Guide · Pod machines
The best coffee machines under £100
Pod, filter and budget espresso machines under £100, with UK prices checked 3 Oct 2026, what pods really cost to run, and who each machine isn't for.
What’s the best coffee machine under £100 in the UK? It depends on how you like your coffee, because £100 buys three quite different machines: a pod machine, a filter machine or a basic manual espresso machine. We’ve picked five that came in under £100 on the day we checked, plus one popular pod machine that didn’t quite make it. We haven’t tested this in person. Our picks are based on published specs, UK retailer listings and prices checked on 3 Oct 2026. Read how we compare.
For the bigger picture, our coffee machines hub explains each type, and our pod machines guide compares the pod systems in more depth.
Best coffee machine under £100: the short answer
- For the easiest cup: the Nespresso Vertuo Pop ENV90.B, £99.00 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026).
- For a compact pod machine on a smaller budget: the Dolce Gusto Genio S, £89.99 at De’Longhi UK (checked 3 Oct 2026).
- For real espresso from ground coffee: the De’Longhi Stilosa, £89.00 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change).
- For a jug of filter coffee: the Melitta Look V Perfection, £56.99 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026).
- For the lowest price: the Morphy Richards Equip 162501, £37.99 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change).
Pod machines under £100
Nespresso Vertuo Pop ENV90.B. The Vertuo Pop reads each capsule and brews it at the right size, and Currys lists six cup sizes, from a 25ml ristretto to a 355ml large mug. That’s handy if you switch between espressos and big mugs of coffee. Currys lists a 0.6-litre tank, a removable drip tray, 1,350W and a weight of 3.5kg, with some capsules in the box. It’s £99.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026 (prices can change). The Krups-made version, the XN920440, was £99.99 at Currys on the same day.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants milk drinks from the machine alone. There’s no frother in the box, so you’d need a separate one, and a 0.6-litre tank means frequent refills.
Dolce Gusto Genio S EDG226.A. The Genio S is De’Longhi’s compact machine for Nescafé Dolce Gusto capsules. De’Longhi UK lists 15-bar pressure, an XL function for larger cups and auto shut-off five minutes after the last brew, and its product data gives a 0.8-litre tank. It’s £89.99 and in stock at De’Longhi UK, checked 3 Oct 2026. We couldn’t load the Dolce Gusto UK or Argos pages to compare prices. If you want cold drinks too, our Dolce Gusto Genio S Plus review covers the step-up model.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants cold drinks or the most features, which is the Genio S Plus’s job, or anyone watching the cost per cup, as capsule prices add up. Check the price per drink on the pack before you buy.
Also under £100: Tassimo Finesse
The Tassimo Finesse is a popular cheap pod machine, and the black TAS162EGB is under £100: £89.99 at Bosch UK (checked 3 Oct 2026). The cream TAS167PGB was also listed at £89.99 at Currys but was out of stock (checked 3 Oct 2026). Currys lists a 0.7-litre tank, an IntensityBoost setting and automatic cleaning and descaling programmes, and T-discs for coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Our Tassimo Finesse review has more, though its price dates from an earlier check.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants Nespresso or Dolce Gusto capsules. The Finesse only takes Tassimo T-discs.
Pods: check the running costs first
Pod machines are cheap to buy, but you pay more over time, because every cup needs a capsule from that system. As one example, a 16-pack of Tassimo Costa Americano T-discs was £8.99 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026), or about 56p a disc. We couldn’t find current Nespresso Vertuo or Dolce Gusto capsule prices for this guide, so we’ve left them out rather than guess.
If you drink several cups a day, it’s worth comparing that with the cost of ground coffee for a filter or espresso machine, which you can buy from any shop. We haven’t priced ground coffee for this guide.
Budget espresso: De’Longhi Stilosa
De’Longhi Stilosa EC260BK. If you’d like to learn to make espresso and steam milk yourself, the Stilosa is the cheapest route here. Currys lists a 15-bar pump, a steam wand for frothing milk, a 1-litre tank, room for cups up to 110mm tall and ESE pod compatibility, with a tamper and single and double filter baskets in the box. It’s £89.00 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. Currys prices can change. It’s £126.99 at De’Longhi UK on the same day.
Who it isn’t for: anyone wanting coffee at the press of a button. You’ll be dosing, tamping and steaming by hand, and Currys lists a one-year guarantee. Our best espresso machine under £200 guide compares it with the next steps up.
Filter machines under £100
Melitta Look V Perfection. A filter machine is the simplest way to make several mugs at once. Currys lists a 1.1-litre capacity, Melitta’s AromaSelector button for milder or stronger coffee, a keep-warm setting of 20, 40 or 60 minutes before it switches itself off, and a descaling programme. It takes 1x4 paper filters, and Currys says four come in the box. It’s £56.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026 (prices can change).
Who it isn’t for: espresso and latte drinkers. It makes black filter coffee only, and you’ll need to keep buying paper filters.
Morphy Richards Equip 162501. The cheapest machine here. Currys lists a 1.2-litre jug that makes up to 10 cups, a reusable filter (so no papers to buy), a hotplate that keeps coffee warm for 40 minutes and a timer. It’s £37.99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. Currys prices can change.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants one fresh cup at a time. It’s built around a 10-cup jug and a hotplate, not single servings. Our filter coffee machines guide covers pricier options.
How to choose
- One person, one cup at a time, no fuss: a pod machine. Pick the Vertuo Pop for coffee in six sizes, or the Genio S to spend less on the machine.
- A household getting through a pot every morning: a filter machine.
- Someone curious about espresso and willing to practise: the Stilosa.
- Milky drinks most days: the Stilosa’s steam wand does the job with practice; with the Vertuo Pop or a filter machine, add a separate milk frother.
Downsides at this price
- Small tanks on the pod machines. Both listed tanks are under a litre.
- Pod costs add up. The machine price is only the start.
- No grinder anywhere. None of these grinds beans, so you’re buying pre-ground coffee or pods.
- Prices move. Currys and Bosch UK prices can change, so check on the day.
FAQ
What’s the cheapest decent coffee machine? The Morphy Richards Equip 162501 was £37.99 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change), and it makes a full jug of filter coffee.
Can you get an espresso machine under £100? Yes. The De’Longhi Stilosa was £89.00 at Currys (checked 3 Oct 2026, prices can change). It’s a manual machine, so expect a learning curve.
Is a pod machine or a filter machine cheaper to run? It depends on the coffee you buy. Pods tie you to one system’s capsules, while a filter machine takes any ground coffee, so compare the price per cup before you choose. A pod machine wins on convenience for single cups.
Do any of these froth milk? The Stilosa has a steam wand. The Vertuo Pop and the two filter machines don’t froth milk, and De’Longhi UK doesn’t list a milk frother on the Genio S.