The most common coffee machine problems, from 24,356 verified buyers

1. The most common coffee machine problem owners report: “Broke down or developed a fault”, raised in 21% of the 1 to 3 star reviews, followed by “Hard to get a good shot, or fiddly to use” (14%).
2. What happy owners praise most: “Great-tasting, café-style coffee”, in 34% of the 4 and 5 star reviews we read.
3. 93% of verified buyers rated their coffee machine 4 or 5 stars, against 93% across every product type in our study; coffee machines rank 16 of 37 for happy buyers.
4. 4% gave 1 or 2 stars, about 1 buyer in 25.
5. Across the 14 coffee machines with 30 or more ratings, the share of happy buyers ran from 87% to 99%.
6. Paying more did not disappoint more buyers: the pricier half of these coffee machines had a median of 96% happy buyers, against 94% for the cheaper half (up to £509).
7. Owners agree with experts here: models whose expert reviews earned our “great choice” verdict had a median of 95% happy buyers, against 92% for “good with caveats”.
8. Buyers in the UK were the happiest (96% at 4 or 5 stars), and buyers in the rest of Europe the least (89%).

Share of the 1,639 reviews of 1 to 3 stars that raise each problem, grouped across models. What to check before you buy.

1. 1. Broke down or developed a fault21%
   Came up on 12 models
2. 2. Hard to get a good shot, or fiddly to use14%
   Came up on 9 models
3. 3. Weak, bitter or lukewarm coffee13%
   Came up on 13 models
4. 4. The milk frother stopped working or froths poorly8%
   Came up on 6 models
5. 5. Noisy6%
   Came up on 6 models

The problems above, most common first, and how to avoid each one. Our advice; the order comes from the reviews.

1. 1. Broke down or developed a fault (21% of complaints)

   Descaling and cleaning are what keep these machines alive: check how easy that is, use filtered water if yours is hard, and register the guarantee.

2. 2. Hard to get a good shot, or fiddly to use (14% of complaints)

   Manual machines need practice and fresh beans. If you want coffee at the press of a button, a bean-to-cup machine suits better.

3. 3. Weak, bitter or lukewarm coffee (13% of complaints)

   Fresh beans and the right grind matter more than the machine. If you like hot coffee, check reviews mention the cup temperature, and warm the cup.

4. 4. The milk frother stopped working or froths poorly (8% of complaints)

   Rinse the frother after every use: dried milk is what blocks most of them. If milk drinks are the point, check how the frother comes apart for cleaning.

5. 5. Noisy (6% of complaints)

   If it will run near a bedroom, a desk or the TV, look for a published noise figure (in decibels) and read what reviewers say about it on its normal setting.

Share of the 1,301 newest 4 and 5 star reviews we read that praise each point.

1. 1. Great-tasting, café-style coffee34%
   Came up on 16 models
2. 2. Easy to set up and use33%
   Came up on 16 models
3. 3. Froths milk well8%
   Came up on 7 models
4. 4. A wide choice of drinks and settings5%
   Came up on 4 models
5. 5. Light, compact or easy to store4%
   Came up on 6 models

Regions with 30 or more ratings, by where the shop is. Shops in each region sell different models, so a gap can come from the models as much as from the buyers.