Reviews
Every review on the bench
Newest first by default. Filter by type or price, or re-sort by price or Bench Score. All 17 reviews are listed below.
17 of 17 shown
Smeg ECF01
Smeg's retro-styled manual pump machine, matching the 1950s look of its fridges and kettles, with a 15 bar pump, a Thermoblock heater and a steam wand. It takes ground coffee or ESE pods through a 51 mm portafilter. It is the original of Smeg's manual range, now sitting below the restyled ECF02 and the 58 mm ECF03.
Fellow Espresso Series 1
Fellow's first espresso machine, a 58 mm semi-automatic that brings programmable pressure profiling and digital temperature control down to a 1,500 dollar price. Its Boosted Boiler runs three heating elements to reach brew temperature in under two minutes, and the steam wand senses milk temperature and stops itself at your target.
Philips Baristina
Philips Baristina (model BAR300/60) is a compact bean-to-cup machine that does the grinding and tamping for you, then brews, all from one swipe of the portafilter. A ceramic burr grinder feeds a 16 bar pump, and the body is about as wide as a pod maker. Milk is not part of the package, so Philips sells a separate automatic frother.
Ninja AutoBarista Pro
Ninja's first fully automatic bean-to-cup machine (model AE1051). It grinds, doses by weight, brews and froths milk at one touch across 13 drink presets, and carries two swappable bean hoppers so you can switch roasts without emptying the grinder.
Ninja Luxe Café Premier
Ninja's 3-in-1 machine (ES601) makes espresso, drip and cold brew from one body, with a built-in conical burr grinder, a built-in dosing scale and a hands-free automatic milk frother.
CasaBrews 3700
A compact budget espresso machine sold direct and on Amazon, with a stainless body, a Thermoblock heater and a steam wand. It comes in an Essential version with a 51 mm portafilter and a GENSE version with a 58 mm portafilter and pressure gauge.
Gevi 20 Bar Espresso Machine
A compact entry-level espresso machine with a 20 bar pump, a 1350 W Thermoblock that heats in about 45 seconds, and a rotating steam wand for milk. Most models use a 51 mm portafilter.
Breville Bambino Plus
A compact single-boiler espresso machine that uses Breville's fast ThermoJet heating system and an automatic steam wand to froth milk hands-free.
Breville Barista Express
An all-in-one espresso machine with an integrated conical burr grinder, letting you grind, dose and brew from one unit.
Gaggia Classic Pro
A long-running Italian single-boiler machine with a commercial-size 58 mm portafilter, popular with enthusiasts who want to learn manual espresso and tinker.
De'Longhi Stilosa
An entry-level manual pump espresso machine aimed at people trying real espresso for the first time on a tight budget.
De'Longhi Magnifica
A fully automatic bean-to-cup machine that grinds, doses and brews at the push of a button, prioritising convenience over manual control.
Baratza Encore
An entry-level conical burr grinder that grinds consistently enough for drip and pour-over. Baratza sells every replacement part, so a worn Encore gets fixed, not binned.
Breville Barista Pro
The step up from the Barista Express: the same all-in-one grind-and-brew format with a faster ThermoJet heating system and an LCD interface in place of analogue dials.
Rancilio Silvia
Rancilio has built the Silvia since 1997 with parts borrowed from its commercial line, including a brass boiler and the 58 mm portafilter size used in cafés.
AeroPress
A plastic immersion-and-pressure brewer that makes a clean, full-bodied cup in about ninety seconds, and has become a travel and office favourite.
Hario V60
Hario's cone-shaped dripper, named for its 60-degree angle. One large hole and spiral ribs put flow rate in the brewer's hands rather than the dripper's.