3 coffee machines to avoid in the EOFY sales

If you're looking to perfect your latte art, you'll also be frustrated by this machine's mediocre milk frothing performance. 

At $299, with an overall score of just 47 per cent, the Sunbeam Café Barista is definitely not the smartest way to get your morning fix.

You don't always need to spend a fortune on a coffee machine to get a good cuppa (the Kmart $89 espresso machine is a case in point), but in this instance, you get what you pay for. 

The $99 Nescafe Dolce Gusto Lumio delivers poor-tasting coffee, poor milk frothing and inconsistent temperatures, contributing to an overall score of 49 per cent in our review. 

It's also unpleasant to use, as the coffee can splash during delivery and the unit has no waste storage, meaning you have to remove every capsule manually after use.

Despite using a different capsule system, this machine bears an unpleasant resemblance to the Nescafe Dolce Gusto, with a price point of $99 and an overall score of 49 per cent. 

Just like the Nescafe system, the Espressotoria produces poor-tasting coffee at inconsistent temperatures. 

The machine doesn't come with a milk frother, but we bought the optional Veloce milk frother for $35 and – surprise, surprise – it also did a substandard job.

If you're tossing up between a pod or capsule coffee machine and a manual espresso machine, there are a few factors to consider.

Pod or capsule machines are much easier to use and require very little cleaning. On the other hand, espresso machines require more work but generally have a better depth of flavour and let you make your coffee the way you like it.

But remember, a poor-quality espresso machine can still deliver mediocre flavour, and a badly designed pod or capsule machine can be tricky to use, so make sure you do your research before committing.

For more top tips, visit our coffee machine buying guide.

Written by Grace Smith. Republished with permission of CHOICE.