A hot, comforting cup of coffee propels you into the day. But you don't have to visit your local cafe shop to start your day. With a home coffee machine, you can prepare and enjoy your favourite coffee beverage in the comfort of your home with minimal hassle.
Most models differ significantly in their convenience, features, and quality. If you want the best, this guide reviews eight top premium coffee machines in Australia.
My Top Picks
For a quick pick, here are the top three premium coffee machines that stood out among the lot:
Breville Barista Touch Impress
Premium coffee machine with grinder, user-friendly aided tamping, Auto MilQ system, and a built-in grinder with 30 grind settings.
La Marzocco GS3 MP
Premium coffee machine for businesses with a professional-grade build, dual boiler system, 3.5 L water capacity, and manual paddle control.
Breville Bambino Plus
Mid Range home coffee machine with a compact build, easy-to-use features, simple control settings, and rapid heat-up time.
The word premium in this article refers to convenience, features, and quality of brew. For a more comprehensive overview of coffee machines in Australia, please read our guide on the best home coffee machines available.
Top 8 Premium Coffee Machines for Australians
Let’s review each one of these premium coffee machines in more detail. We provide an overview, unique features, pros and cons, and the ideal use case for each model we reviewed below.
1. Breville the Barista Touch Impress
Best Convenience Premium Coffee Machine
Weight: 9 kg
Capacity: 1899 g
Warranty: 2 years
The Breville Barista Touch Impress is one of the simplest manual coffee makers on the market. The coffee machine combines the user-friendly aided tamping and auto-dosing of the Barista Express Impress with the intuitive touchscreen and automatic milk frothing of the Barista Touch. It has an equally good grinder with precision burrs and 30-grind settings.
Among Breville's Barista coffee machine line-up, the Barista Touch Impress packs the most features, including an assisted tamping function that isn't available on any option in the Barista series.
For convenience, the coffeemaker guides you through adjusting the grind settings with precision for the right amount and grind coarseness. The built-in grinder and tamper also provide useful feedback on the quantity of coffee in the basket, which is a nice touch. You also get the Impress Puck System, which simplifies the process of grinding, measuring, and pressing coffee.
Now, let's talk about milk, often the most elusive part of coffee making. The machine includes an Auto MilQ system that ensures all your frothy dreams come true, whether you prefer oat, soy, almond, or classic full-fat milk. It provides the exact frothy texture and temperature with a personalised steam preset, demanding zero milk-handling expertise. The automatic wand and temperature gauge help deliver top-notch, café-quality milk and brew.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Built-in grinder
- Auto milk frothing system
- 2-litre water tank capacity
- 3-second heat up time
Cons
- Limited automation
2. La Marzocco GS3 MP
Premium Coffee Machine for Business
Weight: 33 kg
Water tank capacity: 3500 g
Warranty: 2 years
For a premium, professional-grade coffee machine, get the La Marzocco GS3. It's made with high-quality components and is simple to use, even for beginners, due to its user-friendly interface. It also features a 3.5-litre water capacity, a transparent display, and simple-to-use buttons, making navigating and customising your espresso-making experience effortless. For a business setting, you couldn't ask for more.
The GS3's unique feature is its manual paddle control that lets you adjust the water flow through the coffee grounds, giving you total control over the espresso extraction procedure. This also allows you to create some of the most distinctive and subtle flavour profiles. Another noteworthy feature is the dual boiler system; it offers reliable temperature control, guaranteeing that your espresso is consistently brewed at the ideal temperature.
While design can be subjective, I wasn’t particularly impressed with the GS3s. This machine’s overall aesthetic resembles some classic cafe coffee equipment, but I expected more with the price tag.
Pros
- Good build quality
- Consistent coffee flavours
- Manual paddle control
- Dual boiler system
Cons
- Premium price tag
- Basic and bulky design
3. Gaggia Classic Pro
Premium Coffee Machine for Office
Weight: 7.2 kg
Water tank capacity: 2100 g
Warranty: Register for warranty
The Classic Pro has excellent build quality. If you want a durable office coffee machine, look no further. For convenience and ease of use at the office, the coffee maker includes a 15-bar pump and a 3-way solenoid valve, which provide reliable and flavourful espresso shots. Its exceptional temperature consistency throughout brewing also ensures the boiler offers high espresso quality.
Gaggia also offers a steam wand with a rotating dial on the side to control the steam pressure on the Classic Pro. This is effective at frothing milk for lattes and cappuccinos. It provides enough steam pressure for creating microfoam, a key element in crafting velvety milk-based drinks. You also get a stainless steel cup warmer/holder.
Gaggia's solid build quality and sturdiness mean the machine will last a long time despite the vigorous everyday use in an office setting. Its flavourful extracts and different brewing techniques make it an ideal addition for staff who enjoy different coffee types. On the downside, the Classic Pro has no built-in grinder, so you must purchase a separate grinder for fresh coffee beans.
Pros
- Easy to use and clean
- Excellent build quality
- Offers different brewing techniques
- Rapid heat-up time
Cons
- No built-in grinder
- Limited programmability
For the best coffee grinder, we recommend the Breville Smart Grinder Pro. You can also read my comprehensive overview of the best coffee grinders in Australia to choose which model best suits your unique coffee grinding needs.
4. Breville Bambino Plus
Premium Coffee Machine for Home
Weight: 1.4 kg
Water tank capacity: 1800 g
Warranty: 2 years
The Breville Bambino Plus is compact but packs all the essentials most would need in a home coffee machine. It has easy-to-use features, simple control settings, and a user-friendly design. The machine heats up super fast in just three seconds and features a steam wand you can use manually to create a fine microform or it has a great automatic mode.
Breville's Bambino Plus doesn't fall short in terms of brew quality. It makes a rich, flavourful shot of espresso using a 54 mm portafilter and a 4-hole steam wand. To obtain the maximum flavour of the coffee beans, the machine also contains a pre-infusion mechanism that moistens the coffee grinds before brewing. It's impressive how smooth the espresso shots are.
However, because of its compact coffee tray, you may have to clean this machine frequently. There's also no dedicated hot water tap. Thus, heavy drinkers of long black coffee must either boil their kettle separately or fill it with the steam wand.
Pros
- Rapid heat-up time
- Superior build quality
- Lightweight and easy to use
- User-friendly controls
- Includes a steam wand
Cons
- No built-in grinder
- Limited customisation options
5. Breville Dynamic Duo
Best At Home Coffee Combo Machine
Weight: 20.41 kg
Water tank capacity: 450 g
Warranty: 2 years
The Dynamic Duo offers prosumer-café level performance and a user interface that is relatively forgiving for beginners. This machine will serve you well, regardless of whether your barista abilities are polished to a fine degree or you're a novice who wants to position yourself for success with the best. The device has two boilers to pull a shot and steam milk simultaneously. It also offers numerous opportunities for customising the majority of brewing-related processes.
The high-end espresso machine brews coffee through pressure profiling. It starts with a gentle pre-infusion, then increases to 9 bars of pressure, and finally reduces a bit at the end of the shot. This process results in a more effective and uniform extraction of the coffee, and it's also more forgiving of small changes in the size of the coffee grounds and tamping technique.
Breville's Dynamic Duo includes a separate grinder; the Smart Grinder Pro enables direct grinding into the portafilter. You can programme grind time with the grinder's Dosing iQ technology down to 0.2-second intervals, giving you more control over your grind. You get 60 different grind settings and a wide range of dosing possibilities.
Pros
- Fair price point
- Excellent build quality
- Includes a high-standard grinder
- Consistent coffee flavours
- Easy-to-use controls
Cons
- Takes up more counter space
6. Lelit Mara X
Premium Coffee Machine Brand
Weight: 18.8 kg
Water tank capacity: 2500 g
Warranty: 1 year
Lelit is a renowned brand known for producing smooth and rich espressos. The Lelit Mara X offers a consistent espresso brew. It uses a heat exchange system and reaches maximum temperature in approximately 24 minutes. The coffee machine has two priority modes: the Brew and Steam modes. In Brew mode, the machine prioritises more accurate brew temperatures, while in Steam mode, it boosts the steaming capabilities.
The premium coffee machine includes a warming rack for cups and a small ledge. It's not a large heating rack, but it works well for home use. The MaraX also features a mechanical preinfusion for the best coffee flavours. It packs a high-end lever control and an optional kit that lets you easily adjust the pressure during brewing, giving you even more control.
On purchase, the package includes everything needed to get started, including a double spout filter holder, a tamper, a cleaning brush, and a water softener filter, which is a thoughtful addition. The coffee maker's anti-burn steam wand and cup warmer demonstrate Lelit's commitment to functionality and safety. On the downside, cleaning it proved more challenging due to the narrow two-way stream directing the espresso into your cup.
Pros
- E61 mechanical preinfusion
- Compact design with pro features
- Anti-burn steam wand and cup warmer
- Upgradable with flow control kit
- Brew and steam priority modes
Cons
- Challenging to clean
- Can improve portafilter design
- Heavier at 18.8 kg
7. Lelit Bianca V3
Speciality Coffee Machine
Weight: 26.5 kg
Water tank capacity: 2500 g
Warranty: 2 years
The Lelit Bianca V3 boasts a series of impressive and ergonomic features. It is a semi-manual espresso machine with a beautiful and well-thought-out design that sits beautifully atop counters and makes its presence known. As for the build, it has a high-quality stainless frame, copper tubing inside, with knobs and buttons that feel premium.
The top-of-the-line Italian coffee maker has a dual boiler system with flow control technology to fine-tune your brew pressure. The second boiler produces good amounts of steam and hot water. Lelit uses a clever PID controller to maintain the ideal temperature for its two boilers. Compared to traditional pressure stat machines, Bianca's PID technology offers a heating control that is more responsive, accurate, and consistent.
For brew customisation, the Bianca V3 coffee maker has an electronic pre-infusion control that is simple to work with. This lets you customise every aspect of the coffee brewing process, including minor factors like pre-infusion time and high or low-pressure settings. However, Lelit's pre-infusion has a pause limit: The 20-second maximum pre-infusion is restrictive if you want longer pre-infusion times to enhance your brewing process.
Pros
- Solid build quality
- Electronic pre-infusion control
- Includes essential accessories
- Dual boiler PID control
Cons
- Poor metal sheet quality
- Pre-infusion pause limit
8. De’Longhi La Specialista Arte
Best Premium Coffee Machine for Coffee Art
Weight: 8.8 kg
Water tank capacity: 1500 g
De’Longhi La Specialista has precise and consistent grounds, thanks to its sensor grinding technology. It also includes an active temperature control function that ensures brewing and milk steaming are excellently executed. Beyond the function and quality, I also appreciate this coffee machine's classic appearance, albeit a bit bulky. You also get a built-in grinder with eight grind levels.
I recommend the premium coffee machine for its ease of creating beautiful coffee art with the MyLatte Art Steam Wand. It produced some seriously silky microfoam I didn’t think I could achieve on the first go. I tried all the mainstream designs, including the quintessential tulip. But that's not all; the machine packs enough accessories to get going on purchase.
Using the machine is intuitive with one-touch operation. Likewise, cleaning and maintaining the De'Longhi La Specialista machine is simple. The device has an easily removable drip tray and a detachable brewing unit. You also get a descaling programme that ensures the coffee maker stays clear of mineral buildup that could affect the quality of your brew.
Pros
- Built-in grinder
- Easy to use and maintain
- Thermoblock heating system
- Good build quality
Cons
- Sharp learning curve
- Slightly bulky design
Home Coffee Machine vs. Premium-Grade Coffee Machine?
The key distinction between a standard home coffee maker and a premium-grade machine lies primarily in their construction, convenience, and brew quality. Premium machines are built with higher quality materials, lending them a more robust and durable build. They also pack more features for ease of use and offer a consistent brew quality.
Some premium coffee machines boast advanced features and superior coffee brewing techniques while offering a professional coffee-making experience. However, these enhancements come with a higher price tag. Whether you opt for a standard or a premium coffee machine is a decision that hinges on your financial capacity and coffee taste preferences.
How Much Should You Be Spending on a Premium Coffee Machine?
The cost of a premium coffee machine in Australia can vary greatly depending on the brand, features, and type of machine. Generally, we recommend budgeting between $700 and $3,000 AUD. For example, the pro-grade Breville Oracle Touch starts from AUD$2,149, while the home-friendly premium coffee maker, the Bambino Plus, costs AUD$599.
It’s also important to remember that just because a machine is more expensive, it’s not necessarily better (and vice versa). Ultimately, the amount you spend on a coffee maker should be within your budget while ensuring that your best pick meets your coffee-making needs and personal preferences.
How to Choose a Premium Coffee Machine?
If you're considering a premium coffee maker, there are several key features you should look for. Here’s the top three:
- High-Quality Construction: A premium coffee maker should look and feel solid. Stainless steel is typically used, ensuring your equipment is durable and lasts years.
- Advanced Brew Settings: Advanced brew settings, including temperature control, programmable brewing choices, and customisable grind settings should be included with a high-end coffee maker. You can then adjust the coffee to your specific tastes in this way.
- Powerful Dual Boilers: A boiler is essential for creating a good cup of coffee, and premium coffee machines tend to have two boilers so you can prepare milk while a shot of coffee is pouring.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about premium coffee machines.
What makes expensive coffee machines better?
The manufacturing quality of a premium coffee machine makes an expensive or premium coffee machine better. A durable, long-lasting machine will be able to produce more consistent cups of coffee.
What is the average life of a premium coffee machine?
Premium coffee machines can last more than a decade. But this depends on the coffee maker's build quality, frequency of use, maintenance, and other variables.
How much electricity does a premium coffee machine use on average?
Depending on your specific machine and usage, you could use 600 - 1200 watts of power. But, this will vary significantly on the features of your machine. Each cup could take more time and energy if it has a built-in grinder or milk frother. Always turn off your appliances completely when not in use instead of leaving them on standby to save more energy and electricity.
How should you maintain your premium coffee maker?
As long as you’re on top of cleaning your coffee machine after each use, you’re pretty much good to go. You should also regularly change its filters, descale the machine, and store its equipment properly. Following these steps play a significant role in maintaining your machine and extending its lifespan.
Wrapping Up
Simple pleasures like a well-made cup of coffee can make a big difference in our busy lives. I've explored some of the best premium coffee machines, from customisable brewing options to sleek design aesthetics.
Embrace the luxury of convenience and quality with these top-tier coffee machines. Whether starting your day or taking a well-deserved break, these machines ensure every cup is a delightful experience.
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