Scan to download the Finder app on iOS or Android

We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!

Automatic coffee machines are truly the best way to get your morning coffee if you're not wanting to spend up to $7.50 going to the barista. However, automatic machines themselves are very expensive, costing up to $5000 in some cases. I've tested a lot over the last few years, and the Philips LatteGo Fully Automatic Espresso Machine is the least expensive I've encountered at $899. Unfortunately, it's also the least good.

It sits at the middle of the Philips Fully Automatic range. It's between the $799 machine that appears to be the same, but it has a steam wand instead of the LatteGo frother (which sounds better in theory, even if it isn't as cool), and a $1199 machine with more coffee options.

I really like the design of the Philips LatteGo. It's simple and easy to use. There are touch buttons on the front that can make three different coffee drinks or hot water. You can moderately customise those drinks (though not in any way that seems to meaningfully improve the flavour) and the machine doesn't take up as much space as some more premium coffee machines.

Rather than a complicated touch screen, the Series 2200 relies on capacitive touch buttons, which is fine. Not as good as a physical button, but is still nice and sleek.

The milk frother attaches by being gently rested on a little protuberance and then sucks up the milk from the bottom through an invisible straw. The design is very impressive and it's utterly mesmerising to watch. I question its efficiency against, say, a steam wand that would make better quality milk and be easier to clean. But it just looks so cool that I found myself making more milky coffees than ever just so I could watch it. So that's certainly something.

I'd class the aesthetic as a bit 2005. With the black plastic and chrome accents it looks quite dated and, while small and unobtrusive, is far from being a beautiful décor piece. It is the physical embodiment of "fine" from every angle. It's functional and seems durable, but it's very hard to find either positives or negatives about the design. It exists.

The most important thing about a coffee machine is that it makes good coffee. It would be nice if it looked good and was extremely intuitive. But being mediocre in those arenas can be forgiven if it makes great coffee.

The LatteGo does not make great coffee. No matter what beans I use, which setting I put it on, or anything else, it always tastes a bit burnt, a touch earthy and just a step above capsule coffee.

For $900 I want a coffee that makes waking up worth it. Automatic coffee machines should make great coffee, because it is literally their only purpose. They grind the beans, they add the water, they extract the coffee and then they're turned off until they do it all again.

Capsule coffee machines get a pass for being a bit crap because they're cheap and convenient, and really don't have that much coffee to work with (usually only 5-15g of ground coffee). The Series 2200 was given the finest beans, used a lot of them, and then managed to make the equivalent of a capsule coffee. My wife literally spat hers back into her cup. I had to force myself to drink mine and considered switching to tea in the mornings so I could limit my exposure.

It's not an overly offensive flavour, it doesn't taste like the beans have been cast into the sun or like it's mouldy or anything. It just tastes like something you'd expect to find at McDonalds or 7/11 in 1997, before they realised coffee was supposed to be good. It's not a coffee you'd drink if you had literally any other option. It's not a cup of coffee you'd pay $900 for.

If you were moving from an Aldi capsule coffee machine, and had never had any other kind of coffee, you'd think it was pretty good. If you were doing a blind taste test with the Smeg BCC02 and a Delonghi PrimaDonna Soul you would think someone peed in your cup. Usually I'll do a blind taste test between machines with the same beans and be looking for subtle differences. The differences here were not subtle.

In good news, though, the milk was better than a Nespresso Aeroccino and I liked the dispensing method more than the DeLonghi PrimaDonna Soul. So, if you just wanted milk and no coffee, I still wouldn't recommend this $900 machine, but I also wouldn't actively caution you against it.

Sure, it's easy to set up and use, even if the controls aren't super intuitive. I could complain about the silly nature of the double shot function. But, really, the coffee tastes bad. None of the rest of that matters.

Here is normally where I would write three paragraphs about how this machine might work for some people if they have taste that's different to me, or a higher budget. Not today. This machine makes bad coffee. You can get a machine that makes better coffee without having to spend too much extra. Do that instead. If there's a sale, look for the Smeg BCC02 – that one is way better. If $900 is your absolute budget, get a cheap Nespresso machine instead to tide you over while you save for a better machine.

Or, I guess see if you can try this machine in the store, maybe you will like the coffee? Everyone's taste is different after all, and just because I don't like it doesn't mean you won't.

I spent three months steeling myself to use the Philips Series 2200 LatteGo Fully Automatic Coffee Machine as often as I could. I was sent the machine by Philips PR.

Alice Clarke is an award-winning freelance journalist, producer and presenter, as well as co-curator of the PAX Aus Together Lounge. In her 15 years as a journalist she’s appeared in The Age, Herald Sun Finder, Gizmodo, Kotaku, the ABC, Stevivor, Cracked, Curve and many other publications.

To ask a question simply log in via your email or create an account.

Click here to cancel reply.

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

By submitting, you agree to the Finder Privacy & Cookies Policy and Terms of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy

Level 10, 99 York St, Sydney , NSW , Australia 2000

Finder acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community.

Disclaimer - Hive Empire Pty Ltd (trading as finder.com.au, ABN: 18 118 785 121) provides factual information, general advice and services on a range of financial products as a Corporate Authorised Representative (432664) of Centra Wealth Pty Ltd AFSL 422704. Please refer to our FSG - Financial Products. We also provide general advice on credit products under our own Credit Licence ACL 385509. Please refer to our Credit Guide for more information. We can also provide you with general advice and factual information on about a range of other products, services and providers. We are also a Corporate Authorised Representative of Countrywide Insurance Group Pty Ltd trading as "Austbrokers Countrywide" ABN 51 586 953 292 AFSL No. 511363 for the provision of general insurance products. Please refer to our FSG - General Insurance. We hope that the information and general advice we can provide will help you make a more informed decision. We are not owned by any Bank or Insurer and we are not a product issuer or a credit provider. Although we cover a wide range of products, providers and services we don't cover every product, provider or service available in the market so there may be other options available to you. We also don't recommend specific products, services or providers. If you decide to apply for a product or service through our website you will be dealing directly with the provider of that product or service and not with us. We endeavour to ensure that the information on this site is current and accurate but you should confirm any information with the product or service provider and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) or the information they can provide. If you are unsure you should get independent advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan. (c) 2022.

Finder Earn and Finder's digital asset trading is powered by Finder Wallet Pty Ltd (ABN 11 149 012 653) an AUSTRAC registered Digital Currency Exchange and reporting entity (DCE100735494-001). Finder Wallet is an arm of the Finder Group specialising in blockchain technology. Finder Wallet operates the Finder App’s digital asset trading and wallet services. Finder Earn, powered by Finder Wallet Pty Ltd, is not offered under an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). Finder Wallet Pty Ltd is not a bank and does not offer banking services. Banks are covered by a Government Deposit Guarantee. Finder Wallet's services are not covered by the Australian Government Guarantee on Deposits.

*6.01% p.a. is made up of 4.01% p.a. base rate and a 2% bonus rate. The bonus 2% p.a. will be paid out daily on Earn balances that hold 5,000 TAUD or more throughout the promotion period from 1 September 2022 until 12 noon on Tuesday 1 November 2022. The bonus rate will apply to the entire balance.

Optional, only if you want us to follow up with you.

Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.

finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We compare from a wide set of banks, insurers and product issuers. We value our editorial independence and follow editorial guidelines.

finder.com.au has access to track details from the product issuers listed on our sites. Although we provide information on the products offered by a wide range of issuers, we don't cover every available product or service.

Please note that the information published on our site should not be construed as personal advice and does not consider your personal needs and circumstances. While our site will provide you with factual information and general advice to help you make better decisions, it isn't a substitute for professional advice. You should consider whether the products or services featured on our site are appropriate for your needs. If you're unsure about anything, seek professional advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan.

Products marked as 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.

Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money here.

When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.

We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.

Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labelling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.

Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan, we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.

Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.