Top 5 coffee makers of 2023

The advantages of the model are reflected in the title of this section: the coffee maker has very small dimensions and at the same time it automatically – literally at the press of a button – prepares cappuccino and latte. And now more about its testing.

The coffee maker is controlled using electronic buttons, which makes the process very simple. Each drink (espresso, double espresso, latte, cappuccino and milk foam, for example, for cappuccino) is launched with a corresponding button, indicated by a clear icon. If the milk tank is not connected to the coffee maker (it can be put in the refrigerator and stored on the door), then the latte, espresso and milk foam buttons are not active — thus, it is almost impossible to make a mistake in choosing a drink. In this case, the user can adjust the volume of coffee and milk portions for all preset recipes. There is also a mode for pre-soaking the coffee tablet in the cone. The espresso temperature is 69 °C, which is not ideal, but still pretty good.

For more correct preparation of cappuccino, it is recommended to use the milk foam mode. This means that you should first prepare the espresso and then add the milk foam to the same cup (in the automatic cappuccino mode, the opposite is true: the milk foam is prepared first, then the coffee). The notification about the lack of water comes at the moment when there is no longer enough water to complete the process, and not in advance. Therefore, it is important to check the presence of water before preparing the drink in order to avoid a situation where, during the preparation of the latte, you may be left with milk foam, but without coffee.

A coffee maker with a multi-capsule function and a built-in coffee grinder may seem a little paradoxical at first glance. However, when we took a closer look at its capabilities, everything became clearer.

The coffee maker has the versatility of making coffee from Dolce Gusto and Nespresso Original capsules, as well as allowing you to enjoy espresso and espresso-based drinks by grinding coffee from both beans and ground coffee inside the device. It allows you to adjust the preparation time of the drink to regulate its volume and strength. The coffee grinder inside the coffee maker has the ability to adjust the grind fineness to 15 levels, which provides a lot of choice for users.

The quality of the coffee from the capsules was rated as excellent, but when using the cone the result was only rated as good due to the coffee not being hot enough. Overall, the built-in coffee grinder works great, and using the coffee maker turned out to be simple and convenient. Another advantage of the device is the large volume of the water tank — 2 liters, which is a big plus.

The coffee maker does not have a compartment for used capsules, so it is necessary to empty it after each use of a capsule or cone. This can reduce the benefits of expensive capsules, as automation and speed of use are lost due to the need to clean the device.

The double bottom coffee filter used in a carob coffee maker aims to average out the taste and consistency of the espresso. In inexpensive models, this has a logical basis when using non-ideal coffee grinding. However, in a model with a burr grinder this may seem a little strange.

Regarding power consumption measurements, if they show a discrepancy with the declared data, this may be an ambiguous factor when assessing the efficiency of the device.

The Polaris PCM 1540 coffee maker has several differences in functionality from the previous model. Unlike the previous version, this model is not equipped with a coffee grinder, but has an automatic cappuccino maker. However, it retains two similar capabilities to the previous model: preparing coffee using Dolce Gusto and Nespresso capsules, as well as from ground coffee. In addition, judging by the model name, this coffee maker can be controlled remotely through the Polaris IQ Home application.

The Polaris PCM 1540 coffee maker provides simple and intuitive control through a panel of buttons that provide the ability to select from several servings of coffee and self-cleaning. Additionally, the Polaris IQ Home app expands functionality by allowing you to create new recipes, save settings, and control your coffee maker remotely.

There is a convenient pre-wetting function, as well as active heating of the upper platform for heating cups. The coffee maker's filter holder is compatible with both ground coffee and Nespresso and Dolce Gusto capsules, making it easy to use. Test results for drinks with milk foam are rated as excellent, especially cappuccino, which is prepared in the correct sequence, first espresso, then milk foam. The high quality of the prepared espresso is also noted.

When preparing espresso, some issues arose related to the temperature of the finished drink, which turned out to be lower than expected.

The coffee maker is a simple and high-quality device that is perfect for the budget segment. During testing, no noticeable flaws were found, except for those that are typical of most affordable carob coffee makers.

The coffee maker has an elegant design and high-quality assembly, which boded well during testing, and expectations were not disappointed. Among the important functions is the ability to pre-wet the coffee tablet and regulate the preparation time of the drink, which affects the strength and taste. The espresso temperature is quite high — 71°C in a cold cup, which was a pleasant surprise. It is also worth noting the presence of cup heating (passive on the lid), good power of the device, corresponding to the declared one, and efficient operation of the cappuccino maker. The removable water tank is easy to clean, which is also a plus.

The shot produced using the standard espresso settings was quite large, more reminiscent of a lungo than an espresso (however, this can be changed using the manual mode). In addition, the foam of the drink turns out to be too airy and not dense enough, which is a typical drawback for most inexpensive carob coffee makers due to the use of a double bottom filter-carob.

The characteristic features of this device, which make it possible to classify it as the best, are most likely determined not by its noticeable advantages, but by the unique concept conceived by the manufacturer. Imagine a couple just starting out together where one spouse likes to make a quick espresso in the morning, while the other prefers the slow process of brewing coffee using a drip maker, doing it while the other partner is still getting ready for the day. What to do in this situation: buy two separate coffee machines? The Kitfort company assumed that there may be quite a few families with such conflicting preferences, and created a fairly large (345x320x366 mm) and weighty (5.5 kg) 2-in-1 device.

From the very beginning, it became clear that this was not a sophisticated technological integration, but simply a combination of two separate devices in one housing. For this reason, they were tested separately from each other.

The operation of the coffee maker is simple, and the drip part has a display that shows the coffee preparation process. The options for preparing espresso, Americano, milk foam for cappuccino (using a manual cappuccino maker with a Panarello nozzle) and drip coffee are carried out as standard: everything is intuitive and difficult to make a mistake. The espresso experience can be improved by using the pre-infusion mode, which improves the quality of the drink. The drip part of the coffee maker has the ability to set the preparation time and the function of keeping the finished coffee warm for up to 4 hours. The maximum espresso cup height is 12.5 cm, allowing you to use your favorite large mugs.

The quality of the materials used in the coffee maker raises certain doubts — both the plastic and the metal from which the components of the brewing group of the carob coffee maker are made leave much to be desired (despite the manufacturer’s claims about the use of stainless steel). In general, the appearance of the device leaves the impression of being quite budget-friendly. Fixed water containers make cleaning difficult, and water can only be drained from the reservoirs by running water through the system or by turning the unit over. The height required for easy access (for example, to open the lid of a drip coffee maker) is a full 56 cm above the worktop. It was also noted that the finished espresso was cooler than expected.

Our tests not only show the nuances of the operation of each coffee maker, but also give an idea of the budget and mid-price segments of coffee makers in general: what they can do and what they can’t do, what common design flaws are typical for them. We hope that we have helped, if not with choosing a device, then with an understanding of what you expect from a coffee maker and what is completely unacceptable for you.