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
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Apple’s first foldable, the $1,999 iPhone Duo, combines an iPhone and iPad Mini experience—but its size, weight and price come with compromises.
4 min
As I watched a Netflix show on Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo, I had two surprising thoughts.
The first: Maybe I don’t need my iPad Mini anymore.
The second: Uh oh, am I about to spend $1,999 on a phone?
I didn’t think folding phones were for me. I’ve been testing Android versions from Samsung and Google since 2019, and those early editions came with too much screen and too many compromises.
Fast forward seven years, and the technology has come a long way. Apple—in its very Apple way—has also come up with some hardware and software trickery to make up for some shortcomings of the basic design. My desire for a folding phone before today was zero. After today, it’s a lot more than zero.
I’m not ready to recommend the Duo, which ships on Oct. 23, just yet. Not until I am able to test it more fully, so be on the lookout for that review in a few weeks. But from what I experienced at Apple Park on Wednesday, I could actually picture myself using this new half-phone, half-tablet hybrid.
Crease camouflage
For months, I’ve been using Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, a similarly squat, passport-shaped foldable that opens up to a larger screen. It’s impressively thin and can easily fit into the infuriatingly tiny pockets in women’s pants and dresses. Samsung did a lot of work to minimize the crease—the dip between the two halves of the big interior display—but it’s still clearly there.
When I held the iPhone Duo open, the crease was barely visible. As I slid my finger across the display, I could feel it, but it’s more subtle than Samsung’s. Most of the time, the screen looked as flat and smooth as the one on an iPad.
Apple employed both software and hardware techniques to camouflage the crease. The matte surface of the interior 7.6-inch screen minimizes reflections to hide it. (Samsung’s Fold 8 screen is shiny.)
And as you begin to open or close the iPhone Duo, the interface shifts the controls and content away from the center crease. If, say, you’re watching a video on the outer screen, you can open the Duo to switch to the bigger display within. A black fade marks the transition. You don’t see the video full screen until the phone is completely flat.
Heavy handed
My second observation was that, when the Duo is closed, in phone mode, it was harder to use one-handed than I expected.
In the keynote trailer and press release, Apple touted how thin the Duo is. It’s marketed as the thinnest iPhone ever—when open.
But it’s actually thicker and heavier than most of its Android competitors. The Duo weighs 254 grams, and is 11.3 millimeters thick when closed. The Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 is just 201 grams, with a thickness of 9.7 millimeters. Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold is 239 grams and 10.1 millimeters.
Because the Duo is also wider than a standard iPhone, I found it quite a challenge to type.
I admit, I do have smaller-than-average hands. So I consulted my colleague Rolfe Winkler, who has a larger grip. He agreed the Duo feels big.
Apple rearranged the interface on the outer screen so it looks different than traditional iPhones. The dock and control center are off to the right to be more reachable. Committing to the Duo as your main device will require adjustments in your handling. You will have to learn a new way to use and type.
Work and play
My most surprising takeaway? I feel a pull toward this device.
I always thought that combining an iPhone and an iPad would mean bigger compromises. The battery life is about the same as the 18 Pro (up to 24 hours of “regular use” on a single charge), though I’ll need to verify that in my real-world testing. And it’s also as durable, with the same IP68 dust- and water-resistance rating as the rest of the iPhone lineup.
There are trade-offs, for sure. Trying out the camera, I immediately missed the 8X zoom in my Pro model. The Duo has just 2X zoom, which wouldn’t cut it for the dozens of pictures I take of my kid every day.
But the dual screens unlock new photo functionality. You can see what your shot looks like from the outside screen. As someone who has tried tirelessly to self-direct a family photo—or a spouse—I am very eager to try this out more.
Foldables, I initially thought, were for classic mobile-warrior jet-setter types, who never sit at a desk and are always on calls. For that crowd, the Duo can run two apps side-by-side.
Me, I’m more of a bed binge-watcher and ebook reader. That’s what my beloved iPad Mini is for.
Watching videos on the Duo is a nice experience—nice enough that you forget the screen is 0.7 inches smaller than the iPad Mini’s. The main screen is also a 4:3 aspect ratio. Very similar, by the way, to the IMAX edition of the Odyssey.
Because I wasn’t able to snag a ticket to one of the sold-out screenings, I will be watching Christopher Nolan’s version of Homer’s epic on the Duo, just as the director intended. (Just kidding! Sort of.)
The Duo costs $800 more than an iPhone 18 Pro, and I’m not sure I want to spend that premium on a first-generation Apple device. But I’m not ruling out the idea that a Duo might one day be in my future. Stay tuned for my full review.
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