Have you ever wondered why your automatic espresso machine sometimes makes a perfect shot, and other times it tastes… just okay? You buy good beans, you clean your machine, but the results still vary. It can be frustrating when you want that rich, consistent morning cup without the guesswork.
Choosing the right coffee is the secret ingredient most people miss. Different beans behave differently inside those automatic grinders and brewers. Some beans clog the system, others produce too little crema, and some simply do not deliver the flavor you crave from a true espresso. Finding the balance between bean quality, roast level, and machine performance feels like a complicated puzzle.
This guide cuts through the confusion. We will show you exactly what to look for in coffee when you own an automatic espresso machine. You will learn which roasts work best, why grind settings matter even if your machine does the grinding, and how to stop wasting money on beans that just won’t cooperate with your automatic setup.
Ready to unlock the best espresso your machine can possibly make? Let’s dive into the world of coffee tailored specifically for automatic perfection.
Top Coffee For Automatic Espresso Machine Recommendations
- 5 AROMATIC COFFEES: Enjoy your favorite coffees for special moments. Whether you crave an espresso, coffee, americano, cappuccino or a latte macchiato, your fully automatic espresso machine delivers a perfect in-cup result with no hassle and in no time.
- INTUITIVE TOUCH DISPLAY: The irresistible taste and aroma of coffee from fresh beans is just one touch away. Our intuitive touch display allows you to easily select your favorite coffee.
- PERFECT TEMPERATURE AND AROMA: The Aroma Extract system intelligently strikes the optimum balance between brewing temperature and aroma extraction.
- 2 PARTS, NO TUBES MILK SYSTEM: Our 2 parts milk system has no tubes or hidden parts and can be cleaned in as little as 15 seconds under tap or in the dishwasher.
- AQUACLEAN FILTER: By changing the filter after being prompted by the machine, you will not need to descale your machine for up to 5,000 cups, while enjoying clear and purified water.
- 5 ONE-TOUCH RECIPES: Enjoy Latte Macchiato, Cappuccino, Espresso, Coffee, and Hot Water at the touch of a button. Easily adjust the intensity to fit your preference.
- PERFECT GRINDING: 13 grind settings means all of your bean varieties are optimally prepared for extraction. The conical burr grinder delivers a precise, consistent dose of freshly ground coffee for all your favorite espresso beverages.
- LATTECREMA SYSTEM: De'Longhi's proprietary technology textures both milk and milk alternatives. The automatic system delivers creamy frothed milk leaving you with a perfect result. The milk carafe can be stored in the fridge to keep fresh when not in use.
- EASY TO CLEAN: Removable and dishwasher-safe parts for easy clean up.
- 【Make Favorite Espresso Coffee by Yourself】The espresso machine with milk frother allows you to prepare all your favorite espresso-based coffees. You can enjoy a barista-brewed latte, cappuccino or macchiato at home. This compact espresso coffee maker is perfect for home or office use
- 【Professional 20 Bar Pressure System】The 20-bar system ensures optimal 9-10 bar pressure is maintained throughout the shot, fully saturating the coffee powder to extract deeper, more complex flavors and that coveted golden crema—turning your kitchen into a specialty coffee shop.
- 【NTC Precision Temp Control Extract】 Solve inconsistent flavor for good. This espresso machine temperature control system locks onto the 90-96°C sweet spot and preheats in just 30 seconds. Whether you're extracting fruity light roasts or rich dark roasts, every shot accurately reveals the beans’ true profile.
- 【Making Dense Milk Foam】From Flat Milk to Velvety Microfoam in Seconds. Our powerful steam wand delivers dry, focused steam—not weak bubbles. This gives you dense, glossy microfoam with the perfect texture for latte art and a naturally sweet flavor that melds seamlessly with your espresso.
- 【Auto Espresso & Manual Extraction】This espresso machine has added a function of manual extraction. You can customize the extraction time to get coffee of different concentrations. Manual function max takes 102 seconds and will get 180-350 grams of coffee. Espresso Mode will auto extraction 28 seconds to get a single shot espresso(25-40 grams), or 42 seconds to get a double shot espresso(55-85 grams)
- With Philips 1200 Series enjoy the delicious taste and aroma of coffee from fresh beans at the perfect temperature.Filter type:Reusable
- Classic Milk Frother System: Dispenses steam, allowing you to easily prepare silky smooth milk froth for your cappuccino
- Intuitive Touch Display: Select the perfect coffee for your mood with just one touch
- My Coffee Choice Menu: Adjust the strength and quantity of your beverage and choose from three different settings to suit your preferences. The Aroma Extract system intelligently strikes the optimum balance between brewing temperature and aroma extraction by keeping the water temperature between 90 and 98°C
- Powerful Filter and Easy Maintenance: Thanks to the AquaClean, enjoy clear and purified water - by changing the filter after being prompted by the machine, you will not need to descale your machine for up to 5000 cups
- 3 ONE-TOUCH RECIPES: Enjoy Espresso, Coffee, and Americano at the touch of a button. Easily adjust the intensity to fit your preference.
- PERFECT GRINDING: 13 grind settings means all of your bean varieties are optimally prepared for extraction. The conical burr grinder delivers a precise, consistent dose of freshly ground coffee for all your favorite espresso beverages.
- MANUAL FROTHER: Traditional milk frother to easily prepare perfectly textured foam with milk and milk alternatives. Craft your favorite drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, and more.
- EASY TO CLEAN: Removable and dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning.
- 20 PRESETS, ENDLESS COMBINATIONS: Hot drinks like espresso, coffee, lattes, and cappuccinos, to iced coffee, or simply hot water, take your pick. Top your coffee with silky smooth milk with our proprietary milk system.
- YOUR COFFEE IN ONE TOUCH, TAILORED TO YOU: Automatically grinds, tamps and brews at the push of a buttonon the intuitive color display. Adjust strength, volume and milk preferences and save up to 4 profiles to return to your favorites each time.
- LATTEGO PROPRIETARY MILK SYSTEM: Frothed. Foamed. Your milk, your way, automatically. LatteGo is the fastest to clean milk system ever: 3 parts, no internal tubes or hidden compartments. Dishwasher safe or can be rinsed clean in 10 seconds.
- FAST & QUIET BREWING: Ready when you are. Ready-to-brew in 3 seconds with QuickStart. Prepare your coffee in peace thanks to SilentBrew’s sound shielding and quiet grinding, certified by Quiet Mark. 40% quieter than earlier models.
- INVEST IN YOU: Love café-quality coffee? Bring it home with the No.1* Super Automatic Espresso Machine in Canada and the US combined.* Skip the daily $6 coffee shop run, Philips pays for itself in about 6.5 months.
- 5 PRESETS, ENDLESS COMBINATIONS: Espresso, coffee, espresso lungo, iced coffee, or simply hot water, take your pick. Top your coffee with silky smooth milk using our classic milk system.
- YOUR COFFEE IN ONE TOUCH, TAILORED TO YOU: Automatically grinds, tamps and brews at the push of a button with our intuitive full color display. Easily adjust the strength and volume of your beverage so it's just the way you like it every time.
- MILK FROTHING MADE EASY: With the classic milk frother, easily steam or froth milk and plant based alternatives. Add to your coffee for the perfect latte or cappuccino, or use for hot chocolate, tea or matcha!
- INVEST IN YOU: Love café-quality coffee? Bring it home with the No.1 Super Automatic Espresso Machine in the US and Canada combined.* Skip the daily $6 coffee shop run, Philips pays forabout three months.**
- POWERFUL FILTER AND EASY MAINTENANCE: Thanks to the AquaClean filter, by changing the filter after being prompted by the machine, you will not need to descale your machine for up to 5,000* cups, while enjoying clear and purified water.
- Easily make espresso, coffee, lattes, iced lattes and iced coffee at home in minutes
- 3 ONE-TOUCH RECIPES: Enjoy Espresso, Coffee, and Americano at the touch of a button. Easily adjust the intensity to fit your preference.
- PERFECT GRINDING: 13 grind settings means all of your bean varieties are optimally prepared for extraction. The conical burr grinder delivers a precise, consistent dose of freshly ground coffee for all your favorite espresso beverages.
- MANUAL FROTHER: Traditional milk frother to easily prepare perfectly textured foam with milk and milk alternatives. Craft your favorite drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, and more.
- EASY TO CLEAN: Removable and dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning.
Choosing the Best Coffee for Your Automatic Espresso Machine: A Simple Buying Guide
Your automatic espresso machine deserves great coffee. Good beans make amazing espresso. Bad beans make watery, bitter drinks. This guide helps you pick the perfect coffee for your machine.
Key Features to Look For
When buying coffee, a few things really matter for automatic machines:
- Roast Level: Most automatic machines work best with Medium or Medium-Dark roasts. Light roasts can sometimes be too acidic or hard for the machine’s grinder to handle perfectly. Very dark roasts can leave oily residue inside the machine, which is hard to clean.
- Grind Setting (If Pre-Ground): If you buy pre-ground coffee, look for a grind labeled “Espresso” or “Fine.” However, automatic machines usually have built-in grinders. If you use pre-ground, make sure it is *not* too fine (like powder), or it will clog your system.
- Freshness Date: Coffee tastes best shortly after roasting. Look for a “Roasted On” date, not just an expiration date. Aim for coffee roasted within the last 2-4 weeks.
Important Materials (Bean Type)
Coffee beans primarily come from two plants: Arabica and Robusta.
- Arabica Beans: These beans offer better flavor. They taste smoother, sweeter, and more complex. Most high-quality espresso blends use Arabica. They are usually the best choice for home automatic machines.
- Robusta Beans: Robusta has more caffeine. It creates a thicker, richer layer of foam (crema) on top of your espresso. However, Robusta often tastes stronger or slightly rubbery. Many professional blends mix a small amount of Robusta with Arabica for better crema.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
What makes your espresso great or terrible?
Factors That Improve Quality:
- Whole Bean Only: Always buy whole beans. Grinding beans right before brewing releases the best flavor. Your automatic machine handles this step for you!
- Proper Storage: Store beans in an airtight container away from light, heat, and moisture. Oxygen destroys flavor quickly.
- Single Origin vs. Blends: Blends are designed to be balanced and consistent year-round. Single-origin beans offer unique flavors from one farm but can change slightly with the harvest.
Factors That Reduce Quality:
- Oily Beans: Very dark roasts often look shiny and oily. These oils can gum up the internal grinder and brewing unit of your automatic machine. Stick to low-oil beans.
- Stale Coffee: Coffee that sits on the shelf for months tastes flat. Flavor vanishes fast after roasting.
- Incorrect Water Quality: While not the bean itself, bad-tasting water (too hard or too soft) ruins even the best beans. Use filtered water if your tap water tastes strongly of chlorine or minerals.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about how you use your machine every day.
- Daily Drinker (High Volume): If you make 4-6 drinks daily, buy larger bags (12oz or 1lb) of a consistent blend. Look for value, but don’t sacrifice freshness.
- Occasional User (Low Volume): If you only make one or two drinks a week, buy smaller bags (8oz). This ensures you finish the bag before the flavor fades too much.
- Milk Drink Focus: If you mainly drink lattes or cappuccinos, choose a medium roast blend. The milk sweetness balances the espresso’s inherent bitterness better than very light roasts do.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Espresso Machine Coffee
Q: Should I use light, medium, or dark roast coffee?
A: Medium or Medium-Dark roasts usually work best. They balance flavor and avoid leaving too much oil residue inside the machine.
Q: Can I use pre-ground coffee in my automatic machine?
A: You can, but it is not recommended. Automatic machines have built-in grinders for a reason: freshness. If you must use pre-ground, make sure it is not too powdery.
Q: Does the type of bean (Arabica vs. Robusta) matter?
A: Yes. Arabica provides better flavor. Robusta adds caffeine and thick crema but can taste harsher.
Q: How fresh does the coffee need to be?
A: Coffee tastes best when used between 4 days and 4 weeks after the roast date. Always check the “Roasted On” date.
Q: Will oily beans hurt my machine?
A: Yes, oily beans from very dark roasts can clog the grinder chute and the internal brewing unit over time.
Q: How should I store my coffee beans?
A: Store them in an airtight container. Keep them away from heat, light, and moisture. Do not store them in the freezer or refrigerator.
Q: What is “crema”?
A: Crema is the reddish-brown foam layer on top of a shot of espresso. Good beans and a good grind create excellent crema.
Q: Is buying expensive coffee always better for these machines?
A: Not necessarily. A good quality, fresh medium roast blend will perform better than an expensive, stale, light roast.
Q: My espresso tastes bitter. What coffee should I try next?
A: Try a slightly lighter roast or check your machine’s settings. Bitterness often means the coffee was ground too fine or brewed too long/hot.
Q: Do I need to buy coffee specifically labeled “For Espresso Machines”?
A: No. Most quality whole bean coffee works well. The term just means the roast level is usually suitable for pressurized brewing.
Hi, I’m Larry Fish, the mind behind MyGrinderGuide.com.. With a passion for all things kitchen appliances, I created this blog to share my hands-on experience and expert knowledge. Whether it’s helping you choose the right tools for your culinary adventures or offering tips to make your kitchen more efficient, I’m here to guide you. My goal is to make your time in the kitchen not only easier but also enjoyable! Welcome to my world of kitchen mastery!