Buying first coffee machine

[MrsKateColumbo]

I'm thinking of buying a cheapish coffee machine in the BF sales. Im not sure it will be used loads so wanted to avoid a big/expensive one.

Would an espresso machine be the answer? I want one that does good steamed milk as I will make hot chocs for the kids.

The delongi dedica arte seems good for the price.

I feel a bit confused about coffee machines, I went into the hope but there were so many of different sizes etc I dont know where to start!

We are looked at coffee machines. My DS is in Oz and swears by Sage bean to cup machines. We will get one but as we are likely to replace our current kitchen we wont be buying one yet. So whilst I am waiting for that I've just bought myself a Moka stovetop.
But to start with I would look at the space where your machine will go as well as the height. Sage ones seem to get good reviews and De'longhi. The Ninja one didn't get great reviews. I think the thing to look out for is the power of the steaming wand thing, and ease of cleaning and how good the grind quality is. Thats as far as my research got me before we put it on the backburner.

I have the older version of the Delongi Dedica Arte and can recommend. I bought it for DH for Christmas over a decade ago. It's solid and reliable. DD has quite taken to making oat milk lattes with the steamer.

Just two things:

1. Milk steaming works best with a metal jug. Ikea do a £5 one that works fine. Before we had one we struggled to get a decent steam on the milk
2. It's much cheaper if you grind your own coffee. Get a bean grinder. We use a hand grinder like this one https://www.hario.co.uk/collections/coffee-grind-hand-grinders/products/hario-skerton-n-coffee-grinder that we found in a second hand shop.

I have a Sage which has been in daily use for 10-12 years. I have said before that it will be dragged from my cold dead hands and it would come with me if I was escaping fire.

Sage machines IME are reliable and just keep working forever and a good option if you are looking for a good solid machine at a domestic price. My DC also have them with the same experience. They are good at steaming milk or ready mixed hot chocolate - I don’t drink milk but I get good reviews from those who do.

I’ll second the DeLonghi Dedica - we’ve just replaced our original one which lasted about 12 years with a lot of use.

John Lewis does one bundled with a coffee grinder and milk jug for £229 (not a BF deal but JL has done deals on this bundle before - bought one for DS last Christmas on a deal):

https://www.johnlewis.com/delonghi-dedica-barista-bundle-eckg6820-m-coffee-machine-set-silver/p112182668

Good deal at the moment is Curry’s, which has the machine for £135. You can pick up a coffee grinder and metal jug for milk frothing easily:

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/delonghi-dedica-ec685bk-coffee-machine-black-10173911.html?searchTerm=Delonghi

We have the De'Longhi Specialista Arte coffee machine was on offer from Argos over the summer. I love this machine and we have used it loads, although I did burn my hand the first time I streamed the milk as I didn't realise it would heat up so quick. It has been an experiment with the beans and different brands but the Lidl ones are very nice. We are impressed with the De'Longhi machines but I didn't want to spend more than £300.

I have the Delongi Dedica, I love it use it daily.

Oh thanks all!

Random q about thr steam wand - the delongi one is different to how it looks in cafes/sage (i see some have a more rounded end) does this mean anything?

I see you can actually buy sage reconditioned ones which might be a plan...

Also what does the "manual" note in "manual espresso maker" mean? What would an automatic one do that a manual doesnt?

You've influenced me and I have bought a sage!

we were given a sage and it has converted doubting DH (in his 50s) to coffee!

Great to hear!

I was going to get a cheap bean grinder but now im thinking I need the sage version also...

I LOVE the bambino, I got a grinder (barata) too and have made a lot of coffee today!