The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. We've put together our top picks, from a superautomatic machine that grinds your beans and packs them into a semiautomatic which gives you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes a perfect balance between automating the process and needing you to be proficient in the art of espresso-making. It's the best bean-to-cup machine we've seen.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those looking to make espresso at home without having to compromise on quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with limited counter space in mind and combines outstanding build quality with a very small footprint. It comes with an 1.8-liter copper heat exchange boiler and commercial E61 group head, so you can steam milk and brew espresso at the same time.
The machine is also beautiful and features a round design on the side panel with the steam engraved and hot water spouts. This is a refreshing update on the classic look of Rocket and is already impressive for a machine that is so small. It also includes an black pressure gauge that shows when the boiler is ready for use.
The water reservoir and drip tray are smaller on this model than other models. It is important to be careful when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially true if you use it frequently. This is a sacrifice that results in a smaller footprint. This isn't an issue that is specific to this model.
You can still make a large amount of coffee using this machine, and it can easily meet your demands. We suggest investing in a quality grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Giante to increase consistency and flavor. You can also use the machine in conjunction with a Rocket Portafilter to enhance the tamping.
As a prosumer espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making great drinks, and is easy to create latte art. It is important to remember that this machine was not designed for novices. There is a small learning curve for people who are upgrading from appliances-grade espresso machines. The heat exchange boiler could be a little tricky to operate, and you will have to master the ins and outs of cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento provide the option of connecting to a water supply, which means you'll always have clean, cold filtered water on hand for your drinks. The latter comes with a 2.25-liter water tank, which can be more difficult to refill than some of its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you might expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is designed with quality in mind. It is quick to reach the brewing temperature, allowing you to make your first cup of coffee in just 35 minutes. The water tank is also quick and easy to fill, with the lid detaching completely to reveal a large opening. It can be filled with tap water, if you like.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio is the smallest model in the range, but it packs a punch. When you buy it at full cost, it's less than 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 money for traditional espresso machines, but still want to enjoy an authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is incredibly simple to use and takes up very little counter space. You only need to press one button to start the machine, and then press it again to begin dispensing the chosen pod. The button has a backlight to let you know how much you have consumed. You can also stop the process in case you wish to drink the pod in smaller quantities.
There's no steam wand on this model, however you can make use of 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.
They're not expensive, but there's a variety of blends available to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are available in most supermarkets, along with regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine with an integrated milk warmer and a frother. It comes with a 75cm power plug and power cable, a warranty card and a quick reference, and a test pack of nine Lavazza pods. Six are roasts (two Qualita Rossa and two Lungo Dolce) and two are decaffeinated. The machine is compact enough to fit under a cabinet or on the floor.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso maker that's out of the budget of many average consumers. If you're willing and able learn to use it this is a great home espresso maker. It performs better than most of the more expensive models. It's the best value in its class, and is particularly suitable for beginners who do not have an espresso maker yet. This could easily cost them another $100 or more.
The model is priced lower than the most expensive Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199) however it is an excellent choice for baristas on a tight budget. It has a lot of options to customize and features, including an integrated burr mill to make it more affordable. It's also a single boiler machine, which means it can only be used for brewing or steaming at one time.
Breville, an incredibly newcomer to the market for espresso machines, has swiftly gained a reputation as a top-quality appliances. This machine is no exception, and it has just enough control to let budding baristas hone their abilities without spending a lot more than is necessary.
There are some quirks, though. For instance, the hopper on this model is positioned on the side of the unit instead of on top--which isn't a huge deal however it can be annoying if you're trying dispense multiple shots at once. It's also not very easy to determine how much water remains in the tank, because of its rear position.
If you're willing to invest some time learning how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's an excellent, all-purpose appliance for check here any home espresso lover. The only drawback is the price, which could be a turnoff for some buyers. For those looking for a lower-cost option, check out our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are comparable in their capabilities and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they are a fraction of the price.
4. OXO Brew 9 Cup
A high-tech, intelligent coffee maker that produces great coffee with a simple user interface. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED display provides your kitchen with a stylish look. It has only one 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 brewing, which coffee enthusiasts believe makes the best-tasting coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature before being poured over the grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The brewed coffee is then collected in the double-walled thermal carafe and can be stored for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you to remove the carafe during making your coffee and filling it with the right amount. The machine stops the brewing process and displays an red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. Then, it resumes the brewing process.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup is certified by SCAA, which means it meets the organization's rigorous technical standards. Its brew cycles are about the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it allows for more control over temperature and brewing time.
In our tests we found that the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent pot of drip coffee that filled a carafe full in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. This is a bit longer than the 6 minutes or less that the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range coffee experts recommend for a good cup of drip.
It also requires you to grind your own beans prior to making coffee. You can use a manual coffee grinder or opt for a more automatic model, such as the Baratza Encore, which has different grind settings and the hopper can hold entire beans.
The only drawback to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a concern for some users. The stainless steel is easily cleaned by hand, though. The OXO 9-Cup is an excellent contender for the best drip coffee maker due to its sleek design and simple to use interface.