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.

Depends how much you want to faff, with machines like some of the Delonghi you don't need to do much faffing about to make a coffee, if you get an espresso machine with a grinder like the Sage ones then you need to dial in fresh beans to pull a good shot of espresso then tamp and away you go.

Some people find dialling in beans and tamping a chore so would rather get a machine like a Delonghi.

I have a sage oracle touch, it does the tamping for me but I still have to dial in a fresh bag of beans and then make minor adjustments to the grind size every couple of days as the beans age.

I think I like doing the tamping - used to work at a coffee shop and find it quite satisfying!

It's over your budget but I have a Jura ENA8. I use it bean to cup but it also takes pre ground coffee too. Does an Americano, Espresso, Ristreto, Latte, Cappuccino, Machiatto, hot water and one more that I can't remember! It automatically froths milk - I know how much it needs so put that in a little jug, pop the pipe in and press go. All the bits can go in the dishwasher and I love it.

In terms of price, if you can wait for Black Friday or Amazon Prime day or something like that, it can make an absolutely enormous difference. For example, I got the Autentica for just less than £300 I think, when it is now listed in the £500s and regular price about £800. However, if mine broke, I'm not sure I could wait that long to replace it, as you can spend a lot on takeaway coffees each day!!

Definitely check footprint size, and also height, if you have limited room on the worktop that isn't underneath cabinets (I had no space that wasn't underneath cabinets!!). The one I have is not only small footprint, but fits under the cabinets with enough room to take the water container in and out, and open the beans hopper as well. Some of them that were taller/bigger looked initially like they'd be fine, but then I realised how hard it would be to get the containers in and out in that very small space left above the machine.

If you decide on a Sage Machine, if you google UK Coffee Blog there's a guy there who will frequently have discounts available for Sage machine which aren't available generally. Just send an email and he'll reply with a code if he has one at the time. I got my grinder for around half the RRP that way, as it allowed the email discount code to stack with an existing online sale.

NC because very outing.

This combo makes damned good coffee, and it costs less than £150, but it takes some elbow grease every time you make a coffee because the grinder is manual.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0963PNMTV
www.amazon.co.uk/Easyworkz-Stovetop-Espresso-Stainless-Induction/dp/B08GFMNNZG

Mellita Cafeo Solo & Perfect Milk. I've had mine for 3 years now and use it daily.

Oh goodness I just realised I have lots more recommendations! Thank you all. Will sit down later with a cup of my current very mediocre coffee and go through them all!

Ours just arrived on Friday! We already own a separate bean grinder, so went for this one: www.johnlewis.com/sage-the-duo-temp-pro-espresso-coffee-machine/p1749201?s_ppc=2dx92700071884894967_mixed_technology_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjO7K3buj_QIVwYBQBh2ZtwcNEAQYASABEgJnbvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
If you don't own a grinder, you would need something like this: www.johnlewis.com/sage-barista-express-bean-to-cup-coffee-machine/stainless-steel/p3501284?s_ppc=2dx92700071884894967_mixed_technology_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjO7K3buj_QIVwYBQBh2ZtwcNEAQYBCABEgKMfvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
It makes a really professional cup of coffee - creamy and smooth!

Delonghi magnifica is the one which does everything you mentioned in your original first post. I have one for over year now and I have to say it was one of the best buys , it's been used every day, works perfectly, cleaning is not too difficult and not very often, just amazing machine and perfect coffee

Yup - this.

We use a cafetiere - makes great coffee. No way would I be spending £500 on a coffee machine that's a pain to clean. What a colossal waste of money

We also have a cafetiere and a Bialetti. They are great too, and fine if you don't want to buy a machine.
You do you.
But it's fine for someone else to buy a machine if they want to and can comfortably afford it!

I have a French press and rarely use it as I find it a pain to clean. My coffee machine is far easier, but nothing rivals my V60 in terms of easy clean up! A French press also produces a different style of coffee to an espresso machine, and as the OP wants espresso based drinks, a French press or Aeropress won’t give her what she wants. Buying something which doesn’t do what you want is a bigger waste of money.