I thought the Philips Baristina for AU$419 was the coffee machine deal of the year — now it’s AU$359 and I’m eating my shoes

In the lead-up to Prime Big Deal Days in Australia, I had doubts about finding bargain prices on some of my favorite items, including coffee machines. However, Amazon has turned my perspective around with a significant price drop on the highly-rated Philips Baristina – now just AU$359. I had previously written about this charming coffee machine earlier this month, when it was priced at AU$444. Shortly after that, the price dropped to AU$419. It's now clear that this espresso machine deal is the best of the year for me.

The compact bean-to-cup espresso machine, originally priced at $599, is far more capable than its appearance suggests. It handles most of the process for you, including grinding, tamping, and brewing a coffee. The results are excellent, but you may need to experiment with different beans, as grind size adjustment isn't possible.

Available in black for the same price, the Baristina is my pick for the best budget coffee machine in Australia, even at its regular price. Its user-friendly design and ability to handle all aspects of the coffee-making process while showcasing itself set it apart. However, there are a few compromises to consider – it can only brew 40ml espresso or 110ml lungo, and it has no option to adjust the grind size or steam milk.

Nevertheless, minor drawbacks like these are overshadowed by its attractive appearance, intuitive features, and consistently excellent espresso extraction.