Best luxury coffee makers 2024: Jump Menu
1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best overall: De'Longhi Eletta Explore
3. Best filter: Moccamaster Technivorm
4. Best automatic: De'Longhi Rivelia
5. Best espresso machine: De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro
6. Best single-serve: Nespresso Vertuo Creatista
7. Best designer: Dolce & Gabbana Moka Pot
8. Best for beginners: Smeg Semi-Automatic
9. Best for experts: La Pavoni Professional
10. Best French press: Espro P7
11. How to choose
12. How we test
Coffee is one of life's purest pleasures. That's why investing in a luxury coffee maker is worth every dollar. Designed to make a true style statement, these premium machines offer so much more than delicious coffee. They're unparalleled in craft, function, innovation.
As a former barista, I know how important it is to invest in the best coffee makers on the market. I've tested all of the machines in this guide to make sure their speciality coffee is the best of the best.
Designed by market-leading experts at De'Longhi, Breville, Moccamaster, and Smeg, these coffee makers were made to be admired. They all offer true opulence, enhancing your countertop style with chic colors, stainless steel, and chrome finishes as well as craft coffee to rival your favorite barista's.
The Quick List
If you're looking for quick introduction to the lavish landscape of luxury coffee makers, look no further. Here are the headlines. If you want to find out more, we go deep into detail further down.
Best single-serve
Price: $212.50
This sell-out sensation makes perfect coffee from simple pods. It has incredible milk frothing capacity and a sleek finish. However, you pay a premium for the appearance.
Best for filter
Price: $339.95
Dutch-made and durable, this boxy drip coffee maker comes in almost every color conceivable. It makes delicious coffee, but only keeps it warm for 100 minutes.
Best overall
Price: $1999.95
This offers 52 delicious coffees at the touch of a button. It's effortless luxury at its best, but comes with the price tag to match it.
Best automatic
Price: $999.95
The Rivellia learns to speak your coffee language, suggesting your favorite drinks at the time of day you like them. You can set up personal profiles too.
Best espresso machine
Price: $1399.95
This shines in more ways than one. It looks beautiful on the countertop and can get technical over your favorite craft coffees. One of the best espresso machines, it might be overwhelming for some though.
Best designer
Price: $100
Both a collector's item and coffee drinker's delight, this stylish moka pot can brew enough bold and flavorful coffee for up to 6 people. It's not the most versatile on the list, but nevertheless good.
Best for experts
Price: $1599.99
If you're happy getting hands-on with coffee makers, you'll love La Pavoni. It's incredibly technical and a little time consuming, but very rewarding.
Best for beginners
Price: $849.99
Smeg's latest espresso machine is nothing short of stunning. The retro design looks great in coffee nooks and it's easy to use too. You can get more technical machines, but they won't look this good.
Best French press
Price: $144.99
The P7 makes double-filtered in a double-walled carafe. In our books, that means it's making double-double smooth and delicious French press (as well as cold brew).
The best luxury coffee makers
Livingetc knows design. We spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, bringing only our edit of the very best to you. Find out more about how we review.
1. The best luxury coffee maker overall
Buy it if
✅ You drink a range of coffee: this covers all the brew styles
✅ You want a hands-off machine: this does everything for you
✅ You drink plant-based milks: this froths them, hot and cold
Don't buy it if:
❌ You only drink one type of coffee: 52 options is overkill
❌ You have narrow countertops: this comes out quite far
❌ You like being involved: the machine does everything
The bottom line
🔎 De'Longhi Eletta Explore: this takes coffee making to the next level with an extensive range of perfect coffees. You'll hardly need to touch it to get barista-style coffee.
It doesn't get more specialist than De'Longhi's Eletta explore. Some say it's excessive, but that's just another word for indulgent. I love it.
The sleek silhouette of the Eletta Explore is classic De'Longhi. This is available in lots of different finishes and even the most simple, brushed stainless steel one looks fantastic. It comes with easy-to-store cold and hot milk texturing carafes as well as a spacious travel coffee mug and lots of De'Longhi gadgets.
The Eletta Explore offers over 52 different coffees across an incredibly intuitive, swipeable smart screen. The touch screen talks you though everything from setting up, to troubleshooting. It doesn't really need to talk to you about maintenance, because this has it covered. It's really flawless.
A few taps will have a freshly ground, expertly extracted, silky coffee ready, at the tips of your fingers. Whilst it tackles the classics (espresso, Americano, cappuccino), there are also some truly unique and yet absolutely perfect options available, including cold brew. Cold brew should take 24 hours to make, not just two and a half minutes. You'd hardly know the difference taste-wise though.
As you might expect, a machine that could replace any decent barista, this is relatively expensive. It's certainly an investment, but I trust De'Longhi with my money. They care about quality. Some people find all the extras a little unnecessary, but when you're paying $1,800, I think they're justified.
One final thing to note is that this is quite big. It's not too tall to fit under wall cabinets. I had the pleasure of using this for one of our 'extended tests', so I had it in my urban apartment for a few months. Whilst it did demand a lot of space, it could slot under the wall cabinets and tuck neatly into a corner.
2. The best luxury filter coffee maker
Buy it if
✅ You drink only filter coffee: that's this machine's speciality
✅ You want speedy coffee: this is quick and quiet
✅ You want color options: this has an extensive range
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want milk frothing capacity: this doesn't have it
❌ You want versatility: this is a single-brew machine
❌ You have cozy interiors: the retro, boxy style might not suit it
The bottom line
🔎 Moccamaster Technivorm KGBV Select: a reliable, retro coffee maker which specialises in filter coffee. It's colorful and competent, but a little limited
It’s hard to be the most luxurious drip coffee maker in such a saturated market. Drip coffee is, after all, the nation’s favorite brew. Year after year, Moccamaster’s Technivorm KGBV Select defends its position as the best of the best. There are so many reasons why, but here are a few.
First of all, the KGBV Select has unrivalled aesthetics. The retro, boxy design is available in a vast range of color options. You can choose minimalist monochromes, space-age shines, and pops or color. It both looks and feels as well-made as it is. This is repairable for life, so it’s an investment that you know will stick.
When it comes to coffee, this is equally stellar. The KGBV Select doesn’t have an integrated grinder, but not many drip coffee makers do. What it does have is a stainless steel, reusable filter, range of brewing options, and expert temperature control. Our experts made everything from one cup to ten and were seriously impressed with the consistently smooth coffee the KGBV Select brewed.
Everything from setting up to cleaning up is close to effortless. In fact, the only fault our experts have with the KGBV Select is that it will only keep coffee warm for 100 minutes. Professionals will tell you that you shouldn’t exceed this time anyway: your coffee will taste stale and burnt, but we know how much people love a hot pot to sip from all day long.
3. The best luxury automatic coffee maker
Buy it if
✅ Your household likes different coffees: you can set up separate profiles
✅ You want a hands-off machine: this does everything for you
✅ You drink coffee first thing: this is quick and quiet
Don't buy it if:
❌ You only drink one brew style: this could be overkill
❌ You have slim countertops: this is quite long
❌ You want to grind yourself: this takes you out of the equation
The bottom line
🔎 De'Longhi Rivelia: family-friendly and versatile this is probably the best, most expensive automatic coffee maker you can buy.
De'Longhi's lastest automatic coffee maker is really, truly excellent. They've designed it with busy homes in mind, offering tailored profiles for every coffee drinker. The Rivelia is smart: it will learn your drinking patterns and preferences, suggesting the coffees you enjoy at specific times of the day to you. It's like having a live-in barista, but without all the faff.
On the countertop, this cuts a sleek and stylish silhouette. It's available in a range of attractive colors, perfect for a range of kitchen interior styles. I love it. This is a little wider than other models, but that means it's also relatively low, so it should be able to sit under wall cupboards and in tight spaces -- just make sure to keep space for it.
In terms of coffee making, this is excellent. There are plenty of adjustable features, which are really sensitive. If you know exactly how you like your coffee, you can tell the Rivelia and it will deliver on flavors, consistently. I tried everything from the espresso to the 'over ice' settings and was impressed at how well extracted and bold my flavors were. Even when I used plant-based milks, the Rivelia didn't over froth or burn my milk.
De'Longhi provides a spare bean hopper too. This means you can switch up your beans when you want to drink some different flavors. You'll need somewhere safe to store your spare hopper when it's not in use, but its that kind of luxury touch which puts De'Longhi's automatic coffee maker ahead of the Philips 3200, for example.
4. The best luxury espresso machine
Buy it if
✅ You like technical machines: this has all the bells and whistles
✅ You want to be hands on: this gets you working like a barista
✅ You're not confident with all the processes: this helps you stay consistent
Don't buy it if:
❌ You have small countertops: this is huge
❌ You want a hands-off machine: this is more involved
❌ You're not a keen cleaner: the stainless steel finish is high maintenance
The bottom line
🔎 De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro: this is one of the most beautiful espresso machines on the market. It looks the part and more than delivers on its promises. It's expensive though.
As a former barista, when I saw La Specialista Maestro, I knew it was love at first sight. This looks like a serious, specialist machine. The dials and stainless steel really glisten. I have this on my countertop and without fail, it's the first thing people comment on when they come into my kitchen. It's a piece which provokes a lot of interest.
Espresso machines can get very technical. La Specialiasta Maestro has the capacity to entertain a specialist barista for hours, but it's not exclusive. There are lots of safeguards which make this easy for a beginner to dive into. For example, tamping causes a lot of variability in coffee flavors, so La Specialista Maestro has an auto tamp. You still need to pull it, but this will regulate the pressure you're putting on your coffee grounds, ensuring that your coffee flavors are always consistent.
There's a neat dial which walks you through a considerable range of coffee types, making sure you know what you're doing when it comes to everything from cappuccino to cold brew. That's right. This is an espresso machine which can make cold brew too. I've never seen that feature on an espresso machine before and I think it will be a little while before the other brands catch up, The cold brew is good, not as smooth as a 24 hour specialist brew, but it's decent (better than most coffee shops').
The steam wand requires you to know a little more than the average person about texturing milk. Once you've mastered the angles and air introduction, you'll have no trouble texturing silky milk. It just might take a little practice. There's also no escaping that this is an expensive machine. At over $1,000 it's by far the most expensive espresso machine on the market. Technically and taste-wise, the Breville Barista Pro is still pretty good. It doesn't have as many automated features, but it will still do a good job and look stylish whilst doing it too.
5. The best luxury single-serve machine
Buy it if
✅ You want quick coffee: this is speedy
✅ You like milky coffees: this is an expert at texturing milk
✅ You'll keep this on show: it's stunning
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want to use your own pods: this is only compatible with Nespresso
❌ You drink plant-based milks: this can over heat them
❌ You're not a keen cleaner: the stainless steel is a little high maintenance
The bottom line
🔎 Nespresso Vertuo Creatista: you won't find a single-serve machine which can texture milk like this. It's incredible, but comes with a premium price tag.
You might have seen some sultry videos of David Beckham and his coffee maker and wondered what it's like to drink the same coffee as the celebrities. The answer lies in the Vertuo Creatista: it's the one Mr. Beckham uses himself.
This is a style sensation. Crafted from shiny, stainless steel, the Vertuo Creatista is luxurious and technically competent. It takes all the aspects of Nespresso's speedy, single-serve machines and combines them with Breville's milk-texturing expertise. Across both dairy and plant-based milks, the Vertuo Creatista has more than delivered for both style and substance.
This looks like it should be ultra-techy, but it offers all the convenience of single-serve, pod machines. All you have to do is load a pod into the dispenser and you can enjoy flawless coffee. The oat milk did get a little hot, but you can stop the milk frother from heating if you want to be careful.
It's also worth noting that this is only compatible with Nespresso's Vertuo pods. You can't use any other lines or varieties, so will need to stick to Vertuo flavors. This is limiting, but Nespresso makes 30 different types of pods and they bring out seasonal, limited edition flavors too.
6. The best designer coffee machine
Buy it if
✅ You want a show-off coffee maker: this is eye-catching
✅ You like stovetop coffee: that's all this makes
✅ You're a family of 3-6: that's the capacity
Don't buy it if:
❌ You live in a large home: this has a limited capacity
❌ You want a range of brew styles: this is just one
❌ You have a grinder: fresh coffee tastes best
The bottom line
🔎 Dolce & Gabbana X Bialetti Moka Pot: bright and eye catching, this stovetop moka pot makes delicious, bold coffee. it can't serve a large family, but does well for a few cups
When an iconic fashion house teamed up with the best moka pot maker on the market, it seemed almost too good to be true. The Dolce & Gabbana and Bialetti collaboration is completely irresistible. Even if you don't drink coffee, this moka pot makes a true style statement.
Dolce & Gabbana have been part of lots of collaborations. In fact, I'm a little bit obsessed with their Meditteraneo Smeg line, but I think this bright moka pot will stand the test of time. Also, it's not often that moka pots get a make over, so that makes this one extra special.
The vibrant red patterns are a tribute to Sicily. I was worried that they might look a little garish, but as soon as I took this out of the box, I knew it would work almost anywhere. It's eye catching, but tasteful.
In true Bialetti style, it makes a great cup of coffee. I made three cups of delicious fresh coffee. It was strong, smooth and chocolatey. Our experts tried a range of the coffees and particularly loved the co-ordinating Dolce & Gabbana coffee beans, which have chocolate and cinnamon notes.
The only reason I wouldn't invest in this is if you live in a large home, so need more than six cups of coffee at once. It also can, obviously, only make black coffee, so if you're looking to recreate a barista-style service at home, you'll at least need to invest in a milk frother.
7. The best luxury coffee maker for beginners
Buy it if
✅ You'll keep this on the countertop: it's made to be admired
✅ You want color options: this has a good range
✅ You're new to espresso machines: this is beginner-friendly
Don't buy it if:
❌ You're short on space: this has a large footprint
❌ You want to get technical: this is quite basic
❌ You're not a keen cleaner: the stainless steel is high maintenance
The bottom line
🔎 Smeg Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine: perfect for beginners, this is beautiful to look at, easy to use, but a little basic.
Smeg makes some beautiful, luxurious coffee makers, including the Dolce and Gabbana Mediterraneo one (perfect for chic compact spaces). However, their latest model is, without a doubt, their greatest coffee achievement. It's one of the most beautiful espresso machines in the market.
The style of this coffee maker is signature Smeg. Whether you opt for a retro red or more subtle shade of cream or black, this is kitted out with shiny chrome, curved edges. It's large, but this is a machine that's been designed with admiring eyes in mind. It's the show off in the espresso machine industry.
Even if you're a beginner, I don't think you'd struggle to make good coffee in the Smeg. Most espresso machines come with some complexities, but this is made for beginners. You simply have to push a few buttons to get through the entire bean-to-cup process. The most involved aspect is steaming milk, which you will need to turn off by hand, but that's hardly daunting.
I made some good coffee in the Smeg, easily switching between grind settings and coffee types. I thought this struggled a little when I wanted to extract the citrus notes from my coffees, but they're notoriously difficult to balance. For a good cup of coffee, this is more than competent.
My only word of warning would be that the shiny finishes require more maintenance than other machines. I'd recommend keeping a microfiber cloth nearby, so you can polish away the odd splash of espresso or finger mark. As I said, this machine is a show off. It has standards to maintain.
8. The best luxury coffee maker for experts
Buy it if
✅ You want to get geeky: this is very technical
✅ You want a show-off machine: this is eye catching
✅ You texture milk: this has a steam wand
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want a hands-off machine: this is very involved
❌ You're not a keen cleaner: this is high maintenance
❌ You're short on space: this is large and heavy
The bottom line
🔎 La Pavoni Professional: this is a seriously impressive, hands-on machine. It takes dedication to enjoy fully, but it's worth it.
We know, this is stunning. It’s one serious piece of stainless steel kit. However, before we all go gooey-eyed over it, you need to know, this is tough to use. Manual espresso machines cater to a dedicated coffee audience. If you’re willing to read up about coffee, spend fifteen minutes on crafting the perfect espresso, and then sip it slowly, this will be a dream come true. If you’re impatient with even your work’s coffee machine, this isn’t for you.
I’ll start with first impressions of La Pavoni. It looks like it has just come from an (incredibly chic and Italian) science laboratory. There’s shiny stainless steel, retro dials, and heavy levers everywhere. It’s an eye catching espresso machine to say the least. Dedicate a countertop space to it, style a coffee bar around it, don’t hide it away. This is a machine designed with a little bit of intimidation and a lot of admiration in mind. Once you get the hang of all the controls (you’ll need to read up and watch a few videos in advance) you will be able to brew a very rewarding and incredibly delicious espresso in this. I wouldn’t say it’s better than other espresso machines that I’ve tested, but it’s certainly one of the best.
As opposed to most other manual espresso machines, this boils its own water. That means you don’t need a high tech kettle and you also won’t need a milk frother. This builds up enough pressure to steam your own milk. Again, you’ll need to practice some texturing expertise before you’re making drinks to rival your barista, but you’ll get there.
Aside from the complexity and capacity of La Pavoni, there’s one other aspect to consider. Highly technical machines like this require a highly technical grinder. These aren’t even the best grinders on the market, they’re even better (bulkier and more expensive). You have to be really sure you’d love this to invest in both the grinder and espresso machine. Maybe test run with a reasonable, but less stunning $99 model.