3 things to consider when buying a coffee maker on Black Friday

Black Friday is a great time to purchase a new coffee maker, but with so much on offer, making a choice can become overwhelming. Hereby TechRada we hand-select this year’s best Black Friday deals on coffee maker, Black Friday espresso machine dealsAnd Black Friday Nespresso deals; but it’s helpful to have an idea of what exactly you want before you start browsing.

With that in mind, we assume you are looking for an electric coffee machine. If you want to make a single batch of drip coffee as easily as possible, a simple moka pot for espresso or a plastic V60 coffee dripper for pour-over coffee will work just fine.

1. What type of coffee do you like?

There are two main types of coffee machines to consider: drip (or pour-over) and espresso. The best coffee makers are very simple: they heat water and pour it over your ground coffee, after which the brewed coffee drips into a jug or carafe. Depending on which machine you choose, the pitcher can sit on a stove top that will keep the drink warm until you are ready to consume it. However, keep in mind that the flavor profile will change if you leave the drink in the warmer place for an extended period of time.

Some drip coffee makers, such as the Smeg drip filter coffee makerget a timer so you can top up the coffee grounds and water before you go to bed and wake up to a pot of freshly brewed coffee. Others, such as the Moccamaster KBGV Select And Culinary Grind & Brew have built-in grinders, and are worth considering if you’re short on space, or don’t have a standalone grinder, but want to get the best possible flavor from your beans (the flavorings start to break down within an hour of grinding).

Smeg drip filter coffee maker

The Smeg Drip Filter coffee machine has a timer, so you can enjoy freshly brewed coffee first thing in the morning. (Image credit: Future)

If you prefer espresso drinks (including regular espresso, americanos, lattes, flat whites, and cappuccinos), you’ll want to choose one of the best espresso machines. Unlike drip coffee makers, these force heated water through ground beans at high pressure, creating a concentrated shot of coffee.

There are different types of machines available, and which one you choose depends on how practical you want to get started.

2. Do you want to get started?

So you like espresso – great! How much work do you want to do? There are three main types of espresso machines: automatic, semi-automatic and manual, each requiring a different level of input from you.

If you want to keep it as easy as possible, the best bean to cup coffee machines takes care of the entire process from start to finish. Most of these are fully automatic, meaning they weigh and grind the coffee beans, tamp down the coffee grounds, heat the water and force it through the beans at a certain pressure for a certain amount of time. Some (like the Smeg BCC13) feature physical buttons that allow you to choose different espresso drink presets, while others (such as the KitchenAid KF8) have touchscreens and let you configure factors such as the strength and volume of your drink.

Woman presses the button on top of the Smeg BCC13 coffee maker

Fully automatic espresso machines usually have a menu of drink options for you to choose from, and you may also be able to customize your drink (Image credit: Future)

Some fully automatic espresso machines have an automatic milk frother, which forces steam by milk to create foam that is poured into your cup with your coffee for lattes and cappuccinos. Most machines dispense the milk first and then pour in the espresso, but some (like the KitchenAid KF8) give you the option of pouring the milk second so that the resulting drink doesn’t have a brown spot in the middle.

Fully manual espresso machines (such as the Gaggia classic) give you the barista experience. You have to grind the beans yourself (choose the right grind size for the desired flavor profile), press them to ensure that the water flows through them evenly, start the kettle, get started and decide when you want to stop the water. A manual machine may include a grinder, but you may also need a separate machine. Some people enjoy the process and find it meditative, while others don’t want the hassle.

The Gaggia Classic on the kitchen counter, after having just made an espresso

Fully manual espresso machines like the Gaggia Classic put you in control (Image credit: TechRadar)

Manual espresso machines often have a steam wand, which you use to heat and aerate milk in a carafe. Technique is important here, but once you get the hang of it, you can create silky-smooth foam with the texture of emulsion paint, which you can use to make latte art (provided you have the time and patience to practice) .

Semi-automatic espresso machines, as the name suggests, are somewhere in the middle. They can weigh and grind the beans for you, but require you to tamp the puck and insert the portafilter into the group set. They may have an automatic milk frother, a manual steam wand, or nothing at all.

Finally, there are capsule coffee makers, such as the best Nespresso machines. These use pods of ready-ground coffee, which the machine punctures and forces water through at high pressure. You don’t have to worry about grinding or weighing beans, making the whole process less messy; but you can’t customize your drink down to the last detail and there’s a waste capsule to throw away every time.

3. What is your budget?

Coffee makers vary greatly in price, so it’s good to know what you can get for your money.

If you want to make espresso, automatic coffee bean machines are the most expensive, often between $1,000 / £800 / AU$1,500 and $2,000 / £1,600 / AU$3,000. Semi-automatic coffee makers tend to be a little cheaper, but manual machines are the most affordable way to make espresso. The De’Longhi Dedica Style EC685 is an excellent manual machine with a list price of $349.95 / £199.99 / AU$399, and can often be found even cheaper.

Filter coffee makers usually cost considerably less, even if you choose a premium model. The 1960s Smeg Drip Filter Coffee Machine has a list price of $199.95 / £179 (about AU$300), and the KitchenAid Classic 5KCM1208 costs $109.99 / £119 (about AU$170).