A coffee a day can slowly eat away at your bank account. Imagine paying $4 a day for 250 business days each year, that's over $1,000.
So what are savvy savers doing? They are buying coffee capsules, that cost as low as $79 and work with coffee capsules that often cost less than $1 per pod.
The savings are incredible, so today we decided to look at our top picks for the best coffee capsule machines available to buy here in Australia.
Most coffee pods work in different branded machines, although you may need an adaptor so check how easy you can buy the pods, before settling on a machine.
1. Delonghi Nespresso Essenza Mini
The Delonghi Nespresso Essenza Mini capsule coffee machine makes that small ritual in the morning possible for everyone anywhere.
Compact, pure and sleek the Essenza Mini gives you all that you need without any compromises on taste. With two programmable cup sizes (Espresso and Lungo) the machine is so intuitive to use that you’ll feel right at home with it as soon as you’ve unpacked it.
With a tiny footprint and weighing only 2.3kgs, the Essenza Mini will fit into any space. It has a delightful curvy design with a minimalist charm and style. You have a choice of wonderfully fun colours in addition to the staple white or black.
Your favourite cup of fresh coffee (milk based or classic coffee) will be ready in minutes thanks to the high-pressure pump and super quick heat-up system. The water tank holds 0.6 litres, sufficient for two people.
The Aeroccino frothing system allows you to create wonderful milk recipes. Or you can make tea if that’s your hot drink of choice at the time.
The coffee you will receive from this tiny machine will be of barista quality every time because of the high-pressure pump which extracts all the delicate flavours and aromas from the capsules and creates a perfect crema predictably and reliably each and every time.
Each machine includes as a Thank You and Welcome Pack a range of Nespresso capsules for you to explore and enjoy the different flavours on offer, all hermetically sealed and in recyclable packaging. You can trust Delonghi and you can trust Nespresso.
2. Nescafé Dolce Gusto Infinissima Automatic
Coffee pods machines are an inexpensive and convenient way to make a café quality coffee at home or at work.
The rapid 20-second heat-up of the Nescafe Infinissima coffee capsule machine will help you move through your busy day from beginning to end, and the larger than normal water tank (1.2 litres or 4 cups) means that you can make coffee for guests without needing to refill the tank each time. The tank is clear so refilling is easy.
You will appreciate the professional standard creamy coffees, hot or cold, that you can create so quickly and easily with this compact machine. With more than ten flavours the capsules are hermetically sealed for freshness and longevity.
You will have a choice of 15 different coffee styles including espresso, latte, cappuccino, or macchiato. Tea, hot chocolate and cold drinks are also options, all available in pods.
The design includes a descaling alert and auto shut-off after 5 minutes for energy saving and safety. It is made from a quality plastic which is lightweight for easy portability around the kitchen or your office, even your desk. The machine itself is a stylish black and looks great in any setting, home or office.
3. DeLonghi Nespresso Expert & Milk
Wanting a coffee capsule machine with a bit more to offer than the simple manual compact versions that are mostly on offer on the market?
The Delonghi Nespresso Expert is an intelligent coffee capsule machine which communicates with your Smartphone via Connectivity with the Nespresso App, available on Apple Store and Google Play.
Named the Long Coffee Recipe the app allows you to personalise your coffee temperature, volume and sequence from your phone, for example from your bed just before you get up.
The design of the Nespresso Expert mimics a barista style machine by being a flat to the wall with a stylish brushed aluminium finish and shiny details.
It has a LED display to let you know when its capsule supply is low or empty or when the water tank needs refilling. It has a 9-minute auto standby for energy efficiency and safety. Both water and milk tanks can be removed for cleaning and filling, and stored in the refrigerator if desired.
The Expert has volume settings for different coffee types, for example 25ml for Ristretto, 40ml for Espresso, 150ml for Americano and so on.
And 3 temperature settings to suit the different volumes. Or create a longer coffee and water with the App. It has an integrated Aeroccino for smooth frothy crema. All in all, a step up from basic capsule machines with some very appealing features.
4. Nescafé Dolce Gusto Genio 2
The Dolce Gusto Genio 2 automatic coffee capsule machine from Nescafe is an ultra-compact appliance which will fit in any size kitchen or workspace.
With a 15 bar pressure system it creates the perfect professional style coffee for every taste with a beautifully thick velvety crema.
Choose from over 16 flavour choices to create the coffee of your choice, fresh every time from hermetically sealed capsules. Tea and chocolate are also available.
The LED display lets you easily select your cup size and temperature (hot and cold are both available).
The display also features a descaling alert and an auto shut off for energy efficiency and safety. It is a very simple design which is very easy to clean.
The Genio 2 is a great little coffee capsule machine for everyday use. It’s so compact and light that you can easily take it to work and sit it on your desk.
Some people have even said they take it camping or when away and staying in hotels! There is plenty of choices in the pods to suit pretty well everyone’s tastes.
Or to just have a variety of flavours during the day. And the capsules themselves are easily purchased in supermarkets or online.
5. Delonghi Dolce Gusto Eclipse
Styled as an eye-catching loop, this space-age kitchen appliance is certainly something to look at. The Delonghi Dolce Gusto Eclipse is an upscale capsule coffee machine which offers a little more than is usual in these products.
This is a multi-beverage machine which is both innovative and versatile. To start with the obvious, it looks simply amazing! And its looks are matched by its features.
It is not only stylish, it is solidly constructed from premium materials. A really solid quality feel.
With some fun as well – for example the neck of the Eclipse swings across to reveal the pourer and pod draw.
And it has an impressive touch screen which provides an intuitive interface for you to prepare beverages of your choice with absolute ease. This screen also alerts you to descaling, empty pods and auto shutoff.
What is very different about the Eclipse is that you can use more than one pod at once to create drinks of your own invention, hot or cold.
You select the water temperature and volume, insert the pod, or pods, of your choice and select ON. The machine takes it from there.
The temperature of the drinks which come out of the Eclipse is piping hot so you can choose to add extra milk or water or make the temperature cooler.
Many people love and comment on this feature. This is an elegant appliance with some very appealing features.
Where to buy coffee capsules?
Here in Australia, most of the brands selling their own coffee capsule machines, have websites where you can purchase pods online. Some of these have sales, such as EOFY to be sure to shop around before buying.
Additionally some supermarkets such as Woolworths, Coles and Aldi will sell them, or their own homebrand offerings.
Most coffee capsules are similar in size, but you will likely need an adaptor if buying pods from other brands. Some brands offer adaptors but most don't so be sure to checkout eBay.
Related: French Coffee Presses
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Last Updated: December 3, 2021 by Rhys