Quick answer
- Cheapest: De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 (£179 at De'Longhi). £179 on De'Longhi's UK site when we checked, slim, and takes ground coffee or ESE pods.
- Best budget espresso: Sage Bambino (£329.95 at Sage). 3-second heat-up and a proper steam wand for latte-art milk.
- Cheapest bean-to-cup: De'Longhi Magnifica S (£349.99 at De'Longhi). Push-button coffee from whole beans.
- Easiest milk: Sage Bambino Plus (£399.95 at Sage). Automatic milk texturing, just under £400.
- Most features for the money: Philips 5400 Series LatteGo (£399.99 at Philips). 12 drinks and LatteGo automatic milk at £399.99 when we checked.
Side-by-side comparison
| Spec | De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685 | Sage Bambino | De'Longhi Magnifica S | Sage Bambino Plus | Philips 5400 Series LatteGo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Espresso machine | Espresso machine | Bean-to-cup | Espresso machine | Bean-to-cup |
| Price* | £179 at De'Longhi | £329.95 at Sage | £349.99 at De'Longhi | £399.95 at Sage | £399.99 at Philips |
| Built-in grinder | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Grind settings | — | — | 13 | — | 12 (ceramic) |
| Milk | Manual frother (Adjustable Cappuccino System) | Manual steam wand | Manual frother | Automatic steam wand (3 temperatures, 3 textures) | Automatic LatteGo (tubeless, 2 parts) |
| Tamping | Manual | Manual (tamper included) | Automatic | Manual | Automatic |
| Heating / brewing | Thermoblock | ThermoJet, ready in 3 seconds | 15 bar pump | ThermoJet, ready in 3 seconds | 15 bar pump |
| Drinks | Espresso; accepts ground coffee and ESE pods | Espresso; milk drinks via steam wand | Espresso, lungo, two cups at once; hot water and steam | Espresso; lattes and cappuccinos with automatic milk | 12 hot and iced drinks |
| Size (W × D × H) | 14.9 × 33 × 30.5 cm | 30.2 × 15.4 × 34.2 cm (as listed by Sage) | 23 × 34 × 43 cm | 19.4 × 36.2 × 30.4 cm | Check retailer listing |
| Buy | Check price | Check price | Check price | Check price | Check price |
*Prices checked 27 September 2026. "At [brand]" is the brand's own UK price; RRP and "from" prices come from UK retailers and price comparison sites. Prices change often, so check before you buy. Specs are from manufacturers' official pages.
Cheapest De'Longhi Dedica Style EC685
£179 on De'Longhi's UK site when we checked, slim, and takes ground coffee or ESE pods. A slim, low-cost espresso machine, just 14.9 cm wide, that takes ground coffee or ESE pods.
Choose it for
- Only 14.9 cm wide: De'Longhi's slimmest espresso machine
- Accepts ground coffee and ESE pods
- Thermoblock heating
Think twice if
- You want a grinder or café-style microfoam with minimal practice.
£179 at De'Longhi · Price on De'Longhi's UK website, checked 27 September 2026. Reduced from £229.99. Prices change often.
Best budget espresso Sage Bambino
3-second heat-up and a proper steam wand for latte-art milk. Sage's cheapest espresso machine: fast 3-second ThermoJet heat-up and a proper steam wand, but no grinder.
Choose it for
- ThermoJet heating: ready in about 3 seconds
- 54 mm portafilter with single and dual-wall baskets
- Low-pressure pre-infusion, then 9 bar extraction
Think twice if
- You want hands-off milk (see the Bambino Plus) or a built-in grinder.
£329.95 at Sage · Price on Sage's UK website, checked 27 September 2026. Prices change often.
Cheapest bean-to-cup De'Longhi Magnifica S
Push-button coffee from whole beans. A long-running, no-frills bean-to-cup machine: grinds, doses and brews at the press of a button, with a manual milk frother.
Choose it for
- Grinds, tamps and brews automatically
- Twin-shot: two coffees at once
- 1.8 litre water tank
Think twice if
- You want automatic milk drinks (see the Magnifica Evo or Philips 5400).
£349.99 at De'Longhi · Price on De'Longhi's UK website, checked 27 September 2026. Prices change often.
Easiest milk Sage Bambino Plus
Automatic milk texturing, just under £400. A compact espresso machine that textures milk for you. No grinder, so pair it with one or use pre-ground coffee.
Choose it for
- Hands-free automatic milk texturing: 3 temperatures × 3 textures
- Only 19.4 cm wide
- ThermoJet heating: ready in about 3 seconds
Think twice if
- You want an all-in-one machine that grinds beans.
£399.95 at Sage · Price on Sage's UK website, checked 27 September 2026. Prices change often.
Most features for the money Philips 5400 Series LatteGo
12 drinks and LatteGo automatic milk at £399.99 when we checked. A feature-packed bean-to-cup machine with 12 drinks and Philips' easy-clean LatteGo milk system.
Choose it for
- 12 hot and iced drinks
- LatteGo milk system: two parts, no tubes
- Ceramic grinder with 12 settings
Think twice if
- You want to control the shot yourself like a barista.
£399.99 at Philips · Price on Philips's UK website, checked 27 September 2026. Reduced from £619.99 (Philips' suggested retail price). Prices change often.
How we chose
We shortlisted popular machines sold by major UK retailers, then compared them on the specs that most affect daily use: whether there's a built-in grinder, how milk is made, how much the machine automates, size, and UK price. Each "best for" label reflects a specific need, not an overall score.
Want to filter by your own budget and needs? Try the coffee machine finder.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best coffee machine under £400?
It depends on how you drink coffee. For push-button convenience and milky drinks, the Philips 5400 LatteGo offered the most features at its £399.99 price when we checked. For learning espresso, the Sage Bambino or Bambino Plus. On the tightest budget, the De'Longhi Dedica.
Do cheap espresso machines need a grinder?
The Dedica, Bambino and Bambino Plus don't have grinders. You can use pre-ground coffee, but a separate burr grinder improves espresso and adds to the total cost.