We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

It's like having your own personal barista.

There's nothing quite like catching up with friends over a cuppa, and for an effortless barista-style brew at home, you'll need a coffee machine.

But there are lots of styles out there. Choosing the best coffee machine for you is dependent on the drinks you like and the time you want to spend preparing them, and it's not always easy knowing where to start.

House Beautiful's homes expert has put them to the test to find the machines you can trust to serve coffee just the way you like, day in, day out.

There are three main coffee machines to choose from. Here's the lowdown on the java that each one can brew:

As the name suggests, these machines have built-in grinders and can do everything from preparing the bean to steaming milk. The multi-tasking models tend to be pricey, but many have helpful pre-set drinks options that make the entire coffee-making process easy.

For ultimate ease, opt for a pod machine. Simply insert a pod, which is filled with pre-measured coffee grounds, press a button, and wait for your drink to arrive.

These classic machines are for coffee purists. You’ll need to scoop and tamp the coffee grounds and adjust the settings to suit your bean of choice.

Our expert tester made espresso after espresso to find the most reliable and consistent machines. For each drink, they checked the volume of liquid and looked for the presence of a crema (the froth that sits on top of a shot of espresso).

They also tried out any milk steaming features before considering the design of each machine, how easy it was to use and how good it looked on the kitchen counter.

Meet your next coffee maker:

There are many reasons why this Sage bean-to-cup machine deserves that coveted spot in your kitchen; it served the quickest cappuccino on test, its steam wand was speedy, and its espressos stood out for their consistency.

The design mimics that of cafe coffee machines too, while its accessory compartment lets you keep everything tidy. There aren't any pre-set drinks, but it’s a top pick for personalising your morning coffee.

Top of the pods, this sleek and versatile machine is perfect if you want more control. It’s made with speciality coffee in mind, so you can alter the brewing temperature to suit.

It was effortless to use and although it slowed down when extracting our third espresso in a row, the results were deliciously consistent. It’s affordable too, ticking all our boxes.

This espresso machine goes to show that sometimes simplicity is best. With just two settings – steam milk and express coffee – it reliably produced outstanding espressos. They were the perfect temperature and had a consistent crema.

You do need to turn the “express coffee” setting off manually once you’re happy with the quantity of espresso, as it’s not automatic. But it steamed milk well, creating an enjoyable velvety texture.

With a choice of three pre-set drinks – espresso, americano and hot water – and an impeccable track record in our espresso test, this De’Longhi coffee machine is one you can rely on.

It was easy to use and its dosing tool should help reduce wasted coffee grounds, although to accurately dose freshly ground coffee, you’ll have to empty it from the machine and weigh it. Its quick-working steam wand impressed, while the brand also provides extensive guidance online, including a latte art "how-to" on YouTube.

After a statement piece? Then try this chic coffee machine, reminiscent of the sort seen in Italian cafes. It’s compact, delivered consistent, high-quality espressos, and our tester liked the way its pull lever opens and closes the pod compartment. It’s not the fastest to heat up, but it's more than worth the wait.

Control this coffee machine from your phone thanks to its Wi-Fi connectivity and accompanying app. You’ll be spoilt for choice too, with 32 drinks on offer on its programmed menu; our tester enjoyed consistent espressos and well-made flat whites and cappuccinos.

Operating the machine in person was easy thanks to a responsive touch screen, and while its milk steamer made a racket, the grinder was quiet. It’s fiddly to clean but it's a sure-fire investment if you’re after a clever coffee machine.

For a pod machine, this is pricey, but the premium design boasts an LCD screen that makes everything from set-up to drink personalisation easy. It heats up in seconds and has an array of recipes programmed in, too.

Our tester found some of the pre-set volumes weren’t quite right, but you can modify and update the recipes to suit your taste. It’s an elevated pod offering for those that appreciate style as well as substance.

If you love the Smeg aesthetic, this espresso machine is a no-brainer. Its single and double espresso pre-sets put in an excellent performance on test too, serving up drinks at the right temperature and with a consistent crema.

Its bean-to-cup coffee machine also deserves an honourable mention; our tester praised its selection of espresso options and quick cappuccinos. Pick this if you want something a little more automatic than the manual espresso machine.