Bean-to-cup or portafilter machine: which espresso machine suits you?

The difference in one minute

Both machines make espresso: hot water is pushed under pressure through finely ground coffee. The difference is who does what.

The Italian espresso institute INEI describes an espresso as about 7 grams of coffee, water at around 88 °C, about 9 bar of pressure and roughly 25 seconds of brewing for 25 ml in the cup. A portafilter machine lets you adjust those things yourself; a bean-to-cup machine works from the settings you pick in its menu.

What you do yourself with a portafilter machine

A portafilter machine (in Dutch a "pistonmachine") has a portafilter: the handle with a filter basket that you lock into the machine. You grind the beans, dose the coffee into the basket, press it down with a tamper and pull the shot. If it tastes sour or runs too fast, you grind finer; if it is bitter or runs slowly, you grind coarser. That fine-tuning is what enthusiasts enjoy.

There are entry-level models with a thermoblock, such as the De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 and the De'Longhi Classic EM450. Gaggia gives 15 bar of pump pressure for the Classic Evo Pro. At Lelit you find machines with a heat exchanger, such as the MaraX V2, and with two boilers, such as the Elizabeth PL92T, which brew and steam at the same time. If you want the grinder inside, there are models with a built-in grinder, such as the De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo and the Krups XP801T.

What a bean-to-cup machine does for you

A bean-to-cup machine has a bean hopper, a grinder and a brewing unit in one housing. You pick a drink on the display and the machine grinds, doses, tamps and brews. Strength, volume and grind size are set in the menu. Many models also make cappuccino and latte macchiato by themselves, with a milk system that draws up the milk and froths it.

Examples are the Jura E8, the Philips 5500 LatteGo, the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo, the De'Longhi Eletta Explore and the Melitta Barista Smart T. What to look for when you choose one (milk system, grinder, bean hopper, upkeep) is in our guide Choosing a bean-to-cup machine.

Frothing milk

A portafilter machine has a steam wand. You hold the milk jug under it and make the foam yourself; with some practice it gets fine enough for latte art. On a machine with one boiler or a thermoblock you wait a moment between brewing and steaming; a heat exchanger or dual boiler can do both at once.

A bean-to-cup machine usually froths the milk itself, from a carafe or through a tube into the milk carton. You press cappuccino and get coffee and milk in one go. A few bean-to-cup machines only have a steam wand; the product description says so.

Cleaning and upkeep

With a portafilter machine you knock the used grounds out of the portafilter after each cup, rinse the basket and wipe the steam wand straight after use. Now and then you clean the group head with a cleaner made for it.

A bean-to-cup machine collects the grounds in a container and rinses itself when it switches on and off. According to the manuals of Philips, De'Longhi, Siemens and Melitta you take the brewing unit out regularly to rinse it. Jura uses a fixed brewing unit that you clean with cleaning tablets through a programme. Every bean-to-cup machine needs its milk system cleaned after use. Both kinds need descaling; how often depends on how hard your water is. Products for it are under descaling and care.

Space, grinder and what else you need

A bean-to-cup machine is all in one: plug it in, add beans and you are ready. Do measure the height under your wall cupboards, because you fill the bean hopper from the top.

With a portafilter machine without a built-in grinder you need a separate coffee grinder that grinds fine enough for espresso, such as the Eureka Zero 65 or the Smeg CGF03. Also handy: a tamper, a milk jug and a knock box for the grounds. So plan for more space on the worktop.

Which one suits you?

• You want a quick cappuccino in the morning without fuss, or several people at home drink different things: a bean-to-cup machine.
• You want to decide the taste yourself, try different beans and learn latte art: a portafilter machine.
• You are in two minds and want to brew yourself, but without a separate grinder: a portafilter machine with a built-in grinder.

Which beans to use is under coffee beans.