Guide · Espresso machines
The best coffee machines for lattes at home
Machines with a built-in way to froth milk, from one-touch LatteGo and LatteCrema to steam wands and Nespresso pods, with UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026.
Looking for the best coffee machine for lattes in the UK? The machine matters less than the way it handles milk. Some do the whole drink at one touch, some give you a steam wand to learn on, and some pod machines have a milk jug built in. We’ve grouped our picks by milk system, with a price for each, so you can match the machine to how much effort you want to put in. We haven’t tested this in person. Our picks are based on published specs and UK retailer listings and prices checked on 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
If you already own a machine and only need a way to froth milk, this isn’t the page for you: our best milk frothers guide covers stand-alone jugs and handhelds.
Milk systems explained: which suits your lattes?
A latte is espresso with a lot of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam. Every machine here makes the espresso part; the difference is how the milk gets heated and foamed.
- Manual steam wand. A metal pipe that blows steam into a jug of milk you hold. It takes practice, but it gives you the most control, and it’s the only route to proper latte art. You’ll need a stainless steel milk jug with a good spout.
- Automatic steam wand. Still a wand and a jug, but the machine controls the temperature and texture for you. Sage’s Bambino Plus works this way.
- Philips LatteGo. A two-part plastic milk jug that clips on to the front of a bean-to-cup machine. The machine draws milk through it and froths it as the drink pours.
- De’Longhi LatteCrema. A milk carafe on De’Longhi bean-to-cup machines that foams the milk automatically and has a cleaning cycle after each drink.
- Pod machine with milk. Nespresso’s Lattissima machines have a small milk jug built in, and some Vertuo bundles come with a separate Aeroccino frother.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants to pour latte art. One-touch systems pour the milk for you, so only a steam wand lets you shape it.
Best coffee machine for lattes: the short answer
- For one-touch lattes from beans: the Philips Series 5400 LatteGo EP5446/70, £619.99 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change).
- For one-touch lattes for less: the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo ECAM290.61.SB, check price at De’Longhi UK.
- For learning to steam milk with help: the Sage Bambino Plus, £399.99 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change).
- For grinding beans and steaming by hand: the Sage Barista Express, £629.99 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change).
- For the lowest price with a steam wand: the De’Longhi Dedica EC685BK, £149.00 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change).
- For pod lattes with no fuss: the Nespresso Lattissima One, £259.99 at De’Longhi UK (checked 3 Oct 2026).
One-touch bean-to-cup machines
Philips Series 5400 LatteGo EP5446/70. This is the pick if you want to press a button and get a latte from fresh beans. Currys lists 12 drink programmes, including caffè latte, latte macchiato, flat white and cappuccino. It also lists a 260ml LatteGo milk container, a ceramic grinder with 12 settings, a 1.8-litre tank and a 275g bean hopper, with dishwasher-safe parts and a two-year guarantee. It’s £619.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026 (prices can change). Our Philips 5400 LatteGo review goes into more detail.
If you don’t need 12 drinks, the Philips Series 3300 LatteGo EP3347/90 uses the same 260ml jug and lists six drinks, including latte, cappuccino and iced coffee, plus Wi-Fi for Philips’ app. It’s £569.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026 (prices can change).
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants to pour latte art, or who has a small budget. You can’t steer the foam, and you’re paying a lot for the convenience.
De’Longhi Magnifica Evo ECAM290.61.SB. This version of the Magnifica Evo comes with De’Longhi’s LatteCrema Hot carafe. De’Longhi UK lists five one-touch drinks, including cappuccino and a MyLatte button that uses all the milk you pour into the carafe, so there’s none left over to store. It also lists a 15-bar pump, room for cups up to 140mm tall and an automatic clean after each milk drink. Check price at De’Longhi UK. The Titanium ECAM290.83.TB has seven one-touch drinks, including latte macchiato, and was £579.99 at De’Longhi UK on the same day.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants a dedicated latte button on the cheaper model. The 61.SB’s drink list doesn’t name one, so you’d use MyLatte or cappuccino and adjust from there.
For more machines in this style, see our bean-to-cup machines under £500.
Steam wand machines
Sage Bambino Plus SES500. The Bambino Plus is the in-between option: you make the espresso yourself, but the wand textures the milk automatically. Currys lists three settings (single espresso, double espresso and automatic milk texturing), a 1.9-litre tank, 1,600W and a footprint of 310 x 195 x 320mm. In the box there’s a 480ml stainless steel jug, a 54mm tamper, a dosing tool and dual-wall baskets. It’s £399.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026 (prices can change). Our Sage Bambino vs Bambino Plus comparison has the full detail.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who doesn’t already have a grinder. There isn’t one built in, so you’ll need ground coffee or a separate grinder.
Sage Barista Express BES875. This one adds a built-in conical burr grinder to a manual steam wand. Currys lists 16 grind settings, a 250g bean hopper, a 2-litre tank, a 15-bar pump and a dedicated hot water outlet, with a milk jug in the box. It’s £629.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026 (prices can change).
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants lattes without any learning. Grinding, tamping and steaming by hand all take practice.
De’Longhi Dedica EC685BK. The cheapest way into steam-wand lattes on this list. Currys lists a 15-bar pump, a 1-litre tank, a steam setting and a slim 149mm width, and it also takes ESE pods. It’s £149.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. Currys prices can change. Note that Currys lists a one-year manufacturer’s guarantee, shorter than the others here.
Who it isn’t for: anyone without a grinder or a jug, as neither is in the box (Currys lists two filters and a tamper).
Pod machines with milk
Nespresso Lattissima One EN510.W. If you’d rather not deal with beans at all, the Lattissima One makes milk drinks from Nespresso Original pods. De’Longhi UK lists a 1-litre tank, a 0.165-litre milk jug and recipes for cappuccino, latte macchiato and espresso macchiato, along with espresso and a long coffee. There’s also a descaling alert. It’s £259.99 at De’Longhi UK, checked 3 Oct 2026. Our Lattissima One review covers it in depth.
Who it isn’t for: households making several lattes in a row. A 0.165-litre jug is small, so you’ll be refilling it often.
Nespresso Vertuo with Aeroccino (XN911NG0). This Vertuo bundle comes with a separate Aeroccino frother, which Currys says makes hot or cold froth. It also lists a 1.1-litre tank, cup sizes from a 40ml espresso to a 545ml carafe and a 12-pod welcome set. It’s £99.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants to buy supermarket pods. Vertuo machines only take Nespresso’s own Vertuo capsules.
Downsides to weigh up
- One-touch milk costs more. The LatteGo and LatteCrema machines cost hundreds of pounds more than a basic steam wand machine.
- Steam wands take practice. You’ll waste some milk while you learn, and you’ll need a jug.
- Cleaning. Every milk system needs cleaning after use. De’Longhi lists an automatic clean for LatteCrema and Currys lists dishwasher-safe parts for the LatteGo machine, but you still have to wash the jug or carafe.
- Pods lock you in. Pod running costs depend on the system, and Vertuo only takes Nespresso’s own capsules. We couldn’t check Nespresso’s pod prices for this guide.
- Prices move. De’Longhi UK and Currys prices change often, so check on the day.
FAQ
What type of coffee machine is best for lattes? It depends on how involved you want to be. A one-touch bean-to-cup machine with LatteGo or LatteCrema is the easiest. A steam wand machine gives you more control over the milk.
Can I make a latte with a pod machine? Yes, if it has a milk system. The Lattissima One has a built-in milk jug, and some Vertuo bundles include an Aeroccino frother. Otherwise you’ll need a separate frother.
Do I need a milk jug? For steam wand machines, yes. The Bambino Plus and Barista Express come with one. The Dedica doesn’t, according to Currys’ box list.
Which machine is cheapest for lattes? Of our picks, the Dedica EC685BK is the cheapest with a steam wand, at £149.00 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change). The Vertuo and Aeroccino bundle was £99.00 at Currys on the same day; prices can change.