Report: Espresso machines Updated 28-Feb-2008

Crema of the crop

Become a home barista with an espresso machine of your own. We've tested 11 models in our search for excellent home-brewed coffee.

Café-style coffee at home sounds ideal - but can a home espresso machine deliver it? We find out.

We also bring you tips for making great coffee, explain what to look for in an espresso machine, and interview local personality Oscar Kightley about his love of a good coffee.

Models we testedThis report gives test results and recommendations for the following manual and semi-automatic espresso machines, listed alphabetically.

Breville 800ES Breville BarVista BES200 Breville Ikon BES400 DeLonghi Le Cube EN185.M + Aeroccino Isomac Viper Krups Pump Espresso XP 4020 Krups XP 4050 Starbucks Barista Sunbeam Café Espresso Stainless EM3800 Sunbeam Café Latte EM5600 Sunbeam Café Series Twin Thermoblock System

EM6910

ChecklistIf you're thinking of buying an espresso machine, here's what you should look for.

Manual or automatic?Automatic espresso machines have one big advantage over manual models - convenience. You simply pour the coffee beans into the hopper, fill the tank with water and press the coffee button.

But, the automatic models we've tested in the past were disappointing. If café quality espresso is more important to you than convenience, a manual model is probably a better bet.

Semi-automatic machines pour a preset amount of coffee (usually 30mls) into your cup before switching off. "Manual" means that you have to judge the level of coffee in the cup and then cut off the flow. Semi-automatic machines tend to be pricier than manuals, so it's a case of cost vs convenience.

Pump or steam? Several types of machine claim to make espresso-based coffee, but only one really can - the pump type. Pump machines operate at higher pressure than steam machines and employ a thermostat to control the water temperature. The pump both makes the coffee and froths the milk.

Pump machines typically have large, removable water tanks that let you make 10 or more small (demitasse) cups consecutively without having to refill the tank. You can also froth milk for other drinks without making coffee first, as you must with steam machines.

Thermoblock or boiler?A thermoblock is a metal block through which water passes (and is heated) on the way to the pump. It only holds a little water, so it's supposed to keep a constant water temperature that's not too hot. A boiler, on the other hand, contains a larger body of water. It works in the same way as your hot water tank at home.

Tamper A tamper turns the loose coffee into a firm, evenly distributed pellet in the filter basket. A good tamper allows you to pack the coffee down evenly. Tampers fixed to the machine are poor substitutes for solid-metal hand-held tampers.

Frothing devices In our experience, froth enhancers and separate "frothing jugs" aren't particularly good. It's better to search out a machine with a well-built steam wand. Ask a salesperson to froth some milk on a demonstration model in the shop before you buy. Look for a model that produces a very fine froth.

ExteriorCoffee making can be messy. A relatively groove-less exterior will be easier to keep clean. Stainless steel and matte finishes show up finger-prints and grime - although they do look stylish.

Features

Some additional features to look for:

A water-level indicator: It should be easy to check (some are almost useless).

A removable drip tray: Prevents messy spills on the bench. A cup warming area on top: Espresso is better served in a warm cup. Cord storage: Helpful for keeping long cords out of the way.

Five buying tips Ask the salesperson if there's a demonstration model. Get them to make

an espresso so you can check the quality before you buy.

Check the milk-frothing mechanism to make sure you can create good-quality creamy froth without large bubbles.

Look for an easy-to-clean exterior, without too many grooves that can trap dirt. Stainless steel looks good but takes more effort to clean. How easy is it to clean the drip tray and dregs container?

Look for a water tank with a large capacity - it will be easier to fill.

Make sure the controls are easy to operate (particularly on automatic models). A digital display is better than indicator lights, especially if you need to programme the machine. Also, check that the fineness of the grinder is easy to adjust.

What we found

About our test

Our test results include 2 semi-automatic and 5 manual espresso machines tested in February 2008, and one semi-automatic and 3 manual machines from our 2007 test which are still available in shops. We rated them on their espresso, milk-frothing ability, coffee temperature, consistency of temperature from cup to cup, and how easy they were to use.

We also retested the Breville Café Roma (right), which was used as a reference machine in previous tests. It's a benchmark for the taste test, so we can see how an older machine compares with newer models. The Café Roma is not included in the test results, but it's still available in shops.

When it came to taste, the Café Roma held its own at the beginning of the test, and then recorded the highest score of all machines once it had heated up.

What we found

Coffee qualityThe Krups XP4020 made the best-tasting espresso. Coffee quality constitutes a large part of the final score in our espresso test, but the Krups didn't quite beat the Sunbeam Café Latte from our 2007 test for best overall.

As well as recommending the Sunbeam Café Latte, we'd recommend either the Krups XP4020 or the Sunbeam Café Espresso Stainless machine - depending on how you like your coffee. The Krups is the best if you drink black coffee, as it froths milk poorly. The Sunbeam Café Espresso scored consistently well across our test; it's the best buy if you like a latte or a 'cino.

Milk frothingFrothing milk is the most fun outside of drinking the coffee. That's the only good news for the otherwise poor-scoring Isomac Viper, which has a powerful steam delivery system that heats the milk with a smooth consistency.

The Sunbeam Twin Thermoblock System also scored well in this part of our test. It was the only model that could simultaneously make coffee and froth milk.

Some models came with froth enhancers. With the exception of the Krups models, all performed better without their froth enhancers, but the Krups (the worst performing models for frothing) couldn't froth milk without the enhancer in place. The problem with the enhancers we tested is that they pump too much air through the milk, leaving large bubbles in your latte.

TemperatureFor a good cup of coffee, the water temperature should be around 92°C as it passes through the packed grinds. Temperature is an important factor in taste: too low and the coffee tastes weak, too high and the beans are burnt. We made four consecutive espressos on each machine to test which of them produced the best and most consistent temperature.

The Breville Ikon had the highest average temperature at 70.5°C. We measure coffee temperature in the cup, which explains why the temperature results are lower than the optimal 92°C (it's too hard to measure water temperature at the machine). But like most of the machines in our test, the Breville recorded a higher and more consistent temperature after it had been left to heat up for fifteen minutes.

Ease of useThe three semi-automatic machines - the Sunbeam Twin Thermoblock System, Sunbeam Café Latte and the DeLonghi Le Cube - were the easiest to use in our test. All models switch off automatically after making your coffee.

The DeLonghi Le Cube (right) is a new take on the

typical espresso machine. While others use ground coffee beans, the Le Cube uses Nespresso "capsules" that are available in 12 flavours. To make a coffee on the DeLonghi you simply drop a capsule in the machine, pull a lever, push a button, and empty the spent capsule after use.

While the DeLonghi Le Cube is easy to use, it didn't do so well in other areas we tested. For example, it only scored average marks in our taste test.

CleaningAll of the models we tested were easy to clean. None of them had too many nooks and crannies where grime could build up.

Vexing viper

The Isomac Viper ranked lowest in our test. Even worse, our testers discovered several operational problems.

The Viper's two-cup pouring system was uneven. The right-hand cup filled up twice as fast as the left-hand cup. And the water container lid on our machine rattled incessantly when the pump was on.

Espresso Italia Ltd, the New Zealand supplier of Isomac machines, tells us that the Viper's design faults are being dealt with. We have another suggestion. The Viper has a big sister, the Isomac Venus, which we'd love to see available here. It topped the Australian espresso-machine test conducted by Choice, the Australian consumer organisation.

Test results

  To compare details of 2 or more items, select the checkboxes then click

"Compare". For a full profile of an item, click on the item name.

ModelPrice ($)

Overall score (%)

Coffee making (/10)

Taste test (/10)

Milk frothing (/10)

   Sunbeam Cafe Latte EM5600

349 7.6 7.5 7.5

   Krups Pump Espresso XP 4020

299 8.0 8.0 3.5

   Sunbeam Cafe Espresso

189 7.2 7.0 7.0

Stainless EM3800

    Krups XP 4050 400 7.0 6.5 5.5

   

Sunbeam Cafe Series Twin Thermoblock System EM6910

799 5.7 5.0 8.5

   Breville BarVista BES200

149 6.3 6.0 6.0 (b)

   DeLonghi Le Cube EN185.M + Aeroccino

480 5.9 5.5 (a) 6.0

    Breville 800ES 400 5.6 5.0 7.5 (b)

   Breville Ikon BES400

399 5.2 4.5 6.5 (b)

   Starbucks Barista

599 4.8 4.0 7.5

    Isomac Viper 869 4.8 4.0 8.5

ModelPrice ($)

Overall score (%)

Coffee making (/10)

Taste test (/10)

Milk frothing (/10)

This is a summary page only - more product details are available in the standard format version of this report.

Guide to the tableOur test was conducted in the laboratory of the Australian Consumers' Association.

Model

We tested manual and semi-automatic espresso machines. Other models may be available.

Price

Based on a survey in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in January 2008. This is a good price to aim for.

Ratings

Coffee making (60% of overall score) Rated the coffee on how it tasted, its temperature, and the temperature consistency when making four cups in quick succession.

Taste test As assessed by our panel of expert baristas.

(a) used "Roma" Nespresso coffee capsule.

Milk frothing (10% of overall score) Assessed the quality of milk froth and how easy it was to froth.

(b) tested with the froth enhancer removed as this method gave a better result.

Ease of use (30% of overall score) Based on filling the water container, filter convenience, using the controls, and operating and cleaning the machine.

We recommendOur test results and recommendations combine models from our latest (February 2008) test, and the models from our 2007 test that are still available. Price and availability for all models was checked in January 2008.

Best in 2007 test and best overall

Sunbeam Café Latte EM5600 Price: $349 Good points

Best overall score. Very good espresso coffee. Good score for frothing milk. Very easy to clean on the outside.

But(No obvious bad points.)

Best in the 2008 test

Krups XP 4020 Price: $299 Good points

Very good espresso coffee. Easy to use. Easy to clean. Consistent coffee temperature.

ButPoor milk frothing score. Relatively small water tank.

Best value

Sunbeam Café Espresso Stainless EM3800

Price: $189 Good points

Good espresso coffee. Good milk frothing score. Easy to clean. But

(No obvious bad points.)

Recommended from a previous test

Note: This espresso machine was recommended in our 2006 test, and is used as a benchmark for current taste tests. It does not appear in our test results table, but it is still recommended and available.

Breville Café Roma ESP8 Price: $250 Good points

Highest score in the (2006) taste test. Coffee reached a good temperature. Very good at frothing milk, though it takes a long while to get up steam.

ButCups had a tendency to sometimes vibrate away from spouts when making coffee. It has a small water tank and the level is hard to see. Coffee/steam control switch is hard to turn.

Tips for the home baristaThere are two components to a great coffee: the beans and the crema.

The mighty bean

Even the most sophisticated espresso machine can let you down if you use stale beans, the wrong grind, or the wrong roast.

There are two main varieties of coffee beans: Arabica and Robusta. Arabica beans generally make a higher-quality coffee.

A true espresso is made from darkly roasted and finely ground beans. It's sometimes called "Italian style". But this can be misleading, as some coffee using this label is not dark or ground finely enough.

For best results grind your beans just before making the coffee. If you're using a manual or semi-automatic espresso machine, you may want to buy your own grinder rather than buying the beans pre-ground. It pays to spend a bit more to get a good-quality grinder. Avoid cheaper grinders that won't let you control the fineness. A decent burr-type grinder will give you the right fineness and control.

(See our Coffee grinders test report for more information.)

Keep your beans fresh by buying in small quantities from a store that has a high turnover. Keep the beans in an airtight container somewhere cool, dry and dark. Don't refrigerate or freeze them. Our Coffee beans report has more about choosing and storing coffee beans.

The perfect crema

Espresso has a creamy, pale, golden froth on top of the dark brown coffee. It's called the crema, and it's perhaps the most important thing that distinguishes espresso from other types of coffee. Crema is actually caramel. The high temperature and pressure in an espresso machine caramelise the sugar naturally present in coffee, aerate it and expel it with the espresso.

Perfect crema should be thick and stable, and preserve the coffee flavour, aroma and temperature. The state of the crema can help you diagnose where your espresso-making may be going wrong.

If it's light, inconsistent, thin and dissipates quickly, the coffee has been under-extracted. It was probably too coarsely ground or the water temperature was too low.

If it's dark and has a hole in the middle, there's either too much coffee in the filter basket or the coffee was compressed into the filter basket (a process known as tamping) too firmly.

If it's white with big bubbles, the coffee was probably over-extracted because the hot water was passed through the filter for too long.

If you still can't get good crema, check whether the coffee chamber is dirty.

Seven steps to a great espresso

A top-rate espresso from your machine is worth some extra effort.

1. A standard espresso shot requires 7gm of ground coffee, and 30ml of water.

2. Use beans roasted no more than 10 days ago. 3. Adjust the grind fineness until you can get the machine to give you 30ml

of espresso after about 20 seconds. (This time - which is called "extraction" - doesn't include the few seconds of "preinfusion" some machines go through.)

4. Pre-warm the cups. 5. If you want a "long black", add an espresso shot to hot water rather than

extracting it for a long time. Over-extraction causes bitterness. 6. The crema should be a dark reddish-brown colour. Too thin a crema and

a paler white/cream colour indicates a dirty machine, stale beans, or too coarse a grind.

7. Drink the espresso within a few minutes of it being made.

Become a steam demon

If you like lattes and flat whites, then this is how to get that professional creamy froth:

Froth milk immediately after making an espresso, otherwise the coffee will cool down quickly and the crema will start to disappear.

Use fresh, homogenised milk. Full-fat milk produces the best quality froth. Low-fat milk will produce more froth - but it tends to separate more quickly.

Use a stainless steel jug, half full of milk straight from the fridge. Turn on the steam and purge any water from the wand. Stop and put the wand into the milk just below the surface. Angle the jug and turn the steam on to full.

Move the jug around to create a whirlpool effect, keeping the nozzle just under the milk level and well under the foam as it develops.

When the foam has risen to almost twice the original milk level, drop the nozzle down to heat the milk. Keep heating until the jug is almost too hot to touch.

The froth should be a creamy froth where the bubbles are so tiny that they can't be seen, and the surface should look shiny, almost glasslike.

After frothing the milk, bang the jug on the table to remove larger bubbles from the froth, swirl it around a few times, bang it again and pour it on the top of the coffee straight away. The milk and froth should be poured out of the jug on to the crema - you shouldn't have to spoon it out.

Clean the nozzle and run a small amount of water through the machine after frothing milk, to cool its internal parts down. This is especially important when making more coffee as the extra heat that was created during the frothing process can burn the grind.

Oscar Kightley - coffee fanWe asked Oscar Kightley, actor, TV presenter and writer, about his love of coffee ...

How do you have your coffee?

I like my coffee like I like my favourite rugby team. Black. Specifically long blacks but not as long as how long it's been since my favourite rugby team won the World Cup.

What's your favourite café?

There are heaps of good cafes all over Auckland, and I enjoy going to them all. I don't want to say one [café] is better than the other in case one day my long black tastes a bit funny. But I like Servo and Fuze in Te Atatu Peninsula; Cafe Te Akau in Manurewa; Cafeteria in Auckland CBD; all the cool ones on Ponsonby Rd; Urban Jungle and Occam in Grey Lynn; Brown Sugar in Taihape; and most of the ones in Wellington city.

How many cups per day?

Four to six.

Do you own a home espresso machine?

Yes, a friend gave me one but he didn't know how to work it so he couldn't show me how to work it either. Not sure what the brand is 'cos I never use it - but it's black and cool looking.

What usually accompanies your coffee?

Usually nothing, but in the afternoon I crave vegetables so I have carrot cake.

To what lengths would you go to get a coffee in the morning?

I would even buy it myself!

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Report: Coffee grinders Updated 28-Feb-2008

Coffee grinders

A good coffee grinder is an integral part of making great coffee. We put 9 burr-grinders to the test and found 3 to recommend.

Many interrelated factors matter when making a great espresso - good beans, freshly roasted to taste; the correct amount of coffee, freshly ground to the perfect fineness; water at the right temperature and pressure; extraction for just the right amount of time into warm cups - but perfect results are worth the hassle.

Burr grinders produce the uniform grounds essential for espresso machines. Find out which models we recommend - plus see our seven steps to a great espresso.

Models we testedThis report contains test results and recommendations for the following coffee grinders (listed alphabetically):

Breville BarAroma Coffee & Spice Grinder BCG450 DeLonghi KG59 DeLonghi KG100 Kitchen Aid Artisan Burr Grinder 5 KCG100 Krups GVX2A2 Rancillo Rocky No Doser Saeco MC2002 Starbucks Burr Grinder EL60 Sunbeam Conical Burr EMD450

ChecklistIf you are thinking about buying a coffee grinder, here's what you need to consider.

Choosing the right grinder

Burr vs blade

A burr grinder works by crushing the beans between outer and inner cones.

The cones are made of a hard material and are ribbed to grip the beans. The inner cone rotates, while the outer cone is stationary. Grind fineness is set by adjusting the distance between the cones.

Burr grinders produce a more even grind and are essential for making espresso.

A blade grinder (pictured above right) works like a blender: A high-speed rotating blade chops the beans up. The fineness of the chopping is dependent on how long the grinder runs for.

Blade grinders produce a more uneven-sized grind.

Getting the grind right...

If you don't have an espresso machine ... a coarse grind suits percolators, medium is for plungers, and fine for filters.

Grind only as much coffee as you need at a time. Ground coffee deteriorates quickly.

Seven steps to a great espresso

There are many interrelated factors that matter when it comes to making a great espresso - it's a good job perfect results are worth the hassle.

A standard espresso shot requires 7gm of ground coffee, and 30ml of water.

Use beans no older than 10 days from roasting.

The grind fineness should be adjusted until you have 30ml of coffee after around 20 seconds of extraction time. This time doesn't include the few seconds of "preinfusion" some coffee makers go through.

Pre-warm the cups.

If you want a "long black" style coffee, add an espresso shot to hot water rather than extract for a long time. Over extraction causes bitterness.

The crema should be a dark reddish-brown colour. Crema that is too thin, with a paler white/cream colour indicates a dirty machine, the beans being stale, or the grind too coarse.

Drink the espresso within a few minutes of it being made.

What we found

Performance

We assessed the grinders on two tasks: how finely they ground the beans, and how quickly they ground them.

Grind finenessA good grinder has to be able to produce grounds fine enough to allow the espresso machine to extract the maximum flavours from the beans. All the models with the exception of the DeLonghi KG59 could grind the coffee fine enough for espresso machines.

Grinding speedThere was quite a difference between fastest and slowest: the Kitchen Aid took a mere 20 seconds to grind 30 grams of beans (enough for about three to four standard espressos), while the DeLonghi KG59 took 58 seconds. If you have a round of coffees to make - say after a dinner party - waiting around for the grinder to do its thing could be annoying.

Ease-of-use

We looked at a number of features and tasks to assess ease of use.

Removing groundsThe Sunbeam (pictured top right) rated best here. The supplied container was easy to empty, and the model also had the ability to grind-on-demand directly into an espresso filter-basket when you pressed the filter-basket onto a special switch below the outlet spout. The Rancilio was not supplied with a grounds container. There were only minor differences between the other models.

TimersBoth DeLonghis, the Starbucks, Breville and Krups have timers which run the grinder for a pre-determined interval. The Sunbeam has a grind-on-demand switch (see Removing grounds, above); the rest, manual switches. For home use, we think a timer is best. Once set up they allow you to grind a precise amount of coffee consistently - without waste.

CleaningCleaning the hopper regularly is important because oils from the beans can collect, get sticky and go rancid. Both DeLonghis, the Starbucks, Breville, Sunbeam and Kitchen Aid had removable hoppers which make cleaning easier.

Fineness controlYou may need to adjust the fineness control if you make different types of coffee (for example, filter and espresso) or if you change the type of beans you use for making espresso. Setting is done with a rotating wheel or knob, or by rotating the

bean hopper. All the mechanisms were good. The Rancilio had a bit of a problem, though: its wheel adjuster turned easily enough but didn't "click" nicely from setting to setting, so the adjustments a bit "hit and miss".

Overall the DeLonghi KG100 and the identical-looking Starbucks EL60 gained the highest ease-of-use score.

See the test results for detailed profiles of all the models we tested.

Test results

  To compare details of 2 or more items, select the checkboxes then click

"Compare". For a full profile of an item, click on the item name.

ModelPrice

($)Overall score

(%)

Grind fineness

(/10)

Grinding speed (/10)

   Kitchen Aid Artisan Burr Grinder 5 KCG100

499 9.0 8.0

    DeLonghi KG100 195 9.0 5.6

   Starbucks Burr Grinder EL60

150 9.0 5.4

   Sunbeam Conical Burr EMD450

178 9.0 6.0

   Breville BarAroma Coffee & Spice Grinder BCG450

160 9.0 6.6

    Krups GVX2A2 175 9.0 6.2

    Saeco MC2002 249 9.0 5.0

    DeLonghi KG59 95 4.0 4.2

   Rancillo Rocky No Doser

545 9.0 7.0

ModelPrice

($)Overall score

(%)

Grind fineness

(/10)

Grinding speed (/10)

This is a summary page only - more product details are available in the standard format version of this report.

Guide to the test resultsOur test was carried out by an independent laboratory in Australia.

Price

Taken from a survey in Wellington during February 2008.

Ratings

Grind fineness (20% of overall score). Grinding speed (20% of overall score). Ease of use (60% of overall score) includes ease of cleaning, as well as

ease of operating the grinder, timer, and fineness control.

We recommend

Kitchen Aid Artisan Burr Grinder 5 KCG100 Price: $499 Good points

Best combination of grinding fineness and grind speed. Very easy to adjust fineness control. Very easy to empty the grounds container. Easy to clean grounds container and bean hopper.

ButExpensive.

DeLonghi KG100 Price $195 Good points

Timer allows consistent quantities of grounds to be made. Very easy to adjust fineness control. Easy to empty the grounds container. Easy to clean grounds and bean hopper.

CommentThis grinder appears to be the same model as the Starbucks, below, sold under the DeLonghi label.

Starbucks Burr Grinder EL60 Price: $150 Good points

Timer allows consistent quantities of grounds to be made. Very easy to adjust fineness control. Easy to empty the grounds container. Easy to clean grounds and bean hopper.

CommentThis grinder appears to be the same model as the DeLonghi, above, sold under the Starbucks label.

See the test results for full profiles of all the models in our test.

Our advice With a good coffee grinder, espresso machine and

freshly roasted beans, along with time spent getting the settings right, you can make great coffees at home.

If you want to grind lots of coffee, the Kitchen Aid is for you. It had the best combination of grind fineness and speed. It was only let down by not having a timer.

The DeLonghi KG100 and Starbucks EL60 came a close second. Both were fitted with a timer which helps to reduce waste for those who only make a cup or two at a time.

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Report: Coffee beans 28-Feb-2008

Coffee beans

Our tasting of fresh coffee beans found too many that were stale and had a disappointing caffeine hit. But one of our top 3 was a major surprise.

Our panel tasted 12 espresso coffees made from freshly ground beans. We included pre-packaged coffee beans from brands available in supermarkets, and also top sellers from Moore Wilson in Wellington. Find out which beans hit the spot.

Plus: Read about the Consumers International coffee campaign and view their award-winning documentary. See Coffee with a conscience.

About our tastingOur tasting differed from other coffee-bean tastings. We bought our beans from shops, just as consumers do. Each brand was freshly ground and made into an espresso coffee by an expert barista.

The panel tasted each espresso coffee "blind", so they didn't know the brand. They were looking for aroma, flavour, acidity, body, after-taste, and balance. Our panel included an international coffee judge, an experienced barista, and a food and hospitality academic. As well, our expert barista made sure that each espresso in the tasting was as consistent as possible

Our judges

Thanks to our panel, who did an outstanding job.

Karen McLeayActing Head of Centre for Service Industries at Wellington Institute of Technology's Hospitality School. A practised coffee drinker around town.

Justin McArthurManages the coffee production for Coffee Supreme and has worked in the coffee industry for nearly 10 years. Was a judge in the Cup of Excellence in Central

America in 2003 and 2004, and at the Ecafe Gold Competition in Ethiopia in 2005.

Ivan McKinlayBarista at Beaujolais Wine Bar. Has worked in the hospitality industry for five years and been a barista for two years. Loves a good flat white.

What we foundOur panel was impressed with three brands:

Scarborough Fair Fairtrade Organic Beans Signature Range Whole Bean Espresso Coffee Supreme's Supreme Blend

All are roasted in New Zealand.

The Scarborough Fair beans were clean and toasty and had a distinctive caramel flavour. The Supreme Blend had a rich pleasant smell with lots of malt and caramel.

One of the big surprises was the Signature Range (available from Countdown, Foodtown and Woolworths supermarkets). These beans were fresh and made a coffee that was full-bodied, and nicely balanced.

Robert Harris Harris Blend Beans got the lowest rating. Our panel thought it was unbalanced and overall too harsh, with no finesse. It also had a bitter aftertaste.

Other optionsLocal roasters in your area may also produce great coffee beans. Ask them for their "roasted" dates.

Don't rely on price

Price isn't always an indicator of good coffee beans.

Although Scarborough Fair beans were one of the best and most expensive in the tasting, other expensive brands such as Illy Espresso Roasted Coffee Beans weren't great. Signature Range was the cheapest in the tasting and got the thumbs up.

Stale beans

The most common complaint about the espressos was that they were made with stale beans. Coffee beans are at their best when they're fresh - but most brands' labels don't give you enough information to let you judge.

Hummingbird Fair Trade Organic Crave gave no indication of a best-before date. However, checking the best-before date is still no guarantee of freshness. Many of the stale beans were well within this. Illy Espresso had a best-before date of

January 2009 - nearly one year after we bought it.

Supreme Blend was the only product to have a "packed on" date.

According to the New Zealand Coffee Roasters Association, beans should be used no more than 10 days after roasting. We'd like to see "packed on" or "roasted" dates on all coffee beans.

Coffee beans comparedOur panel tasted 12 espresso coffees made from freshly ground beans. For more about our panel and how we conducted the tasting, see About our tasting.

Guide to the table

Our tasting was conducted at Bistro 107, Wellington Institute of Technology. The espressos were prepared by a trainer of baristas.

Coffee beans are listed alphabetically within ratings. Country of roasting is in brackets.

Coffee with a conscience

You want to buy coffee with a conscience? The two Fairtrade organic products (Scarborough Fair and Hummingbird) did well in our tasting - although the Hummingbird beans could've been fresher.

The Fairtrade mark claims to guarantee "farmers a fair and stable price for their products ... extra income for farmers and workers to improve their lives ... and a greater respect for the environment".

Consumers International coffee campaign

The Consumers International coffee project looks at the ways consumer choice impacts upon coffee producers and the environment.

They've looked at a number of certified coffee schemes - including Fairtrade, Organic, Rainforest Allaince and Utz Kapeh - and found that these sustainable initiatives really did make a difference to coffee farmers.

You can read more about Consumers International and their coffee campaign, including which coffee to buy and how you can make a difference, on their website www.consumersinternational.org.

Award-winning documentary

As part of the coffee campaign, Consumers International has produced a documentary film tracking the impact of certification on coffee farmers.

"Just Coffee" is available to view here - please note that this film is 21 minutes long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou5wby3X9jU&eurl=http://www.consumer.org.nz/printtopic.asp?docid=5069

Making great coffee

Four steps to a great cup of coffee

Buy fresh beans: Look for a "roasted" or "packed on" date so you know how old the beans are. Use beans no later than 10 days from roasting. Grind them just before brewing.

Get a grinder: Of course you can buy ground coffee - but by the time you get around to brewing it, most of the good qualities will be gone. Check out our Coffee grinders report for more information.

Practice, practice, practice! Pick a brewing method and perfect it. A plunger makes great coffee if you use freshly ground beans. Espresso machines are trickier to use and (as our espresso-machine report shows) many home espresso machines aren't up to scratch.

Enjoy! Drink the espresso within a few minutes of it being made.

Bad brews

What happens if you can't perfect your morning caffeine fix? Here are some common traps to avoid:

Stale beans. Roasted coffee beans are best when they're fresh - no more than 10 days after roasting.

Dirty equipment. A dirty grinder, plunger or espresso machine will just make dirty coffee. Clean it like you mean it.

Boiling water. Don't use boiling water to make your coffee. Wait for it to cool for a minute or add a shot of cold water to the kettle.

The wrong grind. Depending on how you make your brew, the coffee needs to be fine enough to let the water dissolve all the flavours. Too coarse and the flavour stays in the grounds; too fine and the coffee will be sludge.

Weak as water. Weak coffee is a common problem, so use a bit more coffee and experiment with the strength.

Our advice Keep your beans fresh by buying in small quantities

from a store that has a high turnover. Keep them in an airtight container somewhere cool, dark and dry.

Don't refrigerate or freeze them.

Don't buy from the bulk bin at the supermarket. You'll have no idea how long the beans have been sitting there - nor whether old stock's been completely replaced or just topped up.

Buy from a local roaster and ask them for a "packed on" or "roasted" date. If you don't have local roasters in your area, ask your local café if you can buy some of their fresh beans.

We'd like to see "packed on" or "roasted" dates on all coffee beans.

Caffeine fix

Caffeine is a stimulant and works by muscling in on the spaces in your brain normally reserved for the natural sedative adenosine. Your body gets told to "wake up" rather than "slow down".

Most adults can safely consume about 300mg per day. That's about four or five average-strength cups of coffee.

Very high levels (1000mg a day or around 11 to 12 cups of strong coffee) can be harmful and may cause anxiety, irritability and sleeplessness.

Some people are sensitive to caffeine. They experience indigestion and difficulty in sleeping - even after relatively small amounts of caffeine. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also limit their caffeine intake.

Caffeine has its pros. It can enhance mental and physical performance, and some studies have shown a decreased risk of Parkinson's disease in men who drink at least two cups of coffee per day.

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Report by Belinda Allan

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