Who can recommend a bean top coffee machine

As per the title, but without costing a fortune. Except replace top with to!!!!!!

I have had a £1200 Jura for 5 years which has failed 3 times, each time it goes back they charge £300 as a standard repair charge, I now realise, far from from being the Rolls Royce of coffee machines they are more akin to a 1980s Lada, plagued by faults and poor reliability.

So on the look out for a machine in the 300-400 bracket, having learnt I do not make millions of different coffess, just plain old espresso and americanos, with the occasional latte when I can be bothered to go through the whole milk gig.

Only interested in bean to coffee machines, no pods or tamping down old style machines, been there and done them.

Thanks

 

Lol, tamping's not old style! It's the only style if you want to be hands on with what you are doing. Check out sage they make some nice machines I had delonghi for years and changed to this as I wanted more control, it's been great and and not had any probs yet.

 

If you just want a good cup of coffee try an AeroPress and save yourself a fortune. They recently came out top on What to buy and why.
A decent burr grinder ( as opposed to a blade grinder ) would soak up half your budget so your unlikely to find a good, reliable bean to cup machine for that money.
Your local coffee roaster would grind the beans to your preference. Don't buy too many at a time because it has quite a short shelf life.
My favourite is a Sumatra bean or Indian gems if you like a lighter roast.

 

Panasonic's got a 5 star award for a sub £500 machine with touch screen controls
http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/home-appliances/coffee-machines/53350/panasonic-nc-za1-review.

 

Thanks guys, but I am not going through that p**sing around with grinding coffee marlarky again, did that for years with a Gaggia, having had the convenience of a bean to coffee, I am happy to make any compromises that may come with, I like a decent coffee but am past the whole coffee/wine expert part of my life

 

I have a cheap coffee machine that has never failed me... It is a

Spoon, a jar of coffee and me ....

Works every time

 

With a slight modification to that setup it can also be used for tea as well!

 

Same as my bloody Jura, other than the coffee is hot, suggest the Swiss stick to making watches and chocolate and forget coffee machines.

Think I might just get a De Longhi for £250, can't be any worse.

 

Another Aeropress fan here too. I've got a Hario Skerton hand grinder to partner it with. Produces a good consistent grind but it's bloody hard work if you're milling for anything more than a single cup.

 

I probably like you have dabbled with Gaggia, grinders etc etc.
I have to admit the aero press is great as a budget very manual one at a time espresso maker.
BUT
I have to admit our delonghi bean to cup has been bloody excellent and we would struggle like pampered tossers if we ever lost it.
Its great for espresso, latte and cappuccino and nice and simple to clean and descale.
The water tap in the picture is where the permanent milk jug sits so nice and easy to produce multiple cups of coffee while you practice being a lazy git with no tamping or grinding. Its a good 4 years old now and works its butt off and only issue we have had is it needing a new o ring seal on the milk jug
Get one mate they are the dogs danglies

 

My Aeropress has made me some of the best coffee I have ever had, and most importantly of all, I actually use it, unlike all of the other machines that have been used for a week then got put in the cupboard, huge, huge fan of this amazingly effective device.

 

Do you use the paper filters or have you bought one of the metal screens? I was thinking of getting one and was wondering if it was worth it.

I also got one of these for frothy coffees. For the missus, like

 

I just use the paper ones, I have read about the paper potentially absorbing the oils, and did mean to try the metal, just never remembered to order one, might do so now

 

Yup I heard that too. I did hear that the metal ones do let more of the really fine grinds through though.

Being as the coffee that comes out of the Aeropress isn't exactly lacking in taste I thought I'd just continue with paper.

 

Aye. They do make a nice cup of coffee too.

 

Coffee makers are for little girls, i just chew on the coffee beans

 

I've never tried one of those, was always curious, might have to give it a go.

 

I own the Delonghi Primadonna Avant Esam 6700, used it many times daily for about 6 years and it still works great. Never been serviced and has never broken down. If it breaks tomorrow now I may shoot myself. Its no longer available but I am sure the newer version will be just as good.