How we test coffee makers
When you're looking at buying a coffee maker, you'll find yourself wading through technical information and coffee jargon before you've even sipped at your espresso. It's an enthusiastic, never-ending world out there, which is great for connoisseurs, but that can make it hard to navigate as a newbie.
At H&G, we've created a whole process around how we test coffee makers, so that we can treat it like a science, getting geeky when it's needed, but also as an art. We simplify strange phrases that brands adopt and let you know how each different coffee maker will suit different home.
Our tests are standardized across each coffee maker so that we can compare all of the products against each other without bias. If we think a machine is good enough, it’ll go onto our best coffee maker, best espresso machine, best French press, or best pour-over list.
If you're keen to see all the behind-the-scenes, here's all you need to know about how we test coffee makers.
How we choose coffee makers to test
This is where it all begins. We take coffee machines to our specialist kitchen and test the best-on-the-market claims. We like to call in coffee machines for a range of lifestyles because no two coffee drinkers are the same.
We start with basic, compact, affordable options and range up to larger, luxurious coffee machines. We are always looking for new products, innovative features, and useful updates to classic models. We test all the household names, but if a new company comes onto the market, ready to stand up to big brands, we are happy to give them a try. We also test in our homes, which lets us see how these coffee makers stand up in the real world as well as in ideal conditions in our kitchen.
We pride ourselves on our editorial independence. We judge coffee machines purely on their performance and would never accept money to promote a bad coffee machine as the next-best brand. If we love a product, you’ll know about it and you’ll also know that it’s genuine.
In the test kitchen
The experts start in our dedicated kitchen, or right in our own homes. The test kitchen is a great place to line up coffee makers for head-to-head battles and standardized testing, and testing at home lets us see how these machines work in the real world, not just under perfect conditions.
Our team of expert appliance testers are coffee connoisseurs. In my case, I’m even a trained barista. We have experience covering dozens of coffee makers, dedicating time, effort, and lots of caffeine to putting every coffee machine through its paces.
All the appliances start at the same point. We challenge them to make the perfect espresso, a simple Americano, and a creamy cappuccino. If they have extra features and claims, we make thorough notes to ensure that all bases are covered by our test team. The average drinker can taste good or bad coffee, but we know that a really good coffee is subjective. We will assess the qualitative taste and smell of coffee produced by a coffee maker, but we look for qualitative measures too. We test the temperature, time, and amount of coffee made by each machine so that we minimize how much our personal preference will affect a coffee machine’s ranking.
How we test espressos
This is the heart and soul of coffee, so it’s a good place to start. Most coffee makers should be able to make a good espresso and they should make it easy for you to know how to make an espresso too. If a manufacturer recommends a specific type of coffee or pod, we will use them.
In Italian, espresso is linked to the idea of speed. It should be made quickly and drunk quickly, before the crema has time to disappear. With this in mind, we want our espresso to be between 149 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. If it’s too warm, it will burn our mouth. If it’s too cold, we won’t get the aromatic oils from the coffee beans.
Appearance-wise, we want to see a rich crema that’s hazelnut-colored. It should be thick and almost oily. The crema comes from pushing hot water at a high pressure, through the coffee grounds. The process produces smooth bubbles of coffee bean oils, which are the crema. If this is on your espresso, it indicates that your coffee is good quality and that the machine is properly brewing your coffee.
How we test Americanos
‘Just a coffee-coffee’, Americanos are very simple to make (I've written an easy step-by-step guide to making an Americano here). They’re traditional, basic, and another great indicator of quality; there’s nothing to hide behind. Whether it’s a French press or a fancy coffee machine, you should be able to get a good Americano.
A good Americano should have crema on top and be a deep caramel color. The water added to your Americano should be around 200 degrees Fahrenheit, so that it doesn’t burn your espresso, but doesn’t cool it too much either.
How we test cappuccinos
If a machine has milk-frothing capabilities, the cappuccino will test these the best. There are different ways to make a cappuccino, all of which are dependent on the type of coffee maker you buy. Essentially, we want a cappuccino to be made of at least one-third foam. The foam head needs to be thick, glossy, and firm. That way, it will be smooth to drink. We want the coffee to be 149-185 degrees, again, for drinkability.
If the machine foams and integrates your milk into the coffee, we are looking for a seamless blend. We don’t want plain milk and strong coffee; it should be more gradual. We make two of every coffee type to make sure that the machine is consistent.
How we test other coffee types and settings
If a coffee maker has extra settings, we always test these. This might range from personalized coffee blends, to smart features, to self-cleaning methods. These features are often the deciding factor in which appliance you buy, so we want to make sure that they’ve been thoroughly tested.
How we test cleaning
How you clean your coffee maker is as important as how easy it is to use. In our test kitchen, the machines will get some wear. We clean them as you would be expected to in your daily routine. This is a good opportunity to find the fiddly, messy, or awkward aspects of any machine. We’ll find out whether the drip tray leaks, the filter needs a screwdriver to access, or whether it makes any alarming beeping sounds. We also check whether any aspects are dishwasher-safe too.
How we test value for money
Lots of people ask us about price and value for money. One of the most common questions we are faced with is 'why are espresso machines so expensive?'. It's a reasonable ask, which is why we make sure to dive into the details every time we review a coffee maker.
We will look at the cost, warranty, and performance of the coffee maker. If the coffee maker performs fantastically and has a lower price point, it’s perfect. If we feel it’s over-priced, we will note this and take it into account when ranking the best coffee machines. If the machine feels cheap, or doesn’t perform well, we will also take note so that you don’t end up disappointed with the final product.
How we give our verdict
At this point, our espresso experts will have had a lot of coffee. As a result, they have a lot of first-hand experience, plenty to say, and maybe some coffee jitters.
After adding up the scores, we can place this appliance in its appropriate buying guide, or leave it out if it hasn’t made the grade. They’ll advise who this would suit, and who it wouldn’t, and suggest other appliances that you might consider instead. All of this is based on our personal experience and expertise. If you’re unsure on the coffee maker, then our buying guides will help you hone in on the best of the best.
Our coffee expert
To become a Customer Advisor, our experts have to go through a thorough process. These are our proven experts who have hands-on, long-term experience of industry-leading products. They can compare between market-leading brands and have an intricate knowledge of the field. Our e-Commerce editor, Laura Honey, is our coffee Customer Advisor.
She has been through the five-step process, which is as follows:
- Home user: We own a market-leading option, and use it in our home or garden on a regular basis. This means we see how the top products hold up over time, and compare new releases to our top choice.
- Industry expert: We know the market leaders, and stay up to date on their latest releases to make sure we're always in the know.
- Behind the scenes: We've been to a factory or showroom to see how products are made, and experienced the behind-the-scenes of how new products are tested and developed.
- Technical know-how: It's one thing to test a product, but the key to being a customer advisor is knowing how it works. We understand the inner workings of a product and can to explain exactly what makes it so great (or not-so-great).
- Reader awareness: We answer to our readers. Ask us questions, request new product releases, or just let us know what your favorite products are! We want to understand how you shop so we can help.
