Coffee isn’t just a drink; it’s a drink with a wide variety of styles and flavours.

From a foamy cappuccino in the morning to a shot of espresso after dinner, getting the best coffee at home means buying a dedicated coffee machine. We’ve listed some of the best choices below.

Style and ease: illy Ground Coffee & E.S.E. Pods Machine

• illy Ground Coffee & E.S.E. Pods Machine in Anniversary Red, £572 – buy here

Illy is undoubtedly famous for coffee, both its blends and its machines.

The illy Ground Coffee & E.S.E. Pods Machine brings barista style coffee to your kitchen, with options to either use ground coffee or super-speedy E.S.E. pods – and the great news is it’s easy to get to grips with.

Straight out of the box, the machine screams Italian chic (especially in the Anniversary Red colour-way) and even comes encased in its own dust-bag, adding a luxe feel.

For coffee-lovers looking to convert from at-home pod machines (for example, the Nespresso Vertuo or similar) the E.S.E. pod capability is a welcome addition for busy-weekday mornings – when you may not have the time to measure out and tamp grounds in a hurry.

That being said, those looking for a beautiful-tasting cup of drip-coffee on a more leisurely day will find the grounds option both beginner friendly and not at all hard to master – we even found the process quite a therapeutic morning ritual. 

The machine comes with options for both a single and a double shot of espresso – it’s as easy as a flick of a switch and a nozzle adjustment.

Frothy coffee fans can also make use of the steam nozzle to create milky, satisfying creations of their own in a matter of minutes – whilst feeling like a true barista in the process.

Beyond the machine’s impressive functionality, it’s also a gorgeous, eye-catching piece of kitchen kit, being both sleek in size and design with a retro, compliment-worthy appearance. 

We found it easy to set-up and it didn’t take up a large area – something that may be a worry when making the switch to a barista-style machine. What’s not to like?

Quiet Mark approved: Tassimo Style by Bosch

At just 17cm wide, Tassimo Style by Bosch is a compact pod coffee machine perfect for small kitchens. In a choice of colours, it’s simple to use while Intellibrew™ technology automatically adjusts the brewing time, water and temperature for the perfect cup.

It can make 70 different drinks, from creamy lattes to smooth americanos using pods from 11 well-known brands such as Costa and L’Or. Plus, it saves energy thanks to its standby mode that’s activated after every brew.

Adjustable steam: Swan Nordic Pump Espresso Coffee Machine

For a retro-style addition to your worksurface, the Nordic Pump Espresso Coffee Machine from Swan is sure to please.

Able to make two cups at once and available in Cotton White, Pine Green, Blue or Slate Grey, the machine provides powerful 15 bar pressure and comes complete with a milk frother.

Compatible with Easy Serve Espresso (ESE) pods and ground beans – great for making an espresso, cappuccino, latte or flat white.

Iced coffee: De’Longhi Eletta Explore

• De’Longhi Eletta Explore, £889, De’Longhi – buy here
• De’Longhi Eletta Explore, £819, Nisbets – buy here

Eletta Explore from De’Longhi is an automatic bean-to-cup machine that also features Cold Extraction and LatteCreme Hot and Cool technology for winter and summer coffees.

Whether you want an iced coffee or a hot oat latte, this machine does it all.

It’s fully compatible with dairy and plant-based milk alternatives with more than 50 one-touch drinks out of the box and you can also customise the strength, length and temperature as well as prepare your own favourites.

Two In One: Smeg Espresso Coffee Machine

A grinder and brewer espresso machine in one, the EGF03PGUK from Smeg comes in pastel green, black, pastel blue, cream and red and can be used to make espresso, cappuccino, latte and latte macchiatos.

Perfect for those who love the flavour of freshly ground beans, it has a double thermobloc heating system for instant steam and precise water temperature. It has a powerful 15 bar pressure, a milk frother and four different pre-infusion profiles – short, standard, long and progressive to suit all tastes.

Intelligent grind: Breville Barista Max

For a really flexible coffee fix, the VCF126 Barista Max from Breville lets you set your own shot volume for a stronger cup and precisely control the water temperature to suit every different kind of drink.

Suitable for barista-style espressos, lattes and cappuccinos, it has a powerful 15 bar pump for perfect extraction and a rich crema, an integrated grinder with 30 settings and powerful steam wand for frothy milk.

Programmable dosing: Dualit Coffee Pod Machine

Dualit’s new CPD5 Pod Machine is ready to use in just 40 seconds, making it perfect for a quick cuppa.

Lightweight and portable, so you can take it into the home office on a busy working from home day, it’s compatible with Dualit’s own range of coffee capsules as well as Nespresso® capsules (excluding Vertuo) with blends such as Vanilla Cream, Rich Hazelnut and Americano.

Added features include an automatic switch-off after 15 minutes of inactivity to conserve energy.

Aromatic system: Miele Silence Coffee Machine

In a luxurious Rose Gold finish, Miele’s bean-to-cup CM5510 Silence coffee machine is ultra-quiet with OneTouch for Two, allowing you to make two of the same specialities at once with the touch of a button.

There’s also a coffee pot function for up to eight cups in a pot placed under the spout and you can choose from espresso, cappuccino, latte and macchiato. It also has auto rinsing and easy-clean programmes too.

Looking for more coffee inspiration? Take a look at these kitchen coffee station ideas, or check out these tips for creating a barista standard coffee at home.