The Best Coffee Machines For Home
There is no single-size-fits all coffee machine. We've rounded-up our top picks, from a superautomatic that grinds your beans and packs them into a semiautomatic which gives you the most control over your espresso.
The Breville Oracle Touch strikes the perfect balance between automatizing the process while requiring you to be proficient in the art of espresso-making. It's our top pick for a machine that makes coffee.
1. Rocket Appartamento
Rocket Appartamento makes a great choice for those who are looking to make espresso at their home without losing quality. This espresso machine for prosumers is designed with limited counter space in mind. It offers top-quality build and the smallest 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 the same time.
The machine looks fantastic as well, and has an insert for the side of the machine with engraved hot water and steam spouts. This is a fresh update on Rocket's classic aesthetic and is already impressive for a machine that is so small. It also comes with the black gauge of pressure in the boiler to show when the boiler is ready to use.
The drip tray and the water reservoir tray are smaller on this machine than most other models. You will need be extra cautious when emptying and re-filling the machine. This is especially the case in the event that you frequently use it. This is a natural tradeoff for having less footprint, however this is not a problem particular to this model.
This machine is capable of handling your coffee needs. That being said, we would recommend purchasing a high-quality grinder, like the Baratza Sette Gigante, for increased consistency and flavor. You can also pair this machine with the Rocket portafilter to enhance the grinding process.
As a prosumer espresso machine, the Rocket Appartamento is capable of making some great drinks, and it's simple to create latte art. It's important to note that this machine is not designed for novices. There is a little learning curve for people who are upgrading from appliance-grade espresso machines. The heat exchanger is tricky to handle 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 an water source, which allows you to be in a position to drink cold and filtered water. The latter, however, has a 2.25-liter water tank, which can be more difficult to fill than its competitors.
2. Lavazza A Modo Mio Jolie
As you would expect from a Lavazza machine, this one is made with quality in mind. It is quick to reach brewing temperature, allowing you to make your first cup of coffee in less than 35 minutes. The water tank can be easily refilled with ease, since the lid can be removed to make an enormous hole. It can be filled using tap water, if you like.
This is the smallest machine in the Lavazza A Modo Mio range and yet it has a lot of punch. At its 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 excellent choice for those without the budget or space for an espresso maker, but are looking to enjoy the benefits of real Italian espresso.
The Jolie is extremely easy to use and occupies just a little counter space. You only need to press one button to turn on the machine, and then press it again to begin dispensing the chosen pod. The button has a backlight so that you can see how much you have consumed. You can also stop the process should you prefer to consume the pod in smaller portions.
There's no steam wand available on this model, however you can add a milk frother (available separately) to add some creamy froth if you want. The machine is quiet also, and can be used in a small workspace or in a flatshare kitchen without disturbing anyone else.
Pods aren't inexpensive, but there's an array of blends to choose from to suit everyone from the mildest to the most demanding espresso drinkers. They are sold in most supermarkets along with regular coffee beans and ground coffee and you can also purchase Lavazza A Modo Mio compatible pods on the internet.
The Jolie and Milk is a stylish capsule machine that has an integrated milk warmer and frother. It comes with a 75cm power cable and plug along with a quick-guide as well as a warranty sheet and a tester box of nine Lavazza pods which include six roasted (two Qualita Rossa, two Lungo Dolce and two Delizioso) and two decaffeinated (Dek Cremoso). The machine is compact enough to fit under a cupboard or on a flat surface.
3. Breville BES870XL
The Breville Barista Express appears to be an expensive espresso machine. If you're willing to learn how to use it, then this is a great home espresso maker. It's far superior to many of the more expensive models. It's the most affordable in its class, and it's especially suitable for those who do not have an espresso maker yet. This could easily set them back another $100 or more.
This model is priced below the top-of-the-line Breville Oracle (the most expensive at $2199), but is still an excellent option for baristas on a tight budget. It comes with plenty of adjustable features, and it even has a built-in burr grinder to make the entire experience less expensive. It's also a single boiler machine that means it can only be used for brewing or steaming at one time.
Despite being a relative newcomer to the espresso machine market, Breville has quickly made their mark by offering top-quality equipment. This machine isn't an exception, and it offers just enough adjustable control to allow aspiring baristas to improve their skills without spending hundreds of dollars more than they need to.
There are some quirks however. The hopper is situated on the side, not on the top of the model. It's not a huge issue, but it can be a problem if you wish to give several shots at once. It's also difficult to determine how much water remains in the tank, due to its rear placement.
If you're willing some time in learning how to use the Breville Barista Express then it's an excellent option for any coffee lover at home. The only downside is the cost, which can be a nagging issue for some buyers. For those looking for a less expensive alternative, take a look at our review of the Gaggia Classic or the La Pavoni Impresso. Both machines are similar in capability and provide a bit more control than the Barista Express. However, they cost less than the price.
4. OXO Brew 9-Cup
A high-tech smart machine for coffee with a user-friendly interface that produces excellent coffee. The sleek stainless steel design with backlit LED display provides your kitchen with a stylish design. It has a single dial that allows you to program the amount of cups. There are two settings available: 2-4 cups and 5-9 cups. Its brewing technique is similar to pour-over, which many coffee lovers believe makes the most flavorful coffee. The water is heated to the ideal temperature before being poured over the grounds using a showerhead to ensure uniform saturation. The coffee brewed is then stored in the double-walled, thermal carafe for upto 60 minutes. The pause-and-pour feature allows you to remove the carafe during brewing and fill your cup. The machine pauses 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 Brew 9-Cup is certified by SCAA, that means it is in compliance with the strict standards of SCAA's technical standards. The brew cycles it uses are the same as the Bodum Bistro and Technivorm Moccamaster 741 but it gives you more control over temperature and brewing time.
In our testing in our testing, the OXO Brew 9-Cup produced an excellent drip coffee and a full-carafe in 7 minutes and 41 seconds. That's a little longer than the 6 minutes or less the Bonavita Connoisseur and the Moccamaster require, but still within the range that experts in the field recommend for a great cup of drip.
It also requires that you grind your own beans prior to brewing. You can choose either a read more manual grinder or an automated model like the Baratza Encore. It has different grind settings and a hopper for whole beans.
The only downside to this product is that it's not dishwasher safe. This could be a concern for some customers. The stainless steel can be cleaned by hand. The OXO Brew 9-Cup's sleek design and easy-to-use interface make it one of the top contenders among top drip coffee makers.