6 Best Super Automatic Coffee and Espresso Machines

Wow! We are in love with this Jura super-automatic. It’s that cool. It’s just so expensive. Otherwise, it would be our top fave. The front features aluminum plating, but the sides are plastic – which is a bit of a bummer, but it certainly doesn’t detract from the performance of this appliance.

The digital display is totally intuitive and you get a lot of options – each one is easy to identify and select. You get 5 coffee strengths, 3 brewing temperatures, and 17 pre-programmed specialty drinks. With the ability to add milk to the mix without an extra step, you can color us impressed. Plus, there are 2 grinders and hoppers so you can actually brew two different cups at the same time. Wish you had the funds? We don’t blame you.

Bean reservoir and grinding: Wow! If you’re not interested in continually re-filling the bean hopper, you’re going to fall in love with this coffee maker. You get two hoppers and each one holds 9.88 ounces of coffee. Yep – nearly 20 pounds of coffee. You can also choose between 5 programmable strengths.

Water reservoir size: There’s a wonderfully sized water reservoir on this Jura super-automatic. It can hold up to 87 ounces of water which is one of the largest sizes available and there are two separate pumps so your coffee is brewed efficiently.

Milk and frothing options: If cappuccino is your thing, this is the machine you want. Connecting a milk container (the manual suggests a vacuum-sealed, cooler-styled chamber), is relatively simple. This allows you to achieve perfect milky coffee without an extra step. It also moves seamlessly between milk and milk froth or foam, so you don’t need to worry about it. If there was such a thing as super-super-automatic, this is what it looks like.

Cup warmers and water spouts: The coffee spouts are adjustable for different-sized cups (and you can go fairly tall on them too). There’s also a hot water spout for making tea and hot chocolate for those that aren’t tied to their coffee. But, there isn’t a cup warmer in the mix.

Energy use: This isn’t great on energy consumption. It operates at 2300 watts, though the standby keeps it at .5 watts and that’s enough to make sure you don’t have a long start-up time before your first cup of coffee.

Maintenance requirements: It’s a rather intense little machine that wants to take all the pressure it possibly can off of your back. There’s an auto descaling and cleaning process that happens without you worrying about it. It’s essentially a self-cleaning machine that never requires you to remove parts to keep it in pristine condition.

Bottom line: It’s bloody expensive. The MSRP is $7,500. Now, you’re likely to pay less than $6,000. And, if you can afford it, then you want this machine. It may not be the best-looking machine, but it’s far from ugly and it does everything you’ve ever wanted in a super-automatic. If it were cheaper, we would expect it to be more popular. But, it’s really only for those that are serious about their coffee or for small offices.

This is a solid machine given the price. Sure, it’s not perfect, but it’s relatively inexpensive. The LED display is prepared to talk you through everything you need to know. And you’ll appreciate that because there are so many options – light or strong, long or short. And, it will save your preferences for the next cup too.

The water filter is powerful and works with four stages for super pure water for delicious coffee. Now it is on the noisy side, the water reservoir is small, and a lot of the machine is made with plastic. You also don’t have any control over water temperature. But, if you want a terrific cup of coffee on a budget, this is the (wonderfully compact) appliance for you.

Bean reservoir and grinding: The bean hopper offers slightly more than average space with 8 ounces. You can choose whether you want a strong or weaker cup of coffee and you can use a variety of beans. There’s also a doser bypass that allows you to work with pre-ground coffee. That’s a bonus if you need tp make a lot of cups in a short amount of time.

Water reservoir size: You may get a slightly larger bean hopper, but the water reservoir is smaller. It holds a mere 1.2 liters. That’s 40 ounces, in case you’re wondering. The water tank is removable, and you’ll need to do a lot of that since it’s so small. But, the multi-stage water filter is impressive.

Milk and frothing options: There’s a frothing wand, but no milk tank. This steam wand also doubles as a separate spout for hot water.

Cup warmers and water spouts: There is a cup warmer, a steam wand which doubles as a water spout, and you have the opportunity to brew two cups at the same time. That said, you are working with limited cup sizes. The max is just over 4.25”. Then again, you’ll probably work with espresso cups, so it’s really not that big of a deal.

Energy use: It operates at 1400 watts and there is an auto shut-off feature. That makes this inexpensive machine just about average on the power front.

Maintenance requirements: There’s a self-rinse function that’s activated every time the machine moves between standby and operational phases. There’s an indicator on the display screen to let you know if you need to service and descale the machine. During the first 2 years, you’ve got a warranty to cover any replacement parts you need – and you can find replacements fairly easily after that point.

Bottom line: It’s a really good price for the function that you get. But there are design flaws, or rather, construction flaws. Too many parts are made with plastic. If you occasionally use the machine, you won’t experience too many issues. But if you use it daily, you will need to keep an eye on that. Most users don’t have problems and find the tradeoff between price and bonus features to be exactly what they’re looking for.

This compact model is remarkably similar to DeLonghi’s 3300 super-automatic – it’s just smaller. And, that’s what a lot of people need. On the downside, it’s made of plastic and the angle between the hopper and the grinder leaves a little to be desired. It’s also a little louder than comparable models, though not by much. But that’s about the only things we can complain about.

The fully programmable digital display allows you to make the adjustments you want. There are five strength settings between mild and strong and you can choose cup sizes too. Plus, there is the option to brew 2 cups at once and use pre-ground coffee if you really want to go that route. How can you go wrong this coffee maker? We don’t know either.

Bean reservoir and grinding: Interestingly, the hopper for the beans isn’t that small. You can fit 8.8 ounces of beans inside. Though, you will need to watch that the beans are making it into the grinder – the angle isn’t the best. Although it can automatically handle the grinding, you’ll also be happy to note that you can use pre-ground beans if that’s your style.

Water reservoir size: The water reservoir is actually quite a decent size considering the overall dimension of this DeLonghi super-automatic. You can put 60 ounces in it (1.8 liters) and there’s a built-in filtration system and an empty water indicator.

Milk and frothing options: The frothing system is patented and it’s rather brilliant at what it does. You can expect a rich and creamy froth. Pretty great, eh?

Cup warmers and water spouts: Yep, you get both. That’s a nice touch for such a small appliance.

Energy use: If you’re looking for a greener home, you’ll be happy with this super-automatic, which operates at 1150 watts. It’s the energy-saving switch that lets you save up to 77% of your energy consumption.

Maintenance requirements: It’s a self-cleaning system for the most part. Despite the water filter, you should expect a calcification build-up over time. But, there is a decalcification indicator as well, so you’ll know when you need to take steps.

Bottom line: This compact super-automatic is still under $1,000. In fact, the MSRP is $900. You’ll pay less on Amazon, usually under the $750 mark. And, we absolutely love it. We think you will too.

You need to spend some time thinking this purchase through before pushing the buy button. That’s because this is technically classed as a semi-automatic, not a super-automatic. The difference is in the amount of work you need to do. However, since you can get it all done without another appliance, it’s closer to the super range. Still, you must do more than press a single button for an incredible cup of coffee.

The one thing that we really and truly appreciate about this machine is the automatic water temperature adjustments. You can choose between one and two cup sizes, and there’s a manual override. The hopper and reservoir are the right size and although you hear the grinding, it’s not oppressive. Plus, it’s all housed in a classically stylish stainless steel body. Nice, right?

Bean reservoir and grinding: The bean hopper holds as much as a half pound of beans. You do have control over the size and amount of the grind. The dials are easy to read And there’s also a double-walled filter basket if you prefer.

Water reservoir size: The water reservoir is 67 ounces which is the same as 2 liters of water. It is removable and there is a replaceable water filer to cut down on mineral deposits.

Milk and frothing options: It’s basic at best. If you need frothed milk, this isn’t the machine for you. That said, stainless steel frothing pitchers and practice might make this a viable machine for you.

Cup warmers and water spouts: Neither really. Move along if you need that as part of your routine.

Energy use: It’s a bit higher on the energy usage than other models. But, you will only draw the 1600 watts when you’re using this machine. It’s not going to suck that constantly.

Maintenance requirements: There’s a handy “clean me” light when you need to deal with that and there’s a cleaning kit included in the package. The drip tray is removable and you also get a reminder light for that action. It’s not a machine you can keep pristine during operation, but the stainless steel construction helps.

Bottom line: It’s spot on price wise for a semi-automatic, but inexpensive if you class it with the super automatics. What’s the difference? A lot of finicky dials and settings. If you’re a barista, you’ll appreciate the control. If all you want to do is push a single button for a terrific cup of espresso, this machine is not for you. However, the full experience is here, even if you have to work for it.

Jura has set the bar high for super automatic coffee makers over the years. As soon as you begin using this appliance, you will completely (and instantly) understand why. Though it has a plastic exterior, it’s quit resilient and available in solid black or black with platinum. The single rotary switch keeps it simple, though you still have choices.

The display is basic (plain text) and you will probably need to refer to the manual every now and again for the first couple of weeks. But, once you get the hang of it, you’ll be so happy you made the investment. Sure, you think you need more options for the price, but this coffee maker proves that you don’t.

Bean reservoir and grinding: You can store up to 200 grams of beans in the machine. Just so you don’t have to look that up, it’s about 7 ounces. And, it’s the grinding function of this Jura super automatic that sets it apart from the competition. It works with a unique cutting angle to halve the time spent grinding. That’s a good thing as this machine isn’t exactly quiet.

Water reservoir size: The water reservoir is 1.9 liters. And, again, we’ll do that math for you. It’s a little more than 64 ounces. That’s actually not a huge amount of water. Sure, you probably won’t get through it in a day (unless you use this in an office), but it’s not exceptional.

Milk and frothing options: There is a milk frother that Jura loves to rave about – and they’re not wrong to do so. It really creates a feather-light consistency as it claims to do, though it doesn’t seem as though it would be as powerful as all that.

Cup warmers and water spouts: Sadly, there isn’t a cup warmer with this machine, but you can brew 2 cups at a time. There is also a convenient water spout, which you can use to give your mug a quick warm just before brewing. And, the primary spout is adjustable so you can use different mugs and cups.

Energy use: For a European machine, this isn’t as energy efficient as one might want. It uses 1450 watts. Sure, that shouldn’t make or break your decision to get this machine, but it’s not as resourceful as we would like.

Maintenance requirements: The drip trays are removable and there are programs for descaling, cleaning, and rinsing. You’ll want to do that every couple of months to keep this machine running as it should. Of course, you won’t struggle to find replacement parts, but we doubt you’ll need them.

Bottom line: It’s not the cheapest machine, but it’s easily at the top of its game. The machine is intuitive and offers clean lines. More than that, it makes an incredible cup of coffee without overcomplicating your life. You’ll know what we mean as soon as you enjoy your first cup. Enjoy!