Super-automatic espresso machines (also known as fully automatic machines) are the easiest way to make tasty coffee at home. Just load up the beans, water and milk, choose what you want to drink, and the machine will do everything else for you – grinding, brewing, and frothing to make your coffee exactly the way you like it.
There are scores of machines to choose from, so making a decision about where to start can be daunting – particularly since super-automatic espresso machines are often expensive. That's where I come in. I've tested 14 coffee makers for TechRadar in the past 12 months alone, and I've put together a definitive list of the top three super-automatic machines that I think you should check out first, with options for every budget.
First, though, a note on cleaning. If you're considering a super-automatic espresso machine, it's worth bearing in mind that such models require more maintenance than a manual or semi-automatic coffee maker. Super-automatic machines are easier to use, but the trade-off is that you'll need to spend a bit more time keeping it clean to make sure everything stays hygienic.
A fully automatic coffee machine can get gross pretty quickly, too, due to the damp, warm conditions inside, so it's important to empty and clean the grounds container and drip tray at the end of each day, and clean the brewing group frequently. I also recommend leaving the drip tray out and the side of the machine open overnight to let everything dry off. For more details, see my guide to keeping your espresso machine clean and hygienic. Now, on with the recommendations.
Siemens EQ900 Plus
I've reviewed plenty of premium espresso machines over the past year, but this is definitely one of my favorites. The Siemens EQ900 Plus has an enormous menu of beverages, and brewing each one is simplicity itself.
In Comfort mode, you choose the strength, aroma, and cup size for your drink, and the machine does the rest. If you have some extra time on your hands and you want to experiment, you can switch to Barista mode, which will let you tinker with settings such as temperature, pre-infusion time, and milk ratio.
There's no need to get into the weeds unless you really want to, though. Coffee is consistently well extracted thanks to Siemens' BeanIdent system, which determines the best brew options based on the beans you're using.
Another of my favorite features (and one I wish a lot more coffee machines had) is a dual bean hopper on top, so you can load up two different types of coffee at once. I like to switch to decaf in the afternoon (I drink so much coffee, I'd never sleep otherwise), and the EQ900 Plus lets me swap my drinks on-the-fly. It even has two separate grinders to avoid cross-contamination between the beans, which is a smart design choice.
Lots of coffee machines claim to be able to make cold-brew coffee, but the EQ900 Plus is one of the few models that actually can. Instead of dumping hot espresso onto ice (which is cheating and doesn't taste great), it forces cold water through freshly ground beans to produce a flavor that's very similar to coffee allowed to infuse slowly overnight.
The downside is that this is a seriously pricey espresso machine, and even if you're used to buying a takeout drink every single day, it will take you several years to recoup the cost once you factor in the price of beans and milk. Still, you can't beat the convenience of making your own drinks at home, and it will pay for itself eventually.
Read my full Siemens EQ900 Plus review
Smeg BCC13
If you want to add a dash of Italian style to your kitchen, Smeg is the brand for you. The company offers an impressive collection of espresso machines, but the BCC13 is my favorite super-automatic model thanks to its clean lines, rock-solid build quality, and consistent results.
Make your drink selection using the discreet row of buttons along the top edge of the case (no gaudy screens here) and the BCC13 will get to work preparing an immaculately extracted shot of espresso, and texturizing milk to exactly the right consistency. It doesn't make a racket doing so, either – the BCC13 is engineered to muffle the noise of its grinder and pump, and has been awarded Quiet Mark certification as a result.
You can tinker with settings by long-pressing some of the buttons, but during tests I found I only really needed to do this in order to set the cup size. My favorite light-roasted arabica beans were ground and brewed to perfection every time, without any intervention.
The milk system comprises a carafe, which attaches to the side of the coffee dispenser using a rubber hose, and has an airtight lid so you can stash it in the fridge between drinks. It's a shame that there isn't a more attractive solution (the Jura J10 improves things a little by offering a stainless steel cover for its hose), but it's only there temporarily, and the BCC13 looks lovely when it's sitting on your counter. It's surprisingly small, too, so it won't dominate a bijou kitchen.
Read my full Smeg BCC13 review
Philips LatteGo 5500 Series
The super-automatic espresso machines above are superb, but if you're the only coffee-drinker in your house then it might be difficult to justify the expense. That's where Philips comes in, with the compact but capable LatteGo 5500 Series. This fully automatic machine has all the features you'd expect, but is perfectly sized for making just one cup at a time.
Its water tank and hopper are both smaller than usual, so you won't have beans and water hanging around going stale, and it has a very thoughtfully designed milk system. There are no soft plastic parts to clean, and the carafe is marked so you can add just the right amount of milk for your chosen drink. When you're done, the carafe separates into just two pieces of hard plastic that you can clean easily by hand, or put in the top drawer of your dishwasher.
There's no touchscreen – instead, you take your pick from a selection of buttons on the machine's fascia, which is less flashy but actually easier to use if you're rushing in the morning. Coffee is brewed consistently well, with good extraction and a balanced flavor.
For me, the only drawback was the selection of "cold" drinks. Choose one of these, and the machine will instruct you to add a handful of ice cubes to your mug, before dispensing a shot of hot espresso over the top. It isn't the same as machines such as the Jura J10, which actually extract coffee using cold water for a more mellow flavor; and the melted ice means your drink will inevitably taste a bit watered-down.
For those who like their coffee hot, though (whether it's a cappuccino, latte, macchiato, or just straight espresso), this little machine comes highly recommended – and it's very reasonably priced for a super-automatic.
Read our full Philips LatteGo 5500 Series review
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