Brewing Excellence: Best Coffee Machines For Home Use in 2025
Make your daily caffeine dose count with the right coffee machine
5 min
Australians are known for being fussy about their coffee. From latte lovers to espresso enthusiasts, everyone has their preference for the perfect way to start – or finish – their day. Finding the right maker or machine though, can depend on a number of factors including budget, the amount of space you have available and, importantly, how much time you like to dedicate to getting your coffee just the way you like it. Here, we’ve taken the guesswork out of it, assembling an impressive collection of makers and machines to suit every budget, benchspace and brew.
BIALETTI MOKA EXPRESS 4 CUP
Ok, this is not strictly a coffee machine, but it’s hard to go past the classic Bialetti Moka Express. First designed in 1933 by Alfonso Bialetti, this maker is synonymous with Italian coffee. Suitable for use on electric, induction and gas hobs, this stovetop model is ideal for small kitchens where benchspace does not allow for a freestanding coffee machine. Once you get the hang of the technique, it becomes part of your daily ritual, whether it’s a two-cup pot for you and a friend, or a 4 cup arrangement when entertaining. You’ll also get bonus points among coffee aficionados and roasters because, well, some things never get old.
$74.90, thedesigngiftshop.com
LA MARZOCCO LINEA MICRA COFFEE MACHINE
Make coffee like you were born to brew with one of the biggest names in the coffee making business. The compact design means it can fit in almost any kitchen without compromising on the quality of the end product. Designed as a scaled down version of the Linea Classic S, it’s easy to set up and explore all your favourite cafe options. Available in a range of colours, it can also be controlled through the new La Marzocco Home App.
$5,999, winnings.com.au
DELONGHI NESPRESSO CITIZ & MILK FROTHER MACHINE
This machine is perfect for those days when you need a coffee to get those synapses firing. Using the pod system, it’s super easy and quick to brew the perfect coffee, with a heating time of just 25 seconds. Latte lovers will enjoy the Aeroccino frother makes, which takes the guesswork out of getting the milk just right.
J8
It might have a tiny name but the J8 by Jura packs a punch when it comes to making the perfect coffee. If flavoured coffee is your vibe, it has a sweet foam function to flavour the milk, as well as active grind monitoring and 3D brewing process. This is coffee making refined to a fine art, with 31 coffee specialties available in its award-winning design.
$3,970, au.jura.com
STELTON COLLAR ESPRESSO COFFEE MAKER
Nothing says cool like Scandi design, even when it comes to coffee. Designed by Daniel Debiasi and Fredrico Sandri, the Stelton Collar Espresso stovetop coffee maker uses the same process as the classic Italian Moka design, with water in the base and coffee above. A black stainless steel outer shell is supported by a wooden handle for easy manipulation, while the classic design makes brewing the perfect espresso a breeze.
$149.90, thedesigngiftshop.com
SMEG GREEN 50s RETRO STYLE ESPRESSO COFFEE MACHINE
Step back in time with this retro style coffee machine from Smeg. Winner of the 2017 GOOD DESIGN award for excellence in design innovation, it’s an exercise in simplicity, with three options – single shot, double shot and steam – to choose from, plus an adjustable steam wand. With five colours to choose from, you can mix and match to fit in with your retro – or not so retro – kitchen.
$549, appliancesonline.com.au
GAGGENAU FULLY AUTOMATIC ESPRESSO MACHINE 400 SERIES
Make the most of your renovation plans with the option of a fully built-in coffee machine. The 400 series from Gaggenau offers touch display and Home Connect for in-person or remote operation as well as a range of features to ensure you enjoy the perfect brew, every time. Features include eight personalised coffee settings, 12 types of beverages and a handleless side door opening.
$7,999 gaggenau.com.au
SIEMENS iQ700 BUILT-IN FULLY AUTOMATIC COFFEE MACHINE
If this built-in machine doesn’t look like much, that’s kind of the point. The sleek design conceals a myriad of options to allow for full coffee customisation, including brewing strength, multiple coffee types and milk frothing options. The touch display screen and fully automated steam cleaning make using this machine a breeze while the HomeConnect App means you can use it from anywhere. With too many features to mention, this sophisticated machine is the ultimate in coffee making luxury.
$4,499, winnings.com.au
Frequently Asked Questions
Which coffee machine is best for home?
This gets down to personal habits and preferences, as well as the size of your kitchen. If space is an issue and you enjoy the ritual, a stovetop coffee maker like the Bialetti is a cheap option that still delivers a great espresso. It’s best if you don’t turn your back on it. If your needs are simple, or you live alone, a basic machine with a few functions may suffice. For those who love entertaining, it may be worth investing in a more sophisticated machine that can produce multiple styles of coffee in a short amount of time.
What is the best machine to make coffee?
This is a hotly contested issue. For most people, it gets down to what they’re used to, whether it’s a quick espresso or a creamy latte. The key is ensuring you have fresh beans or ground coffee to start.
Which type of coffee is best for coffee machine?
It’s not so much about choosing the right coffee for the machine as it is for the kind of coffee you’re looking to make. As a general rule, lighter roast coffees work better for espresso while coffees that add milk, such as caffe latte and flat white do better with darker roasted coffee to maintain the flavour through the milk. Be aware also that the coarser the grind, the milder the flavour. If you prefer a stronger coffee, you’ll get better results with a finer grind.
What is a good affordable coffee machine?
Brands such as Breville and Sunbeam are still active in the market – and for good reason. They not only produce a reliable coffee but will only set you back a few hundred dollars to start. Having said that, leading brands like DeLonghi also sell compact coffee machines for around $250. Ask for a demonstration before you buy or check reviews at choice.com.au
A long-standing cultural cruise and a new expedition-style offering will soon operate side by side in French Polynesia.
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A long-standing cultural cruise and a new expedition-style offering will soon operate side by side in French Polynesia.
3 minFrom late 2026 and into 2027, PONANT Explorations Group will base two ships in French Polynesia, offering travellers a choice between a culturally immersive classic and a far more exploratory deep-Pacific experience.
The move builds on more than 25 years of operating in the region with the iconic m/s Paul Gauguin, while introducing the expedition-focused Le Jacques Cartier to venture into lesser-known waters.
Together, the two vessels will cover all five Polynesian archipelagos — the Society, Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier and Marquesas Islands — as well as the remote Pitcairn Islands.
THE PAUL GAUGUIN: CULTURAL IMMERSION, POLYNESIAN STYLE
Long regarded as the benchmark for cruising in French Polynesia, m/s Paul Gauguin will remain based year-round in the region.
Renovated in 2025, the ship continues to focus on relaxed, culturally rich journeys with extended port stays designed to allow guests to experience daily life across the islands.
A defining feature of the onboard experience is the presence of the Gauguins and Gauguines — Polynesian hosts who share local traditions through music, dance and hands-on workshops, including weaving and craft demonstrations.
The atmosphere is deliberately intimate and internationally minded, catering to travellers seeking depth rather than distance.
Across the 2026–27 seasons, the ship will operate 66 departures, primarily across the Society Islands, Tuamotu and Marquesas, with select voyages extending to Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.
LE JACQUES CARTIER: EXPLORATION AT THE EDGE
Le Jacques Cartier introduces a more adventurous dimension to PONANT’s Polynesian offering, with itineraries focused on the least visited corners of the South Pacific.
The ship will debut three new “Discovery” itineraries, each 14 nights in length, which can also be combined into a single, extended 42-night voyage — the most comprehensive Polynesian itinerary currently available.
In total, the combined journey spans six archipelagos, 23 islands and the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory rarely included on cruise itineraries.
Unlike the Paul Gauguin’s cultural focus, Le Jacques Cartier centres on exploration.
Each day includes one guided activity led by local experts, with excursions conducted via tenders, local boats and zodiacs. Scuba diving is available on board, supported by a resident instructor.
Across the 2026–27 period, the ship will operate nine departures, offering a deliberately limited and low-impact presence in some of the Pacific’s most isolated communities.
THREE NEW DISCOVERY ITINERARIES
The new itineraries aboard Le Jacques Cartier include:
– Secret Polynesia: Unexplored Tuamotu, the Gambier Islands and the Austral Islands
– From Confidential French Polynesia to Pitcairn Island
– Polynesian Bliss: Marquesas and Tuamotu
Each voyage departs from Papeete, with prices starting from $15,840 per person.
SCOUTING THE PACIFIC’S MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES
In preparation for the new itineraries, PONANT Explorations Group undertook extensive scouting across the Austral and Tuamotu Islands to develop activities in collaboration with local communities.
José Sarica, the group’s R&D Expedition Experience Director, worked directly with residents to design experiences including welcome ceremonies, cultural workshops and visits to marae, the region’s sacred open-air temples.
Six new ports of call have been confirmed as part of this process, spanning both the Tuamotu and Austral archipelagos.
SIX NEW PORTS OF CALL CONFIRMED
New stopovers include:
– Mataiva, known for its rare mosaic lagoon
– Hikueru, home to one of the largest lagoons in the Tuamotus
– Makemo, noted for its red-footed boobies and frigatebirds
– Raivavae, famed for its crystal-clear lagoon pools
– Tubuai, rich in marae and spiritual heritage
– Rurutu, known for limestone caves and seasonal humpback whale sightings
A DUAL EXPERIENCE, ONE DESTINATION
By pairing its long-established cultural voyages with expedition-led exploration, PONANT Explorations Group is positioning French Polynesia not as a single experience, but as two distinct journeys — one grounded in tradition and comfort, the other pushing into the furthest reaches of the Pacific.
For travellers seeking either immersion or discovery, the South Pacific is about to feel both familiar and entirely new.
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