Ask anyone their favourite part of the morning, and you’ll almost always be told, ‘going to get my coffee,’ plus there’s a pretty good chance you’d also agree. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that starting the day with a cafe coffee is mood-lifter for just about everyone, but for a price upwards of $5 per cup, it can get a little much from time to time.

Think back to the last time you ran out of the house, on your way to school, work or university and didn’t have time to make your coffee. There’s a good chance you just had no time to sit and brew one that tasted nowhere near as good as a barista-made variant.

If that sounds like you, we’re happy to say that with pod coffee machines getting better in what seemingly feels like every day, there’s a fantastic alternative. Invest in a pod machine, and say hello to barista-level coffee with no effort, and for far less.

We know there are a tonne of coffee pod machines on the market, and it can be just about impossible to know which one to choose — so we’ve done the work for you. We looked into the taste, price point, reliability, speed and more to ensure you’ll be getting the best-tasting coffee at home.

Have a look below at our list of best coffee pod machines in Australia.

TL;DR

If you’re rushing out the door and need our top choices right now, take a look here. These models are your ideal for price, taste and reliability.

DeLonghi Nespresso Lattissima Pro EN750MB

For a coffee pod machine that’s undoubtedly the best of the best, the Nespresso Lattissima Pro EN750MB has to land at the top of your list. With everything you’d need, including an auto-clean feature, milk frother and a tonne of coffee pod flavours to choose from, this machine outputs the best alternative to an authentic barista-made coffee.

As a somewhat high-end machine, the Lattissima Pro is going to give you a great experience as well as great coffee and using it may just be the highlight of your morning.

Top Features

• Milk Frother
• Auto-clean Feature
• More Pod Flavours than Most
• 25 Seconds Heat-up Time
• Holds 15 Pods

Get This One If… you’re in need of a coffee pod machine that challenges even the best cafes, is easy to clean and won’t slow you down in the morning.

DeLonghi Essenza Mini

Another variant from DeLonghi, the Essenza Mini is an affordable all-rounder for coffee lovers. It’s relatively small, has a milk frother and settings to adjust flavour intensity and espresso pressure. Being a Nespresso model, you’re able to make use of all the flavours available for the higher-end models too. 

At a relatively lower price point than the competitors, the Essenza Mini is your best bet at saving a tonne off of your daily cafe visit. The machine brews great tasing coffee, for a lot less than some similar models. 

Top Features

• 2 Cup Sizes
• All Nespresso Pods
• Milk Frother
• Auto-eco Mode
• Compact Size

Get This One If… you’re in need of an affordable, compact coffee pod machine that’s still got a great pod selection. 

Our Selection and Review Process

As Australians, we love our coffee, and that helped greatly with the selection and review process for all of the machines on our list. Readers and customers love to be vocal about coffee machines, which enabled us to gauge which machines stood out from the crowd, and which were more loved than others.

To get a professional insight, we also turned to industry review panels that undertook an in-depth analysis of the pod machines to determine longevity, reliability and more. We know there’s nothing worse than a coffee pod machine that doesn’t make you a hot, tasty brew in the morning, so we did everything we could to vet these types of models out.

Once we’d determined the best models from a feature standpoint, we then moved on to the pod availability, flavours and quality. At the end of the day, a coffee pod machine is only as good as the flavours that are available with it, so these were taken into account and judged based on overall consumer response and reviews.

For the morning rush, we also understand just how important efficiency is to our readers. No one wants to be stuck wiping up and rinsing their pod machines and be late for their morning commute. That said, all models of coffee pod machine on our list are fast operating, either self-cleaning or easy to clean and brew coffee as quickly as possible.

To end, we determined that the price point must come in affordably, or at least offer excellent value for money. Most of us would invest in a coffee pod machine to save some cash by avoiding the cafe, so we’ve selected machines that give you the most bang for your buck. 

The Best Coffee Pod Machines Overall

• DeLonghi Nespresso Lattissima Pro EN750MB
• DeLonghi Essenza Mini
• ALDI Expressi Multi Beverage Capsule Machine
• Caffitaly System S24
• Breville Nespresso Creatista Plus BNE800

DeLonghi Nespresso Lattissima Pro EN750MB

To kick things off, the DeLonghi Nespresso Lattissima Pro EN750MB is the ultimate partner for your morning coffee in almost every sense. It’s got a fantastic pod selection, can hold a substantial 15 used capsules and its self-cleaning option means you’re out the door right after your coffee’s brewed. To add, there’s an ultra-short 25 second heat-up time that gets you on the road faster, and there’s a milk frother for those of us who live for a genuine-looking barista-made coffee.

DeLonghi has patented a fantastic Rapid Cappuccino System which is essentially the company’s way of offering an authentic, tasty and foamy coffee. Reviewers also made it clear that there’s just about nothing that competes with the Lattissima Pro’s ‘excellent job of frothing the milk.’

In line with experience, there’s an excellent touchpad, beverage menu that includes six drinks, and it even gives you the option to use the machine to boil water quickly.

You’ll find a 1.3L tank built into the machine, making it the best option for you if you’re a big coffee drinker and don’t always want to be stopped to fill up the reservoir. You’ll notice a 19-bar pressure pump for optimal brewing, so for those who are looking for a fantastic taste, the Lattissima Pro has your back.

There are also some tremendous secondary features too, such as the automatic shutdown option which keeps you from wasting power. The design of the machine is also much-loved considering it mimics cafe coffee machines, adding a dash of style to the countertop.

Standout Features

• 15 Used Capsule Capacity
• 25 Second Heat-up
• Automatic Off
• Milk Frother
• Large Pod Selection
• Huge 1.3L Water Reservoir

Price and Stats

Sitting at $600, the Lattissima Pro is a little on the pricier side, though for the experience, ease of use and automatic cleaning there’s little that comes close to this machine. This model has incredible reviews all around, and with a 2-year warranty, you’re covered for any issues. 

DeLonghi Essenza Mini

The close relative to the Lattissima Pro, the Essenza Mini offers a tonne of great features to kickstart your morning, though for a more affordable price. One of the biggest perks of the Essenza Mini is that it’s very compact, easy to use and gets you a fresh cup of coffee served in a short amount of time. It’s also one of the only compact pod machines with a milk frother – the Aeroccino milk frother.

There are only 2 cup sizes options available with the Essenza Mini, a 40ml and 110ml, though as these are standard, there shouldn’t be too much of an issue. To add to these sizes, the Essenza Mini has customisable flavour intensity settings, a big exclusive from DeLonghi. You’ll be able to adjust the flavour of your morning cup of Joe to suit your mood by adjusting the pressure and brew time.

Another standout feature of this affordable model is the milk frother which can be hot or cold, and will undoubtedly add to the authenticity of your morning coffee.

For those times when you’re in a rush, the Essenza Mini can heat up in 25 seconds, brew in just a few more and automatically switch to an eco mode within 3 minutes if you’ve rushed out the door and forgot to switch it off. After 9 minutes, the coffee pod machine will then switch itself off.

Where this machine one-ups the Lattissima Pro is in its size. As it’s so small, and a single brew machine you’ll be able to find a space for it just about anywhere in the kitchen. It does hold a handy six used capsules in the machine, though if you’re a routine coffee drinker, you’ll need to empty it quite often.

Lastly, being a Nespresso branded pod machine, you’re able to get your hands on the massive range of flavours available for all of the other models. 

Standout Features

• Auto-eco Mode and Shutdown
• Holds up to 6 Used Pods
• 25 Second Heat Up
• Easy to Use
• Simple to Clean

Price and Stats

The Essenza Mini costs around $200, which makes it an affordable coffee-making powerhouse, and with a 2-year warranty you’re in the all-clear if you ever need to replace any of the parts. Aussies seem to love the model too, with 4.5 to 4.7 stars being common across the board.

ALDI Expressi Multi Beverage Capsule Machine

The ultimate pod machine for the coffee addict is undoubtedly ALDI’s Expressi Multi Beverage Capsule Machine that offers everything you need for making a fantastic, genuine cup of coffee before work. There’s a tonne of flavour pods to choose from, and the machine’s easy-to-clean minimal design and fast brew times mean you’re out the door as fast as possible.

This machine comes with a 19-bar high-pressure pump, which is found in most high-end models along with a 0.8L water reservoir. With that in mind, there’s enough capacity for a few coffees each day before a refill, though at under a litre it’s a little less ideal than most.

One surprising feature we’re happy to say the ALDI Expressi Multi Beverage Capsule Machine includes is an auto-clean feature. An almost unheard of feature at this price point, you’ll be able to leave the machine to do the internal cleaning for you, while you continue with your day.

It’s good to note that the ALDI Expressi is a little larger than some other models, so you may need to make a specific space for it in your kitchen, though it isn’t quite as heavy or large as some other models. You’ll either love or hate the design of this coffee pod machine, with its large squared-off edges. Though in a dark-toned kitchen, or a modern, minimal one, we think it has a chance of being a feature item.

There’s an easy 3-button setup for making your coffee, and the auto-off feature makes sure you’re not wasting electricity should you forget to switch it off.

The coffee pod selection is also reasonably good, with 12 available at the time of writing, which means there’s bound to be a few you’ll really like. It’s also good to note that the ALDI pods are some of the most affordable on the market, at 37 cents, massively undercutting your local cafe if you’re a fan of these pods.

Standout Features

• Very Affordable
• Auto-off Features
• 3 Cup Sizes
• 0.8L Tank
• 19-bar Pressure Pump
• Modern Design

Price and Stats

Coming it at only $79.99, there’s little to no competition at this point, at least for a dependable pod coffee machine like the ALDI Expressi Multi Beverage Capsule Machine. You’ll find a 2-year warranty included here as well as thousands of happy customers to join.

Caffitaly System S24

A second ultra-affordable pod coffee machine we’d like to recommend is the Caffitaly System S24 thanks to its better-than-ALDI design and ability to brew in two sizes. You’re also free to adjust your brew as you’d like by adding more or less hot water.

The brew sizes offered by the S24 are standard 30ml and 60ml espressos, which, again, can be adjusted as you see fit by adding more water or brew. There’s a great 15-bar pressure pump, though this may be a dealbreaker if you’re more partial to the 19-bar models.

You’ll also find an optimal 1L water reservoir on the System S24 which means you won’t be stuck refilling the machine too often. There’s an eight capacity used capsule holder too, so you’ll be good to go for at least a few days without having to empty the machine.

We’re also happy to say that this model is designed to be compact and fit snuggly in any kitchen, so you’ll not need to do much rearranging for this one. There’s a downside to this though, and that’s the small size not allowing for a milk frother. Though at such a low price like the S24, that isn’t too much of a surprise.

Lastly, you’ll be locked to Caffitaly’s pods, which might also be an issue if you’re looking for a model that will let you branch out into third-party pods. However, the capsules by Caffitaly are affordable, so this should keep even the most intense coffee lovers happy for a long while. 

Standout Features

• Affordable
• 1L Reservoir
• 2 Cup Sizes
• Manual Hot Water Option
• 15-bar Pressure Pump

Price and Stats

At around $100 to $115, the S24 is a great affordable pod machine that stands firm against more expensive machines. There’s a solid 12-month warranty and a tonne of great reviews for the Caffitaly System S24 that ensure you’re buying a dependable machine.

Breville Nespresso Creatista Plus BNE800

To one of the highest-end machines now, the Breville Nespresso Creatista Plus offers everything you’ll ever need to brew an outstanding cup of coffee from home. The design of this model is top-notch and is undoubtedly more authentic looking than just about everything else on the list. If you’re in the market for a pod coffee machine that really seems like it belongs in a corner street cafe, this one is for you.

There’s a vast range of coffee brew types with seven on offer and an automatic frother that’s going to make your pod coffees as authentic as possible. The machine even offers froth texture levels, with eight to choose from, and an incredible 11 temperature options for the milk, so regardless of how selective you are, there’s an option for you.

Another small perk is the frother wand, so at-home latte art is on the cards if you want to show off your barista skills on Instagram.

Breville’s Creatista Plus also heats up in a minuscule 3 seconds, faster than anything else on this list, getting your machine ready to brew a coffee virtually instantly. That said if you’re in the mood for a coffee ‘now’ this machine is for you.

There’s an optimal 19-bar pressure pump here too, and the machine brews at three different sizes, ideal for a rushed morning espresso, or a slower, relaxing cup of coffee. There’s also a used pod capacity of 8 to 12, so you’re not stuck emptying this model too often.

A 1.5L tank also means there’s no chance you’re going to clear out the water in just a few days; you’ll almost get a week out of this model depending on your coffee habits.

Finally, the Nespresso Creatista is incredibly easy to clean and outputs coffee that’s so good that some users have stated that they don’t bother with cafes anymore.

Standout Features

• Huge 1.5L Tank
• 7 Brew Types
• Milk Frother
• 19-bar Pressure Pump
• 8-12 Used Pod Capacity
• 3-second Heat Up

Price and Stats

Starting at $600, the Breville Nespresso Creatista Plus BNE800 is undoubtedly on the high-end, though with such a simple to use experience and quality of coffee that’s arguably better than cafe coffee, you’d be hard-pressed to find better. There’s a 2-year warranty available too, keeping your machine covered for issues.

Why Consider a Pod Coffee Machine

When compared to ‘true’ coffee machines, or espresso machines, a pod coffee machine is less cumbersome, a whole lot faster and easier to clean up after use. Instead of relying on coffee grounds, you’ll just need a pod, and that’s all. Oftentimes the milk and flavouring are also included in the pod, so there’s nothing else to do other than just to hit Start.

To add to the perks of a pod machine, you’ll find that you’ll be able to save a tonne of money when compared to grabbing a cafe-made coffee each morning which can be upwards of $5 for a product that’s arguably very similar to one that comes from a $0.20 to $0.70 pod. Depending on your coffee habits, you could save hundreds of dollars a year by switching to a pod machine.

It’s also good to note that a pod coffee machine will help you out in streamlining your day, as you’ll have your coffee ready at a moments notice, rather than finding a cafe and waiting in line for 10 minutes or more. This will leave you more time at home, or some spare time at work in the morning.

Finally, even if you’re not someone who makes a habit out of hitting a cafe each morning, you’ll likely be a lot more satisfied with a fresh, pod-made coffee than when compared to instant coffee or sachet coffees.

Primary Considerations in a Pod Coffee Machine

If you’re going out on your own to find a coffee pod machine, and not choosing one from our list above, we have some essential considerations to remember. Besides, you don’t want to spend hundreds and be stuck with a subpar machine.

Easy Interface

Toward the top of your list should be ease of use. You want to look for a pod coffee machine that’s going to get you a fantastic cup of coffee in just a few taps. The last thing you want to be dealing with in a morning rush is standing by the machine and ‘babying’ it into making your coffee.

The best models have just a three-step process that generally asks for the size of the coffee, the flavour intensity and a finally the start option.

A Wide Pod Range

Because most pod machines are locked to their respective brand’s pods, you’ll want to make sure that the brand you choose has a lot of capsules to choose from. Take a look at their website or in-store at places like Coles and Woolworths and take note of the flavours, intensities and importantly; their availability.

In some cases pods are exclusive to specific stores or available online, so be sure to choose an option that’s best for you and your taste palette.

Pod Disposal

We all know that dumping a tonne of plastic into landfill isn’t ideal for anyone, and so making sure your pod coffee machine brand has a recycling option is essential. In some cases, as you collected and return these pods for recycling, you get reimbursed and points to redeem toward new pods at a discount.

If you’re not able to find a brand with a cashback system or recycling program, then look for pods that can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way, or in a curbside recycle bin.

The Takeaway

With all of the above said, it’s clear that pod coffee machines really can make a tonne of difference when it comes to enhancing your morning routine, and saving you a tonne of money. If you choose a fantastic pod coffee machine with a range of quality pods, you’ll be able to brew up a quality cup of coffee at the touch of a button for less than a dollar.

We stand by the DeLonghi Nespresso Lattissima Pro EN750MB as the best coffee machine for our readers, as it’s going to be your ultimate partner in the mornings. Its fast heat-up time, auto cleaning and quality pods give you the best chance to kickstart your day without any of the hard work.

In all, we suggest opting for a pod coffee machine that suits your morning routine and price point. You’ll want a machine that saves you time, money and stress in the morning before work, or school.