If you do like milk-based coffee, then there are quite a few options available. Some models are fully automated and have a built-in frother that will be able to create a variety of milk textures, while others have steam arms which you place into a jug of milk and froth the milk yourself. There’s a third option too - and this includes buying a separate milk frother which is a stand-alone machine. You’ll be able to use these to make everything from lattes to hot chocolates, and they make a great accompaniment to a pod coffee maker. The Barista Touch Impress is a relatively affordable automatic coffee machine that offers comparable quality to the best machines with no added effort. We think it's the best automatic coffee machine for most people. One way to tell if it’s done steaming is to touch the side of the jug - if you can keep touching it for five seconds before having to take your hand off, the milk is done. Alternatively, you can buy a thermometer that sits in the jug as you’re steaming. Cleaning tool

When we’re testing, we take into account the overall design of each coffee maker - how it looks, how much space it’ll take up on your kitchen counter, whether the water tank is removable for easy refills, and how the machine looks as a whole.

Climate

Espresso machines use ground coffee rather than coffee beans or pods — used by bean-to-cup machines and pod machines respectively. If you want to use your espresso machine to make coffee from beans, you’ll need to invest in a separate electric coffee grinder, a food processor or a blender with a mill attachment.

We did find, when whipping up a cappuccino, that we had to wait a while for the pressure in the steamer to build up. Our expert also found the machine's espressos to be a little thin and felt the crema was poor. Despite this, the drinks were well-rounded in flavour, with initial raisin notes followed by brown sugar-esque sweetness. Unlike bean-to-cup machines, there aren’t any fiddly grind settings to try and figure out on espresso machines, but they do require more upkeep as there are a lot of different parts that need to be cleaned regularly. What are the differences between espresso machines, bean-to-cup machines and pod machines? Nespresso and Keurig are the biggest brands when it comes to single-serve coffee machines and offer a range of machines each. However, pod coffee machines have a poor reputation when it comes to sustainability as many of the capsules end up in landfill. Follow our guide on how to recycle Nespresso pods to help ensure this doesn’t happen.

black Moderna Espresso

We're also got a dedicated article on how to clean a Nespresso machine and how to clean a Keurig, for those that have single-serve coffee makers at home. What is the best coffee maker for home use Some espresso machines come with a milk jug, which tends to hold just under 500ml of liquid. Stainless steel is the best material, as it heats up with the milk and gives you an indication of how hot the milk is getting. If you heat your milk to anything over 70C, you run the risk of burning it and ruining the flavour of your drink. Plus, your coffee will be far too hot to take a sip.