The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no single-size-fits all coffee maker that is perfect for every. We've compiled our top choices, ranging from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them into semiautomatics that give you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process and making you familiar with the art of making espresso. It's our top pick for a bean-to-cup machine.
- Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those who want to make espresso at home without having to compromise on quality. This small-footprint espresso machine was created for those with little counter space. It has a great build quality with a compact footprint. It comes equipped with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group heads so that you can steam milk while making espresso simultaneously.
The machine also looks great and has a circular panel on the side with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is an update to Rocket's classic design which is already impressive for a small appliance. It also has a black boiler pressure gauge to show when the boiler is ready to use.
One drawback prices of coffee machines this compact machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than those of other machines. You will need be extra cautious when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially the case when you are using it often. This is a sacrifice that is a result of having a smaller footprint. It's not something that is unique to this model.
This machine is able to handle the demands of your coffee. We would recommend investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gigante to ensure consistency and better flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to improve the tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create some great drinks and it is easy to create Latte arts. It is important to remember that this machine isn't intended for novices. There is a slight learning curve for people who are upgrading from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchanger is difficult to operate and you'll need to learn how to perform cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento allow connecting to a water supply that means you will always have fresh, cold filtering water available for your drinks. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank that can be more difficult to refill than its competitors.
- Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from a Lavazza machine this one was designed with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, which allows you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 seconds. The water tank is quick and easy to fill and the lid can be removed completely to create a large opening. You can fill it with tap water, should you wish.
This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range and yet it has a lot of punch. When you buy it at full price, it costs under PS100 which is less than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. The Jolie is a great alternative for those who do not have the space or budget for an espresso machine of the traditional type, but still want to enjoy a real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is simple to use and takes up small counter space. Pressing a single button will start the machine. After pressing it again, it will start dispense the pod you've selected. The button is illuminated to let you know how much you have consumed. You can also manually stop the process, should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller portions.
The model isn't equipped with a steam wand, but you can add some creamy foam to your milk with an optional milk frother. The machine is quite quiet as well, and can be used in a small workspace or in a kitchen with flatshare without causing any disturbance to anyone else.
The pods aren't inexpensive, but they come in a range of blends that are suitable for everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. You can find them in the majority of supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and grounds coffee. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods online.
The Jolie and Milk is a smart-looking capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer and a frother. It comes with a 75cm power cable and plug, a quick-guide and warranty card, as well as a test box containing nine Lavazza pods which include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine itself is small enough to be able to be stowed on the floor or placed under the cabinet.
- Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's out of the budget of a majority of consumers. If you're willing to learn how to use it, then this is a fantastic home espresso maker. It's more efficient than many of the more expensive models. It's an excellent value for the money and is particularly helpful for those who aren't experienced enough to have an espresso maker that can cost up to $100.
The model is just in the middle of the range for Breville (their Oracle is the most expensive model at $2,199) however, it's a solid choice for home baristas on a budget. It has plenty of customizable features, and includes an integrated burr grinder to make the whole experience much cheaper. It's also a single boiler, which means it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.
Despite being a relative newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made their mark with their high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception and it comes with enough control to let aspiring baristas develop their abilities without spending a lot more than is necessary.
It's not without its flaws however. The hopper is on the side, not on the top, of this model. It's not a huge issue, but it can be a hassle if you need to dispense several shots at once. It's also not very easy to know the amount of water left in the tank because of its rear position.
If you're willing to spend some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for anyone who loves espresso at home. The only downside is the price, which can be a turnoff for certain buyers. If you're looking for a budget alternative, we recommend the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are similarly capable and offer a bit more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost you only a fraction of the price. Breville model can do.
- OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a simple user interface that produces great coffee. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen creates a chic kitchen appearance. It comes with one dial that lets you to program the amount of cups. There are two options: 5-9 cups and 2-4 cups. The brewing method is similar to pour-over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe makes the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature and then poured over grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee that is brewed is collected in the double-walled thermal carafe that can be kept for up to 60 minutes. Its pause and pour feature lets you take out the carafe during brewing to fill your own cup. The machine pauses brewing and displays a red carafe light on its LED interface until you return it. then resumes and finishes brewing.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker has been SCAA certified, which means it meets the strict standards for technical quality. Its brew cycle is about as long as those of the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it offers greater control over temperature, brewing duration and also quality.
In our tests in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed a pot of excellent drip coffee and a full cup in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is slightly more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster requires, but within the time range that coffee experts suggest for making a quality cup.
It also requires that you grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can choose either a manual grinder or an automated model such as the Baratza Encore. It has various grind settings, as well as a hopper for whole beans.
The only issue is that the carafe as well as the water reservoir aren't dishwasher safe this could be a hassle for some users. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the top drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy-to use interface.