The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no single-size-fits all coffee maker that is perfect for every. We've put together our top choices, ranging from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them into semiautomatics that give you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automation and needing to understand the basics of espresso-making. It's the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've come across.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a top pick for those looking to make espresso at home, without making huge sacrifices in terms quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was created for those who have small counter space. It is built to last and has excellent quality and a compact footprint. It comes with a 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler as well as a commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk and brew espresso at the same time.
The machine looks fantastic and has a circular panel on the side with the steam engraved and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on Rocket's classic aesthetic and is already impressive for a machine that is so small. It also includes the black pressure gauge, which will let you know when the boiler is ready for use.
One drawback of this compact machine is that the drip tray and water reservoir are smaller than those of other machines. It is important to be careful when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially true in the event that you frequently use it. This is a trade-off that is a result of having less footprint. This isn't something that is unique to this model.
This machine can easily handle the demands of your coffee. We suggest buying a good grinder, like the Baratza Sette Giante, to improve consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with an Rocket portafilter to enhance the tamping process.
As a professional espresso machine The Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and is easy to make Latte art. However, it's important to remember that the machine isn't designed for novices, and there is a bit of a learning curve for those upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchange boiler could be a little tricky to control and you'll have to learn the basics of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water source, which allows you to always have clean, cold water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter has a 2.25-liter water tank, which can be more difficult to refill than its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from a Lavazza machine this one has been made with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing you to prepare your first cup of coffee in less than 35 minutes. The tank can be filled easily with ease, since the lid can be removed to make a large hole. You can fill it up with tap water should you wish.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range, but it still has a lot of punch. When you buy it at full cost, it's less than PS100 which is lower than the Nespresso Essenza and similar machines from SMEG and Desea. This makes the Jolie an ideal choice for those with a limited budget or space for a traditional espresso maker, but are looking to enjoy the benefits of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is easy to use and occupies very small counter space. By pressing a single button, you can begin the process. Pressing it again will begin dispensing the specific pod you've chosen. The button is illuminated so that you can see the amount you've consumed. You can also stop the process, should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller amounts.
There's no steam wand available on this model, but you can use an optional milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you like. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen workspace.
The pods are not cheap, but they come in a variety of blends that can be used by all - from the lightest espresso drinker to the most demanding. They are readily available in many supermarkets along with regular ground coffee and coffee beans and 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 power cord and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet, and a test box containing nine Lavazza pods that 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 click here stowed on an even surface or placed under the cupboard.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance at first, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that's not within the budget of a majority of consumers. If you're willing and able to learn how to use it and make it work, then this is a great home espresso maker. It's far superior to many of the more expensive models. It's a good value for its class and is particularly helpful for beginners who don't yet have an espresso machine, which 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 who are on a budget. It delivers plenty of tweakable features, and it even has a built-in burr grinder to make the whole experience much cheaper. It's also a single boiler machine, which means it can only do steaming or brewing at the same time.
Despite being a relatively newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves with their high-quality appliances. This machine is no different and has enough control to let aspiring baristas hone their skills without spending hundreds more than necessary.
The unit has its quirks. One example is that the hopper on this model is placed on the side of the unit, instead of on top. This isn't significant, but it can be a little difficult to disperse multiple shots at a time. The rear placement of the tank makes it difficult to determine the amount of liquid left.
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 is a coffee lover at home. The only drawback is the cost, which can be a nagging issue for some buyers. If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both are similarly capable and offer a little more control than the Barista Express, but they'll cost a fraction of what this Breville model does.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine with a user-friendly interface that produces excellent coffee. The sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED screen gives your kitchen a sophisticated look. It has a single dial to program how many cups you want it to make and includes the 2-4 cup setting as well as a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing method is similar to pour-over, which most coffee enthusiasts believe makes the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated to a perfect temperature and poured over the grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The brewed coffee is then stored in a double-walled carafe, which can be stored for up to 60 min. The pause and pour feature lets you remove the carafe while brewing to fill your own cup. The machine pauses brewing and shows a red light for the carafe on its LED interface until you return it. then resumes and finishes brewing.
The OXO 9-Cup coffee maker is SCAA certified, meaning it meets the organization’s strict standards for technical quality. The brew cycle is the same length as the Bodum BISTRO and Technivorm Moccamaster KBT 741, but it offers more control over temperature, brewing time and also quality.
In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9-Cup brewed an excellent drip coffee with a full-carafe in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is slightly more than the 6 minutes the Bonavita Connoisseur or the Moccamaster calls for, but it is within the range that experts in the field recommend for making a quality cup.
You must also grind your own beans prior to making. You can make use of a manual coffee grinder or choose a more automated model like the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as the hopper can hold entire beans.
The only drawback is that the carafe and the water reservoirs aren't dishwasher safe this could be a problem for certain users. The stainless steel is easily cleaned by hand, though. The OXO 9-Cup is a leading contender for the best drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and simple to use interface.