CAFFEINE FIX
We tried 8 budget coffee machines to make the best home brew – Aldi’s £60 machine was a great dupe
One futuristic coffee-maker is ideal for compact kitchens
YOUR caffeine fix could give your purse a roasting as the price of coffee beans hits a record high.
At Costa, the UK’s biggest chain, it’s £3.80 for a regular americano and £4.40 for a same-size latte.
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Trendy independent coffee shops are reported to have hiked prices as high as £5 per drink after the cost of beans rocketed by 70 per cent this year.
So it is no wonder many of us are turning to home brews rather than a costly takeaway.
Department store Selfridges says sales of coffee makers are up 82 per cent on last year.
With Aldi about to launch an own-brand espresso maker for £59.99, investing in a machine may save you cash in the long run.
READ MORE ON TASTE TESTS
Alex Lloyd tests four espresso makers, which use ground coffee, and four pod machines to see how they compare in taste, ease of use and cost per cup.
Swan Nordic, £84.99, Amazon
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THIS Scandi-style gadget certainly looks the part with its wood accents and retro controls.
But I found operating it confusing, with different buttons to hold and release, rather than a fixed-size shot of coffee dispensed automatically.
The brew head also sits quite low to the drip tray, so most of my mugs were too tall to slip underneath. It would be fine with a small espresso cup, though.
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Beware the inevitable coffee stains on the white model. The slate-grey option might be more practical.
Cost per cup: 30p (using Alcafe house blend, £2.29 for 227g, Aldi)
RATING: 3/5
I'm a cleaning pro - 10 household items nobody cleans enough & your coffee machine definitely needs a rinse
Nespresso Vertuo Pop, £53.10, John Lewis
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VERTUO is the next generation of Nespresso machines, using centrifusion to spin the pod and extract the coffee.
It makes for a better “crema” on top but it is very noisy.
I also found the machine quite chunky compared with other pod options.
One button does all the work, cleverly reading a pod barcode to know what size to brew.
But you can press it again for a bigger drink.
Cleaning is minimal and the pods drop into a waste basket.
Unfortunately, it only takes Vertuo pods, not classic ones, so you can’t get cheaper own-brand versions.
Cost per cup: 73.5p (using Nespresso Vertuo Arondio, pack of 10, £5.90, Nespresso)
RATING: 3/5
Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie Evo, £49.50, lavazza.co.uk
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OOZING Italian style, this petite pod machine from the well-known coffee brand makes for a slick addition to any kitchen.
It is also a doddle to use, with a lever to open the pod chute and one stop-start button to get the water hot and flowing.
The drip tray is espresso cup height but can be removed for a larger cup to fit snugly underneath.
Pods drop into a storage tray after use for easy collection.
You should note you are restricted to branded A Modo Mio capsules.
For a more authentic latte or cappuccino, you can buy a Lavazza MilkEasy for £51.75 to sit alongside and froth your milk.
A machine with an integrated milk frother costs £85.
Cost per cup: 46p (using Lavazza Modo Mio Passionale pack of 36, £11.80, Amazon)
RATING: 4/5
Tassimo Happy by Bosch, from £34.99, tassimo.com
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THE beauty of the cheapest machine in our test is just how simple it is at making your cup of coffee (or hot chocolate).
Flip up the front, insert your pod and press one button to get your drink.
The side-mounted water tank is easier to access than the other machines and the drip tray has two height options.
Sadly, cleaning is more fiddly than with other pod machines, as there is a three-part spout to detach and rinse out.
Availability and the non-compostability of plastic pods are a downside to this model.
You can only use branded Tassimo T-Disc pods.
Cost per cup: 39p (using Tassimo Kenco Americano pack of 16, £4.75, Asda)
RATING: 3/5
De’longhi Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio S, £65, Argos
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IF you are space-poor, then this ultra-compact capsule machine could be just what you need.
As it is both narrow and shallow, it should give you options even in the most space-challenged kitchens.
The good news doesn’t stop there. It is almost idiot-proof to operate, with a dial and two buttons to heat the water, choose the drink volume and then dispense.
Clean-up is minimal, with a small drip tray and pod holder, but neither get particularly mucky.
You can also use hot chocolate pods, but the capsules are plastic and not easy to recycle.
While the pod selection is wide, they are pretty much all branded, so more pricey, though Aldi does make a cheaper Alcafe dupe.
Cost per cup: 34p (using Alcafe Americano pack of 16, £2.69, Aldi)
RATING: 4/5
Ambiano, £59.99, Aldi (in stores from Sunday)
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IT might be a Specialbuy, but this Aldi ground-coffee machine is far from a cheap dupe.
This is a doddle to use, with an electronic touch-control panel giving options for espresso, americano and even iced coffee (just add a few cubes to the water tank).
The milk steamer is effective, operated with a dial on the right-and side, and it also handily dispenses piping-hot water.
But the machine is bulky and wide, plus you might find the black and chrome a bit dull.
Cost per cup: 23.5p (using Alcafe house blend, £2.29 for 227g, Aldi)
RATING: 5/5
Blaupunkt Baristo £69, B&M
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THIS futuristic-looking ground-coffee maker is very slimline, so ideal for compact kitchens.
While at first glance the functions seem simple too, that’s not the case, and the brewing process is a little more complicated than I’d like.
It has only got one or two-cup espresso settings, meaning you have to dispense additional hot water for a longer drink through the steam spout, using the side-mounted dial.
I found this rather fiddly and the drip tray also vibrates a lot when the coffee is brewing.
On the plus side, the milk steamer is very effective.
Cost per cup: 26p (using Alcafe house blend, £2.29 for 227g, Aldi)
RATING: 4/5
Cooks Professional Retro, £79.99, Tesco
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I WAS disappointed by the design quality, with plastic joins roughly finished.
It is the widest of the ground-coffee makers and, while the water tank being side-accessible should make things easier, the pipe makes it fiddly to pull in and out.
You have to manually control your drink size with a button, but it works quickly, as does the milk-steaming function.
Sadly, it drips quite a bit and, unlike similar models, the base does not detach – so you have to remove the inset drip tray to wash it.
Cost per cup: 29p (using Alcafe house blend, £2.29 for 227g, Aldi)
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RATING: 2/5
*Cost per cup based on a cup a day for a year, splitting purchase price over 365 days and cheapest compatible coffee.
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