ground coffee (2) I find the coffee can come out lukewarm, esp in a cheaper or older machine esp if you take milk (some come with milk heaters/frothers but that's an extra step of effort (3) The pods aren't great environmentally, people often say 'oh but they're recyclable' but there's still the fact it's highly energy intensive to both make and then recycle them on top of the existing coffee bean processing, plus only some kinds (usually the more expensive branded versions which are aluminium as opposed to supermarket own brands which are usually plastic) are actually recyclable. You can get refillables/resusables but I find them super fiddly to use, tbf I'm clumsy but any time you have to mess around with coffee grounds is a recipe for mess and hassle IMO, and the whole point of the pod machines is how easy and clean they are...

If the person prefers filter coffee, a classic drip machine (the one with filter papers and jug) is a great option, the basic mechanism is pretty cheap but you can get ones with fancy remote control options and multiple hods for different kinds of beans. Some might have a built in grinder to use fresh whole beans, or you can buy a separate mini grinder. Or the Aeropress comes highly recommended on here. If the filter machines don't feel enough of a present you could also look into getting them a coffeee subscription or some fancy beans as well?

I have the delonghi magnifica. Does bean to cup and also has an option for ground coffee. It was about £300, best thing I've bought for my kitchen. IMHO much better than a pod machine.

Also have a delonghi magnifica, fro a similar price. it's often listed for several hundred more, but if you watch amazon with one of those price tracker sites, you can find them when they get as low as £250-300. Nothing wrong with a slightly older model, as well, as the newer ones tend to have things like more ways to remember the drink you program in or whatever, rather than actual improvements to the making coffee side of things.

I don't really like the taste of a lot of the nespresso capsules either, though I'm sure if varies by brands, and again, the environmental issues might be a problem.

I like cappuccinos and milk based drinks, so filter coffee machines and things weren't enough for me.

The magnifica has a very easy milk frother that you just take out and put in the fridge til you need it again. You can add beans for the main coffee, but there is also a small compartment for ground coffee that lets you make e.g., decaff on single occasions.

it is quite high maintenance, though, with the descaling and cleaning and emptying and refilling and so on. And beans cost more than I'd expected. But still a lot cheaper than my daily (or more) Starbucks et al habit.