Coffee is more than a drink. It's a way of life. And the secret to making cafe quality coffee at home is by brewing freshly ground and roasted beans in a quality coffee machine.

In this article we'll show you how to choose the best home coffee machine, automatice coffee machine or alternative brew coffee maker for your needs, and why quality matters and what to do to keep your morning routine alive.

There are several things to consider when buying a home coffee machine. The style of brew, cost, time and maintenance are just some key factors to consider. Of course, at any point during the reading of this article, you can contact our awesome team members for advice and information on anything coffee-related.

 

 

What kind of home coffee machine options are there?

There are several types of home coffee machines and options available, and so many small considerations that culminate in your ultimate brewing experience. The first, most important question to consider is: what do I want to drink every morning?

Here we have a description of the typical styles of popular home coffee machine or alternative home brew coffee makers:

Manual Home Espresso machines

These home espresso machines produce traditional espresso coffee, with a very high level of extraction and flavour - just like the yummy stuff in your local coffee shop. They require the user to produce a coffee shot manually, as well as steaming your own milk.

Automatic Home Espresso machines

These automatic coffee machines produce traditional espresso, with an acceptably good level of extraction and flavour. They will grind your coffee, drop your espresso shot and steam your milk for you automatically – all at the touch of a button.

Automatic filter coffee machines

These fantastic machines automate the process of producing beautiful, light filter brew at the touch of a button. Do not confuse this style with American Drip Filter coffee, which is reputably dark and bitter. This brew is moreish, with a tea-like mouthfeel and full-bodied, complex flavour. And best of all – it’s made in a batch, and stays hot for hours in its thermal jug.

French Press (plungers) Coffee Makers

The French Press coffee maker is steeped in history, invented in the 1800’s and still in very popular use today. Although it may seem overly simple and unassuming in nature, the French Press Coffee Maker produces a rich, full-flavoured brew with a medium body mouthfeel that never disappoints. It’s a very affordable option, being super simple to use and brew satisfying delicious coffee. We stock a high-quality range of French Press Coffee makers, with plenty of price ranges to suit every budget.

Stovetop (percolators) Espresso Makers

Stovetop Espresso makers produce a traditional espresso coffee, with a lower level of extraction and flavour than a manual espresso machine. However, this is not to say that they don’t make fantastic coffee. On the contrary, these coffee makers have been beloved for well over 100 years, and continue to fly off our shelves. The creamy, rich quality of the espresso they produce, in combination with the ease of brewing and price point, ensures that there is no end in sight for the popularity of this beloved coffee maker. Check them out here.

Flair Espresso Makers

The Flair espresso makers are a fantastic option to consider when you want a traditional, well-extracted espresso coffee – but without all the fuss. This impressive bit of alternative brewing gear produces espresso coffee at a very similar level to commercial and home manual espresso machines but without the need for electricity or excess space. It has a sleek design, and comes in a ready-to-travel pack, great for being on the go! 

Cold Brewing

Cold brewing is a great option when it comes to making super-smooth coffee in a batch, with minimal effort. The best part is, you can drink it hot! Coming into winter, we know a lot of folks might dismiss this brewing method as a summer-only option, but we disagree. Cold brew produces a coffee that is roughly 70% less acidic, making it taste a little sweeter - and for that reason goes down ultra-smooth. To drink hot, simply heat your cold brew for a short period in the microwave and top with hot water from your kettle – add milk if desired. Our favourite cold brew setups include the Toddy Cold Brew System and the Mizudashi Cold Brew Pot. We offer bundles that include grinders and coffee beans to boot.

 

The Best Manual Home Espresso Machines Choices and Costs

When it comes to choosing between manual espresso machines, there is an overwhelming amount of choices. Our range is curated carefully to include options that cover functionality, cost, quality and aesthetic considerations. If you are interested in buying any style of home coffee machine, these are some things you should define for yourself before shopping to help narrow the field:

Budget – How much can I spend?

Aesthetic – What do I like the look of?

Quality – Who is the manufacturer, and what is their reputation?

Functionality – What do I need it to be able to do? 

 

 

All of the manual home espresso machines we supply are from high-end trusted manufacturers, who are well famed for their quality products. We offer machines for a range of budgets starting at a lower price point with the Lelit PL82T Kate Combi travelling through the middle ground with amazing machines like the ECM Mechanika V Slim and Rocket Appartamento and landing at the top end with choices like the Rocket R58 and ECM Synchronika.

Home coffee machines costs vary depending on the brand, functionality, boiler, pump, type of brew method and attachments, as well as its recommended cup capacity. Quality alternative home brew coffee makers start from around $30 and range up to around $500 for a manual espresso maker. Drip filter coffee makers start from around $400. While quality home espresso coffee machines start from around $1200, but can range up to $9000 or so. 

It is important to remember that you will need to budget for a coffee grinder to go along with your beautiful new machine. While these can range in costs, a safe budget would be around $400.00 - $700.00.

 

All of our machines are covered instore by a 12-month warranty, and a complimentary coffee machine service within 12 months of taking it home.

 

The Best Automatic Coffee Machine

Here at Crema Coffee Garage our first choice for an automatic home coffee machine that does it all is anything made by Jura. That's because these machines produce delicious espresso at the touch of a button, with inbuilt coffee grinders and the delivery of perfectly steamed milk every time. While they do require regular maintenance and cleaning to keep them in tip-top shape, it is well worth the effort to get such a consistently satisfying hit.

Our favourites are the Jura E8, the Jura S8 or the Jura Z6 - and we have sent oodles of them home with satisfied customers. We are an Official Service Outlet for Jura coffee machines, so you know you can always get your machine serviced and repaired by us locally to boot!

Another great option if you're looking for a compact, affordable option is the automatic filter coffee machines. We offer a few different types, and all of them have been thoroughly road-tested in our own Espresso Bar here at Crema Coffee Garage, with batch brew a daily offering for our customers.

They are so easily brewed – set and forget – and the batch of lush coffee they produce is kept hot for hours so you can keep coming back for more. Our current favourites include the Moccamaster Thermal and the Breville Precision Brewer Thermal.

 

 

Rotary Pump Vs Vibration Pump Coffee Machines 

Home coffee machines are typically designed using one of two types of pumps. A rotary pump and a vibration pump. And these pumps are used to circulate hot water through the coffee machine. But there are differences. Both in their operation and the amount of control you have over the machine, and therefore the coffee extraction process.

Vibration pumps are typically cheaper which is great. However, they require a gravity fed water tank to operate, which means they can't be plumbed from your mains water supply, and they can be a little noisier by nature, compared to a rotary pump.

Rotary pumps are a little more advanced, allow better control over the pressure and flow of the water flowing through your coffee machine, they're quieter and often adjustable. This smoother operation and adaptability is often preferred by coffee lovers who are seeking a reliable, high quality coffee flavour from their machine.

 

How can I test drive or try out some of these coffee machines and alternative coffee brews?

For the foreseeable future, customers can still come to our showroom and get a demonstration of all of these coffee machines from our super knowledgeable staff. You can jump in and have a go yourself, to get a feel for whether it’s the right fit for you, and ask us all your questions. All of our staff here have mountains of coffee experience and are here to inspire your ultimate brewing experience. What that means is that we will focus on finding the brewing method and experience that best fits you in every way – we’re not here to upsell or push products you don’t need.

For all of our brewing gear, we offer how-to brewing guides for you to download online, or take home with your gear. If you’re stuck in isolation at home – you can still find a range of great demonstration and how-to videos online on our YouTube channel to support your online purchase – or call us on 02 4969 7422, we love to chat to our customers!

 

What coffee beans should I buy to go with my new home coffee machine?

Our roaster and tasting team currently keeps us well stocked with coffee bean options – we offer 9 different blends, a seasonal blend changed quarterly, and a single origin changed monthly. On top of that, each one of those options has been investigated thoroughly to determine which coffee beans pair best with different types of brewing. We offer a coffee bean subscription to our customers that will ensure beans arrive at your door at your preferred intervals. You have always been able, and will continue to be able to buy our delicious coffee beans online for delivery – never fear! We would never allow your caffeine levels to drop, so don’t hesitate to contact us to get started on your coffee brewing journey.