I'm an espresso machine reviewer, but I'd never buy a superautomatic machine for myself: Here's why

the smeg bcc12 automatic coffee machine in black showing its manual steam wand and automatic buttons and built in grinder

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

I love coffee. I drink it every day. Sometimes many times a day. Sometimes too many times a day. So surely my life would be easier if I had a superautomatic coffee machine instead of one of the best espresso machines? Well... wrong.

If you're not sure what that is, let me give you a quick run down. Espresso machines come in three main 'types': manual, semi-automatic, and automatic.

You're probably most familiar with semi-automatics: think Breville, De'Longhi. They require the user to grind, dose, tamp, and extract manually, but also have some automatic settings (like stopping extraction by itself). Manual machines require the user to do everything, so you'd need to count your espresso before manually ending extraction. Think more classic Italian brands like Gaggia or La Pavoni.

At the other end of the spectrum are automatic/superautomatic machines. Think Jura, Philips. These machines do everything for you: grind, dose, tamp, brew, steam milk. While superautomatic machines are super useful and I understand why a lot of people love them, they're just not for me.

Automatic espresso just tastes bad

the kitchenaid kf8 superautomatic espresso machine with a huge range of coffee drink recipes, bright full-color screen, and a plastic milk carafe — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Sorry, not sorry, but this is the main reason why I'll never buy a superautomatic machine. The coffee just tastes noticeably worse than even budget semi-auto or manual espresso machines.

I even asked an expert why automatic espresso tastes different to manual espresso, and she told me that it's all down to personal preference. Let me explain.

If you're in control of every step of your coffee-brewing journey, you can adapt each element to your liking. Enjoy a weaker espresso? Dose a little less. Want a more intense flavor? Choose a ristretto shot. Not sure why you'd do this, but want a horribly bitter espresso that makes you shudder? Why not grind your beans super-fine and extract the shot for a minute. Heck, it's possible, so why not try? (Don't try that. It will taste vile and might damage your machine.)

the de'longhi rivelia automatic superautomatic coffee machine in sage green with a bright LED screen, two interchangeable bean hoppers, an automatic milk frother, and a huge range of coffee recipes — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

I suppose one of the main differences is that most superautomatic machines use dual-walled portafilters. These portafilters extract coffee under extreme pressure and aerate the espresso as it drips out. Ideally, you'd only ever use dual-walled portafilters if you're using pre-ground coffee, but superautos have built-in grinders.

I've tested a $2,700 Jura machine that (allegedly) uses dual-walled portafilters. I did ask Jura's representative for confirmation, but am yet to receive a response. Even if that machine uses single-walled (unpressurized) portafilters, the espresso does not taste like it's worth almost $3k.

The E8 makes burned, bitter espresso that not even syrups can mask. If you love chain coffee (like Starbucks), then you'll likely enjoy this flavor. It's just not for me. I can't imagine spending this amount of money for pressurized coffee that tastes over-brewed and bland at the same time.

I'm a hands-on barista and a bit of a control freak

the breville bambino plus / sage bambino plus in stainless steel silver photographed against a blue background shown with its accessories including milk jug, tamper, portafilter, and shown in use extracting espresso — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Yep, I'm a bit of a control freak. I can't even watch my boyfriend make himself coffee on our Breville Bambino Plus because he does it wrong and it stresses me out.

As a result, I'm not the right kind of person to use a superautomatic coffee machine. I need to know what's going on at every step of the process. I can't even use an espresso machine with a built in grinder, because I need to be able to grind my beans manually. It's just something about working hard for the coffee that makes it taste better. Right? Or am I just weird?

I have a hand grinder, because it's both more precise than a built in grinder, and also I can dial in my beans easier using it. I have the Comandante C40 MK4, so when I'm dialing-in beans, I just grind a tiny bit, check the granule size, then adjust the burrs if required. It's less wasteful than using an automatic grinder, because it's harder to just grind a tiny amount on those machines.

So for me, I have to use a manual/semi-automatic espresso machine. That way, I can baby my coffee from bean, to granules, to espresso, and if it tastes nasty, I have only myself to blame.

If you're reading this and nodding, then I think you're better off with a manual/semi-automatic machine too. I have a great beginner-friendly (and relatively affordable, as far as coffee goes) setup. Here's what I use in my daily brewing.

But automatic machines are perfect for some people

I know I'm picky, but that's fine. Automatic machines aren't for me, and that's also fine. There is, however, a huge audience out there for superautomatic machines. If you value convenience over everything and you don't feel like having to get all the coffee accessories, then you're the ideal candidate for an automatic machine. Manual machines are a lot of work, and also have a steep learning curve. You might also risk wasting $$$ worth of coffee while you learn how to use a manual machine.

Automatic coffee machines take all the guesswork out of coffee making. You don't have to select your grind size, you don't have to weigh out the coffee, and you don't have to measure the shot volume. Auto machines do literally everything for you.

For time-poor or energy-poor people, that's all you can ask for. If you are in the market for a superautomatic espresso machine, I've got a few recommendations from hours and hours of painstaking testing.

While I haven't tested this exact model — the BCC13 — I have tested its younger sibling, the BCC12. The BCC12 makes some of the best-tasting automatic coffee I've ever drank, but has a manual steam wand. The BCC13 takes it one step further and has a fully-automatic milk frother, which you can see in the right hand side of the image. This is actually quite cheap for an automatic machine, especially for a Smeg machine, and a machine that actually makes good espresso.

I reviewed the De'Longhi Rivelia back in May, and I want to unbox this machine again and start using it in the office. It's one of the best milk-frothing automatic machines I've ever used. I think about the milk texture a lot. It actually excelled at making cappuccino milk foam when compared to other automatic machines I've used. If you're serious about cappuccinos, this could be the perfect machine for you. You can also get a cold foam attachment for $129.

The Rivelia also comes with two bean hoppers so you can have two types of bean on the go.

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Erin Bashford is a staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering reviews. She has a Masters in Broadcast and Digital Journalism from the University of East Anglia. As an ex-barista and avid home cook, she's got a soft spot for coffee and home tech; as a proud music nerd, she's always on the hunt for the best headphones, speakers, and earbuds. In her spare time you can find her reading, practising yoga, writing, or stressing over today’s NYT Games.

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