okay so first—confession. i’m the person who owns way too many coffee gadgets. like, embarrassingly too many. french press, moka pot, an aeropress that lives in my travel backpack, plus a pod machine that i swear i was gonna use “just for guests.” spoiler: i use it way more than i admit.

so when i stumbled on this whole category of combo machines (the ones that let you do drip coffee and espresso in one machine, sometimes even froth milk without yelling at a little metal wand), i got curious. skeptical too. because usually “2-in-1” anything = meh. but we tested, sipped, spilled milk, and found some gems.

the fancy multitasker (aka De’Longhi All-in-One)

if you want the vibe of a café in your kitchen but don’t wanna play 14-button tetris before 7am—this one.

picture it: left side, portafilter, espresso action. right side, a normal 10-cup carafe just chilling. both can brew at the same time. so if your partner wants drip and you want a latte, nobody fights.

what i loved:

• it heats up quick. like, no sad staring waiting for steam.

• the frother actually… works?? and has markings for “latte foam” vs “cappuccino foam” which felt cute.

• espresso was solid, drip was actually better than expected.

what annoyed me: the drip tray leaks if you let it fill too much. (so yeah, clean it often or you’ll have a little swamp under there. been there.)

the budget buddy (Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker)

this is like… the overachiever student who still somehow has time to party. it doesn’t make “true” espresso (it’s coffee concentrate), but it does let you do lattes, iced coffee, six brew sizes, frothy milk whisk thingy.

also, it makes coffee so strong it tastes like you did a french press workout. loved it, but warning: if you’re into mild, mellow coffee? maybe not.

but for the price, it’s kinda the best “starter pack” machine.

the “i take espresso seriously” one (Espressione Stainless Steel)

sleek. stainless steel. feels pro without being a $3k monster.

this one gave us consistently smooth espresso shots—like café-level without the sour-bitter mess. also makes drip coffee for the rest of the house.

downside: espresso takes longer here vs De’Longhi. but if you’re into the ritual of tamping and waiting, maybe that’s part of the fun.

the bougie splurge (De’Longhi Dinamica Plus)

automatic grinder. 24 drink options (flat white, cortado, random café menu you didn’t even know you wanted). one button and boom, café vibes.

the grinder’s quiet—important if you don’t wanna wake the household. espresso? amazing. milk drinks? dreamy. drip coffee? ehhh. not its strong suit.

but yeah, it’s $1,799. so unless you’ve been saving, maybe skip… or not. i won’t tell.

pods but better (Bruvi BV-01)

i know, pod machines get hate. but this one? honestly impressive. seven drink types, 15 bars of pressure for espresso pods, even does cold brew in five minutes (wild).

the pods (B-Pods) are fancier than most—more grounds, less microplastic guilt. downside: only sold online.

extra perk: you can start brewing from an app in bed. (lazy luxury is real.)

the quick-change artist (Nespresso Vertuo + frother)

if you just want push-button speed—this is it. heat up in 3 seconds (seriously, we timed it). quiet too.

makes great crema on top, and coffee so strong it kinda slaps you awake. but purists will note: it’s not “real” drip coffee, more like an Americano.

the old-school charmer (Bialetti Moka Express)

this little stovetop pot has been around since the 1930s. still slaps. technically not espresso (lower pressure), but strong, rich, versatile.

also: cheap. portable. indestructible unless you melt the handle (it gets hot, careful).

bonus: available in like 12 different “cup” sizes… though their “cup” means tiny espresso shots.

the travel sidekick (AeroPress)

tiny, plastic, weird-looking. and yet. one of the best coffee makers ever invented.

you can do espresso-ish shots or regular coffee depending on ratio. takes 2 minutes. cleanup? just pop the puck of grounds out.

i once brought it camping and made the best sunrise coffee of my life. also works in hotel rooms if you’re the kind of person who refuses to drink sad lobby coffee.

random notes we learned along the way

• descaling is not optional. if you ignore it, your machine will taste like sadness and calcium deposits.

• don’t get seduced by “20 bars of pressure.” all you need is 15. marketing hype is real.

• hard water ruins things faster. filtered is better, but don’t go too pure or the coffee tastes flat.

• pod vs grounds? pods = easy, grounds = tastier. choose your battles.