About Coffee Machine Australia
A team of passionate home baristas helping Australians brew better coffee since 2019
Our Story
Coffee Machine Australia started the way most great things do: over an exceptional cup of coffee. Back in 2019, our founding team gathered around a freshly pulled espresso in a small Melbourne laneway cafe, lamenting how difficult it was to find trustworthy, unbiased information about home coffee equipment. The market was flooded with sponsored reviews and manufacturer talking points, but genuine guidance from people who actually understood extraction ratios, grind consistency, and temperature stability was nearly impossible to find.
That afternoon, we made a decision that would change everything. We pooled our collective expertise, our passion for specialty coffee, and yes, quite a few of our own coffee machines, to create a resource that Australian coffee lovers could actually trust. We wanted to build something different: a platform where a first-time buyer could learn the basics of pulling a proper shot, and where a seasoned home barista could dive deep into the nuances of PID temperature control and pre-infusion pressure profiling.
What began as a weekend project quickly grew into something much larger. Today, Coffee Machine Australia is one of the country's most visited independent coffee equipment resources. We've tested hundreds of machines, from entry-level pod systems to commercial-grade lever espresso machines. We've written guides on everything from basic milk texturing technique to advanced troubleshooting for channelling and uneven extraction. And through it all, we've remained true to our original mission: helping everyday Australians brew cafe-quality coffee in their own kitchens.
Our Testing Philosophy
We take testing seriously. Every machine that appears on our site has been put through its paces in real-world conditions, not laboratory settings. We evaluate extraction quality using freshly roasted beans from local Australian roasters, measuring everything from shot timing and crema consistency to the subtle flavour notes that distinguish a good espresso from a great one. For milk-based drinks, we assess steam power, microfoam quality, and how well each machine handles the silky texture required for proper latte art.
But numbers only tell part of the story. We also consider the intangibles: How intuitive is the machine for a beginner? Does the build quality justify the price? Will this grinder survive five years of daily use? These are the questions that matter to real coffee lovers, and they're the questions we work hard to answer. We believe in being honest about limitations as well as strengths. If a machine has a learning curve, we'll tell you. If the included tamper is rubbish, we'll recommend a better one. Our loyalty is to our readers, not to manufacturers.
Meet Our Team
Our team brings together diverse backgrounds united by a shared obsession with coffee. From former cafe owners to home roasting enthusiasts, each of us brings unique perspectives to our reviews and guides.
James Mitchell
Founder & Lead Reviewer
Former barista trainer with 12 years in specialty coffee. James has pulled over 50,000 shots and still gets excited about a perfectly extracted ristretto. He leads our machine testing program and contributes most of our espresso machine reviews.
Sarah Chen
Technical Editor
Mechanical engineer turned coffee obsessive. Sarah handles our deep-dive technical content, explaining everything from boiler thermodynamics to grinder burr geometry in terms everyone can understand. She's currently on her seventh home espresso machine.
Marcus Webb
Content Director
Marcus spent a decade in food journalism before discovering that his true calling was explaining why water hardness matters for coffee extraction. He oversees our educational content and ensures every guide is accessible to beginners without boring advanced users.
Our Commitment to You
We're transparent about how we operate. Coffee Machine Australia earns revenue through affiliate partnerships with retailers like Amazon Australia. When you purchase a product through our links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This model allows us to keep our content free and accessible to everyone while maintaining our editorial independence. We never accept payment for positive reviews, and our recommendations are based solely on our testing and expertise.
Whether you're shopping for your first Nespresso machine or upgrading to a prosumer dual-boiler setup, we're here to help you make a decision you'll be happy with for years to come. Welcome to Coffee Machine Australia. Now, let's brew something great together.