Save on money, but not on quality, with these affordable coffee machines

The Barista Express is a standout for coffee lovers who crave hands-on control. Its built-in grinder, adjustable grind size, precise extraction and steam wand give you everything need to brew café-quality coffee at home. It strikes the ideal balance between affordability and professional-grade results.

It has an impressive 4.7 rating from over 2,371 reviews on the Breville website. Users rave about how it perfectly combines manual control with automation, making it a breeze to whip up café-quality coffee right at home. A lot of people shared that it’s completely transformed their coffee-making routine, turning what used to be a chore into a fun and satisfying experience.

Colours: brushed stainless steel, black truffle, cranberry red, black sesame, salted liquorice and charcoal

Key features:

• Automatic grind and dose for fresh coffee
• Create specialty coffee in under a minute
• 54mm stainless steel portafilter for rich flavour
• Low pressure pre-infusion with nine bar extraction
• Manual microfoam milk texturing
• Simple interface for shot selection and control

Also available at:

• $685.41 (usually $999) at Amazon
• $699 at The Good Guys
• $749 at Breville
• $816 (usually $999) at Appliances Online
• $999 at MiniMax

Don’t miss out on making your mornings easier (and tastier). The Moccamaster Classic comes with 100 filters and offers the choice between a complimentary three or $75 six-month coffee subscription, which brings delicious coffee right to your door. With features like a copper boiling element for precise temperature control and automatic shut-off, this machine combines quality and convenience for a fantastic cup of coffee.

Colours: matt black, red, turquoise, yellow pepper, polished silver, white, brass, copper, pastel yellow, pastel green, midnight blue, pastel blue and Arab copper

Key features:

• Hand-made in the Netherlands
• Brews coffee in five to six minutes
• Copper boiling element maintains a consistent temperature of 90-95°C
• Automatic shut-off when the water reservoir is empty and after 40 minutes on the hotplate
• Includes 100 filters and a 1.2L glass carafe
• Option for a complimentary three-month coffee subscription or a six-month subscription for $75

A favourite among home baristas, this semi-automatic machine gives you a hands-on coffee-making experience with its built-in grinder, tamping station and adjustable steam wand. It’s similar to the Breville Barista Express but comes at a slightly lower price, perfect for anyone looking to enjoy that authentic barista experience without blowing their budget.

The machine has almost 12,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, with one customer writing: “So happy with my purchase. I haven’t bought any takeaway coffees since buying this machine. It’s easy to use, doesn’t take up much space on the bench and looks sleek.”

Key features:

• 15 bar pressure for perfect espresso in a compact 15cm width
• Adjustable steam wand for creating microfoam and latte art
• Customisable brewing process for personalised espresso
• Sleek design
• Easy manual descaling
• Includes a milk frother

Also available at:

• $199 at The Good Guys
• $199 at Betta Home Living
• $209.95 (usually $529) at Kitchen Warehouse
• $423.20 (usually $529) at Myer

The Bambino Plus may not come with a built-in grinder, but it makes up for it with a three-second heat-up time and an automatic steam wand that creates perfectly textured milk. It’s great for anyone who already owns a grinder and is looking for a compact, user-friendly machine that consistently delivers impressive espresso and milk-based drinks.

“I was very intimidated to use an espresso machine at first,” said a reviewer at Kitchen Warehouse. “But this machine is very simple to use. It makes a great cappuccino. The milk frother works very well and it self cleans afterwards which is very nice. I am very happy with my purchase.”

Colours: brushed stainless steel, black truffle and sea salt

Key features:

• Brews coffee in three seconds
• Includes a tamper, dosing tool, milk jug and filter baskets
• Simple buttons for single or double espresso and steaming milk
• Automatic steam wand
• 54mm portafilter
• Compact design

Also available at:

• $499 at The Good Guys
• $527 at Dick Smith
• $599 at Bing Lee
• $609.95 (usually $729) at Kitchen Warehouse

This option is a no-brainer if you want a budget-friendly machine that doesn’t skimp on quality. Its sleek, minimalist design fits perfectly in any small kitchen, letting you enjoy barista-level coffee without taking up too much space. Heating up in just 25 seconds, it’s ready to brew whenever you are, delivering rich espresso or lungo at the touch of a button.

Colours: black, white and red

Key features:

• Compact design perfect for small kitchens
• Heats up in 25 seconds
• 19-bar high-pressure pump for optimal extraction
• Programmable flow stop for two cup sizes (40ml and 110ml)
• 600ml water tank for fewer refills
• Capsule container holds up to six used capsules

Also available at:

• $149 (usually $899) at Amazon
• $151 (usually $159) at Stan Cash
• $219 at Nespresso

For anyone new to manual espresso, the Sunbeam Mini Barista offers quality features without a big price tag. While it may not have all the advanced bells and whistles of other machines, it dives straight into the art of manual espresso. It’s ideal for beginners who appreciate the hands-on experience of crafting their coffee, or for coffee lovers wanting a reliable, no-frills machine.

“I was hesitant to buy as all my previous machines have been De’Longhi but I am so happy I took a chance,” wrote a five-star reviewer. “I love that I can set it to pull a single or double shot (it automatically stops) and I love that my full sized coffee cup fits directly. Been using this daily for a few weeks and it pulls a great shot every time. Have already recommended to a friend.”

Colours: black, silver, white and blue coral

Key features:

• 1350 watts of power
• 2L water tank capacity
• Auto Shot Volumetric Control for precise single and double shots
• Commercial-style 58mm group head for even extraction and rich flavour
• Powerful steam wand

Also available at:

• $245 (usually $329) at Amazon
• $289 at The Good Guys
• $329 at Big W
• $331.05 at Dick Smith

The Nespresso Citiz & Milk capsule machine brings convenience and style to your countertop, perfect for when you need a quick cup of coffee without the hassle. With its built-in milk frother, you can easily whip up your favourite lattes and cappuccinos at a moment’s notice. Quality coffee really doesn’t have to come at a premium!

Colours: black and white

Key features:

• Compact design with a folding cup holder
• Easy to use with two programmable cup sizes for espresso and lungo
• Heats up in 25 seconds
• Automatic standby mode after nine minutes of inactivity
• 19-bar pressure for rich, barista-quality coffee
• Integrated milk frother

Also available at:

• $298 at Bing Lee
• $328 at Amazon
• $328 at The Good Guys
• $349 at DeLonghi