I am STILL confused by coffee machines.. please help!

[Coffeecoffeeinmytummy]

i feel like I’m going mad. Please help me find a coffee machine that:

• makes coffee either from pre-ground beans or whole beans (ie not from a pod)
• makes an Americano WITHOUT having to top up with hot water ie has an actual Americano setting that doesn’t just make you a little espresso which you then have to add to. If I’m making a coffee with something that cost several hundred quid I don’t expect to have to boil the bloody kettle as well!
• has a milk frother steamer thingy to make lattes/flat whites etc with the wand rather than a milk compartment which you have to refill and clean etc
• doesn’t cost more than my mortgage

Thank you! Oh also if I can buy it at John Lewis that would be a bonus because I have some vouchers but it’s not a deal breaker.

if I understand you correctly you enjoy drinking filter coffee? I don’t think they come with a milk foamed, but you can easily buy a separate one.

this is the filter coffee machine I have, but I’m sure there are cheaper options. Makes 10 cups, but there is a 4 cup option too.

www.kitchenwarehouse.com.au/Smeg-50s-Retro-Style-Drip-Filter-Coffee-Machine-White?gclid=CjwKCAiArNOeBhAHEiwAze_nKJaqp6991C87FBH6RvXERaSerypkDC4kqLCAf_kSEF_5f3wkG-p52RoCd9YQAvD_BwE

Maybe a Sage Barista Express would work

My Delonghi bean to cup does all of that, think it was about £400 ish from John Lewis.

It has two size setting, I use the longer one.

www.amazon.co.uk/DeLonghi-Magnifica-ESAM-4200-S-Silver/dp/B001EOMZ5E/ref=asc_df_B001EOMZ5E/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=232026297330&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7114277901216804622&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046620&hvtargid=pla-385805384817&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

i have this. It doesn’t look the prettiest but it makes really nice coffee! Make sure you play around with the grinding settings when you get it, the default is a bit meh, but I’ve now got it just right. I’ve had it over 2 years and it’s still fine with daily usage. We use it for lattes and Americanos - you adjust the level of water with a little dial.

I think it's a De'Longhi Magnifica.

De Longhi magnifica s bean to cup - does a “long black” and you can top up with hot water from the steamer but if you want it a bit bigger (or add another small espresso for the perfect size double). I love mine.

Very similar to the one @Mushroo linked to!

I also have a delonghi bean to cup, love it. Spend a fair bit on the water treatment whatnots and decalk I think it's called. There are some with wands and some with a frother box thingy but it makes a lovely black coffee too.

the sage one. It’s amazing. You can program whatever you like into it.

@Burnamer do you mean this one?
www.johnlewis.com/sage-the-duo-temp-pro-espresso-coffee-machine/p1749201

Oooh I think I had seen the delonghi bean to cup one before but not the mangnifica thing. Thanks I will check them both out!

And is this the bean to cup one?

www.johnlewis.com/delonghi-ec9155-mb-la-specialista-arte-bean-to-cup-espresso-coffee-machine/p5771975

Christ these are expensive! Sound good though

I've done a lot of research and have decided to go for the sage bambino plus. It's the top of my price range so there may be better ones but it looks suitable for my needs for the cost.

I have a smeg bean to cup which has a big discount if you buy with a lavazza subscription. Makes great long and short coffee, has milk frother.

www.lavazza.co.uk/en/my-way-coffee-subscription/coffee-machine-and-beans

I have a delonghi cappucino- it’s also bean to cup and it has a milk thing that you put milk in but it comes out frothy - was about 500

I have a Sage Bambino Plus and love it. It’s a small machine, but feature rich for its size and price point. It’s simple to use, will steam milk excellently automatically and can adapt to either freshly ground or pre-ground coffee depending on the baskets used.

It doesn’t come with an integrated grinder, so if you want to grind your own then you’ll need to buy an espresso capable grinder. Officially the Bambino Plus doesn't dispense water, but if you hold the single shot button at the same time as the steam setting button, it should work (it does on mine, though I boil water in the kettle).

The Melitta cafe solo will do all of that.

De Longhi Magnifica. I love mine and use it daily. Bean to cup.. milk frothier...and a large cup setting that I use for Americans.
If it broke I would replace instantly!

@Blondebakingmumma an americano and filter coffee are different drinks. An americano is made with espresso and the topped up with water, filter coffee is brewed slowly. They have different brewing methods (high pressure v drip process) and and taste different. I have sent back filter coffee when I ordered an americano (garden centre rather than barista coffee shop).

We are humming and harring over a bambino plus , we went to John Lewis and asked what was the easiest machine for a cappuccino ( non pod) this came out best for the price . Our only hesitation is that if we don’t get on with it ( like the last two ) we can’t take it back . So we’re going for the same one on line as cheaper and a ‘free’ bundle of goodies . Have to say I have no skin in this game as drink filter !

On our Sage you wouldn’t need to boil the kettle but you would press the extra hot water button once the espresso was in the cup.

You can do this through the ground coffee or push the cup one inch right and get free flowing plain hot water top up.

We have the magnifica bought in 2016 for £250, have used it multiple times everyday. I love it, has ruined coffee out of the house for me though.

I had the de Longhi magnifica and didn't like it at all. It kept breaking. I sold it in the end.

If I get another one, I'd get the Sage express one.

(although I'm tempted by the Smeg offer referred to below...)

Melitta smart ts - incredible!