Hi all,
Looking for a cheap automatic coffee machine.
It will only be used to make about 2-3 coffees per day for my wife and I so we don't need anything of industrial size.
After doing some searching, I am put off by the high prices of $700+ for most machines. My budget is no more than $300 but maybe this is unrealistic - perhaps I need to consider a manual machine.
Thanks in advance.
Apologies - a machine that grinds the beans and makes coffee with the push of a button (i.e. not a dripolator).
I have a delongi that does just that, but even at a discount it was $500 and that was years ago
Also it did need repairing after a few months of use, although has been reliable ever since.
Many use the argument - you get what you pay for, but in reality thats not true, if so then how do the spruikers on Day time TV pay for those hour long Advertisements? Not with higher quality goods!
Choice have done a good review of all the options, it might be worth investigating a temporary membership to check out the ratings. However all the self grinding models are in the higher price ranges $500+
With your budget of $300 have you considered a pod machine? (often as low as $100)
Cheaper to maintain, and quality is quite acceptable.
One aspect I find with my automatic machine, is that it can only grind one set of beans. In our household we have those who like a rich blend of beans and another likes decaf only. The automatic only handles one type of bean. Removing the beans to change over doesnt work (and also defeats the "automatic' feature.
With my machine I can use ground coffee, via a shute but then its not "automatic" plus I have to use a brush to make sure all the coffee enters the machine, by giggling this in the shute - its supplied with the machine, and instructions suggest this is done, otherwise not all the coffee makes it into the machine.
So often I use the pod machine instead, plus it heats faster and is cleaner to use. The auto machine requires more regular cleaning, like cycling thru with a descaler every few months, to keep the system from clogging up.
Cost wise the pods are more expensive, but you need to do the maths of 2-3 cups per day at a per cup higher cost vs the extra money outlaid on the unit.
Hope some of these ideas help you in your choice
Thanks for your input Rocky - you have given me something to think about.
We have a pod machine at the moment which is on the way out and we aren't looking to replace it with another pod machine due to environmental concerns.
Given my budget, I might just look to buy a 'manual' machine and buy pre-ground beans - maybe pick up a grinder at a later date.
This one seems to be good value at about half price off at the moment - would you agree?
http://www.delonghi.com/en-au/products/coffee/coffee-makers/…
@MetaphorOZB:
I have the machine you linked. It is a good machine for the price. It is a pump espresso so it doesn't require much heating up.
It also takes ESE coffee pods.
There are two of us using it for 2-4 coffees a day, it gets the job done.
I have been experiencing problems with the milk frother though.
At that price you could also get a semi decent burr grinder for under $300 in total.
@dasher86:
In terms of cost I worked out that it costs approx 67c for a coffee pod per person (we were using Lavazza modo mio system and buying pods on special).
For coffee beans we buy 1kg at a time at a max cost of $40. Approx 28c for a coffee.
In my scenario after 300 coffees we have banked $116 towards the upfront costs of the machine as opposed to the cheaper pod machine at the start vs expensive pods in the long run.
Depending on the beans you get your numbers might work out differently.
@MetaphorOZB: Your choice to use this info if you wish - wink
The sunbeam manual systems are the better ones for taste .
These retail around the $150-200 mark.
EM 28XX EM 38XX EM 48XX
avoiding the EM50XX series
No info on the delongi you mentioned
Thanks for your input Dasher - greatly appreciated!
@MetaphorOZB: It's not automatic - but definitely the cheapest option for use with ground coffee of your choice - is a plunger. A small individual one - will provide a good cup of coffee for the purchase price of the plunger - about $15 - $20 + coffee and hot water. You can put the ground beans onto your garden and there is no waste. For an additional $50 approx - you could purchase a coffee grinder for a better/fresher coffee flavour.
It's called a pump espresso machine and a very good husband at that price point or a pod machine.
Cheapest Automatic Coffee Machine - A Spoon, cost about $1
Yep but add a milk frother from Aldi for $29 if you want caps or lattes
pfft, spin the milk up in my $10 KMart blender, im not allowed to have a lot of coffee
Have a read of Coffee Snobs.
A used manual machine & grinder and decent beans will be a better investment, however $300 may be a bit light on.
Ask the question at http://coffeesnobs.com.au/brewing-equipment-entry-level-sub-… where they discuss the cheaper machines.
Be warned; you may be trying to climb the slippery slope that leads to spending $3k+ - I did!
Aeropress + a grinder of some sort (or just get beans ground when you buy them)
IF you want a pod machine, there's a place at Chadstone (in Melbourne) next door to Aldi, that is selling some no brand pod machine for $10!
This is what I use for my preferred black coffee.
Is it as good as a commercial machine and a good barista? No.
Is it better than a pod. Yes.
Is it cheaper than other options offering similar quality. Yes.
I have an aeropress as well.
I can comment that it is better than pods.
However i find it takes close to twice the amount of beans compared to my domestic espresso machine (refer above) to achieve a decent coffee.
What is good about the aeropress that it is more forgiving about the type of grind you use and don't need to continually adjust the grind as you would for an espresso machine.
I find the aeropress makes a better coffee than home machines that are around $200-300. It's around $50 to buy and you can buy a metal filter instead of the paper filters it comes with. It even makes the crema on top which most cheaper machines struggle to do. It's a great option for at work or camping and it takes up just the space of a large travel mug
Yep. I use the inverted method. Put 100ml of milk in a cup, microwave fit 50secs, froth it using a battery operated frother from IKEA, add the coffee
The automatic ones are far more expensive for the quality than manual. They're also much more painful to clean in my experience. But, doing everything yourself is an investment in time and effort that a lot of people won't do (my wife for example will go and buy a coffee rather than use our manual machine).
It might be worth taking a look at second hand stuff from somewhere like the coffeesnobs forum. http://coffeesnobs.com.au/coffee-hardware-sale/ - I had a quick flick through and it looked like the going rate for an entry level machine+grinder was closer to $500 though.
Using pre-ground beans in a 'proper' espresso machine is a recipe for frustration in my experience. You'll find it very hard to pull a decent shot from it, and it will taste worse than the pod coffee you're used to.
Unfortunately, I think you'll struggle to find a decent option (for even a manual machine) for $300.
Thumbs-up OP for ditching pod machine due to environmental concerns.
Just 3 words from a part time barista…..
Aldi Aldi Aldi.
Great machine. Even better coffee range plus chai tea, hot choc and more and all at the best prices too.
Unbeatable to say the least
Fresh coffee most Importanr like manna beans or something local to you.
A decent grinder you can keep to he next 10y or more new from coffee machine dealer or used cafe $1200-1800 machine in gumtree.
A stove top moka pot type machine or trawl gumtree for a Silvia after buying grinder
Coles Express 80ø. and you can pilfer 5 or 6 of the little UHT cups for when you get back to office/home.
Define an "automatic" coffee machine?
Looking at Appliances online they define these quite broadly
https://www.appliancesonline.com.au/automatic-coffee-machine…
Note the $64 Breville is in this "category"