You have probably noticed by now that De Longhi are big in the automatic coffee maker space. They have 3 entries on my list of the best bean to cup machines. But they actually produce a wide range of machines. If you have a small budget but have your heart set on a bean-to-cup coffee machine, you might want to know which the best cheap models are. Here’s our selection: The De’Longhi Eletta is a bean to cup machine, and priced towards the upper-mid range for a machine like this. But does it warrant the money? Let’s take a look. Most importantly, we found that the Beko produces appetising espresso with a strong taste, decent crema, and lovely aroma (just make sure you use high-quality beans!) In fact, we think it’s one of the best espresso coffee machines in its price range. On the medium grind mode, you get a balanced coffee with uniform colour, but there’s also the option of going finer for a more intense espresso. So, there’s something for all coffee enthusiasts. Another feature that isn’t found on cheaper models is the memory function. Once you’ve found your favourite strength and type of coffee, you can save this for future use.

This is a true bean to cup coffee machine, in that with one touch of a button it will grind the beans and brew your espresso with no manual intervention. Unlike other bean-to-cup coffee machines, there are no physical buttons. Settings are accessed via the colour touchscreen (or the app). This makes the front panel look a lot cleaner and less cluttered, although we think some people might miss physical buttons. With a cheaper RRP than the ECAM44.660.B, it's a great option if you want tasty and aromatic espresso without paying for an automatic cappuccino maker. The downside is that frothing milk with the steam arm can take some practice to get right. Beans are ground using the long-life burr grinder. The grinder has 13 different settings for coarseness, providing greater control over the coffee output. Like other bean-to-cup machines, the model grinds fresh beans every time you use it. There is also the option to use ground coffee for decaf or if you run out of beans. This sounds fairly obvious at first glance, but the point a number of people make is that if you’re a fan of great coffee and this machine is going to match what you’re looking for, don’t scrimp and buy a cheaper model.The E953-102 Caffeo has an integrated grinder with three settings for coarseness. This is fewer settings than many of the other models on this list, but still provides some level of control over the coffee’s taste. Other settings include brewing temperatures and strengths. It’s also capable of making cappuccino with a creamy froth due to its built-in milk steam pipe. You can control the exact temperature of the milk, how much coffee goes into each beverage, and how much water you want in each beverage. If you have any leftover milk in your carafe, you can easily detach it and place it in your refrigerator for later use. Easy To Keep Clean Cleaning cycles and descaling are important to maintain a long life for your machine, so fortunately they’re simple to complete. Also the removable milk carafe that we mentioned earlier makes the job much easier, as it’s almost always the milk that’s going to cause problems fastest if left without cleaning after making drinks. As I mentioned earlier in the review, it is very difficult for a one touch machine to texture milk as god as a barista. I can say with certainty the Delonghi Eletta Cappuccino, does it better than most. This is always a burning issue (pardon the pun), as many coffee lovers try to avoid the milk cooling the coffee too much as it’s added.

To start with, the ECAM22.110.SB comes with a Cappuccino System. This combines milk, air and steam to produce an appetising froth. Reviewers have also praised the quality of the espresso and the rich crema. With automatic tamping, milk texturing, grinding and an over-pressure valve, the Oracle has many features you’d expect on a cafe-quality machine. When it comes to espresso, the Gaggia can make a decent cup – especially if you use ground coffee. The cappuccinos are also appetising with the frothy milk combining well with the espresso. You can customise the output using the control panel and the ceramic grinder is designed to retain the coffee’s aroma (the coarseness can also be adjusted). A handy feature is that the ground coffee compartment allows you to brew a different coffee blend without removing the beans.You can alter the size of the grain that the grinder produces by turning the dial on the grinder to one of thirteen settings. As a guide, the finer grain size, the stronger and more bitter the coffee will taste – so aim for a very fine grain for an espresso, but a more coarse one for longer drinks.

A few of the online comments you can find do mention that drinks such as Flat White that have a large amount of milk in, can be warm as opposed to hot. TheDelonghi Eletta ECAM 44.620 is another excellent model in the Eletta range. It has stylish design, milk frothing arm and two-output nozzle - and it's also proven to be a popular coffee machine. While it didn't quite make our top 10 list, it's still an excellent bean-to-cup coffee maker. As you have probably guessed from a coffee machine called the Eletta Cappuccino, the automatic milk frothing part is where it is at. Again this part is fully automated and it will handle all of the milk texturing for you.

Other customisation features can include brewing temperature, coffee strength, automatic milk frothing, cup size and water amount. Some models also come with pre-infusion which helps protect against inconsistencies in tamp and grind (see the video below for a simple explanation). Grinding coffee beans is almost impossible to do quietly. While some grinders are quieter than others, you probably don’t want to be using the coffee machine (at least when using fresh beans) at times when you could wake people up. This is especially important if you live in a flat or small home and enjoy a late-night cup of coffee. The milk frother also has settings for the size of froth and a clean mode. The latter option cleans the milk nozzle automatically, but make sure you put a cup underneath to catch the liquid.