The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no universally-fit-all coffee machine. That's why we've rounded up our top picks for the home, from a super-automatic that grinds and packs your beans, to a semiautomatic that gives you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automation and the need to understand the basics of espresso-making. This is our top choice for a bean-to-cup machine.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who are looking to make espresso at home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was specifically designed for people who have small counter space. It has a great build quality and a compact footprint. It is equipped with a 1.8 Liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 Group Heads so that you can steam your milk and brew coffee at same at the same time.
The machine also looks great and has a circular insert on the side panel with engraved steam and hot water spouts. This is an upgrade to Rocket's classic design that is already impressive for a small appliance. It also includes the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to let you know when the boiler is ready for use.
The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than most others. It is important to be careful when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is particularly true in the event that you frequently use it. This is a sacrifice that results in a smaller footprint. This is not something that is unique to this model.
This machine can easily handle your coffee needs. We suggest purchasing a high-quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante to increase consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with an Rocket Portafilter to enhance the tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can create delicious drinks and it is easy to create Latte arts. It's important to note that the machine was not designed for novices and has an enlightening curve for those upgrading from appliances. The heat exchanger is difficult to work with, and you'll need to master the art of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca as well as the Rocket Appartamento have the option to connect to a water source, allowing you to always be able to drink cold, purified water. The latter comes with a 2.25-liter water tank that can be more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's highest standards. The machine reaches the temperature for brewing quickly, so you can make your first cup in just 35 second. The water tank is quick and easy to fill, with the lid detaching completely to create a large opening. You can also fill it up with tap water if you want.
This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still is a powerful machine. It's priced less than PS100 at full price which is less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those who don't have the money or space for a traditional espresso maker, but want to get their fix of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is simple to use and occupies very small counter space. Pressing a single button will start the machine. Pressing it again will start dispensing the pod you've selected. The button has a backlight so you can see how much you have consumed. You can also manually stop the process in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller quantities.
This model does not come with a steam wand, however, you can add creamy froth to your milk using an optional milk frother. The machine is also quite quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen workspace.
The pods aren't cheap, but they come in a range of blends that will suit everyone - from the mildest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are available in many supermarkets, as well as regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer. It comes with a 75cm plug and power cable, a warranty sheet along with a quick guide and a tester pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is small enough to be placed under a cupboard or the floor.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be a high-priced espresso machine. If you're willing and able to learn how to use it and make it work, then this is a great at-home espresso maker. It's more efficient than most of the more expensive models. It's an excellent price for the class and is particularly helpful for those who are new to the field and don't have an espresso machine that can cost up to $100.
The model is priced lower than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) However, it's an excellent choice for baristas on a tight budget. It's loaded with customizable features and even an integrated burr mill, which makes it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, which means it can only be used for steaming or brewing at one time.
Although it is a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made their mark through their top-quality machines. This machine is no different and it comes with enough control to let budding baristas develop their abilities without spending a lot more than they need to.
The unit is not without its flaws. One example is that the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit instead of on top--which isn't an issue however it can be a little difficult to give multiple shots at once. The rear position of the tank makes it difficult to know how much liquid remains.
If you're willing some time in learning how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent choice for any espresso lover at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is its cost, which may be a deterrent for certain buyers. If you're looking for coffee machines sale a budget alternative, we suggest the Gaggia Classic and the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they are a fraction of the cost.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee maker with a user-friendly interface that produces great coffee. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add a sophisticated look to your kitchen. It comes with only one dial to program the amount of cups you want it to make. It also comes with a 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing process is similar to pour-over the grounds, which many coffee lovers believe makes the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the right temperature, then poured evenly over the coffee grounds using shower heads. The brewed coffee then collects inside the double-walled thermal carafe, which can last up to 60 minutes. The pause and pour feature allows you to remove the carafe during brewing to fill your individual cup. The machine stops the brewing process, and displays a red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes the brewing process.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker has been SCAA certified, which means it meets the strict technical standards. Its brew cycles are about the same as the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it allows for more control over temperature and brewing times.
In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced excellent drip coffee and a full cup in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is slightly more than the time that the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the time range that coffee experts suggest to make a good cup.
You must also grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can use a manual coffee grinder or go for a more automated model such as the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and the hopper can hold entire beans.
The only downside to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a problem for some customers. The stainless steel is easily cleaned by hand, however. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the top drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and easy to use interface.