A coffee machine makes a good Christmas or housewarming present, as long as it suits the way the person already drinks coffee. Someone who orders a flat white every morning needs a very different machine from someone who drinks mugs of filter at their desk. Work out their usual drink first, then check how much worktop they have to spare, and the choice narrows quickly.
What to look for
01How do you find out how they drink coffee without spoiling the surprise?
Notice what they order in a café and what they make at home, because their usual drink points to the machine type. A latte or cappuccino order means milk matters, so look at machines that froth. A double espresso or a long black points to an espresso or bean-to-cup machine, where a milk system is optional. Mugs of filter, or coffee made in a cafetière, suggest a drip filter machine. Look at what already sits on their worktop, such as a pod machine or a cafetière they use daily. A partner or housemate can often tell you whether a new machine would be used every day or end up in a cupboard. If they already own a machine they like, a second one is unlikely to earn its space, and something to use with the first makes the better gift.
02Which coffee machine suits someone who drinks lattes and cappuccinos?
For a milky coffee drinker who wants it at the press of a button, a bean-to-cup machine with a built-in milk system is the easiest present to live with. It grinds the beans, brews the shot and froths the milk, so there is little to learn. The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo ECAM290.83.TB is listed as fully automatic with a milk frother, De'Longhi's LatteCrema Hot system and 7 recipes. The Alivio machine is sold as a bean-to-cup with a grinder and milk, and its 2L water tank suits a shared house or a small office. For a household where each person drinks something different, the De'Longhi Rivelia lists 16 recipes. Milk systems need a rinse after use, so these suit someone who will keep up with that small job every day.
03What should you give a coffee lover who wants to learn the craft?
Choose an espresso machine with a steam wand for someone who enjoys the making as much as the drinking. They dose and tamp the coffee, time each shot and steam the milk by hand, which takes practice and gives them control over the result. The Breville Barista Max has an integrated bean grinder, a steam wand, a 15 bar pump and a 2.8L water tank, so there is no separate grinder to buy. The Chefman CraftBrew is a 15-bar espresso machine with a steam wand and a touchscreen, but its listing mentions no grinder, so pair it with ground espresso coffee or a separate grinder. The Sage Barista Express and Barista Express Impress are listed as bean-to-cup machines in the same hands-on style. Give one of these to someone who will enjoy the learning, because every drink takes a few minutes of work.
04Which machine suits someone who drinks black or filter coffee?
For someone who gets through mugs of black coffee, a drip filter machine is the simplest present, and one with a grinder built in gives them freshly ground coffee without extra kit. The andrew james filter machine has a built-in grinder, a programmable keep-warm function and a 1.5L capacity, which suits a household that drinks several mugs in a morning or has guests over. Espresso drinkers who take it black, or top it up with hot water for an americano, have no need of a milk system at all. A straightforward bean-to-cup machine suits them, such as the SCOTT Slimissimo, listed as fully automatic with 19 bar pressure and a 1.1L tank. If they drink coffee only now and then, a machine may be more than they will use, and a hand brewer is a lighter present.
05How much space does the person have for a coffee machine?
Check their kitchen before you choose, because a bean-to-cup machine takes more worktop than most people picture. Look at the width of the space they would give it, the depth from the wall to the edge of the worktop, and the height to the underside of the wall cupboards. Beans usually go in through a lid on top, so a machine tucked under a cupboard may need pulling forward to fill it. Some listings mention size: the Magnifica Evo and the Rivelia are both described as compact. A drip filter machine is usually slimmer than a bean-to-cup, though it needs room for the jug. For a student room, a narrow galley kitchen or someone who travels, the AeroPress Go is a hand press that comes with a mug and lid and needs only a kettle. If you can't see their kitchen, that is the safest choice of all.
Our top picks
Best for latte and cappuccino drinkersDe'Longhi Magnifica Evo ECAM290.83.TB
De'Longhi lists the Magnifica Evo as a fully automatic bean-to-cup machine with a milk frother, the LatteCrema Hot system and 7 recipes. It is also described as compact, which helps when you are guessing at someone else's worktop. A good match for the person who orders a cappuccino every time.
Best for a coffee lover learning the craftBreville Barista Max Espresso Machine |
An integrated bean grinder and a steam wand mean the Breville Barista Max arrives ready for hand-made espresso and milk, with a 15 bar Italian pump and a 2.8L water tank. It rewards practice. Give it to the person who talks about crema and latte art.
Best for mugs of filter coffeeandrew james Drip Filter Coffee Machine
This andrew james drip filter machine grinds the beans itself, holds 1.5L and has a programmable keep-warm function. Fresh filter coffee for a whole household, without a separate grinder on the worktop. Well suited to someone who drinks black coffee through the morning.
Best for espresso drinkers who skip the milkSCOTT UK
SCOTT's Slimissimo is listed as a fully automatic bean-to-cup machine with 19 bar pressure, a 1.1L tank and 1470W of power. For someone who drinks espresso or americanos, that covers everything they need at the press of a button, with no steam wand to learn.
Best for travellers and tiny kitchensAeropress Go Portable Travel Coffee Press
The AeroPress Go is a manual press that makes 1 to 3 cups in about a minute and comes with its own mug and lid. It takes up almost no room and needs only hot water, so it travels to a campervan or an office desk as easily as it sits in a first flat. Good for the coffee lover with a small kitchen or itchy feet.
Frequently asked
What if they already have a pod machine?
Buy for the machine they have rather than replacing it. If it is a Nespresso machine, compatible pods such as the CafePod Lungo and Espresso box of 100 capsules make a present that gets used straight away. Nespresso has two capsule systems, Original and Vertuo, and they do not swap, so check which one their machine takes and that the pod listing matches it.
Should I include coffee beans with a bean-to-cup machine?
Yes, a bag of whole beans means they can make a drink the day they unpack it. The C&T Bio Espresso Crema comes as 1kg of organic whole beans and is listed for bean-to-cup machines and portafilter espresso machines. Avoid oily, very dark roasts for bean-to-cup machines, since the oils can clog the grinder over time.
Which coffee machines make iced coffee?
The Philips 3300 LatteGo lists 6 hot and iced drinks, which suits someone who drinks iced lattes through the summer. The AeroPress Go listing names cold brew as well as hot coffee. Any espresso machine can make an iced drink if you pour the shot over ice and cold milk.
Do coffee machines need descaling?
Yes. Limescale builds up inside any machine that heats water, and faster in hard-water areas such as London and much of the south and east of England. Most machines prompt for a descale or say how often to do it in the manual. It is worth telling the recipient, since it is easy to forget and a scaled machine brews more slowly.
Can a bean-to-cup machine use pre-ground coffee?
Many can, through a separate chute for ground coffee, which is handy for a cup of decaf without emptying the beans. Not every model has one, so check the listing or the manual if the recipient drinks decaf in the evening or likes to switch between blends.