Best Coffee Beans for Bean to Cup Machines (Australia Guide)

The best coffee beans for a bean to cup machine are fresh, medium roast blends that aren't oily. Medium roasts are sweet and balanced, they taste good with or without milk, and they're easy on your machine's grinder. Avoid very dark, shiny beans, which can clog the grinder, and flavoured beans, which leave residue behind.

What to look for in beans for an automatic machine

Medium roast. Bean to cup machines give you limited control over grind and temperature. Medium roasts taste good across a wide range of settings, so they suit these machines best. Very light roasts can taste sharp and sour, and very dark roasts can taste burnt.

Dry, not oily. Very dark roasts often have oil on the surface of the bean. That oil builds up in the grinder and the chute over time, and can stop beans feeding through properly. If your beans look shiny, they're probably too dark for an automatic machine.

A blend over a single origin. Blends are built to taste consistent and work in milk, which is what most people make on these machines. Single origins can be great black, but they're less forgiving.

A roast date on the bag. Your machine grinds fresh for every cup, which only helps if the beans are fresh too. Look for beans roasted in the last few weeks.

How to get better coffee from your machine

Grind a little finer. Most machines ship on a middle grind setting. If your coffee tastes weak or watery, go a step finer. Check your manual first, as many machines should only be adjusted while the grinder is running.

Don't overfill the hopper. Beans sitting in the hopper are exposed to air and warmth from the machine. Add a few days' worth at a time and keep the rest of the bag sealed.

Clean the brew unit. Old coffee oils build up quickly and make everything taste stale. Follow your machine's cleaning cycle and rinse the brew unit regularly if it's removable.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use oily beans in a bean to cup machine?

It's best not to. Oily beans can clog the grinder and build up inside the machine. Most manufacturers recommend avoiding them.

Why does my bean to cup coffee taste weak?

Usually the grind is too coarse, the strength setting is too low, or the beans are stale. Try a finer grind and a higher strength setting with fresh beans.

What's the best coffee for milk drinks in an automatic machine?

A medium to medium dark blend with chocolate or nutty notes holds up best in milk. More on choosing in how to pick a coffee blend that works for you.

How long do beans last once opened?

Two to four weeks if stored properly in an airtight container. Here's how to store them.

Our Liberty blend is a medium roast with chocolate and caramel notes that works well in automatic machines, and Rhythm is a slightly darker option for milk drinks. Both are roasted weekly with the roast date on the bag.