Black Friday Coffee Deals: What to Buy and What to Skip

Black Friday falls on 27 November 2026, with Cyber Monday on 30 November. For coffee gear it is the best week of the year to buy the expensive things: espresso machines, bean-to-cup machines and good grinders carry high list prices, and those are where the biggest reductions show up. It is also the week when the most fake deals appear. This page lists what we rate highest in each category, what each one normally costs, and how to judge a price when the sales start. We will add the prices we check on the day as the week arrives.

How to tell a real Black Friday deal

A discount is only real if the sale price is below what the product actually sold for in the weeks before. Many listings show a crossed-out "was" price that the product rarely sold at, so a reduction looks bigger than it is. Before you buy, check three things.

• The usual price. We record the price each product sells at on its review page. If the Black Friday price is not clearly below that, it is not much of a deal.
• The exact model number. Sales often feature an older or cut-down version of a well-known machine. A Breville BES876 and a BES870XL are different machines; so are a Jura J8 and a J8 twin.
• Who is selling it. A machine sold by the manufacturer or Amazon carries the full warranty. A third-party seller may not, and an expensive espresso machine without a warranty is a gamble.

Last year's model at a big discount can be the best buy of the week, as long as you know it is last year's model and the price reflects it.

Espresso machines

Our highest-rated espresso machine is the Breville Barista Express Impress at 7.7, with a built-in grinder and assisted tamping, usually $799.95. Close behind are the Breville Barista Pro ($849.95) and the Barista Touch ($987.99), both 7.6. Breville machines are regularly discounted in November, so these are worth watching.

If you want help with every step and a second way to steam milk, the new De'Longhi La Specialista Maestro was already $999.95 against a $1,299.95 list price when we reviewed it. For the full range, see our espresso machine reviews and the best espresso machines under $1,000.

Bean-to-cup machines

Automatic machines carry the biggest price tags, so a percentage off saves the most dollars. Our top bean-to-cup machine is the Philips 4300 LatteGo at 8.5, usually about $999, followed by the Gaggia Cadorna Prestige at 8.4 ($1,049).

At the premium end, Jura's prices move less often but its own shop runs reductions. When we checked in October, the Jura J8 was $2,599 against a $3,299 list price and the Jura ENA 8 was $1,899 against $1,999. A Black Friday price on either should beat those figures, not the list prices. Our list of the best bean-to-cup machines under $1,500 covers the rest.

Nespresso and pod machines

Nespresso machines are discounted heavily and often, so a Black Friday price is only good if it is lower than the frequent sale prices through the year. The Nespresso Lattissima One is our top pod machine at 7.7, usually $129. For milk drinks with a real steam wand, the Creatista Plus ($269.95) takes Original capsules, and the new Vertuo Creatista brings the same idea to Vertuo.

Remember that the machine is the cheap part. Capsules cost far more over a few years than the machine does, so a pod system with cheaper capsules can beat a bigger machine discount. Our best coffee pods list compares the costs.

Grinders

A good grinder makes more difference to the cup than almost anything else, and the mid-priced electric grinders are often reduced. Our top-rated electric grinder is the MOKKOM 64mm flat burr grinder at 7.7, recorded at $179.99. For hand grinders, the Kingrinder K6 scores 7.4 at about $126. If you make espresso, our list of the best grinders for espresso narrows it down.

Kettles, scales and small gear

Small gear makes good gifts and is easy to buy in a sale, but the reductions are a few dollars, so do not let a timer push you into the wrong one. Our top gooseneck kettle is the Greater Goods GK0448 at 9.0, and our top coffee scale is the ERAVSOW espresso scale at 9.1, which is under $20 even at full price. See all our kettle reviews for the rest.

Coffee beans and subscriptions

Many roasters run a Black Friday offer, usually a percentage off or free shipping. Fresh coffee is at its best for a few weeks after roasting, so a big discounted bag that goes stale is not a saving. Buy from roasters that print a roast date, like those in our coffee with roast dates list, and only as much as you will drink in a month. A gift subscription is a better way to spend a coffee budget than a bulk buy.

What not to buy on Black Friday

Some of the most heavily promoted coffee deals are the worst value. Cheap espresso machines with pressurised baskets and no way to adjust the grind can make something espresso-like, but not more, however low the price. Blade grinders are often bundled in, and they chop coffee unevenly. Huge multi-packs of pods and pre-ground coffee look cheap per cup and go stale in the cupboard. And a bundle that adds accessories you would never buy on their own is a way to sell you more, not to save you money. Decide what you need before the sales start, then wait for that product to drop.

When to buy

Most retailers start their sales a week or more before Black Friday and run them through Cyber Monday. For coffee machines the prices are usually similar across the whole weekend, and the popular models can sell out. If the machine you want hits a price below its usual price, buying then is rarely a mistake. We will update this page with the prices we check during Black Friday week.