The Verve’s versatile programming means you can wake up to a freshly-brewed pot of coffee every morning.

That said, I’d argue that freshly ground coffee from a good burr coffee grinder beats pre ground every time.There are both single and double pod holders included, and the twin spout allows you to make two espresso-style shots at once. If you want to switch up the flavour, swap the portafilter for the capsule holder to use Dolce Gusto capsules. After tasting drip coffee, espresso shots, and milk-based drinks (if available), we gave the overall brew quality a score of one to five. Purchasing a separate one ensures the freshest possible roast and, subsequently, the tastiest cup of joe.

The difference between drip coffee and espresso is that drip coffee is brewed slowly by water trickling through coarsely ground coffee beans whereas espresso is brewed quickly under high pressure using finely ground coffee.Filter coffee can also be dispensed into the 10 cup glass jug and a warming plate will keep it warm. The water and the coffee can be loaded from the front thanks to the frontal cover which is pulled forwards.

With intuitive touch controls, a sleek design, and rich, barista-worthy coffee, the Miele CM5300 Countertop Coffee Machine packs luxury into every sip.

When it came time for cleanup, the Espressione's removable frontal water tank and drip tray were both effortless to clean by hand. An integrated cappuccino system allows you to prepare the ultimate creamy cappuccino, and the steam nozzle can also be used to create a multitude of your favourite beverages. In all, this model was one of the best machines overall for its versatility, superiority on the drip coffee side, and ability to produce a cappuccino and latte with that sought-after milk texture. The star of the show in this brilliant combination coffee machine is its 15 bar espresso system, giving you the perfect amount of pressure and flexible functionality to create the ultimate cup of espresso. Chris Hallowell, founder of Turning Point Coffee Roasters was our onsite expert for Lab testing and helped pinpoint the best machines on this list.