Best Coffee Machines for Cappuccinos UK – Top 7 Options

There’s nothing quite like a foamy cappuccino to give your espresso a touch of luxury. This comforting drink is best when you get it from a trained barista who can froth the milk just right.

But it can be a hassle to run to the coffee shop when you’re craving a cappuccino. That’s why home coffee machines are a wise choice.

You might think that they can only make drip coffee. However, nowadays, there are home coffee machines designed to make a wide array of drinks, including cappuccinos or even lattes.

We’ve found a few of the best coffee machines for cappuccinos in the UK, and we’ll show you what we’ve found.

What to Remember When Buying a Coffee Machine for Cappuccinos

Water Tank Capacity

The majority of home coffee machines have water tanks in them. As the water runs low, you need to pour more in in order to keep making drinks.

In other words, if you’re making a lot of drinks, you’ll need to refill the water tank more often…unless the water tank is larger. If the water tank can hold more water, you won’t need to run to the sink for another refill too frequently.

Determine if you think you’ll need to use more or less water. This will depend on how much you think you’ll use the machine, or if you’ll be sharing it with other people in the house.

If you’re going to use it often, you may prefer to have a larger water tank so you don’t need to drop everything you’re doing to get water a lot.

Coffee Machine vs Espresso Machine

The machines used to make coffee and espresso are typically different. A traditional espresso machine, like the one you’d see at your favourite coffee shop, extracts the espresso at a higher pressure than the standard drip coffee machine.

On the side, an espresso machine has a milk steaming wand that allows the barista to froth milk to perfection. Skill and expertise is necessary to use an espresso machine properly.

The traditional coffee maker, on the other hand, brews at a weaker pressure and doesn’t usually have a milk steamer. However, there are more coffee machines these days that can make a wider variety of drinks. These will often have some kind of attachment for frothing milk automatically for you.

If you want the traditional espresso experience, then you’ll need to get an espresso machine. Keep in mind, though, that they are harder to learn to use.

An automatic coffee machine that makes cappuccinos will be easier to use, but will not give you an authentic high-end espresso experience.

Grounds Compatibility

In most coffee machines, you can either use coffee grounds or pods. There are advantages to either approach.

Pods contain a pre-measured amount of grounds in them, so they’re better for novices. You don’t have to fuss with a grinder or measure out the amount of coffee. There are two drawbacks to them, though: they’re not as fresh as grounds, and they can get expensive over time.

Grinding your own coffee rather than buying coffee grounds is the best way to guarantee your drinks taste fresh. However, this does mean you have to purchase a grinder of your own, which adds to your expenses.

Furthermore, if you’re grinding your own coffee, you might not be able to use an automatic coffee machine that makes cappuccinos. They tend to be compatible with pods. That means you’d likely need to consider using an espresso machine, which takes some practise getting used to.

Drink Variety

Is a cappuccino the only drink you’re ever going to make on your coffee machine? We’d be willing to bet that’s probably not the case, because moods change from day to day.

Odds are, you’ll want to try another drink eventually when you get sick of cappuccinos. Even if you don’t think it’s possible for you to get tired of cappuccinos, if you’re sharing the coffee machine with friends or family, there’s a chance they’ll want a different drink.

This is why the machine’s drink variety is important. More choices are generally better, because you’ll then have plenty of options to choose from every time you want a drink.

With espresso machines, you’re limited to espresso-based drinks. On the other hand, coffee machines that used flavoured pods often have an enormous variety of beverages, including teas and hot chocolate.

Best Coffee Machines for Cappuccinos

The De’Longhi Dedica Coffee Machine is the choice for you if what you want is a more traditional espresso experience. Capable of brewing up to 15 bars of pressure (which is the norm in coffee shops) and with a frother on the side, you’ll be able to craft traditional espresso shots on this machine.

Interestingly, it’s compatible both with fresh grounds and espresso pods. That means this machine can be as challenging or easy to use as you want it to be.

Even if you’re using fresh grounds, though, the button operation makes this machine simple. Once you’ve got your espresso in the portafilter, just choose the button for a single or double-shot and wait for the machine to extract it for you.

Pros:

• Three different colour choices to suit a variety of kitchens.

• Warms up in 35 seconds after you turn it on.

• Built-in milk steamer that allows you to froth milk to perfection.

• Anti-drip design prevents the machine from making a mess on your countertops.

• Compatible with espresso pods or grounds.

• Simple three-button operation.

Cons:

• Will take some time and practise to learn to use.

What if you don’t have the time or patience to master using an espresso machine? That’s okay, because there are coffee machines like the Nescafe Dolce Gusto Mini Me Coffee Machine.

This sleek, modern-looking machine makes your morning cappuccino a snap. You just choose the pod for the flavour you want, insert it, then let the Dolce Gusto take care of the rest.

There are over forty different types of pods to choose from. With all these choices, you’re bound to find a flavour that fits your craving at any time. These varieties are easily available in supermarkets everywhere, too, so it’s not a struggle to find more when you run out.

Pros:

• Uses effortless pods.

• Over forty types of pod flavours to choose from.

• Up to fifteen bars of brewing pressure, just like in a café.

• Coffee grounds stay in the pod at all times, so no cleaning up messy grounds.

• Low maintenance – you only need to wipe down the machine and rinse the capsule holder periodically.

Cons:

• Despite being called “mini,” some felt that this machine was larger than expected.

At 1.3 litres, the water tank in this Bosch Multi-Drink Dispenser is perfect for making a few drinks in a row. You won’t find yourself needing to stop frequently to dump in more water, which is ideal for households filled with coffee lovers.

When you do need to add water, you can pull out the water tank. This makes refilling it comfortable, as you can just carry it to your sink for a refill instead of trying to pour cups of water into the machine itself.

It takes easy pods, and is operated through equally easy button controls. The possibilities are wide, so it can make much more than cappuccinos. Americanos, macchiatos, and hot chocolate are just a few examples of things you can make on this machine.

Pros:

• Can make a large range of drinks.

• Compatible with beginner-friendly pods.

• Has an impressive 1.3-litre water tank capacity.

• Easy-to-understand button controls.

• The adjustable cup stand can fit cups of all sizes.

Cons:

• None reported yet.

If you asked us for the easiest-to-use coffee machine out there, we’d show you something like the De’Longhi Magnifica S. Aside from looking absolutely stunning, this is as effortless as a cappuccino gets.

It’s controlled entirely by touch, through the crisp panel on the front. To the side, there’s a built-in milk frother that creates perfectly creamy foam time after time for the most luxurious cappuccinos.

It can even clean some parts of itself for you. Any part that touches milk is automatically cleaned with steam and hot water whenever you activate the cleaning system.

Best of all, you can make two drinks at a time on it. Its double spout allows you to make twice the espresso, so you can share a soothing cup in the morning with your loved ones.

Pros:

• Gorgeous design.

• Can make twice the espresso.

• Has a built-in grinder so you can have fresh coffee made to order.

• The frother will make creamy foam every time.

• Easy touch operation.

• Includes a cleaning system that cleans all parts that touch milk for you.

• Lets you tweak the temperature of the coffee so it’s perfect for you every time.

Cons:

• The metal drip tray gets easily scratched.

Worried you don’t have the space on your countertop for a coffee machine? The Nespresso Essenza Mini is exactly what you need.

Like the name implies, it’s got a remarkably small footprint. You don’t need a lot of space to make creamy and foamy cappuccinos when you’ve got the Essenza Mini.

Plus, it heats up in just 25 seconds. In other words, you can get to brewing your cappuccino as soon as possible once you turn it on.

Pros:

• Rapid warmup time.

• Mini size to fit in on even the most crowded counters.

• Has an energy-saving mode that activates after three minutes of inactivity automatically. After nine minutes, the machine will turn itself off.

• Includes the aeroccino frother, which froths your milk for you.

• Available in three colours.

Cons:

• Its diminutive size means it can’t hold as much water in its tank.

The Melitta Barista TS Smart Coffee Machine has a very fitting name. It’s like having a miniature barista sitting on your counter at home.

It has twenty-one different coffee recipes programmed into it. You can customise each one through the companion Melitta Connect App to make a truly personal drink each time.

Furthermore, it can save the preferences of up to eight different people. That means it’s ideal for families of coffee fans that all have their own unique tastes.

You can also adjust the strength of your coffee with over five settings. Each cup can be as intense or mild as you want it to be depending on your mood.

Pros:

• Exquisite polished appearance.

• Comes with an app that lets you personalise each drink.

• Can make 21 different coffee recipes.

• Saves the preferences of up to eight people.

• Has an automatic cleaning and descaling system.

• The built-in grinder runs quietly, so you won’t disrupt anyone.

• Holds almost 2 litres of water in its tank. Refills will be few and far between.

Cons:

• There are some reports that the app isn’t very functional.

• Can be expensive.

If you’re truly passionate about espresso and want to dabble in making it on an espresso machine, the Klarstein Passionata Rossa is an excellent choice. Its fiery red colour make it stand apart visually from any other espresso machine.

It has up to 15 bars of pressure, just like a machine in a café. If you master its use, you’ll no doubt have a cup that tastes like it was crafted by the best baristas.

Pros:

• Aesthetically pleasing and elegant.

• Up to 15 bars of pressure, which is the standard for professional espresso machines.

• The water tank can hold a decent amount of water at 1.25 litres.

• Compatible with both espresso grounds and pods.

• Made with durable stainless steel components.

• Non-slip rubber pads on the bottom will keep it firmly in place.

Cons:

• Has a steeper learning curve than other machines on this list.

• You can only make one cup at a time on it.