How to choose your coffee machine?

Whether it's a first purchase, a renewal, or even the desire to get rid of pods and capsules, this is a question that a number of coffee lovers ask themselves. Since it's difficult for us to give you a simple answer, we've decided to create a simplified diagram. And before discussing this diagram, we would like to provide you with a few details:

Mill - nm

As you can see, our recommendation is to always have a coffee grinder at home , whether it's integrated into your coffee machine, electric, or manual. You can always buy ground coffee, but you risk not fully enjoying the original aromas. If we make an analogy with the world of wine, it would be like tasting a bottle that has been open for a week: probably fit for consumption but far from what the producer intended.

Usage - nm

Two parameters are not included in this diagram: the number of people using the coffee machine and its weekly usage . Some solutions are undersized for intensive use (Italian coffee maker, lever espresso machine, V60, etc.), while others may represent a spatial and financial investment too large compared to their actual use (automatic espresso machines, electric grinders).

Versatility - nf

If, like us, you also like light coffees (filter coffee type) and strong (espresso type), you will unfortunately have to equip yourself with both filter coffee and espresso equipment. To our knowledge, there is no truly high-quality "combination" machine for individuals. However, you can obtain very good quality long coffees on an espresso machine when you top up with water at the right temperature. There are also filter methods that can be quite versatile, such as the Aeropress or the French press.

Diversity - nf

If your tastes are not limited to coffees of different concentrations, and you also enjoy milky drinks, your choice should be based on an espresso machine, manual or automatic. In this area, there is a great disparity between machines and their steam nozzles, which will allow you to make latte art or not. In this specific case, do not hesitate to ask us for advice directly, it is possible that one day we will write a complete article on the subject, but while waiting for its publication we remain at your disposal.

Budget - nm

We've tried to provide a budget guide for each coffee solution, but within the same product type, there are, of course, wide price ranges. Don't hesitate to ask us directly for advice; we'll be happy to help, whether we sell the equipment or not.

Accessories - nm

If you've caught the specialty coffee bug, these accessories will be accessories in name only, as most of these extraction methods require additional equipment:

A precision scale to know the quantity of ground coffee you put in your filter, except for the automatic espresso machine.

A kettle with a temperature control that's ideally precise. You'd be surprised at the difference between coffee brewed at 92 degrees and one brewed at 88 degrees.