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<Espresso coffee machines
  1. Home/
  2. Home & living/
  3. Kitchen/
  4. Espresso coffee machines/
  5. 5 of the worst coffee machines you can buy

5 of the worst coffee machines you can buy

Before you buy a coffee machine, check this list. We’ve tested dozens of espresso machines and these five scored so badly we’re telling you to avoid them.

Updated September 2026
Kate

By Kate Harvey

Writer | Kaituhi

When you’re spending big bucks on a coffee machine, you don’t want a faff every time you make a flat white, or to be let down by your long black. These coffee-addict nightmares are what you could be faced with if you mistakenly take home one of our “don’t buy” coffee machines.

Sure, some of these poor performers are cheap, but some of them cost more than $1,000. If you’re a Consumer NZ member, you can find much cheaper machines that make a much better coffee in our espresso coffee machines test results.

Thousands of dollars for a bad-tasting brew

Temperature? Terrible. Taste? Also terrible

Not the bargain it appears to be

Good luck with those instructions

The worst coffee machine in our test

These 3 cheap coffee machines are great buys

Read more:Home & livingKitchenTop tests and reviewsEspresso coffee machines

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