The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There's no one-size-fits-all coffee machine. We've compiled our top choices, ranging from an automatic that grinds your beans and packs them into a semiautomatic which gives you the best control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automating the process and needing you to be proficient in the art of making espresso. It's the most efficient bean-to-cup machine we've found.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento is a fantastic choice for those looking to make espresso at home without sacrificing quality. This espresso machine with a small footprint was designed for those with 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 and commercial E61 group head so you can steam milk while making espresso simultaneously.
The machine looks fantastic and has a circular panel on the side with engravings of steam and hot water spouts. This is a fresh update on the classic design of Rocket, which is already pretty impressive for a compact machine. It also has 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 others. It is important to be careful when emptying and refilling the machine. This is especially the case in the event that you frequently use it. This is a natural tradeoff for smaller footprint, however it is not a problem particular to this model.
You can still make a large amount of coffee with this machine, and it is able to easily keep up with your demands. We recommend buying a good grinder, such as the Baratza Sette Gante, to improve consistency and taste. You can also pair the machine with an Rocket Portafilter to increase the tamping.
Rocket Appartamento, as a prosumer machine, can make delicious drinks and it is simple to make Latte Arts. However, it's important to remember that the machine was not designed for beginners, and there is an enlightening curve for those who are upgrading from appliance-grade machines. The heat exchanger can be difficult to work with and you'll need to learn how to do cooling flushes.
Both the Lelit Bianca and the Rocket Appartamento offer the option of connecting to a water supply which allows you to always have cold, fresh water that has been filtered for your drinks. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank that is more difficult to refill than its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
This machine is built to Lavazza's high standards. The machine can reach the brewing temperature quickly, meaning you can prepare your first cup in just 35 seconds. The tank can be easily refilled with ease, since the lid can be removed to create an enormous hole. It can be filled with tap water, if you like.
This is the smallest machine within the Lavazza A Modo Mio range however, it still packs a punch. It costs less than PS100 at the full price which is less than the Nespresso Essenza or similar machines from SMEG or Desea. The Jolie is a great choice for those who do not have the space or funds for an espresso machine of the traditional type however, they nevertheless want to drink an authentic Italian espresso.
The Jolie is incredibly simple to use and occupies very little counter space. Pressing a single button will begin the process. After pressing it again, it will begin dispensing the pod you've selected. There's a backlight on the button to ensure that you can easily see how much has been dispensed and you can choose to stop the process at any time if you prefer to drink your pod in smaller doses.
This model does not come with a steam wand however, you can add creamy frosting to your milk by using an optional milk frother. It's also quiet and can be used to make coffee in a small kitchen or working space.
They're not inexpensive, but there's a wide variety of blends available to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. You can find them in most supermarkets, along with regular grounds coffee and coffee beans. You can also buy Lavazza A Modo Mio Compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and milk is a sleek capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer. It comes in a box with a 75cm power cable and plug as well as a quick-guide and warranty card, as well as a test box of nine Lavazza pods which include six roasts (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce more info and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is small enough to be kept on an even surface or placed under the cupboard.
3. Breville BES870XL
At first glance, the Breville Barista Express looks like an espresso machine that is not within the budget of a majority of consumers. If you're willing to learn to use it, then this is a great at-home espresso maker. It's more efficient than many of the more expensive models. It's a great price for the class and is especially useful for those who are new to the field and don't own an espresso machine that costs up to $100.
The model is priced lower than the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still a good choice for baristas who are on a budget. It has a lot of 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 do one thing at the same time.
Despite being a relatively newcomer to the market of espresso machines, Breville has quickly made a name for themselves with their high-quality appliances. This machine is no exception, and it has just enough control to let new baristas improve their skills without spending hundreds more than necessary.
It's not without its flaws, though. The hopper is on the side, not the top of the model. It's not a huge problem, but it could be frustrating if you want to dispense several shots at once. It's also difficult to determine how much water is left in the tank because of its rear position.
If you're willing to learn how to master the Breville Barista Express, it's a great, do-it-all appliance for anyone who is a coffee lover at home. The only issue with the Breville Barista Express is its cost which could be a stumbling block for some buyers. If you're seeking a cheaper alternative, read our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and offer a little more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the price.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart coffee machine that makes great coffee with a simple interface. Its sleek stainless steel design and backlit LED display add an elegant design to your kitchen. It features one dial to set the amount of cups you want to make. It comes with the 2-4 cup setting and a 5-9 cup setting. Its brewing process is similar to pour over that many coffee enthusiasts believe is the most delicious coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature and then poured over grounds with a shower-head for uniform saturation. The brewed coffee is then collected in the double-walled thermal carafe that can be kept for up to 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour function lets you to take the carafe out while brewing and fill your cup. The machine pauses the brewing process and shows an red light on its LED interface, until you return the carafe. It then resumes brewing.
The OXO Brew 9-Cup coffee maker is a SCAA-certified coffee maker, which means it meets the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. Its brew cycles are about the same as those of the Bodum Bistro and the Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it gives you more control over temperature and brewing time.
In our tests, the OXO Brew 9 Cup produced an excellent cup of drip coffee with an entire carafe in just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require but well within the range of time that coffee experts suggest for a decent cup of drip.
It also requires you to grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can use an old-fashioned coffee grinder or opt for a more automatic model such as the Baratza Encore, which has various grind settings as well as the hopper can hold entire beans.
The only drawback to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a problem for some customers. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO 9-Cup is a top contender for the best drip coffee maker because of its sleek design and simple to use interface.